In this episode of the Thriving Musician Podcast, Spenser welcomes Carolyn Ortiz, a seasoned marketing and operations executive with over 20 years of experience in the music industry. Carolyn’s career has spanned across prestigious organizations like Universal Music Group, Chanel, Viacom, and more recently, her own venture, Big Ass Kids, a record label and creative agency she co-founded in 2020. This in-depth conversation dives into Carolyn’s insights on industry evolution, artist support, financial literacy, and the challenges of balancing a career with personal life.
Rubin Miller is the Founder & Chief Investment Officer of Peltoma Capital Partners. He and his wife Emily, and their daughter Olive Rae, live in Austin, TX. He has nearly 20 years of investment experience, starting as a commodities and fixed income trader at The Chicago Board of Trade, then as a Regional Director at Dimensional Fund Advisors, and most recently as a Partner, Senior Financial Advisor and Chief Investment Officer at Perspective Wealth Partners.
Rubin founded Peltoma Capital Partners, in 2023, to help show people that there’s a better way to invest. In addition to being a Forbes contributor, he is the acclaimed writer of the Fortunes & Frictions blog, which has readers in over 125 countries and has earned praise from individuals like Josh Brown (CNBC) and Jason Zweig (WSJ). He’s recognized as someone who can demystify complicated investment ideas, and takes the time to ensure investors are aligned on the core ideas of what’s being implemented on their behalf.
Rubin is a relentless advocate for financial literacy, and a founding committee member of the USC Financial Literacy Festival, which had over 1,000 attendees in its inaugural 2022 event. Most recently he spoke at SXSW in Austin, TX, and at the 2023 Private Wealth Management Summit in San Diego, CA.
He graduated from Kenyon College, and received an MBA in Finance from the University of Southern California (USC). Rubin earned the National Chess Master title at age 15. He is a CFA charter holder.
Lilly Chu worked at the Better Business Bureau Education Foundation in Houston teaching financial literacy to young adults and educating the public on consumer scams for 20 years. She holds a master’s degree in social work and has worked in the non-profit sector since 1995. Prior to becoming a social worker, Lilly was a freelance fashion and commercial photographer for 15 years.
In 2002, she co-founded “FireSeeds,” a non-profit organization dedicated to giving underdeveloped communities a “hand up” to independence. She launched an asset building program in Kampala, Uganda providing financial literacy education, training, and direct support to impoverished womenand orphans, frequently traveling to East Africa to work directly with local leaders and project participants. She continues to work in the non-profit arena enhancing lives through cooperative partnerships.
Patrick Ermlich is a seasoned music industry professional hailing from Brooklyn, New York. Born into a musical family of opera singer-entrepreneurs, he inherited a unique combination of artistic and business acumen. He honed his skills through formal education, including studies at Northeastern University’s music business program in Boston and The Conservatory of Recording Arts & Sciences in Arizona.
Starting as an engineer and producer at the renowned Cutting Room Recording Studios in New York City, Patrick rose through the ranks to eventually manage and develop the studio into one of the most successful in the city, collaborating with some of the biggest names in the music industry along the way. His entrepreneurial spirit led to the launch of an independent record label followed by a music publicity agency, Gramophone Media, where he served as Chief Marketing Officer and General Manager / head of A&R.
With over 1000 artists in his portfolio and a reputation for insightful, direct, and thoughtful artist and business development, Patrick is a sought-after mentor, strategist, and collaborator.
Patrick continues to leave his mark on the industry through his mentorship, speaking engagements, blogging, and his role as an educator at Berklee Online.
