In this episode of Brown Ambition, MandiMoney sits down with actor, content creator, and entrepreneur Kaisha Huguley (aka Kaisha Creates) for a real conversation about layoffs, self-belief, and choosing yourself—especially when the plan falls apart. Kaisha  opens up about being laid off from her 9–5, navigating seasonal depression, and the mindset shifts that helped her bet on herself and build multiple income streams. From acting and content creation to brand deals and financial planning with a partner, this episode is packed with honesty, strategy, and encouragement for anyone moving through an uncertain career season.

Whether you’ve been laid off, are considering entrepreneurship, or just need a reminder that your worth isn’t tied to a job title this one’s for you.

 

What We Get Into
00:00 – Introduction & personal reflections
00:37 – Welcome to Brown Ambition
00:47 – Meet today’s guest: Kaisha Huguley
01:01 – Kisha’s journey & career coaching work
02:06 – A word for listeners navigating layoffs
03:13 – Celebrating Brown Ambition’s renewal
04:14 –Kaisha s layoff story
07:18 – Choosing full-time entrepreneurship
09:43 – Balancing acting & content creation
16:12 – Seasonal depression & career uncertainty
24:20 – Teaching, social media, and staying afloat
28:52 – Pitching yourself & securing brand deals
40:47 – Corporate burnout & workplace realities
42:03 – Choosing entrepreneurship every day
43:39 – Financial uncertainty & faith in the process
44:30 – Podcasting, debt payoff & money transparency
45:21 – Financial planning as a couple
55:31 – Managing money as an entrepreneur
57:17 – Retirement, investing & long-term planning
01:09:32 – Reflecting on the entrepreneurial journey
01:13:42 – Gratitude, community & paying it forward
01:16:30 – Final thoughts & wrap-up

 

Key Takeaways
A layoff can be an ending and a beginning
Self-belief is a muscle—you build it through action
Multiple income streams don’t mean chaos when you plan intentionally
Mental health and financial health go hand in hand
Entrepreneurship is a daily choice, not a one-time leap

Stay Connected  
- Email your questions: brownambitionpodcast@gmail.com.
- Send a voice note or DM on IG: @brownambitionpodcast 

In this episode of Brown Ambition, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/mandimoney/?hl=en">MandiMoney</a> sits down with actor, content creator, and entrepreneur <a href="https://www.instagram.com/kaishacreates/">Kaisha Huguley</a>&nbsp;(aka <a href="https://www.instagram.com/kaishacreates/">Kaisha Creates</a>) for a real conversation about layoffs, self-belief, and choosing yourself&mdash;especially when the plan falls apart.<a href="https://www.instagram.com/kaishacreates/"> Kaisha</a>&nbsp; opens up about being laid off from her 9&ndash;5, navigating seasonal depression, and the mindset shifts that helped her bet on herself and build multiple income streams. From acting and content creation to brand deals and financial planning with a partner, this episode is packed with honesty, strategy, and encouragement for anyone moving through an uncertain career season.
Whether you&rsquo;ve been laid off, are considering entrepreneurship, or just need a reminder that your worth isn&rsquo;t tied to a job title this one&rsquo;s for you.
&nbsp;
What We Get Into
<ul>
<li>00:00 &ndash; Introduction &amp; personal reflections</li>
<li>00:37 &ndash; Welcome to Brown Ambition</li>
<li>00:47 &ndash; Meet today&rsquo;s guest: Kaisha Huguley</li>
<li>01:01 &ndash; Kisha&rsquo;s journey &amp; career coaching work</li>
<li>02:06 &ndash; A word for listeners navigating layoffs</li>
<li>03:13 &ndash; Celebrating Brown Ambition&rsquo;s renewal</li>
<li>04:14 &ndash;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/kaishacreates/">Kaisha </a>s layoff story</li>
<li>07:18 &ndash; Choosing full-time entrepreneurship</li>
<li>09:43 &ndash; Balancing acting &amp; content creation</li>
<li>16:12 &ndash; Seasonal depression &amp; career uncertainty</li>
<li>24:20 &ndash; Teaching, social media, and staying afloat</li>
<li>28:52 &ndash; Pitching yourself &amp; securing brand deals</li>
<li>40:47 &ndash; Corporate burnout &amp; workplace realities</li>
<li>42:03 &ndash; Choosing entrepreneurship every day</li>
<li>43:39 &ndash; Financial uncertainty &amp; faith in the process</li>
<li>44:30 &ndash; Podcasting, debt payoff &amp; money transparency</li>
<li>45:21 &ndash; Financial planning as a couple</li>
<li>55:31 &ndash; Managing money as an entrepreneur</li>
<li>57:17 &ndash; Retirement, investing &amp; long-term planning</li>
<li>01:09:32 &ndash; Reflecting on the entrepreneurial journey</li>
<li>01:13:42 &ndash; Gratitude, community &amp; paying it forward</li>
<li>01:16:30 &ndash; Final thoughts &amp; wrap-up</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
Key Takeaways
<ul>
<li>A layoff can be an ending and a beginning</li>
<li>Self-belief is a muscle&mdash;you build it through action</li>
<li>Multiple income streams don&rsquo;t mean chaos when you plan intentionally</li>
<li>Mental health and financial health go hand in hand</li>
<li>Entrepreneurship is a daily choice, not a one-time leap</li>
</ul>
Stay Connected &nbsp; - Email your questions: brownambitionpodcast@gmail.com. - Send a voice note or DM on IG: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/brownambitionpodcast">@brownambitionpodcast&nbsp;</a>

