Episode 21
From West Philly to Wall Street, King Saladeen's story is proof that dreams manifest at your lowest points. In this episode of the Money Signal Podcast, self-taught artist King Saladeen (born Raheem Saladin Johnson) opens up about turning a childhood love of drawing on his bedroom walls into a multi-million dollar art career without ever setting foot in art school. He shares the raw, emotional story of quitting his job on July 4th, 2011, and vowing to never work for anyone again, a decision fueled by his late best friend JP, whose belief in him gave birth to the now-iconic JP the Money Bear. King Saladeen walks us through the entire journey: hustling hand-painted t-shirts out of his trunk, negotiating his first $250 art sale on the streets of Philadelphia's First Fridays, working behind the scenes for streetwear brand Mesquine (and meeting LeBron James along the way), and eventually landing a gallery inside the New York Stock Exchange thanks to legendary NYSE trader Peter Tuchman. He also opens up about the influence of Takashi Murakami's artwork for Kanye West's College Dropout, which helped inspire the Money Bear concept. The conversation covers his major brand collaborations, including Nike, Jordan, Under Armour, Netflix, and Lotto, and his latest partnership bringing his art to the global stage through Visa's FIFA World Cup campaign, with pieces set to appear on billboards, buses, and major advertising across the country. King Saladeen gets candid about imposter syndrome, grief, self-belief, and why he thinks "sports mentality" is the secret ingredient behind entrepreneurial success. If you've ever doubted your own creative gift or wondered what it really takes to go from broke to a 6-figure art career, this episode is your sign to bet on yourself. Produced by GLORION MEDIA.
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About The Money Signal: From Main Street to Wall Street
Hosted by consumer intelligence expert Tsvetta Kaleynska and veteran NYSE trader Peter Tuchman, The Money Signal explores how consumer sentiment, market psychology, and real-time cultural trends shape business and investing. Each episode connects Main Street behavior with Wall Street insight through conversations with leading founders, investors, and global thinkers.
Produced by GLORION MEDIA, a media and distribution company focused on business storytelling, digital growth, and audience amplification.
ABOUT THE GUESTS
King Saladeen
Raheem “King Saladeen” Johnson is a self-taught contemporary artist from West Philadelphia whose work blends pop art, graffiti, fine art, sports culture, and personal storytelling. Known for his bold colors, signature JP The MoneyBear character, and message-driven approach, Saladeen has built a career around turning creativity into motivation, representation, and community impact. His work has been featured through major brand collaborations, public murals, fine art exhibitions, and cultural partnerships, while his larger mission remains rooted in inspiring the next generation to dream bigger and create their own opportunities. His official bio notes that his passion for art began at an early age, and Mural Arts Philadelphia describes him as the founder of Create Motivate Inspire, with work tied to resilience, cultural identity, and self-expression.
We show you what people are really doing with their money and how those shifts hit the markets. No noise, no jargon, just the insights Tsvetta and Einstein track every day on Main Street and Wall Street.
From Selling Art on the Streets to a Money Bear Empire: King Saladeen's Journey
From West Philly to Wall Street, King Saladeen's story is proof that dreams manifest at your lowest points. In this episode of the Money Signal Podcast, self-taught artist King Saladeen (born Raheem Saladin Johnson) opens up about turning a childhood love of drawing on his bedroom walls into a multi-million dollar art career without ever setting foot in art school. He shares the raw, emotional story of quitting his job on July 4th, 2011, and vowing to never work for anyone again, a decision fueled by his late best friend JP, whose belief in him gave birth to the now-iconic JP the Money Bear. King Saladeen walks us through the entire journey: hustling hand-painted t-shirts out of his trunk, negotiating his first $250 art sale on the streets of Philadelphia's First Fridays, working behind the scenes for streetwear brand Mesquine (and meeting LeBron James along the way), and eventually landing a gallery inside the New York Stock Exchange thanks to legendary NYSE trader Peter Tuchman. He also opens up about the influence of Takashi Murakami's artwork for Kanye West's College Dropout, which helped inspire the Money Bear concept. The conversation covers his major brand collaborations, including Nike, Jordan, Under Armour, Netflix, and Lotto, and his latest partnership bringing his art to the global stage through Visa's FIFA World Cup campaign, with pieces set to appear on billboards, buses, and major advertising across the country. King Saladeen gets candid about imposter syndrome, grief, self-belief, and why he thinks "sports mentality" is the secret ingredient behind entrepreneurial success. If you've ever doubted your own creative gift or wondered what it really takes to go from broke to a 6-figure art career, this episode is your sign to bet on yourself. Produced by GLORION MEDIA.
