Whew… this week’s Brown Table is packed, y’all.

Mandi is joined by not one, not two, but three first-time Brown Table guests: Alexa Claire from The Financial Diet, JQ (aka Jonquilyn Hill) from Vox’s "Explain It To Me" podcast, and Yvie Saint-Louis from Blavity. We dive into the news, the nonsense, and everything in between from pop culture and politics to the real-life messiness of being Black, brilliant, and bold in America.

This week, we get into:

-Beyoncé in London: the rain, the glow, and yes, ugly tears were shed.

-Trump and Elon’s billionaire beef… is it all just a stunt?

-ICE raids, National Guard in LA, and why peaceful protests keep being met with force.

-Why Black women are *still* expected to be the mature ones and what happens when we just want to clap back.

-From Coco Gauff to Simone Biles to a teenage track star with flaming feet (literally): why the world can’t handle confident Black girls.

Plus: The Tonys, the audacity of Patti LuPone, and whether Hamilton still goes hard (spoiler: it does).

New here?

BA fam, don’t forget—we’ve got three shows a week now:

💼 Monday Motivation (interviews and deep dives)

🪑 Brown Table Wednesdays (group chat energy, always)

🎤 BA Q\&A Fridays (your money + career questions answered)

And yes, we launched a Patreon! Join to get early access, video recordings of the Brown Table, and exclusive book club perks: [patreon.com/brownambition]

Stay Connected:
🔗 @brownambitionpodcast
🌐 brownambitionpodcast.com
💌 Subscribe & leave a review—your feedback fuels us, BA Fam!

Let’s keep rising, building, and showing out. 💼💰✊🏾

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

🎙️ BA Fam, Let’s Talk Black Capitalism (w/ Dr. Rachel Laryea)

This week’s episode is full of truth, power, and possibility. Mandi sits down with Dr. Rachel Laryea, author of Black Capitalists: A Blueprint for What is Possible, to unpack what it really means to build wealth, create impact, and hold onto your identity as a Black entrepreneur in corporate and capitalist America. From identity crises to boardroom power moves, this convo is all vibes and real talk.

We get into the nuances of Black capitalism—not as a monolith, but as a spectrum of ways we show up, give back, and reshape the game. Because yes, we can do good and do well. And yes, our coins matter. Every dollar we spend is a vote for the kind of world we want.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

✨ Black identity and the contradictions of capitalism
✨ How wealth-building can be rooted in community care
✨ The role of DEI, entrepreneurship, and visibility in reshaping power
✨ Why corporate spaces can be sites of resistance
✨ Consumer power: what it means to vote with your wallet
✨ The ethos of Black Capitalism—not just profit, but purpose

🔥 Sound Bites:

• "Blackness is not a monolithic experience."

• "We vote every day with our wallet."

• "We can sneak by and still have an impact."

💡 BA Takeaway:
Capitalism isn’t one-size-fits-all—and for Black entrepreneurs and changemakers, it can be a blueprint for possibility, power, and purpose. Whether you’re in the C-suite or the streets, your choices, dollars, and visibility matter. Build, shift, show up.

Follow Dr. Rachel Laryea!:

https://www.instagram.com/drlaryea/

Stay Connected:
🔗 @brownambitionpodcast
🌐 brownambitionpodcast.com
💌 Subscribe & leave a review—your feedback fuels us, BA Fam!

Let’s keep rising, building, and showing out. 💼💰✊🏾

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BA Fam, Let’s Go! This week’s episode is all vibes and real talk.

Mandi is Beyoncé-bound, and she’s bringing the energy! As she preps for her London trip (yes, packing for a quick getaway is a whole production), she shares exciting updates from the Brown Ambition universe. We’re talking brand-new cover art, a book club (yes, you’re invited!), and deeper community engagement through Patreon.

But it’s not all glitter and passport stamps—we also get into the serious stuff. Mandi breaks down the latest in healthcare news and why it’s critical to raise your voice and contact your reps about upcoming legislation.

She wraps the episode with listener feedback (thank you for showing up, BA Fam!) and gratitude for the unwavering support from this amazing community.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

• Mandi’s hype for Beyoncé in London

• The struggle (and strategy) of packing light

• Why our new cover art is a glow-up

• Details on the BA Book Club—first pick: Sky Full of Stars by Sibo Campbell

• How to join the book club (hint: Patreon not required)

• Updates on healthcare policy you need to know about

• Why your voice matters—call your reps!

• BA Fam shoutouts and heartfelt appreciation

💡 BA Takeaway:
Big changes start with small steps—whether that’s joining a book club, calling your representative, or saying “yes” to joy (like a Beyoncé concert!). You don’t need permission to take up space. Just show up and bet on yourself.

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.

BA Fam, Buckle up! This week’s episode is a ride.

Mandi sits down with author Cebo Campbell to talk about his debut novel “Sky Full of Elephants”, a bold, emotional story that begins with every white person in North America vanishing and unfolds into a layered exploration of Blackness, identity, and healing.

