The Mami Collective

If your brain is half-wrapping gifts and half-spiraling about money… this episode is for you.

Paulina sits down with Jennifer Molina—Guaranteed Rate lender, mom of two, and an Ecuador-to-Chicago powerhouse—to talk about what it actually looks like to build stability (and real wealth) while raising kids, paying for childcare, and trying to keep your life from turning into one long to-do list.

You’ll hear Jennifer’s story (immigrating at 8, corporate finance, then finding her lane in lending), plus the most useful homebuying guidance for busy moms:

• Why you should talk to a lender before you start Zillow-ing at midnight
• What “being ready” really means (spoiler: it’s not perfection)
• How credit strategy and down-payment support can change the timeline
• Why Jennifer’s wealth-building hill to die on is multi-unit properties
• What the winter market can mean for leverage and negotiating power

Bottom line: you don’t need to know everything—you need a plan and a team you trust.

Want to connect with Jennifer? Find her on Instagram @HomeLoansByJennifer or text 773-697-1111.

I’m grateful to have you here. Being a mom and going after your dreams isn’t easy, but you’re doing better than you think. Keep going — you’ve got this.

Let’s stay connected:
@mamicollective | @paulinaroe

See you next time — stay inspired.

In this episode of The Mami Collective, Paulina sits down with Amanda Goetz — mom of three, author of Toxic Grit, and host of the Ambition 2.0 podcast — for a grounded, real-talk conversation about ambition, motherhood, and why “having it all” is a broken script. They unpack why mom guilt shows up so loudly, what it really means to choose intentional imbalance, and how to stop letting other people’s projections dictate how you show up in your own life.

Amanda shares her “stovetop” framework for deciding which parts of you get the front burner in each season, how to bring back the parts of yourself you’ve written off (yes, including your inner goddess), and why taking care of yourself is actually one of the most loving things you can do for your kids.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• What toxic grit looks like in real life — and how to trade it for intentional ambition
• How to use Amanda’s stovetop method to decide what gets your energy in this season
• A reframe on mom guilt and the pressure to pick a lane between work and home
• Practical ways to put yourself back on the list without feeling selfish
• How to revive the parts of you that got buried under motherhood, survival mode, or other people’s expectations

If you’ve ever felt torn between being a “good mom” and a “driven woman,” this episode will make you feel seen, less alone, and remind you that you’re allowed to be many things at once.

Follow Amanda here: https://www.instagram.com/theamandagoetz/?hl=en

I’m grateful to have you here. Being a mom and going after your dreams isn’t easy, but you’re doing better than you think. Keep going — you’ve got this.

Let’s stay connected:
@mamicollective | @paulinaroe

See you next time — stay inspired.

What happens when the best and worst moments of your life collide in the same week?

In this episode, Paulina sits down with Kera Sanchez, educator, military spouse, mom of two, and founder of Get Griefy Magazine, to talk about navigating grief while you’re in the thick of motherhood. Kera shares the story of losing her mom unexpectedly while her newborn was in the NICU during COVID, and what it looked like to plan a funeral from a hospital room while solo parenting and trying to hold it together for her family.

Together, Paulina and Kera get into:

• How grief actually shows up (beyond the neat “5 stages” we’re taught)
• The overlap between grief and depression, and when it’s time to get help
• “Living losses” like infertility, NICU stays, estrangement, and big life pivots
• Talking to kids about death without weird euphemisms
• Grief spikes around holidays, birthdays, and big milestones
• Keeping a parent’s legacy alive through traditions, stories, and tiny everyday rituals

This is a conversation for any mami who’s ever tried to parent, perform, or just get out of bed while her heart is breaking. It’s tender, honest, a little woo-woo, and full of the kind of dark humor that keeps you afloat when life makes zero sense. 

I’m grateful to have you here. Being a mom and going after your dreams isn’t easy, but you’re doing better than you think. Keep going — you’ve got this.

Let’s stay connected:
@mamicollective | @paulinaroe

See you next time — stay inspired.

This week, Paulina sits down with Dr. Maggie Grothe- mom of two under three and founder of Root Dental in Algonquin, Illinois- for the kind of conversation that feels like a deep, grounding breath. They talk about what it really looks like to open a dental practice from scratch with a baby on your hip, why her “you got outbid” text in the hospital became her villain origin story, and how having a career can actually make you a better, more present mom.

And because she’s a dentist, we go there: when kids really need their first dental visit (hint: it’s earlier than you think), what to know about fluoride and “holistic” care, why purees and all-day snacking might be quietly wrecking your family’s teeth, and simple swaps that protect tiny smiles and yours. 

If you’ve ever wondered, “Am I allowed to want more for myself and my kids at the same time?”- this episode is your reminder: you’re not selfish, you’re building something. For you, and for them.

Follow Dr. Maggie Grothe here: https://www.instagram.com/gorootdental/

I’m grateful to have you here. Being a mom and going after your dreams isn’t easy, but you’re doing better than you think. Keep going — you’ve got this.

Let’s stay connected:
@mamicollective | @paulinaroe

See you next time — stay inspired.

In this episode, Paulina and Dr. Esther Zeledon are breaking down exactly how to figure out why you’re actually meant to do-in a “here’s the step-by-step so you stop sitting on your calling” way. This is the episode for any mom who’s tired of feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or like she’s waiting for the “right time” (spoiler: it doesn’t exist).

Esther walks us through the same exercises she uses with everyone-from first graders to CEOs- including the question that exposes your purpose instantly:

“If you had $40 billion to fix one global problem, what would you do — and what are the 3–5 steps you’d take to do it?”

In this episode, you’ll learn:
• How to figure out your MVP-your mission, vision, and purpose-without overthinking it
• How to turn your dream into a real plan instead of a cute Pinterest board
• How to break the generational patterns that are low-key running your life
• How to stop projecting your dreams onto your kids and actually support the humans they’re becoming
• Why motherhood isn’t about controlling their path-it’s about facilitating their greatness

Follow Esther here on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/be.act.change/

I’m grateful to have you here. Being a mom and going after your dreams isn’t easy, but you’re doing better than you think. Keep going — you’ve got this.

Let’s stay connected:
@mamicollective | @paulinaroe

See you next time — stay inspired.

If you’ve ever felt torn between being a “good mom” and being wildly ambitious, then this conversation is for you.

In this episode, Paulina sits down with media mogul, real estate investor, and New York Times bestselling author Nely Galán to talk about what it really takes to become self-made as a daughter of immigrants, a single mom, and a woman who refuses to shrink. Nely shares how she went from selling Avon out of her locker to becoming employee #1 at the tiny station that became Telemundo, building a global TV empire, and then walking away to get her doctorate in psychology and study the psychology of money in our communities. 

They dive into motherhood in the middle of all of it-being the “therapist and translator” for immigrant parents, raising a son who thought money was “fairy dust” until she boot-camped him through running her buildings, and why she now tells moms: it’s okay if your main job right now is just being Mom.

You’ll hear:

• How Nely used her immigrant story and “pain as her brand” to build a media and real estate empire
• Why she walked away from Hollywood at her peak to go back to school and write Self Made
• The money mindset shifts women and moms must make to build multi-generational wealth
• Her “don’t buy shoes, buy buildings” philosophy—and why sometimes the smartest move is to do nothing but save
• Tiny, doable steps you can take this week (hello, two hours on Sunday) to start your own self-made journey
• A tender, honest take on motherhood, regret, and why she wishes she’d had more kids—even after doing it as a single mom

If you’re in the thick of mom life, feeling behind, or wondering if you missed your shot, this episode will remind you: it’s never too late, your story is your superpower, and you’re allowed to build wealth, rest, and be “that girl” and that mom.

Follow Nely on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nelygalan/?hl=en

I’m grateful to have you here. Being a mom and going after your dreams isn’t easy, but you’re doing better than you think. Keep going — you’ve got this.

