How Much Can I Make? — Real Jobs. Real Stories. Career Insights
How Much Can I Make? with Mirav Ozeri is the podcast that pulls back the curtain on real jobs, real people, and real earnings. Each week, Mirav interviews professionals from every corner of the working world — HVAC pros, cybersecurity experts, boutique hotel owners, mediums, musicians, dietitians, filmmakers and more — to reveal what it’s really like to do their job.You’ll hear how they got started, what training or degrees they needed, how they broke into the business, what challenges they face, and how much they make.Whether you’re exploring a career change, starting a side hustle, or just curiou...
Managing AI Agents: A New Career Without Coding?
Could your next job be managing AI agents? At 19, Laurits Wehding is already doing it, without a university degree or coding skills.
Joining me from Sweden, Strawberry’s founding operator shares how he landed the role, what his AI assistants actually do, and why he still has to check their work. We explore a new kind of job created by AI and the curiosity, skills, and judgment it takes to get started.
Connect with Laurits Wehding & Strawberry: https://strawberrybrowser.com/
Heard our AI Jobs episode? ➡️ H...
Book Doula: A Career Helping Authors Write
We talk with book doula Michelle Fiordaliso about what it really takes to bring a book to life, from finding your voice to choosing a publishing path. We also get honest about author income, ghostwriting rates, AI in writing, and why the human touch still matters.
If you’ve been waiting for permission to start, consider this your nudge. Subscribe, share this with a friend who “has a book in them,” and give us a like, so more listeners can find the show.
Connect with Michelle: https://michellefiordaliso.com/
Financial Advisor Career: How They Make Money & Build Wealth
“Save until it slightly hurts” sounds harsh, but it might be the most realistic wealth-building advice you’ll hear all year. We sit down with Donna Stephens, a seasoned financial advisor who also brings an attorney’s lens to the money choices that shape your life. We get very specific about what real financial planning looks like when you’re not already rich.
And because this is How Much Can I Make?, we explore the career itself: how financial advisors get started, attract clients, and earn money through consultation fees ranging from $500 to $7,500, as well as...
AI Jobs: New Careers Created by AI
Everyone’s talking about the jobs AI might replace. But what about the jobs it’s creating?
In this episode I talk with Meg Columbia Walsh about where the new AI career opportunities are, what kinds of jobs are already emerging, and what you need to learn to stay competitive.
We get into AI engineers, data analysts, cybersecurity, prompt design, marketing and why you don’t have to be a programmer to work in this new world.
If you’re trying to figure out where the job market is headed, this is a goo...
How Movie Deals Get Made: Inside Hollywood Producing
You can build a successful career by playing it safe, but you rarely build something great that way. We sit down with Larry Kasanoff, veteran movie producer and former studio head whose credits include Platoon, Terminator 2, True Lies, and the Mortal Kombat franchise. Larry has raised over a billion dollars for film projects and takes us behind the scenes of how movies actually get financed, how producers get paid, and what it really takes to put a Hollywood deal together. We also talk about his book, A Touch of the Madness<...
The Business of Hypnosis: What Hypnotists Really Make
What does hypnosis really feel like, and can hypnotherapy actually help with anxiety, chronic pain, smoking cessation, habit change, and performance?
We sit down with Tommy Giorlando, a professional hypnotist with 20 years of experience in stage hypnosis and hypnotherapy, to separate fact from fiction. He explains what hypnosis is, why it works, how it differs from the dramatic version we see in movies, and what is actually happening when someone enters a hypnotic state.
We also talk about hypnotherapy as a career and business, including safety, client work, earning potential, and...
Bartender Career: Salary, Tips and Life Behind the Bar
That big mirror behind the bar is not there for vanity, it is there because a bartender’s back is turned at the exact moments something can go wrong. We sit down with Tom Ostoyich, a career bartender who has worked since the late 1990s across New York City, New Orleans, and the Hudson Valley, to pull back the curtain on what bartending actually demands and what it can realistically pay.
Then we go to the parts that rarely make it into the glamorous version of nightlife: handling drunk or hostile guests, the legal risk of...
Doula Life: What It’s Really Like to Be a Birth Doula
A job where your “office” might be a hospital room, a birth center, or a stopped car on a bridge sounds impossible until you hear how a doula actually works. We sit down with Mary Riley, a doula who has supported more than 2,500 births, to unpack what real labor support looks like when plans change, policies shift, and emotions run high.