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

How to Turn a Layoff into Your Full‑Time Creative Career ft. Kaisha Huguley

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/fba813aa-5895-42fd-9d58-b3e7005904aa/transcript

In this week’s BA Q&A Mandi answers a listener question that gets straight to the point: How do employers actually verify where we’ve worked and what information are they collecting about us behind the scenes.

We dive into the world of work verification and big data, including platforms like WorkMarket, and unpack how employers confirm employment history, income, and background details in today’s digital-first hiring process.

 

 In this episode, we cover:
How employers verify past employment
What WorkMarket is and how it fits into the hiring ecosystem
The role of big data in background checks
How to review, protect, and correct your employment data

Because being financially informed also means being data-aware.

 

Stay Connected  
- Email your questions: brownambitionpodcast@gmail.com.
- Send a voice note or DM on IG: @brownambitionpodcast 

In this week&rsquo;s BA Q&amp;A <a href="https://www.instagram.com/mandimoney/?hl=en">Mandi</a> answers a listener question that gets straight to the point: How do employers actually verify where we&rsquo;ve worked and what information are they collecting about us behind the scenes.
We dive into the world of work verification and big data, including platforms like WorkMarket, and unpack how employers confirm employment history, income, and background details in today&rsquo;s digital-first hiring process.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;In this episode, we cover:
<ul>
<li>How employers verify past employment</li>
<li>What WorkMarket is and how it fits into the hiring ecosystem</li>
<li>The role of big data in background checks</li>
<li>How to review, protect, and correct your employment data</li>
</ul>
Because being financially informed also means being data-aware.
&nbsp;
Stay Connected &nbsp; - Email your questions: brownambitionpodcast@gmail.com. - Send a voice note or DM on IG: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/brownambitionpodcast">@brownambitionpodcast&nbsp;</a>

BA Q&A: Are Company Background Checks Legit?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/460c6026-3bfa-4d8e-a055-b3e8018a5167/transcript

Mandi is back for a solo BA Q&A, answering a juicy listener question about balancing student loans, grad school, a possible home move, and a new car payment—all while chasing Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). She breaks down how PSLF *actually* works, why “qualifying payments” matter so much, and when it can make sense to pause extra payments and redirect cash toward savings and other priorities instead.

What we dive into: 

- How PSLF really works and what counts as a qualifying payment.
- Whether you should keep paying loans that are in in-school deferment.
- How to prioritize between:  
- Building a 3–6 month emergency fund.  
- Saving for moving and homebuying costs.  
- Paying down a high car note.
- Why three months of savings may no longer be enough in today’s economy.
- Practical next steps to confirm your PSLF status and get your paperwork right.

