Former 'Bachelorette' star Jason Tartick is redefining how celebrities talk about money

Jason Tartick has turned post-"Bachelorette" fame into a burgeoning empire. Gibson Johns interviews the former reality star about his podcast "Trading Secrets," how he gets celebrities to open up about their finances and why some stars aren't as forthcoming as others. They also discuss his collab with Wyndham Rewards for their new Cubicle Caddie, how he's turned his life after reality TV into a more profitable career than his previous one in finance and much more.

Video Transcript

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GIBSON JOHNS: Hi, guys. Welcome back to "We Should Talk," a pop culture interview series from "In the Know." I'm your host, Gibson Johns, and today on the podcast, we have Jason Tartick, who is the host of the podcast trading secrets. You probably recognize him from being on "The Bachelorette."

He is now engaged to Kaitlyn Bristowe, a former bachelorette, and he was working with Wyndam Rewards. So that was why we were doing the interview, so you'll hear some mentions of that in our chat. Which is a little sort of unusual, but it's great nonetheless.

The show he hosts, "Trading Secrets," is all about personal finance and just kind of pulling back the curtain on how people spend their money, make their money. He has a lot of great interviews with other reality stars, entrepreneurs. You know, he's had some of the "Vanderpump Rules" people on this season, and he'll straight up ask people, like how much do you make, or how much do you make per episode? Or how do you how much do you spend on XYZ, or how much do you make on brand deals? And they're incredibly interesting chats, and they're really informative.

He started his career before he was on the show, spending 10 years in the corporate finance world. And so he's incredibly informed, incredibly intelligent, and he shares information in such a digestible way, which is really important. It's some of these things that we don't learn in school growing up.

So we talked about his show, about his life before and after the show, you know, this program that he's working with. And also, I ended the interview with getting his takes on some pop culture topics, like Taylor Swift rerecording her albums, "Vanderpump Rules" Scandoval, and all of them making money off of that and what his thoughts are on that. Beyonce and Jay Z's recent $200 million home purchase, and he had some really fun responses to those things.

But yeah, it was a great chat with Jason, a little shorter than usual, but I still think you'll really enjoy it. Keep listening for my interview with Jason Tartick. Check out his podcast, "Trading Secrets," wherever you get your podcasts. And please, rate, review, and subscribe to "We Should Talk," on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

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All right. So we're here with Jason Tartick who is host of the "Trading Secrets" podcast, former "Bachelorette" star, and also a best-selling author. Jason, where are you calling in from today?

JASON TARTICK: I am calling in from the beautiful Grandover Resort and Spa. It's in Greensboro, North Carolina, which I've never been to. But I also found out, which might have me coming back here, is that this hotel is the host of the 84th year for the Wyndam Championship.

So it's the final stop of the PGA TOUR, this year. So it's pretty cool stuff. It's beautiful out here.

GIBSON JOHNS: And are you a big golf guy?

JASON TARTICK: Huge golf guy, I've been a big golf guy since my grandpa took me out, when I was like 8. And I almost like took out a window in his car.

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GIBSON JOHNS: --a little better since then. Right.

JASON TARTICK: Got a little bit better. Playing the east coarse at Grandover tomorrow.

GIBSON JOHNS: Yeah, totally. So we're talking today, because you have a cool partnership with Wyndam Rewards. Can you tell me a little bit about that and what it entails for people?

JASON TARTICK: For sure. So Wyndam Rewards, first and foremost, which was really cool when they approached me, is that I was already a Wyndam Rewards member. And someone who is a big advocate of personal finance tips and tricks, and making sure that I'm finding the right products and programs for the people that I do tutorials and educate. It was an honor for Wyndam to reach out to me. I've already been a rewards member, and it's the most generous rewards program, hotel loyalty program out there, which is super exciting.

And then I think with any type of loyalty program, you also want to make sure that you look at just credibility. Right? So this program is the number one reader's choice for "USA Today" of hotel loyalty programs out there. And as much as I travel, it's great to be aligned with that.

Now, while you're giving me this, though, I got to show you this. This is kind of cool, especially because we're doing a video recording.

GIBSON JOHNS: Yeah.

JASON TARTICK: A lot of my life, work-life balance, kind of all over the place, it looks, Gibson, like I'm talking to you right now, and I'm in an office. I'm not even close to an office. So part of the Wyndam Rewards program is that you can book these cubicle caddies. So what is that? It allows you to actually be on the golf course and look like you're in the office.

