BA Fam we’re back at the Brown Table! It’s been a minute, but the original crew Mandi, Yanely, and Chris are together again and catching up on everything. From West Coast travels and birthday plans to coaching updates and sleep podcast dreams (yes, really), this episode is full of laughs, life, and hard-earned lessons.

Mandi shares the behind-the-scenes of launching her new 12-week VIP coaching program and why one-on-one coaching needs more than just one call. We also get real about the job market and how AI is already shifting the game especially for new grads and folks trying to break in. The tea? Relationships matter more than ever.

Chris is dreaming up a new show (spoiler: it might put you to sleep—in the best way, and Yanely is out here living her best life… and finally seeing Beyoncé live in her hometown.

And of course, we round it all out with a good ol’ Brown Boost / Brown Break—featuring a Pulitzer Prize-winning book and a sobering reminder that hiring bias is still alive and well.

What We Talk About:

- Life & travel updates (hi, Portland! hey, Hawaii!)

- Why Mandi’s shifting back into one-on-one coaching

- Coaching horror stories + how to find the right fit

- AI’s takeover and what that means for your career

- How side projects can keep your creativity flowing

- Book recs, Beyoncé, and a big announcement 👀

Links + Resources:

✨ Apply for Mandi’s VIP coaching: https://mandymoney.com)

📖 James by Percival Everett (Chris's Brown Boost pick)

📱 Essence article: “Black, Qualified, and Ignored” by Aaliyah Jones

BA Fam, do us a solid:

Leave a review. Share this episode with your favorite group chat. And don’t forget—your dreams (and your coins) deserve strategy and support.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BA Fam, we’re back with a classic BA Q&A, and this week’s episode is all about the kind of debt that just hits different credit cards with sky-high interest rates. A listener wrote in with a heartfelt message and a tough reality: nearly $12K in credit card debt spread across multiple cards, with APRs climbing over 30 percent.

Mandi breaks down:

• When debt consolidation actually makes sense
• How to avoid the trap of solving a short-term problem without fixing the root issue
• What happens to your credit score (for better or worse)
• The difference between snowballing your debt vs. avalanching it
• And why it’s time to stop avoiding your balances

You’re not alone, BA fam. And no, you're not failing. You're just one plan away from a financial reset. Let’s talk about it.

📩 Got a question? Email brownambitionpodcast@gmail.com or DM @brownambitionpodcast

Resources + Links:

• Investor.gov Compound Interest Calculator

https://www.investor.gov/financial-tools-calculators/calculators/compound-interest-calculator

• Apps for tracking expenses: Rocket Money, spreadsheets, or whatever helps you
• Credit unions for lower-interest personal loans
• Debt snowball vs. debt avalanche

LET’S STAY CONNECTED

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brownambitionpodcast

Website: https://www.brownambitionpodcast.com

Subscribe & leave us a review—because we love hearing from our BA fam!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BA Fam, we’ve got a good one for you today! Mandi is joined by licensed financial therapist Aja Evans for an eye opening convo about something we all deal with but rarely talk about money feelings.

From stress-spending and avoiding your inbox to doom-scrolling at 6 a.m., Aja breaks down how our emotions drive financial behavior and why learning to sit with discomfort might just be your most powerful money move yet. We also talk about getting dressed just to open your laptop, journaling out your rage , and why the stretch that makes you cry might be exactly what you need.

In this episode, we get into:

-What it really means to self-soothe with spending and what to do instead

-Why romanticizing boring tasks (like budgeting) actually works

- How financial avoidance shows up and what it’s costing you

-The deep-rooted shame so many of us carry, no matter how much is in your bank account

-How Aja helps clients rewrite their money stories

About Aja:

Aja Evans is a licensed financial therapist, President of the Financial Therapy Association, and author of Feel Good Finance. She helps people explore the emotional side of money so they can spend, save, and live from a place of clarity instead of chaos.

Resources + Links:

-Follow Aja on IG: https://www.instagram.com/ajaetherapy

-Her website: https://www.ajaevanscounseling.com

-Grab her new book Feel Good Finance - Feel-Good Finance Untangle Your Relationship with Money for Better Mental, Emotional, and Financial Well-Being

LET’S STAY CONNECTED

Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/brownambitionpodcast

Website: https://www.brownambitionpodcast.com

Subscribe & leave us a review—because we love hearing from our BA fam!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BA Fam, we’re in our investing bag today—and who better to guide us through this unpredictable market than Racquel Oden, Head of U.S. Wealth and Personal Banking for HSBC (yes, that HSBC)? With 30 years of experience under her belt, Racquel breaks it all the way down: why now *isn’t* the time to panic, how to pivot smartly, and what staying “active” with your money really means (spoiler: it’s not staring at your account every five minutes).

Mandi gets personal about her own portfolio (yes, she opened the statement during the episode), and Racquel walks her—and all of us—through what to look for, what questions to ask, and why we all need to stop avoiding our finances like that dentist appointment we keep pushing back. If you've been wondering whether you should move money, sit tight, or finally talk to a pro—this episode is your sign.

