This week on Brown Ambition, MandiMoney is back with a simple, shame‑free money reset for 2026: 3 wealthy habits you can actually stick with, even when life is lifing. Instead of overhauling your entire financial life by February, this episode walks you through small, repeatable moves that quietly build wealth in the background—whether you’re fighting inflation, juggling childcare, stuck in a “starter” home, or piecing together entrepreneurial income. 

👉 Want more Brown Ambition?

• Join our Patreon for ad-free episodes, behind‑the‑scenes content and deeper dives into money, career and entrepreneurship: Join the BA Fam! 

• Follow us on Instagram @brownambitionpodcast for daily money and career tips, episode updates, and community conversations. 

This week on Brown Ambition, MandiMoney is back with a simple, shame‑free money reset for 2026: 3 wealthy habits you can actually stick with, even when life is lifing. Instead of overhauling your entire financial life by February, this episode walks you through small, repeatable moves that quietly build wealth in the background&mdash;whether you&rsquo;re fighting inflation, juggling childcare, stuck in a &ldquo;starter&rdquo; home, or piecing together entrepreneurial income.&nbsp;
👉 Want more Brown Ambition?
&bull; Join our Patreon for ad-free episodes, behind‑the‑scenes content and deeper dives into money, career and entrepreneurship: <a href="https://www.patreon.com/c/brownambition">Join the BA Fam!</a>&nbsp;
&bull; Follow us on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/brownambitionpodcast">@brownambitionpodcast</a> for daily money and career tips, episode updates, and community conversations.&nbsp;

The Brown Ambition Podcast helps you unapologetically build wealth by saving, investing and making smart career choices — on your own d@mn terms! New episodes Wednesdays and Fridays.

Money and career advice for women of color, by women of color

Brown Ambition

3 Wealthy Habits That Will Make You Richer in 2026 [Solo Ep]

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/add29f7d-8bbc-47bd-ac6f-b3cd00c461c2/transcript

It's January and the pressure is on to go harder, save more, invest more, and transform your entire life by next year. But piling on intense goals doesn’t always lead to motivation — often it leads straight to anxiety, comparison, and money shame when life inevitably throws a curveball.

In this episode, Mandi welcomes back listener‑favorite board‑certified therapist, speaker, writer, and financial therapist Aja Evans, author of Feel Good Finance. Aja helps us rethink how we set money and career goals so they actually fit our real lives — kids, cold weather, surprise plumbing bills and all — instead of sending us into a shame spiral when we “fall off.”

You’ll hear Mandi and Aja talk about:

• Why January might not be the best time for your most ambitious goals, especially if you’re in hibernation mode and running on low energy. 

• How to get brutally honest about your time, energy, and responsibilities so your goals reflect the life you actually have, not the one Instagram says you should have. 

• The mindset shift from “I’m starting back at zero” to “I handled that emergency and I’m still on my path,” even when a surprise $1,000 home repair blows up your plans. 

• How “under‑promise and over‑deliver” with your money goals can quiet that inner “shitty committee” and help you feel proud of your progress instead of chronically behind. 

• Simple reminders from Aja — “be realistic and be nice” — and why it really isn’t that serious if your timeline moves from March to July. If you’ve ever looked at your accounts and thought, “I should be further along by now,” or felt like one unexpected bill erased all your progress, this conversation will help you reset your goals with more compassion, more honesty, and way less shame.

Stay tuned at the end of the episode for Mandi’s note about how to send in your juiciest money and career questions for upcoming BA Q&A Fridays in 2026.