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JASON TARTICK: --in a golf cart, golf course is right there. I got the green screen here. Look, the resort's right there.

GIBSON JOHNS: There we go. Oh my God.

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GIBSON JOHNS: The cubicle caddie is what you called it?

JASON TARTICK: It's the cubicle caddie.

GIBSON JOHNS: There we go, green screen included.

JASON TARTICK: Yeah. If you're a rewards member, you get it for free, when you book your tee time. So it's got-- I'm telling you, Gibson, has better Hi-Fi Wi-Fi, high speed Wi-Fi, than I do back at home.

GIBSON JOHNS: That's incredible. That's incredible. I mean, this whole thing, I mean, it really does fit into what you've been doing in all the years since the show. I mean, it's the perfect thing for you.

Is this the kind of partnership that you feel like just really kind of validates the direction that you've been going in? I know that you had your whole career before the show, but "Trading Secrets" is all about kind of sharing these tips and tricks, but also kind of having more transparency around money and personal finance. Does this kind of opportunity fit right into that for you?

JASON TARTICK: I mean, it's such a good question, because the biggest driver of all the things I do are the things that I was taught either through education and family about finance, that I was never taught actually in the school system. Right? And so to have the opportunity to be able to talk to some of the most successful people in the world, in all different industries and capacities, and then bring it to my listeners or my audience, it's true, it's a dream. It's a dream.

And then when you have a partnership like this, where you are already a member-- and they are the most generous rewards program out there. You get 1,000 points for every qualified stay. To me, it's like, if I can partner with them and then also share that message, it's amazing.

We aren't taught in our school system how to align with loyalty programs. We aren't taught how to manage credit cards and manage our debt and negotiate for ourselves. And when you can align with companies that are advocates of that, it's honestly such a treat, truly.

GIBSON JOHNS: Yeah, and I genuinely am a big fan of the podcast, and I feel like the thing that I really love about it is just the transparency that you're advocating for, just around-- particularly like when you interview like a fellow reality star or Bravo person or something like that, and you ask them these really kind of direct questions about how much they make or how they spend their money or how do they negotiate. And like those are the kind of things that nobody else is talking about, and you're just really kind of-- you're not just giving a peek behind the curtain, you're just like ripping that curtain wide open. And I'm curious if you could just put into words, for people watching or listening, what your philosophy is, when it comes to your show and what you want to get out of your guests.

JASON TARTICK: Yeah. I mean, like when I created the show, and I'm trying to think about how to differentiate in such a saturated space of podcasting, I'm like, OK, why did "Call Her Daddy" blow up? They peeled and pushed that curtain back from sex. I'm like, what is my sex? Because I'm certainly not talking about that.

It's money. It's from day one, I've always been curious, like what is that cost? What did they make? How did they do it?

It's always been my natural curiosity. It lives in me. I can't help it. Sometimes, Kaitlyn will be like, OK, stop, but I just can't help it.

And so I think the biggest thing is that I want people to learn that there are a lot of big corporations out there that-- financial institutions that benefit from us not talking about money, that benefit and big profit from us thinking it's a taboo, and I think we need to step into it. We need to talk money with our loved ones. We need to talk love money with our partners.

It's the second reason why people are getting divorced and causing hardships in relationships. And the more we talk about it, the more we learn, the more we know, the more we can better ourselves, and financial independence and freedom is a huge part of real happiness. So I could do this all day, Gibson. I'll take a breather there.

GIBSON JOHNS: No, but I mean, and I also think what's interesting is that, with some of your guests, they are so game to just like share those direct numbers, like be really, really open about, again, money and how much they're earning, how much they're spending. But some people, there's a little bit more resistance, or they're a little bit more like skeeved out to answer those questions. And I'm curious if you find that to be more because of like contractual things or just not wanting to-- I don't know, ruffle any feathers. Or is it kind of just like an indicator of how we are as a culture around money, sometimes?

JASON TARTICK: Gibson, I think the reason a lot of my guests come on, and they're so still willing to answer these questions are because they aren't asked these questions. And once they're asked them, they don't feel like they're positioning this as like a braggadocious or weaponizing discussion. They think it's educational. And I will tell you 90-- it's got to be 95-- I was going to say 99, but I don't want to exagerate-- 95% plus that don't share the information don't share it because of contracts, and the second we stop recording, they tell me.

GIBSON JOHNS: They'll tell you?

