Eating While Broke

Host Coline Witt welcomes Lakeisha Landrum Pierre, founder and managing partner of Emily Line Venture Capital, for a conversation about venture capital’s influence, the industry’s barriers for women and people of color, and why representation among check-writers matters. Lakeisha cooks a low-cost Colombian coconut rice with raisins inspired by her broke grad school days at Harvard, and shares her background growing up in Los Angeles with deep entrepreneurial family roots in real estate, including the impact of the 2008 crash on Black wealth.

She discusses choosing finance and business after briefly studying theology, the role of education and relationships in her career, and taking on major leadership roles early—such as becoming COO of a $10M ARR e-commerce startup at 20.

Lakeisha outlines how Emily Line Ventures invests in women-led and mixed-gender founding teams, typically at early stages (often around $500K–$1M+ revenue in the current market), and focuses heavily on women’s health areas like maternal health, endometriosis diagnostics and treatments, fertility, menstrual health, and menopause/perimenopause. 

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Host Coline Witt welcomes streamer and content creator Zoe Spencer to an episode of "Eating While Broke," where Zoe cooks her throwback meal: pork and beans with cut-up hot dogs, butter, pepper, and sugar, served with rice (or bread). While cooking, Zoe talks about growing up in a two-parent, middle-class household in Brooklyn with hardworking parents, her early jobs (a supermarket at 16, Burlington through college, and a bank job after graduating in May 2022), and how she was fired from the bank due to a branch shutdown and let go from Burlington for constantly posting her shifts.

Zoe discusses creating staged-but-unscripted blind date videos, transitioning into Twitch, differences between YouTube RPM and Twitch’s real-time subs/donations, and a successful collab with Sexyy Red arranged through her team. She shares that she’s building a mostly Black women-led team, and says her biggest challenge is staying focused and consistent, noting she can stream 8–12+ hours when locked in.

Zoe opens up about streaming feeling less fun and more performative, her desire to pursue acting through classes, self-tapes, and auditions, and her interest in comedy while also wanting challenging roles like horror or serious drama, including a dream project with Regina Hall.  

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Laugh your way through the grind with this episode of Eating While Broke! Host Coline Witt welcomes stand-up powerhouse Usama Siddiquee for a raw, hilarious, and inspiring look at the real life of a comedian chasing big dreams in New York City.

Usama opens up about deferring med school, surviving on bagels, the relentless hustle of the NYC comedy scene, and the cultural expectations from his immigrant family. From homelessness to viral laughs, Usama’s story is packed with humor, honesty, and lessons in perseverance. Get ready for wild anecdotes, heartfelt moments, and a masterclass in never giving up on your craft.

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In this inspiring episode of Eating While Broke, host Coline Witt sits down with entrepreneur and changemaker Camara Jackson, founder of Elite Learners, Inc. Discover how Camara transformed her personal battle with sickle cell disease into a powerful mission—building a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that uplifts youth and families across New York City.

Camara shares the real story behind Elite Learners: from overcoming challenges and securing funding, to developing innovative youth programs and advocating for community safety. You’ll get a glimpse into her daily resilience, the impact of COVID-19, and how a simple fried chicken meal connects to her roots and vision.

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Dive into the world of creative hustle in this episode of Eating While Broke! Host Coline Witt sits down with renowned filmmaker and producer Alexx Media, the visionary behind viral comedy specials and co-owner of WTF Studios. 

Alexx opens up about his rise from humble beginnings to directing Andrew Schulz’s Netflix special, “Schulz Saves America,” and building a powerhouse production company. He shares the real stories behind his unique struggle meals—including a wild Honey Nut Cheerios remix—and reveals how resilience, collaboration, and business savvy shaped his career.

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In this episode of “Eating While Broke,” host Coline Witt is joined by entrepreneur and entertainer Ranagade PerRana. The duo dives into Ranagade’s version of a classic struggle meal featuring eggs, bread, cream cheese, and smoked salmon—an easy, budget-friendly dish with a luxe twist.  

As they cook, Ranagade shares her journey from Iran to Los Angeles, her passion for cannabis culture, and how she became a professional blunt roller for celebrities like Snoop Dogg. They talk about the realities of being an artist, maintaining discipline, and building a sustainable business in the cannabis space.  

This episode blends food, entrepreneurship, and cannabis industry game in a raw, entertaining conversation.

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In this episode of “Eating While Broke,” host Coline Witt welcomes special guest Johnny Ray Gill as they explore the art of preparing a whole fish on a budget. Johnny shares his recipe for baked whole fish, a dish he learned in Ghana, highlighting its affordability, rich flavors, and cultural roots.  

They walk through a variety of seasonings—including cumin, garlic, cinnamon, and dill—and talk about the communal, family-style nature of serving a whole fish. While the meal cooks, Johnny opens up about his acting journey, the realities of financial stability as an artist, and his reflections on poetry, music, therapy, and personal growth.  

This engaging episode blends budget-friendly cooking, storytelling, and life lessons, offering viewers both culinary inspiration and real-world wisdom about navigating the entertainment industry and finances.

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In this episode of “Eating While Broke,” host Coline Witt sits down with Atreyu “Reu” Rahmen, the entrepreneur behind Venice Beach’s popular spot, Wang’s N Thangs. Reu shares the incredible story of his journey from a federal camp to owning a thriving restaurant on Venice Beach.  

They dive into his experiences cooking in jail, the birth of his unique wing recipes, and the challenges and rewards of starting a restaurant after incarceration. Along the way, Reu teaches Coline how to make his signature “broke dish”—a flavorful rice paper sardine veggie roll inspired by his time inside.  

Tune in for a powerful, heartwarming conversation about redemption, second chances, entrepreneurship, street hustle turned business savvy, and the power of good food to change a life.

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In this episode of Eating While Broke, host Coline Witt sits down with Serbian pop sensation DIDI J to explore her inspiring journey from Serbia to the US music charts. DIDI J opens up about the challenges she faced, her dreams of winning a Grammy, and what it takes to succeed in the competitive music industry.  

As they chat, she whips up some mouthwatering pancakes, giving us a taste of her culinary side while sharing stories about her career, motherhood, and her latest chart-climbing single, 'I Like It'.  

Don't miss this heartfelt and inspiring conversation with a rising star who’s making waves in the music world!  

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In this special episode of "Eating While Broke," host Coline Witt welcomes Grammy Award–nominated songwriter and recording artist Tiana Major9. Together, they prepare a staple dish from Tiana's childhood: cornmeal porridge.

During the cooking session, Tiana discusses her Jamaican heritage, upbringing, musical journey, and experiences in the music industry, including signing with Motown and touring with artists like Jazmine Sullivan and Adele. Join them for an engaging conversation and learn how to make a delicious, affordable dish close to Tiana's heart.

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