You’ve Got a 750+ Credit Score… Now What?

This week on Brown Buzz, Mandi Money is breaking down everything from billionaires promising to make our babies stockholders to Gen Z investors letting election anxiety get a little too close to their retirement accounts. And while everybody keeps telling us the economy is doing great, why are our grocery bills, rent payments, and bank accounts telling a completely different story?! First up, Elon Musk wants to give every child in America a share of SpaceX. Sounds generous, right? Well, Mandi has some questions! We're talking about the fine print, the risks of tying a child's financial future to one company, and why building generational wealth should be about more than billionaire promises.Then, we're getting into why your 401(k) is NOT a ballot box! With investors making major money moves ahead of the midterm elections, Mandi explains why panic-selling could cost you more than you think and why she's standing ten toes down on her tried-and-true, set-it-and-forget-it investing strategy. Plus, what exactly is a K-shaped economy, and why does it feel like wealthy Americans are thriving while everybody else is just trying to make it to payday? Mandi breaks down the growing wealth divide and reminds us that you can't budget your way out of every systemic problem. We're also talking about the corporate ladder and why, despite a record number of women leading Fortune 500 companies, Black and Latina women are still being left out of the executive suite. Because being excellent at your job is one thing, but having somebody willing to open doors for you? That's a whole different conversation. And on a more serious note, Mandi calls for justice and transparency for baby Kohen Wiley and his family, reminding us why accountability matters and why we cannot afford to look away. Finally, we're ending with some much-needed joy! Mandi is giving her Brown Boost to the Atlanta Dream, celebrating the power of women showing up, showing out, and making everybody around them shine a little brighter. 🏀 IResources & Links: Justice for Baby Kohen Wiley — Visit Benjamin Crump's Justice for Baby Kohen Wiley campaign page to support the family's call for transparency.

This week, Mandi Money is joined by Paula Pant, real estate investor, entrepreneur, and host of the Afford Anything podcast, for a conversation that's equal parts money masterclass and millionaire mindset check. Paula went from earning just $21,000 a year as a newspaper reporter to building a $3.7 million net worth by age 42. And no, she didn't get there by chasing the hottest stocks or trying to become an overnight millionaire.Instead, she focused on increasing her income, investing consistently, and making intentional financial decisions. She's breaking down how she bought her first triplex for $225,000, turned it into a property now worth more than $1 million, and built a portfolio of seven paid-off rental properties. But don't get it twisted. Paula is the first to admit that building wealth comes with mistakes, expensive lessons, and some serious money mindset work. Mandi and Paula get into the real numbers behind real estate investing, why renting isn't always throwing money away, and the difference between being self-employed and actually building a business. Plus, Paula introduces her Double-I FIRE framework, explains why your financial psychology matters just as much as your investment portfolio, and shares why she's still investing in herself and her business even after reaching millionaire status. And because this is Brown Ambition, we're asking the bigger questions: What's the point of financial independence if you never let yourself enjoy the money? And when you've already built millions, what keeps you ambitious?

