Brown Ambition

What happens when you grow up knowing what it feels like to not have enough money?

For La La Anthony, that feeling became part of the fuel behind her ambition. Raised by a single mom, La La learned early that she wanted to build a life where she could take care of herself and never have to feel guilty about asking for money. That independent spirit eventually took her from an unpaid radio internship at 16 to a career spanning radio, acting, producing, entrepreneurship, fashion, and philanthropy.

In this episode of Brown Ambition, Mandi Money sits...

This week on Brown Buzz, we’re cutting through the headlines and getting into the stories that affect our money, careers, and lives.

First, Mandi discusses the allegations involving Cornell and LSU, why Title IX is not the same thing as a criminal investigation, and what students and survivors should know if they want to explore a report to law enforcement.

TW: From  02:21 - 11:05 this episode includes discussion of SA.

Then, we get practical:

• The career skill employers say matters most in an AI-powered workplace

• Why more buyers are conside...

What happens when the thing that makes you feel most like yourself doesn’t fit neatly into the version of success you were raised to pursue?

For Alexis Nikole Nelson, aka The Black Forager, that question has shaped nearly every chapter of her life. From growing up as a curious, outdoorsy kid who learned about plants in her mother’s garden to studying environmental science and theater, working in marketing, and eventually building a community of millions around her love of foraging, Alexis has never really fit into just one box. And that’s exactly the point.

...

Brown Buzz is back! Mandi breaks down the Nikole Hannah-Jones school-choice debate, the latest in the Nolan Wells case, why the AI job apocalypse may be more complicated than it sounds, and what SAVE borrowers need to do now.

In this episode
•    Nikole Hannah-Jones, school segregation, and the emotional cost of impossible parenting choices
•    Why repair and accountability matter after harm
•    The latest in the Nolan Wells case
•    The AI “boomerang” trend and how to strengthen your career resilience
•    What SAVE borrowers need to do now
•    Kennedy Ryan’s major adaptation news

BA Fam action step...

In this episode, Mandi sits down with Dr. Tasneem “Dr. Taz” Bhatia, a board-certified physician and integrative medicine expert, to talk about women’s health, hormones, healthcare, and what it really means to advocate for yourself. Dr. Taz shares her own experience of becoming a doctor who became the patient after struggling with fatigue, brain fog, weight gain, hair loss, and other symptoms that were initially dismissed as stress.

She also explains how her journey into integrative medicine changed the way she thinks about gut health, hormones, nutrition, stress, supplements, and preventive healthcare—and why women need to under...

In this special Friday episode, Mandi celebrates the BA Fam, shares the origin story behind Brown Ambition, and introduces Brown Buzz—your new end-of-week roundup of the headlines shaping your money, career, culture, and life.

This week on Brown Buzz:
•    The Federal Reserve raised interest rates. What does that mean for credit-card debt, variable-rate loans, savings accounts, and your investments?
•    More job seekers are getting interviewed by AI bots instead of actual humans. Mandi shares how to navigate the robot-filled hiring process—and why your real-life network matters more than ever.
•    Ed Sheeran’s tour drama: Mackle...

What happens when the ambition that helped you build your life starts costing you your well-being?

For many ambitious women, especially women of color, success can come with a hidden cost: saying yes when we’re exhausted, pushing through when our bodies are asking us to slow down, and measuring our worth by how much we can accomplish. But wellness isn’t just about massages and self-care days. Sometimes it looks like setting boundaries, asking for help, knowing what you actually need, and giving yourself permission to come back to yourself.

In this episode, Koya Webb...

What happens when you spend years pouring everything into your career, relationships, and success only to realize they aren’t pouring the same love back into you?

In this episode of Brown Ambition, Mandi sits down with journalist and author Tiffany D. Cross to talk about her new book, Love, Me: A Letter to Black Women in a Toxic Country, Career, and Relationship.

Tiffany opens up about her very public exit from MSNBC, rebuilding her life after career heartbreak, and the difficult process of learning to recognize her own value. Together, Mandi and Tiffany explore th...

September can be a powerful time to get visible, activate your network, and pursue the next role—but smart career strategy is not just about landing a new job. It is also about protecting your options before year-end budget decisions and possible restructurings. In this solo episode, Mandi shares how to use the fall hiring window, make yourself easier to hire, and create a no-panic layoff-readiness plan for your career and your money.

In this episode, Mandi covers:

• How to get specific about the role and work you want next

• Why real co...

This week's BA Q&A, Mandi is joined by friend of the show Naseema McElroy of Financially Intentional to answer a question from Serena, a 28-year-old multi-passionate entrepreneur torn between beauty and holistic health.

Naseema drops gems on the power of niching down, embracing your unique story, and positioning yourself as a Key Person of Influence. If you’re feeling stuck between passions and need clarity on how to turn your ideas into a purposeful business, this episode is for you.

