Unapologetically First Gen

In the second half of their conversation on hustle culture, Lesley and Stacy go deeper into what it actually looks like to unlearn the first-gen overachiever mindset in real life.

From letting the dishes sit in the sink to resisting the urge to say yes to every opportunity, this episode unpacks the guilt that comes with rest—and the intentional choices it takes to create a slower, values-aligned life.

You’ll hear stories about:

• Homework protests and raising readers
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• How burnout sneaks into even your hobbies (hi, Goodreads pressure)
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• What grandma taught us about radical rest
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• Learning to say no without apologizing
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• Why “you can have it all” isn’t the problem—it’s the timeline that’s a lie
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If you’ve ever felt like you're doing everything but still not enough, this episode is a reminder: your worth isn’t measured by your productivity.

💬 Got your own story about unlearning hustle? Share it with us over on Patreon: http://patreon.com/UnapologeticallyFirstGenPodcast

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Ideas for Unapologetically First Gen come from sisterly conversation and caffeine. Buy us a cup of coffee by joining our Patreon. 

📲 Connect with us on Social Media: 

• Instagram and Threads: @stacybragacopy and @StreamlineWithLesley
• Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/UnapologeticallyFirstGenPodcast

Subscribe & Review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

Thank you for tuning in, and as always, we appreciate your support! ❤️

In this two-part series, Stacy and Lesley dive deep into the first gen overachiever syndrome—also known as hustle culture, survival mode, or doing-the-most disorder. In part one, they reflect on their college years packed with jobs, volunteer work, and academic overload, and trace those habits back to childhood expectations around rest, success, and self-worth.

They also unpack how that hustle mentality shows up in parenting, housekeeping, and even reading for fun (yes, really). You’ll hear about generational shifts—from grandma’s “let the dishes sit” mindset to breaking up with the myth of “having it all at the same time.”

Whether you're currently in burnout or just trying to untangle your worth from your to-do list, this episode offers a funny, heartfelt, and unfiltered look at how hustle sneaks into every corner of life—and what it looks like to start letting go.

💬 Got your own story about unlearning hustle? Share it with us over on Patreon: http://patreon.com/UnapologeticallyFirstGenPodcast

Follow & Support Us:

Ideas for Unapologetically First Gen come from sisterly conversation and caffeine. Buy us a cup of coffee by joining our Patreon. 

📲 Connect with us on Social Media: 

• Instagram and Threads: @stacybragacopy and @StreamlineWithLesley
• Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/UnapologeticallyFirstGenPodcast

Subscribe & Review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

Thank you for tuning in, and as always, we appreciate your support! ❤️

This week on Unapologetically First Gen, we’re diving into the funny, frustrating, and sometimes embarrassing moments that come with being bilingual.

From accidentally telling people we're "constipated" when we mean congested to struggling with vocabulary around politics, shaving cream, or whether it’s a cup or a glass of water… this episode is for anyone who’s ever had a word get stuck between two languages.

We also talk about the cultural weight of language—how it shows up in our dreams, how it shapes who we feel fluent with, and why describing our work in Portuguese sometimes feels impossible.

💬 Join the convo: Share your sticky language situations on our Patreon: http://patreon.com/UnapologeticallyFirstGenPodcast

Follow & Support Us:

Ideas for Unapologetically First Gen come from sisterly conversation and caffeine. Buy us a cup of coffee by joining our Patreon. 

Connect with us on Social Media: 

• Instagram and Threads: @stacybragacopy and @StreamlineWithLesley
• Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/UnapologeticallyFirstGenPodcast

Subscribe & Review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

Thank you for tuning in, and as always, we appreciate your support! ❤️

This week, we’re talking malasadas, sweetbread, and soup that could bring you to tears. But like most of our episodes — it’s not really about the food. It’s about memory, identity, and what gets passed down.

We reflect on what it means to preserve cultural traditions when you’ve moved away from the language, the religion, or the neighborhood that shaped them. From our mother’s baking to finding joy in overpriced cereal, this episode is full of stories that will hit home for any first-gen kid trying to keep their culture alive — one recipe (or failed veggie burger) at a time.

You can find Chocopic, biscoitos, and Portuguese cheese here:l https://shopportuguese.com 

Follow & Support Us:

Ideas for Unapologetically First Gen come from sisterly conversation and caffeine. Buy us a cup of coffee by joining our Patreon. 

Connect with us on Social Media: 

• Instagram and Threads: @stacybragacopy and @StreamlineWithLesley
• Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/UnapologeticallyFirstGenPodcast

Subscribe & Review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

Thank you for tuning in, and as always, we appreciate your support! ❤️

In this special episode of Unapologetically First Gen, we welcome our very first guest: Remy (yes, just Remy), a creative entrepreneur, twice-over immigrant, and founder of the video editing agency Remy B Reel. Born in Haiti, raised in the U.S., and now living in Ethiopia with his family, Remy shares his incredible journey of navigating life between continents, cultures, and identities.

Remy's story is a powerful reflection on resilience, intention, and living unapologetically. We get into what it’s like to parent abroad, the difference between being an immigrant vs. an expat, and why building a slower, more intentional life has made all the difference for his family.

Follow & Support Us:

Ideas for Unapologetically First Gen come from sisterly conversation and caffeine. Buy us a cup of coffee by joining our Patreon. 

📲 Connect with us on Social Media: 

• Instagram and Threads: @stacybragacopy and @StreamlineWithLesley
• Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/UnapologeticallyFirstGenPodcast

Subscribe & Review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

Thank you for tuning in, and as always, we appreciate your support! ❤️

In this episode of Unapologetically First Gen, sisters Stacy and Lesley Braga dive into their experiences with education as first-generation college students. They reflect on their early schooling in a bilingual Portuguese-English program, the challenges of transitioning into an English-only environment, and the impact of being the first in their family to navigate higher education.

