EsaysPsays

Paul and Ellyn Mock

What happens when a girl from Brooklyn and a boy from South Central Los Angeles find each other in college — and never let go? 37 years of marriage. 43 years of friendship. And enough real life between them to fill a book. EsaysPsays is the candid, unfiltered conversation of Paul and Ellyn Mock — told from our perspective. A special educator who survived the streets of South Central. A Brooklyn girl who grew up worlds apart but loved the same man through all of it. Together they've navigated young love, culture clash, grief, financial strain, family chaos, faith and a whole lot of laughter. This isn't a perfect marriage podcast. It's an honest one. New episodes every two weeks. Because real love stories don't have a finale — they just keep going. #BlackLove #BlackMarriage #Cheersto37Years #37YearsAndCounting

  1. Aug 19

    Finance W/Michael Collison, PT 2

    Back to Back Episode BONUS: To make up for the missed week, we are dropping another episode this week. Enjoy!! This Week - Financial Series Part 2: Debt, Investing & Building Wealth with Michael Collison ESaysPSays | Your Biweekly Dose of Black Love Michael Collison — retired software engineer turned certified financial coach — returns for round two, and this conversation goes deep. Ellyn and Michael dig into the mindset shifts that actually move the needle on money, not just the tactics. 💬 What's covered: The budget-first philosophy — why Michael believes investing and saving mean nothing without a real budget as the foundation, and why "hiding money from yourself" is a sign your money doesn't have a job yet. Is it ever okay to carry debt? — Michael breaks down when low-interest debt (like a mortgage) can actually work in your favor if the market outperforms the interest rate — and why that logic doesn't apply to credit card debt. Snowball vs. Avalanche — actually, neither — Michael's controversial take: the real fix for large debt isn't picking a payoff method, it's stopping the overspending first. "Stop the bleeding" before you attack the balance. Beginner investing 101 — Why your 401(k)/403(b) match is step one, and why inflation (his "silent killer") means stopping there isn't enough. Busting the Bitcoin myth — Michael's honest take on why chasing lottery-ticket returns isn't a wealth strategy, and what diversification really looks like. Salary negotiation & knowing your value — Why understanding your market value (and whether your skills are scarce or a commodity) matters more than negotiating tactics. The most underrated income stream — Michael makes the case for asset appreciation as passive income, using his son's brokerage account and Tim Cook's Apple stock compensation as real-world examples. Michael's most expensive financial mistake — an honest, personal answer about early withdrawals and lost compounding time. Recovering from a financial setback — it starts with being willing to actually look at the numbers, no matter how hard that is. 🔗 Connect with Michael Collison: yourfirejourney.coach or michaelcollison@yourfirejourney.coach Michaels Mentioned Tools: YNAB - You Need a Budget - ynab.com Book - Business Model You - businessmodelyou.com Disclaimer: Paul and Ellyn are not financial advisors - Michael Collison is a professional in this field, but this conversation is for informational purposes only and isn't a substitute for personalized financial advice. Connect with us: 🌐 mockmediagroup.com 📧 mockmediagroup4@gmail.com FB, IG and TikTok - @esayspsays YouTube - @esayspsayslive Etsy Shop - ezztees ☕ buymeacoffee.com/mockmediagroup 📰 Mock Minute on Substack: substack.com/@mockmediagroup

