Brown Ambition

Tomi Adeyemi, Amanda Seales & The Cost of Telling the Truth

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/listener for privacy information.

10 Ways to Reboot Your Investing Strategy [Summer Money Reboot Week #4]

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 investment strategy should grow alongside your life, how to evaluate your risk tolerance, avoid paying unnecessary fees, and make sure your portfolio reflects your current goals instead of the person you were a decade ago. Whether you're investing through a traditional 401(k), building wealth as a solopreneur, or preparing to open your first taxable brokerage account, Mandi breaks down practical ways to level up without making investing feel intimidating. From maximizing retirement contributions and understanding HSAs to creating a "Spicy 5%" for individual stock picks, this episode is filled with approachable strategies designed to help you build wealth consistently while keeping risk in perspective. Resources Mentioned Vanguard Retirement Calculator Calculator.net Retirement Calculator The 4% Rule Retirement Calculator Vanguard Target-Date Funds Health Savings Account (HSA) SEP IRA Solo 401(k) Taxable Brokerage Accounts The Risk Worth Taking by Terry Ijeoma Summer Money Reboot Week 4 Workbook -https://mandimoney.myflodesk.com/hvbru7gmkx See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is My Promoted Coworker Playing the Parent Card? [BA Q&A]

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‑week Summer Money Reboot series, designed to help you name your financial season, rebuild financial safety, and then move toward growth and alignment. Download the workbooks for weeks 1:https://mandimoney.myflodesk.com/summermoneyreboot week 2https://mandimoney.myflodesk.com/vr4mxs90xk And week 3 https://mandimoney.myflodesk.com/kfb44793u2 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How to Finally Reach Debt Freedom [Summer Money Reboot Week #3]

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 exact system she's using to regain control from organizing every account and choosing a payoff strategy to negotiating lower interest rates, cutting recurring expenses, creating healthier spending habits, and finding practical ways to increase cash flow. If you've been avoiding your credit card statements, feeling overwhelmed by minimum payments, or wondering where to even begin, this episode offers the structure, encouragement, and actionable steps to help you stop spiraling and start making progress one decision at a time. Resources Mentioned Debt Freedom Tracker Spreadsheet Rocket Money Monarch Money You Need A Budget (YNAB) Grab the Week 3 Workbook here: https://mandimoney.myflodesk.com/kfb44793u2 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stock Trading and Vending Machine Businesses — Worth The Risk or Nah? [BA QA]

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 letter: Erin’s storyErin is 36, divorced, and living in a small town in Texas. She’s transferred to Walmart full‑time, applied to jobs with almost no luck, put a successful vintage booth on pause, and is now working toward her notary license while researching vending machines and planning for single motherhood. Join the Summer Money Reboot! This BA Q&A is part of Mandi’s six‑week Summer Money Reboot series, designed to help you name your financial season, rebuild financial safety, and then move toward growth and alignment. Download the workbooks for weeks 1:https://mandimoney.myflodesk.com/summermoneyreboot and week 2https://mandimoney.myflodesk.com/vr4mxs90xk Other Resources and mentions• Teri Ijeoma – The Risk Worth Taking• Thinkorswim practice trading account (paper trading for beginners) • SCORE small‑business mentorship See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.