First Gen 101

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Miguel welcomes Gary Denning to the First Gen 101 Podcast to share practical strategies for making the most of professional conferences.  Gary explains how conferences can accelerate learning, expand your network, and create unexpected career opportunities.

Gary shares advice on preparing before a conference, researching attendees, setting networking goals, starting conversations, and staying connected after the event. He also discusses the differences between virtual and in-person conferences, common mistakes to avoid, and why being confident, present, and engaged matters.

Whether you're attending your first conference or looking to improve your networking skills, this episode offers practical advice for building meaningful, long-term professional relationships.

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro

01:11 Gary’s Career Twists

05:47 Majors Aren’t Linear

07:44 Why Conferences Matter

09:20 First Conference Story

10:59 Cities and Recharging

12:46 Prep Like a Pro

17:01 Simple Networking Goals

19:02 Introverts Can Network

21:05 Conference Connections Pay Off

27:26 Staying in Touch Systems

30:02 Virtual vs In Person

34:22 Common Conference Mistakes

36:12 Be Present Not Phone Bound

38:49 Confidence and Final Takeaways

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On the First Gen 101 Podcast, Miguel interviews Dr. Ciera Graham, a first-gen graduate, higher education leader, and business owner, on navigating college and professional life.  She discusses overcoming challenges in college, building a meaningful career in higher education, launching a business, and the power of storytelling, networking, mentorship, and confidence to help first-gen students thrive after graduation. Check out DR. C GRAHAM CONSULTING

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro

00:50 Dr Graham Background

04:03 First Gen College Challenges

08:30 Choosing Sociology Counseling

11:36 Finding Your Career Fit

14:29 Landing the First Job

19:19 Building Campus Initiatives

24:35 Consulting and Career Coaching

27:29 Storytelling and Networking

30:29 Remote Work Relationship Building

34:25 Obstacles Mentors Sponsors

39:11 Greatest Achievement and Closing

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Miguel sits down with first-generation lawyer Jeffrey Deskovic to discuss his wrongful conviction at age 16, his exoneration through DNA evidence, and how his experience inspired him to found the Jeffrey Deskovic Foundation for Justice. Jeffrey shares how his nonprofit has helped free 15 wrongfully convicted individuals and supported nine criminal justice reforms. He also reflects on his decision to attend the Elisabeth Haub School of Law, offers practical advice for succeeding in law school, and discusses the challenges of nonprofit leadership, criminal justice reform, and how others can support the mission.

00:00 Welcome to First Gen 101

00:31 Wrongful Conviction Story

02:07 Freedom and Advocacy Path

04:41 Why Law School at Pace

06:59 Preparing for 1L Success

10:43 1L Reality Check

13:55 Study Groups and Support

15:33 Finding Mentors in Law

19:57 How Law School Changed Him

22:51 Inside Deskovic Foundation

24:49 Running a Nonprofit Daily

28:53 Policy Goals and Active Cases

32:26 Advice for Future Advocates

35:24 Lessons and How to Help

41:11 Final Advice and Farewell

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On this episode of First Gen 101, Miguel interviews Katie Leiva about career growth, networking, and life after college. Katie shares how her mother’s journey from Cuba shaped her family’s commitment to education.

She reflects on changing career path, pivoting into student affairs, and landing her first job at Vanderbilt after attending a professional conference. As a military spouse, she learned to adapt, reinventing herself when needed before building a career as an Accredited Financial Counselor who now trains financial coaches.

 Katie offers practical networking advice, encourages exploring new professional opportunities, and defines success as meaningful work, continuous learning, and having the courage to seek change. 

