Entertainment

Rising Star Paula Weckerle On The Importance Of Mental Toughness in Fashion

Published

5 years ago

March 26, 2020

Paula Weckerle is far from your average model.

With an acute awareness of how her industry is run the driving factors that define success, she speaks on why she likes modeling but why it’s so necessary for the women in it to broaden their definitions of value, take ownership of their own happiness, and show each other compassion.

Paula sat down for an exclusive interview with Big Time Daily to explain:

Big Time Daily (BTD): What do you consider to be your biggest strength and how has it helped in your career as a model

Paula Weckerle (PW): Honestly, my mental strength. I think being mentally healthy is the most important thing for anyone, a model especially. Because sometimes people will tell you that “you’re not good enough.” You need to be mentally strong, and then you can focus on taking care of your body. That’s my passion, helping people with this.

BTD: That’s a fresh and unexpected approach! What is it so hard to be mentally tough in your industry?

PW: I feel that it’s fair that most jobs are given to either someone with a famous family or to an “Instagram model.” The industry doesn’t want to build a new name like they used back in the day, like ‘80s. In my opinion this is the hardest thing about the industry today—I know so many incredible girls, but they just don’t have a chance to really “build a name.”

BTD: What do you think is a way to reform this? To change the industry to be more open to new faces?

PW: I think since Instagram has taken on a bigger role in our lives people have started to become more self-aware of what’s happening. I think eventually people will realize that all these ultra-famous models, some of whom are just their name—not really talent—are not “real.” That world is not reality, and it’s so bad for women, because it promotes the idea of being “perfect,” but this perfect doesn’t even exist. It’s a difficult topic, because many people just follow the crowd. But I think because of this Coronavirus people are going to realize what’s important, and what’s not, which will help mitigate the issue.

LDP: Is there anything specific you want to teach or promote to younger models or even other people?

PW: Yes, I want to work to bring awareness and help people deal with mental health issues, like anxiety. I also want to help people find their passions. I think one key component many people are missing is communication, and how/with whom to do it properly—many people are afraid of others’ judgements. But communication is really the solution to all of one’s problems. So I want to help promote this, and spread awareness to people through my platform.

Entertainment

Going Public: The Groundbreaking Series Transforming How Americans Invest

Published

4 weeks ago

May 16, 2025

Jonathan Grilli

In a media landscape saturated with reality TV and startup showcases, Going Public stands apart, not just as a show but as a movement. Now in its third season, the interactive series invites viewers to do more than just watch entrepreneurs chase success. It gives them the tools and the opportunity to invest in startups in real time, democratizing access to early-stage funding and reshaping how ordinary Americans engage with entrepreneurship and wealth-building.

Launched by Todd M. Goldberg, a former MedTech executive who hit a frustrating wall while preparing his company for a Nasdaq IPO, Going Public was born from a moment of personal disillusionment.

“When I brought a list of interested friends and colleagues to the Chairman of the Board,” Goldberg recalls, “he explained that all the IPO shares were reserved for institutional investors. That was my epiphany. I just knew that was wrong. Regular people should have a chance to invest in IPOs, but it needed to go even further.”

That insight became the foundation for Going Public, a hybrid of entrepreneurial storytelling and financial access that offers retail investors a seat at the table usually reserved for venture capitalists and insiders. The show brings audiences inside the capital-raising journey of startups, often before they go public, and leverages a powerful innovation: its “Click-to-Invest” feature.

“The bottom line with Click-to-Invest is that it’s seamless,” says Goldberg. “Viewers can go from watching the show to literally clicking a button. It feels more like a Shopify or Amazon checkout than a traditional investment process.”

This accessibility is central to the show’s mission: to educate, inspire, and empower everyday people to participate in early-stage investing. Unlike financial news channels that target seasoned traders, Going Public merges entertainment with financial literacy, using real startup stories to highlight the risks, rewards, and realities of entrepreneurship. It’s financial content with emotional stakes, real people, and tangible outcomes.

Season 3 reflects how far the show has come and where it’s going. With more celebrity involvement, including gaming icon Ninja backing the cashew milk startup Nutcase, and a strategic partnership with the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Going Public has widened its reach while deepening its cultural relevance.

“How do you make this mainstream?” Goldberg says. “The concept was The Apprentice meets Shark Tank meets IPO, but with a twist. Viewers aren’t just spectators, they’re stakeholders.”

The show’s selection of featured companies is another defining element. Startups are chosen not just for their growth potential but also for their mission, relatability, and cultural resonance. In Season 3, that includes everything from disruptive wellness brands to tech-enabled platforms, each paired with guidance from top-tier venture capitalists and Silicon Valley mentors.

This season also introduces a livestream finale, a format innovation designed to create a real-time, high-stakes environment where viewers can watch, decide, and invest together. It adds urgency and community to the investing experience, aligning with the show’s values of transparency and participation.

One of the most surprising and meaningful outcomes has been the personal stories from viewers who never imagined themselves as investors. “We’ve heard from teachers, nurses, and even students who said this was their first time investing and they felt confident doing it because the show made it accessible,” Goldberg shares. “It’s not just about money, it’s about empowerment.”

Looking ahead, Goldberg and his team have ambitious plans. They aim to expand the format to new platforms, explore international adaptations, and build out educational tools so viewers not only invest but understand what they’re investing in. The goal isn’t just more participation. It’s smarter participation.

In a world where capital often feels distant, technical, and exclusionary, Going Public brings the financial journey down to earth and into the hands of the people. It’s not just a show. It’s a redefinition of how business stories are told and how wealth can be created and shared.