Listener Question Highlight  
Sydney, a 34‑year‑old nurse working toward PSLF, asks whether she should keep making a $500 monthly student loan payment while her loans are in deferment—or pause to focus on savings, a future move, and her car note.

Links:

Federal student aid and PSLF info: studentaid.gov

Stay Connected  
- Email your questions: brownambitionpodcast@gmail.com.
- Send a voice note or DM on IG: @brownambitionpodcast 

Mandi is back for a solo BA Q&amp;A, answering a juicy listener question about balancing student loans, grad school, a possible home move, and a new car payment&mdash;all while chasing Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). She breaks down how PSLF *actually* works, why &ldquo;qualifying payments&rdquo; matter so much, and when it can make sense to pause extra payments and redirect cash toward savings and other priorities instead.
What we dive into: - How PSLF really works and what counts as a qualifying payment. - Whether you should keep paying loans that are in in-school deferment. - How to prioritize between: &nbsp; - Building a 3&ndash;6 month emergency fund. &nbsp; - Saving for moving and homebuying costs. &nbsp; - Paying down a high car note. - Why three months of savings may no longer be enough in today&rsquo;s economy. - Practical next steps to confirm your PSLF status and get your paperwork right.
Listener Question Highlight &nbsp; Sydney, a 34‑year‑old nurse working toward PSLF, asks whether she should keep making a $500 monthly student loan payment while her loans are in deferment&mdash;or pause to focus on savings, a future move, and her car note.
Links:
Federal student aid and PSLF info: studentaid.gov
Stay Connected &nbsp; - Email your questions: brownambitionpodcast@gmail.com. - Send a voice note or DM on IG: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/brownambitionpodcast">@brownambitionpodcast&nbsp;</a>

BA Q&A: Should I Keep Paying My Student Loans While PSLF?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/b74daaec-5eb4-4ba8-bb4a-b3e200d8e7fd/transcript

This week on Brown Ambition, Mandi is joined by author, activist, and democracy defender Stacey Abrams for a powerful, timely, and deeply grounding conversation about where we are as a country and what we can actually do about it.

Recorded during a moment of collective grief, fear, and exhaustion, this episode centers honesty over platitudes and action over despair. Stacey breaks down her 10 Steps Campaign, explains how authoritarianism takes root in real time, and offers a clear framework for resistance, resilience, and rebuilding without pretending this moment isn’t heavy.

Together, Mandi and Stacey talk about protecting your peace without disengaging, finding joy as an act of resistance, navigating financial shame and career disruption, and why your power doesn’t disappear just because your platform changes.

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, frozen, or unsure where to start this conversation is for you.

 

What We Get Into
Why this moment feels heavier and why that feeling is by design
Stacey Abrams’ 10 Steps to Autocracy and how to recognize them in real time
The 10 Steps to Freedom & Power and how everyday people can activate them
Why we can’t return to “how things were” and must demand something better
How to talk to your kids about what’s happening without passing down fear
What to do when you’re exhausted, caregiving, working, and barely holding it together
Why joy is not escapism — it’s resistance
Financial shame, job loss, and why debt is not a moral failure
Stacey’s unsexy but life-changing money habits
Building freedom funds, changing lanes, and investing in yourself and others
Government shutdowns, budgets, and why “business as usual” no longer applies
Why status is no longer safety and what collective action really looks like

 

Key Takeaways
You don’t have to do everything — but you do have to do something
Your position may change, but your power stays with you
Nonviolent resistance is effective — and it’s not the same as being passive
Financial setbacks don’t cancel your dreams; they may redirect them
Democracy isn’t abstract — it’s about our ability to thrive

 

Resources Mentioned
Stacey Abrams’ 10 Steps Campaign 
Assembly Required podcast
Level Up by Stacey Abrams
Stacey Abrams’ children’s book series (Stacey Speaks Up)

