1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:03,760 Speaker 1: I'm starting to think about starting a savings challenge for 2 00:00:03,840 --> 00:00:07,000 Speaker 1: myself in September. There's just so little space in my 3 00:00:07,040 --> 00:00:08,680 Speaker 1: budget for savings these days. 4 00:00:08,800 --> 00:00:11,680 Speaker 2: How do I do this intelligently and not have to 5 00:00:11,760 --> 00:00:13,600 Speaker 2: like sacrifice my current lifestyle? 6 00:00:13,680 --> 00:00:16,120 Speaker 1: Ain't that some shit? It's so hard because while you 7 00:00:16,160 --> 00:00:19,360 Speaker 1: want to save for your trip to Australia, a mean 8 00:00:19,400 --> 00:00:21,400 Speaker 1: person would say you better stay your ass home and 9 00:00:21,440 --> 00:00:23,159 Speaker 1: not go to Australia. I will never tell you to 10 00:00:23,160 --> 00:00:25,680 Speaker 1: do that. You are too young, your skin is tight, 11 00:00:25,720 --> 00:00:26,480 Speaker 1: everything is popping. 12 00:00:26,520 --> 00:00:28,360 Speaker 3: Girl. You better get your ass to Australia. 13 00:00:28,720 --> 00:00:37,040 Speaker 4: Better go petticate a koala that in your life. 14 00:00:37,960 --> 00:00:41,200 Speaker 1: Hey, aba, fam, what's up? It's your girl, Mandy Money. 15 00:00:41,400 --> 00:00:44,520 Speaker 1: I am. I was about to say I am reporting live. 16 00:00:44,720 --> 00:00:50,640 Speaker 1: I'm not. I'm I'm recording yesterday, but I am not 17 00:00:50,880 --> 00:00:53,080 Speaker 1: at home. If you're on YouTube, you can see I 18 00:00:53,080 --> 00:00:58,240 Speaker 1: have a lovely lounge situation background right now because this 19 00:00:58,440 --> 00:01:02,440 Speaker 1: room that I'm in is not giving esthetic. It's not 20 00:01:02,480 --> 00:01:07,600 Speaker 1: even giving. We have ever heard of podcasts and appreciate 21 00:01:07,640 --> 00:01:11,320 Speaker 1: a nice background. It is giving sad conference room. But 22 00:01:11,360 --> 00:01:13,720 Speaker 1: for a good reason. I'm actually in Cleveland right now 23 00:01:13,920 --> 00:01:18,199 Speaker 1: because I am attending the National Association of Black Journalists 24 00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:23,680 Speaker 1: convention in Cleveland, Ohio. I am an OG journalist curly. 25 00:01:23,959 --> 00:01:25,680 Speaker 1: I don't know if BA fan, if you've been in OG, 26 00:01:25,840 --> 00:01:28,480 Speaker 1: you remember when I started Brand Ambition, I was actually 27 00:01:29,040 --> 00:01:34,160 Speaker 1: a personal finance writer and correspondent for Yahoo Finance. And 28 00:01:34,280 --> 00:01:36,759 Speaker 1: before that I was at Business Insider, and before that, 29 00:01:36,959 --> 00:01:39,600 Speaker 1: you go back of it, I was in journalism school. 30 00:01:40,160 --> 00:01:42,240 Speaker 1: I always thought I was going to end up being 31 00:01:42,319 --> 00:01:45,880 Speaker 1: a writer, a full time journalist, writing for you know, 32 00:01:45,959 --> 00:01:49,880 Speaker 1: the big newspapers of the day. That Atlanta Journal Constitution 33 00:01:50,600 --> 00:01:54,320 Speaker 1: was my everything growing up in Atlanta, So my journalism 34 00:01:54,400 --> 00:01:58,360 Speaker 1: roots go pretty damn deep. I was really involved in 35 00:01:58,400 --> 00:02:03,200 Speaker 1: the NABJ in and NABJ was extremely It was one 36 00:02:03,240 --> 00:02:05,520 Speaker 1: of the first times I really felt I understood the 37 00:02:05,560 --> 00:02:09,799 Speaker 1: importance of not just networking, but having a safe space 38 00:02:09,880 --> 00:02:13,160 Speaker 1: professionally where you could go to be with other journalists 39 00:02:13,200 --> 00:02:16,720 Speaker 1: of color. Because I went to a PWI, I had 40 00:02:16,760 --> 00:02:19,120 Speaker 1: a great education, No, I give it a good I 41 00:02:19,120 --> 00:02:22,360 Speaker 1: had a pretty good education at my alma mater. But 42 00:02:22,440 --> 00:02:26,440 Speaker 1: without NABJ. NABJ made me into the journalist that I became, 43 00:02:26,520 --> 00:02:29,440 Speaker 1: and in so many ways they were, you know, the 44 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:33,120 Speaker 1: chapter in Atlanta you know, they were so supportive of 45 00:02:33,120 --> 00:02:36,919 Speaker 1: our little chapter at the University of Georgia. I kind 46 00:02:36,919 --> 00:02:40,600 Speaker 1: of drifted away from NABJ though, as my career shifted 47 00:02:40,639 --> 00:02:43,880 Speaker 1: and I left what I considered like traditional journalism. At 48 00:02:43,919 --> 00:02:46,000 Speaker 1: the time, I kind of didn't feel like I belonged 49 00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:50,200 Speaker 1: as much anymore at NABJ. I transitioned after Yahoo Finance. 50 00:02:50,840 --> 00:02:53,360 Speaker 1: I had launched Brown Ambition while I was at Yahoo Finance. 51 00:02:53,400 --> 00:02:56,120 Speaker 1: So this has always been my independent venture. It's always 52 00:02:56,160 --> 00:02:59,080 Speaker 1: how I've been able to maintain my creativity, my creative outlet, 53 00:02:59,160 --> 00:03:01,520 Speaker 1: give myself a platform, morman a voice outside of my 54 00:03:01,600 --> 00:03:05,800 Speaker 1: nine to five and I pivoted into content marketing. So 55 00:03:05,880 --> 00:03:09,040 Speaker 1: I ran a huge content team, and I ran them 56 00:03:09,120 --> 00:03:13,000 Speaker 1: like a newsroom. Really. We had writers and copy editors 57 00:03:13,040 --> 00:03:16,519 Speaker 1: and fact checkers and managing editors. And by the time 58 00:03:16,560 --> 00:03:19,320 Speaker 1: I left that company, I had managed a team of 59 00:03:19,400 --> 00:03:24,000 Speaker 1: thirty full time staff editors, writers and fact checkers, and 60 00:03:24,040 --> 00:03:28,960 Speaker 1: then a roster over one hundred freelancers freelance writers and editors. 61 00:03:29,520 --> 00:03:31,920 Speaker 1: And I was so so proud of the work that 62 00:03:31,960 --> 00:03:36,120 Speaker 1: I did there. But again, it was content marketing. Now today, 63 00:03:36,720 --> 00:03:40,840 Speaker 1: everybody and their mama, including the big traditional journalism brands 64 00:03:40,840 --> 00:03:44,840 Speaker 1: like New York Times, Forbes, CNN, they all have come 65 00:03:45,000 --> 00:03:49,680 Speaker 1: up with their own content marketing platforms. So New York 66 00:03:49,680 --> 00:03:52,920 Speaker 1: Times purchased the Wirecutter. And when I say content marketing, 67 00:03:52,920 --> 00:03:57,720 Speaker 1: what I mean is we create educational, well researched, fact checked, 68 00:03:57,840 --> 00:04:02,840 Speaker 1: journalistically sound reporting and coverage about financial topics. But the 69 00:04:02,880 --> 00:04:07,600 Speaker 1: purpose of the content is to drive eyeballs to the 70 00:04:07,600 --> 00:04:11,520 Speaker 1: products or the marketplace that is hosted on the website. 71 00:04:11,520 --> 00:04:14,520 Speaker 1: So Wirecutter, for example, is one of the og examples 72 00:04:14,560 --> 00:04:17,359 Speaker 1: of content marketing. Where what do you go to Wirecutter for? 73 00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:19,200 Speaker 1: You go there to read reviews. You go there to 74 00:04:19,240 --> 00:04:22,120 Speaker 1: find out which refrigerator should I get, which washer dryer 75 00:04:22,240 --> 00:04:25,680 Speaker 1: is the best? Which humidifier should I get from my infant? 76 00:04:26,120 --> 00:04:29,960 Speaker 1: And they have extremely detailed, well researched reporting on that, 77 00:04:30,120 --> 00:04:32,960 Speaker 1: and they'll give you all the info, but all those 78 00:04:33,000 --> 00:04:35,320 Speaker 1: links on their page, like if you go and purchase 79 00:04:36,120 --> 00:04:39,160 Speaker 1: any of the products they mentioned, they get a kickback 80 00:04:39,400 --> 00:04:42,280 Speaker 1: from the website that sells a product from the manufacturer itself. 81 00:04:42,320 --> 00:04:45,000 Speaker 1: That is the main revenue stream for a wirecutter. Now, 82 00:04:45,040 --> 00:04:47,479 Speaker 1: the New York Times is smart, and I was a 83 00:04:47,520 --> 00:04:51,560 Speaker 1: victim of the changing tides of journalism myself. Advertiser dollars 84 00:04:51,560 --> 00:04:55,080 Speaker 1: started to dwindle during the Great Recession, and traditional media 85 00:04:55,120 --> 00:04:59,360 Speaker 1: companies have been looking for ways to diversify their revenue 86 00:04:59,360 --> 00:05:04,840 Speaker 1: streams to help fund the long form, but not as 87 00:05:04,960 --> 00:05:09,640 Speaker 1: lucrative reporting, the investigative reports, the whole me too investigative report. 88 00:05:09,680 --> 00:05:13,320 Speaker 1: I mean, there's just incredible Nicole Hannah Jones doing her 89 00:05:13,360 --> 00:05:15,200 Speaker 1: work with the New York Times. I was at a 90 00:05:15,240 --> 00:05:18,600 Speaker 1: table with a bunch of brilliant New York Times reporters. 