When you talk about Christian hip-hop, one name always rises to the top of the conversation—Emanuel Lee Lambert, Jr., better known to fans as Da’ T.R.U.T.H.. For more than two decades, he has helped shape the sound and culture of the genre. Recently, he joined me on the phone to talk about where that journey […]

Take Control of Staying Out of Debt — Not Just Paying It Off It’s Take Control Tuesday, and this week Mansa Musa from MoneySmartLife.org shifts the conversation. We’ve talked about how to get out of debt. Now we’re asking a harder question. Why do people end up right back in it? Mansa keeps it real. […]

Oh my goodness. What a full-circle moment. Lisa Knowles-Smith pulled up to the studio like family. She was just in Toledo, made the 45-minute drive without hesitation. “I had to come check on you,” she said with a smile. That’s the energy she carries. Warm. Genuine. Kingdom-focused. We talked about the journey. Not just the […]

It’s Take Control Tuesday, and Mansa Musa from MoneySmartLife.org continues our series on breaking free from debt. Before we talk strategy, Mansa defines the real issue. Debt is future disposable income already committed to past spending. That’s why it feels heavy. Your paycheck arrives already spoken for and your flexibility shrinks before you even start […]

It’s Take Control Tuesday, and Mansa Musa from MoneySmartLife.org is back with a strategy most families overlook: cost avoidance. Not cutting back, skipping purchases or calling something “savings” because it was on sale. Cost avoidance is different. It’s money you never have to spend because you made a smart move earlier. For most working families, […]

It’s Take Control Tuesday, and Mansa Musa from MoneySmartLife.org is back with practical next steps for uncertain economic seasons. This week’s focus is simple—and powerful: get out of debt. Debt steals flexibility. It adds stress. And in changing times, flexibility matters more than ever. Five Simple Steps to Start Reducing Debt Know your numbers.List every […]

It’s Take Control Tuesday, and this week Mansa Musa from MoneySmartLife.org joins us with a timely reminder: the financial season is changing — and preparation matters more than panic. We’re all watching the headlines. Costs are shifting. Systems feel unstable. And for many families, the pressure is already real. Mansa puts it plainly. The global […]

When it comes to credit bureaus, most people only think about the big three—Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. But as Mansa Musa explains, there are dozens more reporting agencies that can impact your financial life. These specialty bureaus don’t give you a score, but they do share your information with employers, landlords, banks, and insurers. And […]

This week on Take Control Tuesday, Mansa Musa from MoneySmartLife.org calls out a money move most couples never rethink — joint credit cards. Here’s the quick truth. Joint cards cut your credit power in half. One shared $5,000 card stays $5,000 total. Two separate $5,000 cards? Now you’ve got $10,000 in capacity. They also double […]

Spending less than you earn creates margin, peace, and opportunity. Mansa Musa explains how lifestyle creep starts, why margin matters, and simple steps you can take today to regain control.