The Big Bala Brands Podcast

This isn't another personal finance podcast about spreadsheets and sacrifice. Personal Finance Coach Bala goes deeper into the survival patterns, money trauma, and mindset blocks that no budget can fix. Build emotional wealth: the calm, confidence, and consistency that actually changes your financial life.

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Episodes

Saturday Sep 06, 2025

Most of us have heard it our whole lives: “Money is dirty.” “Money makes people greedy.” “Money is the root of all evil.”
Here’s the thing: money itself isn’t any of that. It isn’t good or bad, holy or corrupt. Money is neutral. It’s energy. A tool. A mirror of what we choose to do with it.
We’ll walk through how ancient cultures viewed wealth — from gods and goddesses tied to prosperity, to the way gold and trade were seen as blessings instead of curses. We’ll unpack why so many of us inherited negative “money stories” from family, culture, and religion… and how those beliefs quietly hold us back even today.
Inside this episode:
Where the “money is evil” myth really came from
Ancient perspectives that saw money as a blessing, not a burden
Why money is energy, and how it flows with intention
The hidden cost of believing money is dirty
Practical ways to shift your money mindset and rewrite your relationship with it
If you’ve ever felt guilty for wanting more, or wondered whether money could be something more than just bills and numbers — this episode is for you.
www.linkedin.com/in/bala-mangia
Link to Quick Money Mindset Quiz https://balamangia.myflodesk.com/gbvcpcehqo
@BigBalaBrands
 

Thursday Aug 28, 2025

What happens when you step outside your comfort zone and put yourself in the right room?
In this episode, I share my experience at InvestFest 2025 — a weekend packed with game-changing insights from leaders like Magic Johnson, Jack Dorsey, Ian Dunlap, and more. But beyond the big names on stage, the real lesson was simple: proximity changes everything.
From wealth-building strategies to the law of reciprocity, from AI’s impact on the future to how billionaires think in decades, not days — this episode isn’t just a recap. It’s a reminder that growth doesn’t come from staying home and scrolling. It comes from showing up, investing in yourself, and being in the room where the conversations are happening.
Whether you’re an entrepreneur, investor, or someone who just wants to stop surviving and start building, you’ll walk away with fresh perspective, actionable nuggets, and maybe the push you need to get into your next room.Follow me on my socials! 
www.linkedin.com/in/bala-mangia
Link to free money quiz: https://balamangia.myflodesk.com/gbvcpcehqo
@BigBalaBrands

Friday Aug 22, 2025

I didn’t learn my first big business lessons in a classroom. I learned them in the middle of the Christmas rush, running seasonal stores where the days were long, the pressure was nonstop, and the stakes felt sky-high.
It wasn’t glamorous — unloading trucks, building stores from scratch, dealing with crowds, and surviving 12-hour days. But those experiences became my “real-world MBA.”
In this episode, I’ll share what that grind taught me — lessons that still stick with me today:
Why cash in the register doesn’t mean profit in your pocket
How to stay grounded when chaos is all around you
The people skills you only pick up under pressure
And why resilience is worth more than any business plan
If you’ve ever been through a tough season and wondered what it was teaching you — this one’s for you.Follow me here:
www.linkedin.com/in/bala-mangia
Free Wealth Identity Quiz - https://balamangia.myflodesk.com/gbvcpcehqo
@BigbalaBrands

Friday Aug 15, 2025

Discussing my recent Weekend get away in the Pacific Northwest , unplugging , adventures and traveling! 
The benefits to our emotional and mental heath and growth ! 
Traveling allows you to step back and gain a new perspective on your life, helping you to reflect on where you are and where you want to go.
 
Disconnecting from daily routines and technology can lead to personal growth and introspection, providing a much-needed mental and emotional reset.
 
Exploring new places and cultures broadens your understanding of the world, offering fresh experiences and insights that enrich your life.
 
Traveling can strengthen relationships, whether by spending quality time with loved ones or by meeting new people and forming new connections.
 
Taking time for yourself through travel is essential for maintaining mental health and well-being, allowing you to recharge and return to daily life with renewed energy.
 
www.linkedin.com/in/bala-mangia
https://balamangia.myflodesk.com/gbvcpcehqo
@BigBalaBrands

Wednesday Aug 06, 2025

At one point in my life, I looked back and realized…over $100,000 had passed through my hands.
Not all at once.But between a steady stream of royalty checks in college,and a stock investment that took off during COVID —I had money. Real money.
And I didn’t know what to do with it.Not because I was reckless.Because no one ever taught me how to think about money in the first place.
This episode is about what happens when you don’t know what you don’t know.And how those moments become the exact ones that teach you everything.
We talk about:– What I could’ve done with the royalty checks– How I watched a stock climb to nearly six figures– Why I didn’t cash out (and what I’d do differently now)– And the real cost of not having guidance early on
If you’ve ever thought, “I wish someone told me that sooner” this one’s for you.
www.linkedin.com/in/bala-mangia
https://balamangia.myflodesk.com/gbvcpcehqo
@Bigbalabrands

