Weird Finance

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter. In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco talks to author and Director of Impact at Candide Group, Jasmine Rashid. Jasmine discussed her role in assessing social impact investments, the importance of cross-class, cross-racial, and cross-cultural collaborations to effect change, and her new book, The Financial Activist Playbook. Jasmine offers personal advice on managing work-life balance, including the significance of rest and self-care practices. She emphasizes the need to address and shift power dynamics within the fields of impact investing and philanthropy, advocating for a partnership-based approach to build an inclusive economy.Jasmine Rashid (@jazz_ny | LInkedIn) is a New York-raised, Oakland-based, Zillenial who believes deeply in people power. As a financial activist, writer, and impact investing professional, she successfully supported the #FamiliesBelongTogether coalition in shifting billions of dollars in big bank financing away from the migrant detention and private prison industry. In her role as Director of Impact for Candide Group, she helps investors flow their money to predominately women & BIPOC-led social justice-focused companies, funds, and vital organizations building the next economy. She is also a proud Congressman John Lewis fellow, Just Economy Institute alum, Trauma of Money Method certified practitioner and girl in her late 20s just trying her best to navigate contradictions under Late Capitalism (and help build something better).Her book — The Financial Activist Playbook — offers 8 accessible strategies for everyday people to reclaim wealth and collective well-being.The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon.If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com or submit your questions here. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey.

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter.  In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco talks to Aja Evans, a licensed mental health counselor specializing in financial therapy. Aja shares her personal journey of merging her background in counseling psychology with financial education, highlighting the importance of understanding the relationship between financial behaviors and self-esteem. The discussion delves into common financial struggles, the significance of open communication about money, and the challenges of setting boundaries in various cultural contexts. Aja also introduces her upcoming book, "Feel Good Finance," which aims to guide readers through understanding their personal financial psychology and managing their finances effectively. Aja Evans (@ajaetherapy) is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, speaker, and author specializing in Financial Therapy. After going through her own financial awakening, Aja realized the connection between finances and mental health was deeper than she had been taught. Her debut book, Feel Good Finance due out December 3rd dives into the experiences so many of us have had and guides the reader in connecting their life experiences to how they behave with money. Aja has been featured in a variety of major news outlets including The New York Times, Business Insider, NerdWallet, Time, and Teen Vogue. Aja is on a mission to get more people engaged in living their best lives while attuning to their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors around money. The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon.If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com or submit your questions here. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey.

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter. In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco talks to Katherine Kubler about her journey as a director, producer and filmmaker. Katherine talks about her early career at William Morris Endeavor and Paramount Pictures, and her passion for financial independence ignited by a lack of formal education on the subject. She candidly shares the challenges of navigating public perception and personal trauma while working on her Netflix documentary, The Program, which explores her harrowing time in a cult-like program. Katherine also talks about the importance of building a supportive community, transitioning from a skilled editor to a business owner, and balancing the public's expectations with her private life. Katherine Kubler (@katherinekubler) is a Los Angeles-based Writer, Director, and Editor. She is the owner and Executive Creative Director of Tiny Dino (@tinydinoagency), an award-winning creative agency whose clients include Paramount Pictures, United Artists, MGM, Sony Pictures, Warner Brothers, Amazon, and Roku. She develops film/tv projects through her production company, Omnivision.Katherine recently directed and executive produced the Netflix original documentary series The Program: Cons, Cults, and Kidnapping with Academy Award-winning production company Fishbowl Films. Now streaming.The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon.If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com or submit your questions here. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey.

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter. In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco delves into the fascinating career journey of Sugey Piedra, who started as a receptionist and eventually became a successful accounting practitioner alongside her sisters. Sugey shares how her deep interest in personal and business finances led her to start her own accounting business. She discusses the challenges and rewards of working with family, offering insights into maintaining work-life balance and the importance of regular financial reviews. Sugey also highlights personalized tax strategies and advisory services, emphasizing proactive client relationships and tailored financial goals. Sugey also reveals how personal development and business coaching have reshaped her business approach, moving from a high-volume focus to building meaningful client relationships.Sugey has over 20 years of tax preparation experience and provides a unique approach. She co-founded Prominence Business in 2018 with her two sisters. She is dedicated to helping clients with annual tax planning and tax-saving strategies. Her mission is to have financial conversations that are sometimes not easy, but always necessary for future planning.The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon.If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com or submit your questions here. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey.

