Shows
Show Biz PodEpisode 18: Season 1 Finale - The Ultimate Resource Roundup!We made it to the end of Season 1 (!!) and we’re wrapping things up with a celebration of all the books, tools, creators, and community tips that helped shape this season. In this episode, Carissa and Emma Claire round up every single resource mentioned by guests (and each other) throughout the first season of Show Biz Pod. Whether you’re ready to build better systems, manage your money, or take your creative career to the next level, this episode is your one-stop-shop.WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT:The books that changed the game for mind...2025-07-2313 min
Show Biz PodEp 17: From Crown to Coach: Landry Champlin on Building a Pageant Prep BusinessIn this episode, Carissa and Emma Claire chat with actor, pageant coach, and TikTok creator Landry Champlin about building a pageant coaching career rooted in confidence. After taking a step back from the pageant world, Landry built her coaching business from scratch and has turned it into her full-time job as a performer based in NYC. Tune in for Landry's take on burnout, imposter syndrome, and overall tips & tricks to navigating owning your own business while still pursuing theatre professionally.WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT:The mindset shifts that helped her move from fear to action when...2025-07-1622 min
Show Biz PodEp 16: From $5 Gigs to Full-Time Income: Fiverr 101 with Pro Seller Carissa FergusonIn this episode, Emma Claire flips the script and puts co-host Carissa in the hot seat to break down how she built a thriving freelance business on Fiverr. From voiceover gigs to UGC TikTok content and more, Carissa has delivered over 1,000 five-star orders through the platform and she’s here to share how Fiverr works, how to stand out, and how it’s supported her creative career along the way.WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT:What Fiverr actually is and why Carissa chose it as her launchpad into freelancing.How she went started from ground zero and turn...2025-07-0918 min
Show Biz PodEp 15: From Bartender To Business Owner With Julia DamatinIn this episode, Carissa and Emma Claire sit down with actor, CrossFit coach, and founder of Julia Jean Media, Julia Damatin, to talk about what it really looks like to shift from a draining survival job to thriving on your own terms. Julia shares how she went from bartending to building a full-time social media business with little experience, how her mindset around freedom and flexibility has changed, and why it’s actually cool to care deeply about your work (and less about what other people think).WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT:How Julia built a social me...2025-07-0218 min
Show Biz PodEp 14: Saving With Strategy: Emergency Funds, Sinking Funds & MoreIn this episode, Carissa and Emma Claire break down how to actually save as a creative & on an inconsistent income. They talk about the difference between emergency funds and sinking funds, how to avoid panic when unexpected costs pop up, and why having a savings plan gives you more freedom to say yes to your creative goals.WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT:Why saving money isn't just about putting all of your spare change in one ambiguous pot.The difference between emergency funds and sinking funds (and why you need both).How to use “buckets” to stay orga...2025-06-2516 min
Show Biz PodEp 14: Saving With Strategy: Emergency Funds, Sinking Funds & MoreIn this episode, Carissa and Emma Claire break down how to actually save as a creative & on an inconsistent income. They talk about the difference between emergency funds and sinking funds, how to avoid panic when unexpected costs pop up, and why having a savings plan gives you more freedom to say yes to your creative goals.WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT:Why saving money isn't just about putting all of your spare change in one ambiguous pot.The difference between emergency funds and sinking funds (and why you need both).How to use “buckets” to stay orga...2025-06-2503 min
Show Biz PodEp 13: Shoot Your Shot: Scaling A Photography Business while Dancing Professionally with Katy WeskeIn this episode, Carissa and Emma Claire chat with dancer, choreographer, and photographer Katy Weske about how she turned a creative side hustle into a thriving photography business while navigating her college dance program & then performing professionally. From shooting headshots between contracts to managing a national client base, Katy shares what it takes to build a business that works with your artistry, not against it.WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT:Katy's background & how she accidentally stumbled across photography.The early steps she took to turn her photography hobby into a legit business.What it’s...2025-06-1821 min
