Trading Secrets

On this week’s 30-minute Thursday episode of Trading Secrets, Jason Tartick is joined by The Curious Canadian for a fast-paced catch-up covering everything from the standout moments of our recent conversation with Maksim “Maks” Chmerkovskiy to Jason’s upcoming 20-day trip across Europe.
The duo reflects on Maks’ insights, shares behind-the-scenes thoughts from the interview, and dives into what Jason is most looking forward to on his European travels. Plus, they break down the latest pop culture headlines, trending stories, and entertainment news making waves this week.
Whether you're here for business, travel, reality TV, or celebrity buzz, this episode has a little bit of everything—served with the signature banter and unfiltered takes you’ve come to expect from Trading Secrets.

This week, Jason is joined by world-renowned dancer, entrepreneur, and Dancing With The Stars legend, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, for a conversation about career longevity, entrepreneurship, financial lessons, family, and the relentless work ethic that has fueled every chapter of his life.
Before becoming one of the most recognizable faces in ballroom dance, Maks immigrated to the United States from Ukraine with his family in search of opportunity. Arriving in Brooklyn without speaking English and with little more than determination, he quickly immersed himself in the growing ballroom dance community that would eventually become the foundation for an extraordinary career.
Maks reflects on his rise from competitive dance champion to one of Dancing With The Stars’ most iconic professionals, sharing how the show evolved into a cultural phenomenon spanning multiple generations. He explains why the current success of Dancing With The Stars isn’t an accident, how social media transformed the show’s reach, and why today’s professional dancers are becoming stars in their own right.
Beyond television, Maks opens up about the business side of his career. He shares lessons learned from building a nationwide dance studio company, launching new ventures, investing in businesses, and navigating costly entrepreneurial mistakes along the way. From a failed restaurant venture that never opened to learning hard lessons about money management and lifestyle inflation, Maks reveals the financial realities behind life in entertainment.
Jason and Maks also discuss the importance of diversification, building businesses outside of television, and why financial success isn’t just about making money — it’s about learning how to keep it. Maks explains how he and his wife, fellow Dancing With The Stars pro Peta Murgatroyd, continue balancing entrepreneurship, parenthood, and multiple growing businesses while raising three young children.
The conversation also takes a deeply personal turn as Maks reflects on his upbringing, his parents’ sacrifices, the emotional moment his father expressed pride in his accomplishments, and the perspective he carries from staying closely connected to the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Throughout the episode, Maks shares the mindset that has guided him through success, setbacks, criticism, and reinvention. Whether discussing dance, business, family, or personal growth, one theme remains constant: an unwavering commitment to hard work.
From immigration and ballroom dance to entrepreneurship and fatherhood, Maks reveals what it truly takes to build a lasting career while continuing to evolve long after the spotlight shifts.
Maks reveals all this and so much more in another episode you can’t afford to miss!
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Host: Jason Tartick
Co-Host: David Arduin
Audio: John Gurney
Video: Marc Colcer
Guest: Maksim Chmerkovskiy

On this week’s 30 Minute Thursday, Jason Tartick is joined by The Curious Canadian to break down the biggest moments from his emotional and revealing conversation with Michael Allio and esthetician Jadé Marie Chapman.
Jason and David unpack Michael’s journey through grief, fatherhood, healing, dating in the public eye, and what stood out most from Michael and Jadé’s relationship dynamic. They also discuss the business side of influencing, modern relationships, and why audiences connected so deeply with the episode.
Plus, Jason shares stories from his recent trip to Portugal — including travel highlights, cultural observations, food, and a few unexpected moments along the way.
The guys also hit the latest pop culture headlines, social media conversations, and trending reality TV drama in another classic 30 Minute Thursday episode.

On this episode of Trading Secrets, Jason Tartick sits down with one of social media’s most emotionally honest couples — Michael Allio and Jade Marie Chapman.
Michael opens up about his deeply personal new book, Where the Wild Heart Grows, inspired by conversations with his son James about grief, healing, and life’s hardest transitions after losing his wife Laura. Together, Michael and Jade share how friendship became love, why they left the Hollywood lifestyle behind for a quieter life in Akron, and what it’s really like building a blended family rooted in honesty, growth, and emotional intelligence.
The conversation also dives into business and entrepreneurship as Jade shares the journey behind building her skincare company from scratch, while Michael gives an update on St. James Therapeutics and the groundbreaking clinical trial results that could help cancer patients manage painful chemotherapy side effects.
Plus, the couple talks Bachelor Nation, public relationships, money habits, investing, future marriage plans, and the biggest “trading secrets” they’ve learned about life, love, and betting on yourself.

Jason and David recap the Galey Alix episode and catch up on everything from this week’s market moves to workplace drama. Jason previews his Europe trip for a bachelor party and weddings, and they dig into the wild story of how Skims somehow got tied to a drug bust — what happened and why it matters.