00:00 Welcome to First Gen 101 + What This Episode Covers

00:28 Katie’s First-Gen Story: Cuban Roots & Family’s Path to North Carolina

02:19 College to Grad School: Loving Learning, Then Questioning Academia

04:45 Landing the First Job: Mentors, Professional Orgs & the Conference Breakthrough

08:01 Marriage, Moving to California & Rebuilding a Career on the Fly

10:39 Military Spouse Mindset: Reinvention, Resources & Staying Resume-Ready

12:25 Finding the Right Fit: From Student Affairs to Financial Coaching & Teaching

15:14 Discovering the “Universe of Opportunities”: Professional Orgs & Exploration

17:33 Conference Networking Playbook (Even for Introverts)

22:39 Career Growth Skills: Seeing the Big Picture & Building Internal Networks

24:53 Redefining Long-Term Success: Pride, Fulfillment & Continuous Learning

25:51 Final Reflections: Advice to Younger Self, Biggest Achievement & Closing

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Financial Clarity Starts Within: Insights from Samuel Molina

In this episode of the First Gen 101 podcast, Miguel interviews Samuel Molina, founder of the Academy of Financial Education, a nonprofit delivering practical and culturally relevant financial education.  They discuss his first-gen college experience and the key money lessons he learned from his mother. Samuel explains the Academy’s holistic approach, paired with financial counseling and therapy, to address money beliefs. 

00:00 Welcome to First Gen 101 + Meet Samuel Molina

01:05 From Service & Politics to Personal Finance: The Turning Point

03:49 First-Gen Perspective: Family, Education, and Money Mindsets

06:51 Networking as a First-Gen Grad (and the Bulldog Connection)

08:38 Biggest First-Gen Wins + Early Money Lessons Growing Up

10:47 Inside the Academy of Financial Education: Holistic Money Skills

13:38 Financial Counseling vs. Financial Therapy: What’s the Difference?

15:38 Who Needs Financial Therapy? A Real Client Debt Story

18:08 Serving Spanish-Speaking Communities & Breaking the Money Taboo

20:28 What’s Next: Group Financial Therapy, Community Events, and Going Global

22:24 DIY Resources, Credit Repair Tools, and How to Reach Samuel

24:26 3 Money Principles in 2 Minutes + Final Wrap-Up

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In this episode of the First Gen 101 podcast, Elizaveta Shafir, founder of Intentional Money, shares how becoming financially independent at 20 pushed her from month-to-month budgeting into long-term planning. She discusses moving from Russia to the U.S. at 27 and learning a new financial system, including how to navigate credit history, 401(k)s, retirement planning, and investing. Elizaveta explains how her interest in personal finance led her to launch Intentional Money. She breaks down education as an investment—degree, knowledge, brand, and network.

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro

00:49 Money Independence at 20

02:38 First Paycheck and Russia Roots

03:55 Immigrating and US Money Culture

07:29 Launching Intentional Money

10:24 Education as ROI Decision

17:10 Why MIT Was the Accelerator

21:00 Networking for First Gen Pros

23:52 Work Life Balance and Saying No

29:24 Consistency and Closing Thoughts

🔔 Subscribe to this podcast and follow us on:
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🎤 Do you want to be a podcast guest or know someone with an inspiring story who should be on the podcast?
📧 Send an email to [email protected]

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In this episode of the First Gen 101 Podcast, host Miguel welcomes Hasmik Vardanyan, a former legal intern at John Jay Legal Services and now a successful law firm owner of the Vardanyan Law Group. Hasmik shares her inspiring journey from moving to the USA at 17, gaining invaluable experience at Pace Law, to eventually opening her own firm. They discuss the importance of internships, the realities of running a law firm, and essential advice for first-gen students and aspiring business owners. Packed with insight and personal anecdotes, this episode offers practical advice for anyone passionate about a legal career or entrepreneurship. Tune in for an engaging conversation that underscores the importance of mentorship, networking, and resilience.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