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter. In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco and Cole Kalin dive into the intricacies of financial coaching and literacy. Cole shares frustrations from not learning about finances sooner and outlines her approach to money coaching, which involves a deep dive into clients’ monthly expenses and emotional assessments. They explore common financial anxieties, like the pervasive lack of financial education, and Cole emphasizes the therapeutic nature of her work, helping clients develop sustainable financial habits over time. The conversation also touches on the societal messages, particularly towards women, that finance is complicated, and the need for clear financial goals. Paco appreciates Cole's insights and discusses the importance of financial literacy for creative entrepreneurs and freelancers, aiming to make money conversations less awkward and more empowering.Cole Kalin (@ladiestalkingaboutmoney) is a Special Education Elementary School Teacher turned Certified Financial Paraplanner (FPQP™) who’s passionate about making sure women don’t get left behind when it comes to understanding their money. She helps women build good financial habits, set and meet reachable goals, and feel more empowered around their money. She is the co-founder of Ladies Talking About Money.The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon.If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com or submit your questions here. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey.

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter. In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco talks to Katherine Studley, a tax consultant for adult content creators. Katherine shares her journey from working in traditional CPA firms to founding The Only Consultant. They discuss the evolving gig economy, the impact of platforms like OnlyFans on legitimizing sex work, and the challenges and solutions around tax write-offs specific to the industry. Katherine provides insights and offers strategies for managing a rapidly growing client base and tips for freelancers about setting up business entities. Additionally, they explore Katherine's latest project—a tax course aimed at creatives—set to launch in late December. This episode is packed with practical advice and thought-provoking discussions for entrepreneurs and freelancers alike.Katherine Studley (@the_only_consultant) is both a tax accountant and creative originally from Buffalo, NY and now living in Houston, TX. She graduated from Niagara University with a Bachelor's in Accounting and started her career in CPA firms. After pivoting to social media marketing during the pandemic and learning about OnlyFans, she realized there was an opportunity to provide judgement free tax preparation to the adult industry and beyond. Sign up for Katherine’s email newsletter: https://www.theonlyconsultant.comFor tax help: https://www.prismatax.comThe theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon.If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com or submit your questions here. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey.

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter. In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco talks with filmmaker, writer, and director Chris Laughter to delve into his unique journey in the creative industry. Chris discusses the importance of building a supportive team, balancing business development, and his perspective on pricing creative work. He shares valuable insights on preventing burnout by relying on a team and speaks about his transition to the retainer model during the pandemic. Together, Paco and Chris discuss the nuances of content creation, the evolution from quantity to quality, and the intricacies of balancing personal passion projects with commercial work. They also touch on the impact of storytelling, mentorship, and the challenges faced during Chris's early career in Los Angeles.Christopher Ryan Laughter (@chrislaughter) learned how to tell stories by making skateboard videos and music videos in Houston, Texas before moving to Los Angeles where he found his footing as one of the premiere event documentarians of the early 2010's. Today, he specializes in empowering brands and businesses to connect with their audiences through purpose driven documentary films. Through his studio, Enjoy Human (formerly Studio Laughter/Snackhaus), he's delivered impactful work for Microsoft, League of Legends, Sony Playstation, adidas Originals, and more. In parallel to his documentary work, his thought-provoking short films explore the complexities of modern society and are often programmed into the most coveted of genre film festivals worldwide.The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon.If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com or submit your questions here. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey.

