In this episode I interview a first generation Salvadoran American who grew up in Long Island. She is an entrepreneur and founder of Bonita Fierce Candles, a premium heritage-focused home fragrance brand. Her mission is to revolutionize the toxic and generic home fragrance industry and create better-for-you products that cement a space for diverse, nuanced Latin voices and stories. In 2020, she realized the scents she grew up with (Cafe Con Leche, Coquito, Lavender Fabulosa, and more) were not represented in the home fragrance industry which she launched in 2020. By 25 years old, Melissa was the first Latina owned candle brand in Nordstrom, she was the youngest and only Latina founder at the Ulta Beauty MUSE Accelerator and she has no plans to slow down any time soon. She shares the importance of family, her journey to entrepreneurship and everything that inspired her to get here. This is Melissa.

In this episode, I catch up with Jerry, a First Generation Dominican American. We discuss the challenges he faced as a Latino kid moving from the Lower East Side to the Upper East Side and what it was like growing up around Upper Middle Class people. Today, he is working on exciting projects, pursuing his dream to become an actor and entertainer. He also has some advice for those who are looking to find their way in the industry! This is Jerry.

In this episode, I sit down with Svetlana who immigrated from the Ukraine in 1992 with her family. We're talking about her experience growing up in Brooklyn and life as a Russian speaking kid in Jersey. We also tap into risk taking and how our immigrant parents scared the hell out of us when we wanted to do something new! This is Svet.

In this episode, I interview another Colombian American who grew up in Jackson Heights! He shares his parents journey to the US, growing up in Queens and how he landed his dream job as a sr producer/editor at NBC universal, and it’s a pretty cool story and reminds me why moms are ELITE!!!! He's also got some really great advice for those who are in school and want to succeed. This is Juan. 

In this episode I sit down with, Anthony Palmini, a multi-talented artist who wears many hats in the entertainment industry. He is a first generation Colombian American who has made a name for himself as an actor, editor, director, and much more. With his diverse skill set and passion for storytelling, Anthony has worked on a wide variety of projects and creating space for other Latino creators. You'll get to know Anthony and hear about his journey as an artist, the good and bad. And how one little incident changed his whole perspective (yes, this is another John Leguzamo inspired story). This is Anthony. 

In this episode I am all over the place, I talk about my childhood memories, food stamps and my personal take on Bad Bunny and Kendall Jenner. LOLz.

In this First Gen episode, I catch up with Flavia! A first generation Peruvian American currently residing in the capital of Hungary: Budapest! We talk about her jet setting life, how she ended up becoming a full time world traveler and all the things that have inspired her along the way and how she plans to change the game for other solo Latina travelers. She also shares a creepy hostel story that would have me shook. This is Flavia!!!

In this episode of First Gen Friends I sit down with Cristina, a first generation Ecuadorian American. As a content creator and podcaster, she shares what inspires her, why she's so passionate about the work she's doing and the advice she'd give her younger self when she didn't feel like she had a community around her. This is Cristina.

In this episode, I sit down with comedian, actor, creator, Juan Bago! We discuss what it was like growing up with two different cultures, being a product of immigrant parents from Dominican Republic, what it takes to be a first generation actor in an industry that puts you in a box and so much more!! This is Juan Bago. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! Kicking off season 3 with some salary transparency and motivational stories per usual. This time with another good friend of mine! We share our career trajectory, his dream job found on Craigslist and how his dad supported him in the best way possible to achieve his own American Dream (no we're not talking nepo-baby). This is Franklin.