Brown Ambition

Happy belated Valentine's to our dear BA family. We love you! On this week's episode, you REALLY don't want to miss Tiffany's win of the week. Let's just say she is on the right side of the law ;). We are catching up on our inbox with questions from listeners Taylor R. and Rosey D. If YOU Have a question you'd like answered, email as brownambitionpodcast@gmail.com! Even if we can't get to your question on the show, we almost always respond. Last but not least, please please leave us a review! It helps others find the show and lets iTunes know you guys like us (you really really like us!) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There's just one word we need to describe today's show: BEYONCE.  If you have been living under a rock, please catch up here>  Other important mentions in this week's show:  Mandi's story highlighting 5 black business leaders who are changing the face of Silicon Valley.  We're answering TWO questions on next week's show! Send us yours at brownambitionpodcast@gmail.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode:  -Tiffany shares her Obamacare drama and Mandi gives tips on how to avoid a $695 tax penalty this year -We discuss the pros/cons of group dinners (OK, mostly cons) -And we answer something of a taboo question: What should a guy/girl REALLY spend on an engagement ring? Mandi tells you what the going rate for a rock is these days and has tips on how to save on that diamond.  Important links from this week's episode! Exemptions for the Obamacare tax penalty> Mandi's Story on whether or not you should buy an engagement ring on Etsy >  As always, email us at brownambitionpodcast@gmail.com with questions or tweet us @thebapodcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Brown Ambition fam... we have a star among us. Tiffany made her Good Morning America debut this week on a special segment called "Super Savers." Check it out here! Winter Storm Jonas couldn't hold us down this week! We are back to bidness talking about #OscarsSoWhite, the Flint Michigan water crisis and the personal finance blog post that had ALL the ladies talking this week: "The Story of an F-Off Fund".  Have questions for the show? Drop us a line at brownambitionpodcast@gmail.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Six years ago, Aja McClanahan and her husband were $110,000 in the hole and in a constant tug-of-war with debt collectors. So they decided to make a drastic move in order to tackle their debt head one. Mandi sat down with Aja this week to chat about how they finally became debt-free and what advice she has for others out there feeling overwhelmed by their own debt. "You don't need a lot of money to do this," she says. "Being disciplined helped." Also on this week's episode:  -Hillary Clinton talks about how she's benefitted from white privilege -One woman attacks the #BlackGirlMagic movement-Networking strategies-Mandi's biggest complaint about wedding dress shopping As always, send us your questions at brownambitionpodcast@gmail.com or hit us up on facebook.com/brownambition. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome back Brown Ambition fam. This week, we take a reader question from a young woman who took a job before she realized how little it paid. Now she's stuck -- does she stay and remain loyal to her new employer, or should she start looking for new work and risk looking unreliable to future employers? PLUS: Tiffany shares her favorite book of the moment ... and how to manage career burnout. As always, join us on Facebook or Twitter. Email us your money and career questions at brownambitionpodcast@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

HAPPY NEW YEAR!  To kick off our first show of 2016, we talk about the results of a 75-year study on — what else? — the key to finding lasting happiness in life. Doing this ONE thing in your life can not only make you happier but healthier and, as a result, more likely to live longer. It's like tapping your own personal Fountain of Youth everyday...and here's a hint: it has nothing to do with going to the gym! Then, we take a question from a listener who's feeling torn — should she take a year off from work and travel, or is it too late for a little adventure?  Have any career or money questions to help you ensure a prosperous new year? We'd love to hear from you! Email us at brownambitionpodcast@gmail.com or join the BA Fam on Facebook and Twitter.  If you haven't signed up for Tiffany's Live Richer Challenge yet, what are you waiting for?! Visit Livericherchallenge.net for all the deets! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's the last show of 2015 for Brown Ambition! Thank you all for an amazing run these past four months. We'll be back and better (browner?) than ever in 2016. To set us up for the New Year, we want to know what YOU want more of/less of from us next year. More guests? Fewer dance breaks? Different advice? Email us at brownambitionpodcast@gmail.com or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook with your thoughts. And if you haven't left a review for us on iTunes yet, now's your chance! It would be the best Christmas present ever. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#TGIF BA Fam! After dealing with our edit issues, we're back this week with a brand new (and a little bit tardy) show for you. Enjoy! As ever, email us your money and career questions at brownambitionpodcast@gmail.com or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's our Sweet 16, BA Fam!  Fair warning: if you have not yet watched The Wiz Live, spoilers are ahead! The cast...the music...the WARDROBE. It was truly a night of unforgettable black magic. On the down side, what's a groundbreaking moment for people of color without a little touch of racist shade? Ignorance was out in full force on the Twitterverse and we discuss in this week's Buzzworthy.   Next up, is it ever OK to move in with a significant other simply to save on rent? And Tiffany has a question for Mandi: Which race do you identify with more? Anyone who has a mixed racial/ethnic background will relate to her answer.   WINS: While Tiffany packs up for a week in paradise (jealous!), Mandi shares a major update about work (and really hopes she hasn't jinxed herself!). We hope it inspires every woman out there to ask for what she deserves. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sorry in advance for all the singing. We were a little giddy this week...but for the best possible reason! One of us has something MAYJAH to share today BA fam (and it may or may not involve a ring!). After we squeal, we discuss important events of the last week, such as the Soul Train Awards (Baby Face tribute? Win! Choosing creeper R. Kelly to close the show? Fail!) and why it's important to support minority-owned businesses this holiday season. For Brown Break, Mandi gets real about what it's like working in an open concept office — and how easy it makes it for outside work drama to get in the way of your work flow. Tiffany makes a confession about her social life (or lack thereof) and takes a brown break from staying home. We answer an excellent question from a reader who wants to know if it's worth it going to a financial advisor -- and how she's supposed to get the house and family she wants with a mound of student loan and credit card debt weighing her down. WE are here for you Carrre girl! As always,