91 00:05:19,040 --> 00:05:21,320 Speaker 1: Shout out to Doda, Shout out to Mike Caine, Shout 92 00:05:21,320 --> 00:05:23,839 Speaker 1: out to Jordan who I sat with at dinner last night, 93 00:05:24,080 --> 00:05:26,200 Speaker 1: who work on the metro desk of the New York Times, 94 00:05:26,600 --> 00:05:29,640 Speaker 1: in the business desk. And these ladies are doing incredible 95 00:05:29,680 --> 00:05:32,400 Speaker 1: journalism and their jobs and their work that they're doing 96 00:05:32,560 --> 00:05:36,719 Speaker 1: is actually supplemented by a wirecutter, because wirecutter is driving 97 00:05:36,760 --> 00:05:40,600 Speaker 1: revenue in a whole different way. So what's really fun 98 00:05:40,600 --> 00:05:42,640 Speaker 1: and full circle is that I had sort of seen 99 00:05:43,080 --> 00:05:45,839 Speaker 1: myself as pivoting away from journalism by going the content 100 00:05:45,920 --> 00:05:49,239 Speaker 1: marketing route, but really we were all in the same 101 00:05:49,640 --> 00:05:52,880 Speaker 1: kind of wortex together, and everything was sort of coming 102 00:05:52,920 --> 00:05:56,800 Speaker 1: full circle. And those content marketing platforms are much more 103 00:05:57,240 --> 00:06:00,600 Speaker 1: I think, appreciated now for what they are and are 104 00:06:00,640 --> 00:06:02,560 Speaker 1: seen for what they are, which is a way to 105 00:06:02,560 --> 00:06:06,560 Speaker 1: still practice journalism, but with an eye toward profit, with 106 00:06:06,640 --> 00:06:10,880 Speaker 1: an eye toward revenue. So that's a long way of saying, 107 00:06:11,200 --> 00:06:16,240 Speaker 1: I'm back, bitches. I am here reclaiming my tie, reclaiming 108 00:06:16,279 --> 00:06:19,760 Speaker 1: my reclaiming my place at NABJ. In a way, I'm 109 00:06:19,760 --> 00:06:23,400 Speaker 1: here completely independently for the first time ever. The last 110 00:06:23,400 --> 00:06:25,520 Speaker 1: time I was here, I was a Yahoo Finance reporter. 111 00:06:25,680 --> 00:06:29,600 Speaker 1: Today I introduced myself as Mandy Witch of Santo's aka 112 00:06:29,600 --> 00:06:32,080 Speaker 1: Mandy Money, the host of the brad Ambition podcast, and 113 00:06:32,120 --> 00:06:35,760 Speaker 1: I am really damn proud of that, and everyone has 114 00:06:35,800 --> 00:06:38,640 Speaker 1: been so welcoming. I hope if you're listening to this 115 00:06:38,760 --> 00:06:41,400 Speaker 1: and you have a similar path like me, like maybe 116 00:06:41,400 --> 00:06:43,920 Speaker 1: you've sort of gone a maybe non traditional direction, whether 117 00:06:43,960 --> 00:06:47,040 Speaker 1: it's in your career path or you know, the work 118 00:06:47,080 --> 00:06:49,520 Speaker 1: that you're doing day to day in your life choices, 119 00:06:50,000 --> 00:06:53,600 Speaker 1: and you've been avoiding going back to, you know, maybe 120 00:06:53,600 --> 00:06:58,240 Speaker 1: some social circles or some environments that are not completely 121 00:06:58,360 --> 00:07:01,560 Speaker 1: like as a different version of yourself. I encourage you 122 00:07:01,600 --> 00:07:04,080 Speaker 1: if it's something that you're interested in. I encourage you 123 00:07:04,160 --> 00:07:06,920 Speaker 1: to be brave and show up in those spaces again, 124 00:07:06,960 --> 00:07:09,920 Speaker 1: but show up as your new self and reintroduce yourself. 125 00:07:10,120 --> 00:07:11,920 Speaker 1: And I really feel like I'm getting a chance to 126 00:07:12,640 --> 00:07:17,240 Speaker 1: let me reintroduce myself here at NABJ. And what's amazing 127 00:07:17,360 --> 00:07:22,000 Speaker 1: is that there's so much love. There's ANYVJ y'all been, 128 00:07:22,160 --> 00:07:24,520 Speaker 1: y'all have been supporting Brown ambition. I did not know. 129 00:07:24,560 --> 00:07:28,200 Speaker 1: I mean, I could have guessed, but I walking through 130 00:07:28,200 --> 00:07:30,720 Speaker 1: the conventional hall here and just running into so many 131 00:07:30,800 --> 00:07:34,320 Speaker 1: BA fam has been really heartwarming. And the fact that 132 00:07:34,360 --> 00:07:38,080 Speaker 1: it's my birthday too, and I'm not home with my babies. 133 00:07:38,080 --> 00:07:40,559 Speaker 1: I'm out here at NABJ. It's just felt like coming 134 00:07:40,600 --> 00:07:42,960 Speaker 1: home in the best way possible. And I want to 135 00:07:42,960 --> 00:07:46,080 Speaker 1: give a really special shout out to my aunt and A. 136 00:07:46,600 --> 00:07:49,400 Speaker 1: She's my aunt be Ina, even though everybody knows she's 137 00:07:49,440 --> 00:07:53,600 Speaker 1: everybody's ant and A. Anthonay has been taking such good 138 00:07:53,600 --> 00:07:56,680 Speaker 1: care of me, and she is one of the reasons 139 00:07:56,720 --> 00:07:59,560 Speaker 1: I felt like I could come home to NABJ because 140 00:07:59,560 --> 00:08:01,000 Speaker 1: I knew she'd be here to sort of hold my 141 00:08:01,040 --> 00:08:03,520 Speaker 1: hand as she did. I don't think she realized how 142 00:08:03,600 --> 00:08:07,040 Speaker 1: much I needed her presence and support, you know, with 143 00:08:07,120 --> 00:08:10,360 Speaker 1: me re entering the space. But I love her. And 144 00:08:10,400 --> 00:08:13,800 Speaker 1: if you have, if you're fortunate to have a person 145 00:08:13,840 --> 00:08:16,280 Speaker 1: who sort of represents a safe space for you, as 146 00:08:16,400 --> 00:08:19,640 Speaker 1: if you're re entering a space or a group or 147 00:08:19,640 --> 00:08:22,440 Speaker 1: an organization that you have spent some time away from, 148 00:08:23,000 --> 00:08:28,440 Speaker 1: y'all are the best you truly, truly are. Okay, what 149 00:08:28,560 --> 00:08:31,280 Speaker 1: can I say? I'm here to do, Baqa, It's Friday. 150 00:08:31,360 --> 00:08:33,800 Speaker 1: We gotta get y'all's questions first. I'm going to kick 151 00:08:33,840 --> 00:08:36,760 Speaker 1: off with a conversation I had with Brown Table guest 152 00:08:36,920 --> 00:08:40,280 Speaker 1: Alexa Brooks Major, who was on the Brown Table this week. 153 00:08:40,320 --> 00:08:42,199 Speaker 1: So if you haven't listened, go back and listen to 154 00:08:42,720 --> 00:08:45,520 Speaker 1: the Brown Table from Wednesday. Alexa was on the Brown 155 00:08:45,520 --> 00:08:47,839 Speaker 1: Table with me earlier this week with our mutual friend 156 00:08:47,960 --> 00:08:51,400 Speaker 1: Mia Brabham Nolan from Shondaland alexis Froock Major. She's with 157 00:08:51,480 --> 00:08:54,720 Speaker 1: the Financial Diet. Alexa, we got into it. We were 158 00:08:54,760 --> 00:08:58,360 Speaker 1: talking about the fact that it's midway through the year, 159 00:08:59,080 --> 00:09:03,800 Speaker 1: summer is winding down. I personally want to start challenging 160 00:09:03,840 --> 00:09:08,080 Speaker 1: myself to set some financial goals and set some savings goals, 161 00:09:08,120 --> 00:09:11,120 Speaker 1: particularly through the end of the year for twenty twenty six, 162 00:09:11,559 --> 00:09:13,600 Speaker 1: and I want to invite you ba fan to join 163 00:09:13,720 --> 00:09:16,040 Speaker 1: me and setting some financial goals for the end of 164 00:09:16,040 --> 00:09:18,560 Speaker 1: this year that we can start saving toward. I'm not 165 00:09:18,600 --> 00:09:22,120 Speaker 1: talking about saving for holiday shopping. I'm talking about saving 166 00:09:22,160 --> 00:09:25,360 Speaker 1: for a family vacation for winter break. Next year, I'm 167 00:09:25,360 --> 00:09:27,160 Speaker 1: going to be going on a book tour. I got 168 00:09:27,200 --> 00:09:30,360 Speaker 1: a budget for that. There's goals that I have so 169 00:09:30,400 --> 00:09:32,480 Speaker 1: and I'm sure there's goals that y'all have to at 170 00:09:32,480 --> 00:09:34,960 Speaker 1: the same time. Like so many of y'all, I'm also 171 00:09:35,160 --> 00:09:38,600 Speaker 1: saving while I'm tackling some credit card debt. I've been 172 00:09:38,679 --> 00:09:41,960 Speaker 1: very transparent about having to take on some credit card debt. Yes, 173 00:09:42,000 --> 00:09:45,320 Speaker 1: I was able to leverage some zero percent APR credit 174 00:09:45,400 --> 00:09:48,319 Speaker 1: card offers, so it's you know, it's not expensive credit 175 00:09:48,320 --> 00:09:50,120 Speaker 1: card debt, but it could be. So I have to 176 00:09:50,120 --> 00:09:53,320 Speaker 1: make a plan and get back to paying that down. 177 00:09:53,360 --> 00:09:55,319 Speaker 1: I want to be completely credit card debt free by 178 00:09:55,320 --> 00:10:00,720 Speaker 1: the end of twenty twenty five, manifest it. So Alexa 179 00:10:00,720 --> 00:10:05,240 Speaker 1: and I talked a little bit about that. Hey, ba fam, 180 00:10:05,320 --> 00:10:07,680 Speaker 1: we got to take a quick break, pay some bills, 181 00:10:07,800 --> 00:10:12,160 Speaker 1: and we'll be right back. Now it's summertime. Obviously we're 182 00:10:12,160 --> 00:10:13,960 Speaker 1: in the middle of summer. I don't care what y'all say. 183 00:10:13,960 --> 00:10:15,720 Speaker 1: This is the middle. It's not over yet, Okay, we 184 00:10:15,720 --> 00:10:18,920 Speaker 1: still have like four weeks left. I'm starting to think 185 00:10:18,960 --> 00:10:21,400 Speaker 1: about September. This is usually a time of year when 186 00:10:21,400 --> 00:10:23,160 Speaker 1: we start to kind of button up, like we've all 187 00:10:23,200 --> 00:10:26,000 Speaker 1: been outside this summer. Money has been flowing. I took 188 00:10:26,040 --> 00:10:30,320 Speaker 1: my ass ce Beyonce two times and them bills is due. 189 00:10:30,960 --> 00:10:34,679 Speaker 1: And I'm starting to think about starting like a savings 190 00:10:34,760 --> 00:10:38,439 Speaker 1: challenge for myself in September, like a real savings because 191 00:10:38,480 --> 00:10:42,360 Speaker 1: my problem has been making just enough, like