    Finance W/Michael Collison, PT 2
  2. Aug 13

    Romantic Film Rewind

    This week, Ellyn and Paul step away from their usual relationship deep dive to celebrate the movies that have shaped how they see love, partnership, and commitment. Five films, five decades, one couple who's been watching (and debating) together for almost 40 years. 🎬 The Lineup: Claudine (1974) — Diahann Carroll and James Earl Jones star in this raw, honest look at love, single motherhood, and the impossible math of poverty and welfare in 1970s New York. Ellyn and Paul reflect on watching it as kids during Sunday movie marathons — and what hits differently as adults. The Greatest (1977) / Ali (2001) — Muhammad Ali plays himself in the original, and Will Smith takes on the role in the acclaimed remake. Ellyn shares a core memory: her father taking her to see this in theaters — a rare outing that made it unforgettable. Pretty Woman (1990) — Julia Roberts and Richard Gere in the ultimate "wrong side of the tracks" love story. Ellyn and Paul unpack the class commentary tucked inside the fairy tale — and why "big mistake, big mistake" never gets old. A Thin Line Between Love and Hate (1996) — Martin Lawrence, Lynn Whitfield, and Bobby Brown in a movie that went in a completely different direction than they expected. Spoiler: it's not the comedy the trailer promised. Love & Basketball (2000) — Omar Epps and Sanaa Lathan's decades-spanning love story, one that Paul and Ellyn hold close as one of their all-time favorites. 🏅 Honorable Mentions: Mahogany, When Harry Met Sally, Ghost, Boomerang, The Best Man, and Four Brothers 💬 Mock Minute Segment: What do you do when your partner's family treats you differently — and who's responsible for addressing it? Ellyn and Paul share their take on speaking up, red flags, and knowing when someone is (or isn't) truly "your person." 📣 Join the conversation: What are YOUR top 5 romantic films? Email or comment and let us know — Ellyn and Paul want to hear your list. ESaysPSays | Your Biweekly Dose of Black Love Connect with us: 🌐 mockmediagroup.com 📧 mockmediagroup4@gmail.com ☕ buymeacoffee.com/mockmediagroup 📰 Mock Minute on Substack: substack.com/@mockmediagroup

    Romantic Film Rewind
  3. Jul 21 ·  Bonus

    Finances with Michael Collison, PT 1

    This week, Ellyn and Paul sit down with financial planner Michael Collison for a refreshingly honest conversation about money — growing up with less, learning to budget the hard way, and why "I'll have more money someday" isn't actually the fix people think it is. In this episode: 👦🏾 Michael's early money story — growing up the son of a single mom in D.C., wanting Izod shirts he couldn't have, and the budget his mother literally made him fax her before she'd lend him a dime. 🎯 The belief that holds most people back: thinking a higher income solves everything (spoiler — it doesn't), plus a nod to Ramit Sethi's I Will Teach You To Be Rich 🧭 How Michael defines real financial success: not net worth, but financial independence and generational security 📋 The habit that matters most — living through your budget, not just writing one 💳 Why "The Matrix" is the perfect metaphor for credit card debt (and why the credit card companies are counting on you not paying it off) 🪜 The 3 steps to take if you're starting from zero: financial priorities, a real budget, and weekly check-ins ⚖️ Saving vs. investing vs. paying off debt — and why funding your essentials always comes first 📉 The single biggest budgeting mistake Michael sees: tracking expenses instead of setting limits 🌪️ A real-life "financial tsunami" — how a $15K AC/furnace disaster tested Michael's own emergency fund 📊 A quick word on the 50/30/20 rule — and why Michael thinks it should bend to your personal priorities Michael's tool of choice: YNAB (You Need A Budget) — ynab.com Connect with Michael: yourfirejourney.coach michael@yourfirejourney.coach Disclaimer: Ellyn and Paul are not financial advisors — Michael Collison is a professional in this field, but this conversation is for informational purposes only and isn't a substitute for personalized financial advice. Connect with us: Facebook: esayspsays Instagram: @esayspsays TikTok: @esayspsays YouTube: @esayspsayslive X: @esayspsays Etsy shop: ezztees Website: mockmediagroup.com Newsletter: substack.com/@mockmediagroup Email: mockmediagroup4@gmail.com Subscribe so you don't miss Part 2 💛 #EsaysPsays #BlackLove #BlackPodcast #FinancialLiteracy #MoneyMindset #BudgetingTips #FinancialFreedom #DebtFreeJourney #BlackWealth #PersonalFinance #PodcastLife #MarriedLife