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter. In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco sits down with Tina Lopez to explore her multifaceted entrepreneurial journey. Tina shares insights on building automated content businesses, emphasizing the benefits of automation, outsourcing, and systematizing workflows to avoid burnout. She also discusses the value of collaboration over social media reliance for audience growth and the importance of investing in high-return activities such as email marketing. Tina reflects on her early entrepreneurial ventures, the influence of her upbringing on her self-sufficiency, and how her finance background helps her manage multiple income streams. Both Paco and Tina delve into the challenges and rewards of balancing creative work with financial prudence, aiming for a "work optional" lifestyle.Tina helps creators build an automated content business that doesn't rely on social media. The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon.If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com or submit your questions here. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey.

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter. In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco interviews Beth Pickens, an artist consultant, about the relationship between artists and money. They discuss the challenges artists face in valuing their work, the pressure to commercialize their art, and the societal messages that undermine the worth of artists. Beth emphasizes the importance of recognizing oneself as an artist and finding a balance between the commercial and personal aspects of creative practice. She also addresses the need for artists to protect a corner of their practice that is free from the pressures of the market. Beth provides guidance on pricing artwork and encourages artists to ask for what they deserve. Beth Pickens (@bethpickensconsulting) is a Los Angeles-based consultant for artists and arts organizations. She is the author of Make Your Art No Matter What (Chronicle Books, 2021.) Her previous book is Your Art Will Save Your Life (Feminist Press, 2018).  Her pamphlets—Making Art During Fascism and On Artists and Hopelessness—were designed and distributed by the Feminist Center for Creative Work in Los Angeles. Her popular podcast, Mind Your Practice, is widely available as is her artist service platform, Homework Club.  Pickens earned her Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of Missouri.The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon.If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com or submit your questions here. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey.

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter. In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco talks to Chelsea Fagan about growing up with a mother who was a public school science teacher and a father who was a freelance illustrator, how she stumbled into writing professionally and started The Financial Diet as a way to hold herself accountable with money. Chelsea discusses her personal experience with consumer debt and how it shaped her views on money. She emphasizes the importance of managing emotions and habits around money and the need to shift the narrative around escaping poverty. Chelsea also talks about the evolution of The Financial Diet and the challenges of navigating the ever-changing landscape of online media, the dynamic and cultural aspects of living in New York City, the benefits of diversification in her writing career, and her thoughts on the impact of AI on the media landscape. She also shares her writing process and offers advice for aspiring authors.Chelsea Fagan (@faganchelsea) is an author of many books including A Perfect Vintage, her debut romance novel. She is also the co-founder and CEO of The Financial Diet, the largest women's personal finance media company. She lives in Manhattan with her husband and dog.The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon.If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com or submit your questions here. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey.

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter. In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco sits down with Brian Morrow, the innovative mind behind Shark Pig and a pioneer in reshaping the wedding videography industry. Brian takes us on a journey from his eclectic upbringing to discovering his love for filmmaking in college and then facing industry challenges alongside his business partner. Brian dives deep into the highs and lows of starting a production company in LA, the impact of technology on the film industry, including the existential dread surrounding AI. Plus, Brian candidly shares his struggles with financial instability, the effects of the COVID pandemic, and the tough decisions that come with keeping a business afloat. Tune in for an insightful conversation about creativity, resilience, and the unconventional paths to success.Brian Morrow is a documentary director and producer. He's the creative director and co-owner of Shark Pig, a full-service production company, post house, and creative collective. He was nominated for a PGA award for Hal, the 2018 film about the rebellious and iconic film maker Hal Ashby. It premiered at Sundance, and Shark Pig's follow-up feature doc, Sheryl, premiered at SXSW to critical praise. Brian’s most recent film, Melissa Etheridge: I’m Not Broken is available to stream on Paramount +.The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon.If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com or submit your questions here. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey.

