The First Gen Madrina
The First Gen Madrina Podcast is a podcast for first-generation students, professionals, and cycle-breakers who are navigating life without a blueprint. Hosted by social worker, coach, and The First Gen Madrina Sara, this podcast explores the real conversations we were never taught to have about mental health, money, and navigating systems while building a life that feels aligned and sustainable.
Each episode blends honest storytelling, practical tools, and culturally responsive insights to help you break generational cycles, overcome imposter syndrome, heal burnout, and redefine success on your own terms. Whether we’re unpacking mental wellness, financial empowerment, career growth, or the in-between moments of becoming, you’ll find guidance rooted in compassion, community, and accountability.
Episodes
125 episodes
E 123 Money Shame as a First Gen with Carlos Martin
In this episode, Sara sits down with Carlos Martin to unpack money shame as a first-gen. Carlos shares his journey of immigrating to the U.S. at 11, navigating language barriers, scarcity, and the lack of financial guidance growing up.
E122 Money Shame as a First Gen with Sara
In this deeply personal episode of The First Gen Madrina Podcast, Sara opens up about the complex emotions that come with out-earning your parents and building a life rooted in choice rather than survival. She explores the quiet tensio...
E-121 Reclaiming Our Roots: How Human Design Heals with Akary Busto
In this episode, I interview Akary Busto, human design expert and emotional biohacker. We explore what it means to grow up first gen while living life “on the hyphen.” Through a powerful conversation on migration, identity, language loss, and b...
E-120 Reclaiming Our Roots: A First-Gen Journey Home with Sara
We’re kicking off a brand-new season of The First Gen Madrina Podcast with this month’s theme: Reclaiming Our Roots as First Gens.In this conversation, Sara shares her personal journey of identity, healing, and what it me...
E-119 Anxiety, ADHD & the First-Gen Latina Experience with Dr. Janice Castro
In this episode, Sara is joined by bilingual and bicultural Licensed Psychologist, Dr. Janice Castro who is an expert in ADHD. Throughout our conversation, we unpack how anxiety, ADHD, and first-generation Latina culture interse...
E-118 The Diagnosis That Set Me Free: Living and Leading with ADHD with Sara
In this episode, Sara shares her personal journey of being diagnosed with ADHD later in life and why she hadn’t spoken about it much until now. As a social worker and entrepreneur, she reflects on the signs she missed, how undiagnosed ADHD fuel...
E-117 From Scarcity to Strength: Debbie’s Path to Helping Women Build Wealth
In this powerful episode, Sara sits down with money mindset and business coach Debbie O’Hara to explore how she transformed her money story after growing up in survival mode and surviving financial and intimate partner violence. As a first-gene...
E-116 What No One Told Me About Money as a First Gen
In this vulnerable episode, Sara shares her personal money story. From her family’s immigration journey to the U.S to growing up in survival mode, Sara shares how this all shaped her perception of money. She opens up about how ADHD, anxiety, an...
E 115 Reflections for 2025 and Updates for 2026
It’s the final episode of 2025! Join me as I reflect on a year full of pivots, growth, and healing. In this heartfelt closing episode, I open up about the lessons I’ve learned, the courage it took to realign with my purpose, and an excit...
E-114 Breaking Cycles as a First Gen with Dr. Charleanea Arellano
Dear First Gens,In this episode, host Sara welcomes guest, Dr. Charleanea Arellano, to The First Gen Madrina Podcast! This gives us a brand-new episode for this month's theme, Breaking Cycles as a First Gen!Dr. Charleena Arellano...
E-113 Breaking Cycles as a First Gen with Sara
Welcome to a new season of The First Gen Madrina Podcast! This episode kicks off our theme: Breaking Cycles as First Gens.We’re diving into what it really means to be the first to say “This ends with me.” From th...
E-112 Resiliency as a First Gen with Tiffany Joy Argonza
Dear First Gens,In this episode, host Sara welcomes guest, Tiffany Joy, to The First Gen Madrina Podcast! This gives us a brand-new episode for this month's theme, Resiliency as a First Gen!Tiffany Joy Argonza is a first-g...
E-111 Resiliency as a First Gen with Sara
In this first episode of the new season of The First Gen Madrina Podcast, we’re diving into a theme that has been heavy on my heart yet igniting my spirit: Resiliency as a First Gen.As first-gens, we’re often praised for ...
E-110 Redefining Leadership as a First Gen with Carla Santamaria
Dear First Gens,In this episode, host Sara welcomes guest, Carla Santamaria, to The First Gen Madrina Podcast! This gives us a brand-new episode for this month's theme, Redefining Leadership as a First Gen!Carla Santamaria is a M...
E-109 Redefining Leadership as a First Gen with Sara
Welcome to a brand-new season of The First Gen Madrina Podcast! In this powerful premiere, Sara dives into the heart of this season’s theme: Redefining Leadership as a First Gen.In this episode of The First Gen Madrin...
E-108 Resources for First Gens with Scarlett Luis
Dear First Gens,In this episode, host Sara welcomes guest, Scarlett Luis, to The First Gen Madrina Podcast! This gives us a brand-new episode for this month's theme, Resources for First Gens!Scarlett Luis is a product leader with...
E-107 Resources for First Gens with Sara
Welcome to a brand-new season of The First Gen Madrina Podcast! In this powerful premiere, Sara dives into the heart of this season’s theme: Resources for First Gens.In this episode, we’re diving into the resources we nev...
E-106 Taking Risks as a First Gen with Vicky Winkler
Dear First Gens,In this episode, host Sara welcomes guest, Vicky Winkler, to The First Gen Madrina Podcast! This gives us a brand-new episode for this month's theme, Taking Risks as a First Gen!Vicky is the founder of Wildly C...
E-105 Taking Risks as a First Gen with Sara
Dear First Gens, Welcome to a brand-new season of The First Gen Madrina Podcast! In this powerful premiere, Sara dives into the heart of this season’s theme: taking risks as a first-gen even when it feels terrifying,...
E-104 Pride as a First Gen with Eduardo Placer
Dear First Gens,In this episode, host Sara welcomes guest, Eduardo Placer, to The First Gen Madrina Podcast! This gives us a brand-new episode for this month's theme, Pride as a First Gen!A dynamic keynote speaker, charismatic ev...
E-103 Pride as a First Gen with Emanuel Anzules
Dear First Gens,In this episode, host Sara welcomes guest, Emanuel Anzules, to The First Gen Madrina Podcast! This gives us a brand-new episode for this month's theme, Pride as a First Gen!Emanuel was born and raised in Lima, Per...
E-102 Mental Health as a First Gen with Naty Diaz
Dear First Gens,In this episode, host Sara welcomes guest, Naty Diaz, to The First Gen Madrina Podcast! This gives us a brand-new episode for this month's theme, Mental Health as a First Gen!Today we have a new special guest for ...
E-101 Mental Health as a First Gen with Erica Priscilla Sandoval
Dear First Gens,In this episode, host Sara welcomes guest, Erica Priscilla Sandoval, to The First Gen Madrina Podcast! This gives us a brand-new episode for this month's theme, Mental Health as a First Gen!Erica is a passionate l...
E-100 Mental Health as a First Gen with Dr. Paul Rivera
Dear First Gens,In this episode, host Sara welcomes guest, Dr. Paul Rivera, to The First Gen Madrina Podcast! This gives us a brand-new episode for this month's theme, Mental Health as a First Gen!Dr. Rivera holds a PhD in Econom...
