How Much Can I Make?

Reinvention  

2/23/2026

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. 

Subscribe to "How Much Can I Make?" and share this episode with anyone looking for career reinvention and innovative career tips.

$150 LeapCon Cupon -2/26-2/28/2026  https://invitation.leapacademy.com/leap-conference-2026?aff=14e6fcc33b9ce6d019c475b869f9432477392a93e4dff02140f2690423671caf

Connect with Ilana:

Videos of Leap Academy success stories - https://www.youtube.com/@ilanagolan-leap-academy/videos

Website - https://www.leapacademy.com/

Podcast - leapacademy.com/podcast

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/ilanagolan

Mediator

2/16/26

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 cryptocurrency and forensic accounting involved. 

Whether you're considering a career in mediation, seeking job advice, or curious about career opportunities, this episode delivers valuable career insights and practical information about earnings and success factors. 

Tune in for essential job tips and insider perspectives on navigating the divorce mediation job market.

Connect with Alison

Website - https://www.familymediationmatters.com/

Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alison-block-gerson-00536b5/

Entrepreneurship 

2/9/26

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 leverage to grow credibility, speaking opportunities, and book sales. We also get candid about business naming, trademarks, and mistakes that quietly kill startups.

This conversation is essential listening for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, small business ideas, starting a business with little money, realistic startup advice, and building sustainable income without hype.

Connect with Jim:

Website: https://jimbeach.com/

Jim's new book - https://www.amazon.com/Real-Environmentalists-Wayne-Elliott-Capitalists/dp/B0FLJ8484M

Want us to cover a specific job? Shoot us an email!

Music credit: Kate Pierson & Monica Nation

Interview With AI

2/2/26

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 AGI engineers describe it as dangerous.

The conversation ends in the most human territory of all: AI companions, emotional attachment, and loneliness.

If this side‑by‑side look at the platforms shaping our world got you thinking, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review. Your support helps more curious people find conversations that don’t flinch.

Keynote Speaker 

02/02/26

What happens when you lose your voice—and the career you built around it?

For Jennifer Brown, that moment became the catalyst for a powerful career reinvention. Today, she’s a globally recognized keynote speaker and one of the leading voices in diversity, equity, and inclusion.

In this episode of How Much Can I Make?, Jennifer shares real-world career insights into what it takes to build a successful keynote speaking business. We talk about personal branding, storytelling, reinvention, and how to turn lived experience into meaningful—and profitable—work.

Jennifer breaks down:

• How to pivot careers when your old path disappears

• What it really takes to thrive as a keynote speaker

• How to build a personal brand that attracts paid speaking opportunities

• Turning your unique story into a powerful professional asset

Whether you’re considering a career change, exploring public speaking, or wondering how to monetize your experience and expertise, this episode offers practical advice, honest perspective, and inspiration to take the leap.

Jennifer Brown website - jenniferbrownspeaks.com

Jennifer's books - https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jennifer-Brown/author/B01MSOZWO6?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1752212498&sr=8-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

Want us to cover a specific job? Shoot us an email!

Visit howmuchcanimake.info

Music credit: Kate Pierson & Monica Nation

Economics Journalist

1/19/26

Understanding basic economics can significantly impact your job and earnings. 

We sit down with Peter Coy, a veteran economics journalist who has written for Bloomberg Businessweek, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal.

Peter shares career insights into the economics of journalism, explaining how stories are pitched and shaped, and how innovative platforms like Substack and AI are transforming media careers. He offers practical job advice on navigating income, sustainability, and long-term success factors in journalism and related fields.

If you’re interested in journalism careers, media jobs, or how economics shapes work and money, this episode offers clear, practical insight.

Connect with Peter:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petercoy1/

Substack: petercoy.substack.com

X:  @petercoy

Bluesky: petercoy.bsky.social

Instagram & TikTok : peterhcoy

Digital Entrepreneur

1/12/26

Discover practical job ideas and career insights in digital entrepreneurship.

What if you could learn a practical web skill over a single weekend, build a simple website for a local business, and turn it into steady monthly income?

In this episode, we sit down with Matt Raad to break down a realistic path from beginner to profitable digital entrepreneurship. We talk about building websites for local businesses, creating income-producing digital assets, and growing a service-based online business from home—without e-commerce headaches, technical overload, or large upfront investment.

You’ll hear real-world case studies, including:
• A couple who left burnout careers and earned $160,000 in their first year
• A FIFO worker making $5,000+ on off weeks by offering AI automation services
• A stay-at-home mom with limited English who turned free starter websites into a family business over time

If you’re searching for a side hustle, a work-from-home business, or a practical way to make money online using web skills, this episode is a must-listen.

Connect with Matt Raad 

Website: https://www.ebusinessinstitute.com.au/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-raad/?originalSubdomain=au

Podcast: https://www.digitalinvestors.com/