Badass Basic Bitch

Born and raised in New Jersey, Hala started her career at Hot97! After being fired and cut off three years into working for free, she used that experience to launch herself into success. But it didn’t come easy! The next 5 years, Hala saw ups and downs, being promised two MTV opportunities to only be taken away. Hala Taha is now the host of Young and Profiting Podcast, frequently ranked as a #1 Education podcast across all apps. Hala is also the CEO of YAP Media, a full-service social media and podcast marketing agency for top podcasters, celebrities and CEOs projected to generate over $1M in revenue in its first year. She is well-known for her engaged following and influence on Linkedin, and she landed the January 2021 cover of Podcast Magazine. She started Young and Profiting Podcast and YAP Media as a side hustle, and now has several high-profile clients and over 40 employees. Hala is an expert on networking, personal branding, Linkedin marketing, side hustles, entrepreneurship, and podcasting.

Hindsight is 2020. It's easier to analyze and evaluate situations when we're looking back on them in the past than when we're in the present moment. Early 20s. Mid 20s. Late 20s. It’s insane how much someone can change in a decade and not even by force. It happens so quickly. It feels like yesterday, we were in our 20s complaining about whatever 20-year olds complain about. Now, we're Moms in our 30s! We may not have the same interests that we did when we were in our 20s, but there are certain things we wish someone told us during that time. Here are the 20 things we wish we knew in our 20s. 

Born and raised in Worcester, Massachusetts, Shana Sissel currently resides in Chicago as the Chief Investment Officer at Spotlight Asset Group, Inc. Growing up, Shana found herself involved with gangs at a young age. Desperate to turn her around, her cop-father enrolled her in finishing school, which opened Shana's eyes to pageant life. At 23, Shana serendipitously landed a job in finance, where she finally felt like she found her passion. But her life didn't get easier; shortly after she took that job, she was attending a work seminar in NYC on the 64th floor of 2 World Trade Center on 9/11. Listen to how Shana survived two of the most famous terrorist attacks on the US of not only 9/11 but the Boston Marathon Bombings. This is a story of grit and determination and how reinvesting in yourself will bring you opportunities you never thought you could have. 

You don’t have to be a superhero to uncover your very own secret superpower. A positive perspective may not send you soaring through the skies or teleporting to another dimension, but it just might change your life.
At first blush, you might think that this is all about seeing the world through rose-colored glasses or glossing over the bad things that happen. But, as Walt Disney once said, “I always like to look on the optimistic side of life, but I am realistic enough to know that life is a complex matter.” Because life is complex. It’s not always sunshine and blue skies. But how you choose to look at things changes everything.

Born into chaos, it took a long court battle before Ashley and her twin sister were handed over to her grandparents (who she calls Mom and Dad). Born and raised in New York, Ashley was loved deeply by her parents aside from her birth mom's ongoing battle with addiction, which ultimately took her life. As an adult, Ashley found herself falling in love and having a picture-perfect wedding. But it didn't last. Addiction seeped its way back into Ashley's life. And not long after the discovery of her husband's deep-rooted secrets, Ashley found herself battling a health issue, which left her questioning everything. 

Brianna was born in New York and raised by a single mom of 5 kids. She talks about her upbringing, which was filled with constant chaos, starting with a terrible accident when she was 4, to her life with an addict, her parent's ongoing divorce and all the ups and downs that come with it. Through her struggles with self-worth and battling an eating disorder for over a decade, Brianna found herself packing everything in her Honda Civic and moving 3,000 miles to California where she knew no one, to chase an entrepreneur dream. She found her passion, voice, and used her scrappiness and hardships to achieve something no one ever thought she could. Until, she found herself in the middle of her own divorce leaving her a single mom of 3. Listen in on the introduction and continue the journey as her story unfolds. 

Lover of all things beauty, style, food, and a self-proclaimed pro at finding the silver lining. Courtney believes that life is a gift and it's important to treasure the little things and find beauty in the day-to-day, no matter how messy it. Listen to how Courtney took an idea and passion and turned it into a following of over 1 Million! She'll take us through her childhood journey to saying goodbye to her superhero, her father, who passed away from aggressive Cancer.