This week, Mandi opens up about her healing journey—sharing how slowing down, softening up, and getting real rest have transformed her mental health and daily rhythm. From battling depression and anxiety to finally finding peace through sleep, nourishment, and support.

Plus, she gives updates on the Brown Ambition book (you can help pick the cover!), her new free mini course, and what’s next for the Mandi Moneymakers Community. Then Mandi dives into headlinesfrom SNAP benefits and Trump’s $300M ballroom to Target layoffs and AI at work.

🧠 You’ll Learn:

• How Mandi’s healing journey is transforming her mindset
• Why slowing down can make you more productive
• How to join the Mandi Moneymakers Community
• Where to grab the free Nail Your Negotiation mini course
• Mandi’s take on SNAP cuts, corporate greed, and AI in the workplace

🔗 Resources

• Nail Your Negotiation (Free Mini Course): nailyournegotiation.com
• Join the Mandi Moneymakers Community: mandymoney.com/community
• Vote on the Book Cover: patreon.com/brownambition
• Find Local Food Banks: feedingamerica.com

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This week, Mandi sits down 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 what it means to unlearn scarcity, how to resist burnout, and why rest is a radical act of self-preservation for women of color. Ruchika opens up about her own experiences balancing authorship, motherhood, and identity while challenging capitalism’s grip on our worth.

It’s an honest, hopeful, and much-needed reminder that we don’t have to play by the old rules to create abundance.

📘 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
• Rest is Resistance by Tricia Hersey
• “Spoon Theory” — by Christine Miserandino

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In this unfiltered Brown Ambition mama check-in, Mandi sits down with fellow podcasters and moms Jessica Norwood and Rana Campbell for an honest conversation about motherhood, depression, grief, survival mode, and rediscovering joy amidst the chaos.

Mandi opens up about her battle with depression and what it means to mother while navigating mental health challenges. Rana shares her journey through grief and juggling caregiving for both her children and her ailing mother. Jessica reflects on living with chronic pain, parenting through fatigue, and the gratitude that comes with having support.

Together, the trio talk about the silent struggles moms face—postpartum transitions, work-from-home pressures, and the impossible balance between self-care and survival—and how they’re each reclaiming small pockets of joy in their everyday lives.

💡 You’ll Learn

• Mandi opens up about living with depression and the complexity of being a mom in survival mode.
  -Rana on grief, caregiving, and trying to shield her kids from chaos.
  -Jessica shares how chronic pain impacts her motherhood and the value of having a supportive partner.
  -The invisible weight of motherhood—mental load, burnout, and the myth of “having it all.”
  -The guilt of “just surviving”—and redefining what thriving really means.
  - Finding joy in small ways: cooking, gardening, dancing, and laughter.. -The need for community, support, and sisterhood among mothers.

🧠 Key Takeaways

• Depression is a liar: It tells you you’re alone, unworthy, or toxic—but speaking it aloud breaks its power.
• Moms need mothering too: Community care and physical presence matter as much as emotional support.
• Joy can be small and deliberate: A home-cooked meal, a dance break, or a solo coffee can change your day.
• Workplace empathy is survival: Corporate policies must evolve to support mothers’ well-being.
• Healing requires honesty: Naming what hurts opens space for connection, laughter, and growth.

Episode Challenge

Take one small action this week that’s just for you—no kids, no chores, no guilt.
Cook, dance, nap, or call a friend who gets it. Because joy counts, even in the messy middle.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.