Thursday Jul 31, 2025

You’re in a relationship with money — whether you realize it or not.
And just like any relationship, it’s built on patterns, emotions, trust, and communication... or the lack of it.
In this episode of Big Bala Brands, we’re unpacking what it really means to treat money like a relationship — not a transaction. From ghosting your bank account to rewriting your emotional money story, this isn’t just about income or expenses. It’s about identity, nervous system triggers, and the unspoken beliefs that drive your financial life.
I’ll walk you through powerful reflection tools like the 7 Levels Deep exercise, the Love Letter to Money, and daily prompts to help you stop avoiding and start reconnecting.
Whether you’re chasing peace, trying to get out of survival mode, or simply ready to feel differently about money — this episode is your mirror.
💭 Ask yourself: If money was a person, how would it describe your relationship?
www.linkedin.com/in/bala-mangia
 
https://balamangia.myflodesk.com/gbvcpcehqo
@Bigbalabrands

Thursday Jul 24, 2025

Let’s talk about something most of us were never taught growing up: financial boundaries — and how hard they can be to set, especially with the people we love.
In this episode, I’m sharing what it means to give from a place of love without giving away your peace, your energy, or your rent money. We dive into the emotional side of money, why saying “no” is sometimes the healthiest thing you can do, and how creating simple financial boundaries can actually strengthen your relationships — not hurt them.
If you’ve ever felt torn between helping someone and protecting your own stability... if you’ve felt guilty for setting limits… or if you just want a better relationship with money and yourself — this one’s for you.
No shame. No judgment. Just real talk.
Because being generous shouldn’t mean going broke.And setting boundaries doesn’t make you selfish — it makes you wise.
www.linkedin.com/in/bala-mangia
 
https://balamangia.myflodesk.com/gbvcpcehqo
@Bigbalabrands

Friday Jul 18, 2025

What does it really mean to be poor? Is it just about money—or the way we talk about it?
In this episode, I take you behind the scenes of my own journey: growing up with limited resources, working retail for years thinking I was “rich” because I finally had a few thousand dollars, and eventually flying to Europe solo for a concert that turned into a manifestation moment I didn’t expect.
But this isn’t just a story about spending or saving. It’s about the words we use—like “I grew up poor”—and how those words shape our identity, even long after our circumstances change.
We explore:
The emotional difference between feeling rich and being rich
Why language plays a major role in financial identity
How unexamined money stories keep us stuck in patterns
The hidden cost of carrying labels from the past into the present
And why gratitude, awareness, and reflection are forms of real wealth
Because “poor” is a label—not your identity.
This one’s for anyone who's ever looked at their bank account and felt like it didn’t reflect who they really are… or who they’re becoming.
www.linkedin.com/in/bala-mangia
 
https://balamangia.myflodesk.com/gbvcpcehqo
@Bigbalabrands

Saturday Jul 12, 2025

Think money problems only happen to people with low income? Think again.
In this episode, we dive into why no one—not even celebrities, athletes, or millionaires—is immune to financial struggle. From fame’s hidden costs like security and private travel, to the pressure of supporting others, bad partnerships, and mismanagement by trusted advisors, wealth without financial wisdom can disappear fast.
You’ll hear real-world examples of high-profile figures who’ve openly faced financial hardship—and why that matters for all of us.
Because whether you’re making $50K or $500M, the truth is this:💰 If you don’t know how to manage money, it will manage you.💸 If you don’t have a system, your spending will create one for you.🔑 And if you don't understand the language of money, your income alone won’t save you.
This episode unpacks the reality that financial literacy isn’t optional—it’s essential. With the right education, habits, and mentors, you can avoid the same traps, no matter your income level.
Because money doesn’t discriminate. And neither do money problems.
www.linkedin.com/in/bala-mangia
 
https://balamangia.myflodesk.com/gbvcpcehqo
@Bigbalabrands

Friday Jul 04, 2025

This episode is about something deeper than one story — it’s about how we all get wired. Sometimes by others. Sometimes by ourselves.
I share a moment from my younger years when I unknowingly started programming myself in a negative way — just to avoid feeling pain again. I didn’t know it then, but I was rewiring my beliefs, my worth, and my view of what was possible.
Years later, I realized: rewiring is real. And if you can do it in a way that holds you back, you can do it in a way that sets you free.Whether it’s with love, money, or identity — what we say, think, and repeat becomes who we are.
Let’s talk about how to undo the damage… and start doing it right.
 
www.linkedin.com/in/bala-mangia
 
https://balamangia.myflodesk.com/gbvcpcehqo
@Bigbalabrands

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