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter. In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco talks to Amy Posner about freelancing and building a sustainable business. Amy shares her expertise in helping individuals identify their target audience, develop a unique voice, and create effective pitching strategies to attract clients. The conversation also touches on the evolution of establishing credibility in the digital age and the importance of business skills for freelancers and creatives. Throughout the discussion, Amy provides insights and real-world examples from her extensive experience in starting, growing, and selling multiple businesses across various industries.Amy Posner is a seasoned online entrepreneur and business coach who helps digital creative freelancers build breakthrough businesses.Over her 30-year career, Amy (@amyrposner) has launched six successful businesses (five of which are still in business today!) and mentored thousands of freelancers to success. Now, she focuses on empowering freelancers to grow the business they want by teaching them the skills they need to attract the right clients – something she teaches in her Complete Breakthrough Freelancer course and as co-host of the Business Badassery podcast. Amy has been featured on Copyhackers and as a guest on several top podcasts, including The Copywriter Club, Copy Chief Radio, and The Deliberate Freelancer, among others.In her free time, you’ll find Amy adventuring around her hometown of Olympia, raising funds for pet cancer treatment, and enjoying Washington’s natural beauty.The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon.If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com or submit your questions here. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey.

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter. In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco de Leon and Caroline Cala Donofrio discuss the intricacies of a career in the arts. Caroline shares her unique journey from growing up in New Jersey with little encouragement to pursue the arts, to becoming a celebrated author of the Best Babysitters Ever series, ten ghostwritten books for celebrities, and publishing her email newsletter, Between a Rock and a Card Place. They explore challenges like imposter syndrome, societal pressures about the idea of success, and the why AI does not feel like an existential threat to creativity. Caroline talks about the significance of defining personal success, maintaining a consistent writing practice, advice she’d give to her younger self and to others navigating the creative field.Caroline Cala Donofrio (@carolinecala) is a writer whose work has been featured in The Cut, Vogue, Elle, Refinery29, The Zoe Report and Cup of Jo (where she also worked as an editor for many years). Her newsletter, Between a Rock and a Card Place, features a mix of personal essays, interviews, and a weekly card reading. She has also authored, co-written, or ghostwritten over a dozen books.The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon.If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com or submit your questions here. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey.

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter. In this episode of Weird Finance, host Paco de Leon sits down with Pony Lee Musgrave, founder of Folklore Salon, to discuss the intersection of business and community. Pony shares their journey from aspiring artist to successful business owner, emphasizing the value of creating an inclusive and supportive environment for both clients and staff. They delve into the financial challenges of running a salon and the necessity of separating personal and business finances. Pony highlights the relief and strategic advantage of bringing on professional bookkeeping services, especially during COVID-19, and offers advice to other small business owners. Throughout the conversation, Paco and Pony stress the importance of fearlessness, community feedback, and staying true to one's values in a competitive industry.PonyLee Musgrave is the co-founder of Folklore Salon (@folklore.la and @folklore_lbc), the first openly Queer owned and operated shop of its kind to service the LGBTQ Community and it’s badass allies and Pony has also served as a member of the of Dyke Day LA board for over a decade.The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon.If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com or submit your questions here. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey.

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter. In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco and Niluka Kavanagh dive deep into the evolving landscape of remote work and entrepreneurship. Niluka shares her journey from working at KPMG after studying at Oxford, to becoming a digital nomad and founding her company, Imagine That (@imaginethatclub). They discuss the challenges and benefits of transitioning to remote work, the significance of customer feedback, and the importance of personal branding. Niluka also addresses common misconceptions about digital nomads and the realism of balancing work while traveling. Niluka is the Founder of ImagineThat - the Business School for Digital Nomads and Solopreneurs. ImagineThat helps ambitious but bored professionals start their own independent online services business and work from anywhere.She does this through offering career support and her ImagineThat Business Academy.After graduating from Oxford University, Niluka started her career in consulting at KPMG UK in London. But nearly 5 years later she wanted more and decided to embark on an experiment - to work for herself and work from anywhere.During this time, Niluka worked on 2 of her own businesses, fully remote from 7 places across the world. She saw that it IS possible to work for herself and have location freedom - spurring her on to build ImagineThat and help others achieve the same.If you are interested in what Niluka is doing and would like to work with her on either your online business idea or get guidance on how to transition in your career, you can reach out via the website or connect with Niluka on LinkedIn.You can also subscribe and join over 500 people in the free community here.Finally, you can also get the ImagineThat Guide "How to become a digital nomad through starting an online services business" which has 30 pages packed full of information on the topic from the ImagineThat website.The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon.If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, call our hotline at 1-833-ASK-PACO, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com or submit your questions here. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey.

