Dear First Gens,

In this episode, host Sara welcomes guest Mayra Rosas to a new episode of The First Gen Madrina Podcast! This gives us a brand new episode for this month's theme, Defying Expectations as a First Gen!

Mayra Rosas is a writer, speaker, and passionate connection builder whose contagious energy and powerful story are sure to inspire you. A proud native of South Central Los Angeles and first-generation daughter of immigrants from Mexico and El Salvador, Mayra brings a radiant joy and deep commitment to celebrating the brilliance and dreams of the Latina community. Her life's mission was sparked at the remarkably young age of 15 when she began writing with an unwavering determination to ensure Latinas felt seen, heard, and represented. That early passion for amplifying Latina voices laid the foundation for Mayra's dynamic career across multiple industries. After thriving for seven years in television, she bravely pivoted to devote herself to initiatives creating meaningful impact. Today, she partners with major brands on meaningful campaigns, providing resources, opportunities, and platforms for the Latine community. Whether she's pouring her heart into powerful written pieces, sharing her inspiring voice, or fostering connections through visionary community building, Mayra's unstoppable spirit and passion for uplifting others radiates in all that she does.

Visit thefirstgenmadrina.com for the blog and additional resources. Remember to rate, review, and subscribe to stay connected. The First Gen Madrina is here to guide you through 2024 and beyond. Also, follow me on instagram and LinkedIn @thefirstgenmadrina and Sara Diaz, LCSW. 

Helping You Defy The Norm, 

Sara, The First Gen Madrina

Dear First Gens,

In this episode, host Sara welcomes guest Bianca Alba to a new episode of The First Gen Madrina Podcast! This gives us a brand new episode for this month's theme, Defying Expectations as a First Gen!

Bianca Alba is a proud Latina and first-generation college graduate. She was born in the heart of South America in Cochabamba, Bolivia and is the oldest of four sisters. Bianca holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Public Health. Despite many years of schooling, Bianca managed to pay off all her student loans and feels liberated by being debt-free. Bianca is the voice and creator of “This Latina Travels!” - A podcast about travel through the eyes of a First Generation Latina traveler/college grad sharing all her travel experiences first- hand! As a little girl, living in a single-parent household, trips and vacations were just a dream and felt unreachable. This Latina Travels is more than just Bianca telling you about her experiences, but it is a true reflection that dreams can become reality! To date, Bianca has traveled to 6 of the 7 continents in the world and her goal is to encourage and support women who look like her to travel the world too! Check out Bianca's website here: https://www.thislatinatravels.com/

Visit thefirstgenmadrina.com for the blog and additional resources. Remember to rate, review, and subscribe to stay connected. The First Gen Madrina is here to guide you through 2024 and beyond. Also, follow me on instagram and LinkedIn @thefirstgenmadrina and Sara Diaz, LCSW. 

Helping You Defy The Norm, 

Sara, The First Gen Madrina

Dear First Gens,

In this episode, host Sara welcomes guest Dominique O' Gorman to a new episode of The First Gen Madrina Podcast! This gives us a brand new episode for this month's theme, Defying Expectations as a First Gen!

Dominique is a Medium, psychic, and Death Worker. She has been connecting her clients of this world, to loved ones on the other side, most of her life. With clients all over the world she’s helped countless people step through their grief as they find their path to healing. She advocates getting comfort being uncomfortable talking all things death, dying, and the grief. You can visit Dominique's website here: https://www.dominiqueogorman.com/.

Visit thefirstgenmadrina.com for the blog and additional resources. Remember to rate, review, and subscribe to stay connected. The First Gen Madrina is here to guide you through 2024 and beyond. Also, follow me on instagram and LinkedIn @thefirstgenmadrina and Sara Diaz, LCSW. 
Helping You Defy The Norm, 

Sara, The First Gen Madrina

Dear First Gens,

In this episode, Sara introduces a brand new theme for the month, Defying the Norm or Defying Expectations as a First Gen.

Sara discusses the different ways that first gens may have to defy expectations or defy the norm. Growing up, we may have a list of expectations that have been placed on us. As we get older, we may choose to not subscribe to these expectations and some challenges may arise. This may look like breaking intergenerational cycles, disrupting toxic family dynamics, choosing to not go to school or delay a career, or even choosing to not have children.  It can show up in different ways, but it is mostly attached to our families and/or culture. It is important to have this conversation because it may feel difficult and lonely to manage this. This is why having a Madrina in your corner is so important!