Hey Hey Hey! Happy almost-Thanksgiving BA Fam! This week, we talk about the shocking "Scandal" winter finale (Shonda...you still got it girl) and the Apple Music commercial that everyone's talking about. Brown Break: Tiffany explains why she is sick of "Money Mantras" and Mandi lays out the facts that seem to be conveniently missing from the   anti-Syrian refugee movement in the U.S. (yes, we're talking to YOU Dr. Ben Carson). Then, we spend some time answering a fabulous question from a reader who wants to know...how do I save for retirement when I'm constantly switching jobs and want to buy a house some day? Since we didn't have time to dig all the way into her situation, here are a couple of links to resources we mention on the show: 1: Tiffany's "Buying a Home Checklist" and 2) NAPFA.org, a database of fee-only financial planners where you can start your search for a financial advisor in your area. Have a question you'd like us to answer? email us at brownambitionpodcast@gmail.com or tweet us @TheBApodcas

Just 7 years ago, Patrice C. Washington was scraping up all the change in her purse to buy baby formula for her newborn daughter. Now, Patrice is a best-selling author and founder and CEO of Seek Wisdom Find Wealth, a boutique personal finance consulting firm based in Atlanta, GA, and is a featured financial coach on the Steve Harvey Show. On Jan. 19, Patrice is publishing her new book "Real Money Answers for Everyday Women" in bookstores nationwide. Patrice joins us to talk about hitting rock bottom and how she clawed her way back to the top. She also has some tough advice for everyday women looking to get ahead. "When people are unfulfilled in their careers that leads them to mismanage their finances," she says. "I meet so many women who are quick to go the mall because they're frustrated with everything they've been through all week." In addition to the lovely Patrice, we have a candid conversation about a dirty little monster called Stress...grab your stress balls ladies! You don't want to miss it. As alw

I know we say every episode is our best episode EVAH but....Y'ALL. THIS ONE IS FIIIIRE. In lieu of tips this week, Mandi sat down to chat with the extraordinary Mira Jacob, author of the critically acclaimed novel "The Sleepwalker’s Guide to Dancing" and all around badass. Mira's viral Buzzfeed post "37 Difficult Questions From My Mixed-Race Son" hit us right in the feels — so sweet, so funny, and so relevant to what it's like to be a parent raising a kid in a multi-cultural family today. Mandi talks to Mira about that story PLUS her bumpy ascent in a business that, well, isn't exactly known for its loving embrace of diverse voices. BUZZWORTHY: -Starbucks cup? War on Christmas? Y'all cray. -We've had it with Spirit Airlines. And not just because they kicked 6 black people off a flight last week. -Serena Williams catches a crook. Ben Carson's lies catch up with him. -Donald Trump BOMBS on SNL. And all is right with the world again. BROWN BREAK: -Tiffany dumps her waist trainer for the real thing. -Mandi goes I

Hey hey hey BA Fam! Have you signed up for our newsletter yet? We won't spam you, promise! Once every few weeks we check in to let you know what's been going on in Brown Ambition land and give you tips on everything from saving and investing to balancing life + career. If you'd like to keep things a bit more casual, hit us up on Twitter or Facebook. This episode is dedicated to all the fans who've blown us away with your support of the show so far -- thanks to you, we made it to the iTunes "New & Noteoworthy" list for podcasts! Such amazing news. In this week's show, we talk about the importance of having older women around you as you advance in your career and how to pick and choose your mentors. You do not want to miss this segment — we tell you all the mistakes we've seen young people make and the key things you should know before you ask someone else for advice. Do YOU have a question about career or money you'd like us to answer on the air? Send us an email at brownambitionpodcast@gmail.com. We love hear

Happy 10th episode to us! In honor of the big 1-0, we are bringing you a PACKED show filled with all your favorite segments: Buzzworthy, Brown Break, Tips and Wins of the Week. As if that wasn't enough, we're also announcing the WINNER of our iTunes giveaway! Buzzworthy: -We are here for Dominican Drake! The #Hotlinering video was great...but the memes were even better. -Everyone's favorite "Hero Mom" from the Baltimore Riots has sadly not done too well since her 15 minutes of fame. -From one crazy to the next, Ann Coulter (of all people) puts Raven-Symone in her place. -Thousands of RushCard customers lost access to their funds for nearly 2 weeks. Now Russell Simmons is in hot water with regulators. We discuss the details and share stories from people who are struggling to pay bills without their hard-earned money. Brown Break: -Tiffany is over people who want to take but not give. -Mandi has a double BB this week: Texas + Trump Tips: -What's it like being a woman who earns more than her partner? How do you

We're baaack! Tweet us @TheBApodcast or join the fun community we're building on Facebook! Let us know what topics/questions you'd like addressed on the show. We spend a lot of time on today's show talking about one of our favorite subjects — how to push through and ask for more when you deserve it at work. We were inspired by Jennifer Lawrence's open letter about gender bias in the entertainment industry. Here's what else we've got cooking this week, BA fam: Brown Break: Why has no one canceled The View yet? Like for real though? And Tiffany begs the world to stop asking her this ONE question. Tips: Tiffany "The Budgetnista" herself reveals her (drumroll please!) BUDGET and we talk about how we work hard to avoid the "lifestyle inflation trap." Wins of the week: Tiffany tells you about the nonprofit helping homeless kids enjoy their birthdays and Mandi gives a huge shoutout to one of her idols. Want to stay in touch? You can always email us at brownambitionpodcast@gmail.com. Learn more about your ad choices.

Thanks to you beautiful people our last episode was our most popular show to date! Please keep spreading the word by leaving us a review on iTunes and tweeting us @TheBApodcast with the hashtag #BrownAmbition. We keep the party going on Facebook, too, so like our page and stay in the loop on all our BA news: facebook.com/brownambition. Here’s what we’ve got going on in this week’s show: BUZZWORTHY: Tiffany teaches Mandi the meaning of “project heat”. How a teenage boy got a publisher to rewrite a chapter in his history book. #BrownAmbitionForReal We tell you ALL you need to know about “Hood Smart,” a show that has us buzzing with brown pride. BROWN BREAK: Mandi has some strong words for people spreading lies about Planned Parenthood.  It’s Halloween season and Tiffany makes a plea for the end of black face. TIPS: We give you FIVE amazing strategies to make your credit score “Jump like Jordan” as Tiff says. WINS: We introduce you to the woman who turned a school bus into a mobile financial literacy movement. S

You may know her as the Money Coach, but we call her our Fairy Money Godmother — the incomparable Lynette Khalfani-Cox is our first-ever BA podcast guest! Lynnette is a personal finance expert, television and radio personality, and the author of 12 books (Yes. 12.) including the New York Times bestseller "Zero Debt: The Ultimate Guide to Financial Freedom." (Just in case you doubt her street cred, just know that Lynnette paid off $100,000 of credit card debt in 3 years!) She's an inspiration and she joins us to talk about how she made the leap from a 9-to-5 lifestyle to mega success as an entrepreneur. She also gets real about working side by side with her husband, Earl, and keeping their relationship healthy while managing their business. Don't forget we are doing an iTunes giveaway to a lucky reviewer! Leave a review and email us at brownambitionpodcast@gmail.com with a screenshot. We've got some great prizes! More info at brownambitionpodcast.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/

You guys. We couldn't wait a whole week to talk about the epic amounts of black girl magic that occurred at the Emmys this weekend, so we are bringing you a special bonus edition of Brown Ambition. From Viola's history-making win, to Regina King's long overdue trophy and the Apple commercial that still has us talking (#KerryMaryTaraji) ... so much to celebrate! We also have some exciting news to share about Tiffany's Live Richer Challenge! ITUNES REVIEW GIVEAWAY: We're giving a way a copy of Tiff's bestselling book "The Live Richer Challenge" along with an adorable "Frugal is the New Cool" tote bag to one lucky reviewer, so please leave a review in iTunes if you haven't yet. Then email us at brownambitionpodcast@gmail.com to let us know you have. Website: brownambitionpodcast.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices