Unapologetically First Gen

In this episode, we're joined by Lucy Magadichian - immigration attorney, boutique practice owner, and immigrant herself - who has spent over 20 years helping companies and individuals navigate the complex world of U.S. immigration law. Lucy breaks down the business side of immigration in a way that's accessible and eye-opening. We talk about why mobility restrictions are one of the biggest hurdle...

In this episode, we’re joined by Luisa de Paula Santos —educator, labor organizer, and newly elected member of the Cambridge School Committee. As a first-gen immigrant and current paraprofessional, Luisa brings a powerful perspective from inside the education system. We talk about what it’s like to move from organizing workers to running for public office, what she saw working in schools that push...

We made it— one full year of Unapologetically First Gen 🎉 For our anniversary episode, we wanted to do something special (and very on brand): invite family into the conversation. In this episode, Lesley and Stacy are joined by two of their older cousins, Michelle and Suzete, for an unfiltered, no-outline conversation about immigration, identity, and what it means to grow up first-gen— even within...

In this episode, we slow things down and talk honestly about self-care in times of anger, grief, and nonstop news cycles. We’re not experts, and this isn’t a “just light a candle and you’ll be fine” conversation. It’s a real check-in on what it looks like to take care of ourselves so we can keep showing up. We share what’s been grounding us lately — from therapy tools and reading fiction again, to...

In this episode of Unapologetically First Gen , Stacy walks us through some of the most common — and most harmful — myths about immigrants in the U.S., using research from the International Institute of New England as a starting point. Lesley reacts in real time, adding personal stories, lived experience, and plenty of righteous anger as we unpack why these myths persist, who they harm, and how de...

Happy New Year… and yes, we’re already tired. 😅 In this 2025 recap episode (recorded January 4), the Braga sisters get honest about a year that felt like the longest 12 months ever — politically, personally, and for the immigrant community at large. We talk about job instability, self-employed health insurance sticker shock, the corporate-to-contractor pipeline, and what it really looks like to b...

In this episode, the Braga sisters sit down with Kayla Guardado —a yoga teacher, Reiki practitioner, and somatic curandera —to talk about reclaiming identity, honoring ancestry, and finding rebellion in healing. Kayla shares her journey from Honduras to the U.S., the “be safe, achieve more” mindset so many first-gens inherit, and how grief cracked her heart open and redirected her life’s work. We...

In this feel-good convo, the Braga sisters reflect on how their parents have grown alongside them—from “we don’t talk about that” to warm, boundary-respecting grandparents who queue up pranks and apologies. We talk therapy, boundaries, asking for help, and the cultural shifts that made space for softer relationships. Plus: airport independence (!!), phone-call anxiety is universal, and Dad’s legen...

In this episode of Unapologetically First Gen , the Braga sisters sit down with actress Maria Timonina — most recently seen on Netflix’s The Gringo Hunters . Maria shares her journey as the daughter of immigrants from the former Soviet Union, growing up in Ohio, studying acting in Boston, and chasing her dream career in Los Angeles. We talk about family memories, immigrant identity, and what it’s...

In this episode, the Braga sisters pick up where we left off—this time diving into the really hush-hush stuff from our childhoods: sex ed, puberty, dating, and using the right names for body parts.  We talk about awkward school sex-ed memories (hello, “Know Your Body”), the American Girl puberty books, and what it looks like to have age-appropriate conversations with kids today.  We also get into...

In this episode, the Braga sisters get real about the stuff we didn’t talk about growing up—mental health, anxiety, conflict, and “I love yous.” We share stories from childhood (Friday spelling-test stomachaches, anyone?), how those patterns show up in adulthood, and what it looks like to set boundaries with family and clients. We also talk about gentle parenting (for toddlers and coworkers), why...

Lesley and Stacy dive into the human toll of ICE raids and policies—family separation, racial profiling, due-process failures—and how the nonstop news cycle is impacting first-gen communities. From local stories to national headlines, they unpack what’s happening, why it feels so heavy, and where values-driven action fits in. We also talk about job market whiplash, vaccine access, and the empathy...

We’re baaaack! In this mid-summer catch-up (recorded July 31) the Braga sisters get real about rest, community, and doing the work without burning out. We talk about summer memories, why we run the show in seasons, and how the nonstop immigration news cycle has felt heavy — especially for first-gens living it. We also share what’s in store for Season 2, unveil our new merch, and invite you to join...

In this season finale of Unapologetically First Gen , we sit down with Lesley’s mother-in-law, Soledad Boyd, for an intimate and unfiltered conversation about coming out later in life, navigating Black and queer identity, and what it really means to live unapologetically. We talk about: What it was like to come out in her 50s after raising three kids Queerness in a white male–dominated LGBTQ+ scen...

In this episode, we’re joined by a very special guest—our cousin, Romeu Bairos , a Portuguese musician, actor, and performer known for traditional Azorean music.  We talk about: His time on the Portuguese version of The Voice Why singing in your natural accent is a big deal Reconnecting with long-lost cousins and finding home in Boston Pissing off MAGA aunties at Portuguese festivals His acting ca...

In this heartfelt, slightly chaotic, and very first-gen episode, Stacy and Lesley reflect on their first season of Unapologetically First Gen —what they’ve learned, how podcasting has unexpectedly deepened their connection with family, and the feedback that’s made them cry (in a good way). What starts as a light episode takes a powerful turn as they dive into the emotional weight of being first-ge...

In this episode of Unapologetically First Gen , we’re talking about relationships—and specifically what it’s like to grow up in a culture where marriage is expected early, only to end up married to Americans in very different ways. Lesley shares a personal story most people don’t know: she got married at 18 to a Portuguese boy—and divorced by 20. We talk about the pressure to settle down young, th...

This week, Lesley & Stacy are diving into the cultural quirks and beliefs that stuck with us long after childhood - aka, all the superstitions we inherited (and maybe still follow). From the iconic Portuguese rooster to the deep-rooted fear of catching a cold from… wet hair?? Yep, we’re unpacking it all. We talk: The legend behind the Galo de Barcelos 🐓 Why wearing a jacket became a moral obl...

In this episode of Unapologetically First Gen , we sit down with our friend Isaac Lungu who shares what it’s been like to move through the world as a perpetual immigrant—from Botswana to several U.S. states, and now Canada. Isaac talks about the layers of identity he’s had to navigate as someone who grew up African, became “Black” in America, and now raises his kid in a third culture. We explore h...

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 l...

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 men...

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 t...

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 jo...

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 s...

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 &...