eaking by 192 00:10:42,760 --> 00:10:45,959 Speaker 1: and not really setting aside. There's just so little space 193 00:10:46,000 --> 00:10:49,280 Speaker 1: in my budget for savings these days, between me trying 194 00:10:49,320 --> 00:10:52,959 Speaker 1: to have a life, the kids, you know, the business, 195 00:10:53,000 --> 00:10:56,319 Speaker 1: Like it just feels like there's like we are eating 196 00:10:56,360 --> 00:10:58,120 Speaker 1: all the meat off the bone. Like at the end 197 00:10:58,160 --> 00:11:00,320 Speaker 1: of the month, it's like here's your here's your little 198 00:11:00,400 --> 00:11:02,800 Speaker 1: your little bone. Good luck, like you know what I mean. 199 00:11:03,320 --> 00:11:06,959 Speaker 1: And I'm gonna try to do something I haven't done 200 00:11:07,000 --> 00:11:11,080 Speaker 1: for a while, which is automate some savings out of 201 00:11:11,320 --> 00:11:13,960 Speaker 1: as hard as a business owner because I don't have 202 00:11:14,000 --> 00:11:18,320 Speaker 1: a payroll department to automate stuff for me, but I'm 203 00:11:18,400 --> 00:11:20,840 Speaker 1: going to set some reminders for myself. I have to 204 00:11:20,840 --> 00:11:24,520 Speaker 1: manually do. It's kind of annoying, but automatically shift money 205 00:11:24,520 --> 00:11:29,319 Speaker 1: into a savings pot in September for family vacation twenty 206 00:11:29,360 --> 00:11:32,400 Speaker 1: twenty six. Be a fan in Alexa too. I want 207 00:11:32,400 --> 00:11:35,920 Speaker 1: to know from y'all, what if anything, are you wanting 208 00:11:35,960 --> 00:11:39,680 Speaker 1: to save for and what would you like for me 209 00:11:40,120 --> 00:11:43,160 Speaker 1: from brown ambition to help y'all hit those savings goals. 210 00:11:43,440 --> 00:11:46,079 Speaker 3: Oh this is good, this is good, really good time 211 00:11:46,120 --> 00:11:46,440 Speaker 3: to do this. 212 00:11:46,559 --> 00:11:50,480 Speaker 2: Okay, to do this? So a couple things, actually two 213 00:11:50,559 --> 00:11:54,640 Speaker 2: major things. I will three major things I will say, okay, okay. 214 00:11:55,040 --> 00:11:58,840 Speaker 2: Number one, I have been promising, promising, promising my dear 215 00:11:58,920 --> 00:12:03,199 Speaker 2: friend that I would see her in Australia come November. 216 00:12:03,600 --> 00:12:06,000 Speaker 2: Now it is happening. I did get my tickets already 217 00:12:06,120 --> 00:12:08,800 Speaker 2: and all of that. But I need to save for 218 00:12:08,880 --> 00:12:12,680 Speaker 2: spending money while I'm there. I need to save for that. 219 00:12:12,720 --> 00:12:15,840 Speaker 2: I cannot. I refuse to just overboard on my credit card, 220 00:12:15,960 --> 00:12:18,000 Speaker 2: like I really want to save money, stick to a 221 00:12:18,000 --> 00:12:18,760 Speaker 2: budget while I'm there. 222 00:12:18,880 --> 00:12:20,200 Speaker 3: That's one. Two. 223 00:12:20,600 --> 00:12:23,520 Speaker 2: I am moving to New York full time come January, 224 00:12:23,640 --> 00:12:24,160 Speaker 2: lis is. 225 00:12:24,200 --> 00:12:29,000 Speaker 3: Signed, I'm so excited. Yeah, I didn't know this congratulating show. 226 00:12:29,440 --> 00:12:32,120 Speaker 2: I'm so it literally just happened this week. I'm so 227 00:12:32,280 --> 00:12:36,960 Speaker 2: happy about it. So I'm starting in January and I'm 228 00:12:36,960 --> 00:12:38,920 Speaker 2: just so hyped. But I have to start saving for 229 00:12:39,480 --> 00:12:42,160 Speaker 2: moving cloth And I don't know if our listeners remember, 230 00:12:42,200 --> 00:12:45,080 Speaker 2: but my last time on this on the podcast, I 231 00:12:45,160 --> 00:12:47,160 Speaker 2: had shared about the fact that we would be getting 232 00:12:48,200 --> 00:12:50,600 Speaker 2: like a buy out situation all of that, but we 233 00:12:50,640 --> 00:12:52,840 Speaker 2: don't know when any of that's going to hit our accounts, 234 00:12:53,000 --> 00:12:55,319 Speaker 2: So I have to act as though that money doesn't exist, 235 00:12:55,360 --> 00:12:59,080 Speaker 2: since it doesn't yet. If it ever will, we don't know. 236 00:12:59,559 --> 00:13:01,760 Speaker 2: So I have to save up money for moving costs, 237 00:13:01,800 --> 00:13:03,600 Speaker 2: but also to live in New York. 238 00:13:03,480 --> 00:13:05,559 Speaker 3: Because it is so expensive car. 239 00:13:06,920 --> 00:13:09,640 Speaker 2: I'm coming in from DC, so I'm actually going to 240 00:13:09,679 --> 00:13:12,160 Speaker 2: be in Manhattan Valley, like right below morning Side Heights, 241 00:13:12,400 --> 00:13:13,199 Speaker 2: Upper West Side. 242 00:13:13,320 --> 00:13:15,120 Speaker 1: I have never heard of Manhattan Valley. 243 00:13:15,160 --> 00:13:21,840 Speaker 4: What in the yeah, So it's like, so, Harles, I've 244 00:13:22,080 --> 00:13:23,679 Speaker 4: never heard of Manhattan Valley. 245 00:13:23,679 --> 00:13:27,360 Speaker 3: When did that become a thing? Manhattan Valley is right? 246 00:13:27,920 --> 00:13:30,280 Speaker 3: Think of? Like like I would say, like maybe one 247 00:13:31,559 --> 00:13:32,520 Speaker 3: what street would I say? 248 00:13:32,520 --> 00:13:35,240 Speaker 2: I tell like one ten Cathedral Park is like one 249 00:13:35,320 --> 00:13:39,600 Speaker 2: ten hunder tent Street down to like maybe. 250 00:13:40,920 --> 00:13:45,800 Speaker 3: Ninety six ninety Street, No. 251 00:13:47,640 --> 00:13:51,120 Speaker 1: West sidey, So so between Hell's Kitchen and Upper west Side. 252 00:13:51,120 --> 00:13:52,360 Speaker 3: Now we're having rtton Valley. 253 00:13:52,480 --> 00:13:55,400 Speaker 2: Well yeah, because think of it, there's Morning Side Heights, 254 00:13:55,400 --> 00:13:59,600 Speaker 2: Harlem and anyway whatever, that's where I'm going to be. 255 00:14:00,440 --> 00:14:04,040 Speaker 3: I'm just giving you so funny. So yeah, I gotta 256 00:14:04,080 --> 00:14:05,800 Speaker 3: save up for that, and then I have a credit 257 00:14:05,880 --> 00:14:06,800 Speaker 3: card I got to pay off. 258 00:14:06,920 --> 00:14:10,320 Speaker 2: So figuring out how to funnel to those three things, 259 00:14:10,440 --> 00:14:13,319 Speaker 2: figuring out how to prioritize, and figure out whether I 260 00:14:13,440 --> 00:14:15,880 Speaker 2: do it buy like a snowball efat or do I 261 00:14:16,000 --> 00:14:17,920 Speaker 2: do like a fixed rate? Do I do a percentage 262 00:14:17,960 --> 00:14:22,040 Speaker 2: of my paycheck? How do I do this intelligently and 263 00:14:22,120 --> 00:14:24,640 Speaker 2: not have to like sacrifice my current lifestyle? 264 00:14:24,720 --> 00:14:27,160 Speaker 1: Ain't that some shit? It's so hard because while you 265 00:14:27,200 --> 00:14:30,040 Speaker 1: want to save for your trip to all Australia, you 266 00:14:30,080 --> 00:14:31,880 Speaker 1: have a credit card that you're trying to pay down. 267 00:14:31,920 --> 00:14:34,120 Speaker 1: And I think a mean person would say you better 268 00:14:34,120 --> 00:14:36,000 Speaker 1: stay your ass home and not go to Australia. I 269 00:14:36,000 --> 00:14:37,920 Speaker 1: will never tell you to do that. You are too young. 270 00:14:38,360 --> 00:14:40,640 Speaker 1: Your skin is tight, everything is popping girl, you better 271 00:14:40,640 --> 00:14:40,960 Speaker 1: get your. 272 00:14:40,920 --> 00:14:41,840 Speaker 3: Ass to Australia. 273 00:14:42,840 --> 00:14:46,920 Speaker 4: Better go petticate a Koala in your life. 274 00:14:47,040 --> 00:14:50,080 Speaker 1: The credit card, you know, that's that's something though. I mean, 275 00:14:50,120 --> 00:14:53,040 Speaker 1: I wonder, have you looked into a balance transfer to 276 00:14:53,120 --> 00:14:53,920 Speaker 1: buy you some time? 277 00:14:54,480 --> 00:14:58,240 Speaker 2: So I have, I have, I've already, I've I've like, 278 00:14:58,280 --> 00:14:59,240 Speaker 2: I've looked into that. 279 00:14:59,760 --> 00:15:00,720 Speaker 3: I'm not against it. 280 00:15:00,840 --> 00:15:03,560 Speaker 2: I'm still just looking for the right card to do 281 00:15:03,600 --> 00:15:05,000 Speaker 2: that with because I want it to be a car 282 00:15:05,040 --> 00:15:09,680 Speaker 2: that actually want to have after the balance transfer, so 283 00:15:09,760 --> 00:15:11,480 Speaker 2: I need to I just need to do some research 284 00:15:11,520 --> 00:15:12,240 Speaker 2: there for sure. 285 00:15:12,360 --> 00:15:14,440 Speaker 1: Yeah, I've definitely done some ballance transfers. I can tell 286 00:15:14,440 --> 00:15:15,480 Speaker 1: you all the pros and cons. 287 00:15:16,000 --> 00:15:18,800 Speaker 3: There's probably know them speak on a thing. No, tell me. 288 00:15:18,920 --> 00:15:23,160 Speaker 1: The biggest con is the balance transfer fee. It feels 289 00:15:23,200 --> 00:15:25,640 Speaker 1: like it's hard to find a balance transfer offer that 290 00:15:25,720 --> 00:15:28,880 Speaker 1: does not charge a fee upfront because they're giving you 291 00:15:29,120 --> 00:15:32,120 Speaker 1: zero interest for eighteen months however long it is. But 292 00:15:32,880 --> 00:15:36,000 Speaker 1: that's them being like, oh, we're gonna we're going to 293 00:15:36,040 --> 00:15:37,760 Speaker 1: give you free access to or we're going to give 294 00:15:37,800 --> 00:15:39,400 Speaker 1: you this let you hold this debt for free for 295 00:15:39,440 --> 00:15:41,360 Speaker 1: a while. But banks got to get their money at 296 00:15:41,360 --> 00:15:43,640 Speaker 1: the end of the day, so there's usually a three 297 00:15:43,680 --> 00:15:46,880 Speaker 1: to five percent fee, which is annoying because like, let's 298 00:15:46,880 --> 00:15:49,840 Speaker 1: say you have to transfer five thousand dollars, you get 299 00:15:49,840 --> 00:15:52,880 Speaker 1: a balanced transfer offer that's I don't know, that's five 300 00:15:52,880 --> 00:15:56,480 Speaker 1: thousand dollars, but you can't actually transfer the full five thousand. 