This episode is going to be one of the most honest conversations I’ve ever had on Yo Quiero Dinero. It's a raw, unfiltered conversation about what happens when you mix family and business—and spoiler alert: it gets messy as hell. My sister Lianne is back after a year-long hiatus, and we're spilling ALL the tea. From her rapid social media growth that turned into a nightmare with death threats, to being diagnosed with MS at 37, to almost filing for bankruptcy—this episode holds nothing back.

We talk about what it was really like when she worked for me while I was a brand new mom, how her personal struggles spilled into the business, and why we ultimately had to make the difficult decision to part ways professionally. This isn't some sanitized "family business success story", it is the real shit that nobody talks about.

If you've ever worked with family, hired a family member, or wondered if you should mix business with blood, this episode is required listening.

WE GET INTO: 

00:00 - Intro: Family, Business & Messy Dynamics

02:03 - From 0 to 100K Followers to Death Threats

05:03 - MS Diagnosis, Hospitalization & Bankruptcy

07:20 - "I Was a Horrible Employee": Taking Accountability

10:58 - The Performance Improvement Plan & Final Warning

30:38 - The Money Problem: 1099 Tax Chaos

37:26 - Digging Out of the Spiral: The Brutal Reality

41:36 - Landing the New Job & Finding Peace

54:56 - The 2026 Comeback: What's Different This Time

58:29 - Should You Work with Family? The Real Answer

KEY TAKAWAYS:

• ​​The gift and curse of rapid social media growth
• Why follower counts don't equal money
• How to navigate difficult conversations with family in business
• Recognizing when a business relationship has reached its expiration date
• The importance of boundaries in ALL relationships
• How to rebuild after burning everything down

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

• Listen: Episode 179: 2 Sisters, 2 Survivors | Lianne Torres | Watch Us Thrive Podcast
• Erica Kramer

CONNECT WITH LIANNE:

• Website
• Instagram: @watchusthrivepodcast

TAKE THE NEXT STEP:

• Yo Quiero Dinero Private Membership
• Read my book: Financially Lit
• Leave me a voicemail

*Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of mental health struggles, financial hardship, and online harassment.

This episode of Yo Quiero Dinero was produced by Heart Centered Podcasting.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this data-packed episode of Yo Quiero Dinero, Jannese sits down with Dr. Marlene Orozco, founder of Stratified Insights and lead researcher behind one of the most comprehensive studies ever conducted on Latina wealth in America. Together, they break down the receipts real numbers, real stories, and real systems that explain why Latinas continue to earn less, save less, and carry more financial responsibility, despite being one of the fastest-growing economic forces in the country.

This conversation goes beyond hot takes and dives into the structural barriers, cultural expectations, and systemic inequities shaping Latina wealth today from entrepreneurship and homeownership to caregiving, education, and retirement. If you’ve ever felt like you’re working twice as hard for half the reward… this episode will make you feel seen and fired up.

What We Get Into

00:00 Why this Latina wealth data matters

01:10 Meet Dr. Marlene Orozco

04:25 First-gen roots & entrepreneurship

09:30 Necessity vs opportunity businesses

12:50 The Latina wealth paradox

17:45 The 27% pay gap explained

23:50 Entrepreneurship as a wealth strategy

29:55 Homeownership & credit barriers

34:10 Retirement & investment gaps

37:45 Financial first responders

47:40 The motherhood penalty

56:20 Hope, policy & what’s next

Key Takeaways

• Latinas are not behind because of bad choices — the system is working exactly as designed.
• Education and entrepreneurship do increase earning potential, but they are not enough without access to capital and policy support.
• Caregiving, cultural expectations, and family responsibility significantly limit Latinas’ ability to save and invest.
• Homeownership remains a primary wealth strategy, but affordability, credit access, and insurance risks threaten long-term stability.
• Real change requires structural solutions, not just individual financial literacy.

Resources Mentioned

• REPORT - Latina Wealth In America: https://latinoprosperity.org/research,
• Latino AI Summit: https://tinyurl.com/latinoaisummit2026 
• Stratefied Insights: https://www.stratifiedinsights.com/ 
• Marlene's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marlene-orozco
• Free Download: New Year Dinero Reset Guide
• My private membership: https://courses.yoquierodineropodcast.com/founders
• Have a question? Leave me a voicemail
• Book: Financially Lit by Jannese Torres

This podcast was produced and edited by Idea to Launch Productions

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this no-fluff, receipts-on-the-table episode, Jannese breaks down exactly how she made over $500K in 2025! While becoming a first-time mom and running multiple businesses.

This is not “get rich quick” talk. This is a real, detailed income report covering 10+ revenue streams, the systems that keep money flowing on autopilot, and the mindset shifts required to scale without burnout. From blog ads and digital products to brand deals, memberships, real estate, and side hustles! Jannese shares what actually works, what’s overrated, and why creators who rely only on social media are setting themselves up to struggle.

If you’re a content creator or entrepreneur this episode is your sign.

WHAT WE GET INTO

0:00 How Jannese made over $500K in 2025 as a new mom

2:30 A decade-long journey in content creation & entrepreneurship

4:45 Top-line revenue vs. taxable income (what creators need to know)

7:30 The 10 income streams behind nearly $500K

10:00 Why digital products & coaching earned the most

12:15 How blog ads generated $147K in passive income

14:40 Brand deals, creator rewards & platform pay myths

17:00 Side hustles: Turo, savings interest & Zumba income

19:30 Airbnb income, real estate & upgrading investments

22:00 Systems, automation & evergreen income strategies

24:30 Membership pricing & avoiding creator burnout

27:00 Mentorship, scaling faster & a real 5x income story

29:15 Declaring 2026 the Rich Bitch Year

31:15 Final takeaways, free resources & next steps

KEY TAKEAWAYS

💡 Diversification is protection — never rely on one platform or paycheck

💡 Long-form content (blogs & podcasts) builds real wealth

💡 Own your offers — products > brand deals

💡 Automation makes money while you sleep

💡 Pricing yourself fairly is an act of self-respect

💡 Mentorship shortcuts years of trial and error

Resources Mentioned

• Free Download: New Year Dinero Reset Guide
• Become a Zumba instructor for 70% off!
• My PR condo: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/Condo-Sandy-Hls-13-Luquillo-PR-00773/458549227_zpid/
• My private membership: https://courses.yoquierodineropodcast.com/founders
• Have a question? Leave me a voicemail
• Book: Financially Lit by Jannese Torres

This podcast was produced and edited by Idea to Launch Productions

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Yo Quiero Dinero, Jannese sits down with Mariana Barajas, licensed therapist and money coach aka @lamoneytherapist 

to unpack the deep, emotional connection between mental health and money.

From first-gen pressure and eldest-daughter trauma to scarcity mindsets, over-spending, money hoarding, and burnout, this conversation goes beyond budgeting tips and gets to the root of our financial behaviors. Because let’s be real: most of us already know what to do with money—what stops us is what’s happening in our nervous system.

Mariana breaks down how childhood experiences, cultural conditioning, and subconscious beliefs shape the way we earn, spend, save, and invest—and what it actually takes to heal your relationship with money.

If you’ve ever wondered why you can’t keep money, why you’re afraid to take financial risks, or why success still doesn’t feel like enough… this episode is for you.

What We Get Into

00:01 – 02:00

• Mariana’s background as a licensed therapist and money coach
• Why mental health and financial wellness must be treated holistically

02:01 – 05:00

• First-gen upbringing, eldest daughter pressure, and seeking parental validation
• How childhood emotional neglect can shape adult ambition and burnout

05:01 – 07:45

• Growing up with limited financial resources
• How early awareness of money scarcity impacts confidence and decision-making

07:46 – 10:10

• The fast dopamine hit of spending once you “finally make it”
• How retail therapy can quietly lead to debt and lifestyle inflation

10:11 – 13:20

• Identifying subconscious money beliefs
• Introduction to financial therapy and why budgeting alone isn’t enough

13:21 – 15:30

• The Money-Worthiness Framework
• Challenging limiting beliefs, building self-trust, and the role of community

15:31 – 18:10

• People-pleasing, and cultural expectations placed on women
• How these beliefs impact earning, saving, and self-advocacy

18:11 – 21:45

• Preparing for motherhood financially and emotionally
• Funding maternity leave, wellness practices, and not losing yourself in motherhood

21:46 – 24:00

• Fear-based money behaviors: hoarding, anxiety, and control
• Understanding where “fear of losing everything” really comes from

24:01 – 27:15

• Why some people can’t hold onto money
• Spending as a reflection of worthiness wounds and external validation

27:16 – 30:45

• Values-based spending vs. keeping up appearances
• Letting go of money decisions driven by comparison

30:46 – 33:45

• Increasing income as a wealth strategy
• Breaking limiting beliefs around “acceptable” income in helping professions

33:46 – 36:30

• Building generational wealth with intention
• Custodial Roth IRAs, 529s, and giving kids financial options

36:31 – 39:30

• Why funding your retirement is a gift to your children
• Breaking cycles of financial dependence and self-sacrifice

39:31 – 41:45

• Supporting family financially without destroying your mental health
• The emotional weight of being the “sandwich generation”

41:46 – 44:40

• How to work with Mariana
• Financial therapy vs. coaching and knowing which one you need

Key Takeaways

• Your money habits didn’t come out of nowhere—they were learned.
• Scarcity isn’t just financial; it lives in your nervous system.
• Over-spending and under-earning often stem from worthiness wounds.
• Budgeting won’t fix trauma—but healing trauma will fix your money.
• You don’t need to do it all alone—community is part of wealth-building.
• Generational wealth is built over generations, not in one lifetime.

Resources Mentioned

• Latinx Therapy – Find culturally aligned therapists
• Free Download: New Year Dinero Reset Guide
• A 10-step checklist to reset your finances for the new year — covering debt, budgeting, investing, insurance, and estate planning.
• Have a question? Leave me a voicemail
• Book: Financially Lit by Jannese Torres

Connect with Mariana

• Instagram: @lamoneytherapist
• Offers:
• Financial Therapy (California residents)
• Financial Coaching (nationwide).

This podcast was produced and edited by Idea to Launch Productions

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to Season 8 of Yo Quiero Dinero.

In this solo episode, I'm reflecting on the lessons that defined 2025, my first year as a mom, nearly five years as a full-time entrepreneur, and over a decade of intentional financial decisions that made this season of life possible. From redefining success and asking for help, to choosing the right partner, building wealth, and walking away from traditional timelines, this episode is a reminder that financial freedom doesn’t happen by accident it’s built, one intentional decision at a time. I'm breaking down down how money impacts every area of your life, from parenting and relationships to peace of mind and challenges you to stop talking yourself out of the life you say you want. If you’re stepping into 2026 ready to move with clarity, confidence, and purpose, this episode is for you.

WHAT WE GET INTO

00:01 – Kicking off Season 8 and welcoming listeners into 2026

00:36 – Why solo episodes are back and what to expect this year

02:06 – Surviving the first year of motherhood and reflecting on 2025

03:30 – Stepping back from the mic and redefining productivity as a new mom

04:55 – Why being intentional about who you have kids with matters

06:28 – Planning for support, finances, and the realities of parenthood

07:55 – Lessons learned from the Jefas y Mamás series

08:45 – Why asking for help is essential and burnout isn’t a flex

10:10 – Breaking generational cycles of exhaustion and overwork

11:18 – How money directly impacts your quality of life

13:10 – Why financial stress affects every role you play

14:20 – Gratitude for past financial decisions that created present peace

15:40 – The danger of settling for “stability” instead of freedom

16:55 – Building financial runway in your 20s for long-term flexibility

18:10 – Turning 40 and entering a more aligned season of life

19:25 – Letting go of traditional timelines and societal expectations

20:56 – Questioning the life you built and exploring alternatives

22:10 – Discovering financial independence as a path to freedom

23:19 – Facing debt without accepting “work forever” as the answer

24:45 – Debt payoff strategies that changed everything

25:45 – Learning how investing actually works

27:00 – Quitting corporate America and becoming a full-time entrepreneur

27:41 – Why financial freedom is built intentionally

29:00 – Making the decision to want more — and act on it

29:45 – Introducing the New Year Dinero Reset Guide

30:04 – Season 8 kickoff gratitude and final reflections

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• Free Download: New Year Dinero Reset Guide
• A 10-step checklist to reset your finances for the new year — covering debt, budgeting, investing, insurance, and estate planning.
• 👉 http://courses.yoquierodineropodcast.com/reset
• Have a question? leave me a voicemail https://www.speakpipe.com/msg/s/449160/2/u79sz3qexqzyh0
• Book: Financially Lit by Jannese Torres
• The step-by-step blueprint for paying off debt, investing intentionally, and using money to buy your freedom.

This podcast was produced and edited by Idea to Launch Productions

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s episode,Jannese sits down with Diana Garcia, founder of Amigas y Dinero, to explore her personal journey from nonprofit work to becoming a full-time money coach helping Latinas rewrite their financial stories.

Diana shares how a pivotal decision during the pandemic, choosing not to return to a two-hour commute led her to create her own income, community, and career. She opens up about growing up in an immigrant household in LA, the scarcity mindset she witnessed, and her mission to help others build wealth from a place of joy, not sacrifice.

