Welcome to Not Starving Artists! I'm your host Brooke Benson, Money Coach + Equity Actor. I am your financial cheerleader, here to help you build your financial confidence and have power over your money. The best part? No budgeting or bi-weekly paycheck required. I went from a broke BFA grad having weekly panic attacks about money to a financially confident, wealth-building actor + business owner. Money gets to feel fun, simple, and sexy, and I'm going to show you how.
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May 1, 2026Episode 15843 min
The one spending shift you need to make if you're a high-earning creative but still feel broke
Welcome to part two of the six-week series, ✨ The High-Earning Creative: Money Management & Mindset Strategies for Self-Employed Hotties ✨ If you've ever thought "I make too much to still feel this stressed about money," this one's for you. Whether you're tempted to spend everything the moment it comes in, or you're hoarding cash out of guilt and fear, this episode is for you. Tune in to hear: 💰Why TV and movies have completely lied to you about how rich people actually spend 💰Why making more money will never mean making fewer financial decisions 💰How overspending AND hoarding cash can both come from the exact same scarcity place 💰The only three reasons to ever spend money (and how to use them as a quick gut-check) 💰Why letting yourself indulge is actually a strategic money move More money doesn't fix the anxiety, the right systems and mindset do. Once you have those? Spending your money starts to feel really, really good. Learn more about private coaching with Brooke in 1:1 Money Mentorship CLICK HERE to claim your FREE access to one of the modules inside of Cashed Up Creatives, a financial education course for artists & freelancers 🎉 Follow Brooke on Instagram @notstarvingartists & subscribe to the newsletter here!
April 24, 2026Episode 15734 min
The one money goal that will get you out of the feast-or-famine cycle as a self-employed creative
In this episode, I'm kicking off a new six-week series, ✨ The High-Earning Creative: Money Management & Mindset Strategies for Self-Employed Hotties ✨ We're starting with the most important money goal that every self-employed creative needs to focus on first: getting three months ahead on bills. I break down why this specific goal (not debt payoff, not an emergency fund, not maxing out a retirement account) is what actually gets you out of the feast-or-famine cycle by creating lifestyle stability even when your income fluctuates. You'll learn: ✅ what "three months ahead" looks like inside your bank accounts & how it's different than a regular savings account ✅ how this calms your nervous system by securing your basic needs ✅ how the money flow method (part of my four-step anti-budget strategy) helps you manage cash flow in one hour a month ✅ six ways being 3 months ahead on bills changes your art, decisions, and life Learn more about private coaching with Brooke in 1:1 Money Mentorship CLICK HERE to claim your FREE access to one of the modules inside of Cashed Up Creatives, a financial education course for artists & freelancers 🎉 Follow Brooke on Instagram @notstarvingartists & subscribe to the newsletter here!
April 17, 2026Episode 15528 min
Why Spreadsheets Are Making Your Money Anxiety Worse (and what to use instead)
Whether you're someone who loves spending hours in excel or you're someone who cringes at the sight of numbered columns, I want you to know that you don't have to spreadsheet your life away. I used to be that 'Spreadsheet Girl,' meticulously tracking every penny like my life depended on it. But what I discovered was that my iron grip on those spreadsheets was actually fueling my financial anxiety, not soothing it. That's why I created the Money Flow Method: a simple, anti-budgeting cash flow system that takes less than an hour a month to manage. This strategy lets you hit your money goals while spending guilt-free (and it was built for fluctuating income!) So to all my fellow artists, creatives, and dreamers out there, remember this: you are not defined by your ability to conquer spreadsheets or budget. Your brain is a gift, and it is not at war with your financial wellness. You just need a money strategy that was built for YOU. 🎉 Click here to join CASHED UP CREATIVES 🎉 It's my new online course with all the financial education you were never given it school, helping artists (and anyone else who doesn't want to budget) get out of the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle and become the confident financial CEO of their life & career. Want to learn more about 1:1 coaching? Click HERE to learn more and book your sales call Follow Brooke on Instagram @notstarvingartists & subscribe to the newsletter here!
