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On this episode of the podcast I am joined by Auzerais Bellamy founder of Blondery, the modern dessert brand that earned national attention for its cult-favorite blondies and luxury-leaning approach to digital food culture. After formal pastry training, an internship in France, and years at Bouchon Bakery in Yountville, CA, Auzerais moved to Brooklyn and built Blondery into a beloved online bakery with partnerships ranging from Bloomingdale’s to Chase. Though the brick-and-mortar location has since closed, her work now extends far beyond dessert: her content and commentary focus on recovering from burnout, self-improvement, and accessible business insights for small business owners across all industries. Known for her candor, depth, and ability to blend storytelling with strategy, she’s shaping conversations at the intersection of entrepreneurship, creativity, and personal reinvention. This conversation is the one so many entrepreneurs need to hear: if your business didn’t make it, or is barely making it, it might not be you. We get into what it actually takes to fund and scale a business, why the “just get a grant, get a mentor” advice falls short for Black women, and why walking away from something you built isn’t failure. In this episode: * Growing up what watching Black women run restaurants taught her * From 500 orders out of a Brooklyn apartment to a nationally shipping bakery * Grants, mentorship programs, and investor meetings and why it still wasn’t enough * Is the average entrepreneur even a capitalist? Auzerais says no * Small and successful vs. scale at all costs and the retirement question nobody asks entrepreneurs * Closing the bakery, choosing a sabbatical, and moving to Mexico * How to be bold, advocate for yourself, and never let anyone talk you out of your destiny Connect with Auzerais:Substack | YouTube | Instagram This episode of Brandy Was Here the Podcast is brought to you in part by: Riverside.fm. For the podcaster or content creator who values quality, Riverside.fm makes the process from hitting record to publish seamless. The “Pie” app (People I Enjoy) is a social networking platform designed to help people make new friends and discover real-life events, run clubs, and dinner groups in their local cities. Start connecting with all the cool kids in your city. Brand Worthy Solutions, where the goal is to help you feel seen, heard and worthy. Support the podcast by living into the journey — grab your merch and more at BrandyWasHere.com. Be sure to like, subscribe and comment below. For the full Brandy Was Here experience, become a subscriber on Substack. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brandywashere.substack.com/subscribe

On this episode of the podcast I am joined by Deryle A. Daniels, Jr. husband, father, podcaster, fundraiser, storyteller, and founder of Dollars & Stories, where he helps small-to-midsized nonprofits raise money through fundraising and storytelling strategy. Born and raised in North Carolina and a proud UNC Greensboro alum, Deryle spent over a decade in development, marketing, and communications with universities, community organizations, and independent schools. He now lives in Mexico City with his wife and son, leaning into his joys which are travel, photography, exercising, and exploring global cuisine. Deryle believes fundraising works best when it’s done through story and in this conversation, he breaks down exactly how to tell stories that make people want to be part of them. We talk about growing up between Durham and Chapel Hill, building a career by saying yes before he felt ready, and what happened when the job ended and he chose freedom over the scramble. How a new country, a slower pace, and having space to dream without external pressures is fueling his passion to create and help organizations tell better stories. In this episode: * Why your donor isn’t the hero of the story but the guide * Impact reports vs. annual reports: what actually moves people to give * Why the elevator pitch is shorter than you think * Realizing every story isn’t yours to tell * Why Deryle and his family left the U.S. for Mexico City and how they invest in their new community * Making the case for being bored Connect with Deryle:Dollars & Stories This episode of Brandy Was Here the Podcast is brought to you in part by: Riverside.fm. For the podcaster or content creator who values quality, Riverside.fm makes the process from hitting record to publish seamless. The “Pie” app (People I Enjoy) is a social networking platform designed to help people make new friends and discover real-life events, run clubs, and dinner groups in their local cities. Start connecting with all the cool kids in your city. Brand Worthy Solutions, where the goal is to help you feel seen, heard and worthy. Support the podcast by living into the journey — grab your merch and more at BrandyWasHere.com. Be sure to like, subscribe and comment below. For the full Brandy Was Here experience, become a subscriber on Substack. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brandywashere.substack.com/subscribe

