In this special end-of-year episode of Island Money 365, I sit down with the dynamic Kobey Smith, entrepreneur advocate, bridge-builder, and changemaker at the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce. If you’re a current or aspiring business owner—this is your episode. Packed with laughs, real talk, and insights you didn’t know you needed.

We cover:

• What the Chamber of Commerce really does—and why you should be part of one

• How networking with intention builds generational wealth

• Why success doesn’t always mean 7 figures

• Budgeting, taxes, and the power of paying yourself first

• Why financial intelligence > financial literacy

• His favorite quote from grandpa: "Don’t eat wooden pork chops” 🐷😂 (yes, we explain it!)

From funding your passion to showing up in your community, this episode is a must-listen for anyone rewriting their financial story and redefining what wealth and legacy truly mean.

In this heartfelt and hilarious episode, I sit down with my girl Annie White-Brown — founder of @naturalannieessentials

— and we go all the way in! From growing up in rural Jamaica and revival church culture (yup, full revival church vibes!) to building a nationally recognized candle company from her kitchen, Annie shares her inspiring immigrant journey, entrepreneurial pivots, and the power of culture, grind, and growth. 🇯🇲✨

We talk:

💸 Partner savings culture in the Caribbean

👩🏽‍🔬 How she went from skincare to candles

📈 Scaling into 1,000+ retail stores and international markets

💡 Lessons from early money mistakes

💼 The REAL behind-the-scenes of hiring, HR, and staying in your purpose

🎯 And why NaturalAnnie Essentials is destined to become a household name

This episode is full of gems, giggles, and goosebumps! If you're an immigrant, entrepreneur, or candle lover — you don’t want to miss this one.

🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you tune in.

Share with a woman who's building her dream! #IslandMoney365

After a 17-year corporate career ended unexpectedly, Evelyn Ruiz didn’t stop—she pivoted. In this episode of Island Money 365, we sit down with the powerhouse behind Hasta Luego, Friend—a mobile café and soon-to-be brick-and-mortar rooted in family legacy, resilience, and delicious coquito-infused drinks.

From selling her beloved sneaker collection to hauling a vintage trailer from Florida, Evelyn takes us behind the scenes of building a business from the ground up—with no barista experience, just heart, hustle, and heritage.

We talk setbacks, wrap jobs gone wrong, balancing entrepreneurship and caregiving, and how Evelyn honors her abuela’s migration story through every cafecito she serves.

Listen now and get inspired to bet on yourself—even when the path isn’t clear.

Hartford-based
Puerto Rican-owned
Fueled by culture, community, and coquito

Evelyn reminds us that we don’t need everything to start—just a dream, a plan, and the guts to go after it.

Island Money 365 — where money stories and migration journeys meet.