What does success look like when the version you were taught no longer feels aligned?

In this episode, Sara sits down with Melissa Gallardo, founder and CEO of Valorosa Candles, a culturally inspired home fragrance brand rooted in Latin traditions, identity, and belonging.

Together, they explore what it means to grow up first generation while navigating assimilation, identity, and the pressure to fit into definitions of success that were never fully our own. Melissa shares how growing up as a Salvadorian-American in a predominantly white community shaped her relationship with culture, language, and home and how building her business became an unexpected journey back to herself.

From climbing the corporate ladder and landing the “dream job” to realizing fulfillment couldn’t be found in titles alone, Melissa opens up about taking the leap into entrepreneurship, redefining success on her own terms, and building something deeply aligned with purpose, impact, and community.

This conversation is a reminder that success is not always linear and sometimes the bravest thing we can do is give ourselves permission to choose differently.

In this episode, we talk about:
• Growing up first generation and navigating identity across cultures
• Assimilation, belonging, and reclaiming cultural roots
• Building a business inspired by nostalgia, home, and Latinidad
• Letting go of traditional definitions of success

Because success isn’t always about reaching the top. It’s about creating a life that feels like home.

As first gens, many of us grew up with a very specific definition of success: get the stable job, make good money, buy the house, choose the career that others respect. But what happens when the life everyone imagined for you doesn’t align with the life you actually want?

In this episode, Sara shares her personal journey of redefining success from choosing social work despite criticism and concerns about money, to later taking the leap into entrepreneurship and creating The First Gen Madrina.

This conversation explores the pressure many first-generation professionals carry, the tension between financial security and fulfillment, and the belief that we have to sacrifice purpose in order to be financially stable.

If you’ve ever questioned your career path, felt guilty for wanting something different, or wondered whether you can build a life that includes both purpose and financial success.... this episode is for you.

In this episode, we talk about:
• First-generation expectations around career and success
• Choosing a path others may not understand
• Redefining success beyond status and income
• The relationship between money, survival mode, and fulfillment
• Entrepreneurship and building a values-aligned life
• Why time and flexibility became part of Sara’s definition of success

Because success doesn’t have to look the way you were taught. It gets to look like you.

In this episode, we explore what it truly means to reclaim your story and how your lived experience can become one of your greatest leadership assets. Our guest, Chris Ward Jr., Strategic Advisor and Leadership Storytelling Strategist, breaks down how visionary founders and high performers can transform complex life and business journeys into clear, compelling narratives that actually move people.

Chris introduces the idea of “Story Powered Confidence” and what he calls your “Human Premium”, which is the deeper, soulful expertise that comes from lived experience. Together, we unpack how storytelling isn’t just about communication, but about identity, clarity, and stepping fully into your voice as a leader.

If you’ve ever felt like your story was too messy, too complicated, or not “enough,” this conversation reframes it all: your story isn’t something to fix, it’s something to lead with.

This episode includes:

1. How to reclaim your personal and professional story and use it as a foundation for leadership and confidence. 

2. How storytelling shapes authority, influence, and the ability to turn complex ideas into clear, compelling narratives.

3. How to access your “Human Premium” and use lived experience as a strategic asset for impact and purpose.

Check it out now!

Welcome back to a brand-new season of The First Gen Madrina Podcast, and this month, we’re diving deep into Reclaiming Your Story as a First Gen.

In this powerful kickoff episode, we explore what it truly means to reconnect with your voice, your truth, and your narrative. As first-generation individuals, many of us were raised in environments where survival came before self-expression. Unfortunately, silence, sacrifice, and strength may have been necessary, but it often came at the cost of not being seen and heard.

This episode unpacks how and why so many of us “lost” our stories, not because they didn’t exist, but because we didn’t always feel safe, empowered, or supported enough to tell them.

You’ll learn:

•  What it actually means to reclaim your story (without forcing a positive spin) 
•  How inherited beliefs and unspoken rules shape your narrative 
•  Why storytelling is a form of healing, not just sharing 
•  The role of therapy and safe spaces in processing your experiences 
•  How to navigate guilt, family ties, and boundaries while honoring your truth 
•  Why discernment matters when choosing who gets access to your story 

This conversation is a reminder that you are not just a product of your experiences; you are the author of how those experiences shape you.

So, the question is: What story are you ready to reclaim?

What if conflict isn’t the problem? It is just a skill that we were never taught, especially when it comes to money.

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Dr. Jen Fry a conflict literacy expert, TEDx speaker, and founder of JenFryTalks. Together, we dive into the uncomfortable but necessary conversation around conflict and money. We discuss the tension, the silence, the expectations, and the unspoken pressure so many of us carry, especially as first-gens.

From her experience as a former NCAA coach to leading over 250 trainings, Dr. Jen breaks down what it actually means to handle conflict in a way that builds trust instead of tension. Because let’s be real, when money is involved, conflict can feel even heavier.

We talk about:

•  Why avoiding conflict around money is costing you more than you think 
•  How to communicate clearly about finances without guilt or shame 
•  The difference between boundaries and being “selfish” when it comes to money 

If you’ve ever struggled to talk about money, set financial boundaries, or navigate family expectations, this episode will challenge you and equip you with the tools to show up differently.

Welcome to the first episode of a brand-new season where we’re diving deep into Conflict and Money.

When we think about money, we usually focus on numbers: how much we make, spend, or owe. What often goes unspoken is how conflict, both internal and relational, shapes our financial lives.

In this episode, we unpack the ways conflict shows up beyond arguments. Sometimes it’s the conversations we avoid, the boundaries we struggle to set, or the silence we carry around money. As first-generation individuals, many of us were never taught how to navigate these moments, especially when money has been tied to survival, stress, or family expectations.

We talk about:

•  Why avoiding money conversations is a form of conflict 
•  How people-pleasing and guilt impact financial decisions 
•  The emotional weight of supporting family while trying to build your own future 
•  What it means to advocate for yourself financially without shame 

This isn’t just about money. It’s about your voice, your boundaries, and your mental health.

If you’ve ever felt anxious, stuck, or guilty when it comes to money… this episode is for you.

Grab your cafecito or your wine, and let’s start the conversation!

What happens when being “good” social worker becomes your identity?

 In this powerful episode, we sit down with Stephanie Sorady, LCSW, a Latina trauma therapist, speaker, and founder of Luz Trauma Therapy. Together we unpack the hidden weight that many first-gen social workers may carry.

From people-pleasing and over functioning to the deep impact of parentification, Stephanie brings a trauma-informed and culturally grounded perspective to the patterns that keep us stuck. Together, we explore how these roles show up in our relationships, mental health, and sense of self, and most importantly, how to begin unlearning them.

This conversation is especially for social workers who have been taught to hold it all together, often at the expense of their own needs. Stephanie shares insights on setting boundaries, navigating relational stress, and redefining what it means to be “strong” in a way that actually honors your well-being.

If you’ve ever felt like you have to do it all for everyone else...this episode is for you.

What does it really mean to be a “good” social worker… and who decided that definition in the first place?

In this episode, we’re unpacking the unspoken pressure many social workers carry like the expectation to always say yes, sacrifice endlessly, and hold it all together no matter the cost. But behind that “perfect” image? Burnout, silence, and a slow disconnection from ourselves.

This conversation challenges the narrative.

We’re talking about breaking out of the box, reclaiming our humanity, and returning to the true roots of social work which are advocacy, justice, and disruption. Because being a powerful social worker isn’t about self-sacrifice… it’s about sustainability.

✨ You’ll walk away with:

•  A new perspective on boundaries and burnout 
•  A reminder that advocacy includes you
•  The permission to redefine what “good” actually means 

Because a depleted social worker can’t change systems, but an empowered one can.

It might be time to stop fitting the mold… and start breaking it.

In this episode, Sara sits down with Carlos Martin to unpack money shame as a first-gen. Carlos shares his journey of immigrating to the U.S. at 11, navigating language barriers, scarcity, and the lack of financial guidance growing up.

Together, they explore how silence around money, cultural expectations, and early experiences shape our relationship with finances  and the shame that can follow. From corporate life to entrepreneurship, this conversation dives into fear, fulfillment, and rewriting your money story.

This is a must-listen if you’ve ever felt behind, conflicted, or ashamed about money.

In this deeply personal episode of The First Gen Madrina Podcast, Sara opens up about the complex emotions that come with out-earning your parents and building a life rooted in choice rather than survival. She explores the quiet tension between pride and guilt, and how money shame shows up for first-gen professionals through overworking, anxiety, and difficulty enjoying success. Through storytelling and reflection, Sara reminds listeners that healing their relationship with money is not a betrayal, but an act of self-care, boundary-setting, and generational change. Tune in to this episode for more on Sara's journey!