Eating While Broke

Hosted by The Black Effect Podcast Network and iHeartPodcasts

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Episodes

198

Latest episode

Oct 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Hosted by media maven Coline Witt, ‘Eating While Broke’ podcast is a new interview series centered around self-made celebrities, influencers, disruptors and entrepreneurs eating meals they once ate when they were broke. Episodes will also feature guest who are in the mood to recreate some of their favorite low cost meals. EWB guest will introduce the dish, as the dish is revealed to the host, before the chow down begins, while discussing life, some of the their most pivotal moments and more. In this intimate setting the interview begins with a journey of tales from the trenches not matter if you're Eating While Broke or Eating While on a Budget.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

October 15, 20261 hr 2 min

MALIK MUHAMMAD - Celery Seed to Seed Money

Coline Witt welcomes entrepreneur Malik Muhammad, owner of Malik Books, for a powerful conversation about building a Black-owned bookstore rooted in culture, community, and “knowledge of self.” Malik shares his broke meal: poor man’s potato salad (potatoes, mayonnaise, celery seed, salt, and pepper) with turkey hot dogs, then takes us through his journey from Washington, DC to Los Angeles, running track at USC, competing in the 1984 Olympics, and ultimately launching a Black-curated bookstore in 1990. He breaks down the real lessons behind entrepreneurship—learning business through mistakes, investing equity and losing a home, growing sales through festivals and community events, and expanding Malik Books to key locations including Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Mall and Westfield Culver City during the pandemic. Malik also highlights the community support behind malikbooks.com, the National Association of Black Book Stores, and his vision for a bookmobile for schools. Plus: Malik’s recommended reads include Powernomics, Who Moved My Cheese?, and Think and Grow Rich: A Black Choice. If you care about Black entrepreneurship, independent bookstores, Black literature, LA small business, and building a legacy this episode is for you. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

October 8, 202636 min

FISKANI - Eating Dreams, Then Feeding a Brand

Coline Witt welcomes entrepreneur and celebrity stylist 'Fiskani', who reflects on being “broke and elegant,” moving to Atlanta for school, 'dropping out', and getting 'cut off by her parents'. After discovering styling on a music video set, she pushed through low-paying jobs and learned how to hustle—traveling to the 'MAGIC' trade show in Las Vegas with just '$50', modeling furs, and eventually being trusted with '$250,000' worth of inventory to sell in Atlanta. A major breakthrough came when 'Keith Sweat' bought furs and connected her to key contacts, which helped open the door to 'Akon' hiring her as his stylist and rapidly expanding her client list. She also shares hard-earned advice for entrepreneurs: protect your vision, keep tunnel focus, and don’t let distractions pull you off your path. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

October 1, 202645 min

LOU YOUNG - Lunch Meat Legends: Making a Meal Out of What You’ve Got

Host Coline Witt welcomes comedian and actor Lou Young, a former NFL cornerback turned content creator with 3M+ followers. Lou’s work includes Netflix’s They Cloned Tyrone, brand collaborations with the NFL, ESPN, and Nike, and a Sundance-featured pilot, Freelance. Over tequila and a nostalgic “lunch meat nacho supreme” (Doritos, deli turkey, bologna, cheese, Old Bay, peppers, and ketchup), Lou opens up about growing up in a single-dad household, babysitting siblings at eight years old, and learning to cook through improvisation and budget-friendly meals. Lou also breaks down the business side of the NFL getting cut often, how little money is guaranteed as an undrafted rookie, and why he started social media while injured. He shares the rise (and limits) of his “Shleve Harvey” character, shifting into more personal storytelling, and building a podcast largely out of pocket. by reinvesting in production while balancing fatherhood, family routines, and his daughter’s gymnastics success. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

September 24, 202649 min

DON BENJAMIN - No Gluten, All Grit

Host Coline Witt welcomes model, actor, and entrepreneur Don Benjamin to Eating While Broke. Don makes a childhood “hood classic” gluten-free Hamburger Helper using gluten-free noodles, ground turkey, and the sauce packet, while breaking down how a gluten allergy that began at 26 changed his life (and how expensive it can be to eat gluten-free on a budget). Don shares what it was like growing up in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota with his mom, his dad’s struggles with addiction and incarceration, and navigating identity as a biracial kid. He talks about his early dream of playing pro basketball, moving to Los Angeles at 19 on a $3,000 student loan, surviving on ramen and background acting, and the turning point after America’s Next Top Model (2013) leading to signing with Wilhelmina and landing major campaigns. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

September 17, 202638 min

ISAAC CARREE - Heat, Slaw, and Salvation

Gospel artist Isaac Caree joins host Coline Witt on Eating While Broke to make a Southern classic with a twist: North Carolina chili slaw dogs (Nathan’s short hot dogs with ketchup, mustard, homemade chili, onions, and coleslaw). While the chili simmers and the slaw hits the bun, Isaac reflects on a 30+ year music career shaped by faith, sacrifice, and the broke seasons that built his business mindset. Isaac opens up about growing up in church with a hardworking single mother, dropping out of high school to pursue music, and traveling with John P. Kee while earning no money—living eight people in a two-bedroom apartment and relying on cheap Circle K hot dogs just to eat. He shares how those years strengthened his faith, taught him how to handle business, and influenced how he treats collaborators today. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