301 00:15:56,520 --> 00:15:59,600 Speaker 1: You have to leave space for a three percent fee. 302 00:16:00,080 --> 00:16:02,520 Speaker 1: You may only be able to transfer like four thousand, 303 00:16:02,680 --> 00:16:05,520 Speaker 1: four hundred and forty five or whatever it is. So 304 00:16:05,720 --> 00:16:08,640 Speaker 1: that's a bit of an annoying thing. The other thing is 305 00:16:08,680 --> 00:16:10,920 Speaker 1: you just got to remember to set that calendar alert 306 00:16:11,000 --> 00:16:15,200 Speaker 1: for like a month before the balance transfer ends, because 307 00:16:15,560 --> 00:16:17,960 Speaker 1: you know about the deferred interest trying too. 308 00:16:18,000 --> 00:16:20,800 Speaker 3: That I has heard about, but tell our audience, tell them. 309 00:16:20,680 --> 00:16:23,160 Speaker 1: To You're so right, I'm like girl, every month, every 310 00:16:23,240 --> 00:16:25,000 Speaker 1: we're so blessed to have new listeners all the time. 311 00:16:25,040 --> 00:16:27,640 Speaker 1: All right, But yeah, so deferred interest basically is a 312 00:16:27,680 --> 00:16:30,920 Speaker 1: credit card company saying that was cute. We gave you 313 00:16:31,200 --> 00:16:34,560 Speaker 1: zero percent APR for eighteen months. You still have a 314 00:16:34,600 --> 00:16:38,440 Speaker 1: balance with us, so oops, you really did your big one. 315 00:16:38,520 --> 00:16:42,440 Speaker 1: We're actually gonna charge you interest beginning today, but we're 316 00:16:42,440 --> 00:16:45,120 Speaker 1: actually going to apply that interest going back to the beginning. 317 00:16:45,280 --> 00:16:47,120 Speaker 1: So it's gonna be as if you never had a 318 00:16:47,200 --> 00:16:49,160 Speaker 1: zero percent offer. It's going to be as if you've 319 00:16:49,200 --> 00:16:52,720 Speaker 1: just been accruing interest this whole time. So that's really 320 00:16:52,720 --> 00:16:55,240 Speaker 1: neat and it's hard to undo that. You would need 321 00:16:55,280 --> 00:17:00,440 Speaker 1: a very very very very generous, empathetic customer support anchor 322 00:17:00,800 --> 00:17:04,359 Speaker 1: to help you get that undone. My dad got himself 323 00:17:04,359 --> 00:17:06,399 Speaker 1: into a pickle. I'm always put my dad's business out 324 00:17:06,400 --> 00:17:07,600 Speaker 1: there because i know he didn't listen. 325 00:17:07,640 --> 00:17:12,640 Speaker 3: It's a long time. 326 00:17:12,720 --> 00:17:17,879 Speaker 4: It was protect and provide hundred credits for now, but 327 00:17:18,000 --> 00:17:18,920 Speaker 4: buzz was way before. 328 00:17:18,960 --> 00:17:22,080 Speaker 1: My dad have bad, bad decisions. But anyway, so that 329 00:17:22,080 --> 00:17:23,840 Speaker 1: that can really suck, and you need to you just 330 00:17:23,880 --> 00:17:25,760 Speaker 1: need to make sure to set that calendar alert. And 331 00:17:25,800 --> 00:17:28,760 Speaker 1: the hardest part of a balance transfer is it makes 332 00:17:28,760 --> 00:17:31,600 Speaker 1: you feel like that debt doesn't exist, but it still does. 333 00:17:32,160 --> 00:17:34,360 Speaker 1: And if you don't make a plan to chip away 334 00:17:34,400 --> 00:17:38,240 Speaker 1: from chip away at it while the interest free period 335 00:17:38,320 --> 00:17:41,320 Speaker 1: is going on, it's gonna be waiting for you eighteen 336 00:17:41,320 --> 00:17:43,600 Speaker 1: months later and you're gonna end up having to transfer 337 00:17:43,600 --> 00:17:47,000 Speaker 1: it to another balance transfer option if you can find one, 338 00:17:47,480 --> 00:17:50,439 Speaker 1: and then you'll be paying another three to five percent 339 00:17:50,680 --> 00:17:53,520 Speaker 1: transfer fee on top of that. So it's a great option. 340 00:17:53,640 --> 00:17:55,679 Speaker 1: I mean, there's no I mean, honestly, that five percent 341 00:17:55,760 --> 00:17:57,840 Speaker 1: is a lot less than what your APR is going 342 00:17:57,920 --> 00:17:59,919 Speaker 1: to charge you over the course of eighteen months. But 343 00:18:00,680 --> 00:18:02,920 Speaker 1: it's one of the biggest cons out there. 344 00:18:02,960 --> 00:18:04,920 Speaker 3: Yeah. No, that's good to know, thank you. 345 00:18:05,119 --> 00:18:07,640 Speaker 2: So then my final question then is I have three 346 00:18:07,720 --> 00:18:10,720 Speaker 2: major things I'm saving towards and like just need to 347 00:18:11,080 --> 00:18:13,640 Speaker 2: figure out how I'm going to prioritize saving towards them 348 00:18:13,960 --> 00:18:17,040 Speaker 2: because having the funnels to three different pots, WHILESO trying 349 00:18:17,080 --> 00:18:18,960 Speaker 2: to live a life, how do I do it? 350 00:18:19,200 --> 00:18:24,040 Speaker 3: And in New York? Well half time in DC, but 351 00:18:24,160 --> 00:18:24,920 Speaker 3: yeah York. 352 00:18:25,000 --> 00:18:31,200 Speaker 2: Come on, So, Mandy, how would you suggest that I 353 00:18:31,240 --> 00:18:33,320 Speaker 2: set up like a mindset, Like what's the mindset I 354 00:18:33,320 --> 00:18:35,399 Speaker 2: should I should have? Like what filters should I be 355 00:18:35,400 --> 00:18:40,240 Speaker 2: toggling on when I'm considering which saving process I should 356 00:18:40,240 --> 00:18:42,400 Speaker 2: go for, whether it's like a fixed rate each month 357 00:18:42,800 --> 00:18:46,159 Speaker 2: or a percentage of my paycheck or which one to go? 358 00:18:46,400 --> 00:18:50,960 Speaker 2: And also which which bucket to fill first, like Australia 359 00:18:51,080 --> 00:18:54,880 Speaker 2: spending credit card and moving to New York, Like how 360 00:18:54,920 --> 00:18:57,960 Speaker 2: to prioritize and like timing for that, Like what should 361 00:18:58,000 --> 00:19:01,200 Speaker 2: I be considering or maybe what do not enough people 362 00:19:01,320 --> 00:19:05,520 Speaker 2: consider when it comes to saving in that way, I think. 363 00:19:05,359 --> 00:19:08,240 Speaker 1: The most uncomfortable thing to do in that situation is 364 00:19:08,280 --> 00:19:10,679 Speaker 1: to sit down and actually try to predict the cost, 365 00:19:11,040 --> 00:19:13,720 Speaker 1: like plan out what will it actually take to move, 366 00:19:13,960 --> 00:19:16,920 Speaker 1: because because you're in DC now, you've been living in 367 00:19:16,960 --> 00:19:19,960 Speaker 1: New York part time, so like what what will you need? 368 00:19:20,200 --> 00:19:22,320 Speaker 1: You can even call and get some quotes from movers 369 00:19:22,359 --> 00:19:24,800 Speaker 1: in advance. You don't have to actually use their services, 370 00:19:24,800 --> 00:19:27,760 Speaker 1: but calling to get a real, live human quote. They're 371 00:19:27,760 --> 00:19:30,879 Speaker 1: all so different. If you're going to use movers, you 372 00:19:30,920 --> 00:19:32,760 Speaker 1: may decide to rent a car or rent a U 373 00:19:32,800 --> 00:19:35,040 Speaker 1: haul and just drive it at your damn self. And honestly, 374 00:19:35,960 --> 00:19:38,960 Speaker 1: if I was, you know, didn't have a whole bunch 375 00:19:38,960 --> 00:19:41,480 Speaker 1: of stuff, I probably would do that because I've had 376 00:19:41,560 --> 00:19:46,240 Speaker 1: terrible experiences with movers and it's very annoying. But that's 377 00:19:46,240 --> 00:19:47,800 Speaker 1: one thing that you could do just to get a 378 00:19:47,840 --> 00:19:49,600 Speaker 1: sense of what are your actual you need to put 379 00:19:49,600 --> 00:19:52,040 Speaker 1: a name on the goal in a dollar amount, So 380 00:19:52,200 --> 00:19:55,160 Speaker 1: how much do you need to say? For Australia how much? 381 00:19:55,359 --> 00:19:57,480 Speaker 1: And like what's the what kind of budget do you 382 00:19:57,480 --> 00:19:59,680 Speaker 1: want to stick to in Australia, Like how many days 383 00:20:00,119 --> 00:20:02,760 Speaker 1: to Like you can even ask your friend who you're visiting, Like, 384 00:20:03,800 --> 00:20:06,639 Speaker 1: now there's your budget for your friend, maybe different than 385 00:20:06,680 --> 00:20:08,879 Speaker 1: your vacation budget, because you know on vacation we'd be 386 00:20:08,960 --> 00:20:11,560 Speaker 1: enabling all kinds of behavior. It's always like get a second, third, 387 00:20:11,600 --> 00:20:14,639 Speaker 1: fourth drink that maybe you wouldn't have happened in our 388 00:20:14,720 --> 00:20:17,600 Speaker 1: day to day. But think about that and if you're 389 00:20:17,960 --> 00:20:19,600 Speaker 1: maybe you're going to be staying with your friends, so 390 00:20:19,640 --> 00:20:22,360 Speaker 1: that helps with your housing expenses. I know that could 391 00:20:22,400 --> 00:20:26,119 Speaker 1: be a huge savings. But and pre plan excursions and 392 00:20:26,160 --> 00:20:29,280 Speaker 1: pre plan like things that you want to do because 393 00:20:29,800 --> 00:20:31,879 Speaker 1: when you're traveling, I don't know when the busy season 394 00:20:31,920 --> 00:20:34,119 Speaker 1: is under been to Australia, but I know if you 395 00:20:34,160 --> 00:20:37,880 Speaker 1: wait until you get there, sometimes like you may realize 396 00:20:37,920 --> 00:20:39,800 Speaker 1: that like, oh I didn't expect this, I got to 397 00:20:39,840 --> 00:20:41,960 Speaker 1: buy that, I got I needed this kind of thing 398 00:20:42,040 --> 00:20:44,159 Speaker 1: for this event or this excursion, so I need to 399 00:20:44,200 --> 00:20:46,639 Speaker 1: buy this. And maybe pre planning you can get some 400 00:20:46,720 --> 00:20:49,399 Speaker 1: deals or find some discounts on things. 