The Truth About the Inventor Scam Industry | Christopher Landano and Tsvetta
Can you protect your invention from the scam industry? Christopher Landano, inventor of the TrackBelt360 and partner at Modern Inventor, exposes how predatory companies are costing American inventors close to a billion dollars a year. Learn how to avoid inventor scams before they cost you everything. From FDNY forensic photographer to product entrepreneur, Chris shares how a Queens building collapse sparked the TrackBelt360, and the brutal reality of patent law for inventors after 2012. He also breaks down how Shark Tank entrepreneurs are getting destroyed by knockoffs and what you can actually do about it. Produced by GLORION MEDIA.
How Sports Teams Make Money in the Streaming Age | Barry Gilbert and Tsvetta
Barry Gilbert from TNT Sports breaks down the economics of sport, fan psychology, and AI in sports — and what it all means for the attention economy reshaping media today. As Director of Sales Research at Warner Bros. Discovery, Barry reveals what drives the modern sports fan, how teams and sports networks actually make money, and why your attention span has become the most valuable in media. We dig into why sports streaming has fragmented beyond recognition, how the NBA rights shakeup changed where you watch the game, and what brands measure beyond impressions. Barry also explains how TNT Sports is blending social-first content with linear TV in 2026, why authenticity builds deeper fan loyalty, and how AI in sports is transforming the way advertisers connect with audiences and surface insights from massive data sets. Produced by GLORION MEDIA.
Here's How to Become Rich From Zero | Mario Veneroso and Tsvetta
Financial advisor Mario Veneroso shares tips on how to build wealth from scratch and manage your money, and discusses the future of investing. In this episode of the Money Signal Podcast, Mario breaks down the investment strategies and financial tips that actually work for everyday people. Mario shares his proven 50-30-20 rule for how to manage money, explains when and how to pay off debt before you invest, and walks through the account types that build real long-term wealth, including Roth IRAs, employer matches, and inflation hedges like gold and real estate. Whether you're living paycheck to paycheck, drowning in credit card debt, or just getting started, this conversation gives you a clear, no-BS roadmap to take control of your finances. Produced by GLORION MEDIA.
How do the Wealthy Invest Their Money | Misha Vasilchikov and Tsvetta
How do the rich invest, how to build wealth, and what to invest in - Misha Vasilchikov from MVV Capital Partners breaks it all down. In this episode of the Money Signal Podcast, Misha reveals the alternative investments ultra-wealthy households are using to grow and protect their money far beyond traditional stocks and bonds. From sports investing and private equity to co-investments and family office strategies, this conversation covers the real frameworks behind smart capital allocation. Misha shares why sports franchises are one of the most inflation-proof asset classes available, how co-investments unlock deals previously reserved for institutions, and what due diligence actually looks like at the highest levels. Produced by GLORION MEDIA.
Every Market Crash Starts the Same Way | Peter Tuchman and Tsvetta
Why do market crashes happen and what happens if the market crashes again? Peter Tuchman, the Einstein of Wall Street, Wall Street's longest-standing NYSE floor broker, breaks down the one pattern hidden across every stock market crash in history. From the 2008 financial crisis and its predatory lending scandal to the COVID economy collapse and rapid recovery, Peter reveals what every major market crash in history has in common — and it's something most investors never notice. Whether you're asking why market crashes happen or what happens if the market crashes today, this episode delivers real Wall Street insight straight from someone who's lived through every single one. Produced by GLORION MEDIA.