The “Don’t Keep Your Day Job” podcast hosted by Cathy Heller
I really enjoy this podcast. The host, Cathy Heller, interviews artists, entrepreneurs, crafters, inventors, all kinds of people. She has a TON of episodes, so here are three I really enjoyed:
1. “How to Get Rich” with Ramit Sethi
I really dig what I have encountered of Ramit Sethi’s work. He has given me one of my favourite strategies for cutting costs: “Spend lavishly on the things you love, and cut costs mercilessly on the things you don’t.” This advice makes him one of the few financial literacy people alive who will not tell me I need to drink less matcha (out of my cold, dead hands!). He goes through a fun, creative exercise with host Cathy Heller on this that is super fun to listen to. It will put you out of a terrified mindset when thinking about money and into a more playful one.
2. “How to Network with Authenticity” with Jordan Harbinger
Jordan Harbinger proposes that networking is about finding out how you can help other people. I have always hated the idea that I am supposed to walk around an industry party figuring out who can help me. It just feels so darn desperate, and use-y, and I hate being on either side of it. He offers a great reframe.
“How to Pursue Acting and Activism” with Ed Begley Jr.
This is just lovely and inspiring, especially for actors. I especially love how Ed Begley Jr. talks about working in the camera department at the same time as being an actor.
The “Money Ha Ha” podcast hosted by Dara M Wilson and Yasmine Khan
I am so happy to discover another great money podcast by women of colour-yay! They are playful, honest, and helping chop down the stigma of talking about finance.
“Steal Like an Artist” by Austin Kleon
I have never read this book before. And I love it. It’s short, creative, and took me about no time to red. Also pictures. I love pictures.
“Real Artists Don’t Starve” by Jeff Goins
Okay, so there are some real problems with this book. Really white male-centric. And almost every example he gives of innovative leaders are people with hot garbage ethics: Jeff Bezos, for example. But there are some things I dig in this book.
*First of all, the title “Real Artists Don’t Starve.” Yeah. I dig that. Let’s crush the image of a successful artist only being one sitting in an unheated tiny apartment living off of canned beans. But also, let’s do the same to the image of the ‘valid’ artist as being one rewarded by capitalism. Because, let’s face it, the meritocracy is not a real thing. At all.
*I love how he ties stubbornness (or more specifically, the unwillingness to give up) to what he defines as success for an artist
*Also “You aren’t born a master.” Encouraging people to continue learning forever.
*He proposes different models of patrons: purchasers of art, wealthy patrons who pay you to create, as well as you yourself working a day job to make your art.
*I LOVE the idea of “make money to make art: Money is the means to making art, but it must never be the master.” I dig that. Takes away the shame so many people have of working day jobs/side gigs and lessens the idea of art being validated only if people will pay for it.
I read it in a few hours. Definitely worth the read, just beware the annoying straight-white guy slanted bias
Emily Nixon
Rags to Reasonable Community Outreach Coordinator
She came to this work after becoming completely fed up with living paycheque-to-paycheque and being too afraid to look in her chequing account. She is passionate about empowering other artists and variable income earners to keep doing what they love and feel confident about their finances.
Email Emily at emily@ragstoreasonable.com