--

Get listener perks and bonus content on our Patreon! Join the BA Fam here: https://www.patreon.com/c/brownambition/

Follow us on IG @brownambitionpodcast

Follow Aja on IG @ajaetherapy

It's January and the pressure is on to go harder, save more, invest more, and transform your entire life by next year. But piling on intense goals doesn&rsquo;t always lead to motivation &mdash; often it leads straight to anxiety, comparison, and money shame when life inevitably throws a curveball.
In this episode, Mandi welcomes back listener‑favorite board‑certified therapist, speaker, writer, and financial therapist Aja Evans, author of Feel Good Finance. Aja helps us rethink how we set money and career goals so they actually fit our real lives &mdash; kids, cold weather, surprise plumbing bills and all &mdash; instead of sending us into a shame spiral when we &ldquo;fall off.&rdquo;
You&rsquo;ll hear Mandi and Aja talk about:
&bull; Why January might not be the best time for your most ambitious goals, especially if you&rsquo;re in hibernation mode and running on low energy.&nbsp;
&bull; How to get brutally honest about your time, energy, and responsibilities so your goals reflect the life you actually have, not the one Instagram says you should have.&nbsp;
&bull; The mindset shift from &ldquo;I&rsquo;m starting back at zero&rdquo; to &ldquo;I handled that emergency and I&rsquo;m still on my path,&rdquo; even when a surprise $1,000 home repair blows up your plans.&nbsp;
&bull; How &ldquo;under‑promise and over‑deliver&rdquo; with your money goals can quiet that inner &ldquo;shitty committee&rdquo; and help you feel proud of your progress instead of chronically behind.&nbsp;
&bull; Simple reminders from Aja &mdash; &ldquo;be realistic and be nice&rdquo; &mdash; and why it really isn&rsquo;t that serious if your timeline moves from March to July. If you&rsquo;ve ever looked at your accounts and thought, &ldquo;I should be further along by now,&rdquo; or felt like one unexpected bill erased all your progress, this conversation will help you reset your goals with more compassion, more honesty, and way less shame.
Stay tuned at the end of the episode for Mandi&rsquo;s note about how to send in your juiciest money and career questions for upcoming BA Q&amp;A Fridays in 2026.
--
Get listener perks and bonus content on our Patreon! Join the BA Fam here: <a href="https://www.patreon.com/c/brownambition/">https://www.patreon.com/c/brownambition/</a>
Follow us on IG <a href="https://www.instagram.com/brownambitionpodcast">@brownambitionpodcast</a>
Follow Aja on IG <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ajaetherapy">@ajaetherapy</a>

Realistic Money Goals for 2026: Ditch the Shame Spiral and Set Intentions That Stick

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/06ab270e-7143-464f-8dd6-b3ca0122421a/transcript

Happy New Year, BA Fam! In our most popular episode of 2025, Mandi was joined by two of our faves in the finance space: Chris Browning of “Popcorn Finance” and Berna Anat, author of the amazing book “Money Out Loud”. If you’re looking to level up your money game and feel good doing it, this episode’s for you.

We get into:

- The highs and lows of aggressively saving money  

- Gen Z’s "we’re gonna have fun & save money" energy  

-Your financial strategy in the age of Tr*mp Tariffs

-Are solopreneurs heading back to Corporate America?

We also chat about what’s going on in the world—from economic uncertainty and tariffs to the importance of staying informed without losing your peace. And when it comes to career shifts, Berna talks about her transition from full-time solopreneurship back to the 9-5 life…and how she’s doing it on her own terms. 

--------- EPISODE CHAPTERS ---------

(0:04:49) - Financial Reflections and Regrets

(0:18:29) - Realigning Values and Money Habits

(0:26:21) - Navigating Economic Uncertainty and Tariffs

(0:34:07) - Community Building Through Thrift and Bartering

(0:45:56) - Investing Strategies and Debt Management

(0:48:58) - Transitioning to Stable Employment

(0:56:04) - Exploring Oakland's Black and Brown Community

(1:04:37) - Lizzo's Journey to Self-Love

(1:10:05) - Navigating Cancel Culture and Redemption

--

This episode is all about giving yourself grace, finding balance, and building the life you want—with your finances in check and your spirit intact.