Let’s stay connected:
@mamicollective | @paulinaroe

See you next time — stay inspired.

Latina makeup artist and mom of three Teresa Marie (Teresa Guzmán) joins Paulina to talk about turning a creative outlet into AERIS, a booked-and-busy glam squad built on word-of-mouth, values, and vision. 

Teresa shares growing up in Little Village, why she “rubbed two sticks together” to get her first kit, the mindset shift from “extra nail money” to creating jobs for other moms, and how she leads in her femininity without getting lost in the industry’s competition trap. 

We unpack the power of “start cringe,” setting delusionally attainable goals, delegating (admin + content) so you can do your best work, and making 20–30% of your time count when family is your why.

Follow Teresa at @byAERIS and @itsTMarieG.

I’m grateful to have you here. Being a mom and going after your dreams isn’t easy, but you’re doing better than you think. Keep going — you’ve got this.

Let’s stay connected:
@mamicollective | @paulinaroe

See you next time — stay inspired.

Paulina sits down with family law attorney and single mom Aliette Hernandez Carolan to talk about what divorce really looks like-money, motherhood, and finding your footing again.

They unpack the before, during, and after: getting clear on your finances, protecting your peace, and making decisions from a grounded place, not a chaotic one.

Aliette shares the truth about control, co-parenting, and what it actually means to build a new life without losing yourself in the process.

In This Episode:

• Know what your life really costs
• Access to cash ≠ financial control
• “Shared responsibility” doesn’t mean shared peace
• Don’t make moves from survival mode
• Kids need two happy parents, not one burned-out one
• Start with education, not court

Because starting over isn’t failure-it’s power.

Follow Aliette here: https://www.instagram.com/aliettehcarolan/

I’m grateful to have you here. Being a mom and going after your dreams isn’t easy, but you’re doing better than you think. Keep going — you’ve got this.

Let’s stay connected:
@mamicollective | @paulinaroe

See you next time — stay inspired.

Being a working mom in media isn’t for the faint of heart- and B96 Brand Manager + mom of two Molly Cruz gets it.

In this episode, Molly and Paulina talk about what it really looks like to juggle inboxes, toddlers, and the pressure to “do it all.” From learning to handle hard better, to letting go of perfection, to finding confidence after motherhood changes everything- this convo is the reminder every ambitious mom needs.

We get into:
✨ How to stop apologizing for not being “perfect”
🧠 Why grace > guilt every time
💼 What motherhood taught her about leadership, identity, and ambition
💗 The freedom that comes with letting go of control

This one’s for the moms fighting their inbox, questioning their balance, or trying to remember the woman they were before the title “mom.”

Because, as Molly says: you don’t have to do it all perfectly. You just have to keep learning to handle hard better.

I’m grateful to have you here. Being a mom and going after your dreams isn’t easy, but you’re doing better than you think. Keep going — you’ve got this.

Let’s stay connected:
@mamicollective | @paulinaroe

See you next time — stay inspired.

Success isn’t a straight line -it’s a process. In this episode, Paulina sits down with community-builder and OG mom-blogger Ana Flores to talk about building from scratch, letting go, and choosing yourself first. Ana takes us from her early blog ($40 brand posts) to launching the first network connecting Latina bloggers with brands, growing We All Grow, selling the company, and stepping into her next chapter: a book (Done With The Hustle, coming 2026) and a return to long-form storytelling.

We get real about motherhood and ambition, speaking up when it’s uncomfortable, redefining success as freedom, and swapping performative hustle for sustainable growth. If you’ve ever wondered how to build community (not just followers), make values-aligned money, and keep evolving-then this one’s your permission slip to keep going. The journey doesn’t end here. 

I’m grateful to have you here. Being a mom and going after your dreams isn’t easy, but you’re doing better than you think. Keep going — you’ve got this.

Let’s stay connected:
@mamicollective | @paulinaroe

See you next time — stay inspired.