From saving $10,000 in under a year on a modest income, to helping clients break free from paycheck-to-paycheck cycles, Diana offers actionable insights for tackling debt, increasing income, and navigating the unique financial challenges first-gen families face. She also gets real about overcoming fear, advocating for yourself in the workplace, and having money conversations with your parents.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How Diana turned a pandemic pivot into a thriving coaching business
• Practical strategies to save more—without extreme sacrifice
• Why growing your income can be more effective than cutting expenses
• Side hustle ideas based on your skills and passions
• How to address limiting beliefs that hold you back financially
• Navigating family expectations as the “first-gen retirement plan”
• Why community, mentorship, and environment matter for financial growth

More from YQD™:

• Full show notes: Visit our blog.
• Watch the full interview on YouTube — don’t forget to subscribe!
• Grab my book Financially Lit! in English or Español.
• Ready to level up? Learn more about our signature programs.
• This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp — Get 10% off your first month: betterhelp.com/dinero

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Yo Quiero Dinero, Jannese is joined by the brilliant and unfiltered Eduek Brooks, a Canadian financial educator and founder of Two Sides of a Dime. Sis does not play when it comes to money — and in this episode, she gets real about how she paid off $47,000 of debt in just 20 months, turned her financial rock bottom into a thriving business, and created the Surplus Method — a roadmap that’s helping women all over reclaim their money power.

If you’ve ever felt like traditional personal finance advice wasn’t built with you in mind, this episode is your antidote. Eduek throws out the cookie-cutter advice and breaks down why building wealth as a woman of color requires a whole new approach — one rooted in mindset, community, and actual surplus (aka: MONEY LEFT OVER after your bills are paid!).

 What We Cover:

• The exact moment Eduek decided she was DONE being broke
• Why she still invested while paying off debt (and how it paid off big)
• Her no-fluff guide to building a plan you can actually stick to
• Celebrating small wins & avoiding burnout on your debt-free journey
• The truth about high earners still living paycheck to paycheck
• A breakdown of the Surplus Method (S.U.R.P.L.U.S.) and how to use it
• How Eduek knew it was time to quit her 9-5 and go full-time in her biz
• Canadian investment accounts 101 (hello, tax-free savings!)
• Why mini-retirements are part of her wealth strategy

Quote:

“Your income builds wealth, but your surplus is what gets you to your goals.”

👑 Meet Our Guest:

Eduek Brooks is a financial educator and the powerhouse behind Two Sides of a Dime. Through her membership community, Surplus Stack Society, she helps women ditch debt, build savings, and invest confidently — without sacrificing the joy of living. She’s not here to make you feel guilty about Starbucks. She’s here to help you stack, save, and spend with intention.

📲 Follow Eduek:

• Instagram: @twosidesofadime
• Join the Surplus Stack Society: surplusstacksociety.com

More from YQD™:

• Full show notes: Visit our blog.
• Watch the full interview on YouTube — don’t forget to subscribe!
• Grab my book Financially Lit! in English or Español.
• Ready to level up? Learn more about our signature programs.
• This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp — Get 10% off your first month: betterhelp.com/dinero

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when you do everything “right”—go to college, land the six-figure job, make your family proud—and still end up buried in debt, burned out, and feeling trapped? In this episode, Jannese sits down with Rose Han, a first-gen wealth builder, YouTuber, and now author of Add A Zero. Rose opens up about her journey from over $100K in student loan debt to becoming a self-made millionaire, and the mindset shifts, financial strategies, and rebellious choices that made it possible.

We talk about:

• The real impact of student loan debt on millennials & Gen Z’s version of the American Dream
• Why “employee income” is the least free kind of income (and what to focus on instead)
• Rose’s Add A Zero framework for going from negative net worth to your first million—step by step
• How money identity, family conditioning, and cultural expectations shape our financial choices
• Why sometimes you have to ignore your parents’ advice and carve your own path
• The freedom and fulfillment that come when you stop playing small and start building wealth on your own terms

If you’ve ever felt stuck in debt, confused about money, or pressured to follow someone else’s script for success, this conversation is your permission slip to rewrite your financial story.

📘 Grab your copy of Add A Zero at addazero.com and get access to Rose’s bonus content.

📺 Follow Rose on YouTube and socials: @itsrosehan

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Jannese is joined by Victor Zeledón (@ourjourneywithless) a husband, dad, and Airbnb mentor who proves you don’t need six figures, a trust fund, or a fancy investing background to build wealth through real estate.

Victor started with what most of us already have: a home, two extra rooms, and a need to build an emergency fund. Fast forward seven years and those two rooms turned into five cash-flowing rentals, a fully retired wife, homes in multiple states, and a roadmap to financial freedom.