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter. In this episode of Weird Finance, host Paco de Leon, along with Stephanie Bucko and Cristina Livadary from Mana Financial Life Design (@manafld), dive into the essentials of thinking like a financial planner. They discuss targeting clients with growth mindsets, particularly those in helping professions and the sandwich generation. Stephanie explains the trade-offs for business owners aiming to keep taxes low versus paying more into Social Security and retirement plans. Christina shares insights on mastering personal finance and emphasizes the importance of understanding financial numbers. Cristina is a Certified Financial Planner® and Registered Life Planner®. Before Mana, she led sales and consulting efforts as a Regional Director with Russell Investments, where she consulted for and worked with over 10,000 financial advisors. After years of experience in the industry she grew dissatisfied with the wide disparities in knowledge, empathy, and skill within the advisor population. Cristina is a Bucknell University graduate, with a BA in Political Science and Spanish. She launched Mana with Stephanie in 2018 based on the belief that even greater success can be achieved by solving issues holistically - with individuals and their families. Since founding Mana, Cristina has been recognized for her accomplishments within the industry by leading organizations such as Investment News’ 40 under 40 in 2020 and Investopedia’s Top 100 Advisors in 2023. Cristina is living her own life plan, working in her dream career as a business owner and a financial life planner who does everything in her power to positively impact the lives of her clients. When she’s not hard at work, you can find Cristina in the great outdoors. She is passionate about surfing and adventuring around the world with her family and friends.Stephanie is a Certified Public Accountant and Chartered Financial Analyst®. She graduated from Bucknell University with a BSBA in Accounting. Following her undergraduate education, she audited hedge funds in New York City with PricewaterhouseCoopers during the 2008 financial crisis, and then joined Man Group, the world’s largest publicly traded hedge fund. At Man Group she served as a risk manager for six years, handling $15 billion in hedge funds. After years of serving banks, pensions and endowments, Stephanie became interested in bringing institutional quality services to a broader population. In 2018, Stephanie launched Mana with Cristina out of the realization that investment management is only a small piece of the services that individuals truly need in a financial advisor. Since founding Mana, Stephanie has been recognized for her accomplishments within the industry by leading organizations such as Investopedia’s Top 100 Advisors of 2023. She is also a regular contributor to MyStockOptions.com, the financial advice industry’s premier site for equity compensation. When Stephanie isn't educating herself on the markets or building complex spreadsheets, you can find her outside. Her favorite days are spent on the ski slopes, riding horses, and bird watching.A special thanks to the talented and generous Ramsey Yount for producing, editing, and sound designing this episode. The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon.If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, call our hotline at 1-833-ASK-PACO, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com or submit your questions here. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey.

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter. Welcome back to another exciting episode of Weird Finance! In this episode, we have a special Client Spotlight featuring the brilliant Sarah Salvatoriello, founder of the creative branding studio Ampersand & Ampersand. In this episode, we'll dive deep into the nuances of marketing, messaging, and brand positioning—all crucial elements for sustained business success. As Paco and Sarah navigate the challenging yet rewarding landscape of entrepreneurship, they emphasize the importance of storytelling in finance and branding.Sarah shares her enlightening journey from working with large media organizations to carving out her own niche in the branding world, shedding light on her initial denial of the need for sales and marketing and the mental shift she had to embrace as the primary salesperson. With candid discussions on prioritizing tasks, understanding customer pain points, and managing different client budgets, they explore how branding and marketing can effectively attract and engage a target audience.Sarah Salvatoriello (@sarahsalv) founded Ampersand & Ampersand (@ampersand.ampersand), a creative branding studio that helps small and medium-sized businesses in a moment of pivot. Sarah spent 18+ years working with global media companies, in-house agencies, design studios, and advertising agencies. In 2020, she pivoted her career and quickly realized the struggles of running a creative business in an increasingly broken system. Her zone of genius is aligning vision, voice, and visuals through a mix of Gestalt theory, industry learnings, good ol’ fashioned brand strategy, and a sprinkle of Bob Ross.Sarah’s blend of cheerful nihilism and compassionate-capitalist business empowerment swings against toxic positivity without sacrificing effectiveness. She seeks out the overlooked, creatively connects the objective to the subjective, and advocates for “real good” over “feel good.”Join the next Bounce House, a free creative brainstorm to share your wild ideas and see what gains traction or book the Priority Prism and get focused on your first step towards a change.The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon.If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, call our hotline at 1-833-ASK-PACO, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com or submit your questions here. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey.

