Side Hustle Pro

In this solo episode, I break down why so many people are starting shows right now, drawing on 10 years of running Side Hustle Pro, which I launched in 2016 and have grown past 10 million downloads.I walk through three things a podcast can be: a networking tool, a bridge from where you've been to where you want to go, and a launch pad. I share how I grew the show with a small paid promotion budget, landed my first $4,000 sponsorship while working full time at NPR, and was found by producers from the Today Show and TEDx without pitching.I also cover how I started Side Hustle Pro after graduating from business school without a job, how Ryan Clark used his podcast The Pivot to move into his next chapter, and how to give people a clear reason to listen so your show can grow and earn.Main TakeawaysA podcast is a networking tool that opens doors a cold coffee request would not.Your show can be a bridge to the field you want next, even before you know what it is.Specificity grows a show; "life and everything in between" gives no one a reason to listen.Start before you need it: a podcast can work as your work insurance plan.Highlights Include[00:00] What Michelle Obama, Jalen Brunson, LeBron James, and I have in common[02:03] Why podcasting is the most powerful networking tool[04:40] Podcasting from home as an introvert[06:55] Podcasting as a bridge to where you want to go[12:05] How I grew Side Hustle Pro with $5 to $10 per post in paid promotion[15:00] Landing my first $4,000 sponsorship[18:50] Using your podcast as a pivot tool[22:50] How Side Hustle Pro started after business school[26:30] How the show led to the Today Show and TEDx[27:25] Ryan Clark, The Pivot, and your work insurance plan[29:45] Why "life and everything in between" won't grow your showLinks Mentioned in This EpisodePodcast Moguls: https://sidehustlepro.co/podcastmogulsWatch & ListenSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/13qDj08lBR4ymzGhXIKy8tApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/side-hustle-pro/id1126021323AnnouncementsPodcast Moguls, my coaching program for podcasters, is open. If you want to start your own podcast or grow your current one, I'll coach you on making your show more visible, more marketable, and an actual business. Join at sidehustlepro.co/podcastmoguls.

I kept putting off this solo episode because I did not want to get camera-ready. So I took the camera out of the picture. This audio-only life update is about the changes that helped me feel like myself again, a year after sharing that I was burned out.I share how I started building my business around my life as a mother, why I am focused on Podcast Moguls and SHIFT, and what I learned from launching the first group cohort of SHIFT this summer.I also talk about returning to therapy, the impact of postpartum on my mental health, and making room to rest. Next up: building systems that require less of my energy and asking what I can take out of the picture when I feel stuck.Main TakeawaysDesign your business around your life instead of designing your life around your business.Identify the part of a process that is keeping you stuck, and ask whether you can remove it.Focus on the offers that fit your life, and build systems that reduce unnecessary work.Protecting rest and getting professional support can change how you work and how you feel.Highlights IncludeWhy this episode is audio only and what I removed from the pictureWhere I was last year compared to where I am nowBuilding my business around motherhood, with most of my work on Tuesdays and ThursdaysDeciding what belongs in the business after a year of experimentingRecommitting to Podcast Moguls and keeping it currentLaunching the first group cohort of SHIFT in JulyWhy Podcast Moguls and SHIFT feel aligned with this seasonThe next chapter: systems, systems, systemsChanging my relationship with business and my sense of worthTherapy, postpartum, and getting support for my mental healthThe year I centered myself and redefining wealthAdditional Links: FREE CLASS: Start the Podcast that Builds Your Exit Plan: https://sidehustlepro.lpages.co/your-first-1000-downloadsJoin Podcast Moguls: https://sidehustlepro.co/podcastmogulsApply for the SHIFT Coaching Waitlist: https://sidehustlepro.co/shiftSTART Your Next Chapter: A Woman's Guide to Taking the Leap with AI by Nadeen Matthews Blair: https://amzn.to/4z2AZs8Watch & ListenSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/13qDj08lBR4ymzGhXIKy8tApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/side-hustle-pro/id1126021323