This convo is packed with gems, game-changing strategies, and the kind of transparency that our comunidad NEEDS to hear — because real estate is not “just for other people.” It’s for us, too.

What We Get Into

• 04:30 — Who’s actually renting rooms on Airbnb? (It’s not who you think!)
• 05:50 — How they scaled from 1 room to 5 properties.
• 06:40 — The real talk on hosting strangers: Safety, locks, boundaries, and vibes.
• 08:15 — Airbnb vs. traditional renting: Why Airbnb was the wealth-building accelerator.
• 09:20 — The Airbnb landscape in 2025: Regulations, fees, and why boring listings get no love.
• 13:00 — Wild host lessons: What every new host should prepare for (yes, including tias who leave surprises).
• 14:30 — Emergency funds + financial safety nets: How to protect your pockets.
• 16:20 — Is Airbnb still worth it today? Victor breaks it down.
• 17:30 — Why they bought in Waco & Tulsa: Out-of-state investing made simple.
• 19:10 — How they bought a house in Tulsa with $0 out-of-pocket.
• 20:40 — How to manage rentals remotely without losing your mind.
• 24:00 — The family vision: From paying off debt → replacing his wife’s income → full financial freedom.
• 26:00 — How Victor mentors new Airbnb hosts for FREE through the Airbnb Ambassador Program.

Top Takeaways

• Start where you are. A spare room can be your entry point into real estate — not a barrier.
• Airbnb hosting is work, but the income potential is REAL. Many hosts earn 2–3x a traditional rental.
• 2025 is still a viable year to invest, especially if you explore mid-term rentals and lower-cost markets.

About Our Guest

Follow Victor: @ourjourneywithless

He offers free Airbnb mentorship in English & Spanish through the Airbnb Ambassador Program.

Links Mentioned

• Free Financial Guide: courses.yoquierodineropodcast.com
• Order Financially Lit!: FinanciallyLitBook.com

This podcast was produced and edited by Idea to Launch Productions

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this powerful episode, Jannese sits down with Jessica Fick of The Fioneers to break down one of the most game-changing concepts in the financial independence movement: Coast FI.If the traditional FIRE path has ever felt too intense, too extreme, or too unrealistic (hello, $20k/year budgets and biking everywhere), this conversation will feel like a breath of fresh air.

Jessica shares how she and her husband hit COAST-FI in their early 30s, how stepping off the corporate treadmill unexpectedly increased their savings rate, how they stopped using money to cope with burnout, and how Coast FI ultimately gave them the freedom to build a life aligned with their values — travel, entrepreneurship, flexibility, and joy.If you’ve ever wondered: “Is early retirement even realistic for me?” or “What would it take to never HAVE to work again?” this episode is your blueprint.

💬 What We Get Into

01:20 — What The Fioneers are all about: designing lives you love

02:09 — Are they OGs? A look back at the early FIRE movement

03:25 — Why extreme frugality turned so many people off

04:31 — What Coast FI actually means (hint: not living on the coasts!)

05:20 — The “aha moment” that changed Jessica’s entire financial life

06:50 — The freedom Coast FI gives: sabbaticals, risks, lifestyle design

07:37 — Why retirement is NOT an age — and how to rethink it

16:08 — Their financial starting point + saving 30–35% on nonprofit salaries

17:57 — Were they over-saving? Money dynamics in their marriage

19:42 — How their savings rate hit 50% without trying

27:30 — Her husband’s sabbatical → entrepreneurship → more freedom

28:44 — They haven’t contributed to retirement in 2 YEARS… and still on track?!

35:10 — Coast FI for older adults (yes, even if you’re 45+)

37:22 — It all comes back to: know your numbers + intentional spending

47:20 — Proactive ways to prep for healthcare costs

48:25 — Why uncertainty shouldn’t stop you from pursuing FI

49:53 — “If you lost everything, you could rebuild.” A listener story

check out Jessica’s previous episode here

https://yoquierodineropodcast.com/podcasts/episode-84/

📌 Links Mentioned

• The Fioneers Coast FI Calculator
• The Fioneers on YouTube @Phioneers
• TheFioneers.com

📚 Resources to Check Out

✨ Get my FREE financial freedom guide: courses.yoquierodineropodcast.com

📘 Grab my book: FinanciallyLitBook.com

🔥 Join the Black Friday waitlist: yoquierodineropodcast.com/friday

This podcast was produced and edited by Idea to Launch Productions

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.