Then come the stories that make the work feel real: coaching a couple through an unplanned car birth in bumper-to-bumper traffic and the surprising ways memory and trauma can surface during labor.
If you...
Behind the Scenes on Broadway: What a Stage Manager Really Does
We talk with Billy, a Broadway stage manager with 30 years of experience, about what it really takes to run a live theater production. He shares how he built his career, what stage managers do during rehearsals and performances, and how they handle missed cues, technical problems, injuries, and emergencies—all while keeping the show moving.
Billy also explains how to become a stage manager, the skills you need, the demanding Broadway schedule, job security, union benefits, and how much stage managers can earn—from low-paying early jobs to around $200,000 a year at the Broadway level. Plus...
Plumber Career: Salary, Training & What the Job Is Really Like
A plumber shows up when your home is one bad valve away from a flood, and that pressure is exactly why the career can pay so well. I’m Mirav Ozeri, and I sit down with Mark Anderson, the plumber I’ve worked with for years, to get the unfiltered truth about plumbing as a job: the crawl spaces, the soot, the late-night calls, and the very real satisfaction of fixing a problem nobody else can solve.
If you’ve been hearing that Gen Z is turning to the trades, we unpack what’s driving...
Architect Career: Salary, Training & What the Job Is Really Like
We sit down with architect Rob DuPont for an honest look at what an architect career is really like—from architecture school, licensing, and finding your first job to building codes, client demands, long hours, and running your own firm. Rob also breaks down architect salary and earning potential, including why starting pay can be surprisingly low and how experience, networking, specialization, and business ownership can change what an architect can make.
We also explore AI in architecture, sustainability and energy-efficiency requirements, working with builders and contractors, and the sk...
Voice-Over Career: Money & Reality
Your voice can earn real money, but what does a voice-over career actually look like, and how much can a professional voice actor make?
We sit down with Heike Bachmann, a German voice-over artist based in New York, to go inside the business of professional voice-over work. Heike explains what the job really involves, from reading scripts with precise time codes to dubbing, lip-syncing, commercials, cartoons, museum audio tours, corporate narration, and medical voice-over work.
Heike also shares the unlikely story of how she landed her first voice-over job and turned it into...
Life Coach Career: Salary & Helping People Change
What does a life coach really do? Diane Martinez joins us to explain how life coaching helps people move forward, why so many successful people still feel stuck, and how coaching differs from therapy. We also talk about building a coaching business, what life coaches charge, creating recurring income with Patreon, and the daily habits that can help people change their lives. If you've ever wondered whether life coaching is the right career—or the right investment—this episode is for you.
Connect with Diane:
Website: https://www.consciouscreatinglifecoaching.com...
The Real Business of Personal Training
How do you become a successful personal trainer, and how much can you really make? In this episode, I sit down with personal trainer, licensed massage therapist, and martial arts expert Geoff Staz to explore the realities of building a career in fitness. We discuss personal trainer salary, certifications, getting clients, opening a fitness business, and why long-term success depends more on habits, nutrition, and self-trust than quick fixes. Whether you're considering a career in personal training or simply want practical fitness advice, this conversation offers an honest look at the profession and the business behind it.<...
Mycologist Career: The Business of Mushrooms
We talk with John Michelotti, of Catskill Fungi about turning mushroom obsession into a real career through education, value-added products, and deep respect for the forest. We break down what mycologists actually do, what’s safe for beginners, and where the money is in mushrooms versus where it simply isn’t.
Connect with John and his farm:
Event schedule: https://catskillfungi.com/collections/events
Products: https://catskillfungi.com/collections/frontpage
Substack: https://substack.com/@catskillfungi
Yael's Subst...
eCommerce Photography Career: Salary, Skills & How Products Sell Online
Thinking about a career in e-commerce photography? In this episode, we talk with product photographer Julie Benedetto about what it really takes to build a successful business photographing products for online stores and developing retail brands. Julie explains what makes product images sell, why styling and lighting matter as much as the camera, and how much of the work happens before and after the shutter click. We also discuss pricing, licensing, AI's impact on commercial photography, finding clients, and the growing opportunity to earn royalties instead of charging a flat fee. If you're interested in photography jobs...