401 00:20:49,440 --> 00:20:51,280 Speaker 3: But the biggest thing is like you. 402 00:20:51,359 --> 00:20:53,560 Speaker 1: Got to have a number for how much your savings 403 00:20:53,640 --> 00:20:57,160 Speaker 1: and then depending on your bank account. This really worked 404 00:20:57,160 --> 00:21:00,440 Speaker 1: for me was having multiple savings accounts set up, and 405 00:21:01,400 --> 00:21:03,800 Speaker 1: even like I used to on my bank, I have 406 00:21:03,880 --> 00:21:06,240 Speaker 1: multiple savings account and they actually have a routing number 407 00:21:06,359 --> 00:21:08,640 Speaker 1: or an account number tied to them. So I could 408 00:21:08,680 --> 00:21:14,640 Speaker 1: actually have my payroll like automatically deposit a percentage of 409 00:21:14,640 --> 00:21:17,800 Speaker 1: my paycheck into those specific accounts like your payroll. The 410 00:21:17,840 --> 00:21:20,120 Speaker 1: department may be able to do that. It may say 411 00:21:20,119 --> 00:21:22,320 Speaker 1: we can only do it for two or three accounts whatever, 412 00:21:22,400 --> 00:21:25,520 Speaker 1: but either way, some way of automating it so that 413 00:21:25,560 --> 00:21:27,440 Speaker 1: you're funneling into those accounts. 414 00:21:27,000 --> 00:21:29,560 Speaker 2: Is yeah, I can definitely do that. We have that 415 00:21:29,720 --> 00:21:31,680 Speaker 2: capability of being able to. I think we turn put 416 00:21:31,680 --> 00:21:34,199 Speaker 2: it off into like five or six different ones like 417 00:21:34,240 --> 00:21:36,720 Speaker 2: oh nice, Yeah, it's pretty it's pretty good. 418 00:21:36,840 --> 00:21:39,080 Speaker 1: Yeah, And then think about what this is going to mean, 419 00:21:39,359 --> 00:21:41,480 Speaker 1: like pre tell yourself what you're gonna have to say 420 00:21:41,520 --> 00:21:45,159 Speaker 1: no to. This may mean no traveling home for the holidays. 421 00:21:45,760 --> 00:21:48,520 Speaker 1: This may mean I mean, that's that's what I'm thinking of. 422 00:21:48,560 --> 00:21:51,520 Speaker 1: That's what my mind goes to oof, you know, because 423 00:21:51,520 --> 00:21:53,080 Speaker 1: I have to go home to Georgia for that, Like, 424 00:21:53,160 --> 00:21:55,119 Speaker 1: so I'd be like, sorry, you're not going to see me. 425 00:21:55,160 --> 00:21:57,760 Speaker 1: I'm prioritizing Australia or my move. You know it may 426 00:21:57,760 --> 00:22:00,520 Speaker 1: mean different things for you, but going ahead to tell yourself, 427 00:22:00,560 --> 00:22:02,159 Speaker 1: here's what I'm going to say no to, so that 428 00:22:02,840 --> 00:22:07,040 Speaker 1: you can let people know, including yourself, and not feel 429 00:22:07,840 --> 00:22:09,800 Speaker 1: any kind of guilt about it, because you're not saying 430 00:22:09,920 --> 00:22:12,160 Speaker 1: You're not just saying no to something. You're also saying 431 00:22:12,240 --> 00:22:18,000 Speaker 1: yes to some experiences that for now are the priority. 432 00:22:18,280 --> 00:22:21,119 Speaker 3: And this is why she does, but she does. Thank you. 433 00:22:22,600 --> 00:22:23,800 Speaker 3: This is actually really helpful. 434 00:22:25,680 --> 00:22:29,399 Speaker 1: Okayva Fam. Hope you enjoyed that conversation with Alexa Alexi. 435 00:22:29,400 --> 00:22:31,080 Speaker 3: I love you girl. Come back anytime. 436 00:22:31,359 --> 00:22:33,280 Speaker 1: I'm going to take a quick little breather and we'll 437 00:22:33,280 --> 00:22:37,800 Speaker 1: be right back with more of your questions for the Baqa. Okay, 438 00:22:37,840 --> 00:22:42,120 Speaker 1: ba Fam, I'm back and I've got a I've got 439 00:22:42,119 --> 00:22:45,840 Speaker 1: an interesting question. It's not necessarily a personal finance question, 440 00:22:45,880 --> 00:22:48,320 Speaker 1: but I do believe it's a business question. And I 441 00:22:48,320 --> 00:22:50,080 Speaker 1: don't know if y'all have noticed, but I have been 442 00:22:50,119 --> 00:22:53,639 Speaker 1: sharing a lot more on my I think maybe I 443 00:22:53,760 --> 00:22:57,320 Speaker 1: brand ambition too, but especially on my Mandy Money Instagram page, 444 00:22:57,920 --> 00:23:02,880 Speaker 1: a pretty continuous stream of news about Gaza and what's 445 00:23:02,880 --> 00:23:07,439 Speaker 1: happening in Palestine and the genocide that's going on, and 446 00:23:07,520 --> 00:23:10,760 Speaker 1: it's pretty clear what my stances on that, and I 447 00:23:10,800 --> 00:23:13,359 Speaker 1: have been posting all kinds of stuff. I mean, I'll 448 00:23:13,400 --> 00:23:16,680 Speaker 1: post one of the most heartbreaking things, and the hardest 449 00:23:16,680 --> 00:23:19,320 Speaker 1: for me is, like I think anyone else is seeing 450 00:23:19,600 --> 00:23:23,520 Speaker 1: the images and the videos of starving children, also seeing 451 00:23:23,560 --> 00:23:26,800 Speaker 1: young children and families fighting just to get a bag 452 00:23:26,840 --> 00:23:30,920 Speaker 1: of flower and even people losing their lives lining up 453 00:23:31,000 --> 00:23:34,720 Speaker 1: to try to get food because they are starving. Because 454 00:23:34,840 --> 00:23:37,560 Speaker 1: there are troops, Israeli troops out there who are actually 455 00:23:37,680 --> 00:23:40,760 Speaker 1: murdering people in the streets while they are simply trying 456 00:23:40,760 --> 00:23:43,560 Speaker 1: to get food and if they're not murdering them with 457 00:23:43,600 --> 00:23:48,119 Speaker 1: their weapons, they're murdering them by blocking necessary aid, food 458 00:23:48,359 --> 00:23:51,760 Speaker 1: aid and other supplies from getting to these poor human beings. 459 00:23:52,320 --> 00:23:56,199 Speaker 1: So it's truly truly heartbreaking. And I've been sharing a 460 00:23:56,200 --> 00:23:59,880 Speaker 1: lot more lately, not because anything is particularly shifted. I've 461 00:24:00,080 --> 00:24:03,359 Speaker 1: followed the conflict myself. It's actually been one of the 462 00:24:03,359 --> 00:24:05,880 Speaker 1: hardest things about this past year is sort of holding 463 00:24:06,640 --> 00:24:11,879 Speaker 1: space for the devastation that's happening in Gaza while y'all know, 464 00:24:12,119 --> 00:24:13,840 Speaker 1: trying to live a life and be a mom and 465 00:24:14,280 --> 00:24:17,520 Speaker 1: protect my mental health, but still feel like I'm engaged 466 00:24:17,600 --> 00:24:22,399 Speaker 1: and understanding what's happening, and it's a lot. But I 467 00:24:22,440 --> 00:24:25,520 Speaker 1: got a question from a brand Ambition listener who This 468 00:24:25,640 --> 00:24:27,600 Speaker 1: was in response to a story that I put up 469 00:24:27,640 --> 00:24:30,880 Speaker 1: on Instagram that actually called out Trader Joe's. I had 470 00:24:30,920 --> 00:24:33,639 Speaker 1: not known this, but Trader Joe's has a lot in 471 00:24:33,680 --> 00:24:36,160 Speaker 1: their flowers there. You know, when you walk into Trader 472 00:24:36,240 --> 00:24:39,040 Speaker 1: Joe's and you'll see all the flowers on display. And 473 00:24:39,119 --> 00:24:41,000 Speaker 1: I used to make bouquets of my like you know, 474 00:24:41,040 --> 00:24:42,720 Speaker 1: you kind of like buy a bouquet or two where 475 00:24:42,760 --> 00:24:46,640 Speaker 1: you can make your own, and they're really affordable. Well, 476 00:24:47,040 --> 00:24:50,119 Speaker 1: this post spotlighted the fact that also a sidebar, What 477 00:24:50,160 --> 00:24:52,600 Speaker 1: the hell is this location sings on Instagram? This is 478 00:24:52,680 --> 00:24:55,520 Speaker 1: so unsafe. Please go into your settings on ig and 479 00:24:55,520 --> 00:24:58,080 Speaker 1: make sure you turn your locations off because that is creepy. 480 00:24:58,119 --> 00:25:00,920 Speaker 1: Af Nobody should have your location on Instagram. Why do 481 00:25:01,000 --> 00:25:03,280 Speaker 1: your followers need to know where you are? Okay, follow 482 00:25:03,320 --> 00:25:04,919 Speaker 1: me on the internet. This is where I said you 483 00:25:04,920 --> 00:25:07,040 Speaker 1: can follow me, not literally follow me through these streets. 484 00:25:07,040 --> 00:25:07,320 Speaker 3: Okay. 485 00:25:07,440 --> 00:25:09,600 Speaker 1: If you want people to share your location, they need 486 00:25:09,640 --> 00:25:11,719 Speaker 1: to be you know you can. You can share your 487 00:25:11,760 --> 00:25:15,399 Speaker 1: your iPhone location. That's insane. So what I've learned is 488 00:25:15,600 --> 00:25:19,200 Speaker 1: there's companies that actually own the genetics of certain plants 489 00:25:19,320 --> 00:25:22,320 Speaker 1: and flowers that turn into cut flowers in our supermarkets. 