Cebo opens up about the personal roots of the story, the inspiration behind its unforgettable characters, and how fiction helps us imagine freedom. He also shares his journey from broke front desk clerk to building a million-dollar creative agency and why giving yourself permission to fail might be the key to your best work.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

-The real-life microaggression that inspired the title *Sky Full of Elephants*

-What it’s like to grow up biracial in a 98% white town—and how that shows up in fiction

-The power of water, lavender, and legacy in Black storytelling

-Cebo’s career pivot from college football to creative strategy to published author

-Why writing a bad book might be the first step to writing a great one

📚 Cebo’s Must-Reads:

-Things Fall Apart* by Chinua Achebe

-Wretched of the Earth* by Frantz Fanon

-Of Water and the Spirit* by Malidoma Patrice Somé

Get your copy of Cebo Campbell’s Sky Full of Elephants https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Sky-Full-of-Elephants/Cebo-Campbell/9781668034927?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAadzSs7U21rdopv9UaOsrLUlGDvv4aSMyfv_f1b8RxTjZSf4SCnJATZCLJAmZQ_aem_an5Xr1qUaPdkH3wkKBIgxA

BA Takeaway:

Your story matters—even the messy parts. And sometimes, the boldest thing you can do is write it down, by hand, and bet on yourself.

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 diving into a conversation that every woman needs to hear. She’s joined by two powerhouse doctors—Dr. Uché Blackstock, author of the New York Times Bestselling book, Legacy: A Black Physician Reckons With Racism in Medicine, and Dr. Jessica M. Shepherd, author of Generation M: Living Well in Perimenopause —for a raw, real, and eye-opening talk all about women’s health, with a special focus on menopause, healthcare equity, and what it really means to advocate for yourself in the doctor’s office.

These two trailblazing women break down the myths around hormone replacement therapy, open up about their personal journeys in medicine, and don’t hold back when it comes to calling out the racial and gender disparities baked into our healthcare system. From fighting bias in exam rooms to why representation in medicine literally saves lives, this episode is packed with truth bombs and takeaways you don’t want to miss.

Whether you’re navigating midlife changes or just trying to get the care you deserve, consider this your crash course in taking charge of your health—and your story.

Follow Dr. Uché Blackstock

https://www.instagram.com/ucheblackstockmd/

Follow Dr. Jessica Shepherd

https://www.instagram.com/jessicashepherdmd/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hey BA Fam! In this episode, Mandi sits down with the unstoppable comic genius and *Official!* New York Times Bestselling author Zarna Garg to unpack her remarkable journey from stay-at-home mom to comedy superstar in her mid-40s.

Less than a decade ago, Zarna was packing snacks for her kids' sports teams and tracking down missing socks in the laundry. Today, she's celebrating the release of her new book, "This American Woman: A One in a Billion Memoir", helming a sitcom pilot with comedy icons like Mindy Kaling and Kevin Hart and performing for sold-out audiences around the country.

In this candid interview, Zarna gets real about the highs and lows of juggling motherhood, cultural expectations, and a career in the pressure cooker of New York City. She shares hard-earned wisdom on self-acceptance, resilience, and why women should never be afraid to think big.

Follow Zarna:

https://www.tiktok.com/@zarnagarg

https://www.instagram.com/zarnagarg

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Brown Ambition, Mandi sits down with the powerhouse that is Page Turner—real estate broker, single mom, and the magnetic new host of HGTV’s Love It or List It. Page opens up about her incredible journey from hustling as a single mom to owning her spotlight on national TV. She gets real about what it takes to bounce back from life’s curveballs, trust your gut, and pivot with purpose.

We talk motherhood, money moves, and why it’s never too late to bet on yourself. Page drops gems on building confidence, tackling fear head-on, and leaving a legacy for the next generation. Plus, she gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the wild world of home renovations—what really goes down when family needs, budgets, and dreams collide.

If you’re ready for a dose of inspiration with a side of real talk, this one’s for you.

Watch Love It or List It Mondays at 10/9c on HGTV or stream it on Max.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Student loan repayments are officially back, and if you’re feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or just plain confused, you’re not alone. This week on Brown Ambition, we’re diving deep into the chaos with two of our favorite money minds: Yanely Espinal, author of Mind Your Money, and Chris Browning from Popcorn Finance.

We break down what’s really going on inside the federal student loan system from glitchy portals to a laundry list of repayment plans and why so many borrowers are left in the dark.

Here’s what we’re unpacking:

-🔍 How to spot and avoid shady loan forgiveness scams

- 💸 What income-driven repayment plans actually mean for your wallet

- 🧩 Why the student loan simulator on studentaid.gov should be your new best friend

- 🧾 The IRS confusion that’s messing with people’s payment plans

- 💬 The power of community when you’re navigating money decisions solo

Whether you're just restarting payments or knee-deep in the forgiveness process, this episode is packed with tips, real talk, and the support you need to take back control of your student loans.

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.