September 10, 202651 min

ARMANI GREER - Frying Faith: A Road Less Traveled

Actress Armani Greer joins host Coline Witt on Eating While Broke to cook up crispy catfish sandwiches and talk about the road less traveled—from humble beginnings to major bookings. Armani shares her Houston upbringing with a hardworking single mom, the grandparents who helped hold it down, and how she started acting at seven years old. In the conversation, Armani opens up about being pushed toward a “practical” college path, finding her way back to theater after graduating, quitting her job to pursue acting and modeling, and moving to Los Angeles with little money—leaning on hustle, faith, and occasional help from her mom. She also talks pandemic survival mode, auditions, setbacks, and the wins that kept her going: booking a McDonald’s Super Bowl commercial, signing with her manager, filming Water Boys in Atlanta, nearly landing P-Valley, her latest project, and later booking a role that took her to Italy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

September 3, 202649 min

JENNIE GARTH - Butter, Syrup, and Boundaries: The Sweet Work of Choosing Me

Host Coline Witt welcomes actress, author, podcaster, designer, and mom Jennie Garth, to discuss her new book, I Choose Me , which deals with self-doubt, impostor syndrome, and self-love. Jennie shares a budget-friendly comfort meal from her Midwest farm upbringing: pan-fried “rice cakes” made from cooked rice and eggs (with a vegan alternative), cooked hot for crispy edges and topped with butter and syrup, plus optional savory variations. They discuss her blended-family childhood in rural Illinois, her father’s long struggle with heart disease, moving to Arizona, and how a pageant judge became her longtime manager—leading to acting in California and rapid fame on Beverly Hills, 90210. Jennie also opens up about depression, anxiety, agoraphobia, early coping tools, later reliance on wine and anxiety meds, and building her very own brand. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

August 27, 202641 min

BALE - Crisp Bacon, Clear Purpose: The Discipline Behind the Dream

On Eating While Broke, host Coline Witt welcomes recording artist and writer Bale, who cooks a simple turkey bacon, egg, and cheese breakfast sandwich while talking confidence, discipline, and refusing to second-guess himself. Bale shares growing up in South Central Los Angeles as the oldest of five, being raised by a schoolteacher mom and supported by his grandma, with his father incarcerated for most of his life. He explains how music found him, helped keep him out of trouble, and how early shows and outside validation confirmed he was on the right path. He also breaks down why his album is titled Stay Faithful, the patience required to pursue his craft, and the value of a supportive team and family, especially as a new dad to his daughter Onyx. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

August 20, 202649 min

DAMION HALL - The Turkey Slammer & the Cost of a Signature

Coline Witt sits down with Damion Hall (also known as Damion “Guy” Hall)—producer, songwriter, and founding member of the legendary R&B group Guy for a powerful conversation about family, fame, finances, and survival. While cooking Damion’s go-to broke meal, the “Turkey Slammer” sandwich (turkey, spinach, eggs, honey wheat bread, mayo, and seasoning), Damion shares how he left college at 17 to support his brother Aaron Hall and help build Guy—then realized he needed a niche beyond playing drums. He takes us back to early New York studio days with Teddy Riley, and the hard lessons that came with the music business. Damion also opens up about trading on the New York Stock Exchange as a teen—including a devastating loss for his father’s firm—and breaks down what it really means to sign a “lock, stock, and barrel” contract. He also explains why artists must learn the business, stop chasing materialism, and protect their future. Finally, he talks candidly about his 2023 stage-two prostate cancer diagnosis and blood clots, and how that fight pushed him to create his album Perfect Designer—'52 songs in 40 days', no samples—plus a personal studio story you won’t forget. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

August 13, 202641 min

REGGIE BALL - Balling On A Budget

Host Coline Witt welcomes former Georgia Tech quarterback Reggie Ball, who signed with the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent in 2007 and is now COO of Effect Fitness in Atlanta and a co-host on The Broken Play. Reggie cooks his family’s ramen-and-ground-beef “lo mein” using soy sauce, garlic salt, pepper, parsley, and broccoli while discussing how the meal came from busy, broke post-practice nights. He explains the undrafted free agent process, recalls Detroit’s loyal fan base during the Lions’ 0–16 season, and describes the difficult mental transition out of the NFL, including injuries and learning to save money. After working at Chrysler and later fixing U-Haul trucks, he recommits to fitness, helps build Effect Fitness from a garage, emphasizes hard work, self-prioritization, and consistency, and details podcasting and Effect Fitness tours and app growth during the pandemic. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.