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter. In this episode of Weird Finance, host Paco speaks with attorney Chris Valdheims about the essential role of legal matters in empowering creative businesses. They discuss creative industry legal battles, the importance of addressing legal issues proactively, and the increasing accessibility of legal services. Chris shares advice for business owners on trademarks, setting up an LLC or corporation, and having solid customer contracts. They also delve into personal experiences with financial management, the significance of saving and investing early, and the emerging trend of relocating internationally for better living conditions and work opportunities. Chris Valdheims is a designer/software developer turned lawyer and writer who founded Counsel for Creators (@counselforcreators) as a way to connect creative people with accessible legal help. Chris grew up in Los Angeles around many people in creative industries and he knew that conventional law firms weren’t cutting it, so he built what he would have wanted to see.Chris is also a creative in his own right; he’s in the process of getting his first book published. It’s a memoir about finding his birth family as an adult and how that changed him.Chris is married and has two boys and he and his family will move to Croatia this year.If you’re interested in learning more about working with Chris and the Counsel for Creators, please check out the Creator’s Legal Program.The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon.If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, call our hotline at 1-833-ASK-PACO, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com or submit your questions here. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey.

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter. In this episode of Weird Finance, The Hell Yeah Group’s editorial associate, financial coach, and co-founder of Ladies Talking About Money, Cole Kalin, returns to the show to ask Paco more questions about her journey building her bookkeeping agency. Paco emphasizes the importance of liability protection and discusses their decision to incorporate as an S corp . She shares insights from his experience in wealth management, focusing on leveraging the tax code for maximum benefits. The conversation also explores ethical investing, the balance between practical and ethical financial decisions, and the process of starting and formalizing a business.Join us for a conversation packed with practical tips and heartfelt advice on navigating the financial intricacies of the creative industry and don't forget to check outHell Yeah Bookkeeping and The Hell Yeah Group’s offerings.The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon.If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com or submit your questions here. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey.

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter. In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco de Leon is joined by financial therapist Amanda Clayman to explore the intricate relationship between emotions and money. They dive into personal struggles with perfectionism and shame in financial management, and find solace in shared experiences. Amanda discusses her work with creative professionals facing financial unpredictability, reflects on financial nihilism and its societal impact, and the shifting narratives of financial agency and societal progress. Join Paco and Amanda as they candidly unpack the layers of our financial identities and histories.Amanda Clayman (@amandaclayman) is a clinician, coach, and speaker specializing in money issues. Amanda entered the mental health field with a unique focus: the role of money in people's lives. Her journey into this niche began in her twenties when she noticed how deeply emotional her relationship with money was. Financial challenges she faced were more about underlying emotional wounds than mere poor financial decisions. As she delved into therapy for herself, she realized that simply understanding these emotional roots wasn't enough to change her behavior; it required dedicated focus and effort.Determined to transform these insights into healthier financial behaviors, Amanda questioned why this intersection of finance and emotional health wasn't more widely addressed. This sparked a passion within her to help others navigate the same path. She found herself compelled to continuously explore and work in this area, aiming to illuminate the connection between money and emotional well-being for her clients, much like the metaphorical bridges she jokes about burning—illuminating the way for others.Amanda’s new podcast, Emotional Investment is availabe on Audible. The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon.If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com or submit your questions here. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey.