Dollars and Sense - Finding Your Way

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/@ZacharyMichaelAlsoFollow 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.

What does it take to build the epitome of wellbeing?In this episode of Finding Your Way, Christian sits down with Sarah, owner of Ballarat Sanctuary Day Spa, to explore her journey from high school uncertainty to becoming the owner of an award-winning business named Australia’s best day spa at the World Luxury Spa Awards in 2021.Recognised by Visit Ballarat as one of Ballarat’s Leading Ladies, Sarah reflects on leadership, community, and the responsibility that comes with creating spaces centred on care. She shares how her relationship with wellbeing evolved over time, what it really means to lead in a people-focused industry, and the emotional labour involved in working with the public.Alongside moments of humour and jaw-dropping spa horror stories, this conversation dives into boundaries, resilience, and learning how to care for yourself while caring for others.This episode is for anyone finding their way through career decisions, business ownership, people-facing work, or redefining what success and wellbeing truly mean.

Four years ago, we left Ballarat for a lifestyle farm we loved. It became part of our identity. Birthdays. Christmases. Picnics. Chickens, ducks and wide open views. We told everyone how much we loved it because we did.Slowly, the numbers began to change.13 rate rises. Insurance nearly doubling. Hay costs up almost 300%. Fuel climbing. Salaries staying the same.Then came a letter proposing a change to my income and the spreadsheet made the decision unavoidable.In this episode, I share the emotional reality of choosing to move back to Ballarat, saving over $25,000 a year in the process and why the hardest part wasn’t financial but actually confronting my ego.We talk about:The sunk cost trapFinancial pressure and relationshipsWhy holding on can quietly cost youGrief, identity and strategic retreatAnd how letting go doesn’t mean you’ve failedThis episode is about learning to let go without failing. About going back without going backwards. About finding relief in making the hard financial call.If you’ve ever felt stuck between pride and practicality, then this one’s for you.Follow us on instagram @dollarsandsense.learn

TRIGGER WARNING - This episode does discuss multiple deaths within family. Please keep this in mind for anyone listening who may be feeling sensitive in this topic In this episode, Christian sits down with Bianca Becker, a rainbow hair specialist, counsellor, mother, grief educator, and creator of the Lights Out program (@lightsout.app). Bianca shares her journey from life after school to working in a call centre, to becoming one of Australia’s most celebrated colourists known for her vibrant, expressive hair artistry.Bianca opens up about the profound losses she has experienced, including the passing of her brother during her teenage years and her mother more recently. She discusses how these moments shaped her life, her identity, and ultimately led her to study counselling and build a program that helps others navigate the world of grief.We explore:How Bianca found her way from call centre life to a creative careerWhat grief looks like in day-to-day lifeHow Lights Out came to be and how it took her all the way to the USWhat’s next for someone who continues to reinvent herself with every chapterThis is an honest, tender, and inspiring conversation about resilience, creativity, and learning to make meaning from even the hardest parts of life.

In this episode of Finding your way, Christian sits down with Lilly Wright, a Malaysian migrant and beloved “Queen of Sambal,” whose journey shows that courage, culture, and creativity can build a life far from home. From her senior school years in Malaysia, to the messy middle of starting over in Australia, to becoming one of Ballarat’s most recognisable food creators, Lilly’s story is a powerful reminder that finding your way often begins long before you realise you’re on the path. We talk about: *What Lilly was like in her senior school years * The emotional leap of moving countries * The challenges and unknowns of starting again * How her mother’s cooking shaped everything she creates Building a thriving market stall and becoming the “Queen of Sambal” * The pressure and anxiety behind social media success * *What “finding her way” means to her now Lilly’s honesty and heart make this episode one of the most moving yet - especially for migrants, creatives, food lovers, and anyone rebuilding their life from the ground up. If you loved Lilly’s story and want to support her work, you can:Visit her market stall in Ballarat and try her incredible sambal, pies, pastries, and laksa cheesecake, follow her on Instagram (@flyingchillies) to see where she’ll be each week and share her creations with someone who would love her flavours and story. Follow us on Instagram @dollarsandsense.learn

In this episode of Finding your way, Christian sits down with Tara, a photographer whose journey proves that your path doesn't have to be perfect to be meaningful. From her final years of high school, to navigating life after graduation, to landing a role at one of Australia’s most iconic fashion houses, Tara’s story is a masterclass in following curiosity, trusting your instinct, and backing yourself even when you don’t have it all figured out. We talk about: *What Tara was like in senior school *The uncertain, messy years after Year 12 *How photography went from hobby to calling *What it was really like working at Country Road *The courage it took to leave and go out on her own *Money habits, budgeting, and financial lessons she’s learned as a creative * What “finding your way” means to her now Tara’s honesty and vulnerability make this episode one of the most relatable yet, especially for young people, creatives, and anyone considering a pivot or a fresh start. If you loved Tara’s story and want to support her photography work, you can follow her on Instagram (@taracmoorephotography), book her for portraits, branding, family shoots, or creative projects and share her work with someone who would love her style

What happens when school ends and no one hands you a roadmap for life?Finding Your Way is a podcast about the real stories behind the paths we take including the detours, the doubts, the money mistakes, the career changes, and the moments that quietly change everything.Hosted by Christian Dymock, founder and lead educator of the Dollars and Sense program, this podcast sits down with everyday people - creatives, parents, migrants, business owners, students, and those still figuring it out to ask one simple question, "How did you find your way?"If you’re 16, 26, or 46 and feeling unsure, behind, or curious about what’s next, this podcast is for you. New episodes dropping weekly. Hit follow and let’s figure it out together.