Stassie Karanikolaou Had Only $300 When She Met Her Manager. Now They’re Looking Out for the Next Generation (Exclusive)

“Have you ever met someone who drives you completely insane… but also kind of keeps you alive?”

That’s how Alexis Fisher and Anastasia “Stassie” Karanikolaou — or “Stassiebaby,” as she’s known to her fans — introduced their new podcast, Better Half, in an audio trailer released last week. It’s also how the best friends agree to describe Fisher’s role in Karanikolaou’s life during a joint interview with PEOPLE ahead of the Dear Media show’s official debut on Friday, May 16.

Then Fisher actually gets down to business, as she’s wont to do as Karanikolaou’s manager: “We basically help her bring her ideas into reality on social media, on business launches, on her brand that she is growing both on and off social media,” Fisher says, summarizing her professional contributions to the influencer’s life.

They’ve been working together for about 10 years, but it didn’t take long for Karanikolaou and Fisher to realize their connection surpassed the usual boss-employee rapport.

Now they’re sharing their uniquely dual business and casual relationship with the world on Better Half, where they’re leading with transparency on pretty much on all topics — friendships, dating, social media, the inner workings of the entertainment industry. Nothing is off limits, Fisher explains, because she and Karanikolaou are most interested in giving “the next generation” real insights on fame.

“For a lot of years, there’s been so many gatekeepers on the management [and] the agent … side of it,” Fisher tells PEOPLE. “I think that when you have a relationship with your client, it’s very important to be transparent, and I have nothing to hide, and Stas has nothing to hide.”

Their episodes will cater to current professionals and those fresh on the scene, as Fisher describes, “People who are graduating college that are like, ‘How would I ever get into social media? What does that look like? How do you find a manager? How do you do any of these things to take the first step?’ ”

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She continues, “It’s important to be an open book for the next generation of people that are coming in to both the professional side and the talent side. I just think the core of [Better Half] is breaking down the walls of what the past used to look like and knowing that there is enough room for everyone to have a place.”

That type of advice might have actually been helpful to Karanikolaou herself a decade ago, when the duo initially met. Back then, the social media star was so unsure of her path that she admits that upon her first visit to Fisher’s office, Karanikolaou immediately started crying.

“I was just terrified of life and lost,” she recalls to PEOPLE. “I was living in my boyfriend’s house at the time, had $300 to my name and everyone around me was figuring out their stuff. And here I go, prancing into this boss-a– b—-‘s office.” Addressing Fisher, Karanikolaou adds, “You were just so put together and you had this whole f—— company and you were just so smart.”

Ever a staunch supporter, Fisher quickly notes how far her employer and pal has come since their first meeting. “Fast forward 10 years, she’s killing it. She’s built a brand. She has been so successful in so many of her different business ventures, and now hopefully the next version of that is this podcast,” the talent manager says of Karanikolaou, who is also known for her tight friendship with Kylie Jenner.

The work-bestie balance has become second nature to Fisher and Karanikolaou. Sometimes they’ll even state the nature of their calls before actually getting into the conversation. “I will call her during the day, and I’m like, ‘I’m not calling you as a manager. I’m calling you as my best friend,’ ” Fisher says.

Before they nailed the “flow” of alternating between both sides of their bond, the duo did find themselves hesitating on the borders of professional boundaries. Fisher was particularly conscious about the situation, given that Karanikolaou was — and still is — her boss.

“In the beginning, it was definitely toeing the lines of, ‘Wait, should I be going out with her? Should she be telling me certain things? Should we not cross the lines?’ ” the Timeline Management CEO says.

Meanwhile, Karanikolaou notes that there was never really a world where she truly separated her professional and personal matters. “I’m the one that crosses the lines always. There’s no lines for me. They’re all blurred in everything,” the online personality tells PEOPLE.

She laughs as she says it, but it doesn’t seem like Karanikolaou is kidding at all when she discusses how deep her bonds run. She adds, “If you’re with me, you’re with me. I can’t put a line on when I’m going to be there for you. We’re just there for all aspects of life, if that makes sense.”

Now they’re “like family” to each other, with a love that’s built upon mutual respect and admiration. Fisher sees that fact as one of their key collaborative strengths.

“When you actually have a personal relationship in business, you want it that much more for that person and you try that much harder for them,” she says. “I want nothing more than for her to be as successful as she can possibly be.”