Episode Details

There’s a lot of noise out there about what it really takes to make money in business—and much of it is built on outdated ideas or straight-up lies.

So in this episode, we’re calling it out.

Fi is joined in-studio by two powerhouse businesswomen—Nataleigh Elzein, founder of Pinch Studios, and Mia Fileman, founder of Campaign Del Mar—for a grounded and energising conversation about the true relationship between strategy, marketing, and sales.

Together, they unravel the harmful lies we're told about money, talk honestly about what it takes to grow a business with longevity, and explain why mindset, messaging, and knowing your numbers are all critical parts of the money-making equation.

Whether you’re in your first year of business or your fifth, this one’s going to shift how you see yourself, your pricing, and your potential.

🎧 Hit play now—because money doesn’t have to be hard, but it does have to be intentional.

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We’ve come so far as a society in many ways, but money is one of the areas where progress hasn’t been enough. If we want to tip the scales in favour of marginalised people, it starts with understanding the secret: money in small business.

In this podcast, Money Secrets, host Fiona (Fi) Johnston—Chartered Accountant, small business advocate, and impact enthusiast—dives into the conversations we need to have about money. The secrets that once stayed behind closed doors (or on the golf course) are finally out in the open.

Fi’s mission? To get more money into the hands of good people, like you. She believes small businesses have the power to change the world, and the key to making a bigger impact is to make—and manage—more money.

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 Key Learnings from the Interview

• “Money is hard to get” is a lie: Nataleigh shares how cultural conditioning shaped her beliefs about money—and why those old narratives no longer serve us as business owners today.

• Business is hard—but not impossible: Fi and Mia reflect on the social media myth of overnight success and the reality of building a business over years, not weeks.

• Know your numbers: If you’re scared to look at your finances, that’s your first red flag. Tracking your revenue, profit, and expenses is a non-negotiable if you want to make more money.

• Mindset matters as much as strategy: Nataleigh’s turning point came when she invested in personal development. You can’t confidently sell your services if you don’t first believe in your own value.

• The hustle myth is outdated: More work doesn’t always equal more money. It’s not about doing more, it’s about doing what actually moves the needle—like refining your strategy, ideal client targeting, and offer positioning.

•  Small business isn’t for everyone—and that’s okay: Mia offers a refreshingly honest take on why not everyone is cut out for entrepreneurship, and why there’s no shame in choosing a stable career path instead.

•  Make the obvious, obvious: One of the biggest sales blockers? Not clearly communicating what you do, who it’s for, and what results it delivers. Don’t let clever branding get in the way of clarity.