One of the biggest misconceptions I see when it comes to making money is the belief that you need to start from scratch. A new certification, a brand new idea, or a completely different skill set. But the truth is, most of us already have everything we need. The real problem is not a lack of knowledge, it is not knowing how to package and position what we already know.In this episode, I break down five simple and practical ways to turn your existing skills, experiences, and knowledge into income. Whether you are in between roles, exploring a side hustle, or just trying to make extra money right now, this episode is your reminder that there is value in what you already bring to the table.I also walk through a key mindset shift. You do not need to be the top expert. You just need to be a few steps ahead of the person you are helping. People are not just paying for information. They are paying for clarity, speed, guidance, and confidence. And that is where your opportunity lies.Main TakeawaysYou do not need new skills or certifications to start making moneyThere are five core ways to monetize what you already knowPeople pay for clarity, speed, and guidance, not just expertiseStart with one path and keep it simple instead of trying everythingHighlights Include00:00 – The biggest misconception about making money01:30 – Why you already have valuable, monetizable knowledge02:00 – The 5 ways to make money with what you know03:00 – The mindset shift you need before starting04:00 – Service and coaching as the fastest path to income06:00 – Done-for-you services and why people pay for convenience08:00 – Creating simple digital products that sell10:30 – Workshops and why people pay for real-time learning13:00 – Why reminders are key when selling anything15:00 – Using content to create opportunities and income18:00 – How to use AI without losing your voice21:00 – Why you should pick ONE path and start nowWatch & ListenWatch this episode on YouTube and listen on all podcast platforms:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/side-hustle-pro/id1126021323Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/13qDj08lBR4ymzGhXIKy8tYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/sidehustleproAnnouncementsIf you’re ready to build a podcast that becomes your exit plan from your 9-to-5, sign up for my next live class: Start the Podcast That Builds Your Exit PlanSave your seat here. Social MediaSide Hustle Pro – @sidehustlepro#SideHustlePro

This week in the guest chair, Symone’ Austin shares her powerful journey from being laid off to building a thriving YouTube platform.After recording and posting her layoff conversation, her video went viral and became the turning point in her entrepreneurial journey. In this episode, she breaks down how she built multiple income streams through YouTube ad revenue, brand partnerships, digital products, virtual assistant work, and strategic financial decisions like bringing on a roommate.If you’ve been navigating uncertainty, considering content creation, or wondering how to turn a setback into leverage, this episode will show you how.Highlights Include00:00 – Recording the layoff conversation that changed everything04:30 – Growing from 10K to 60K+ subscribers in one year08:20 – Making $5,900 in one month from YouTube ad revenue13:00 – Cutting expenses and surviving without touching savings18:10 – Turning skills into income: photography, digital products, VA work24:00 – Why personal finance has one of the highest CPMs on YouTube29:00 – Replacing a corporate salary through content creation35:00 – The reality of working 7 days a week as a full-time creator38:00 – Getting a roommate as a financial reset strategy43:00 – Navigating job offers after deciding to go all-inLinks Mentioned in This EpisodeWatch Symone’s YouTube video “I Got Laid Off From My 6 Figure Tech Job”Podcast Moguls: Start the Podcast That Builds Your Exit PlanRead Successful Failure by KevOnStageWatch & ListenWatch this episode on YouTube and listen on all podcast platforms:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/side-hustle-pro/id1126021323Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/13qDj08lBR4ymzGhXIKy8tYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/sidehustleproAnnouncementsIf you’re ready to build a podcast that becomes your exit plan, attend my next live class: Start the Podcast That Builds Your Exit Plan. Save your seat here.Social MediaYouTube: Life and Numbers: https://www.youtube.com/lifeandnumbersInstagram: @lifeandnumbers: http://instagram.com/lifeandnumbersSide Hustle Pro – @sidehustlepro#SideHustlePro