I'm BACK. After nearly three years away, I'm kicking off season five with the topic at the heart of it all: mastering your personal brand during the pivot. When life gets messy, most people go ghost disappearing until they can reemerge as a shiny "new" version of themselves. In this episode, I break down why that's the biggest branding mistake you can make, and how pivoting in public actually builds trust and community. In this episode: Why going ghost during hard times hurts your brand — and what to do instead My own story of rebuilding in public after my divorce Why your reputation IS your personal brand (yes, you have one) The difference between real vulnerability and oversharing The mindset and planning moves that keep you steady mid-pivot This episode of Brandy Was Here the Podcast is brough to you in part by Riverside.fm. For the podcaster or content creator who values quality Riverside..fm makes the process from hitting record to publish seamless. The "Pie" app (People I Enjoy) is a social networking platform designed to help people make new friends and discover real-life events, run clubs, and dinner groups in their local cities. Start connecting with all the cool kids in your city. Brand Worthy Solutions, where the goal is to help you feel seen, heard and worthy. Be sure to like, subscribe and comment below. For the full, Brandy Was Here experience become a subscriber on Substack. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brandywashere.substack.com/subscribe

On today’s episode of the podcast I’m joined by Ali J. Taylor, business consultant, TEDx speaker, and founder of Wisdom+Wayfinder, LLC. Brilliant but overextended founders hire Ali when the success they’ve worked so hard to create starts producing more fatigue than freedom. Through The Liberation Lab™, he helps entrepreneurs build the systems, decision frameworks, and accountability their business has been missing so they can shift from being their company’s hardest working employee to operating as a true CEO. Ali knows there’s a next level you’re trying to unlock and in this conversation, he breaks down exactly why the way you’re working isn’t getting you there. We talk business, but we also go deep discussing grief, resilience, boundaries, and deciding who you are before the world decides for you. In this episode: * Why you’re solving business problems with marketing solutions (and how to stop) * The systems and processes that unlock your next level * Why the guru playbook doesn’t work for your real life * How to build for your worst day to set the standard that keeps you consistent * Boundaries and accountability * Deciding who you are and making the world deal with it * Stepping out on Substack and sharing your lived experience Connect with Ali:Wisdom+Wayfinder | AliJTaylor.com | LinkedIn | Instagram This episode of Brandy Was Here the Podcast is brought to you in part by: Riverside.fm. For the podcaster or content creator who values quality, Riverside.fm makes the process from hitting record to publish seamless. The “Pie” app (People I Enjoy) is a social networking platform designed to help people make new friends and discover real-life events, run clubs, and dinner groups in their local cities. Start connecting with all the cool kids in your city. Brand Worthy Solutions, where the goal is to help you feel seen, heard and worthy. Support the podcast by living into the journey — grab your merch and more at BrandyWasHere.com. Be sure to like, subscribe and comment below. For the full Brandy Was Here experience, become a subscriber on Substack. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brandywashere.substack.com/subscribe

On this episode of Brandy Was Here the Podcast I am joined by Dr. Jonathan P. Higgins better known as DoctorJonPaul award-winning educator, national speaker, freelance journalist, and media critic whose work has been featured in Essence, Ebony, Complex, Out Magazine, BET, and Entertainment Weekly. A TEDx, SXSW, and Coachella featured speaker, they're the creator and host of the Webby-honored, Shorty Award-winning Black Fat Femme podcast and author of Black Fat Femme: Revealing the Power of Visibly Queer Voices in Media and How to Love Yourself, out now. In this episode: We get into what it really takes to show up authentically online (yes, even on LinkedIn), why playing respectability politics won’t save you, and how to protect your peace while telling the truth out loud. * Why getting fired was the best thing that ever happened to their brand * Respectability politics: why playing the game still won’t save you * Speaking up on LinkedIn when everyone says “that doesn’t belong here” * Authenticity vs. access and setting boundaries when people overstep * Networking as real connection, not collecting contacts for favors * The voice in your head that isn’t yours and how to talk back to it * Cuss ‘em out today so you can sleep better tonight 😌 Make sure you support my guest. For all things Doctor Jon Paul please visit www.DoctorJonPaul.com This episode of Brandy Was Here the Podcast is brought to you in part by: Riverside.fm. For the podcaster or content creator who values quality, Riverside.fm makes the process from hitting record to publish seamless. The “Pie” app (People I Enjoy) is a social networking platform designed to help people make new friends and discover real-life events, run clubs, and dinner groups in their local cities. Start connecting with all the cool kids in your city. Brand Worthy Solutions, where the goal is to help you feel seen, heard and worthy. Be sure to like, subscribe and comment below. Grab Dr. Jon Paul’s book and follow them everywhere — all links in the show notes. For the full Brandy Was Here experience, become a subscriber on Substack. Support the podcast by living into the journey grab your merch and more at BrandyWasHere.com. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brandywashere.substack.com/subscribe

