188. Paying Off Debt, Home Ownership & Money Talks While Dating with Grace Henderson

Shout out to this week's sponsor:

Zencastr use discount code BROWNVEGAN to save 30% on your first 3 months

https://brnvgn.me/zencaster

Clicking the link above is an easy and free way to support the podcast.

Thank you so much for checking out the sponsor!

Today on the podcast, I’m back with a returning guest for our next episode of the Brown Vegan Podcast Money Series.

Listen here…

Powered by RedCircle

Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher for weekly episodes.

With the Money Series, I’ll be bringing in guest experts to focus on all things finances because, as you’ve heard me say, you can’t have wellness without financial wellness.

My friend Grace is on the podcast with me today.

If you missed episode 89, we spoke about fitness, food, being vegan in the military and more, so make sure you check that out to get the background on Grace.

That being said, today we’re talking about DEBT. 

A few years back, Grace and I were hiking together and she shared with me that she had recently paid off all of her credit card debt. As someone on my own financial wellness journey, I was so interested to hear what strategies she used and how long it took her. We ended up talking about it for so long, that when I started the Money Series, I knew I had to ask Grace to come back on the podcast to share her own story. 

This episode is full of such valuable insight from Grace about debt, building your credit, and home ownership. But what I love about this episode is that it’s so relatable. Grace’s debt didn’t come from a lack of income; her debt grew over time due to predatory credit card companies, lack of education around credit payments, and subtle overspending.

This is the story for so many of us, and there is typically so much shame around these topics. But with the right knowledge and support (accountability is a huge part of Grace’s journey), there’s no need for shame or guilt, it’s all about finding the right plan. 

I’m so excited to share this episode with you all so please let me know your takeaways.

You’ll hear us discuss:

  • Grace’s childhood beliefs about money

  • Why overspending can lead to debt even if you’re making good money

  • Dave Ramsey’s approach to paying off debt and whether or not we think it’s culturally competent

  • How Grace improved her credit score and got out of debt

  • The importance of having good credit as a Black person in America

  • Predatory credit card practices and how they target college students

  • Buying a home and why having no debt makes underwriting easy

  • How to use accountability groups to help pay off your debt and create financial stability

  • Finding what works for YOU when it comes to paying off debt

  • How Grace plans to handle money in relationships

Follow Grace:

Instagram

Resources mentioned:

Previous podcast episode with Grace

Dave Ramsey

Listen to a preview of this episode here…

187. What I Would Do If I Had to Start My Brand Over Again (my answer may surprise you) | Solo Episode

Shout out to this week's sponsor:

Athletic Greens - Athletic Greens is going to give you a free 1 year supply of immune-supporting vitamin D and 5 free travel packs with your first purchase.

https://brnvgn.me/ag

Clicking the link above is an easy and free way to support the podcast.

Thank you so much for checking out the sponsor!

Listen here…

Powered by RedCircle

Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher for weekly episodes.

When I first started my business and creating vegan content online, I spread myself SO thin trying to use all the platforms and do all the things at once. I didn’t have a strategic plan when it came to my content and guess what? After years of doing this, it drained my energy, wasn’t boosting my bank account, and led to burnout. 

I felt like I was putting so much into my business without having my finances reflect it.

That’s why on today’s solo podcast episode, I’m sharing with y’all the four things I would focus on if I were starting all over from day 1 in growing my business! 

If you’re looking to start a new business or are feeling a lack of strategy in your own online business right now, tune in and please let me know what you learned and what was most helpful!

I’m sharing way more detail in the podcast episode, of course, but here are the main points:

  1. YouTube

YouTube is owned by Google which makes it the most search engine optimized platform. That means you can spend 20 minutes creating a video that has potential to continue gaining views and getting you more website clicks for YEARS to come. Instagram Reels has nothing on the evergreen lifespan of YouTube videos.

2. Blogging

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, blogging is not dead and will likely never be dead. It’s as alive as ever. Here’s my question for you: if someone finds you on Instagram and wants to find more ways to connect with you, how are they going to find you? By having a blog on your website, you’re appearing in tons of google searches over time. And if you’re writing blogs that center hot topic keywords, people who don’t even know you exist are able to find your content and engage with your work. 