In this episode, I sat down with Jannese Torres, host of the Yo Quiero Dinero podcast, to talk about how she went from a corporate career in engineering, pharmaceuticals, and consumer manufacturing to building a $500K-a-year media business. Jannese shares how getting laid off pushed her to take entrepreneurship seriously and how her food blog, Delish D'Lites, became her first profitable side hustle.We talk about how she used her blog income to pay off her student loans, why she launched Yo Quiero Dinero in 2019 to create the personal finance show she wanted to hear as a Latina, and how the podcast became the engine behind her book, speaking engagements, brand partnerships, and other income streams.Jannese also breaks down the team and systems behind the business, why niching down helped her grow brand deals from $125 to more than $50,000, and how she separates the offers that pay the bills from the offers that let her experiment. This is an honest look at what it takes to build a profitable media brand without depending on one platform, one offer, or one source of income.In this episode, you will learn: How a layoff gave Jannese the push to test entrepreneurship before she felt fully readyWhy she treated her food blog like a non-negotiable commitment and learned SEO and brand partnershipsHow blog income helped her pay off her student loans and become debt-free in February 2020Why Yo Quiero Dinero centers Latinas and the power of building for a specific audienceHow the podcast became the foundation for her book, speaking, brand deals, and other revenue streamsWhy a podcast team, online business manager, and talent agent are essential to the way she works nowHow she separates reliable 'pay the bills' offers from 'fun money' offers that give her room to experimentHighlights Include01:07 - Being the first in her family to graduate from college and beginning her career in pharmaceuticals and medical devices04:10 - How getting laid off became the catalyst for testing entrepreneurship08:32 - Building the Delish D'Lites food blog and treating it like a non-negotiable commitment09:52 - Learning SEO and brand partnerships through a food blogging course11:33 - Using blog income to become debt-free in February 202016:32 - Why owning your platform matters more than building entirely on someone else's platform17:32 - Moving from blogging to launching Yo Quiero Dinero in 201919:42 - Why the podcast intentionally centers the Latina community26:01 - How the podcast became the engine behind her media business36:51 - The team behind the business: a podcast team, an online business manager, and a talent agent40:20 - Growing brand deals from $125 to more than $50,000 by niching down48:07 - Managing cash flow with 'pay the bills' offers and 'fun money' offersLinks and Resources MentionedYo Quiero Dinero: https://yoquierodineropodcast.comConnect With JanneseInstagram: @yoquierodineropodcast

If this resonated with you, here are additional resources:⭐ APPLY TO SHIFT: https://sidehustlepro.co/shiftYou do not need a million dollars to change your life, you need your first $1,000.In this solo episode, I’m breaking down why the first $1K is such a pivotal milestone for side hustlers and how it shifts everything from theory to proof. I walk you through the exact decisions and actions that turn preparation into income without overbuilding, overthinking, or waiting until things feel perfect.If you’ve been stuck planning, tweaking, or doubting yourself, this episode will help you move forward with clarity, confidence, and momentum.In This Episode, I Share:Why the first $1,000 changes everything mentally and strategicallyHow to choose a simple offer you can confidently deliver right nowHow to identify who your offer is really for and why frustration mattersWhy clarity, consistency, and conversations matter more than perfectionHighlights Include:00:00 – Why you don’t need a million dollars to change your life — you need your first $1,00001:35 – How your mindset shifts after you make your first $1K and why proof matters more than theory02:31 – What actually counts as an offer and why your first one should be useful, not fancy03:52 – Why starting with what you’re already confident in is the fastest way to get paid05:16 – How to decide who your offer is really for and why specificity matters07:27 – The difference between a painkiller and a vitamin offer (and why frustration drives sales)08:55 – How to package your offer simply without a website, logo, or brand11:22 – Why offering your service is the most important step people delay12:48 – How confidence and customer focus directly impact whether you make your first $1K14:04 – Why you don’t need a massive audience — just real conversations and feedback15:37 – How to use feedback as information instead of taking it personally17:47 – Why overbuilding and “perfecting” keeps side hustlers stuck19:21 – Breaking down the math behind $1,000 so it feels achievable20:45 – Why fewer clients at a higher price can reduce burnout21:34 – Why most people earn their first $1K from conversations, not content22:19 – How I made my first $1,000 and what actually worked26:03 – When to start building your email list and why simple free resources convert better28:54 – How to use a 12-week sprint to stay focused on your first $1K29:38 – What to do when your first offer feels slow or doesn’t land immediately31:08 – What changes after you hit your first $1,000 — and the mistake to avoid next31:49 – Final action steps to start building your first $1K offerLinks Mentioned in This EpisodeSide Hustle Pro Website: https://sidehustlepro.co/Watch & ListenWatch this episode on YouTube and listen on all podcast platforms:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/side-hustle-pro/id1126021323Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/13qDj08lBR4ymzGhXIKy8tYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/sidehustleproCheck out episode 530 of Side Hustle Pro podcast out now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTubeClick here to subscribe via RSS feed (non-iTunes feed): http://sidehustlepro.libsyn.com/rss