Trading Secrets Episode 250:

Chicklet and Maleni — From Washing Dishes to Raking in Millions Creating Comedy as a Couple

Release Date: September 1, 2025
Host: Jason Tartick (Audioboom Studios)
Guests: Chicklet & Maleni (Comedy & Social Media Creators)
Theme: The couple’s journey from hustling odd jobs to building a massive social following, breaking down the money realities, business choices, relationship dynamics, and personal growth fueling their brand’s success.

Episode Overview

Jason Tartick welcomes internet comedy duo and real-life couple Chicklet and Maleni to share the raw, behind-the-scenes story of their rise from small paychecks and everyday gigs to millions of followers and lucrative content deals. The episode navigates the vulnerabilities and mindset shifts that fueled their accidental entrepreneurship and explores how money, ambition, and authenticity shape their careers, relationship, and future goals.

Key Discussion Segments and Insights

1. Early Hustles Before Content Creation (03:10–05:00)

• Chicklet’s Start: Worked as an Ikea furniture delivery guy ($50/day), then a dishwasher ($300/week).
  • "I was just the guy that didn’t rap, you know, everybody else... just there to support the group." (02:15, Chicklet)
• Early Vision: Started out to help friends’ rap group by creating videos for their music promo—eventually realized his own knack for content.
  • "I wanted to put my own content out, but gain a following to help promote their music." (02:54, Chicklet)
• Spark of Recognition: Chicklet recounts the first moment being recognized for content (just 2,000 followers)—realized potential for something bigger.
  • "That was kind of the spark right there—there’s something here." (04:38, Chicklet)

2. Making the Leap—Mindset and Survival (05:00–08:17)

• Financial Realities: Before going full-time, Chicklet never made more than about $40,000/year; lived at home, paid $400 a month in rent to mom.
• Juggling Jobs: Thought he would need to keep working to fund content, didn’t expect to be able to go all-in right away.
  • "I actually thought I needed the job table to keep content creation." (06:33, Chicklet)
• Work Ethic and Hustle: Early advice to aspiring creators: Don’t let being “tired” be an excuse—channel the energy you use at work into your own projects.
  • "Focus on themselves because they’re tired. I’m like, ain’t you tired when you go into work? Just do it and be tired!" (07:43, Chicklet)

3. Maleni’s Path and Money Mindset (09:32–11:00)

• Multiple Gigs: From part-time dance outreach ($150/week) to MRI office gig to telemarketing.
• Young & Broke: No rent, only credit card bills—didn’t stress about money because she believed being broke was temporary.
  • "When I didn’t have money, I wasn’t concerned because I was so young... I was never stressing." (10:44, Maleni)

4. The First Viral Moments & Acceleration (11:27–14:23)

• Breakthrough: Began submitting videos to Worldstar in 2017—fast follower growth (from 3,000 to 80,000 in days after two viral hits).
  • "I went from 30k to 80,000... We dropped two bangers back to back." (12:36–12:41, Chicklet)
• The “Douce Cup” & “Fanny Pack” Videos: Explained the comedic bits that went viral, with major blogs and celebrities then sharing their content.
  • "That’s the video that ripped. Cardi B, 50 Cent, Shade Room... even Mass Appeal hit us up." (14:09, Chicklet)
• Monetization Starts: First hosting gig offer—$350 plus a bottle for a club appearance (at the time, a week’s wages in a couple of hours).
  • "That’s 10 hours of dishwasher... I used to make that in a week." (15:11, Host/Chicklet)

5. From Paycheck to Paydays—Brand Deals and New Goals (16:01–19:41)

• Rapid Uplift: Roc Nation called with an initial offer of $5,000 for short-form title content, negotiated up to $7,000.
  • "He asked for 10. They gave us 7. So we already got 7 gs right there." (16:01, Chicklet)
• Maleni’s Breakout: Fashion Nova deals plus consistent paid hosting gigs rapidly shifted their earnings into 5–10k per hour territory.
  • "Making five, ten G's just for an hour at a club. This is eight years ago." (17:45, Chicklet)
• Reflection: Chicklet admits living too fast prevented him from fully appreciating the life change in real-time; initial self-doubt over being seen as “just an Instagram creator."
  • "I used to think I was a loser for that... didn't even appreciate it till recently." (17:56, Chicklet)

6. Life and Financial Goals Now (18:57–21:52)

• Maleni’s Dream: Hopes for a seven-figure campaign with a major company; wants to “hit a mill” and land a nationwide deal.
  • "My real dream is to have a campaign... a nationwide campaign with a company." (19:11, Maleni)
• Chicklet’s Drive: Wants enough to secure family for life and buy a dream home. Creatively motivated (“I like to create, and I need to create more”). Sets a new target:
  • "$2 million a year. And on a big deal? I gotta do a mill." (21:41, Chicklet)

7. Content Earnings: Platforms, Streaming & New Opportunities (22:10–26:11)

• Top Platforms:
  • “Instagram, because of brand deals.” (22:10, Maleni)
  • “Facebook, without brand deals.” (22:13, Chicklet)
• Streaming University: Recap of their experience at Streamer University—intense, didn’t sleep, saw firsthand how hard top streamers work.
  • "They weren't sleeping, bro... People were literally working 24/7." (24:28, Maleni)
• Streaming Money: Chicklet currently makes $3,000–$10,000/month from Twitch (fluctuates depending on breaks taken).
  • "This month almost $3K, last month we did $10K... We took a break and that hurt." (25:58–26:08, Chicklet)