Show Biz PodEp 12: Why Business Skills Are Just As Important As Creative TalentIn this episode, Carissa and Emma Claire discuss how and why they stopped thinking of their creative work as just art and started treating it like a brand or a business. They get real about why knowing your worth matters and how business skills like marketing and negotiation are key to turning your dreams into something sustainable.WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT:Making the mindset shift from artist to entrepreneurHow key business skills like marketing, negotiation, and time management show up in creative work.Why building systems and treating yourself like a CEO will...2025-06-1122 min
Show Biz PodEp 11: Balancing Creative & Corporate with Charlotte B. UmIn this episode, Carissa and Emma Claire chat with NYC-based actor and influencer marketing manager Charlotte Um about how she navigates the challenging balance between her corporate career and her creative goals. From managing auditions in the midst of work deadlines to staying open to whatever may come her way, this conversation is an honest look at what it really takes to pursue two paths at onceWHAT WE TALKED ABOUT:How difficult it is to fold up the self-tape blue/green screen (if you know, you know).What life looked like post-grad...2025-06-0421 min
Show Biz PodEp 10: Budgeting 102 - Budgeting On A Fluctuating IncomeIn this episode, Emma Claire and Carissa dive into the challenges and solutions for budgeting when your income is unpredictable. Whether you’re a freelancer, artist, or creative professional juggling side gigs and fluctuating paychecks, this episode offers practical strategies to keep your finances steady—even when your income isn’t.From baseline budgeting to income buffer accounts, they break down a budgeting system that works with your creative lifestyle and share real-life lessons from their own experiences navigating freelance finances. Check out their FREE budget template in addition to this episode to get your budgeting back on tra...2025-05-2813 min
Show Biz PodEp 9: The Practical Business That Let Me Quit My Job (& Keep Acting) Ft. Rosemary GilmoreEpisode 9: The Practical Business That Let Me Quit My Job (& Keep Acting) Ft. Rosemary GilmoreIn this episode, Carissa and Emma Claire chat with ATL-based film actor and entrepreneur Rosemary Gilmore about how launching a pool service business in Atlanta alongside her husband gave her the freedom and flexibility to pursue film acting on her own terms. From taking the leap into entrepreneurship with zero experience to navigating creative life with a business owner mindset, this episode is full of grounded advice for any creative looking to jump into the pool of starting their own business. 2025-05-2118 min
Show Biz PodEp 8: Budgeting 101 - The Blueprint For Your Bank AccountCarissa and Emma Claire have the budget chat that your BFA program forgot! They break down the basics of building a budget that actually works for your creative lifestyle. From understanding where your money is going to using flexible tools that fit your rhythm, this is your starter pack for taking control of your finances without sacrificing joy or freedom.WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT:Why budgeting gives you more freedom, not lessHow to define a budget that reflects your realityThe 4-part budget breakdown: Needs, Wants, Savings, DebtTools and templates for tracking your moneyCommon...2025-05-1415 min
Show Biz PodEp. 7: Casting, Styling, and Animal Handling—Oh My! How To Build A Career On-Stage and Off with Lara HayhurstIn this episode of Show Biz Pod, Emma Claire and Carissa sit down with Lara Hayhurst— actor, casting director, Bill Berloni trained animal handler, personal stylist, and Pace University graduate. She shares how she’s built a sustainable and ever-evolving career by embracing every opportunity on and off the stage.Lara opens up about the power of versatility, the overlap between performing and her day jobs, and how saying “yes” (and showing up) kept her working on-stage and off.WE TALKED ABOUT:How Lara built a multi-hyphenate career & the various side hustles that have kept her...2025-05-0720 min
