Brown Ambition

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...

In this heartwarming and hilarious episode of Brown Ambition, Mandi is joined by Alexa Claire and first-time guest Mia Brabham Nolan for a vibrant conversation full of career advice, pop culture takes, and real talk on entrepreneurship and Black excellence.

The three dive into everything from half-birthdays and pop culture dry spells to the real challenges facing today’s job market. They celebrate Black-owned businesses like ...

Hey BA Fam!

On today's Washday Woosah, we’re sitting down with two amazing, talented, and intelligent women: author of How to Find True Love: Unlock your Romantic Flow and Create Lasting Relationships, relationship coach, podcast host, TED speaker, and certified matchmaker 

Hey BA Fam! Mandi is flying solo this week, and whew—she came with heart, and hard truths. She’s breaking down what’s really going on in today’s job market beyond the headlines, and what she’s learning from working 1:1 with high-achieving women who are stuck in the “I have the résumé, but why can’t I get the offer?” cycle. Spoiler: It’s not your ré...

Hey BA fam! 

For this Washday Woosah episode, we are welcomed by CEO Coach, keynote speak, and author of “YOU'RE THE BOSS: Become the Manager You Want to Be (and Others Need)”, Sabina Nawaz!

During this episode, Sabina discusses being able to understand the complex connection between power and pressure as a workplace manager, and how to turn the hidden pressures you face, into astounding results created by hardwork...

We’re back, BA Fam! After surviving a morning of tech chaos (and some truly humbling camera angles), your favorite financial BFFs are back at the brown table— and we’ve got a lot to say.

Mandi shares how motherhood keeps her grounded (and off the doomscroll), and Yanely drops gems on supporting immigrant parents while building wealth. Plus, we get into that National Urban League report on the state of Black A...

This week’s BA Q&A, Mandi is joined by powerhouse author, filmmaker, and workplace equity consultant Minda Harts to talk about how we build trust, advocate for ourselves, and demand more from the spaces we show up in—especially as women of color.

Minda opens up about h...

This week's BA Q&A, Mandi is joined by friend of the show Naseema McElroy of Financially Intentional to answer a question from Serena, a 28-year-old multi-passionate entrepreneur torn between beauty and holistic health.

Naseema drops gems on the power of niching down, embracing your unique story, and positioning yourself as a Key Person of Influence. If you’re feeling stuck between passions and need clarity on how to...

This week, Mandi is joined at the Brown Table by friend of the show, nurse and financial educator Naseema McElroy of Financially Intentional. The two get real about motherhood, love, career breaks, and all the chaos in between—from co-parenting struggles to Beyoncé ticket drama.

Naseema shares an update on her mini retirement and an upcoming mommy-daughter retreat in Colombia, while Mandi recounts her wild Atlanta trip...

🎙️ Hey BA Fam!

We’re back with a brilliant BA Q&A! Mandi sits down with Dr. Jatali Bellanton—Angel Investor, financial literacy powerhouse, and founder of Kids Who Bank—to talk about the game-changing power of mentorship and building teams that actually work.

Whether you’re dreaming up your first bu...

Hey BA Fam!
We’re back with a classic BA Q&A. Mandi is joined by Yanely Espinal (aka MissBeHelpful) and Marc Russell from BetterWallet to answer Amber’s question: What should I look for when opening a business bank account—and ...

In this week’s Brown Table, Mandi is joined by Yanely Espinal (@missbehelpful) and Marc Russell from Better Wallet to break down the new “baby bonds” launching in 2025 (if your baby’s already here... sorry, you missed the cutoff 😅).We also get into the mess around the so-called “Social Security tax credit” (spoiler: it’s not a credit), and why that distinction matters—especially for ...

Welcome to Washday Woosah, BA Fam! It's the Sunday slow-down you need, something to listen to while you're doing the laundry, deep conditioning, or simply enjoying a nice quiet moment of relaxation before the Sunday scaries start to hit. 

If you needed a sign to play matchmaker for your friends, this episode is it! Gabrielle and I were "set up" by a mutual friend during the pandemic when he realized we were two media mavens ju...

Hey BA Fam! Mandi's riding solo today for the brown table and sharing insights on the biggest headlines that impact your wallet. 

New here?
Join us three times a week:

• 💼

Hey Ba Fam! It's Mandi — yes, human me! And yes, I use em-dashes in real life! This ain't Chatgpt! 

Ok, so you might be surprised (hopefully delighted!) to see new episode of the show in your feed on a Sunday. 

I used to reserve my one-on-one guest interviews for our Monday show, but you know what....Sundays make so much more sense. It's wash day. For our bodies, our hair, our dishes, that overflowing pile of laundr...

BA fam, we’re diving deep into the world of credit cards this week! Mandi, Yanely (aka MissBeHelpful), and Chris Browning break down the newest updates to premium cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve, Amex Platinum, and Capital One Venture X.

From new streaming perks to rising annual fees (hi, $795!), they weigh in on what’s actually worth it and what’s just hype. If you’re thinking about upgrading your car...

BA Fam! We’re back at the Brown Table with your faves—Yanely Espinal (aka MissBeHelpful) and Chris Browning catching up on all the things.

Mandi shares some big news: her dad got a kidney (!!) and the story behind it will have you in your feels and thinking hard about health in our communities. Then we get into the heavy stuff—yes, the U.S. bombed Iran and what that could mean for your wallet (gas, inflation,...

Hey BA Fam! Things are about to get juicy! In this episode, Mandi sits down with the fearless author and activist Mikki Kendall, whose groundbreaking work Hood Feminism is reshaping how we think about feminism, community, and survival.

Mikki dives deep into her journey navigating personal growth, relationships, and the chall...