April 10, 2026Episode 15556 min
How Tia Levings Escaped the Trad Wife Life and Created Financial Autonomy in her 50's
In this episode, I sit down with Tia Levings to talk about her experience inside Christian fundamentalist patriarchy and the trad wife movement, and what it really looks like to break free. We get into the realities behind the aesthetic: the loss of financial autonomy, being denied access to money, and living on an allowance that could be taken away or used as punishment. We also talk about what happens after you get out. Tia opens up about learning basic money skills as an adult, navigating shame around debt, unpacking tithing and "should" narratives, and rebuilding trust with herself. This conversation also explores the overlap between religious messaging around suffering and the "starving artist" identity, especially how both can keep people stuck in cycles of instability and under-earning. This is a deep, honest conversation about power, money, identity, and what it really means to belong to yourself. _______________ Tia Levings is the New York Times Bestselling author of "A Well-Trained Wife", her memoir of escape from Christian Patriarchy. She writes about the realities of religious trauma, evangelical patriarchy, and the Trad wife life, decoding the fundamentalist influences in our news and culture. Her work and quotes have appeared in Teen Vogue, Salon, Newsweek, and the HuffingtonPost. She also appeared in the hit Amazon docu-series, Shiny Happy People. Based in Raleigh, North Carolina, she is mom to four. https://tialevings.com/ PRE-ORDER Tia's brand new book "I Belong to Me" coming out on May 5, 2026. _______________ Trad is a new play written by Kelly Pekar and directed by/developed with Hannah Ryan (Hamilton, An American in Paris), with an all female creative team (including Tia Levings as the Cultural Consultant and Brooke Benson as the Fiscal Dramaturg). There is a private industry reading being held the first week of May, and if you'd like to learn more you can email tradtheplay@gmail.com. Check out the official press release here! _______________ 🎉Click here to get the [FINANCES 101] course for FREE 🎉 You'll learn everything about money that school never taught you, created FOR creatives BY a creative. Want to learn more about 1:1 coaching? Click HERE to learn more and book your sales call Follow Brooke on Instagram @notstarvingartists & subscribe to the newsletter here!
April 3, 2026Episode 15432 min
The One Money Skill That Budgets, Finance Apps, & Spreadsheets Can't Teach You
Spending isn't the thing standing between you and your financial goals. Your relationship with it is. In this episode, we're diving into intuitive spending. It's the money skill that no budget, spreadsheet, or app can teach you. If you've ever felt guilty for spending, frozen by financial anxiety, or like you just can't trust yourself with money, this one is for you. Tune in to hear: Why spending is a skill, and how honing it makes saving and investing easier The problem with outsourcing your financial decisions to budgeting apps and spreadsheets How to use your gut intuition alongside your numbers to make spending decisions you feel confident about Why there's no right or wrong way to spend your money (and what actually makes a spending decision irresponsible) A 7-day homework exercise to start building your intuitive spending muscle today 🎉Click here to get the [FINANCES 101] course for FREE 🎉 Want to learn more about 1:1 coaching? Click HERE to learn more and book your sales call Follow Brooke on Instagram @notstarvingartists & subscribe to the newsletter here!
March 27, 2026Episode 15337 min
The 3 things every financially confident person knows & acts on
Financial confidence isn't about how much money you make, your degree, or having the "perfect" financial plan. It comes from something much deeper: your ability to lead yourself when it comes to money. In this episode, we're breaking down what it really means to be the CEO of your financial life, and why so many people feel anxious about money even when they're earning more than enough. If you've ever second-guessed your financial decisions, constantly searched for answers, or felt like everyone else "knows better", this episode is for you. Tune in to hear: 💰Why financial confidence has nothing to do with your bank balance 💰The hidden reason money anxiety sticks around (even when you're "doing well") 💰How outsourcing your financial decisions is keeping you stuck 💰The difference between gathering information vs. giving away your power 💰The 3 core pillars every financially confident person operates from 💰How to stop second-guessing yourself and start trusting your decisions 🎉Click here to get the [FINANCES 101] course for FREE 🎉 You'll learn everything about money that school never taught you, created FOR creatives BY a creative. Want to learn more about 1:1 coaching? Click HERE to learn more and book your sales call Follow Brooke on Instagram @notstarvingartists & subscribe to the newsletter here!
March 20, 2026Episode 15236 min
The real reason why you always feel behind with your money
Do you ever scroll through your feed and suddenly feel completely behind with money, even when nothing in your life has actually changed? That feeling has a name: comparison. And it might be quietly running your entire financial life. In this episode, we're talking about why borrowing other people's money goals is keeping you stuck, stressed, and chasing a finish line that was never meant for you. Your colleague's savings target, your friend's investment strategy, the "rules" you picked up somewhere along the way. None of it matters if it doesn't align with your life, your values, and your version of success. It's time to stop measuring yourself against someone else's ruler. Your money goals should excite you, motivate you, and actually mean something to you. In this episode, we're figuring out how to get you there. 🎉Click here to get the [FINANCES 101] course completely FREE 🎉 You'll learn everything about money that school never taught you, in a digestable non-jargony way, created FOR creatives BY a creative ♥️ If you loved this episode, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend! Want to learn more about 1:1 coaching? Click HERE to learn more and book your sales call Follow Brooke on Instagram @notstarvingartists & subscribe to the newsletter here!
