Host: Dr. Sagashus
Guest: Nyra Jordan – Social Impact Investment Director, American Family Insurance Institute for Corporate and Social Impact
Podcast Title: Books, Bullets, and Babies
Episode Title: "Welcome to the Journey"

Episode Overview

In this powerful episode of Books, Bullets, and Babies, host Dr. Sagashus welcomes Nyra Jordan, a Forbes-featured social impact leader, to explore the intersection of entrepreneurship and wealth, particularly for women from historically overlooked communities. They touch on what it means to close equity gaps, create economic opportunities, and support “untraditional” mothers who are entrepreneurs. Nyra’s insights offer an invaluable perspective on the challenges and triumphs of building wealth as a woman, mother, and change-maker, especially in marginalized communities.

Key Topics:

Nyra Jordan’s Role & Background

Nyra Jordan has been with American Family Insurance for over 20 years and now serves as Social Impact Investment Director at the American Family Institute for Corporate and Social Impact.
Nyra leads initiatives focused on advancing opportunities for underserved communities, especially those impacted by incarceration, through venture capital investment.

Supporting Women Entrepreneurs

Nyra frequently works with female founders, many of whom are mothers juggling unconventional parenting situations.
From mothers pitching business ideas with babies on their laps to entrepreneurs working on groundbreaking fintech solutions, Nyra's experience highlights the unique challenges and strengths of these women.

The Importance of Capital for Underserved Founders

A standout quote from Nyra: “We don’t need more mentorship—we need capital.”
Nyra explains the funding challenges for black and brown founders and the need for venture capitalists to take risks on non-traditional entrepreneurs.

Defying Conventional Entrepreneurship

Nyra shares inspiring stories of women, like Tanya Van Court (founder of Goalsetter), who are building businesses in areas not typically associated with black women, such as fintech.
Defiance, in Nyra’s view, means showing up authentically, launching high-impact companies, and creating change from within spaces not designed for you.

Wealth Creation & Non-Traditional Mothers

Dr. Sagashus poses the question: Can the women we call "infamous mothers" become millionaires?
Nyra’s confident response: Yes, absolutely! She emphasizes that access to resources, proximity to investors, and visibility are key to breaking through financial barriers.

The Connection Between Venture Capital and Wealth

Nyra and Dr. Sagashus reflect on the correlation between venture capital funding and wealth creation for women, particularly women of color. They discuss how lack of access to capital directly limits wealth-building opportunities.

Disrespectful Tidbit of the Day: Overcoming Fear

In this segment, Dr. Sagashus shares a surprising fact about Madam CJ Walker, often celebrated as the first Black female millionaire. In fact, she is recorded as the first woman in the Guinness Book of World Records to earn over a million dollars. Also, she was a teen mom and a widow by the age of 20—a testament to the power of determination and entrepreneurship, and she still succeeded.

Sponsor Shout-Outs:

American Family Insurance Institute for Corporate and Social Impact
B. Brown Productions

Where to Find Us:

Audio: Available on Spotify, Apple Music, and other podcast platforms.
Visual: Catch the video version on YouTube for a more immersive experience.

Stay Connected:

Follow us on social media and subscribe for updates. Don’t miss out on upcoming episodes filled with inspiration, laughter, and practical insights for your wealth-building journey.

Special Thanks:

A big thank you to Nyra Jordan for her inspiring contributions to this episode and her tireless work supporting underserved entrepreneurs and communities.

Want the Books, Bullets and Babies Card Game?

It’s the companion to the Books, Bullets & Babies podcast — designed to spark raw, real conversations about money, motherhood, and survival. Play it with friends, in your book club, or as a journaling tool to go deeper into the stories we share here.

About Dr. Sagashus Levingston
Dr. Sagashus Levingston is the creator and producer of the Books, Bullets & Babies podcast, as well as the visionary behind Infamous Mothers. She is an author, entrepreneur, and cultural architect whose work spans books, journals, card games, and national tours — all designed to affirm, inspire, and offer tools and community for badass moms who do extraordinary things at home, at work, and beyond.

This podcast is part of the Infamous Mothers lifestyle brand that Dr. Sagashus created so that these moms have not just a place to belong, but the support, resources, and community they need to be infamous—messy, ambitious, broken, sexy, flawed, spiritual, whole—without apology.