Coffee No Cream

Erin Braxton

A podcast celebrating Black women's unique journeys in business. Whether you're an entrepreneur, corporate climber, or finding your path, we share authentic "Coffee No Cream Moments" – those distinctly Black girl experiences that become catalysts for growth, bold action, and powerful career pivots. No complaints – just real stories and celebrations of resilience from those who truly understand the walk.

  1. 1d ago

    Coffee No Cream Ep. 60 – Everybody Can't Be Your People

    Three Black women. Three different exits. One conversation the church doesn't want you to have. In this panel episode, Erin sits down with Abby The Attorney, Tammy Triolo, and Ashanti, The Unpunishable Woman, to talk about what it really looks like to leave organized religion. Not the sanitized version. The real one. The grief, the freedom, the rape nobody talked about, the community you lose, and the self you find on the other side. This isn't an attack on faith. It's an honest conversation about what happens when the institution stops serving the women holding it up, and what Black women find when they finally walk away. If you've ever sat in a pew feeling like something was off, this episode is for you.🎙️ Guests: Abby The Attorney TikTok Instagram YouTube LinkedIn: April Holloway Tammy Triolo Website: (The Empathy Gap & Empathy Scorecard) TikTokAshanti, The Unpunishable Woman YouTube TikTok Substack☕ Coffee No Cream is a podcast dedicated to Black women sharing the moments, challenges, and lessons that shape our professional and entrepreneurial journeys. 📌 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the Coffee No Cream Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📚 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Educational Resources⁠ (00:00) Intro cold open (01:37) Welcome / Erin's intro (04:39) Panelist introductions begin (04:46) Abby shares her background (Missionary Baptist) (08:05) Tammy shares her background (Pentecostal) (10:39) "I was physically and emotionally dying in this place" (11:29) "I sat in the rest of that service and I never went back" (11:45) Ashanti shares her background (Jehovah's Witness) (18:51) Ashanti on JW discipline and shunning (21:08) The "called out" conversation begins (24:26) "I feel like I was called out of the faith" (25:31) Grieving community when you leave (29:43) "I was raped on Saturday and showed up to service on Sunday" (30:17) "Purity culture makes us perfect targets for sexual assault and rape" (51:08) Cult conversation — JW and Baptist compared (1:01:11) Why are Black women so attracted to the church? (1:05:21) "White women go to church. Black women ARE Christians." (1:09:17) Performing femininity on Sunday (1:39:06) Closing thoughts

    1h 58m

  2. Jun 17

    Coffee No Cream Ep. 59 – Everybody Can't Be Your People

    Have you ever completely cut someone off because they said something you didn't like? As I've gotten older, I've realized that not everyone belongs in the same box. Some people are your people. Some people are Hey Girl Hey. Some people are small doses. And some people need no access at all. In this episode, I'm talking about friendship, family, disappointment, expectations, and the lessons I've learned about giving people the right amount of access to my life. What box are the people in your life in? ☕ Coffee No Cream is a podcast dedicated to Black women sharing the moments, challenges, and lessons that shape our professional and entrepreneurial journeys. 📌 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the Coffee No Cream Community⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📚 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Educational Resources⁠ ☕ TIMESTAMPS (0:00) Everyone Can't Be My People (1:02) Have You Ever Broken Up With a Friend? (2:01) The Boxes We Put People In (4:25) Box #1: My People (10:04) Box #2: Hey Girl Hey (15:04) Box #3: You Know How They Are (25:20) Box #4: Small Doses (28:45) Box #5: No Access (31:03) Why We Put People in the Wrong Box (33:15) Final Thoughts

    33 min

  3. Jun 10

    Coffee No Cream Ep 58 - No Man. No Kids. No Apologies. | The Unpunishable Woman ft. Ashanti

    She has no man, no kids, and zero apologies about it. And she built a life that proves you don't need either one to win. Ashanti, known as The Unpunishable Woman, joins me on Coffee No Cream to talk about what it really means to be rooted, regulated, and resourced as a Black woman. Her story starts in a place most of us never talk about, being punished by her church for her own assault, and ends with her building a thriving consulting business, moving to New York, and amassing 200K TikTok followers in months by simply telling the truth. We get into faith, money, marriage, body autonomy, and why being chosen should never be the goal. If you've ever been told your independence is the problem, this one's for you. 🔗 Connect with Ashanti: YouTube TikTok Substack ☕ Coffee No Cream is a podcast dedicated to Black women sharing the moments, challenges, and lessons that shape our professional and entrepreneurial journeys. 📌 ⁠⁠⁠Join the Coffee No Cream Community⁠⁠⁠ 📚 ⁠⁠⁠Free Educational Resources⁠ ⏰ Timestamps (0:00) Intro (1:49) Welcome to Coffee No Cream (4:34) What is an Unpunishable Woman? (6:33) Growing up as a Jehovah's Witness (9:25) The judicial process after her assault (15:08) Her consulting career (24:14) "You need to leave and get to safety" (28:39) Choosing not to marry or have children (38:00) Money does not come from men (45:09) Why she would only marry strategically (54:56) Planning to be work optional by 41 (56:30) Why she moved to New York (1:04:08) Navigating beauty standards as a dark-skinned Black woman (1:05:03) The Jamaica theory

    1h 20m

  4. Jun 3

    Coffee No Cream - Ep 57 - Black Women Don't Have a Money Problem | Teri Williams, OneUnited Bank

    What does it really mean to build wealth as a Black woman? In this episode of Coffee No Cream, I sit down with Teri Williams, President and COO of OneUnited Bank, the largest Black-owned bank in the United States, to talk about money, entrepreneurship, corporate America, purpose, and the lessons Black women need to hear about wealth. Teri shares the story of her great-grandmother, an entrepreneur who helped shape her understanding of success long before Brown University or Harvard Business School. We discuss the difference between income and wealth, why many Black women underestimate their financial strengths, and how discrimination continues to impact financial outcomes. We also talk about navigating corporate environments, responding to negativity with grace, finding your calling, and why success should be defined on your own terms. If you're a Black woman building a career, a business, or a life that reflects your values, this conversation is for you.In this episode: Building wealth vs. building incomeThe legacy of Black entrepreneurshipLessons from the largest Black-owned bank in AmericaWhy Black women are often better with money than they realizeCorporate America, leadership, and navigating biasThe difference between your job and your callingResponding to negativity without losing yourselfAI, technology, and opportunities for the futureOpen a OneUnited Bank Account 🌐 OneUnited BankWatch Teri's podcast, Who's Your Ma Honey ☕ Coffee No Cream is a podcast dedicated to Black women sharing the moments, challenges, and lessons that shape our professional and entrepreneurial journeys. 📌 ⁠⁠Join the Coffee No Cream Community⁠⁠ 📚 ⁠⁠Free Educational Resources ⏰Timestamps (00:00) Highlights (01:39) Introduction (03:23) Meet Teri Williams, COO of OneUnited Bank (05:56) The Great-Grandmother Who Shaped Her Success (09:35) From Indian Town to Brown University (12:59) Why Teri Left American Express (15:52) Black Women, Wealth & the Real Problem (19:58) Why We Need Black-Owned Banks (24:18) Homeownership and Building Wealth (29:37) Financial Advice for Young Black Women (33:10) Credit Scores, Debt & Financial Health (38:42) Entrepreneurship vs Corporate America (44:31) Your Job vs Your Calling (49:12) Navigating Corporate Spaces with Grace (55:43) Why Teri Is Optimistic About AI (1:00:14) Technology, Business & the Future (1:04:55) Final Advice for Black Women (1:08:01) Supporting Black-Owned Banks (1:09:48) Closing Thoughts

    1h 12m

  5. May 27

    Coffee No Cream Ep 56 - Everybody Can't Consult | The Money You're Already Sitting On

    Everybody's telling you to consult. But is that really the move?If you've been thinking about leaving corporate and someone told you to "just start consulting," this episode is for you. Consulting can be lucrative, but it's not a quick money grab, and it's not for everyone. It takes time, network, strategy, and a willingness to sell yourself. And a lot of us don't want to do all that. Here's what nobody's talking about: you're probably already sitting on something you could be monetizing right now. Something that has nothing to do with your degree or your corporate career. Something people are already coming to you for. Maybe even something you've been giving away for free.In this episode, we talk about three questions that can help you figure out what that is and how to start making moves. Important Links 📌 ⁠Join the Coffee No Cream Community⁠ 📚 ⁠Free Educational Resources (0:00) Consulting isn't the quick money grab (0:32) Meet my sister, the pianist who won't monetize (4:07) You don't have to jump ship, the misconception (5:49) The Gen X degree allegiance (9:11) Black women have always been enterprising (13:20) Three ways you're already sitting on money (13:32) Question 1: What problem annoys you enough to solve? (18:08) Question 2: What do people always come to you for? (20:44) Question 3: What are you giving away for free? (24:58) Goldman Sachs cohort, business doesn't have to look one way (26:12) Go forth. Do you.

    27 min

  6. May 20

    Coffee No Cream Ep 55 - Yes, Claude... That Part. | Using AI to Find Your Value as a Black Woman

    Black women are some of the most brilliant, capable professionals in any room...and we are chronically underselling ourselves. Not because we don't work hard. Because we've been conditioned to describe our tasks instead of our value. And those are two very different things. In this episode, I'm doing something I've never done before. I'm sitting down with Claude live, on screen, and walking you through exactly how I use AI to extract my value from the work I've already done. No fancy prompts. No special training. Just talking. You're going to see me describe two of my projects and watch Claude reflect back something I wasn't fully seeing about myself. And yes... that part hit. Whether you're trying to move up, move out, or move into your own thing...you cannot get to the bag until you know what you're actually worth. This is that exercise. 🔗 Listen to Episode 43 📌 Join the Coffee No Cream Community 📚 Free Educational Resources TIMESTAMPS (00:00) What Claude Said About Me (01:28) Why Black Women Undersell Themselves (02:53) What We're Doing Today (04:33) Welcome to Coffee No Cream (06:00) You Don't Need Perfect Prompts (06:58) How I Set Up Claude to Challenge Me (08:31) Let's Get Into the Exercise (09:31) Project 1: The Grant Application That Wasn't a Form (14:00) Claude's Response — That's Not a Developer Skill (18:20) Project 2: 11 Years of Business Transformation (22:25) Claude's Response — You Kept a Company Alive (23:49) The Undercharging Moment (25:00) What Claude Saw Across Both Projects (28:00) You Are an Operational Architect (33:00) What This Means For You

