Backyard Ventures, a leading creator partnerships and media company, announces the exclusive signing of “Frugal Friends,” a top-ranked personal finance podcast that delivers practical money management advice without the guilt and shame of traditional budgeting approaches.
The show joins Backyard Ventures’ roster as part of the hosts’ continued growth and expansion strategy. The signing reflects Backyard Ventures’ approach to partnering with established content creators. Hosts Jen Smith and Jill Sirianni—co-authors of Buy What You Love Without Going Broke—have built a multi-platform financial wellness brand that challenges budgeting orthodoxy with their philosophy: “Frugality isn’t about restriction—it’s about getting more of what you love and less of what you don’t.”
Smith, who shares personal stories of overcoming debt and has authored four personal finance books, and Sirianni, a licensed clinical social worker with hands-on experience—including living in a motorhome to fast-track debt payoff—have positioned Frugal Friends as a refreshing alternative to extreme budgeting culture. Their weekly podcast offers practical strategies for debt elimination, intentional spending, and sustainable wealth building, all without the guilt-driven messaging that dominates much of the personal finance space.
“Frugal Friends is exactly the kind of creator-led brand we love to support—authentic, impactful, and built on trust,” said Backyard Ventures Founder and CEO Matt Cisneros. “Jen and Jill are reshaping how people think about money, and we’re excited to help scale that influence.”
The brand’s reach extends beyond podcasting through YouTube content and a weekly newsletter offering “freebies, saving tips, and life hacks for staying in control of spending,” delivering actionable advice in five-minute reads. Recent episodes addressing back-to-school spending pressure, car payment inflation, and social media’s influence on consumer behavior demonstrate the hosts’ ability to tackle contemporary financial challenges with both expertise and accessibility.
Backyard Ventures represents creators nationwide, but this signing underscores its ongoing commitment to Austin’s expanding podcast economy, where independent voices are building nationally recognized media brands. As part of that strategy, Backyard Ventures continues to invest in high-impact partnerships that help creators scale across platforms, deepen audience engagement, and grow sustainable digital businesses.
Frugal Friends joins Backyard Ventures’ portfolio of lifestyle and educational content creators, including major podcasts like The Art of Manliness, Ryan Holiday’s Daily Stoic, Full Send Podcast, and The Skip Bayless Show, plus leading YouTube channels including Ballislife, Hoovies Garage, and Gas Monkey Garage.
About Backyard Ventures
Backyard Ventures cultivates meaningful connections between creators and their communities, representing a diverse portfolio of established and emerging talent spanning influential podcasts, beloved YouTube channels, and engaged email newsletters. Their client roster includes notable names like The Art of Manliness, Ryan Holiday’s Daily Stoic and Daily Dad, and Josh Radnor’s How We Made Your Mother. By leveraging an extensive network and platform expertise, Backyard Ventures focuses on strategic partnerships, brand development, and exclusive partnerships, building strong digital businesses with creators by expanding their reach and deepening audience engagement. www.wearebv.com
