Episode 268 features Maria Colon of Dinero en Spanglish. We talk about how to go from over-spender to financially free! Listen now! Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Maria Colon moved to the U.S. in 2006, facing language barriers, homesickness, and financial challenges. Growing up, her parents had their businesses, but they didn't plan for tough times, leaving them in a difficult money situation. Despite this, Maria pursued a college education through scholarships and part-time work, graduating debt-free. She continued her education, eventually becoming a Certified Public Accountant, l ..read more

Episode 267 features Elin Cervantes of Hablando Wellness and Brenda Juarez of Bren J Life Coaching. We talk about reliving OMOP: The 1st financial freedom conference for Latinos! Listen now! Brenda Juarez aka "Coach Bren" is first and foremost a self proclaimed strong and courageous soul. She is also a first and a ½ generation Latina Certified Life Coach, Podcaster, Community Builder, local town Chamber of Commerce President, VP of nonprofit "Cumbre Humboldt", Entrepreneur and happily Married Momma. Elin Cervantes is a seasoned educator with a unique blend of experiences and pas ..read more

Episode 265 features Samantha Ortiz-Young of SoManti. We talk about how to build a successful fitness brand. Listen now! Meet Samantha Ortiz-Young, a NYC Latina Fitness Coach with more than 10 years of experience. Having been active her whole life, Samantha was introduced to strength training in college and fell in love with the power and confidence it offered women. After college, Samantha combined her love of fitness and dance, running bootcamp style classes from her parent's living room helping the women in her community to find fun through fitness. Incorporating strength tra ..read more

Episode 264 features Esther Zeledón of BeActChange. We talk about how the America dream is dead. Listen now! Dr. Esther Zeledón, affectionately known as Dr. EZ, is not only a master of making dreams work but embodies the resilient spirit of a Latina immigrant. Her rich and diverse background has been the cornerstone of her trailblazing work as a life coach, speaker, workshop facilitator, former international diplomat, and scientist. With a commitment to inclusivity, Dr. EZ has made a tangible impact on individuals from varied cultures, bridging gaps across communities, corporations ..read more

Episode 263 features Elin Cervantes of Hablando Wellness. A previous student of ours, we talk about how to make income & impact. Listen now! Elin Cervantes is a seasoned educator with a unique blend of experiences and passions. With over 18 years working in the field of education, as a school counselor and school site administrator, she brings a wealth of knowledge and insight to her work in the field. Hailing from the vibrant city of Oakland, CA, Elin's roots run deep within her community. This episode features the story of Elín, a former student of ours who took one of our sign ..read more

Episode 262 features Denise Varughese of The Connected Reader. A previous student of ours, we talk about navigating the messy middle of entrepreneurship. Listen now! Denise Varughese is a reader, writer, partner, mother, and friend. She is U.S. based, originally from New York, and now lives in Texas, with her husband, 3 children, and dog, Blue. Denise has 16 years of experience working in K-12 Education and loves facilitating communities where people can connect and grow. She is a co-author of Imperfect Parenting: Honest Stories from Global Parents and is currently building a co ..read more

Episode 260 talks about how to handle a layoff, featuring Orlenda Cortez of Pero I Can Do It Too! Listen now! Orlenda Cortez is the founder of Pero I Can Do It Too, a platform helping women of color build a life they have never seen their family experience. She's a Money Coach who believes that you can reach your money goals by prioritizing fun. Born in Guatemala, Orlenda started her money journey with ZERO knowledge and deep in debt. The phrase that kept her going was, “Pero, I Can Do It, Too.” She's here to tell you that if an undocumented Guatemalan can get out of debt ..read more

Episode 259 is another YQD® success story of one of our former students, Joanna Muñoz. She shares her journey from being a burnt out nurse to a thriving content creator. Listen now! Joanna Muñoz is a nurse, furniture artist, DIYer, content creator, blogger and the owner of Painting by the Penny, a DIY and interior design account. In 2016, she started refinishing furniture as a creative hobby that quickly turned into a side hustle. She loves designing and decorating on a budget, and shares lots of tips and tricks like thrifting, painting furniture, and mixing old and new to create a b ..read more

Episode 258 highlights Latina-themed candle business owner Melissa Gallardo of Bonita Fierce Candles. Listen to her inspiring episode now! Melissa Gallardo is the Founder of Bonita Fierce Candles, a premium heritage-focused home fragrance brand. Her mission is to revolutionize the toxic and generic home fragrance industry and create better-for-you products that cement a space for diverse, nuanced Latina voices and stories. As Founder & CEO of Bonita Fierce Candles, Melissa believes being Latina and American is not a linear experience and that feeling of belonging, of finding ..read more

Episode 257 is another YQD® success story of one of our former students, Lucy Ortega. She shares her journey from teacher to restauranteur. Listen now! Lucy Ortega is a first-generation Latina entrepreneur. She runs a food business – Sierra Mexican Cuisine and creates online content. She also coaches other first-generation individuals who have dreams of transforming their ideas into successful projects and businesses. Lucy is honored to share her knowledge and experiences in her entrepreneurial endeavors. Her hope is to be of service to other first-generation individuals, suppor ..read more