JASON TARTICK: And they want to talk about it. What do you think about it? What should I do? How should I do it?

And that's why I think you just got to have these conversations, whether it's with reality stars, actors, musicians, comedians, about money. Or it's sitting here talking about rewards programs that could benefit all of us. These are the conversations we have to have with one another, because they help us all.

Then when I tell Kaitlyn I'm here, and I'm like, I'm working with Wyndam Rewards, she's like, well, I want a membership. I don't have one of those. So I'm like, you got to have these conversations.

GIBSON JOHNS: But the fact that they want to have them off camera, even when they can have them on the mic, that must also feel validating. You're scratching an itch for people that is not being scratched by somebody else.

JASON TARTICK: Yeah. I think that's a really good point. It's not being scratched by other people.

And the other thing I'll tell you too is I now run a talent management company called RTM Rewired Talent Management, and we help people that have a platform monetize it. And so they-- not only the information they share but wanting to like work together and collaborating and solve. And like it's just-- it's been so rewarding. And Yeah, it's pretty special. It's pretty special.

GIBSON JOHNS: Yeah, totally. When you think back to the history of "Trading Secrets" and who you've had on, are there a couple of sort of h popping revelations or reveals that you've gotten out of people that stick out to you as being particularly telling or shocking or just like indicative of, I don't know, the industry.

JASON TARTICK: I mean, it's really interesting what the audience connects so much to and why. People really, really connected to Dean Unglert's openness. Dean showcased every dollar he made on [INAUDIBLE] every dollar [INAUDIBLE] exactly how much he's made in influencing, and people were just intrigued by that.

People found relatability, intrigue, and also I think just a connection with like a Tyler Cameron. When he's like, yeah, I went on the show. Two weeks later, I'm dating Gigi Hadid, and I got $200 in my bank account. Just like I, have no idea--

GIBSON JOHNS: Gotta listen to that one.

JASON TARTICK: Or like a Rob Dyrdek who literally analyzes every single input in his life, only to find happiness. And now only films 4% a year, because if he's filming more than that, he realizes his connection with his wife, kids, and just overall life goes down. So I think that's cool.

But then also a cool one that will resonate a lot is like when you have specialists out there that come and talk about different financial tips and tricks and programs and things like that. It's amazing, and you realize how much that people are benefiting from it. So whether it's me saying, go get a Wyndam Rewards membership for free, at WyndamRewards.com, or it's having Tyler Cameron talk about Gigi Hadid and that he had $200 in his bank account to pay for the date, and he needed his dad to transfer $100 that night, it's landing, people are getting educated, and it's entertaining.

GIBSON JOHNS: 100%.

JASON TARTICK: It's a dream.

GIBSON JOHNS: So when you-- you know, you're so open, and your guests are so open with money and their careers. And when you think about what you were doing before you were in the corporate banking world, then you go on "The Bachelorette," and then you have this whole other tangent-- I mean, it's connected to what you were doing before. It's informed by what you were doing before, but you have this whole kind of this blossoming career that's just like-- you're very much a multi-hyphenate now, I would say, and like you have your hand in a lot different buckets.

So you've started multiple businesses. You do partnership opportunities, as well as Wyndam Rewards. You have your show. You're working on your-- you're finishing up your second book. You know, are you comfortable saying like which has been more lucrative for you? Like, life before or after, you know, that inflection point in your life?

JASON TARTICK: I think lucrative and just game-changing. Like if you think about six years ago, I was going into an office in a suit, red tie, crisp white shirt, speaking the way I was supposed to speak, acting the way I was supposed to act, and kind of like lost my identity. Now I'm sitting, as you know, in the cubicle caddie, on a golf course, still being able to do really cool things like this.

So when you look at the rewarding aspect, I mean, this is everything. When you look at the financial gains from it, I mean, yeah, wide open about this stuff. I have an episode every year. It's called Jason Tells All. I tell exactly how much I make and where I make, as long as I don't have a contract that keeps me from doing so.

And yeah, I make much, much more now than I did then, but I also work like four times harder, but it's because I enjoy what I'm doing. And then being able to kind of be at the forefront of change in business, by being able to see what companies like Wyndam are doing with a cubicle caddie like this. It is so stimulating to see what's next and how the world is ever-changing.

GIBSON JOHNS: 100%. So Jason, I wanted to finish off with just a couple of big pop culture topics from the past year or two that-- and I would like to have your financial or business just like quick take on what's going on. So first, Taylor Swift rerecording her album. She's still knee deep in that. What do you make of her decision to do that and whether it's paying off for her or not?