Follow & Support Us:

Ideas for Unapologetically First Gen come from sisterly conversation and caffeine. Support us by buying us a cup of coffee here.

📲 Connect with us on Social Media: 

• Instagram and Threads: @stacybragacopy and @StreamlineWithLesley
• Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/UnapologeticallyFirstGenPodcast

Subscribe & Review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or where ever you listen to your podcasts.

Thank you for tuning in, and as always, we appreciate your support! ❤️

In this episode, sisters Lesley and Stacy Braga break down the family dynamics, from sleepovers and road trips to childhood conspiracies and the ever-growing cousin network. They share hilarious stories (including an infamous toothpaste incident), how family bonds shift over time, and the unique experience of growing up in a massive, close-knit immigrant family.

📩 DM us on social media—how many first cousins do you have? What’s your funniest cousin memory?

📸 Check out our Patreon for exclusive behind-the-scenes photos, including a glimpse of the infamous house from the toothpaste incident!

Follow & Support Us:

Ideas for Unapologetically First Gen come from sisterly conversation and caffeine. Support us by buying us a cup of coffee here.

📲 Connect with us on Social Media: 

• Instagram and Threads: @stacybragacopy and @StreamlineWithLesley
• Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/UnapologeticallyFirstGenPodcast

Subscribe & Review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or where ever you listen to your podcasts.

Thank you for tuning in, and as always, we appreciate your support! ❤️

Episode Summary:

In this episode of Unapologetically First Gen, Stacy takes us on a journey through her recent trip to the Azores, marking her first time visiting without "the grown-ups." From driving for the first time on the curvy, cliffside roads to navigating the islands’ taxi system, Stacy shares her experiences, challenges, and personal growth throughout the trip.

We dive into the deep emotions of reconnecting with family, the nostalgia of visiting, and the stark contrasts between life in the Azores and the U.S. This episode also explores the slower pace of island life, the importance of work-life balance, and the sense of community that shapes everyday living in the Azores.

Follow & Support Us:

• Ideas for Unapologetically First Gen come from sisterly conversation and caffeine. Support us by buying us a cup of coffee here.
• Instagram and Threads: StacyBragaCopy and StreamlineWithLesley
• Subscribe on Patreon
• Subscribe & Review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or where ever you listen to your podcasts.

Thank you for tuning in, and as always, we appreciate your support! ❤️

After launching our first episode, we got some great feedback on the term "first-generation." In this episode, we're diving into the differences between first-generation American and first-generation immigrant, how we define our own identities, and why language matters.

• Like, subscribe, and leave a review! It helps more first-gen listeners find the podcast.
• Share this episode with a friend or family member who would love it!
• Ideas for Unapologetically First Gen come from sisterly conversation and caffeine. Support us by buying us a cup of copy: https://buymeacoffee.com/unapologeticallyfirstgen

We know identity is nuanced and personal—how do you define being first-gen? Let us know! DM us on Instagram or Threads at StacyBragaCopy or StreamlineWithLesley

Episode Title: How we Got Here

Hosts: Stacy Braga & Lesley Braga

In this episode of Unapologetically First Gen, sisters Stacy and Lesley dive into their Azorean heritage, sharing personal stories of growing up as first-generation immigrants from the Azores, a set of nine small islands in the middle of the Atlantic. They explore the unique customs, history, and immigration patterns of the Azorean people, along with heartfelt and humorous anecdotes from their own family’s journey.

• The history of Azorean immigration, including why waves of Azoreans moved to the U.S., Canada, and Brazil.
• The cultural distinctions of the Azores, including language, food, and traditions.
• Personal family stories about growing up with immigrant parents who worked tirelessly to build a new life in America.
• How their parents’ experience shaped their own identity and values.
• The contrast between childhood summers in the Azores vs. growing up in New England.
• The deep connection between memory and senses—especially the nostalgic power of food and smell.

• 00:01:41 - Introduction to the podcast and today’s topic: Azorean identity and immigration.
• 02:13 - The unique culture of the Azores and how accents differ across the islands.
• 04:36 - The struggles of growing up in a fascist regime and extreme poverty.
• 09:13 - The realities of early education in the Azores, working young, and the significance of having a pair of shoes.
• 13:59 - The journey of their parents’ immigration, the risk of starting over, and their early struggles in America.
• 18:27 - Nostalgic memories of summers in the Azores, childhood adventures, and making lifelong connections with food and traditions.
• 23:08 - The importance of community in Azorean culture, including traditional feasts and resourcefulness in farming life.
• 25:28 - How their parents adapted to life in the U.S. while working multiple jobs to support their family.
• Ending - Reflections on first-generation experiences and the value of embracing both cultures.

• "There are more cows in the Azores than there are people."
• "Our parents took one big risk—moving to a new country—and then decided they were done with risks for life."
• "Nothing beats fresh bread coming out of a wood-fired oven. The smell instantly takes me back."

• Instagram & Threads: @stacybragacopy | @rather_be_baking_bread
• Have a First Gen Story? DM us or tag us in your post—we’d love to hear from you!

• Like, subscribe, and leave a review! It helps more first-gen listeners find the podcast.
• Share this episode with a friend or family member who would love it!
• Ideas for Unapologetically First Gen come from sisterly conversation and caffeine. Support us by buying us a cup of copy: https://buymeacoffee.com/unapologeticallyfirstgen

Until next time—keep embracing your roots and making your own path!