Science of Babies: Feldenkrais Method & Infant Development
We talk with Feldenkrais practitioner Leigh Scott, author of Secrets Babies Hold, a multi-media book about how babies develop through movement, touch, and sensory experiences during their first year of life. Leigh explains the science behind the Feldenkrais Method, shares practical ways parents can support healthy infant development, and discusses common concerns about milestones, muscle tension, and learning to crawl and walk. Whether you're a new parent, grandparent, caregiver, or healthcare professional, you'll come away with a better understanding of how babies learn and what they truly need to thrive.
<...City Planner Career: Salary, Urban Planning Jobs & How Cities Are Designed
We talk with NYC urban planner Eddie Joe about what city planners actually do and how cities are designed in the real world. From post-pandemic retail strategy and neighborhood revitalization to affordable housing, zoning, and economic development, Eddie explains how urban planners help shape the communities where we live, work, and travel.
We also discuss urban planner salaries, career opportunities, transitioning from architecture into city planning, and the skills needed to succeed in the field. Along the way, we explore GIS mapping, AI, smart cities, public engagement, and the complex balancing act between developers, government agencies, and...
The Business of Being a Medium: Career Truths & Income
Pam Meredith has a remarkable job: she’s a professional medium who helps people connect with loved ones who have passed away.
In this episode, she shares her career journey, offering unique insights into what it’s really like to work between the worlds of the living and the spirit.
What makes her perspective so compelling is her belief that mediumship isn’t rare, it’s a natural human ability that can be developed by anyone. She even shares practical techniques, for anyone who wants to try reaching out to their own loved ones and...
Build A Career In Immersive Visuals - Travel. Tech. Creativity
We talk with Joe Ness about building a career that combines filmmaking, travel, technology, and entrepreneurship. What started as a simple experiment with a vertical TV evolved into immersive video walls seen in casinos, hotels, healthcare facilities, and public spaces around the world.
Joe shares how he traveled to nearly 100 countries capturing extraordinary footage, the costs and risks behind creating world-class visual content, and why he believes authentic, real-world moments matter more than ever in an AI-driven world. We also discuss how he's using immersive visuals to improve healthcare and assisted living environments.
<...
Underwater Photographer Career: Salary, Skills, and How to Get Started
How do you build a successful photography career in the age of smartphones and AI? In this episode of How Much Can I Make?, photographer Caroline White shares how she turned photography into a thriving business, from personal branding and online dating photos to her signature underwater maternity photography.
We discuss what professional photographers really earn, how photography pricing works, how to attract clients, and what it takes to stand out in a competitive creative industry. Caroline also takes us behind the scenes of underwater photography, revealing the equipment, training, and techniques required to create...
The $1,000 Startup That Became a Million-Dollar Spa Franchise
Nuttha Goutier came to Canada from a small village in Thailand with little money, limited English, and one clear vision: help people feel healthier and more connected. Today, her Sabai Thai Spa brand spans multiple locations and 13 franchise territories across Canada.
In this episode, Nuttha breaks down how she launched her first spa with less than $1,000 and no business background — and grew it into a brand where a single location can hit $1.7M a year.
If you're thinking about opening a spa or buying a franchise, she get...
Franchising Explained: Costs, Earnings & Growth
We sit down with franchise consultant Dr. Tom DuFore to get honest about what franchising really is and why it is not a set-it-and-forget-it income stream. We break down how to tell if a business can franchise, what fees and royalties actually look like, and what makes franchise systems succeed or fall apart over time.
• franchising as a growth and distribution method rather than a business type
• why “passive income” still requires training, support, and real operational work
• three franchisability checkpoints: profitable prototype, teachable operations, national demand
• how master franchising can make international expansion ea...
Inside the Music Sync Business with Elyse Schiller
How do songs get placed in Netflix shows, commercials, films, and video games - and how much money can musicians actually make from music sync licensing? In this episode, Mirav talks with music sync licensing expert Elise Schiller about the business behind sync deals, music placements, and licensing songs for TV, film, streaming, advertising, and gaming.
Elise explains how songs are pitched to music supervisors, what makes a track “syncable,” how sync licensing deals work, and why one placement can completely change an independent artist’s career.
If you want to explore more creat...
