In today’s episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on every single revenue stream (there are over 13 of them) that powers my business as a content creator — the ones you see, the ones you don’t, and the ones people rarely talk about publicly.

So often, being a creator looks like posting on social media and doing the occasional brand deal. But behind the scenes? It’s a layered, strategic business with multiple income streams happening at once (at least it can be). In this episode, I walk you through how it actually works — from brand partnerships and sponsored content, to platform payouts, whitelisting and boosting, coaching, courses, digital products, affiliate income, speaking engagements, podcast monetization, and more.

This episode gives you the overview of all aspects of my business, but if you want the REAL numbers, deeper strategy, pricing insights, and screenshots I can’t share publicly on social media, that’s all living inside my new paid newsletter, Creator Confidential. Creator Confidential is where I go all in every other week: sharing real earnings, platform breakdowns, behind-the-scenes decisions, and the exact strategies I use to run my business. If this episode intrigues you, the newsletter is truly this conversation on steroids. Sign up at luciefink.com/confidential.

I also share how and why I’ve intentionally built additional revenue streams beyond brands and platforms, not just to grow, but to protect myself long-term in an industry that’s constantly changing.

And as a special bonus segment, I’m bringing you a short conversation with Denise Woodard, founder of Partake Foods, about entrepreneurship, building a business from scratch, and how Amazon has helped her scale her brand — because this episode isn’t just about creator income, it’s about modern entrepreneurship in all its forms. You can shop Partake and a curated selection of incredible products from small businesses by looking for the Small Business Badge and visiting the Amazon Small Business Holiday Shop at amazon.com/smallbusinessgifts.

If you’ve ever wondered how creators actually make money or how to think like a creator-entrepreneur, this episode is for you!

Apply to do 1:1 social media coaching with me: https://luciefink.com/apply-coaching

Apply for my 8-week course, "Launch Your Dream YouTube Series" here: https://luciefink.com/youtube-course

Check out my Motherhood Superguide: http://luciefink.com/motherhood

Apply to join ShopMy here: https://shopmy.us/join/luciefink

Start your own newsletter on Beehiiv: https://www.beehiiv.com?via=Lucie-Fink

Sponsors:

Magnetic Me: If you’re a parent or shopping for one, visit MagneticMe.com now, and new customers will receive 15% off!

Storyworth: Right now, save $10 or more during their Holiday sale when you visit Storyworth.com/REALSTUFF

Watch this episode in video form on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjmevEcbh5h5FEX0pazPEtN86t7eb2OgX

To apply to be a guest on the show, visit luciefink.com/apply and send us your story.

I also want to extend a special thank you to East Love for the show's theme song, Rolling Stone.

Follow the show on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealstuffpod

Find Lucie here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/luciebfink/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@luciebfink

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/luciebfink

Website: https://luciefink.com/

Subscribe to my free newsletter "The Lucie List" here: https://thelucielist.beehiiv.com/subscribe

Subscribe to "The Creator Confidential": http://www.luciefink.com/confidential

Executive Producer: Cloud10

Produced by Dear Media.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Reza Khan was living the dream on paper — a steady job at Google, great benefits, a clear career path, and the kind of structure most people work hard to reach — until he realized it wasn’t the life he wanted. Today, Reza is a full-time content creator sharing the hilarious, heartfelt, and sometimes chaotic reality of fatherhood online with his wife, Puja.

In his first-ever long-form interview, Reza goes deeper than he ever has before. He talks about the moment he realized corporate life wasn’t for him, the emotional and financial leap into creator life, and the identity shift that came with becoming a dad. He also opens up about boundaries, burnout, partnership, and how creating content about fatherhood unexpectedly helped him reconnect with himself.

If you’ve ever wondered what it really looks like to leave a “dream job,” redefine success, and build a creative life while raising young kids — this one’s for you.