March 13, 2026Episode 15142 min
the 4 ways to optimize your credit card points for free travel
In this episode, we're talking about travel hacking with credit card points (but not the hyper-optimized version the TikTok travel influencers will sell you). Instead of asking, "How do I get the absolute maximum cents-per-point value?", here's the questions we're diving into: 💰How can I use points to support my cash flow? 💰How can I fund the trips I actually want? 💰How can I stay spontaneous without overextending my bank accounts? I'm sharing how I used points for a last-minute San Francisco trip, why sometimes the smartest redemption is the one that preserves your savings, and how to avoid hoarding points out of guilt or scarcity. If you want to start travel hacking in a way that feels strategic but not stressful, this episode will help you use credit card points as a tool to create freedom, flexibility, and more trips each year without going into debt. Here is the link to the episode mentioned about lazy girl travel hacking: Travel Hacking at Every Level (and how to do it the lazy girl way) - EP. 37 Apple + Spotify 🎉 Click here to join CASHED UP CREATIVES 🎉 It's my new online course with all the financial education you were never given it school, helping artists (and anyone else who doesn't want to budget) get out of the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle and become the confident financial CEO of their life & career. If you loved this episode, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend! Want to learn more about 1:1 coaching? Click HERE to learn more and book your sales call Follow Brooke on Instagram @notstarvingartists & subscribe to the newsletter here!
March 6, 2026Episode 15052 min
Casting Director Jenn Haltman on fostering creativity while making money in your day job
Welcome to a new series, INDUSTRY EXPERTS: How to Spend Money on your Artistic Career. The purpose of this series is to give you, actors & creatives, a panel of opinions from people who have been in the industry a while on the best ways to use your money to grow your career. As a money coach, I teach you how to save money without a consistent paycheck and create longevity in your career via financial stability, and these interviews are to bring in advice on how to spend those savings in a way that actually generates an ROI (adding in the nuance that more spending money won't automatically equal more bookings, and all the free ways you can invest in your career). Enjoy! Jenn Haltman (she/her) is a director, casting director, coach and producer. With her company, Between Two Boroughs, she has directed multiple shows including the critically acclaimed Trich. She has also directed at Mile Square Theatre, Joe's Pub, VetRep Theatre and Axial Theatre. Jenn has been the Casting Director for Portland Stage in Maine since 2017 where she has recently cast Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, Clyde's, The Play That Goes Wrong, and The Cake. Other regional theatre casting credits include Pig Iron Theatre Company, Savage Wonder, Hartford Stage, Penguin Rep Theatre, Gloucester Stage, Virginia Stage Company, and Sharon Playhouse. Films include "Boy Meets Girl" (dir. Eric Schaeffer), the award-winning shorts "Behind the Wall" (dir. Bat-Sheva Guez) and "Someone Will Assist You Shortly" (dir. Jon Levenson), the 2017 Sundance selection "Madeline's Madeline" (Josephine Decker) and the upcoming Gloria (dirs. Jon Levenson and Roos Mattaar). Previously, she was the Casting Associate at New York Theatre Workshop (shows include Peter and the Starcatcher, Little Foxes, Aftermath, The Seven) and also worked with Page 73 Productions and and Soho Rep. Jenn is a proud graduate of Muhlenberg College. jennhaltman.com And check out TRICH: a solo show written by Becca Schneider, created by Jenn Haltman, Casey Pfiefer, & Becca Schneider (https://trichplay.com/) 🎉 Click here to join CASHED UP CREATIVES 🎉 It's my new online course with all the financial education you were never given it school, helping artists (and anyone else who doesn't want to budget) get out of the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle and become the confident financial CEO of their life & career. If you loved this episode, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend! Want to learn more about 1:1 coaching? Click HERE to learn more and book your sales call Follow Brooke on Instagram @notstarvingartists & subscribe to the newsletter here!
February 27, 2026Episode 14942 min
3 things to do this week if you've fallen off the wagon with your money
If you've "fallen off the wagon" with your money (overspending, avoiding your accounts, or just coasting) this episode is your reset. We're challenging the shame spiral and asking a better question: did you actually fall off… or did life happen? The problem isn't you, it's the story you're telling about what it means. Inside the episode, I'll walk you through 3 things you can do this week to regain control without guilt or extreme budgeting. What if falling off the wagon was never possible again…because there is no wagon? Just you, building a money system that can handle your busiest, messiest, most human seasons. Let's create a money plan that works for you, even when life doesn't go perfectly. Here's the link to the episode mentioned about money seasons (saving, spending, & sustaining): The Myth About Saving Money [EP. 1] Apple, Spotify, + Youtube 🎉 Click here to join CASHED UP CREATIVES 🎉 It's my new online course with all the financial education you were never given it school, helping artists (and anyone else who doesn't want to budget) get out of the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle and become the confident financial CEO of their life & career. If you loved this episode, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend! Want to learn more about 1:1 coaching? Click HERE to learn more and book your sales call Follow Brooke on Instagram @notstarvingartists & subscribe to the newsletter here!
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