On this week's Brown Buzz, Mandi Money is breaking down the stories affecting our money, our careers, our communities, and our everyday lives. First up, the WNBA is making history, with the Atlanta Dream heading to the finals and fans showing up in record numbers. But with all that momentum comes a bigger question: Will the investment, respect, and compensation finally match the talent these women bring to the court? Then, Mandi gets real about career security in the wake of Netflix’s reported 1,000 job cuts. Even when a company is worth billions, your job isn’t guaranteed. She shares why we can’t rely on a company’s success to determine our own financial stability and how unexpected setbacks can change the way we approach our careers and money. Plus, it’s time to talk politics. With the 2026 midterm elections approaching, Mandi breaks down the high stakes of Georgia’s gubernatorial race, the investigation involving Representative Ilhan Omar, and Kamala Harris’s recent conversation with Keke Palmer about the importance of showing up to vote. Because the decisions made at the ballot box have real consequences for our paychecks, schools, neighborhoods, and families. And in a deeply personal Brown Boost, Mandi shares the story behind her upcoming book, Brown Ambition: How to Reboot Your Career and Money When Life Knocks You Off Track. After navigating her own challenges with anxiety, depression, motherhood, and the pressures of being a breadwinner, Mandi realized that traditional career and money advice doesn't always account for what happens when life gets overwhelming. Her new book is about rebuilding your finances, your career, and your confidence without shame or burnout. In this episode, we get into: The Atlanta Dream’s run to the WNBA finals, the league’s record-breaking viewership, and why women's sports deserve greater investment and compensation. What Netflix’s layoffs teach us about career security, corporate profits, and preparing financially for the unexpected. Why Mandi started over on her book and created a more compassionate, realistic approach to rebuilding your career and money after a setback. The 2026 midterm elections, Georgia’s closely watched gubernatorial race, and why local elections matter just as much as presidential elections. The investigation involving Representative Ilhan Omar and the broader concerns surrounding political targeting and accountability. Kamala Harris on Keke Palmer’s podcast, protecting your joy, and refusing to apologize for who you are. A heartbreaking incident involving a Black toddler at a public library, the importance of making children feel seen and valued, and the responsibility of public institutions to serve everyone. Brown Boost: Celebrating librarian and literacy advocate Michael Threets as he takes the lead on the Reading Rainbow reboot. Plus: Mandi shares why pre-ordering Brown Ambition matters, how your support helps get books into bookstores and libraries, and why being knocked off track doesn’t mean you’re broken. 📚 Pre-order Mandi’s book, Brown Ambition: How to Reboot Your Career and Money When Life Knocks You Off Track, arriving June 15, 2027 Resources mentioned: Georgia voter information: https://sos.ga.gov Check your voter registration and find election resources: https://www.vote.org Watch the Reading Rainbow reboot on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ReadingRainbowOfficial See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if getting ahead didn’t require you to outwork, outperform, or out-hustle everyone around you? This week, we’re revisiting Mandi's conversation with leadership and inclusion strategist Ruchika T. Malhotra — author of Uncompete: Rejecting Competition to Unlock Radical Success. In a world obsessed with winning, Ruchika’s message is a breath of fresh air: true success comes from rest, collaboration, and community not from constant competition. Together, they unpack the toxic myth that somebody else’s win has to mean your loss—and offer a more sustainable path to ambition rooted in community, self-trust, rest, and collaboration. They also get real about career comparison, envy, burnout, anxiety, and the pressure to keep proving yourself in a world that constantly tells women to do more. If you’ve ever watched someone else land the opportunity you wanted and immediately wondered whether you need to work harder, be better, or push yourself past your limits, this episode is for you. 📘 About the Guest Ruchika T. Malhotra (she/her) is a globally recognized inclusion strategist, speaker, and founder of CANDOR, a consulting practice helping organizations build equitable and inclusive workplaces. Her latest book, Uncompete, challenges the myth that success must come from rivalry and invites us to build from a place of joy, rest, and abundance. Follow Ruchika: Instagram: @rtulshyan Website: ruchikatulshyan.com 📚 Resources Mentioned Uncompete: Rejecting Competition to Unlock Radical Success — available November 4 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Brown Buzz, Mandi Money is breaking down the headlines shaping our money, careers, culture, and everyday lives. First up, LeBron James’s reported $15 million partnership with Polymarket raises questions about the growing popularity of prediction markets and how these platforms are marketed to people who may already feel financially behind. Mandi explains how prediction markets work, why the line between trading and gambling deserves a closer look, and what you should know about protecting your money if you use these apps. Then, Mandi celebrates some major Black business wins, including Carol’s Daughter founder Lisa Price returning to an ownership role in the brand she built from her Brooklyn kitchen. She also dives into the Ebony Power 100 list and shares a reminder for anyone who has ever felt overlooked: someone else’s recognition is not evidence that your work is small. Plus, Mandi breaks down what rising home heating costs could mean for your winter budget, gives CultureCon founder Imani Ellis her flowers for responding to attendee feedback, and celebrates authors Tayari Jones and Julie Leung for their literary accomplishments.