3. Growing an email list with a weekly newsletter

Having a regular weekly newsletter (or monthly!) is such a valuable way to connect more intimately with your audience. With Instagram’s algorithm, even the people that follow you are likely not seeing your content, but everyone still checks their email. You can grow your email list with a freebie, and connect regularly with your community by sharing more personal details or behind the scenes of your work and linking to your latest content or newest offers. 

4. Paid Offers

Most content creators strive to reach the point of getting brand sponsorships, but relying on brands for your income isn’t what you want. Build out a couple of paid products, services, or offerings that your audience is interested in and start creating profit for yourself outside of brand deals. Having free content is great, but it’s just a starting point.

How do you focus on these things without burning out?

In the podcast episode, I share how to do all four while still protecting your time and energy by utilizing content repurposing. 

For example: take the Youtube video you create and turn it into a blog post. Mention the video/blog post on your weekly newsletter and share some extra details with your audience there. Then, tune into what your audience keeps asking you about and build an offering around that. 

Why didn’t I include podcasting?

Y’all know I love doing this podcast soo much, so tune into the episode to find out why it’s NOT included here. 

Resources Mentioned:

VidIQ - video ideas and keyword research for YouTube

Convertkit - I use them to send weekly newsletters

Canva - to make YouTube thumbnails and a banner

Teachable - host and deliver online courses

Join my weekly newsletter

Sign up for a YouTube consult

Sign up for a podcast consult

186. Behind The Scenes of Running a Top-Rated Wellness Podcast with Balanced Black Girl

Shout out to this week's sponsor:

Zencastr use discount code BROWNVEGAN to save 30% on your first 3 months

https://brnvgn.me/zencaster

Clicking the link above is an easy and free way to support the podcast.

Thank you so much for checking out the sponsor!

Listen here…

Powered by RedCircle

Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher for weekly episodes.

If you’re a wellness podcast junkie in this community, you’re likely already tuned in to the Balanced Black Girl Podcast–a wellness podcast that centers black women. I’ve followed along with Les, the creator of Balanced Black Girl, for years and am so excited to bring you this episode. We’re diving into all the behind the scenes of what it takes to run a top rated podcast while working full time AND what it truly means to find balance (it might not be what you think).

Les is the founder and host of Balanced Black Girl, an online wellness community and podcast focused on health, wellness, and self-care from the perspectives of Black women. She started her first blog The Balanced Berry in 2014 to share her love of fitness and nutrition with others. After years of feeling dissatisfied with the lack of diversity in wellness content shared on large platforms, she pivoted to create Balanced Black Girl in 2018. Balanced Black Girl provides content and experiences empowering millennial Black women to live their healthiest lives. 

While this conversation is mostly focused on the business side of Balanced Black Girl, we of course also cover some great wellness topics and strategies that might inspire YOU to create more sacred spaces in your own life. And what I really love about this conversation is that even if you aren’t a content creator, podcast host, or online personality, the lessons that Les speaks on are universal. As Les shares in this conversation, “Wellness is a constant dance.”

In this episode we talk about:

  • Lessons learned from living life in a global pandemic

  • The predominance of white, male thought leaders in the wellness space and the need for more podcast geared toward black women

  • The misconceptions of balance and wellness

  • How wellness practices should naturally shift over time and the importance of checking in with yourself regularly

  • The behind the scenes of balancing a full time job while running a top rated podcast

  • Making money as a content creator and the misconceptions around income

  • Business tools and automation strategies to help keep business owners sane and organized

  • Protecting your time, the sacredness of weekends, and habit tracking to keep you aligned

Connect with Les:

Instagram for Les 

Podcast Instagram 

Facebook 

Twitter 

Website 

Apple Podcasts  

Resources Mentioned:

Notion

Open mindfulness app

185. Taking Control of Your Health & Life in L.A. with Joi Liayé

Shout out to this week's sponsor:

Zencastr use discount code BROWNVEGAN to save 30% on your first 3 months

https://brnvgn.me/zencaster

Clicking the link above is an easy and free way to support the podcast.

Thank you so much for checking out the sponsor!

Listen here…

Powered by RedCircle

Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher for weekly episodes.

If you want to hear from a seriously multi-talented (I’m talking singing, acting, cooking, and more!) person about living vegan–this episode is for you! 

Today on the podcast I have Joi Liayé (@veganwithjoi) here to share her vegan story, inspirations, and about her life in Los Angeles pursuing her passions.

