Best of Summer 2025: My Top 5 Summer Standouts

BA Fam, today’s Wash Day Woosah is a treat. We’ve got our girl Giovanna “Gigi” Gonzalez aka The First Gen Mentor,  author of Cultura & Cash, and three-time BA guest back on the mic. But this time, she’s not joining us from Chicago… she’s calling in from Spain! In this episode, Gigi shares the money moves and life decisions that made it possible for her and her husband to pack up and move abroad. We talk about: The financial planning behind her big move (and what she wishes she’d known sooner). How she turned her biggest regret—never studying abroad—into a mid-career dream come true. The not-so-sexy side of moving abroad: visas, taxes, and the Spanish version of the IRS (spoiler: don’t mess with Hacienda). What’s surprised her most about living in Spain (yes, even the credit cards work differently). Why she’s pushing for a Spanish-language version of her book to serve first-gen families across borders. We also get real about career pivots, the rise and fall of DEI budgets, navigating relationships with neurodivergence, and why sometimes the real flex isn’t retiring early—it’s having the freedom to choose how and when you work. Resources & Links: Follow Gigi on IG and TikTok: @thefirstgenmentor Grab her book Cultura en Cash wherever you get your books Join the BA Fam newsletter at brownambitionpodcast.com Let’s Connect:IG: @brownambitionpodcast | @mandimoneyEmail: [email protected] 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/brownambitionSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, we’re doing something different, BA Fam! Mandi takes us on a trip down memory lane, looking back at her five favorite moments from the summer of 2025. From thought-provoking conversations to laugh-out-loud guest appearances, these episodes stood out not just while recording, but even more when listening back with fresh ears. What You’ll Hear in This Episode: -Why replaying past episodes feels so different from being in the interviewer’s chair -The most popular and talked-about episode of the summer—and why it resonated   Let’s Connect:IG: @brownambitionpodcast | @mandimoneyEmail: [email protected]   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/brownambitionSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's the podcast crossover you probably never saw coming, BA Fam. For today's Washday Woosah show, I sit down with Victoria L. Johnson, founder of the Sailor Moon Fan Club podcast. In each episode of the Sailor Moon Fan Club, Victoria L. Johnson interviews incredible fans of the '90s anime including bestselling authors, comic book and manga creators, influencers, musicians --baddies like Saweetie, WWE Superstar Sasha Banks, and Fefe Dobson. Since she founded the podcast in 2020, Victoria's expanded the brand into a thriving events business dedicated to providing spaces for anime fans from underrepresented communities to find community and let their inner kids fly free (See y'all at the Sailor Moon Day Party 2026, OK!).  Follow Victoria on Twitter @missoldskoolFollow the Sailor Moon Fan Club podcast at @mooniesclub on Twitter and @moonies_club on Instagram.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BA Fam, this week’s BA QA Mandi is joined by her girl, Yanely Espinal aka Miss Be Helpful and author of Mind Your Money — to answer a listener question that so many of us can relate to: How do you financially support aging parents when there’s little to no retirement savings in place? Yanely shares the systems she and her eight siblings built to cover their parents’ expenses, including: Setting up a joint family fund to automate bill payments. Creating a fair way for siblings to contribute different amounts without judgment. Why a high-yield savings account beats investment accounts for immediate needs. Balancing financial support with maintaining their parents’ dignity and independence. How to set allowance boundaries when one parent struggles with gambling. Tips for protecting elderly parents from scams and keeping finances transparent among siblings. Let’s Connect:IG: @brownambitionpodcast | @mandimoneyEmail: [email protected] 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/brownambitionSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hey BA Fam! Mandi, Yanely, and Chris are back at the Brown table with real talk about life, business, and the news that’s shaping our money and our sanity. This week, Mandi kicks things off with a story about her busted laptop, a wild Apple Store experience, and how she stumbled onto a secret financing program for small business owners. From cracked screens to unexpected leases, we’re breaking down the ways solopreneurs can stretch their resources without drowning in debt. But that’s not all — we go from tech fixes to life updates: Yanely is thinking about their next big move (Miami? Barcelona? Van life?) Chris gets a crash course in babysitting two kids under four — and gains a whole new respect for parents. Mandi opens up about stress, sleep struggles, and why she’s finally considering a CPAP machine. Then, we shift gears and dig into the hard stuff happening in the world right now — including DC’s state of emergency, over-policing in Black and brown neighborhoods, and how authoritarian tactics abroad are starting to feel way too familiar here at home. It’s equal parts personal, political, and practical — the way we always do on Brown Ambition.   Links + Resources Mentioned Apple’s hidden business leasing program Info on Dun & Bradstreet (DNB) numbers for small business credit • • Defectors by Paola Ramos (recommended reading on Latinx politics + authoritarianism)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 @clarenceahaynesSee 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 | @mandimoneyEmail: [email protected] 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/brownambitionSee 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 | @mandimoneyEmail: [email protected] 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/brownambitionSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hey BA Fam! On today’s Washday Woosah episode, we’re joined by the intelligent, passionate, and powerhouse CEO of Black Girls Code, Cristina Mancini! 👩🏾‍💻✨ Cristina drops serious gems on everything from how to confidently promote yourself online and in person, to what it really means to be a hard worker in today’s world. We also dive into the art of networking with purpose, and why it’s so important to stay updated on emerging technologies, evolving industries, and the people shaping them. If you’ve ever questioned how to level up your career, build your personal brand, or stay competitive in a fast-changing world—this episode is for you. 💼💡🚀 Tune in, take notes, and get inspired! Follow Cristina! Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/crisbmancini/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crisbmancini/ Follow Black Girls Code!: Website: https://www.wearebgc.org/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackgirlscode/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/black-girls-code/ 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! This week I’m coming to you from Cleveland, where I’m soaking up all the love (and ALL the nostalgia) at the National Association of Black Journalists Convention. It’s been a full-circle moment walking back into this space, not as a reporter for a big outlet, but as Mandi Woodruff-Santos, aka Mandi Money, host of Brown Ambition! We’re talking about: Why it’s okay to come back to spaces you’ve outgrown—just show up as your new self. How journalism and content marketing are more connected than you think. Setting BIG end-of-year money goals (even while paying down debt). My real talk convo with  Alexa Claire from The Financial Diet about saving goals for the life you want. And yes—we’re also going there. I’m opening up about why I’ve been so vocal about Gaza and Sudan, how I navigate the fear of backlash, and why I believe using your voice for what matters is worth the risk. It gets emotional, BA Fam, but y’all know I’m here to keep it 100. Links & Resources to learn more about the wars in Gaza and Sudan: Sudan @sudan.updates @srcs.sd @ifrc Gaza @thepcrf @savethechildren Boycott lists & resources – [https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/ethicalcampaigns/boycotts] Find/Contact your elected officials – [https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials] Let’s Connect:IG: @brownambitionpodcast | @mandimoneyEmail: [email protected] 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/brownambitionSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.