00:15 Early Legal Experiences and Internships

02:49 Deciding to Become a Lawyer

04:56 Starting and Running a Law Firm

09:31 Balancing Law Practice and Business Operations

18:22 Advice for Aspiring Law Firm Owners

23:19 Lessons Learned and Final Thoughts

27:40 Contact Information and Closing Remarks

🔔 Subscribe to this podcast and follow us on:
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🎤 Do you want to be a podcast guest or know someone with an inspiring story who should be on the podcast?
📧 Send an email to [email protected]

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Miguel welcomes first-gen graduate Eustache Clerveaux to the First Gen 101 podcast to discuss his journey from Haiti to the U.S. Eustache describes working multiple jobs through school, completing an MBA in finance, and spending years trying to break into the industry before starting in life insurance sales and building credentials. Now a partner and private wealth advisor firm, he helps clients reach their financial goals. He emphasizes legacy as access and persistence as the key to progress.

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro

00:27 Shared College Roots

00:55 Dreams Math to Law

04:17 Family Loss and Finance Shift

05:51 Working Through College

07:38 Student Debt Tradeoffs

09:55 Breaking Into Finance

12:32 MBA and Five Year Plan

15:08 Wealth Advisor Mission

16:37 Legacy and Behavior

18:35 First Gen Money Pitfalls

20:48 Top Worries and Retirement

22:37 Advice for New Grads

24:48 Spending Traps and Automating Savings

28:07 Connect and Final Takeaways

29:43 Biggest Achievement and Closing

🔔 Subscribe to this podcast and follow us on:
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In this episode of the First Gen 101 podcast, host Miguel sits down with Alex Embree, M.Ed., AFC®, a first-generation college graduate and Program Manager for the Office for Financial Success at the University of Missouri, where she leads a team of Peer Financial Coaches.

Alex shares her journey into personal finance and breaks down the essentials every first-gen student should know—taxable income, deductions, credits, and how taxes impact your financial future. The conversation also explores smart investment strategies, tax-advantaged accounts, and practical financial planning tips designed to help students build long-term stability and confidence.

Whether you’re just learning about taxes or ready to start investing, this episode offers trusted resources and actionable insights to help you take control of your financial future.

🎧 Tune in and start building wealth with knowledge.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction

01:02 Alex's Background and Journey

04:09 The Importance of Financial Decisions for First Gen Students

04:47 Understanding Taxes: Basics and Definitions

11:11 Deductions vs. Credits: Simplified

20:07 Investing: When and How to Start

24:40 Tax-Advantaged Accounts Explained

31:09 Trusted Resources for Financial Literacy

34:54 Biggest Achievement as a First Gen Graduate

🔔 Subscribe to this podcast and follow us on:
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🎤 Do you want to be a podcast guest or know someone with an inspiring story who should be on the podcast?
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Navigating Business and Education: The Story of GET 9

Welcome to the First Gen 101 Podcast! In this episode, host Miguel welcomes back Jacquie Carroll to discuss her journey in starting a business. Jacquie, who shared her first-gen story in Season 2, Episode 7, focuses on the business aspects of launching 'GET 9', an educational game designed to improve math skills and reduce math anxiety. They delve into topics such as the importance of a business plan, managing hidden costs, and leveraging resources like the Small Business Administration. Jacquie also offers practical advice for balancing a stable career while developing a side business. Tune in for valuable insights and tips for aspiring first-gen entrepreneurs!

Get 9: https://www.gamekraft.us/

00:00 Introduction to the First Gen 101 Podcast

00:28 Jacquie's Game: GET 9

01:39 The Educational Value of GET 9

05:15 Creating a Business Plan

07:45 Navigating Business Costs and Resources

12:32 Leveraging Networks and Volunteering

16:17 Balancing Stability and Entrepreneurship

20:03 Evaluating Business Ideas

23:33 Final Thoughts and Future Plans

🔔 Subscribe to this podcast and follow us on:
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🎤 Do you want to be a podcast guest or know someone with an inspiring story who should be on the podcast?
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🙏 Thank you for listening! Please leave a ⭐️ rating and review!