Side Hustle Pro

Nicaila Matthews Okome | Side Hustle Pro Media

Details

Side Hustle Pro spotlights bold black women entrepreneurs who have scaled from side hustle to profitable business. Join Chief Side Hustler turned full-time entrepreneur Nicaila Matthews Okome for your weekly installment of Side Hustle Pro and learn actionable strategies to start small and get going–wherever and whoever you are. Side Hustle Pro features interviews with inspiring Black women entrepreneurs who started out as side hustlers, including interviews with Myleik Teele, Morgan DeBaun, Tiffany "The Budgetnista" Aliche, and more! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Recent Episodes

SEP 30, 2026
5 Simple Ways to Get Paid for What You Already Know
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 Takeaways You do not need new skills or certifications to start making money There are five core ways to monetize what you already know People pay for clarity, speed, and guidance, not just expertise Start with one path and keep it simple instead of trying everything Highlights Include 00:00 – The biggest misconception about making money 01:30 – Why you already have valuable, monetizable knowledge 02:00 – The 5 ways to make money with what you know 03:00 – The mindset shift you need before starting 04:00 – Service and coaching as the fastest path to income 06:00 – Done-for-you services and why people pay for convenience 08:00 – Creating simple digital products that sell 10:30 – Workshops and why people pay for real-time learning 13:00 – Why reminders are key when selling anything 15:00 – Using content to create opportunities and income 18:00 – How to use AI without losing your voice 21:00 – Why you should pick ONE path and start now Watch & Listen Watch this episode on YouTube and listen on all podcast platforms: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/side-hustle-pro/id1126021323 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/13qDj08lBR4ymzGhXIKy8t YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/sidehustlepro Announcements If 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 Plan Save your seat here. Social Media Side Hustle Pro – @sidehustlepro #SideHustlePro Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
23 MIN
SEP 25, 2026
She Got Laid Off…Then Built a YouTube Income to Pay Her Bills
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 Include 00:00 – Recording the layoff conversation that changed everything 04:30 – Growing from 10K to 60K+ subscribers in one year 08:20 – Making $5,900 in one month from YouTube ad revenue 13:00 – Cutting expenses and surviving without touching savings 18:10 – Turning skills into income: photography, digital products, VA work 24:00 – Why personal finance has one of the highest CPMs on YouTube 29:00 – Replacing a corporate salary through content creation 35:00 – The reality of working 7 days a week as a full-time creator 38:00 – Getting a roommate as a financial reset strategy 43:00 – Navigating job offers after deciding to go all-in Links Mentioned in This Episode Watch Symone’s YouTube video “I Got Laid Off From My 6 Figure Tech Job” Podcast Moguls: Start the Podcast That Builds Your Exit Plan Read Successful Failure by KevOnStage Watch & Listen Watch this episode on YouTube and listen on all podcast platforms: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/side-hustle-pro/id1126021323 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/13qDj08lBR4ymzGhXIKy8t YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/sidehustlepro Announcements If 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 Media YouTube: Life and Numbers: https://www.youtube.com/lifeandnumbers Instagram: @lifeandnumbers: http://instagram.com/lifeandnumbers Side Hustle Pro – @sidehustlepro #SideHustlePro Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
56 MIN
SEP 18, 2026
From a Food Blog to a $500K-a-Year Media Business: How Jannese Torres Built Yo Quiero Dinero
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 ready Why she treated her food blog like a non-negotiable commitment and learned SEO and brand partnerships How blog income helped her pay off her student loans and become debt-free in February 2020 Why Yo Quiero Dinero centers Latinas and the power of building for a specific audience How the podcast became the foundation for her book, speaking, brand deals, and other revenue streams Why a podcast team, online business manager, and talent agent are essential to the way she works now How she separates reliable 'pay the bills' offers from 'fun money' offers that give her room to experiment Highlights Include 01:07 - Being the first in her family to graduate from college and beginning her career in pharmaceuticals and medical devices 04:10 - How getting laid off became the catalyst for testing entrepreneurship 08:32 - Building the Delish D'Lites food blog and treating it like a non-negotiable commitment 09:52 - Learning SEO and brand partnerships through a food blogging course 11:33 - Using blog income to become debt-free in February 2020 16:32 - Why owning your platform matters more than building entirely on someone else's platform 17:32 - Moving from blogging to launching Yo Quiero Dinero in 2019 19:42 - Why the podcast intentionally centers the Latina community 26:01 - How the podcast became the engine behind her media business 36:51 - The team behind the business: a podcast team, an online business manager, and a talent agent 40:20 - Growing brand deals from $125 to more than $50,000 by niching down 48:07 - Managing cash flow with 'pay the bills' offers and 'fun money' offers Links and Resources Mentioned Yo Quiero Dinero: https://yoquierodineropodcast.com Connect With Jannese Instagram: @yoquierodineropodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
53 MIN
SEP 11, 2026
How to Make Your First $1K Side Hustling
