Make It Pay

Lauren Spain
  • 5.0 (4)
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Make It Pay is about how people build careers, make money, and figure out what actually works. Lauren Spain talks with professionals across industries about how they got where they are, what they learned the hard way, and what no one tells you about work, hiring, money, ambition, and turning your skills into something valuable. Theme music: “Are U Ready For This?” by Michael Ramir C., courtesy of Mixkit.

Episodes

  1. 9h ago

    What Recruiters Actually See: ATS, AI, and Getting Hired with Mae Mierop

    Applying for a job can feel like guessing at a process you cannot see. Mae Mierop can see it. Mae is a Recruiting Operations Program Manager at KRAFTON Americas, working across recruiting systems, technology and AI. In this episode, she breaks down what actually happens after you apply, what applicant tracking systems do and do not do, and how recruiters evaluate candidates once a resume, portfolio or referral lands in front of them. We also get into auto-apply bots, using AI without sabotaging your application, what makes a creative portfolio easier to advocate for, when salary conversations should happen, and why negotiating an offer is usually less dangerous than candidates think. Connect with Mae on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maemierop Music: “Are U Ready For This?” by Michael Ramir C., via Mixkit.

  2. 1d ago

    The College Mistakes That Cost You Time and Money: Majors, Scheduling, and Asking for Help with Ashley Fowler

    College rarely goes sideways all at once. More often, students overload their schedules, ignore an important financial-aid email, avoid their advisor when they are struggling, or invest in a field before understanding what the work actually involves. Ashley Fowler has spent over 20 years working across higher education, including admissions, teaching, accessibility, and academic advising. In this episode, she explains how students can explore a field before paying for it, understand course sequencing and prerequisites, choose a realistic workload, and recover from a difficult semester. We also talk about critical thinking, building relationships with instructors, reading every financial-aid email, and asking for help instead of disappearing when something goes wrong. Outside student services, Ashley and her husband, Jake, are behind Western Aim, a Fort Collins custom-furniture business. We talk about turning Jake’s background in sculpture into usable art, building a creative business around craftsmanship and customization, and the considerable perk of being married to someone who can make the furniture you want. Explore Western Aim: https://www.westernaim.com

  3. 2d ago

    Good Work Isn’t Enough: Portfolios, AI, and Getting Hired with Brian Hess

    Lauren sits down with artist and educator Brian Hess to talk about portfolios, AI-generated work, creative identity, and what it takes to turn artistic ability into a career. Brian shares what he looks for in emerging talent, the mistakes that weaken otherwise strong portfolios, and why good work alone is not always enough to get hired. Find Brian on Instagram: @hesstoons

  • 3 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Make It Pay is about how people build careers, make money, and figure out what actually works. Lauren Spain talks with professionals across industries about how they got where they are, what they learned the hard way, and what no one tells you about work, hiring, money, ambition, and turning your skills into something valuable. Theme music: “Are U Ready For This?” by Michael Ramir C., courtesy of Mixkit.

Information

  • Creator
    Lauren Spain
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    3
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Lauren Spain
  • Show Website
    Make It Pay