🔑 Highlights:

Why failing fast is essential to the entrepreneurial journey

How to...

Hey BA Fam! Mandi Money is back with a Brown Boost, Brown Break because there’s simply too much happening to stay quiet.

First, Mandi turns her attention to Gary, Indiana, where tens of thousands of residents were left without power following severe storms. She talks about what the crisis reveals about racial inequity, the communities that too often get overlooked by mainstream media, and why voices like Keith Lee and other independent creators have become so important in bringing attention to stories that deserve national coverage.

Then, it’s time for a much-needed Brown Boos...

Mandi responds to a listener trying to help her 59-year-old mother recover from a costly retirement mistake after medically retiring from a job she held for 19 years. After discovering her mom had just $36,000 left and had accidentally withdrawn her retirement balance instead of rolling it into an IRA   the listener is left figuring out how to protect what's left without creating an even bigger tax or benefits problem.

What starts as a question about a 401(k) withdrawal turns into a bigger conversation about helping aging parents navigate retirement. Mandi breaks down the 60-day rollover window, taxes, income-based a...

Hey BA fam, it’s Mandi Money! Today I’m bringing you a Brown Ambition Rewind featuring my conversation with physician, author, entrepreneur, and health equity advocate Dr. Uché Blackstock. We get real about burnout, identity, ambition, and what it takes to walk away from spaces that no longer serve you. Uché shares why she left a prestigious academic career, the emotional cost of feeling unseen, and how grief, motherhood, caregiving, and entrepreneurship have reshaped her definition of success. We also talk about the backlash against DEI, what patients should know about AI in healthcare, and why listening to your bo...

This week, Mandi is reporting live from the National Association of Black Journalists convention with reflections, real talk, and a reminder that the best opportunities at a conference rarely come from simply being in the room.First, she breaks down how to turn conferences, industry events, and professional gatherings into meaningful networking opportunities.

From preparing before you arrive to making authentic connections in the moment—and actually following up afterward—Mandi shares practical ways to leave an event with more than a tote bag and a stack of business cards.

Then, the episode shifts to exce...

Mandi Money closes out the Summer Money Reboot series by rethinking what ambition looks like when the goals you once chased no longer fit the life you're living today. If you've ever reached a milestone and wondered, Is this still what I want?, this episode is your invitation to redefine success on your own terms.

Mandi explores the difference between Brown Ambition and toxic ambition, sharing why changing direction doesn't mean you're giving up. Through the story of a coaching client navigating divorce, financial pressure, and a career crossroads, she breaks down what can happen when you...

Mandi Money continues the Summer Money Reboot series by exploring what happens when your finances look good on paper but your life no longer feels like it fits. If you've ever found yourself questioning a career that once excited you, wondering whether your spending reflects what you actually value, or feeling like you're chasing goals that no longer belong to you, this episode is your invitation to press pause and realign.

Drawing from her own journey through burnout, motherhood, health challenges, and career transitions, Mandi shares why your money's purpose should evolve alongside your life. She explains h...

In this solo episode, Mandi digs into the messy, public fallout around Children of Blood and Bone author Tomi Adeyemi and Insecure alum Amanda Seales — two Black women who chose to speak openly about mistreatment tied to projects that should have been “safe” for them. Using their stories as a lens, Mandi explores how misogynoir shows up when Black women tell the truth at work, why our first reaction is often tone policing instead of empathy, and what a practical (if imperfect) framework for speaking up can look like when protection is not guaranteed.

See omnystudio.com/listen...

MandiMoney continues the Summer Money Reboot series by shifting the focus from getting out of debt to making your money work harder through investing. If you've been contributing to your 401(k), opened a retirement account years ago, or simply wondered whether your investment strategy still fits the life you're living today, this episode is your invitation to stop investing on autopilot and start investing with intention.

Mandi shares how her own financial life has evolved from a 24-year-old with a target-date fund to a business owner, parent, and entrepreneur with completely different priorities. She explains why your...

Mandi responds to a listener who feels increasingly frustrated by a newly promoted coworker who still comes in late, leaves early, and seems to get more grace because she has kids. What starts as a question about fairness turns into a deeper conversation about working parents, workplace stigma, professional branding, and why resentment at work is often pointing to something bigger underneath. Mandi makes the case for compassion, but also pushes the listener to look at what this situation is revealing about visibility, recognition, and career growth.

Join the Summer Money Reboot! 
Mandi’s six‑...

MandiMoney continues the Summer Money Reboot series by tackling one of the most emotionally charged topics in personal finance: debt.

Whether your balances grew because of rising costs, inconsistent income, a family emergency, or simply trying to keep life moving when your paycheck couldn't keep up, this episode is a reminder that debt isn't a character flaw, it's a financial challenge that deserves a plan, not shame.

