The First Gen Madrina
The First Gen Madrina is a podcast for social work students and professionals who are ready to build a career that doesn't cost them their peace. Hosted by Sara Diaz, LCSW, this show blends real talk with practical tools for anyone navigating this field.
Each episode digs into the parts of social work that grad school never prepared you for: burnout that gets treated like a personal failing instead of a systemic issue, the guilt that comes with setting boundaries, advocating for fair pay in a field that expects you to sacrifice for it, and the quiet grief of being "the first" to do any of this. Sara brings her own story as a first-gen Latina and licensed clinical social worker into every conversation, along with guests who understand what it's like to hold space for everyone else while trying to figure out who's holding space for you.
Whether you're still in your MSW program or years into practice, this is your reminder that rest isn't a reward you have to earn, ambition and burnout aren't the same thing, and you don't have to do this alone. Welcome to the familia.
The First Gen Madrina
Latest Episodes
E134 Are You Really Burned Out?
Every year, another cohort of social workers leaves the field, and every year, the field calls it burnout like it's a personal failing. In this season premiere of The First Gen Madrina Podcast, Sara asks a different question: are people leaving...
E133 Why Are There Few Male Social Workers? with Michael Avila, LCSW
In this episode of The First Gen Madrina Podcast, Sara sits down with Michael Avila, a first-gen Latino therapist and founder of BrightMinds Therapy, to talk about what it's really like being one of the only men in the room in a field dominated...
E132 How to Create More Representation in Social Work with Sara
In this episode of The First Gen Madrina Podcast, we're tackling a topic that doesn't get enough attention in social work and mental health: representation. We break down the lack of male representation in social work, therapy, and other helpin...
Bonus Episode: Surprise Update About The Podcast
For the first time since launching The First Gen Madrina Podcast, I'm pulling back the curtain on a decision that's been months in the making.Growth doesn't always mean starting over. Sometimes it means getting clearer about the...
E131 How to Redefine Success On Your Own Terms with Melissa Gallardo
What does success look like when the version you were taught no longer feels aligned?In this episode, Sara sits down with Melissa Gallardo, founder and CEO of Valorosa Candles, a culturally inspired home fragrance brand rooted in Latin t...