    36 min

  7. May 13

    Coffee No Cream Ep 54 - Black Women: Your Algorithm is NOT Reality

    One year ago this week, I launched the Coffee No Cream podcast to create community, conversation, and support for Black women navigating life, business, work, relationships, and the unique experiences we carry every day. But one year later, I think we need a reset. In this anniversary episode, I’m talking about mental hygiene, overstimulation, algorithms, emotional exhaustion, online discourse, discernment, and how social media may be shaping the way we think more than we realize. This conversation is not anti-awareness, anti-community, or anti-social media. It’s about protecting our peace, thinking from within self, and making sure we don’t lose ourselves inside the noise. 👉🏿 Algorithms and emotional overload 👉🏿 Internet “experts” and chosen voices of influence 👉🏿 Why your feed is not reality 👉🏿 Overconsumption of discourse and outrage 👉🏿 Mental clutter and overstimulation 👉🏿 Why your mind needs quiet 👉🏿 Black women, discernment, and emotional boundaries 👉🏿 The difference between feeling seen and becoming psychologically trapped If you’ve been feeling mentally noisy, emotionally overwhelmed, overstimulated, or exhausted lately… this episode is for you. Subscribe for new episodes and conversations.------ ⁠Join our private Facebook community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get almost 2,000 Free Educational Resources⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Need help with your next move? Book a motion session with me.⁠⁠⁠⁠ (00:00) One year later… why Black women need a reset (03:15) Mental hygiene and emotional overstimulation (08:42) Checking our response to what we consume online (15:27) Feeling seen vs absorbing everyone else’s pain (21:06) Your chosen voices of influence matter (28:41) Charisma, internet experts & discernment (35:02) “Your algorithm is not reality” (42:18) Relationship discourse, race discourse & online narratives (50:34) Are you thinking for yourself or repeating the internet? (58:40) Checking what deserves your mental energy (1:06:12) Comments, outrage culture & emotional investment (1:13:47) The Goldman Sachs reset realization (1:19:55) Your mind needs quiet (1:25:21) Walking in silence & turning the noise off (1:31:06) Protecting your peace without disconnecting from reality (1:36:22) Final reflections on discernment, clarity & mental hygiene

    32 min

  8. May 6

    Coffee No Cream Ep 53 - Your Trauma Made You Powerful | A Conversation Black Women Need

    Some Black women don’t just survive trauma. They develop what Courageous calls “trauma upgrades.” In this episode of Coffee No Cream, Erin Braxton sits down with Courageous for a powerful conversation about survival, self-protection, emotional conditioning, healing, and the ways Black women learn to adapt in environments that were never designed to protect us. Together, they unpack the hidden cost of constantly being strong, the pressure to overperform, and how trauma can shape everything from relationships to business to identity. But they also explore how some of those same survival skills can become tools for transformation when we finally recognize what’s happening. This conversation is honest, emotional, reflective, and deeply familiar for many Black women. If you know, you know. ☕ Topics discussed: • Trauma upgrades • Survival patterns in Black women • Emotional conditioning • Overgiving and self-sacrifice • Healing and self-awareness • Identity and protection • Black women and resilience • The cost of always being “strong” Coffee No Cream is a podcast unapologetically dedicated to Black women navigating life, work, identity, and the unique experiences that come with being a Black woman in the world. Connect with Courageous Fire Facebook Instagram TikTok YouTube ⏰ TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Trauma upgrades + generational wealth(00:57) Introduction to Courageous Fire(03:46) Surviving domestic violence(05:58) Why Black women develop “x-ray vision”(09:20) Trauma upgrades explained(14:22) Learning survival skills through trauma(18:41) Why Black women overperform(24:48) The danger of constantly serving others(30:54) Black women, protection, and emotional labor(36:40) Mammy, Jezebel, Sapphire, and stereotypes(42:58) “They study Black women and then steal”(48:11) Why healing changes everything(54:30) Building safe spaces for Black women(58:55) The Homecoming event for Black women(1:04:48) Final thoughts + encouragement

    1h 15m
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Trailer

5
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

A podcast celebrating Black women's unique journeys in business. Whether you're an entrepreneur, corporate climber, or finding your path, we share authentic "Coffee No Cream Moments" – those distinctly Black girl experiences that become catalysts for growth, bold action, and powerful career pivots. No complaints – just real stories and celebrations of resilience from those who truly understand the walk.

Information

  • Creator
    Erin Braxton
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    61
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Erin Braxton
  • Show Website
    Coffee No Cream

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