There was no clear roadmap for becoming a YouTuber when Zachary Michael was in school.

No degree in online careers. No guidance counsellor suggesting “internet commentator” as a viable career path.

And yet, they built one.

In this episode of Finding Your Way, Zachary Michael shares how they turned uploading videos into a full-time career and what it really takes to survive and evolve in the digital world.

We talk about the early days of YouTube, handling public criticism, and the pressure that comes with building a platform in real time. But we also dive into something every modern creator has to face: diversification.

From streaming to launching merchandise to running multiple channels, Zach opens up about why relying on one income stream isn’t enough, and how they’ve learned to balance creativity with financial sustainability.

This conversation isn’t just about YouTube. It’s about risk. Reinvention. And building a career that didn’t exist when you were 16.

If you’re trying to carve out an unconventional path or wondering how to future-proof the one you’re on, then this episode is for you.

YT: https://www.youtube.com/zacharymichael and https://www.youtube.com/@ZacharyMichaelAlso

Follow on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/thezacharymike

Jamie didn’t grow up with ideal circumstances. In his words, he started life in “the shittiest situation.”

In this episode of Finding Your Way, he opens up about what his childhood was really like, the mindset shift that changed his trajectory, and how he turned adversity into fuel.

From operating out of a garage to building The Essential Candle Co into multiple Ballarat storefronts with his wife Kristine, Jamie shares the reality of scaling a business, what expanding into Melbourne met for the business, and what success means now as a husband and father.

This conversation is about more than entrepreneurship. It’s about resilience, perspective, and learning when to push as well as when to pivot.

If you’re trying to build something while balancing family, ambition, and your past, this one’s for you.

You can follow The Essential Candle Co on Instagram at @theessentialcandle.co and shop online (and in store) at https://essentialcandleco.com.au

In this solo episode, Christian reflects on the money lessons he learned after reflecting on his early years of earning.

From his first after-school job at a fish and chip shop and saving for his first car, to handling large amounts of cash while working in a currency exchange during university, these early experiences shaped how he began to think about money. But some of the most important lessons came much later.

Christian explores the common belief that earning more money will make life easier, the emotional side of financial decisions, and how pride and ego can quietly influence the choices we make. He also shares the experience of downsizing and selling a home, a decision that felt difficult at first, but revealed just how many people are quietly navigating similar financial pressures.

Along the way, he reflects on the risks of taking financial advice from the wrong places, why being passive with superannuation can come at a cost, and why so many people are simply searching for clearer financial understanding.