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.