Inside The Career Of a Death Investigator
We talk with legendary NYC death investigator Barbara Butcher about what it really takes to walk into a death scene, read the evidence, and help the dead get justice. We also get honest about the human cost, the pay, and what she learned from 23 years and more than 5,500 investigations. Barbara shares the realities of forensic investigation, the emotional toll of the job, how people enter this career field, and how much death investigators can make in cities like New York and across the U.S.
If you enjoyed this episode, head over to...
From Czechoslovakia to MoMA: How Sculptor Alex Kveton Built a Real Art Business
How to Build a Real Art Business: Selling Sculpture, Gallery Representation, and the Long Game - with Alex Kveton
What does it actually take to make a living as a sculptor? In this episode, we sit down with sculptor Alex Kveton and Barbara to trace a career that began with escaping communist Czechoslovakia and grew into a thriving fine art business - with stainless steel sculptures placed in prestigious institutions including MoMA and the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library, and represented by galleries across the United States.
We...
Landscape Designer Career & Pay: How to Start Garden Design with Dean Riddle
Landscape Designer Career
Landscape design is one of those careers that blends creativity with real earning potential - and you don’t need a degree to get started. In this episode, we talk with landscape designer and gardener Dean Riddle about what it actually takes to build a career in landscaping, what garden designers really do, and how much you can make.
We also talk about the realities of gardening in the Northeast- especially in places like New York and New Jersey - including short growing seasons, winter downtime, deer pressure, an...
Jewelry Designer Career: Startup Costs & How to Build a Profitable Jewelry Business
Jewelry Designer
A jewelry business can look effortless online, but behind it is real work—pricing, production, sourcing, and staying profitable as gold and silver prices rise. In this episode, jewelry designer Serena Van Rensselaer breaks down how to build a jewelry brand, from learning silversmithing to turning it into a sustainable business. We cover jewelry designer income, pricing strategies, startup costs, and how revenue comes from direct sales, wholesale, and collaborations with movies like Flow.
If you’re searching for how to become a jewelry designer, jewelry business income, or creat...
Career Reinvention: How One Producer Pivoted Across Industries
Career Reinvention
Thinking about changing careers? We talk with Cynthia Cohen about how she pivoted without starting over by building on existing skills instead of erasing the past. From New York to today’s remote work landscape, we break down what it really takes to switch careers, stay competitive in a shifting job market, manage fear, and turn your experience into new opportunities.
Cynthia's Website: https://rightarmproductions.com/
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Trying to figure out what career might actually fit you? Ta...
TV Producer Career Insights: Behind the Scenes After Filming Ends
TV Producer Career Insights
Explore the career insights of a TV producer with Robin Feldman as she reveals what happens after filming wraps. This episode delves into the essential post-production phases, from managing tight deadlines and budgets to overcoming daily production challenges. Robin shares her journey breaking into the TV industry in Vancouver, highlighting key success factors like persistence, professionalism, and collaboration in a showrunner-driven environment.
Gain valuable job advice about broadcast vs. streaming schedules, union dynamics, freelance work, negotiating rates, and how side hustles can boost earnings. Whether you're considering a career...
Inside a NASA Contractor Job: Systems Engineer Salary & Artemis Missions
Systems Engineer
This week—timely with Artemis II—we revisit a standout episode with NASA contractor systems engineer Johanna Siegel.
Johanna reveals what it really takes to build mission-critical hardware for the Artemis program—and the career opportunities and earnings potential that come with it. In this deep dive, discover how engineers translate complex requirements like radiation protection and life support systems into hardware that protects astronaut lives, plus real salary insights and how to break into aerospace engineering careers.
If you're exploring aerospace engineering, space careers, or high...
A Photographer's Job: Inside the Business of Photography
Photographer
In this episode of How Much Can I Make?, we dive into the world of photography as a career, exploring job ideas, earnings, and success factors with professional photographer Phil Mansfield. From the early days of film to modern lifestyle assignments, Phil shares career insights and explains how a photography career evolves over time.
We break down how photographers get paid, how creative professionals price their work, and why usage rights and licensing fees are critical to understanding the real value of an image.
Along the way, we un...
Fencing Coach Career: Salary, Training & How to Get Started
Fencing Coach
What does it take to turn fencing into a rewarding career—and how much can a fencing coach earn?
In this episode of How Much Can I Make?, fencing coach Pamela Dressel shares invaluable career insights about making money in this niche sport. She dives into lightning-fast strategy and the unglamorous grind of footwork and conditioning.
We cover coaching income, private lessons, club models, and the real skills behind the sport—strategy, discipline, and teaching.
If you’re curious about niche sports careers or looking for a un...
Hypnosis as a Career: Inside the Job of a Professional Hypnotherapist
Hypnotists
Explore the intriguing career opportunities in hypnosis with a professional hypnotist Tommy Giorlando.
In this episode we dive deep into the job market for hypnotists, uncovering what the work entails, the training required, and the factors that contribute to success in this unique field. Tommy shares valuable career insights about how hypnosis works, its practical benefits, and why this profession is more than just stage shows. Discover earnings breakdowns between stage performances and private hypnotherapy sessions, and learn how making money as a hypnotist is achievable through building client trust a...
Bankruptcy Lawyer Explains Chapter 7, Chapter 13 & Getting a Fresh Start
Bankruptcy Lawyer
Struggling with overwhelming debt, IRS notices, or nonstop creditor calls? In this episode, Massachusetts bankruptcy attorney Barry Levine dives deep into how bankruptcy laws offer legal debt relief and a fresh start, empowering listeners to regain control of their finances and careers.
With 45 years of experience helping individuals and small business owners, Barry breaks down the bankruptcy process step-by-step, including asset protection rules, timelines for discharge, and what rebuilding your credit score after bankruptcy really looks like.
From routine filings to a complex 1,807-Bitcoin bankruptcy dispute, this con...
Nurse's Career In High demand: Life Behind Operating Room Doors
Operating-Room Nurse
Ever wonder what really happens behind those operating room doors? In this episode, longtime OR nurse Patti Columbia Walsh shares valuable career insights from her 40-year experience in one of healthcare's most high-stakes jobs. From anticipating every surgeon’s move to handling medical emergencies, she reveals the fast-paced reality and success factors of working in the OR.
If you’re exploring a career in nursing or considering a career change, Patti's real job advice and behind-the-scenes perspective offer practical tips and honesty about the profession’s challenges and rewards — includin...
Reinvention: Career Change and Navigating the Hidden Job Market
Reinvention
AI is reshaping the job market. Layoffs are rising. Being “qualified” isn’t enough anymore.
In this episode, Ilana Golan, founder of Leap Academy, explains how to pivot strategically in today’s AI-driven economy. We break down career reinvention, the hidden job market, building a portfolio career, and how to position yourself before opportunities go public.
If you’re considering a career change, worried about AI replacing jobs, or ready to increase your earning potential, this conversation gives you actionable job advice for navigating today's AI-driven job landscape.
Subscri...
Divorce Mediation vs Court: Costs, Custody & Career Earnings Explained
Mediator
In this episode, discover what a family mediator really does and how much you can earn in this career. New York family mediator Alison Block Gerson shares how divorce mediation offers a faster, less expensive alternative to traditional court litigation, reducing conflict and helping couples reach workable agreements.
We dive into detailed comparisons between mediation and court processes, including training requirements, private mediation rates in New York, and court-referred mediation pay. Explore real cases that reveal why divorce litigation costs can escalate to six figures, especially with complex assets like c...
Entrepreneurship: Startup Myths Exposed
Entrepreneurship
In this episode, we break down an entrepreneurship playbook for starting and growing a business - without relying on big ideas, passion, or excessive risk.
Jim Beach, host of School for Startups, joins us to challenge the most common startup myths that stop founders before they ever make money, and shatters the belief that success requires a brilliant, original idea.
Jim shares how he built a 100-station radio footprint without traditional syndication, using the distribution as le...
Interview With AI: Jobs, AGI, and AI’s Impact on Our Future
Interview With AI
What happens when five leading AI systems are asked the same questions?
In this special episode, we bring Gemini, Claude, Grok ChatGPT and Copilot to the same table to confront the issues shaping our future—jobs and automation, AI safety, AGI risk, intimacy, loneliness, and climate impact.
We start with introductions and move to jobs - which ones are changing first, which skills matter next, and why creativity alone isn’t AI-proof. Then we discuss AGI—what it is, why it matters, and why even A...