Joi Liayé is a vegan actress and singer from Detroit, MI and is based in Los Angeles. She also hosts the talk show, The Vegan View on Youtube with episodes airing every Monday. She began her vegan journey gradually over the years by removing meat out of her diet in high school, becoming a pescatarian and ultimately becoming vegan in 2011.She shares her love for vegan food and lifestyle on her instagram Vegan With Joi. She is passionate about uplifting people in her community, specifically young girls and women. 

Joi’s interest in health and food systems began when she was a young girl, and she shares, “I think I was made to be a vegan.” Naturally, she disliked eggs and dairy and tried her best to avoid eating them, while also noticing that she was able to taste the chemicals in many of the typical processed snacks that most children loved. On the podcast episode, you’ll hear her share a story of sitting at a McDonalds drive thru and asking herself, “If I can get chicken here at any time, and there are thousands of other restaurants serving chicken at the same time across the country, where was all this chicken coming from?” The idea sparked an interest and concern for our food systems, and Joi began making the transition (over time and many phases) to veganism. 

This podcast episode is a great listen for aspiring vegans still trying to ‘find your why’ and commit to going vegan. Joi explains her journey, the ups and downs, and what led her to finally make the jump from pescatarian to vegetarian to vegan over the years. 

We talk about:

  • Giving up pork as a teenager and the friendship that inspired this decision

  • How it felt to give up childhood family meals that were not vegan

  • Making southern country cooking vegan (and how it’s surprisingly easy)

  • What makes vegan restaurants stand out and the importance of quality ingredients

  • Eating vegan in Los Angeles vs Detroit, and the growing vegan scene in Detroit

  • Our food systems and why learning about them helps in going vegan

  • What is the Vegan View and how they produce their vegan lifestyle content

  • Joi’s acting career and passion for R&B music

  • The importance of reclaiming healthy food choices for black women

  • What Joi is cooking at home

Connect with Joi:

Joi's Instagram

Vegan with Joi Instagram

Website

Spotify Music

Resources Mentioned:

The Vegan View YouTube

Crossroads Kitchen

Araya’s Place

El Cocinero Restaurant

Shojin Sushi

184. How Phil Dancy Accumulated A 6-Figure Net Worth Before 30

Listen here…

Powered by RedCircle

Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher for weekly episodes.

We’re back with another episode of the Brown Vegan Podcast Money Series!

With the Money Series, I’ll be bringing in guest experts to focus on all things finances because, as you’ve heard me say, you can’t have wellness without financial wellness.

Today I’m joined by Phillip Dancy of Dancy with Money to talk about SO many valuable financial topics to help you get on track with not just saving your money but growing your money and wealth too.

Philip Dancy joined one of the top investment banking firms upon graduating from Hampton University in 2017. After starting his career in New York City and getting his first check, he understood that this “adulting” life wasn’t going to be simple. However, the one thing he knew he had to do was create a budget for himself.

Through several conversations, Philip understood that there was a disconnect between individuals and saving for the future. The disconnect occurred because people were not able to visualize their financial future given their current circumstance (i.e. credit card debt, student loans, living their best life and FOMO). As a result, Dancy With Money was created to help others on their journey to financial freedom. So far, Philip has:

Philip’s main goal is to help young professionals (but ultimately everyone) establish a strong financial foundation through one-on-one coaching and providing articles on various financial topics all while helping them turn steps into strides.

Phillip’s financial mindset really began in college after moving off campus and having to pay for rent and school tuition. He quickly realized that by wisely budgeting and paying himself first, he could pay for his needs without having to struggle through school and work at the same time. He ended up saving enough money from his 3 month internship to pay off an entire year of school due to his saving strategies. 

In this episode, you’re going to find so much value hearing Phillip talk about:

  • The importance of understanding your WHY to save money before coming up with a budget (this idea may sound familiar if you listened to this episode)

  • The 50-30-20 savings strategy vs the zero-based budgeting strategy and finding what works for you

  • How often to have money check ins personally and in your relationship

  • What are sinking funds and how to strategically use them

  • Credit cards and how to safely get the most out of them

  • Why you have to switch your money mindset from saving to growing

  • Phillip’s 3 step approach to setting financial goals and how to start implementing them

  • How Phillip is going to achieve early retirement before 40

How are you liking the Money Series? Let me know and feel free to suggest what other financial topics you’d like to learn more about!

Connect with Phillip Dancy:

Instagram

Twitter

Website

Resources mentioned: