EsaysPsays

ESaysPSays | Your Biweekly Dose of Black Love

We’re back!!

365 Tips took over our lives for a minute, but we missed you — and we’re so grateful for how friends and family have been picking up the book. Thank you for the support.

💬 What’s covered:

Remembering Dolly Parton — her generosity, her authenticity, and what her decades-long marriage taught us about staying true to yourself while loving someone who didn’t want the spotlight.

Career success or relationship success — which matters more? A real, unresolved conversation about ambition, support, race and workplace culture, stay-at-home vs. working parenthood, and what “success” even means at different life stages.

A quick 365 Tips update — out now, selling well, and available signed if you want your copy personalized.

Bonus tangent: cell phone bans in schools, and why reading-rich households raise readers.

Connect with us: mockmediagroup.com | [email protected] | buymeacoffee.com/mockmediagroup | @esayspsays on FB, IG and TikTok |

https://substack.com/@mockmediagroup

Want to pick up a copy of 365 Tips On How To Avoid Divorce Court

365 Book Links

Amazon - Unsigned

https://a.co/d/03joMCHk - Premium

https://a.co/d/0cXieps2 - Journal

Square Link - Signed

https://square.link/u/lHu7ZApl - Premium

https://square.link/u/GYIT5UR5 - Journal

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 [email protected]

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

📧 [email protected]

FB, IG and TikTok - @esayspsays

YouTube - @esayspsayslive

Etsy Shop - ezztees

☕ buymeacoffee.com/mockmediagroup

📰 Mock Minute on Substack: substack.com/@mockmediagroup

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

📧 [email protected]

☕ buymeacoffee.com/mockmediagroup

📰 Mock Minute on Substack: substack.com/@mockmediagroup

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

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: [email protected]

Subscribe so you don't miss Part 2 💛

#EsaysPsays #BlackLove #BlackPodcast #FinancialLiteracy #MoneyMindset #BudgetingTips #FinancialFreedom #DebtFreeJourney #BlackWealth #PersonalFinance #PodcastLife #MarriedLife

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: [email protected]

Subscribe so you don't miss the next episode 💛

#EsaysPsays #BlackLove #BlackMarriage #RelationshipPodcast #RelationshipBuzzwords #DatingLanguage #CuffingSeason #Situationship #ConsciousDating #MarriedLife #BlackCouples #BlackPodcast #PodcastLife #LoveAndGrowth #37YearsStrong

Money is one of the top reasons couples divorce — so why don't we talk about it more honestly? This week, Paul and Ellyn get real about finances in marriage. From the "ambush method" to shared goals and hard lessons learned, they share what's helped them navigate 37 years of financial ups and downs together.

Plus, there is a question they had asked about open relationships. Listen to Paul's response.

In This Episode:

Why money conversations are so hard in marriage

How different money personalities can work together

The importance of weekly financial check-ins

Practical first steps if you're starting from zero

Connect with us:

🌐 mockmediagroup.com

📧 [email protected]

☕ buymeacoffee.com/mockmediagroup

📰 The Mock Minute on Substack

🛍️ EzzTees on Etsy

Follow us:

@mockmediagroup and @esayspsays on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube

Disclaimer: We are not therapists or financial experts. Just two people sharing lessons from 37 years of love and hoping something helps someone else.

#BlackLove #BlackMarriage #EsaysPsays #BlackPodcast #MarriageGoals #FinancesInMarriage #BlackFinance #Cheersto37Years

“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 - [email protected]

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

Join us for another episode as we discuss strange global relationship traditions. We span the globe from Austria, Asia, Finland, Africa, and America. Take a listen and learn something new, and have a laugh. As mentioned in the episode, we are sponsored by our Esays/Psays Hoodie and Tee. Please see the link below.

mockmediagroup.com

buymeacoffee.com/mockmediagroup

FB, IG and Youtube - @mockmediagroup.com

Patreon Link - https://www.patreon.com/posts/finland-bans-153222742?

Etsy - https://ezztees.etsy.com/listing/1651825908 - Tee

Etsy - https://ezztees.etsy.com/listing/1650366604 - Hoodie

Unbelievable though it may be this example of Black Love had a moment where it didn't seem like we would be moving forward. It was around the time of our 13th year of wedded bliss. We just couldn't keep it together. And we were really petty with our disagreements. So take a listen in as we discuss how we got to the other side. We also pay tribute to our Uncle Pouncy who was a Tuskegee Airmen that passed away at the end of the year. Want to hear more about this great man. Please click the link below to see Congresswoman Macbath of Atlanta pay tribute to him as well. And finally we discuss joy in our Mock Minute and pay tribute to our friend and Mental Health champion, Dashana Jefferies who has achieved the milestone of getting her doctorate and now is known as Doctor Dash. The link to follow her on facebook is below. And the link to her new book is there as well. Finally we are sponsored by Vignettes From A South Central Son, Pt I. Paul's first step into the Author arena. The link is below as well. Hope you enjoy!! Don't forget to subscribe and share so you don't miss an episode.

Facebook and IG @mockmediagroup

website - www.mockmediagroup.com

Hillard Pouncy Tribute - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHhPoUmJkdA

Hillard Pouncy Book - https://a.co/d/01iiHhTd

Dashana Jefferies - @passport 2breathe @dashanajefferies

Dashana's Book - https://a.co/d/0irgXzFI

Paul's Book - https://a.co/d/0dRATVUT

Happy New Year!! Yes our episodes are a little off. We are working on getting in synch. However, it is never too late for a Happy New Year!! So listen in while Paul and Ellyn discuss 10 items on their bucket list as a couple that they would like to do in the future or have completed during their 36 years of marriage. And stay tuned for a feisty Mock Minute where Ellyn says she feels homeless in America and Paul says it with his chest. So enjoy the discussion. Below are the links to mentions in our episode.

Esays/Psays Tee - https://www.etsy.com/listing/1651825908/esays-psays-tee

Esays/Psays Hoodie - https://www.etsy.com/listing/1650366604/esayspsays-hoodie

SB Mowing - https://www.youtube.com/@SBMowing

FB - @mockmediagroup

IG - @mockmediagroup

TikTok - @esayspsays @ezztees

Website - mockmediagroup.com

Buy Me A Coffee - buymeacoffe.com/mockmediagroup