490 00:25:22,359 --> 00:25:24,800 Speaker 1: And so this video I'll post a link in the 491 00:25:24,800 --> 00:25:27,760 Speaker 1: show notes just so you can start educating yourself. Pointed 492 00:25:27,760 --> 00:25:30,639 Speaker 1: out several types of flowers that were found in Trader 493 00:25:30,720 --> 00:25:35,280 Speaker 1: Joe's bouquets, which actually have Israeli companies that own the 494 00:25:35,280 --> 00:25:38,439 Speaker 1: genetics to those flowers and that operate and occupied Palestine, 495 00:25:38,920 --> 00:25:42,920 Speaker 1: so they are profiting. You know, they're actually using Palestinian 496 00:25:43,000 --> 00:25:46,040 Speaker 1: land to grow these plants and then selling them to 497 00:25:46,119 --> 00:25:49,320 Speaker 1: US companies, and so we are in a way funding 498 00:25:49,359 --> 00:25:52,000 Speaker 1: the Israeli economy in that way. So it's just a 499 00:25:52,200 --> 00:25:54,800 Speaker 1: it's food for thought. Like I'm not necessarily one of 500 00:25:54,800 --> 00:26:00,000 Speaker 1: these people who's gonna who is going to tell you 501 00:26:00,119 --> 00:26:01,560 Speaker 1: it is going to tell you that you need to 502 00:26:01,680 --> 00:26:04,480 Speaker 1: research every single thing going into your home and that 503 00:26:04,520 --> 00:26:07,600 Speaker 1: you're paying for and make sure that it is considered safe. 504 00:26:07,640 --> 00:26:09,840 Speaker 1: I mean to a certain extent, I think any major 505 00:26:09,880 --> 00:26:14,199 Speaker 1: country that is producing some sort of some sort of 506 00:26:14,880 --> 00:26:18,800 Speaker 1: export that we are purchasing here, it's very likely that 507 00:26:18,880 --> 00:26:22,200 Speaker 1: they have done things, whether in they're like their policies 508 00:26:22,640 --> 00:26:25,600 Speaker 1: to their you know, in their countries or in other 509 00:26:25,640 --> 00:26:29,200 Speaker 1: countries that we may not agree with. It's damn near 510 00:26:29,240 --> 00:26:32,880 Speaker 1: impossible to be a perfect quote unquote consumer. But as 511 00:26:32,920 --> 00:26:35,760 Speaker 1: I learn new information, I will one hundred percent factor 512 00:26:35,800 --> 00:26:38,359 Speaker 1: that into my shopping habits, because once you know something, 513 00:26:38,400 --> 00:26:41,080 Speaker 1: it's really hard to unknow it. For me, that's why 514 00:26:41,119 --> 00:26:43,639 Speaker 1: your girl has only been to Target one time in 515 00:26:43,680 --> 00:26:46,879 Speaker 1: the past how many months? Eight months now? Yes, I 516 00:26:46,880 --> 00:26:49,240 Speaker 1: went to I broke my Target fast when I was 517 00:26:49,280 --> 00:26:51,359 Speaker 1: in Atlanta for Cowboy Carter because I woke up the 518 00:26:51,440 --> 00:26:54,560 Speaker 1: day of the show and realized that my bra broke, 519 00:26:54,760 --> 00:26:57,320 Speaker 1: so I needed a braw really quickly, so I went 520 00:26:57,359 --> 00:27:01,600 Speaker 1: to Target. It was really early anyway. Still, that's why 521 00:27:01,760 --> 00:27:05,199 Speaker 1: I try not to patronize Starbucks as much. Outside of 522 00:27:05,240 --> 00:27:07,240 Speaker 1: my kids screaming for happy meals, I don't try to 523 00:27:07,240 --> 00:27:10,120 Speaker 1: go to McDonald's as much. So these are some companies, 524 00:27:10,320 --> 00:27:13,400 Speaker 1: but I've tried. I've tried to find a list of 525 00:27:13,840 --> 00:27:16,400 Speaker 1: all the companies we should avoid if we are, you know, 526 00:27:16,440 --> 00:27:19,560 Speaker 1: if we are trying to vote with our dollars. As 527 00:27:19,600 --> 00:27:23,520 Speaker 1: far as what's happening in Gaza, it's overwhilled meing. I 528 00:27:23,560 --> 00:27:28,720 Speaker 1: mean my goodness. We have. Obviously Amazon and Google. I 529 00:27:29,040 --> 00:27:31,960 Speaker 1: stopped my Amazon Prime service earlier this year for a 530 00:27:32,000 --> 00:27:35,320 Speaker 1: couple of reasons. One was the the fact that they 531 00:27:35,359 --> 00:27:39,240 Speaker 1: provide cloud technology to the Israeli government, along with Google 532 00:27:39,359 --> 00:27:43,120 Speaker 1: and Microsoft Intel, so a lot of the tech companies 533 00:27:43,119 --> 00:27:46,680 Speaker 1: that we love are actually helping the Israeli government. Also, 534 00:27:46,760 --> 00:27:51,880 Speaker 1: Coca Cola operates in Israel and is also cited by 535 00:27:51,880 --> 00:27:57,119 Speaker 1: activists for having long standing investments in in Israel. Pepsi coo, 536 00:27:57,440 --> 00:28:01,320 Speaker 1: so it's like coke and Pepsi both out. Starbucks, you know, 537 00:28:01,480 --> 00:28:06,960 Speaker 1: also included in the Israeli boycott because it has former 538 00:28:06,960 --> 00:28:10,080 Speaker 1: executives who are very pro Israeli. So there's a lot. 539 00:28:10,880 --> 00:28:13,359 Speaker 1: And I've done what I've done what I've done out 540 00:28:13,359 --> 00:28:16,200 Speaker 1: of like I said, once I know better, it's hard 541 00:28:16,240 --> 00:28:18,920 Speaker 1: to not do better. So where I can I try 542 00:28:18,920 --> 00:28:21,440 Speaker 1: to avoid these these retailers. I went on this very 543 00:28:21,440 --> 00:28:24,080 Speaker 1: long tangent here because I got a question in response 544 00:28:24,160 --> 00:28:27,720 Speaker 1: to this Instagram story in particular from a listener called Fasa, 545 00:28:28,160 --> 00:28:31,159 Speaker 1: and Faza said, I'm curious, have you been getting backlash 546 00:28:31,240 --> 00:28:34,800 Speaker 1: for these kinds of posts? And this is where it 547 00:28:34,840 --> 00:28:37,400 Speaker 1: pays to not be like I mean, I would love 548 00:28:37,520 --> 00:28:39,560 Speaker 1: to have millions and millions of followers, but I think 549 00:28:39,600 --> 00:28:42,360 Speaker 1: I'm like still considered like a micro influencer. I have 550 00:28:42,480 --> 00:28:47,440 Speaker 1: less than forty thousand followers on my Instagram account, and no, 551 00:28:47,800 --> 00:28:49,719 Speaker 1: the answer I gave FASA is no, I haven't been 552 00:28:49,720 --> 00:28:52,760 Speaker 1: ginning any backlash, and not even in the content that 553 00:28:52,840 --> 00:28:54,760 Speaker 1: I have said in the podcast. Like y'all have heard 554 00:28:54,840 --> 00:28:57,920 Speaker 1: me talk about, you know, my feelings about palisine on here. 555 00:28:58,200 --> 00:29:02,080 Speaker 1: We've had a Palestinian guest on the show too this 556 00:29:02,160 --> 00:29:05,600 Speaker 1: time last year, talking about everything that's happening, and no, 557 00:29:05,840 --> 00:29:10,840 Speaker 1: ba fam, y'all have been hands down, extremely understanding and 558 00:29:11,160 --> 00:29:14,640 Speaker 1: I think encouraging me to share more. And even if 559 00:29:14,720 --> 00:29:16,840 Speaker 1: you haven't been, even if my posts have made y'll 560 00:29:16,880 --> 00:29:20,719 Speaker 1: feel uncomfortable, like, there hasn't been necessarily a backlash in 561 00:29:20,760 --> 00:29:23,680 Speaker 1: the way that I would. I think some creators are 562 00:29:23,680 --> 00:29:26,880 Speaker 1: worried about a backlash. I haven't noticed a huge reduction 563 00:29:26,960 --> 00:29:30,880 Speaker 1: in followers. I mean, I'm constantly losing followers, but I'm 564 00:29:30,920 --> 00:29:33,720 Speaker 1: always gaining followers too, so things tend to even out. 565 00:29:33,800 --> 00:29:37,240 Speaker 1: So I'm down for that. Like I've said before, if 566 00:29:37,280 --> 00:29:39,760 Speaker 1: I create content and it makes you unfollow me, well, 567 00:29:39,760 --> 00:29:42,280 Speaker 1: then you were never my You're never my target audience. 568 00:29:42,320 --> 00:29:45,360 Speaker 1: And so I think it's okay and healthy to continue 569 00:29:45,360 --> 00:29:47,280 Speaker 1: creating the content that speaks to me so that I 570 00:29:47,320 --> 00:29:50,080 Speaker 1: can attract the right audience. And I think because I 571 00:29:50,160 --> 00:29:54,240 Speaker 1: have stayed so authentically myself and stayed true to my morals, 572 00:29:54,240 --> 00:29:57,640 Speaker 1: my values, my ethics, my beliefs. You know, since I 573 00:29:57,640 --> 00:29:59,720 Speaker 1: started the podcast ten years ago and since I built 574 00:29:59,720 --> 00:30:02,640 Speaker 1: this place, I think y'all are used to this by now. 575 00:30:02,800 --> 00:30:06,760 Speaker 1: I don't think it's shocking anybody, And unfortunately for a 576 00:30:06,760 --> 00:30:09,760 Speaker 1: lot of creators. You know, poor miss Rachel is really 577 00:30:09,800 --> 00:30:14,600 Speaker 1: holding up this campaign to spotlight the children of Gaza 578 00:30:14,640 --> 00:30:19,400 Speaker 1: in such a beautiful way. Miss Rachel, like my endless 579 00:30:19,440 --> 00:30:22,280 Speaker 1: love for you. You are a brave, brave, courageous woman. You 580 00:30:22,360 --> 00:30:24,840 Speaker 1: have such a huge heart. You love kids and you 581 00:30:24,960 --> 00:30:27,880 Speaker 1: mean that shit. You don't mean some kids, you mean 582 00:30:28,000 --> 00:30:31,960 Speaker 1: all kids. And she's been extraordinary, and she's also been 583 00:30:32,080 --> 00:30:35,960 Speaker 1: like very alone. We have not seen I ain't seen 584 00:30:35,960 --> 00:30:38,880 Speaker 1: Blippy in these streets talk about pro gods. I haven't 585 00:30:38,880 --> 00:30:41,880 Speaker 1: seen Blippy talking about the kids. I haven't seen a 586 00:30:41,880 --> 00:30:45,719 Speaker 