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:


💼 Washday Woosah (Sunday interviews with inspiring guests)


🪑 Brown Table Wednesdays (group chat energy, always)


🎤 BA Q&A Fridays + Conversations! (your money + career questions answered)

We launched a Patreon, too!
🎥 Get early access to ad-free video recordings, the BA book club, and even get a chance to be LIVE in the studio audience during show tapings. 
👉 patreon.com/brownambition

Stay Connected:
🔗 @brownambitionpodcast
🌐 brownambitionpodcast.com
💌 Leave a review—your feedback fuels us, BA Fam!

Let’s keep rising, building, and showing out. 💼💰✊🏾

Hey BA Fam! Mandi's riding solo today for the brown table and sharing insights on the biggest headlines that impact your wallet.&nbsp;
New here? Join us three times a week:
<ul data-start="2106" data-end="2281">
<li data-start="2106" data-end="2158">
💼 Washday Woosah (Sunday interviews with inspiring guests)
</li>
<li data-start="2159" data-end="2218">
🪑 Brown Table Wednesdays (group chat energy, always)
</li>
<li data-start="2219" data-end="2281">
🎤 BA Q&amp;A Fridays + Conversations! (your money + career questions answered)
</li>
</ul>
We launched a Patreon, too! 🎥 Get early access to ad-free video recordings, the BA book club, and even get a chance to be LIVE in the studio audience during show tapings.&nbsp; 👉 <a data-start="2392" data-end="2454">patreon.com/brownambition</a>
<hr data-start="2456" data-end="2459">
Stay Connected: 🔗 @brownambitionpodcast 🌐 brownambitionpodcast.com 💌 Leave a review&mdash;your feedback fuels us, BA Fam!
Let&rsquo;s keep rising, building, and showing out. 💼💰✊🏾

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 Deal With Tr*mp Tax Cuts & A Crazy Competitive Job Market

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/29440d12-3215-42d2-9000-b30e002fc684/transcript

This week on Brown Ambition, Mandi sits down with award-winning producer, filmmaker, and breakout actress Kiah Clingmanfor a powerful conversation about rejection, reinvention, and trusting the long game.

From getting rejected by Howard’s theater program to becoming a Howard alum who quietly built a producing empire… from working a demanding corporate job at Deloitte to quitting two weeks after getting a mortgage… from not booking an acting role for four years to landing a nine-episode arc on Hulu’s Reasonable Doubt — Kiah’s story is a masterclass in resilience, patience, and betting on yourself even when the timeline doesn’t make sense.

This episode is for anyone who’s ever wondered if they waited too long, started too late, or took the “wrong” path. Spoiler: you didn’t.

 

WHAT WE GET INTO
Why Kiah almost didn’t submit the audition that changed her life
The reality of going years without booking work as an actor
How a hotel-room self tape (trash can + ring light included) landed her Reasonable Doubt
Being rejected from Howard’s theater program — and why it turned out to be a blessing
How Howard University and Delta Sigma Theta shaped her identity and confidence
Working a high-pressure corporate job while producing films at night
What it really means to be a producer (and why people misunderstand the role)
Quitting Deloitte two weeks after buying a home — and the fear that followed
Losing a series regular role after putting it all on the line

 

KEY TAKEAWAYS
Rejection can be redirection — even when it hurts
Your “pivot” isn’t failure, it’s strategy
You don’t need constant wins to be on the right path
Corporate skills can fund and strengthen creative dreams
Seeds planted today may not bloom for years — and that’s okay
Betting on yourself often feels reckless before it feels rewarding

👉 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, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/brownambitionpodcast/">Mandi</a> sits down with award-winning producer, filmmaker, and breakout actress <a href="https://www.instagram.com/kiah.alexandria/?hl=en">Kiah Clingman</a> for a powerful conversation about rejection, reinvention, and trusting the long game.
From getting rejected by Howard&rsquo;s theater program to becoming a Howard alum who quietly built a producing empire&hellip; from working a demanding corporate job at Deloitte to quitting two weeks after getting a mortgage&hellip; from not booking an acting role for four years to landing a nine-episode arc on Hulu&rsquo;s Reasonable Doubt &mdash; Kiah&rsquo;s story is a masterclass in resilience, patience, and betting on yourself even when the timeline doesn&rsquo;t make sense.
This episode is for anyone who&rsquo;s ever wondered if they waited too long, started too late, or took the &ldquo;wrong&rdquo; path. Spoiler: you didn&rsquo;t.
&nbsp;
WHAT WE GET INTO
<ul>
<li>Why Kiah almost didn&rsquo;t submit the audition that changed her life</li>
<li>The reality of going years without booking work as an actor</li>
<li>How a hotel-room self tape (trash can + ring light included) landed her Reasonable Doubt</li>
<li>Being rejected from Howard&rsquo;s theater program &mdash; and why it turned out to be a blessing</li>
<li>How Howard University and Delta Sigma Theta shaped her identity and confidence</li>
<li>Working a high-pressure corporate job while producing films at night</li>
<li>What it really means to be a producer (and why people misunderstand the role)</li>
<li>Quitting Deloitte two weeks after buying a home &mdash; and the fear that followed</li>
<li>Losing a series regular role after putting it all on the line</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
KEY TAKEAWAYS
<ul>
<li>Rejection can be redirection &mdash; even when it hurts</li>
<li>Your &ldquo;pivot&rdquo; isn&rsquo;t failure, it&rsquo;s strategy</li>
<li>You don&rsquo;t need constant wins to be on the right path</li>
<li>Corporate skills can fund and strengthen creative dreams</li>
<li>Seeds planted today may not bloom for years &mdash; and that&rsquo;s okay</li>
<li>Betting on yourself often feels reckless before it feels rewarding</li>
</ul>
👉 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;

She Was Ready to Quit Acting Then "Reasonable Doubt" Called (with Kiah Clingman)

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/7d7c2914-4dec-4db0-9d69-b3d2001d7a83/transcript

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;

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

How to Deal With Tr*mp Tax Cuts & A Crazy Competitive Job Market

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