P.S. This is not an exhaustive list as there are many different ways that this theme can come up for a first gen. Tune in to learn more!

Tell us on Instagram how you are defying the norm/expectations!

Visit thefirstgenmadrina.com for the blog and additional resources. Remember to rate, review, and subscribe to stay connected. The First Gen Madrina is here to guide you through 2024 and beyond. Also, follow me on instagram and LinkedIn @thefirstgenmadrina and Sara Diaz, LCSW. 

Helping You Defy The Norm,

Sara, The First Gen Madrina

Dear First Gens,

In this episode, host Sara wraps up the month with a new episode of The First Gen Madrina Podcast! This gives us a brand new episode for this month's theme, Pivoting as a First Gen!

In the first episode for this season, Sara shares with us the different ways that first gens can make pivots in their lives. In this episode, she dives deep into what pivoting means specifically for her. She shares how she has made pivots and will continue to make them. She also shares with us a story of her family's experience with pivoting while they were in Cuba as well as after they came to the United States. Sara realized that she comes from a long line of family that have had to make pivots in their lives. She recognized that although her family had to pivot out of necessity, she can now pivot on purpose. 

Visit thefirstgenmadrina.com for the blog and additional resources. Remember to rate, review, and subscribe to stay connected. The First Gen Madrina is here to guide you through 2024 and beyond. Also, follow me on instagram and LinkedIn @thefirstgenmadrina and Sara Diaz, LCSW. 

Helping You Pivot with Purpose,

Sara, The First Gen Madrina

Dear First Gens,

In this episode, host Sara welcomes guest Kathleen Ribeiro to a new episode of The First Gen Madrina Podcast! This gives us a brand new episode for this month's theme, Pivoting as a First Gen!

Kathleen is a business systems operations tech. Her journey began when she decided that her 9-5 job was no longer fulfilling. Through trial and error, she honed her skills and discovered her passion for systems and project management. Now, Kathleen shares her expertise with other female business owners and professionals who may not have the time or technical know-how to set up effective systems on their own. She helps women to streamline their operations, increase efficiency, and achieve the growth and success they desire. You can find Kathleen at http://kmservice.co!

Visit thefirstgenmadrina.com for the blog and additional resources. Remember to rate, review, and subscribe to stay connected. The First Gen Madrina is here to guide you through 2024 and beyond. Also, follow me on instagram and LinkedIn @thefirstgenmadrina and Sara Diaz, LCSW. 

Helping You to Pivot on Purpose,

Sara, The First Gen Madrina

In this episode, host Sara welcomes Ashley K. Stoyanov Ojeja to a new episode of The First Gen Madrina Podcast! This gives us a brand new episode for this month's theme, Pivoting as a First Gen!

Ashley K. Stoyanov Ojeda is a formidable leader in multicultural and bilingual business strategy, blending her rich Mexican and French heritage with over a decade of expertise in business development, community marketing, and communications. Her status as a best-selling author and compelling speaker showcases her significant and compelling speaker showcases her significant influence in these fields. Her groundbreaking Spanglish book, "Jefa in Training: The Business Startup Toolkit for Entrepreneurial and Creative Women," marks a pivotal moment in entrepreneurial literature, offering unparalleled support to the next generation of Latina entrepreneurs. Her book, celebrated by influential figures entrepreneurs such as Eva Longoria,  solidifies her role as a trailblazer for the new business majority. Ashley is also Sara's business strategist and her book, "Jefa in Training" is what inspired Sara to become an entrepreneur! You can find Ashley at https://ashleykstoyanovojeda.com!

Are you interested in taking a leap or making a pivot in your life but don't know where to start? Visit https://thefirstgenmadrina.com/take-the-leap for more information on Sara's new coaching program! Apply by June 14th!

Visit thefirstgenmadrina.com for the blog and additional resources. Remember to rate, review, and subscribe to stay connected. The First Gen Madrina is here to guide you through 2024 and beyond. Also, follow me on instagram and LinkedIn @thefirstgenmadrina and Sara Diaz, LCSW. 

Helping You to Pivot on Purpose,

Sara, The First Gen Madrina

Dear First Gens,

In this episode, host Sara kicks off a new episode of The First Gen Madrina Podcast! This gives us a brand new episode for this month's theme, Pivoting as a First Gen!

Sara is no stranger to pivoting. In just 1 year, she bid farewell to her home state of New Jersey to embark on a new journey to the sunny state of Florida! She also ditched her 9-5 job to pursue her dream of taking her business The First Gen Madrina full time! All of this happened in just 1 year (8 months to be exact!). In this episode, Sara details her journey of pivoting and how it may look different for all first gens! Sara highlights the highs and lows of her pivoting journey and everything in between. Tune in to learn more about her journey!

Are you interested in taking a leap or making a pivot in your life but don't know where to start? Visit https://thefirstgenmadrina.com/take-the-leap for more information on Sara's new coaching program! Apply by June 14th!

Visit thefirstgenmadrina.com for the blog and additional resources. Remember to rate, review, and subscribe to stay connected. The First Gen Madrina is here to guide you through 2024 and beyond. Also, follow me on instagram and LinkedIn @thefirstgenmadrina and Sara Diaz, LCSW. 

Helping You Pivot with Purpose,

Sara, The First Gen Madrina

Dear First Gens,

In this episode, host Sara Diaz welcomes Miguel Olave to a new episode of The First Gen Madrina Podcast! This gives us a brand new episode for this month's theme, Mental Health as a First Gen!

Miguel is a father to four Boys, a husband of 10 years, and the Founding Partner of SpeakrBrand, a social media marketing agency for keynote speakers, CEOs, and executives. He is also a mental health advocate who rallied a community around mental health conversations on LinkedIn in the summer of 2019 before the pandemic started. Miguel credits his career growth to building up his personal brand on LinkedIn, which is centered around intentionally embracing vulnerable conversations.

As a disclaimer, these episodes can be triggering for some individuals that are struggling with mental health concerns. Although Sara is a social worker, these episodes are meant to educate and bring awareness to mental health challenges that we may experience, especially as first gens. She will not be providing any diagnoses. She will only be sharing her personal experience.

For additional support, please reach out to the National Alliance on Mental Illness at 1-800-950-6264. If this is an emergency, please call 911. Please know that there is help out there for you, and you do not have to navigate this alone.

Visit thefirstgenmadrina.com for the blog and additional resources. Remember to rate, review, and subscribe to stay connected. The First Gen Madrina is here to guide you through 2024 and beyond. Also, follow me on instagram and LinkedIn @thefirstgenmadrina and Sara Diaz, LCSW. 

Standing in Solidarity With You This May,

Sara, The First Gen Madrina

Dear First Gens,

In this episode, host Sara Diaz welcomes Amina Mostafa to a new episode of The First Gen Madrina Podcast! This gives us a brand new episode for this month's theme, Mental Health as a First Gen!

Born in Brooklyn, New York, and raised in Jersey City, New Jersey, Amina  was the first her family to be born in the United States. The daughter of Egyptian immigrants, she is the oldest of five and the first to pursue and earn a bachelor’s degree in her family. She earned her bachelor's degree in psychology from New Jersey City University, demonstrating her early commitment to the field of psychology and her desire to understand the human mind. Her academic journey continued with the pursuit of a master's degree in Clinical and Counseling Psychology from William Paterson University of New Jersey. She is a founding board member of Generation Fearless, a non-profit organization centered around supporting first-generation women navigating all stages of their lives through education and empowerment. Amina works as a higher education administrator, where she primarily focuses on supporting marginalized students, many of whom are first-generation. She is a Licensed Associate Counselor in New Jersey. She is a mother of two littles with loads of energy. And she is currently a doctoral student at Kean University’s PhD in Counseling and Supervision program.

As a disclaimer, these episodes can be triggering for some individuals that are struggling with mental health concerns. Although Sara is a social worker, these episodes are meant to educate and bring awareness to mental health challenges that we may experience, especially as first gens. She will not be providing any diagnoses. She will only be sharing her personal experience.

For additional support, please reach out to the National Alliance on Mental Illness at 1-800-950-6264. If this is an emergency, please call 911. Please know that there is help out there for you, and you do not have to navigate this alone.

Visit thefirstgenmadrina.com for the blog and additional resources. Remember to rate, review, and subscribe to stay connected. The First Gen Madrina is here to guide you through 2024 and beyond. Also, follow me on instagram and LinkedIn @thefirstgenmadrina and Sara Diaz, LCSW. 

Standing in Solidarity With You This May,

Sara, The First Gen Madrina