Follow Reza: https://www.instagram.com/therezakhan/

Sponsors:

CLEARSTEM: Go to CLEARSTEM.com/REALSTUFF and use code REALSTUFF at checkout for 15% off your first order.

Magnetic Me: If you’re a parent or shopping for one, visit MagneticMe.com now, and new customers will receive 15% off!

Seed: Get ahead of the New Year with a routine that helps you now by going to Seed.com/REALSTUFF and use code REALSTUFF to get 20% off your first month.

Watch this episode in video form on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjmevEcbh5h5FEX0pazPEtN86t7eb2OgX

To apply to be a guest on the show, visit luciefink.com/apply and send us your story.

I also want to extend a special thank you to East Love for the show's theme song, Rolling Stone.

Follow the show on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealstuffpod

Find Lucie here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/luciebfink/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@luciebfink

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/luciebfink

Website: https://luciefink.com/

Subscribe to my free newsletter "The Lucie List" here: https://thelucielist.beehiiv.com/subscribe

Subscribe to "The Creator Confidential":

Executive Producer: Cloud10

Produced by Dear Media.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Last week, you heard Part 1 of my conversation with Maya McHenry, where she opened up about her years-long journey with endometriosis. What you didn’t get to hear until now is the moment at the end of that interview when I brought up her sister, Lyric McHenry, who I knew personally from our time working together at Refinery29.

What unfolded next is one of the most emotional recordings we’ve ever had on The Real Stuff. Maya shared, in the most intimate and detailed way she ever has, the story of losing Lyric in 2018 — the shock of it, the media whirlwind, the unanswered questions, the guilt, the grief, and ultimately the strength she’s had to find in order to survive it.

In this episode, Maya talks about the last time she saw her sister, the moment she received the phone call that changed her life, and what it was like to navigate unimaginable pain while also protecting her family and correcting the damaging narrative the media created around Lyric’s story. She shares how grief shows up years later and how she’s learned to stay connected to Lyric through small signs, laughter, memory, and purpose.

We also talk about the extraordinary fellowship Maya built in Lyric’s honor at Stanford — a program that now helps young creatives access opportunities that would otherwise be financially out of reach. Hearing how she transformed such deep heartbreak into something that actively changes lives is extraordinary.

If part 1 of my interview with Maya was about chronic illness, resilience, and self-advocacy, part 2 is about love, loss, legacy, and the ways we keep the people we’ve lost alive. This conversation meant so much to me, both as someone who knew Lyric and as someone who believes that grief doesn’t end — it just changes shape. I am endlessly grateful to Maya for trusting me, and for trusting all of you, with this part of her story.

Donate to the Lyric McHenry Community Arts Fellowship here: https://www.lyricmchenry.com/donate

The Endometriosis Foundation of America: https://www.endofound.org

Follow Maya: https://www.instagram.com/mayamchenry/

Sponsors:

Magnetic Me: If you’re a parent or shopping for one, visit MagneticMe.com now, and new customers will receive 15% off!

Timeline: My friends at Timeline are offering 20% off, just for my listeners! Head to timeline.com/realstuff to get started.

Storyworth: Right now, save $10 or more during their Holiday sale when you visit Storyworth.com/REALSTUFF

Seed: Get ahead of the New Year with a routine that helps you now by going to Seed.com/REALSTUFF and use code REALSTUFF to get 20% off your first month.

Watch this episode in video form on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjmevEcbh5h5FEX0pazPEtN86t7eb2OgX

To apply to be a guest on the show, visit luciefink.com/apply and send us your story.

I also want to extend a special thank you to East Love for the show's theme song, Rolling Stone.

Follow the show on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealstuffpod

Find Lucie here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/luciebfink/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@luciebfink

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/luciebfink

Website: https://luciefink.com/

Subscribe to my newsletter "The Lucie List" here: https://thelucielist.beehiiv.com/subscribe

Executive Producer: Cloud10

Produced by Dear Media.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.