What We Discuss :

• Why market dips can actually be buying opportunities (especially in sectors like AI, healthcare, and utilities).

• The real definition of “active investing” (and why it doesn’t mean day trading).

• Why diversification > putting all your eggs in one stock basket.

• How to figure out your risk tolerance and time horizon like a grown-up.

• Why now is the perfect time for a financial check-in, not a freak-out.

LET’S STAY CONNECTED

Instagram: [@brownambitionpodcast](https://www.instagram.com/brownambitionpodcast)

Website: [brownambitionpodcast.com](https://www.brownambitionpodcast.com)

Subscribe & leave us a review—because we love hearing from our BA fam!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hey BA fam — this week, Mandi is back at the Brown Table with two of her favorite mama podcasters: Jessica Norwood from The Sugar Daddy Podcast and Rana Campbell, from Dreams and Drive.

We’re getting real about what it means to be a mom, a creative, and a corporate baddie in 2025 all at the same time. From burnout and baby wipes to balancing big dreams and meal prep, this is a love letter to every woman out here trying to do it all (and keep her edges intact).

No fluff, no filters — just honest convo about grief, ambition, community, and redefining what success looks like when you're raising humans and chasing goals.

We talk about:

-Why balance is a myth and why lowering the bar might just be the key to peace

-Making peace with slow growth and shifting timelines as a mama and entrepreneur

-Outsourcing, setting boundaries, and why folding kid laundry should be a group sport

-The grief of losing support and the power of building your own village

-Raising emotionally intelligent boys in a chaotic world

-Saying “I’m a mom” with your whole chest even in the workplace

Takeaway Quotes:

“You can outsource everything but love.” – Jessica

“I’m not scared to say I’m a mom — and I need to leave early because my kid has a talent show.” – Rana

Links + Resources:

📲 Follow on Rana Instagram -

http://instagram.com/rainshineluv

🔉 Listen to Dreams in Drive →

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dreams-in-drive/id1076971560

📲 Follow on Jessica Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thesugardaddypodcast/

🔉 Listen to Sugar Daddy Podcast →

https://www.instagram.com/thesugardaddypodcast?igsh=Y2R0dGF0OTFtdmNo

LET’S STAY CONNECTED

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brownambitionpodcast

Website: https://www.brownambitionpodcast.com

Subscribe & leave us a review—because we love hearing from our BA fam!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Mandi sits down with the brilliant Jasmine Marie breathwork practitioner, founder of Black Girls Breathing, and author of Black Girls Breathing: Heal from Trauma, Combat Stress, and Find Your Freedom. From surviving the corporate grind to creating wellness spaces rooted in cultural relevance, Jasmine gets real about her journey into entrepreneurship, healing work, and what it truly takes to hold space for Black women’s mental and emotional wellbeing.

We talk about everything from the power of a deep breath and surviving burnout, to funding a business on your own terms and growing a team the *smart* way. Jasmine even leads us through a mini oceanic breath session at the end — don’t miss it

We talk about:

- Jasmine’s transition from corporate beauty marketing to breathwork and mental wellness

- Why most wellness spaces *don’t* center Black women's lived experiences — and what she's doing about it

- Building a company without VC funding: how Jasmine bootstrapped and scaled BGB

- The importance of listening to your body (and your breath) when trauma speaks

- Balancing healing work with entrepreneurship and how not to burn out

- Tools in Jasmine’s toolkit: EMDR therapy, acupuncture, daily walks, and more

- Real talk on grief, generational trauma, and creating new blueprints for Black wellness

Join the Movement:

• Visit https://www.blackgirlsbreathing.com to learn more and access free mental health resources

- Follow Jasmine on IG @blackgirlsbreathing

- Subscribe to *Brown Ambition* and leave us a 5-star review if this episode gave you life!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BA Fam, we’re back at the Brown Table! This week, Mandi is joined by our faves Yanely and Naseema for a good ol' catch-up and trust, it’s been a minute. We're talking about all things mental health, money moves, and why Naseema’s plotting a mini-retirement (yes, you heard that right).

Plus, we dive deep into the messy student loan situation (spoiler alert: the bills are coming due) and what you actually need to know before you freak out.

We also show love to some brilliant Black authors and entrepreneurs making big waves in the mental health and financial wellness space.

Oh, and we might get a little sidetracked talking about breathwork, the movie that everyone is talking about Sinners, and why leaning on your community is the biggest flex right now.

Pull up a seat, you’re gonna want in on this one. 💛

Links + Resources:

📲 Follow on Yanely Instagram -https://www.instagram.com/missbehelpful/

📲 Follow on Naseema Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/financiallyintentional/

LET’S STAY CONNECTED

Instagram: [@brownambitionpodcast](https://www.instagram.com/brownambitionpodcast )

Website: [brownambitionpodcast.com](https://www.brownambitionpodcast.com )

Subscribe & leave us a review—because we love hearing from our BA fam!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.