Mandi gets candid about her own experience navigating five-figure credit card debt and why even financial experts sometimes find themselves back at square one. She walks through the e...

In this BA Q&A, Mandi kicks off a brand‑new listener clinic for the Summer Money Reboot series and answers a letter from a listener she calls “Erin,” who is juggling Walmart shifts, side hustles, vending machine dreams, and plans to become a single mom by choice.  

Mandi shares why she’s finally ready to try stock trading after attending Teri Ijeoma’s New York City book launch and breaks down the real numbers behind vending machines as a business—so you’re not accidentally living life on hard mode in your financial safety season.

Listener lett...

MandiMoney continues the Summer Money Reboot series by tackling one of the hardest financial seasons to navigate: rebuilding after life knocks you off course. Whether it was a layoff, medical emergency, divorce, caregiving, or simply an economy that changed faster than your paycheck could keep up, this conversation is about letting go of shame and creating a realistic path forward.

Grab the Week 2 Workbook here: https://mandimoney.myflodesk.com/vr4mxs90xk

Special guest: Jaspreet Singh, founder of https://theminoritymindset.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hey BA fam, Mandi is back (!) in the studio and kicking off a brand new Summer Money Reboot series. 

In this kickoff episode, Mandi shares why she rewrote her book into Brown Ambition: How to Reboot Your Career and Money After Life Throws You Off Track and introduces a new framework for thinking about your finances when life is life‑ing: the four financial seasons.

You’ll learn:
•    Why “I did everything right” and still feel stuck is more common than you think.
•    The four financial seasons: Safety, Growth, Alignment, and Protection—and the main job of eac...

Hey BA fam, it’s Mandi. Today I’m bringing you a Brown Ambition Rewind that feels so on‑time for where a lot of us are in our careers right now.

This conversation is with executive coach and author Sabina Nawaz, whose book You’re the Boss: Become the Manager You Want to Be and Others Need is all about helping high‑achieving leaders avoid the traps that come with success. 

We talk about why promotions are actually the riskiest moments in your career, how pressure — not power — can corrupt even the best bosses, and what it rea...

Hey BA fam! We’re bringing back one of our most powerful conversations with writer, editor, and cultural critic Roxane Gay — just in time as we come out of Pride Month and Juneteenth, and as I celebrate finishing the 12th and final chapter of my manuscript ahead of my July 1 deadline.

Even though I had to give up my spot at Roxane’s Black writers convention last weekend because of surgery, I’m grateful we get to sit with her voice again in this feed. Brown Ambition will be back with brand‑new episodes starting July 8, and I can’t wa...

Mandi pops in with a quick life and book update, shares details about the upcoming Brown Ambition Career Reboot Challenge, and then re‑airs one of the most powerful conversations in the BA archive: her interview with Mielle Organics CEO and founder, Monique Rodriguez.

If you’ve ever wondered what it really looks like to turn grief into purpose, build a global brand from your kitchen, and navigate the backlash that comes with selling your company as a Black woman, this episode is for you.

You’ll hear:

•    How Monique went from nursing to experim...

🔥 In this episode of Brown Ambition, Mandi sits down with Jessica Cruel, the powerhouse Editor-in-Chief of Allure and SELF magazines, to talk about her journey to the top of the beauty media world and how she’s building wealth through real estate investing as a single woman.

👑 We dive into:

✔️ How Jessica climbed the ranks in the magazine industry

✔️ Her journey to financial independence & the FIRE movement

✔️ The ups and downs of being a single woman in real estate

✔️ Smart investing tips for firs...

Hey BA Fam! Today I’m answering a question from a listener who calls herself “Tired Nanny” — a 27‑year‑old who recently moved to the U.S., has a bachelor’s in education, and is wondering if an MBA is the key to pivoting into business. She’s saved enough to cover grad school tuition and a year of living expenses and is tempted to quit nannying altogether so she can focus on school full‑time.

In this throwback Brown Ambition Q&A, I break down:
•    Why your current job (yes, even nannying) can be a powerful bridge and...

This week, we’re heading back into the Brown Ambition vault for a powerful conversation with celebrity hairstylist and image maker Lacy Redway.

Lacy may not always be in front of the camera, but you’ve definitely seen her work. From red carpets to fashion campaigns and TV and film, she’s shaping the way Black women show up on screen and in the culture.

In this episode, we get into:

•    Growing up as a Jamaican immigrant, being the “foreign kid,” and learning to do her own hair after a bad relaxer left it broken and...

In this Flashback Friday Brown Ambition Q&A, Mandi and Tiffany tackle two big money dilemmas listeners are facing right now: whether to borrow from a 401(k) to pay off debt, and how to make the most of a 200K inheritance without blowing your shot at building generational wealth.

In the first question, they break down when a 401(k) loan can make sense, the major risks if you leave your job, how balance transfer cards and personal loans compare, and why lenders are often “betting against” your behavior with these products.

