How These Women Are Reclaiming Financial Power With Podcasting

Forbes

12-05-2025

Over the past decade, women have increasingly recognized the transformative power of their voices and entrepreneurship in building wealth. This recognition has been especially profound for women of color who have been mostly excluded from mainstream financial narratives and systems of capital. Today, they are redefining what wealth-building looks like through emerging, powerful platforms like podcasting.
Once a niche format, podcasting has become a $17.59 billion industry, reaching 450 million global listeners in 2023 and projected to hit 619 million by 2026, according to Riverside. But for women of color, podcasting is becoming more than a platform. It is a monetizable means for community-building, storytelling, and financial experiences that enrich our groups; a space to claim authority in conversations about money, health and wellness and to foster trust with listeners while building long-term economic futures.
We have seen podcasting catapult creators like Jemele Hill who created The Unbothered Network to elevate the voices and stories of Black women, Alex Cooper, who turned Call Her Daddy into a 22 million network, and more recently, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, who re-entered the podcasting space to engage in dialogues about her and other founders' journeys through her show.
But when it comes to financial stability and women of color's futures, as a podcaster myself, it is vital to understand how women of color are changing their financial futures and supporting the collective to do the same. So it is worth asking how women of color use podcasting to rewrite their financial narratives and amplify their influence. Here, four of these women, who are leading in the field one episode at a time, let us know how they are doing it.
Nearly eight years ago, Sokunbi launched the The Clever Girls Know Podcast with a clear mission: to empower women with financial education and create a space where women could hear their realities reflected in conversations about money. 'I started it because I wanted to create another opportunity to reach women and support them as part of my mission to empower them with financial knowledge,' she said. 'At the time, podcasting was big, but there weren't many women like me behind the mic.'
Though she admits she was uncomfortable at first, Sokunbi knew podcasting offered a unique channel to reach listeners who might not engage with blogs or videos. Over time, what began as a low-budget effort became a cornerstone of her brand and a consistent source of connection with a growing audience.
Her podcasting approach is rooted in three things: consistency, honesty, and community. 'My audience knows to expect a new episode every Tuesday,' she said. 'We cover personal finance, entrepreneurship, motherhood, motivation, and mindset. And I'm transparent, even when I'm struggling or tired.' That connection has translated into tangible growth not just for her audience, but for her business.
While supporting the community to grow, Sokunbi's podcast monetization strategy includes brand ads, sponsored episodes, and integrated promotion of the company's books, coaching, and courses. And beyond her own podcast, Sokunbi began hosting branded podcast series for other companies, including The Washington Post, turning her voice into a versatile, revenue-generating asset.
Les Alfred did not set out to become a podcaster. In fact, she admits she didn't even envision herself in front of a mic before launching what is now She's So Lucky podcast. But what began as a series of wellness conversations featuring Black women experts on topics from gut health to fertility evolved into something bigger.
'I wasn't finding platforms that spoke to my lived experience,' she said. 'A lot of the big wellness podcasts were male-centered or didn't factor in the cultural elements that shape health and money for women of color. I wanted to create the show I needed.'
The show naturally pivoted as she expanded her topics and her audience responded. Today, She's So Lucky is a platform where Alfred interviews women who are leading and whose stories reflect the nuance, ambition, and challenges of women of color navigating modern life. That shift also redefined how she thought about content creation and growth. While social media platforms push content through algorithms, podcasts do not offer the same discoverability advantage.
For Alfred, the key has been radical consistency. 'People won't come back if there's no content to expect,' she said. 'My strategy has always been to show up regularly and experiment with what works even when growth feels slow or uncertain.'
That approach has led to steady listenership and monetization through post-roll advertising. But Alfred is honest about the challenges, especially as a woman of color in the podcasting space: discoverability and scaling remain her biggest hurdles.
Still, she does not regret a thing. If anything, she wishes she'd embraced the full potential of the medium sooner. 'I would've implemented video earlier,' she said. 'That's been a game changer in expanding reach and creating deeper engagement.'
Jannese Torres has built a movement grounded in culture, financial liberation and an unapologetic voice. Before launching Yo Quiero Dinero, Torres spent time as a podcast listener searching for voices that mirrored her own: first-gen, Latina, navigating money without a financial blueprint. When she did not find it, she made the space herself.
'I was looking for someone who understood what it was like to figure out finances with no generational wealth, no roadmap,' she said. 'So I started the show I needed with my friends, with our stories.' What began as intimate conversations grew into a recognizable platform for Latinas navigating money matters. With a variety of topics that speak to a First-gen Latin's lived experience, Yo Quiero Dinero became a hub for visibility, trust, and transformation as a community.
'We're very clear on who we serve,' Torres said. 'If you're Latina, this is where you belong. We don't water it down, and we don't try to be for everyone. That clarity built trust.' That trust turned into opportunity. The podcast's monetization journey has been expansive: from ad revenue to coaching services, paid speaking engagements, brand partnerships, and most recently, her debut book, Financially Lit, which is now also available in Spanish.
The success of the show has also made Torres a sought-after voice in the personal finance industry, despite early pushback. 'People used to ask if I was excluding others by focusing on Latinas,' she said. 'Now, they're trying to figure out how we've built such a loyal audience. That cultural connection—our values, our authenticity—it's our strength.'
If she could start again, Torres says she'd invest more from the beginning. 'I started with my phone and AirPods. I didn't realize I was building a business. But I'd tell anyone: plan for growth. Know your audience. And start building with intention.'
Terri Lomax and Dr. Dominique Broussard launched their podcast because they saw a gap and felt it deeply. Conversations centering Black women's wholeness, ambition, mental health, and personal growth were not happening in public spaces the way they needed to be. 'We craved the kind of honest, healing, and unfiltered conversations we didn't often hear,' they said. 'Our identities as Black women fuel every episode.'
From trauma to transformation, Cultivating H.E.R. Space has become a global sisterhood rooted in healing, empowerment, and resilience where their listeners do not just tune in but they show up, connect and co-create. The show has released new episodes every week for more than seven years, and beyond consistency, Lomax and Dr. Dom emphasize authenticity and accessibility as part of their success.
Their monetization model reflects the show's reach and loyalty. They earn through sponsorships (with brands like NPR, BetterHelp and Calm), live events, merchandise, and community subscriptions. While sponsorships remain the most consistent revenue stream, their listener-supported model is gaining traction, reflecting the trust they've cultivated.
Still, as women of color in the podcasting business world, they have faced hurdles. 'Funding and access have been our biggest challenges,' they said. 'Even with a top 1% podcast and major brand deals, we've often been denied loans and grants. The business world wasn't built with creators like us in mind.'
Instead, they have learned to lean on their community: 'Our community-supported subscriptions are growing' 'We also genuinely listen to our audience. Through surveys, comment sections, and suggested episode topics, we invite our listeners to co-create with us. We read every review and take what the ladies say to heart, it helps shape the content we deliver.'
If they could start again, they would treat the podcast like the business it has become. 'We'd have built systems sooner, started with a clear monetization strategy, and given ourselves more grace,' they said. 'The grind is real—but so is the impact.'
As women of color, despite the ongoing challenges we face in accessing capital, visibility and platform-building, these podcast hosts prove that our voices are powerful tools for transformation. Beyond building brands, they craft blueprints through authenticity, consistency, and strategy that redefine what wealth-building looks like when rooted in purpose. Have you listened to one of these podcasts? If not, now is the time. When women of color are on the mic, we do not just shift the conversation; we shape the future.