Happy New Year, BA Fam! In our most popular episode of 2025, Mandi was joined by two of our faves in the finance space: Chris Browning of &ldquo;Popcorn Finance&rdquo; and Berna Anat, author of the amazing book &ldquo;Money Out Loud&rdquo;. If you&rsquo;re looking to level up your money game and feel good doing it, this episode&rsquo;s for you.
We get into:
- The highs and lows of aggressively saving money&nbsp;&nbsp;
- Gen Z&rsquo;s "we&rsquo;re gonna have fun &amp; save money" energy&nbsp;&nbsp;
-Your financial strategy in the age of Tr*mp Tariffs
-Are solopreneurs heading back to Corporate America?
We also chat about what&rsquo;s going on in the world&mdash;from economic uncertainty and tariffs to the importance of staying informed without losing your peace. And when it comes to career shifts, Berna talks about her transition from full-time solopreneurship back to the 9-5 life&hellip;and how she&rsquo;s doing it on her own terms.&nbsp;
--------- EPISODE CHAPTERS ---------
(0:04:49) - Financial Reflections and Regrets
(0:18:29) - Realigning Values and Money Habits
(0:26:21) - Navigating Economic Uncertainty and Tariffs
(0:34:07) - Community Building Through Thrift and Bartering
(0:45:56) - Investing Strategies and Debt Management
(0:48:58) - Transitioning to Stable Employment
(0:56:04) - Exploring Oakland's Black and Brown Community
(1:04:37) - Lizzo's Journey to Self-Love
(1:10:05) - Navigating Cancel Culture and Redemption
--
This episode is all about giving yourself grace, finding balance, and building the life you want&mdash;with your finances in check and your spirit intact.

How to Rethink Your Financial Strategy During Tr*mp Tariff SZN [BA Rewind]

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/59bf109a-ccd0-4b6f-99b1-b3c70059f065/transcript

It’s time for another BA Q&A, where we answer your money and career questions straight from the inbox! 
This week, we're rewinding to a couple of our favorite questions from this year.
💫 “How do I set and stick to financial goals?” — Listen up, Unicorn! We’re breaking down how to get clear on your money priorities, stay consistent when life gets messy, and finally start hitting those goals that keep slipping off your list.
💼 “Help me find a financial planner!” — Solange, we got you! We’ll walk you through what to look for in a planner, the questions to ask before you hire one, and how to find your money match—someone who actually gets your goals and your budget.
Whether you’re just getting started or ready to level up your finances, this episode is packed with practical tips and real talk to keep your ambition (and your money) growing strong.

Don’t forget to:

• Share your favorite BA episodes

• Follow us @BrownAmbitionPodcast on IG

• Send your questions to BrownAmbitionPodcast@gmail.com

 

Until next time, keep stacking that paper and living your best life! 💅🏾

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It&rsquo;s time for another BA Q&amp;A, where we answer your money and career questions straight from the inbox!&nbsp; This week, we're rewinding to a couple of our favorite questions from this year. 💫 &ldquo;How do I set and stick to financial goals?&rdquo; &mdash; Listen up, Unicorn! We&rsquo;re breaking down how to get clear on your money priorities, stay consistent when life gets messy, and finally start hitting those goals that keep slipping off your list. 💼 &ldquo;Help me find a financial planner!&rdquo; &mdash; Solange, we got you! We&rsquo;ll walk you through what to look for in a planner, the questions to ask before you hire one, and how to find your money match&mdash;someone who actually gets your goals and your budget. Whether you&rsquo;re just getting started or ready to level up your finances, this episode is packed with practical tips and real talk to keep your ambition (and your money) growing strong.
Don&rsquo;t forget to:
&bull; Share your favorite BA episodes
&bull; Follow us @BrownAmbitionPodcast on IG
&bull; Send your questions to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:BrownAmbitionPodcast@gmail.com">BrownAmbitionPodcast@gmail.com</a>
&nbsp;
Until next time, keep stacking that paper and living your best life! 💅🏾
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit&nbsp;<a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>
See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

How to Set Real Financial Goals + Find the Right Financial Planner for You

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/a22674b6-7568-4347-aeea-b3b7013efbba/transcript

3 Wealthy Habits That Will Make You Richer in 2026 [Solo Ep]

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