8. Couples Who Work Together—The Dynamic & Challenges (26:23–29:59)

• Different Work Styles: Maleni is “go with the flow,” Chicklet is goal/task-focused; sometimes clash in approach.
  • "I come up with the goal, you go with the flow... I have the flow." (27:29, Chicklet)
• Hardest Part: Struggle to separate work life from their relationship; creative arguments adapt real-life banter but usually aren’t scripted.
  • "Not knowing how to separate work from the relationship." (27:35, Chiclet/Maleni)
  • "It’s a little bit of both... sometimes we’ll play off each other." (28:00, Maleni)
• Finances Together: No strict accounting—generally, “spend your shit, just make sure you take that with you.” They split business and home expenses loosely; both admit not great at budgeting.
  • "Spend your shit. Just make sure... you take that shit with you." (28:49, Chicklet)
  • "We’re really not good at it." (28:51, Maleni)

9. Biggest Spending Habits & Wedding Finances (30:15–32:33)

• Over-Spender Confessions:
  • Maleni: Eating out (“favorite vice!”), Amazon.
  • Chicklet: Clothes (“won’t change”), admits quantity over quality.
    • "Mine is a quantity thing... I won’t stop, though." (31:58, Chicklet)
• Wedding: Spent just under $100k for about 120 guests—some minor brand partnerships, no major sponsorships.

10. Funny Financial Scams and Security (33:00–35:02)

• Chicklet: Fell for repeated $2 phishing scams posing as USPS delivery charge corrections.
  • "I order a lot of stuff... they'll send over a USPS saying you have the wrong address... I’ll just put the $2 in." (33:28, Chicklet)
• Emotional Security—Their Relationship: Both see each other as their main source of emotional support/security.
  • "What keeps you secure? My wife." (34:42, Chicklet)

11. Financial Security Approaches (37:43–39:12)

• Maleni: Puts money in a high-yield savings account to make money from money, waiting until she learns more about investing.
  • "Instead of just keeping it in my bank, I’ve moved it to a high-yield savings account." (38:05, Maleni)
• Chicklet: Admits he feels secure by spending and enjoying what he earns.
  • "I feel secure rocking what I spent it on." (39:12, Chicklet)

12. Trading Secret Takeaways & Reflections (39:33–46:16)

• Chicklet’s Secret:
  • "We’re not perfect, but we’re great... Don't be too harsh on yourself. Be consistent." (40:10–40:58, Chicklet)
• Maleni’s Secret:
  • "Believe in yourself, even when your life doesn’t look the way you think it should. Trust the journey." (41:09, Maleni)
• Sobriety Insights:
  • Since going sober, Chicklet says career, content, and relationship improved immediately.
    • "I proposed; I don't think I would have proposed if I was still drinking." (42:25, Chicklet)
    • "When I was drinking, I felt fake. Now I feel like me." (45:06–45:14, Chicklet)
  • Maleni was supportive of the sobriety journey, learned it had to be “all or nothing” for him.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Just do it and be tired." —Chicklet, on breaking excuses for creators (08:01)
• "Have you ever been hungry and didn't eat?... Just keep going." —Chicklet (08:04)
• "We try not to do [good cop/bad cop] as much anymore." —Chicklet on evolving content style (28:31)
• "If you stress money, then your mind keeps you away from it." —Chicklet reflecting on scarcity vs. abundance (29:59)
• "I'm good with like, two million a year... but I gotta do a mill on a deal." —Chicklet on new goals (21:45, 21:50)
• "We’re not perfect, but we’re great. Be consistent." —Chicklet trading secret (40:10–40:58)
• "Believe in yourself... even when your life doesn't look the way you think it should." —Maleni trading secret (41:09)
• "When I was drinking... I felt fake." —Chicklet, on sobriety’s personal transformation (45:06)

Timestamps for Core Segments

• 03:10–04:48: Chicklet’s early jobs, Ikea/dishwashing/break into content
• 04:48–05:53: First fan recognition & spark
• 07:43–08:17: “Do it tired” mindset and content creation
• 09:39–10:58: Maleni’s side hustles, money attitude
• 11:27–12:36: Early viral growth, Worldstar breakthrough
• 12:41–14:23: Instagram pop-off—viral video breakdown
• 15:11–16:12: First major content paydays ($350 club, $7k content deal)
• 18:57–21:52: Money goals, motivations, and the creative urge
• 22:10–23:19: Platform breakdown (IG, Facebook, streaming earnings)
• 24:28–26:08: Streamer University and income mechanics
• 26:23–29:59: Couple dynamics, work clashes, handling money together
• 30:15–32:33: Spending vices and wedding budgeting
• 33:00–34:16: Financial scams—funny phishing stories
• 37:43–39:12: How they manage (or don’t manage) money
• 39:33–46:16: Trading secrets, personal growth, sobriety
• 42:25–45:14: Sober life, content and relationship growth

Summary Takeaways

1. You can start small and make it big, but the real growth is in mindset and perseverance.
2. Investing in yourself can mean doing it tired, staying consistent, and pushing through self-doubt.
3. Money will come and go—enjoy it, but if your dream is to secure your family and buy a house, stay focused.
4. Balance is hard, especially as a couple in business. Know your roles, play to your strengths, and communicate.
5. Success is enjoying the journey, appreciating the wins, and not beating yourself up over imperfection.

Where to Find Them

• Chicklet: @ChickletHF (all platforms, especially Twitch, IG, YouTube)
• Maleni: @MillenniCruz (IG, Twitch); @MillenniHF (TikTok)

“We’re not perfect, but we’re great. Be consistent.” (40:10, Chicklet)

“Trust the journey... even when it doesn’t look like you imagined.” (41:09, Maleni)

For anyone who’s ever thought there’s no way out of the grind, this episode proves that small steps, hustle, and owning your authentic self can take you places you never dared dream—and sometimes, being tired is just the cost of getting there.

[End of Summary]