Then they dig into Eric...

Debt doesn’t have to be the big bad boogeyman on your back. In this throwback episode of Brown Ambition, I’m joined by two powerhouses in the money space—financial activist Dasha Kennedy (The Broke Black Girl) and National Debt Relief Chief Compliance and Consumer Affairs Officer, Natalia Brown—for an honest, stigma‑free conversation about what debt relief is, who it’s for, and how to finally create a plan you can live with.

We unpack the emotional weight of debt, from shame and secrecy to the very real health impacts of chronic financial stress, and we walk th...

This week on Brown Ambition, we’re joined by none other than HGTV’s powerhouse duo, Egypt Sherrod and Mike Jackson, stars of “Married to Real Estate” and hosts of the Marriage & Money podcast.

Together, we dive into what it really looks like to build a business, raise a family, and keep a marriage strong—all while staying true to themselves. From juggling show tapings to managing their growing empire (hello, new furniture line Indigo Road!), Egypt and Mike don’t hold back.

We talk about: 

- The honest truth about therapy, teamwork, and choosing l...

In this throwback BA Q&A episode, we revisit two powerful listener questions all about leveling up an already strong credit score without losing your sanity in the process.

First, we coach Nicole, whose mid-700s scores have plateaued, through a method that uses everyday subscriptions, strategic statement-date timing, and automatic payments to show consistent, responsible card usage that can gently nudge scores higher over time.

We also break down what credit “mix” really means, how much weight it carries, and how to safely use tools like credit-builder loans from credit unions instead of taking on u...

This week on Brown Ambition, Mandi Money sits down with physician, author, entrepreneur, and health equity advocate Dr. Uché Blackstock for a deeply honest conversation about burnout, identity, purpose, and the courage it takes to leave spaces that no longer serve you. Dr. Blackstock opens up about her journey from Harvard Medical School to becoming one of the most trusted public voices on racism in medicine and public health. She shares the pivotal moment she realized that prestige and titles weren’t enough and why leaving a secure academic career during one of the most uncertain times in recent his...

In this episode of Brown Ambition, Mandi sits down with Sheinelle Jones Today Show co-host, journalist, and New York Times bestselling author of Through Mom’s Eyes for an honest conversation about working motherhood, career growth, loss, and finding balance in real life.

Sheinelle shares how her journey as a working mom of three shifted while writing her book, and how she continues to show up professionally while processing personal grief after the loss of her husband.

This episode explores the realities of:

Hey BA fam! In this Q&A episode, we’re diving into two conversations that have been all over your group chats, your timelines, and probably your own thoughts lately: what it really means to “have it all”… and what it costs to keep up the image that you do.

First up, we’re unpacking the Emma Grede controversy  from her “three-hour mom” comments to her take on working from home being a career killer for women. As a working mom without billionaire resources, Mandi Money breaks down what’s actually realistic, what feels out of touch, and what ambitious...

The week on Brown Ambition Mandi sits down with returning guest and career coach Amina AlTai, author of The Ambition Trap, to unpack what it really looks like to reboot your career in this season of life. Not the cute LinkedIn rebrand version but the real, messy middle where you’re balancing responsibilities, financial pressure, and the fear of starting over.

Together, they get honest about navigating burnout, layoffs, and career pivots as women of color—especially when the stakes are higher and the margin for risk feels smaller. From redefining ambition to untangling your identity from your...

In this week’s special flashback episode, we’re revisiting a live coaching session with LaKesha J., who is trying to figure out how to position herself for career growth after she was laid off by her company and narrowly escaped unemployment by finding a role on a different team.

Next up, we get into the messy, grown-up decision-making that comes with a career crossroads. Do you take the severance and walk away clean—or stay for the long game, with perks like full vesting, pension benefits, and even a company-covered master’s degree? We’re breaking down the pr...

What happens when you’re doing everything “right” climbing the corporate ladder, getting promoted, securing the salary and still feel completely out of alignment? This week, Mandi sits down with writer and director Rayne Harris, whose journey from pre-med at UPenn to directing episodes of Bridgerton is anything but traditional.

Rayne gets real about walking away from stability, navigating financial insecurity, and trusting her instincts even when the path didn’t make sense on paper. From quitting a steady job (twice) to applying to fellowships last minute, she shares how rejection, resourcefulness, and a whole lot of self-awa...

On this week’s episode of Brown Ambition, Mandi keeps it all the way real about something we don’t talk about enough, what happens when your nervous system says, “Yeah… we’re done for today.”

After a Monday that looked like being frozen in the car and glued to the couch, Mandi walks us through the emotional aftermath: the shame spiral, the self-talk, and the decision to reframe the entire day as a win instead of a failure. Because sometimes surviving the day is the victory.

She breaks down how she found her way back with th...