On this solo episode, I’m talking about something I’ve been noticing everywhere: the interest deficit. Simply put why aren’t people more interesting? In this episode, I break down the reasons so many of us blend into the background, and I reveal exactly what you need to make yourself more interesting. Why does this matter? Interesting people don’t just capture our attention they’re memorable. No matter what you’re building — an audience, a business, a personal brand you need to be able to do more than catch people’s attention. You need to hold it. In this episode: * The interest deficit: what it is and why it’s growing * The real reasons people aren’t interesting * What you actually need to become more interesting * Why being memorable matters for your audience, business, and personal brand * How to hold attention, not just catch it I’m curious to know what you think so drop me a comment below. This episode of Brandy Was Here the Podcast is brought to you in part by: Riverside.fm. For the podcaster or content creator who values quality, Riverside.fm makes the process from hitting record to publish seamless. The “Pie” app (People I Enjoy) is a social networking platform designed to help people make new friends and discover real-life events, run clubs, and dinner groups in their local cities. Start connecting with all the cool kids in your city. Brand Worthy Solutions, where the goal is to help you feel seen, heard and worthy. Support the podcast by living into the journey — grab your merch and more at BrandyWasHere.com. Be sure to like, subscribe and comment below. For the full Brandy Was Here experience, become a subscriber on Substack. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brandywashere.substack.com/subscribe

Thank you to everyone who tuned into my live video! Join me for my next live video in the app. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brandywashere.substack.com/subscribe

Join me and my guest Colleen as she takes us on a journey of self-discovery, empowerment, and soul mission realization. We all possess an imprint to leave upon the world, and Colleen’s mission is to help us truly own it. She’s the host of “The Light Warriors Unleashed Podcast,” a platform where wisdom is shared, and empowerment flourishes. So, get ready to tap into your inner warrior as we delve into a conversation with Colleen Lindberg, exploring how to dismantle conformity, amplify our potency, and unleash our light. Stay tuned for an episode that’s set to ignite the spark of empowerment within you. Colleen has created a free video training for listeners called 3 Ways to Own your Truth in Life and Business, this is the link that I feel would benefit the message as to what we will lean into. ,,https://lightpreneurs.kartra.com/page/3waysfreeoffer To follow the podcast and join the community please visit www.brandywashere.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brandywashere.substack.com/subscribe

In this enlightening episode of Brandy Was Here the Podcast, we delve into the remarkable world of Spirit Babies with the incredible Elaine Lopez-Bogard. As a highly regarded Medical Intuitive and Energy Healer, Elaine specializes in empowering women to heal their womb spaces, release past traumas, and embark on a transformative journey toward motherhood. Join us as we explore how Elaine's unique approach has helped countless women overcome the challenges of infertility and pregnancy loss. Through her intuitive gifts, she guides women in reclaiming their inner strength and preparing their mind, body, and spirit for the profound experience of becoming mothers. Elaine's expertise extends beyond conventional methods. She facilitates a deep connection between expecting mothers and their Spirit Babies—the souls of their unborn children. Discover the power of conscious conception as Elaine shares her insights into connecting with these ethereal beings, fostering a sacred bond that paves the way for a harmonious journey into motherhood. As a special treat for our listeners, Elaine has generously offered a free digital download of her "Connect with your Spirit Baby" guided meditation. This guided meditation is a transformative experience designed to help you tap into the spiritual realm of pregnancy, bringing you closer to the soul of your future child. Ready to embark on a journey of healing, connection, and conscious conception? Tune in to this episode of Brandy Was Here the Podcast, and explore the profound wisdom that Elaine Lopez-Bogard brings to light. Don't miss out on the chance to nurture your spiritual connection with your future child and experience the transformative power of her insights. For your free digital download of the "Connect with your Spirit Baby" guided meditation, visit: https://healingthewomb.com/guided-meditation-opt-in/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brandywashere.substack.com/subscribe

