Season 2 of Bald Ambition gets off to a fun start as Mookie Spitz sits down with Mirav Ozeri—journalist, documentarian, adaptive entrepreneur, and fellow podcaster of her own show How Much Can I Make?—for a wide-ranging, playfully honest conversation about work, money, ambition, and the weird paths people take to survive (and sometimes thrive).
Mirav’s story is nuts in the best way: She immigrates to the U.S., sells $1 bags of vegetables in Harlem, dodges police, befriends a hot-dog lady with a pipe, makes documentaries that help change drug-sentencing laws, works inside CBS News, walks away from it, and eventually launches a podcast that asks what Americans are not supposed to ask—what people actually earn, and why they do what they do.
Along the way, Mookie and Mirav get into:
- Why money is the hook—but human stories are the point
- Jobs that quietly make way more money than you think
- Why loving your work matters more than chasing prestige
- AI, automation, and which jobs are actually at risk
- The coming backlash against AI-generated slop
- Why curiosity beats credentials every time
Their convo is funny, sharp, occasionally profane, and grounded in lived experience rather than hustle porn, tech hype, and LinkedIn cliche.
If you’ve ever wondered whether you chose the wrong career, what other people are really making, or how the hell anyone figures this stuff out, this episode is for you! Just be prepared to think about how much money you make...
The Guest
Mirav Ozeri grew up in Jerusalem, Israel, served in the Israeli army, and earned her bachelor’s degree in photography before moving to New York City. As a brand-new immigrant determined to build a life in America, she opened a fruit & vegetable stand in Harlem, just steps from the iconic Apollo Theater. The stand thrived, but after two years Mirav felt pulled back toward her passion for storytelling and journalism.
She launched her own video production company, producing, directing, and editing projects for political groups and nonprofits including the Alcoholism Council, the Correctional Association, and the Anti-Defamation League. Her work soon led to a 17-year career at CBS News, where she served as a producer/editor, helped launch the Sunday morning show – CBS MarketWatch, and worked as a senior editor and segment producer until the program was acquired by Dow Jones.
During her time at CBS, Mirav produced a TV pilot—an early version of the podcast she hosts today. The pilot wasn’t picked up, but the idea never left. Years later, her passion for journalism brought it back to life.
Podcast, Website & Social Media
https://www.howmuchcanimake.info/
https://www.facebook.com/mirav.ozeri
https://www.instagram.com/howmuchcanimake/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mirav-ozeri-8b34147/
https://www.tiktok.com/@nycwom
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