    Finances with Michael Collison, PT 1
  4. Jul 7

    Relationship Buzzwords

    Esays/Psays — Your Biweekly Dose of Black Love Apparently, while Ellyn and Paul have been busy staying married for 37 years, the dating world went ahead and invented a whole new language. This week they're breaking down the latest relationship buzzwords — and giving their very honest, very married take on each one. Spoiler: some of these are just old habits with new names. Buzzwords covered this episode: 🏠 Accommodating — dating someone primarily because they have housing. Paul's word for it? Freeloading. 💛 Conscious Dating — ditching the search for love to become love first. Self-care, journaling, and getting yourself right before bringing someone else into the picture 🧣 Cuffing Season — scrambling for a plus-one exclusively for the cold and holiday months 💼 Daterview — a date that feels more like a job interview. Career, earnings, goals, prospects — all on the table 🥤 Dry Dating — no alcohol, no drunken disasters. Just real conversation and no regrets ☀️ Freckling — a swift and happy summer fling ♻️ Green Dating — recycling an old flame, at least until something new comes along 🎡 Groundhogging — keep dating the same type of person and wondering why you keep ending up in the same place 🪳 Roaching — secretly seeing multiple people while pretending to be exclusive. And yes, they issue a very real health warning with this one 🤷🏾‍♀️ Situationship — almost a relationship, romantic but undefined. Exciting or frustrating depending on what you actually want 👀 Orbiting — telling someone you're not interested, then lurking on all their socials. Ellyn and Paul both agree — that's just stalking This week's Mock Minute: Milo's Sweet Tea Lemonade — how it became a household staple and why Ellyn keeps two or three bottles on rotation at all times. Find it at Walmart, Sheetz, or Dollar General. Disclaimer: Ellyn and Paul are not therapists — just sharing their story to help others through it. Connect with us: Facebook: esayspsays Instagram: @esayspsays TikTok: @esayspsays YouTube: @esayspsayslive X: @esayspsays Etsy shop: ezztees - https://ezztees.etsy.com Website: mockmediagroup.com Newsletter: substack.com/@mockmediagroup Email: mockmediagroup4@gmail.com Subscribe so you don't miss the next episode 💛 #EsaysPsays #BlackLove #BlackMarriage #RelationshipPodcast #RelationshipBuzzwords #DatingLanguage #CuffingSeason #Situationship #ConsciousDating #MarriedLife #BlackCouples #BlackPodcast #PodcastLife #LoveAndGrowth #37YearsStrong

    Relationship Buzzwords
  5. May 26

    It's Our Anniversary!! 37 Years of Black Love!!

    “It’s Our Anniversary” What happens when two young people in love try to figure out marriage, adulthood, family expectations, and real life all at the same time? In this anniversary episode of Esays/Psays, Paul and Ellyn reflect on their wedding journey, moving to Los Angeles, family chaos, early marriage expectations, grief, growth, and the realities of building a life together over 37 years. From sneaking around for airport pickups on New Year’s Eve in South Central Los Angeles to finding a $299 Vegas wedding package in the classifieds, this episode blends humor, honesty, reflection, and emotional storytelling. The Mocks discuss: Running away to Los Angeles before the wedding Culture shock and adjustment in a new city Getting married young and unprepared Family involvement in wedding planning Grief shortly after marriage Early marriage expectations Learning to solve problems together Why long marriages require teamwork, flexibility, and friendship Plus: A Mock Minute featuring EzzTees Stories from the Annapolis Book Festival A preview of the upcoming finances and retirement series Locate us at: Spotify - @esayspsays Applepodcast - @esayspsays Youtube - @mockmediagroup E-mail - mockmediagroup4@gmail.com You can find us on Social Media at: FB - @mockmediagroup and @esayspsays IG - @mockmediagroup and @esayspsays Website - mockmediagroup.com Author Site - vignettesfromasouthcentralson.com Amazon - https://a.co/d/05bQkoAz Buy Me a Coffee - buymeacoffee.com/mockmediagroup

    It's Our Anniversary!!  37 Years of Black Love!!

About

What happens when a girl from Brooklyn and a boy from South Central Los Angeles find each other in college — and never let go? 37 years of marriage. 43 years of friendship. And enough real life between them to fill a book. EsaysPsays is the candid, unfiltered conversation of Paul and Ellyn Mock — told from our perspective. A special educator who survived the streets of South Central. A Brooklyn girl who grew up worlds apart but loved the same man through all of it. Together they've navigated young love, culture clash, grief, financial strain, family chaos, faith and a whole lot of laughter. This isn't a perfect marriage podcast. It's an honest one. New episodes every two weeks. Because real love stories don't have a finale — they just keep going. #BlackLove #BlackMarriage #Cheersto37Years #37YearsAndCounting