JASON TARTICK: Genius. I think what she's done is absolutely unbelievable. There will be Harvard Business case studies over and over and over about what a professional she is. And just think about the behavior of it. Like she has the entire country and entire world swept at their feet.

And the other thing is I got to put out there, what's mind blowing, she's making millions and millions and millions of dollars per show. So I'm thinking like where-- like we're dealing with a little bit of economic suppression, right now. Like where is the money-- it's supposed to be-- like we're supposed to be in a recession, and people are spending $5,000 for a ticket. It's crazy.

GIBSON JOHNS: Yeah.

JASON TARTICK: She's a case study, and she's a genius, and she's inspiring. It's amazing.

GIBSON JOHNS: You've had a couple of "Vanderpump Rules" people on "Trading Secrets," and obviously, Scandoval has been very good for business, both for probably the network and for the individual stars of "Vanderpump Rules." What is your take on how they're all kind of profiting from it and how they can maybe sustain that, going forward, or not?

JASON TARTICK: Yeah. I mean, when I had Sheena, and I love what she said. She said, our life is our business, and our business is our life. And that's what they have signed up for 10 years for. And they've had ebbs and flows and lows and highs, and right now they are on the highest of all highs. I think it is awesome what they're able to do with it. I would encourage them to monetize as much as they can.

But what I would also say is like you have a [INAUDIBLE] I said to Sheena too. She was like, you have a really, really cool platform to educate people on something you just went through-- a restraining order, the cost of hiring an attorney, knowing like what is the process of a restraining order? When are people misusing them? And you could do cool things like that.

Or even just transitioning to my last episode, Haley Page, just talking about making sure you understand every contract. Because if you don't, you literally might sign your life away. But I think Vanderpump has built momentum like no other, and if they can continue to rise from this platform, I think they'll be in really good shape, and it's been fun to watch. It's fun to entertain the conspiracies of--

GIBSON JOHNS: 100%.

JASON TARTICK: Did production know or not?

GIBSON JOHNS: Right. Right. Totally. Last one, Beyonce and Jay-Z recently bought a $200 million house in Malibu. It's the second home, in the LA area. What's your initial reaction to that, just from a finance money perspective?

JASON TARTICK: It's absolutely insanity that a residential piece of real estate is going for $200 million. What I like to do behind every number is learn the lessons, and I think there are probably lessons we could dive into it. Let's talk about what he sells it for.

Anything they touch turns to gold. So if we can touch-- we can take small lessons of what they're doing with that property, how they're doing it, where they're flipping it, when they're flipping, at tax strategy, we can learn from things they're doing, because those are two geniuses that are running the show. So $200 million, good for them, my God.

GIBSON JOHNS: Good for them. Exactly. Exactly.

JASON TARTICK: My God. I could see Jay-Z crouching in a cubicle caddie. Can's you?

GIBSON JOHNS: 1,000%. Oh my god.

JASON TARTICK: Like, I could see him, cigar in hand, smoking--

GIBSON JOHNS: Oh, yeah.

JASON TARTICK: [INAUDIBLE]. Yeah, I could see it.

GIBSON JOHNS: Running like a Roc Nation board meeting from the cubicle caddie, yeah, exactly. Yeah, exactly. Oh my God. Well, Jason, this was so much fun. Thanks for taking the time today. Enjoy the rest of your time in the cubicle caddie. Are there any plugs you want to do before we sign off?

JASON TARTICK: No, Gibson, I've listened to your work before your interviews. You're great at what you do, and you do in such a short period of time. So congratulations on all of that. And what I want to tell people is, it's the most generous hotel loyalty program out there. Just go to WyndamRewards.com, and if you want to listen to any of the episodes we talked about, just go find "Trading Secrets" on anywhere you listen to podcasts.

GIBSON JOHNS: Awesome. I appreciate it, Jason. Have a good one.

JASON TARTICK: Thank you for having me.

GIBSON JOHNS: Yeah. Bye.

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Thanks for tuning in to "We Should Talk." I hope you enjoyed the interview. You can find out more about "In the Know" at IntheKnow.com. You can follow me, Gibson Johns, @gibsonoma, on Twitter and Instagram, and you can listen to all of our interviews, past and future, by searching "We Should Talk" wherever you get your podcasts. Hope to see you next time.