The boys are reunited! 30 Minute Thursdays are officially back to normal—and so is Jason. After a long “work trip,” Jason reunites with David to get caught up on everything he missed. David fills him in on the latest—from Stagecoach stories to what’s been happening in the market—before the two dive into a hilarious recap of last week’s episode featuring Jon Bouffard.

This week, Jason is joined by Jon Bouffard — creator, entrepreneur, and one half of one of the most recognizable couples brands on the internet — for a conversation on what it really takes to build a business from nothing and scale it into a multi-six-figure operation.
Jon shares the unconventional path that led him here — from making $15/hour across a series of jobs, including teaching, working at Wells Fargo under a fake name, and serving as a vocational counselor, to eventually pivoting into occupational therapy where he capped out financially and began searching for something more.
Everything changed when he partnered with his now wife, Alex, stepping into the world of wedding videography. What started as a creative side hustle quickly grew into a full-time business, scaling from $3K to $10K per wedding — but also came with burnout, long hours, and limited upside.
Jon breaks down the turning point — when brand deals began replacing wedding income, allowing them to shift fully into content creation. He explains how their business evolved into a six-figure-per-deal model, what brands are really paying for, and why consistency and relatability have been the foundation of their success.
He also opens up about the realities behind the scenes — the pressure to constantly create, the mental toll of staying relevant, and the discipline required to keep showing up even when you don’t feel like it.
Beyond the business, Jon shares insight into how he and Alex divide responsibilities, manage finances, and maintain a strong partnership while building together — including why they prioritize simplicity, avoid unnecessary spending, and focus on long-term stability over short-term flash.
The conversation also dives into bigger-picture topics — from the future of the creator economy to the challenges of transitioning into traditional media, and the importance of protecting your personal life in an increasingly public world.
From $15/hour jobs to building a scalable digital business, Jon gives a raw and honest look at what it takes to bet on yourself, stay consistent, and turn creativity into a career.
Jon reveals all this and so much more in another episode you can’t afford to miss!
Subscribe to the Trading Secrets podcast!
Host: Jason Tartick
Co-Host: David Arduin
Audio: John Gurney
Video: Marc Colcer
Guest: Jon Bouffard

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This week on Trading Secrets, Sistersnacking joins the show to dish on everything behind the scenes of the food influencer world. From their go-to favorite restaurants to the wildest brand deals they’ve ever landed, nothing is off the table. They break down how they actually make money in the food industry, what brands don’t want you to know, and the hustle it takes to turn snacking into a serious business.

Plus, they open up about what’s next—hinting at the possibility of creating their own cookbook and sharing the kind of recipes their audience has been begging for.

This week, Jason is joined by Matt Halper and Eli Sones — the duo behind Two Friends, for a conversation on how they turned a college hobby into one of the most successful independent DJ brands in the world.
Starting as best friends making music for fun in middle school and college, Matt and Eli share how they took a leap after graduation with no real income, betting on themselves in an industry dominated by record labels. What began as small gigs paying a few thousand dollars quickly evolved into a global touring business but not without years of uncertainty, financial risk, and reinvestment.
They break down the real business of being a DJ today, revealing why the majority of their revenue doesn’t come from music, but from live shows, brand partnerships, and building an experience-driven brand. From early days barely breaking even to landing six-figure deals and major residencies in Las Vegas, they explain how they scaled strategically while staying independent.
They also dive into the viral success of their Big Booty Mixes and why, despite millions of listeners, they’ve never made a dollar directly from them. Instead, they reveal how free content became their most powerful marketing engine, driving ticket sales, brand deals, and a loyal fanbase around the world.
Jason and the guys also explore the future of music and technology, including how AI is changing the creative process and lowering the barrier to entry for new artists and what that means for the next generation of creators.
Matt and Eli reveal all this and so much more in another episode you can’t afford to miss!

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