If this resonated with you, here are additional resources: ⭐ APPLY TO SHIFT: https://sidehustlepro.co/shift You 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 strategically How to choose a simple offer you can confidently deliver right now How to identify who your offer is really for and why frustration matters Why clarity, consistency, and conversations matter more than perfection Highlights Include: 00:00 – Why you don’t need a million dollars to change your life — you need your first $1,000 01:35 – How your mindset shifts after you make your first $1K and why proof matters more than theory 02:31 – What actually counts as an offer and why your first one should be useful, not fancy 03:52 – Why starting with what you’re already confident in is the fastest way to get paid 05:16 – How to decide who your offer is really for and why specificity matters 07:27 – 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 brand 11:22 – Why offering your service is the most important step people delay 12:48 – How confidence and customer focus directly impact whether you make your first $1K 14:04 – Why you don’t need a massive audience — just real conversations and feedback 15:37 – How to use feedback as information instead of taking it personally 17:47 – Why overbuilding and “perfecting” keeps side hustlers stuck 19:21 – Breaking down the math behind $1,000 so it feels achievable 20:45 – Why fewer clients at a higher price can reduce burnout 21:34 – Why most people earn their first $1K from conversations, not content 22:19 – How I made my first $1,000 and what actually worked 26:03 – When to start building your email list and why simple free resources convert better 28:54 – How to use a 12-week sprint to stay focused on your first $1K 29:38 – What to do when your first offer feels slow or doesn’t land immediately 31:08 – What changes after you hit your first $1,000 — and the mistake to avoid next 31:49 – Final action steps to start building your first $1K offer Links Mentioned in This Episode Side Hustle Pro Website: https://sidehustlepro.co/ Watch & Listen Watch this episode on YouTube and listen on all podcast platforms: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/side-hustle-pro/id1126021323 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/13qDj08lBR4ymzGhXIKy8t YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/sidehustlepro Check out episode 530 of Side Hustle Pro podcast out now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Click here to subscribe via RSS feed (non-iTunes feed): http://sidehustlepro.libsyn.com/rss Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
33 MIN
AUG 28, 2026
From YouTube Exec to Full-Time Creator: How Chanel Tyler Turned Content Creation Into 5-Figure Passive Income
If this resonated with you, here are additional resources: ⭐ APPLY TO SHIFT: https://sidehustlepro.co/shift This week in the guest chair is Chanel Tyler, a strategist, creator, and self-described “contentpreneur” who has worked across investment banking, luxury marketing, and YouTube before stepping fully into entrepreneurship. Chanel built her reputation online by sharing trusted product recommendations and insights from her background in beauty marketing. But after years of consulting with a creator commerce platform that generated over 80% of her income, everything changed when the company suddenly shut down. In this episode, Chanel opens up about what it really looks like to rebuild after losing the majority of your income overnight. She shares how she pivoted by diversifying her platforms, leaning deeper into affiliate marketing, launching new creator education programs, and embracing the vulnerability of sharing her personal story — including her journey with hearing loss. If you’ve ever worried about relying on a single income stream or wondered how creators actually make money online, Chanel breaks down the strategy behind building a sustainable creator business. In this episode, Chanel shares: How she built a creator business by combining corporate strategy, content creation, and affiliate marketing What happened when the platform responsible for 80% of her income shut down overnight and how she rebuilt Why diversification across platforms, income streams, and partnerships is essential for creators and entrepreneurs How affiliate marketing works and how creators can use performance data to negotiate higher-paying brand deals Highlights Include 00:00 – Introduction 02:10 – Chanel’s career path from investment banking to luxury beauty marketing 05:10 – Building an audience through skincare and product recommendations 09:00 – Landing a role at YouTube working with top creators 15:00 – Saving a year of income before leaving corporate 19:00 – The moment she lost 80% of her income overnight 24:30 – Why diversification is critical for creators and entrepreneurs 27:00 – Building content series that grow an audience 32:00 – Affiliate marketing vs. brand partnerships explained 37:00 – Sharing her journey with hearing loss and disability 40:00 – How statement earrings became part of her empowerment story 43:00 – Affiliate income strategies for creators Links Mentioned in This Episode Substack: Sensible Julia Broome Check out the Networth and Chill Podcast;Creator Economy & Brand Deals with Victoria Paris ShopMy:https://shopmy.us/home/creators MagicLinks:https://www.magiclinks.com/creators BrandCycle:https://brandcycle.com/ LTK: https://company.shopltk.com/en/creator Nordstrom Affiliate Program:https://www.nordstromcreators.com/ Check out Chanel’s Creator Profit Lab’s interest form & course registration Save the Date: Start the Podcast That Builds Your Exit Plan (Friday, March 20) Watch & Listen Watch this episode on YouTube and listen on all podcast platforms: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/side-hustle-pro/id1126021323 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/13qDj08lBR4ymzGhXIKy8t YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/sidehustlepro Social Media Instagram: @thecreatorprofitlab Instagram: @buymechanel Side Hustle Pro – @sidehustlepro #SideHustlePro Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
69 MIN