Have you ever felt like you were psychic? Perhaps you have had experiences where there was an unexplainable inner knowing that guided you or previewed future events for you. Well today, its time to figure out how to use strengthen that intuition and unleash your abilties. My guest today is awesome mainly because we share the same name but also because she has spent her life communicating with the dead to help people heal and ultimately find their greater purpose. In this episode, I am honored to chat with Medium and Spiritual Mentor Brandi M. Van. We talk about intuition, childhood innocence, what the dead want us to know and how we can train ourselves to receive divine messages. Stay connected with Brandi on social @facebook.com/brandivanmedium, instagram.com/brandivanmedium https://www.instagram.com/BrandiVanMedium/ If you feel lead, go to www.brandivan.com enter your email to receive free e-book called Discover Your Unique Psychic Ability. Brandi is also enrolling for her mentorship program Jump-Start Your Psychic Abilities Mentorship program. If you like what you hear leave us a review! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brandywashere.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to "Brandy Was Here the Podcast" with a special guest, Famira Green! 🎙️ In this empowering episode, I get to dive into all things Gene Keys. My guest, Famira shares her expertise in authentically building communities by mastering messaging and crafting content that resonates with your audience. As the Your Gene Keys Connoisseur™, Famira guides you on a transformative journey of self-discovery through the Gene Keys system. Unlock the secrets of your unique design and learn how to craft a personalized blueprint that perfectly aligns with your individuality. Say goodbye to one-size-fits-all approaches! Famira empowers you to step out of the box and embrace your authentic self, providing invaluable insights to help you navigate your path with confidence and purpose. Get ready to embrace your true essence and thrive in a world tailored to your uniqueness. Connect with Famira online www.yourbrilliancecode.com https://instagram.com/iamfamira?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== Get your free gift: https://iamfamira.com/cgchecklist This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brandywashere.substack.com/subscribe

On today's episode we dive into the matrix of Human design and unlock how the body graph can be a blueprint for living your best life. My guest Kristen Toscano's life took an unexpected turn in 2015 when she was let go from her role as a physical therapist. After several years caught in a tug-of-war with herself, she embraced her true calling in 2020 as a Quantum Human Design™ Specialist and Coach. With a deep understanding of self-discovery, Kristen guides women through transformative journeys, helping them navigate identity, career, and relationship transitions. As their dedicated partner and cheerleader, she empowers clients to reconnect with their Authentic Selves and break free from the fears, doubts and ‘shoulds’ keeping them stuck. The outcome is remarkable growth, where confidence, peace, and joy flourish, leading to a life and work they genuinely love. Kristen is also gifting listeners with a free copy of their HD chart and a cheatsheet to better understand your design. Simply click this link: https://kristentoscano.com/start-here This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brandywashere.substack.com/subscribe

In this captivating episode of Brandy Was Here the Podcast, I sit down with Gabi Morales to learn how we can unlock the secrets to personal growth. Gabi has been been connected to her inner knowing & intuition since I she was a child and experienced life differently than those around her. She is deeply connected to the earth, to the ethereal experiences of the spiritual and rooted in her intuition. Gabi teaches us how to tap into our intuition, nurture our human spirit and unleash our true potential. You can learn more about Gabi and her work at https://linktr.ee/soulalchemie This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brandywashere.substack.com/subscribe

In this enlightening episode, my guest Angie McAllister dives deep into her personal evolution, emphasizing how psychological diagnoses can be limiting and harmful. After years of education in counseling and rediscovering her innate empathic abilities through meditation and Reiki, Angie now experiences the world as a vibrational being connected to Source and Universal Energy. She shares her clairsentient knowing, where her empathic abilities have grown, enabling her to channel Source and her higher self. By tapping into the mechanisms of the Universe, she empowers herself and others to manifest desired experiences through the Law of Attraction. Tune in as Angie guides listeners through the process of unlocking their own power to manifest. Drawing on intuitive connections with higher selves and source energy, she helps identify blocks in the manifestation process and guides individuals in remembering how to effectively utilize the Law of Attraction and their Emotional Guidance System. Additionally, Angie addresses the importance of healing shadow aspects, allowing listeners to create a clear signal for the Universe to work with. You can connect with Angie further on her website: http://universalrestorativeenergy.com/ and schedule a free, 20-minute discovery call. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brandywashere.substack.com/subscribe

On today's episode of the podcast I get to tap in and soak up the knowledge and wisdom from C’BS ALife (Absalom Massie)Allaah. He is an author, lecturer, researcher and Five Percenter who has built his career on educating youth and communities through the principles of Supreme Mathematics. In this conversation we discuss his upbringing, his travels to Africa, how to make sense of man being god and the crucial role our health plays in the development of our consciousness. You can learn more about Alife Allaah by following him on https://twitter.com/alifellah You can purchase The Hood Health Handbook Vol. 1 & 2 at Supreme Design Publishing https://supremedesignonline.com/product/the-health-wellness-book-deal/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brandywashere.substack.com/subscribe