1: Pap Patrol episode where they go to Palestine, like you know, 587 00:30:45,880 --> 00:30:48,720 Speaker 1: we haven't been seeing that. So, you know, miss Rachel's 588 00:30:48,720 --> 00:30:52,160 Speaker 1: really stepping up, and I think cementing herself in the 589 00:30:52,200 --> 00:30:57,480 Speaker 1: Hall of Fame of children's educators and creators because she 590 00:30:58,200 --> 00:31:02,720 Speaker 1: cares that deeply, and she said braiding you know the kids, 591 00:31:02,720 --> 00:31:04,520 Speaker 1: some of the kids who have been injured in Gaza 592 00:31:04,520 --> 00:31:09,560 Speaker 1: and survived. She has incorporated them into her content, She's 593 00:31:09,560 --> 00:31:12,080 Speaker 1: brought them onto her social media platform. But she's been 594 00:31:12,120 --> 00:31:16,160 Speaker 1: so alone. And I'm actually genuinely surprised by the lack 595 00:31:16,240 --> 00:31:21,680 Speaker 1: of like high recognition celebrities, influencers who have spoken out 596 00:31:21,720 --> 00:31:24,600 Speaker 1: about what's happening in Gaza, especially as we've sort of 597 00:31:24,600 --> 00:31:27,840 Speaker 1: reached a fever pitch this past month or two in 598 00:31:28,280 --> 00:31:31,120 Speaker 1: the acknowledgment of what's happening in Gaza and in the 599 00:31:31,160 --> 00:31:34,440 Speaker 1: media coverage of Gaza, and at times like this, you 600 00:31:34,440 --> 00:31:36,920 Speaker 1: would think there'd be more safety in numbers and some 601 00:31:37,080 --> 00:31:39,120 Speaker 1: you know, prominent people would be able to speak out, 602 00:31:39,160 --> 00:31:42,880 Speaker 1: but there is a lot of fear among celebrities and 603 00:31:43,200 --> 00:31:47,000 Speaker 1: creators that it could hurt their business. I personally have 604 00:31:47,160 --> 00:31:50,720 Speaker 1: not felt any impact yet. You know, I think if 605 00:31:50,760 --> 00:31:54,680 Speaker 1: my yes, I sell ads on the podcast, So if 606 00:31:54,720 --> 00:31:57,600 Speaker 1: it were to happen that a sponsor was not happy 607 00:31:57,640 --> 00:31:59,520 Speaker 1: with what I was saying about Gaza, maybe they would 608 00:31:59,560 --> 00:32:02,680 Speaker 1: pull their do but I'm not going to stop to 609 00:32:02,760 --> 00:32:06,760 Speaker 1: prevent that. I would rather do first and ask permission later. 610 00:32:07,120 --> 00:32:09,840 Speaker 1: This is kind of how I operate, and I don't 611 00:32:09,840 --> 00:32:12,280 Speaker 1: really work with a lot of commercial brands, so I 612 00:32:12,280 --> 00:32:14,600 Speaker 1: don't have to worry so much about you know, it's 613 00:32:14,640 --> 00:32:16,120 Speaker 1: a good problem and a bad problem. It'd be nice 614 00:32:16,160 --> 00:32:18,840 Speaker 1: to make some you know, commercial brand money. But yeah, 615 00:32:18,880 --> 00:32:20,320 Speaker 1: I don't have to worry so much about using my 616 00:32:20,400 --> 00:32:23,760 Speaker 1: voice in that way, and I'm really happy to do it. 617 00:32:23,880 --> 00:32:26,000 Speaker 1: I also wanted to take this time to acknowledge that 618 00:32:26,040 --> 00:32:29,360 Speaker 1: Gaza is not the only place where human beings are 619 00:32:29,400 --> 00:32:33,360 Speaker 1: being killed in cold blood, where they are being starved. 620 00:32:33,640 --> 00:32:35,840 Speaker 1: We'd be remiss. I'd be remiss if I didn't talk 621 00:32:35,880 --> 00:32:40,920 Speaker 1: about the Sudan and the ongoing humanitarian crisis there as well. 622 00:32:41,600 --> 00:32:44,600 Speaker 1: So my heart goes to the people of Sudan. They 623 00:32:44,640 --> 00:32:47,840 Speaker 1: have been in the throes of a civil war between 624 00:32:47,880 --> 00:32:52,240 Speaker 1: the Sudanese Armed Forces and another organization called the Rapid 625 00:32:52,560 --> 00:32:55,760 Speaker 1: Support Forces that has been going on for two years now. 626 00:32:55,960 --> 00:32:59,360 Speaker 1: One hundred and fifty thousand people. According to the BBC 627 00:33:00,240 --> 00:33:04,600 Speaker 1: been killed during this conflict and twelve million have been displaced, 628 00:33:05,240 --> 00:33:08,080 Speaker 1: which has made it the largest humanitarian crisis in the 629 00:33:08,080 --> 00:33:11,560 Speaker 1: world right now, even outstripping what's happening in Gaza, and 630 00:33:11,760 --> 00:33:15,600 Speaker 1: as a result, they are also enduring widespread famine. And 631 00:33:15,680 --> 00:33:18,160 Speaker 1: famine is I'm getting chills thinking about it. Famine is 632 00:33:18,200 --> 00:33:20,120 Speaker 1: not we go to bed hungry, we only have like 633 00:33:20,160 --> 00:33:23,920 Speaker 1: bread to eat. Famine is you are so starved of nutrition. 634 00:33:24,120 --> 00:33:28,440 Speaker 1: Babies can't thrive. They are skeletons, they are like withering away. 635 00:33:28,840 --> 00:33:32,160 Speaker 1: And you're so sick and you're so malnourished that even 636 00:33:32,200 --> 00:33:34,240 Speaker 1: if you were to be introduced to food, you wouldn't 637 00:33:34,240 --> 00:33:36,160 Speaker 1: be able to just start eating normally again. You'd have 638 00:33:36,200 --> 00:33:40,960 Speaker 1: to be fed under medical care and followed and kept 639 00:33:41,040 --> 00:33:53,560 Speaker 1: up on. And it's it's sorry, I don't know. This 640 00:33:53,640 --> 00:33:57,680 Speaker 1: is just like it makes me appreciate the work that 641 00:33:57,720 --> 00:34:01,920 Speaker 1: the journalists, traditional journalists do every day. Like if you 642 00:34:01,920 --> 00:34:04,160 Speaker 1: have to go on air on TV and talk about 643 00:34:04,160 --> 00:34:07,200 Speaker 1: these stories and not have a reaction to it, I 644 00:34:07,200 --> 00:34:10,080 Speaker 1: don't know how. I don't know how these journalists do it. 645 00:34:10,120 --> 00:34:12,880 Speaker 1: And it's so important the work that they're doing and 646 00:34:13,000 --> 00:34:17,680 Speaker 1: spotlighting it, so I while I'm here at APJ, I've 647 00:34:17,719 --> 00:34:23,600 Speaker 1: just been I'm just thinking about how how you know, 648 00:34:23,680 --> 00:34:25,600 Speaker 1: I can choose to come on and talk about this 649 00:34:25,640 --> 00:34:27,200 Speaker 1: for a little while, but I don't have to talk 650 00:34:27,239 --> 00:34:29,400 Speaker 1: about it every day if I don't want to. And 651 00:34:29,440 --> 00:34:34,000 Speaker 1: I can barely get through twenty minute talk about what's happening. 652 00:34:34,920 --> 00:34:41,800 Speaker 1: It's truly, truly devastating. I ran into a therapist in 653 00:34:41,880 --> 00:34:44,440 Speaker 1: the convention earlier. She's here with her mom. I might 654 00:34:44,480 --> 00:34:47,200 Speaker 1: have to go find her and just be like So 655 00:34:47,320 --> 00:34:53,280 Speaker 1: I cried on Brown Ambition today. Oh my god, God damn. 656 00:34:53,480 --> 00:35:00,799 Speaker 1: It's so hard to to coexist with such brutality and 657 00:35:00,840 --> 00:35:06,279 Speaker 1: such evil. And I just I promise that as long 658 00:35:06,320 --> 00:35:08,360 Speaker 1: as I have the platform that y'all have given me, 659 00:35:08,600 --> 00:35:10,680 Speaker 1: there's a level of trust that y'all have with me, 660 00:35:12,000 --> 00:35:14,160 Speaker 1: especially those of y'all who have stayed with Brown Ambition 661 00:35:14,520 --> 00:35:18,120 Speaker 1: over the past like eight months since I've been doing 662 00:35:18,120 --> 00:35:20,600 Speaker 1: the show solo. And I don't take that trust for granted. 663 00:35:20,640 --> 00:35:23,360 Speaker 1: I'm just trying to do right by y'all. But this 664 00:35:23,480 --> 00:35:27,640 Speaker 1: stuff is so hard to just talk about. So I'm 665 00:35:27,640 --> 00:35:30,960 Speaker 1: going to stop crying now and I'm just gonna say 666 00:35:31,000 --> 00:35:33,279 Speaker 1: go to the show. Notes because I want to put 667 00:35:33,320 --> 00:35:38,400 Speaker 1: some resources there to some I'm not saying that you 668 00:35:38,520 --> 00:35:40,560 Speaker 1: have to like there's nothing that I don't think that 669 00:35:40,960 --> 00:35:45,000 Speaker 1: any one person can do, But I do think contacting 670 00:35:45,080 --> 00:35:49,959 Speaker 1: your elected officials matters. I'm not sure if y'all saw, 671 00:35:50,040 --> 00:35:53,719 Speaker 1: but there was the same man, Chris Malls, who unionized 672 00:35:53,760 --> 00:35:57,400 Speaker 1: Amazon warehouse workers, created the first Amazon warehouse workers union, 673 00:35:57,480 --> 00:36:02,640 Speaker 1: detained by Israeli military forces when he was on a 674 00:36:02,680 --> 00:36:07,080 Speaker 1: humanitarian mission. And I do believe he was released, I 675 00:36:07,120 --> 00:36:10,160 Speaker 1: don't know a few days later, even, And I think 676 00:36:10,200 --> 00:36:14,080 Speaker 1: part of that was because how the media, how creators, 677 00:36:14,160 --> 00:36:16,560 Speaker 1: how everybody just rallied around and got the word out 678 00:36:16,600 --> 00:36:20,960 Speaker 1: about him. How we called our elected officials and wrote letters. 679 00:36:21,000 --> 00:36:23,799 Speaker 1: And I think that that shit matters, and I think 680 00:36:23,840 --> 00:36:26,279 Speaker 1: we need to bring that energy. We have to bring 681 00:36:26,320 --> 00:36:32,000 Speaker 1: that energy and keep keep pressuring. I live in New York, 682 00:36:33,239 --> 00:36:35,800 Speaker 1: my elected officials. I got Chuck Schumer in the Senate 683 00:36:35,920 --> 00:36:40,520 Speaker 1: Christian Gillibrand, and they both voted to send more American 684 00:36:40,600 --> 00:36:43,280 Speaker 1: made weapons to Israel to aid in the war effort. 685 00:36:43,360 --> 00:36:47,640 Speaker 1: And I found that to be extremely unsettling and pissed 686 00:36:47,680 --> 00:36:51,440 Speaker 1: me right on off. And so you can find templates 687 00:36:51,440 --> 00:36:54,000 Speaker 1: that you can copy paste and send to your elected 688 00:36:54,040 --> 00:36:57,560 Speaker 1: officials through whatever channels, calling up and leaving voicemails. I've 689 00:36:57,560 --> 00:37:00,400 Speaker 1: even heard, you know. I was on a call with 690 00:37:00,520 --> 00:37:06,600 Speaker 1: a Palestinian organization a pc PCRF. I want to say, 691 00:37:08,080 --> 00:37:11,399 Speaker 1: I was on a zoom call last week and they 692 00:37:11,440 --> 00:37:14,320 Speaker 1: were just showing the impact of what even phone calls 693 00:37:14,360 --> 00:37:17,840 Speaker 1: can do and just encouraging. There were nine hundred people 694 00:37:17,880 --> 00:37:21,440 Speaker 1: on that zoom call, which is just amazing. There's people 695 00:37:21,440 --> 00:37:24,840 Speaker 1: in the streets. Somebody went through New York City and 696 00:37:24,920 --> 00:37:28,560 Speaker 1: actually set up a really chilling display of all the 697 00:37:28,600 --> 00:37:31,120 Speaker 1: lives that have been lost, as including children in Gaza. 698 00:37:31,120 --> 00:37:36,000 Speaker 1: And it matters. And I am not here to tell 699 00:37:36,040 --> 00:37:40,520 Speaker 1: you to let this consume you. But just because it's painful, 700 00:37:41,600 --> 00:37:47,720 Speaker 1: and it is very painful, doesn't mean that we can't 701 00:37:48,160 --> 00:37:51,880 Speaker 1: cope with that pain and push through it to shine 702 00:37:51,920 --> 00:37:56,960 Speaker 1: a light on in humanity and evil that's happening in 703 00:37:57,000 --> 00:37:59,440 Speaker 1: the world. And so I'm just challenging y'all to be 704 00:37:59,600 --> 00:38:03,960 Speaker 1: brave to cry with me. I'm just challenging y'all and 705 00:38:04,120 --> 00:38:09,319 Speaker 1: challenging myself to keep looking and to look even when 706 00:38:09,360 --> 00:38:13,320 Speaker 1: it feels like you can't, even when it feels like 707 00:38:13,360 --> 00:38:16,200 Speaker 1: you're going to be sick to your stomach. Some things 708 00:38:16,239 --> 00:38:19,160 Speaker 1: are worth enduring pain for. And I think looking away 709 00:38:20,840 --> 00:38:25,359 Speaker 1: is an evil is evil in his own way. And 710 00:38:25,480 --> 00:38:29,120 Speaker 1: I'm not saying that I haven't scrolled past really challenging 711 00:38:29,120 --> 00:38:31,719 Speaker 1: images because I didn't feel strong in that moment. But 712 00:38:32,360 --> 00:38:35,360 Speaker 1: we have to try. We have to try not to 713 00:38:35,400 --> 00:38:40,480 Speaker 1: look away. We have to not make excuses that enable 714 00:38:40,560 --> 00:38:44,120 Speaker 1: us to look away. And I believe in mental health, 715 00:38:44,200 --> 00:38:47,919 Speaker 1: I believe in protecting our peace. I believe in all 716 00:38:47,960 --> 00:38:50,920 Speaker 1: of that. I also believe that we're more capable of 717 00:38:51,040 --> 00:38:53,799 Speaker 1: facing evil than we may believe right now that we 718 00:38:53,880 --> 00:38:57,120 Speaker 1: may feel. And I think we have to do it, 719 00:38:57,200 --> 00:39:01,600 Speaker 1: not by ourselves, but together. So together, I hope BA Fam, 720 00:39:01,680 --> 00:39:06,560 Speaker 1: we can continue educating ourselves, reach out to our looted officials, 721 00:39:06,719 --> 00:39:12,600 Speaker 1: send letters, let them know that we want more humanities. 722 00:39:12,680 --> 00:39:16,920 Speaker 1: We want to we want the US to send aid 723 00:39:17,160 --> 00:39:20,759 Speaker 1: to these places that need it. You know, even if 724 00:39:20,800 --> 00:39:23,719 Speaker 1: it feels hopeless, because we have an administration that has 725 00:39:24,120 --> 00:39:29,720 Speaker 1: completely dismantled one of the largest humanitarian US aid organizations 726 00:39:30,880 --> 00:39:34,040 Speaker 1: in the in the in the world, and you know, 727 00:39:34,160 --> 00:39:36,560 Speaker 1: all those people lost their jobs and their work has 728 00:39:36,600 --> 00:39:39,160 Speaker 1: been more important than ever, but there's other smaller things 729 00:39:39,200 --> 00:39:43,280 Speaker 1: that we can still do. So that is my answer 730 00:39:43,760 --> 00:39:47,360 Speaker 1: the Asia. Thank you for your question. No, I haven't 731 00:39:47,400 --> 00:39:50,840 Speaker 1: seen a lot of backlash because of the posts that 732 00:39:50,920 --> 00:39:56,200 Speaker 1: I have made regarding Palestine and the genocide and Gaza 733 00:39:56,880 --> 00:40:01,839 Speaker 1: right now. We'll see, we'll see, but I think any 734 00:40:01,840 --> 00:40:05,240 Speaker 1: backlash that I get, it can't be worse. I'm still safe, 735 00:40:05,400 --> 00:40:08,480 Speaker 1: My babies still have food to eat, we still have 736 00:40:08,520 --> 00:40:13,000 Speaker 1: a roof over our heads. We are so damn privileged anyway, 737 00:40:13,120 --> 00:40:15,000 Speaker 1: So maybe I could endure a little bit of pain 738 00:40:16,440 --> 00:40:19,120 Speaker 1: just to do my small part. Okay, va, fam, I 739 00:40:19,160 --> 00:40:21,440 Speaker 1: know that was a lot. Let's go touch some grass, 740 00:40:22,280 --> 00:40:25,280 Speaker 1: Let's go smell some flowers, Let's go for a walk, 741 00:40:26,120 --> 00:40:30,440 Speaker 1: Let's find a new coping mechanism, something to soothe ourselves 742 00:40:30,480 --> 00:40:32,319 Speaker 1: after a tough time like this. I think I'm gonna 743 00:40:32,360 --> 00:40:34,560 Speaker 1: go get me a hug from any just whoever I 744 00:40:34,640 --> 00:40:36,399 Speaker 1: run into out there in the convention. I just need 745 00:40:36,400 --> 00:40:39,680 Speaker 1: a hug. But yeah, I'm sending so much love to y'all. 746 00:40:39,680 --> 00:40:43,279 Speaker 1: Thank you again for helping me build this platform. I 747 00:40:43,320 --> 00:40:45,800 Speaker 1: couldn't do it without y'all. I really really appreciate it. 748 00:40:45,880 --> 00:40:50,800 Speaker 1: Love y'all so much. Until next time, tune in this Sunday. 749 00:40:50,920 --> 00:40:53,880 Speaker 1: I have a really great interview for y'all for wash 750 00:40:53,960 --> 00:40:57,400 Speaker 1: Day Woosa. I'm going to be talking to Christine Manchini. 751 00:40:57,520 --> 00:41:00,719 Speaker 1: She is the CEO of Black Girls Who Code and 752 00:41:01,239 --> 00:41:05,000 Speaker 1: I just love this conversation. She's extremely inspiring and I 753 00:41:05,000 --> 00:41:07,640 Speaker 1: think y'all are going to enjoy it too. So definitely 754 00:41:07,680 --> 00:41:10,319 Speaker 1: tune in on this Sunday, and please let me know. 755 00:41:10,760 --> 00:41:13,240 Speaker 1: Have y'all been liking the wash Day wou saws on Sunday. 756 00:41:13,760 --> 00:41:15,640 Speaker 1: How do you like the new format of the show, 757 00:41:15,719 --> 00:41:18,920 Speaker 1: the Sunday, the Wednesday, the Friday episodes. I'm dying to 758 00:41:18,960 --> 00:41:21,759 Speaker 1: hear from y'all. Any feedback is always welcome. Email me 759 00:41:21,800 --> 00:41:25,000 Speaker 1: Brandimission Podcast at gmail dot com. You can leave comments 760 00:41:25,000 --> 00:41:27,520 Speaker 1: if you're listening on Spotify. I check those comments. I 761 00:41:27,560 --> 00:41:29,680 Speaker 1: love to see them. I love to respond to them. 762 00:41:30,320 --> 00:41:32,840 Speaker 1: Of course, you can DM me on IG at Branna 763 00:41:32,920 --> 00:41:35,560 Speaker 1: Vision Podcast or at Mandy Money Mandy with An I 764 00:41:36,400 --> 00:41:41,760 Speaker 1: But thank you so much and y'all take care be well. Okay, 765 00:41:41,880 --> 00:41:44,120 Speaker 1: va fan, thank you so much for listening to this 766 00:41:44,160 --> 00:41:48,160 Speaker 1: week's show. I want to shout out to our production team, Courtney, 767 00:41:48,320 --> 00:41:53,160 Speaker 1: our editor Carla, our fearless leader for Idea to launch productions. 768 00:41:53,560 --> 00:41:57,040 Speaker 1: I want to shout out my assistant Alauda Escalante and 769 00:41:57,200 --> 00:42:00,480 Speaker 1: Cameron McNair for helping me put the show together. It 770 00:42:00,560 --> 00:42:04,080 Speaker 1: is not a one person project, as much as I 771 00:42:04,160 --> 00:42:06,680 Speaker 1: have tried to make it so these past ten years, 772 00:42:06,800 --> 00:42:10,040 Speaker 1: I need help, y'all, and thank goodness I've been able 773 00:42:10,080 --> 00:42:12,440 Speaker 1: to put this team around me to support me on 774 00:42:12,480 --> 00:42:15,279 Speaker 1: this journey and to y'all bea fam I love you 775 00:42:15,400 --> 00:42:19,279 Speaker 1: so so so so much. Please rate, review, subscribe, make 776 00:42:19,280 --> 00:42:21,239 Speaker 1: sure you sign up to the newsletter to get all 777 00:42:21,320 --> 00:42:25,600 Speaker 1: the latest updates on upcoming episodes, our ten year anniversary 778 00:42:25,680 --> 00:42:29,719 Speaker 1: celebrations to come, and until next time, talk to you 779 00:42:29,800 --> 00:42:30,640 Speaker 1: soon via buy