This week, BA fam—grab your coffee, get cozy, and let’s talk all things The Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery, our official August/September book club pick! Mandi Woodruff-Santos sits down with none other than Clarence Haynes, author, publishing pro, and all-around NYC icon for a bold, joyful, and real convo packed with gems.

Want to join the BA Book Club? All you've got to do is become a free member of our Patreon >

Show recap:

• Mandi introduces Clarence and gets real about what inspired the Brown Ambition Book Club and her own book altar game.
• Clarence shares how the powerful women of NYC—and some serious Shirley Chisholm style—sparked his creation of Gwendolyn Montgomery.
• Dive deep into the book’s plot: a high-powered publicist with mystical secrets, a fashion event gone wild at the Brooklyn Museum, and a botanica in the South Bronx run by an Afro-Latine queer psychic
• Discussion on breaking generational trauma, mother wounds, fierce ambition, and why we’re all haunted by more than just ghosts.
• A real talk about dating as a queer Black man in NYC—Clarence gets candid on finding intimacy in the big city and the sometimes wild, sometimes isolating dating scene.
• The realities of Black-centered speculative fiction—why it matters and what hustle it takes to get these stories out there.

Follow Clarence on IG @clarenceahaynes

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BA Fam, this week’s BAQA is personal, I brought in my friend and financial powerhouse, Sharon Epperson, CNBC’s Senior Personal Finance Correspondent, to unpack a buzzy headline that had my eyebrow raised: the president’s executive order that could open the door for private equity (and other alternative investments) in your 401k.

We break down what this actually means, why you probably won’t be adding a private equity fund to your plan tomorrow, and why you need to know exactly what’s in your portfolio before chasing shiny new investment options. Sharon drops gems on:

• The $12.2 trillion “nest egg” private firms have their eyes on — and what’s at stake.

• How to “stay on your mat” financially and focus on your own goals before getting distracted by market hype.

• The real risks of alternative investments: higher fees, less transparency, and lower liquidity.

• Why even she had an “oops” moment with her own 401k rollover (and how to avoid it).

• When it’s worth hiring a financial advisor — and how to find one that fits your needs and budget.

Whether you’re just starting your 401k journey or sitting on years of contributions, this convo is your reminder to slow down, check your allocations, and make sure your money is truly working toward your goals — not just Wall Street’s.

Resources & Links Mentioned:

• Subscribe to Sharon’s free CNBC Money 101 newsletter: CNBC.com/money101

• Follow Sharon on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok for more money tips.

Let’s Connect:
IG: @brownambitionpodcast | @mandimoney
Email: brownambitionpodcast@gmail.com

We launched a Patreon! 🎉
🎥 Get early access to ad-free video recordings, join our BA book club, and even score a seat live in the studio during tapings. 👉 patreon.com/brownambition

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hey BA Fam, pull up a chair at the Brown Table! This week Mandi is joined by two returning guests: Jonquilyn Hill from Vox Media and Yvie Saint-Louis from Blavity. Fresh from NABJ’s 50th anniversary conference in Cleveland, the ladies swap stories on conference strategy, avoiding burnout, and why the hotel bar might just be your best networking move.

We get into:

• NABJ 2024 recap — from career fairs to that family reunion energy, and why you don’t need to hit every event to make it count.

• Networking tips that actually work — think conference apps, lateral connections, and the perfect follow-up email.

• Higher Heights wins — celebrating Black women making major political strides nationwide.

• Corporate card chaos — the jaw-dropping story of a media exec who racked up nearly $300K in personal expenses (yes, Botox included).

• Black-Owned Business Month shout-outs — from luxe candles to curl-defining gel you’ll want in your cart yesterday.

• Pop culture corner — why The Gilded Age is having a moment, and our collective side-eye at unnecessary reboots.

Plus, Mandi drops our latest Brown Ambition Book Club pick — The Ghost of Gwendolyn Montgomery by Clarence Haynes — a spooky, stylish, and sexy read you’ll want to grab before next week’s author interview.

It’s laughs, lessons, and a little tea — just the way we like it at the Brown Table.

Let’s Connect:
IG: @brownambitionpodcast | @mandimoney
Email: brownambitionpodcast@gmail.com

We launched a Patreon! 🎉
🎥 Get early access to ad-free video recordings, join our BA book club, and even score a seat live in the studio during tapings. 👉 patreon.com/brownambition

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.