This week on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/brownambitionpodcast/">Brown Ambition</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/mandimoney/">Mandi</a> is joined by author, activist, and democracy defender <a href="https://www.instagram.com/staceyabrams/">Stacey Abrams</a> for a powerful, timely, and deeply grounding conversation about where we are as a country and what we can actually do about it.
Recorded during a moment of collective grief, fear, and exhaustion, this episode centers honesty over platitudes and action over despair. Stacey breaks down her <a href="https://www.instagram.com/10stepscampaign">10 Steps Campaign</a>, explains how authoritarianism takes root in real time, and offers a clear framework for resistance, resilience, and rebuilding without pretending this moment isn&rsquo;t heavy.
Together, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/mandimoney/">Mandi</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/staceyabrams/">Stacey</a> talk about protecting your peace without disengaging, finding joy as an act of resistance, navigating financial shame and career disruption, and why your power doesn&rsquo;t disappear just because your platform changes.
If you&rsquo;ve been feeling overwhelmed, frozen, or unsure where to start this conversation is for you.
&nbsp;
What We Get Into
<ul>
<li>Why this moment feels heavier and why that feeling is by design</li>
<li><a href="https://10stepscampaign.org/?refcode=LOC_Ad_Search_20250923_GS_Traffic_10Steps&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=23042320725&amp;gbraid=0AAAABBYotvhYo1SRZIeROFi_wmJFkVqXv&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQiA4eHLBhCzARIsAJ2NZoLwDIQeCr03c8IXvzqfjMN207L0djMcXzTenn1IEliKAQhslCO2oksaAr-bEALw_wcB#10">Stacey Abrams&rsquo; 10 Steps to Autocracy </a>and how to recognize them in real time</li>
<li>The <a href="https://10stepscampaign.org/?refcode=LOC_Ad_Search_20250923_GS_Traffic_10Steps&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=23042320725&amp;gbraid=0AAAABBYotvhYo1SRZIeROFi_wmJFkVqXv&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQiA4eHLBhCzARIsAJ2NZoLwDIQeCr03c8IXvzqfjMN207L0djMcXzTenn1IEliKAQhslCO2oksaAr-bEALw_wcB#freedom">10 Steps to Freedom &amp; Power</a> and how everyday people can activate them</li>
<li>Why we can&rsquo;t return to &ldquo;how things were&rdquo; and must demand something better</li>
<li>How to talk to your kids about what&rsquo;s happening without passing down fear</li>
<li>What to do when you&rsquo;re exhausted, caregiving, working, and barely holding it together</li>
<li>Why joy is not escapism &mdash; it&rsquo;s resistance</li>
<li>Financial shame, job loss, and why debt is not a moral failure</li>
<li>Stacey&rsquo;s unsexy but life-changing money habits</li>
<li>Building freedom funds, changing lanes, and investing in yourself and others</li>
<li>Government shutdowns, budgets, and why &ldquo;business as usual&rdquo; no longer applies</li>
<li>Why status is no longer safety and what collective action really looks like</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
Key Takeaways
<ul>
<li>You don&rsquo;t have to do everything &mdash; but you do have to do something</li>
<li>Your position may change, but your power stays with you</li>
<li>Nonviolent resistance is effective &mdash; and it&rsquo;s not the same as being passive</li>
<li>Financial setbacks don&rsquo;t cancel your dreams; they may redirect them</li>
<li>Democracy isn&rsquo;t abstract &mdash; it&rsquo;s about our ability to thrive</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
Resources Mentioned
<ul>
<li><a href="https://10stepscampaign.org/#10">Stacey Abrams&rsquo; 10 Steps Campaign&nbsp;</a></li>
<li><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/assembly-required-with-stacey-abrams/id1760004996">Assembly Required podcast</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/706859/level-up-by-stacey-abrams-and-lara-hodgson-with-heather-cabot/?ref=PRH3F5F421F4DF6&amp;aid=11459&amp;linkid=PRH3F5F421F4DF6">Level Up by Stacey Abrams</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.harpercollins.com/products/stacey-speaks-up-stacey-abrams?variant=41515813437474">Stacey Abrams&rsquo; children&rsquo;s book series (Stacey Speaks Up)</a></li>
</ul>

How We Protect Our Freedom in an Authoritarian America ft. Stacey Abrams

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/2fe0d396-0512-43e7-a6c2-b3df015a50a7/transcript

How to Turn a Layoff into Your Full‑Time Creative Career ft. Kaisha Huguley

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