309. Janet Caperna: The Valley, Social Media Money, Bravo Fame & Financial Planning

This week, Jason is joined by Bravo personality and The Valley star Janet Caperna for a conversation about career reinvention, reality television, social media monetization, entrepreneurship, financial planning, and the unexpected path that led her from Ohio to becoming one of Bravo’s fastest-rising stars. Before becoming a reality television personality, Janet built a completely different career. Growing up in Ohio, she earned degrees in English and American Sign Language interpretation before managing a large team of interpreters. Following a divorce in her late twenties, Janet made the difficult decision to leave Ohio for Los Angeles, seeking a fresh start and a new chapter in life. Janet shares how a friendship with Scheana Shay unexpectedly opened doors in Hollywood and eventually led her into the world of executive support for high-net-worth individuals. She reflects on working for a billionaire family before landing what she describes as a dream role helping build Avaline, the wine company founded by Cameron Diaz and Katherine Power. Janet offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at how celebrity-founded businesses actually operate, explaining why Avaline succeeded by having deeply involved founders who treated the company like a true startup rather than simply lending their names to a brand. Jason and Janet dive into the realities of executive assistant careers, discussing compensation, benefits, equity opportunities, and why top assistants today can earn well into six figures. Janet also shares lessons learned from working alongside successful entrepreneurs, including how identifying gaps in the market can become the foundation for a successful business. The conversation then shifts to Bravo and the creation of The Valley. Janet explains how the show originated from real-life friendships, why she initially hesitated to join reality television, and how perfect timing—including leaving Avaline, becoming pregnant, and receiving the Bravo opportunity—ultimately changed the trajectory of her career. She discusses the realities of reality TV compensation, what viewers don’t see behind the scenes, and why authenticity is critical for long-term success on television. Janet also opens up about navigating public criticism, internet hate, and social media scrutiny. She shares how difficult early seasons helped her develop resilience and why she now avoids placing too much value on either praise or criticism from strangers online. Instead, she focuses on feedback from close friends and family while continuing to build her platform in an authentic way. Beyond reality television, Janet discusses podcasting, content creation, and social media monetization. She reveals how her podcast grew organically, why some of the most successful content comes from unplanned conversations, and how she evaluates brand partnerships to ensure they align with her personal values. From landing her first paid sponsorships to building a growing audience, Janet shares practical insights for anyone looking to create content and monetize an online platform. Throughout the episode, Janet reflects on friendship, gratitude, financial discipline, and the importance of staying grounded while navigating success. Whether discussing reality television, entrepreneurship, personal finance, or career pivots, she emphasizes the value of taking calculated risks while maintaining a long-term perspective. Janet 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 Audio: John Gurney Video: Marc Colcer Guest: Janet Caperna Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices