Dear First Gens,

In this episode, host Sara welcomes guest Valeria Garcia to The First Gen Madrina Podcast! This gives us a brand new episode for this month's theme, Boundaries as a First Gen!

Valeria is a passionate advocate for equity and inclusion in higher education. Valeria has over a decade of experience developing identity-based programs and support services for marginalized students and has dedicated her career to empowering students and first-gen professionals through a Critical Race Theory framework and Strength-Based model. As a 1.5 first-generation immigrant from Mexico and a first-generation college student herself, Valeria intimately understands the challenges faced by marginalized communities in academia. In 2019, she founded the First Gen Professional Network, recognizing the need for ongoing support for first-gen students’ post-graduation. Outside of work, Valeria likes to spend time outdoors, exploring new coffee shops, and trying new plant-based restaurants. Tune in to hear more about her first-gen story!

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 Find Your Boundaries, 

Sara, The First Gen Madrina

Dear First Gens,

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

In this first episode for our theme, Sara details the different types of boundaries that may come up for first gens and why it may be difficult to implement them. She also shares what boundaries look like for her. Lastly, in this episode, Sara discusses the importance of taking care of ourselves when we are implementing boundaries as they might not always be accepted by others. Sara recognizes that we may have to put up boundaries for ourselves and others in order to maintain our mental health. Tune in to find out more!

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 Find Your Boundaries, 

Sara, The First Gen Madrina

Dear First Gens,

Today we are featuring a special guest for a new segment of the podcast called  Cafecito with the First Gen. This segment will feature first-gen authors who have written books that discuss the first-generation experience.

Alejandra Campoverdi is a nationally recognized women's health advocate, founder, producer, and former White House aide to President Obama. She produced and appeared in the groundbreaking PBS documentary Inheritance,  founded the Latinos and BRCA Awareness Initiative in partnership with Penn Medicine's Basser Center and served as the first White House Deputy Director of Hispanic Media.

Alejandra is on the boards of Harvard's Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics, and Public Policy and the California Community Foundation. She holds a Master in Public Policy degree from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government and graduated cum laude from the University of Southern California. Alejandra's memoir, First Gen, is a story of generational inheritance, aspiration, and the true meaning of belonging.

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 Along Your Journey, 

Sara, The First Gen Madrina

Dear First Gens,

In this episode, host Sara wraps up the season with 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!

In this episode, Sara discusses specifically how Defying Expectations/Defying the Norm looks like for her. As a teaser, Sara discusses moving out of her home state, choosing a stigmatized career, being one of the first in her family to accept therapy, breaking cycles and much more. Sara reiterates the importance of taking care of yourself in the process as it can affect your mental health. Tune in to find out more about how Sara manages defying the norm every day!

We hope this theme resonated with you all and hopefully provided some support on how to get connected for additional support. Remember that although the journey may feel lonely, you don't have to navigate it alone. You will always have a Madrina in your corner!

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 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