Show Biz PodEp 6: Stop Relying on One Check: Multiple Streams of Income 101In this episode of Show Biz Pod, Emma Claire and Carissa break down the seven major types of income streams—what they are, how they work, and why diversifying your income is essential for artists. From rental income to capital gains, this episode will help you better understand the full landscape of how creatives should be diversifying their income.WE TALKED ABOUT:The 7 key types of income streams every creative should know.The difference between active vs. passive income.Personal examples of each income stream.How to identify what income type fits your current skills and go...2025-04-3020 min
Show Biz PodEp 5: Crypto, Country, and Creative Control: Sammy Arriaga on Music NFTsIn this episode of Show Biz Pod, Emma Claire and Carissa sit down with country Latino artist and NFT trailblazer Sammy Arriaga. Originally from Miami and now based in Nashville, Sammy shares his journey as a first-generation Cuban-American building a music career while also successfully building a steady stream of income for himself via the world of crypto and music NFTs. Whether you’re curious about NFT’s as a potential side hustle or just want to learn how artists are taking ownership and profiting off of their work in new ways, this conversation breaks it all down...2025-04-2323 min
Show Biz PodEp 4: Post Tax Clarity For Artists - Smart Steps To Prepare You For Next Tax SeasonIn this episode of Show Biz Pod, Emma Claire and Carissa get real about taxes. They chat about a several simple steps artists can take today to make next year's tax season way less stressful. Whether you’re still recovering from tax season or already thinking ahead, these tips will help you stay proactive, organized, and financially empowered year-round.Perfect for freelancers, performers, and self-employed creatives who want more control and clarity when it comes to money and taxes.WE TALKED ABOUT:Track Your Expenses & Find Every Avenue For Write-offs.Withhold Ta...2025-04-1621 min
Show Biz PodEp3: 5 Things Creatives Can Do TODAY to Improve their Financial FuturesIn this episode of Show Bid Pod, Emma Claire and Carissa dive into five simple yet impactful steps that creatives can take right now to set themselves up for a stronger financial future. Whether you’re a performer, freelancer, or self-employed creative, these actionable tips will help you build financial stability and start making your money work for you—today.WE TALKED ABOUT:Opening a high-yield savings account (HYSA) vs. traditional savings accountsThe benefits of a Roth IRA for retirement savingsUsing apps like Acorns to start investing with spare changeAutomating savings and investments to ensure consistent cont...2025-04-0916 min
Show Biz PodEp 2: Multi-Hyphenate with Multi-Businesses ft. Tara Lynn SteeleIn this episode, we sit down with Tara Lynn Steele to talk about what it really looks like to build multiple businesses as a creative — not as a backup plan, but as an intentional, sustainable part of her artistic career.Tara Lynn walks us through her journey from performer and movement coach to multi-business owner, sharing how her creative skills have shaped the way she approaches entrepreneurship and how building multiple streams of income has actually supported her artistry, not sidelined it.WE TALKED ABOUT:Building a multi-hyphenate career on purpose, not by accidentHow Ta...2025-04-0927 min
Show Biz PodEp 1: The Day Job Funds The Dream JobIn this debut episode of Showbiz Pod, hosts Carissa and Emma Claire dive into how their day jobs fuel their artistic careers. Carissa, a New York-based musical theater performer and freelance UGC creator/voiceover artist, shares how she turned a 14-year-old side hustle into a thriving business. Emma Claire, a New York film actor with a corporate strategy consulting career, talks about balancing her nine-to-five with acting in the city. Together, they discuss the importance of side hustles, entrepreneurship, and the financial strategy behind pursuing creative passions without relying on the "starving artist" mentality....2025-04-0919 min
Show Biz PodShow Biz Pod Trailer!Hi everyone! Welcome to Show Biz Pod - a weekly show that tackles creative careers, side hustles, entrepreneurship, personal finance, and how artists can and should strategically combine all four. For too long actors have been told to accept the starving artist mentality. Well, not anymore!If you're an actor, artist or creative looking to take control of your career and your finances, we've got you covered. Tune in every Wednesday and join us as we build day jobs that fund our dream jobs. XO, Carissa & Emma Claire2025-04-0101 min