Nicole Cruz

First to Thrive

Welcome to First to Thrive, the podcast dedicated to exploring the unique journeys of 1st and 2nd generation individuals. Hosted by culturally-informed speaker and leadership coach Nicole Cruz, each episode delves into the challenges and triumphs of navigating life beyond survival mode. Let's be honest, being the First in your family to challenge the status quo is difficult. But just because you're the first, doesn't mean you're alone. You are part of a large and growing community of other trailblazers who are creating lives beyond their ancestors' wildest dreams. Join us as we provide actiona...

Author

Nicole Cruz

Category

Education

Podcast website

sites.libsyn.com

Latest episode

May 7, 2026

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Episodes

Ep 85: To Tend and To Hold: A Conversation on Womb Loss and Grief 20.10.2024

In this heartfelt conversation, Nicole Cruz and Eileen Santos Rosette explore the profound themes of womb loss, grief, and healing. Eileen shares her journey as a postpartum doula and grief educator, emphasizing the importance of acknowledgment in the grieving process. They discuss the significance of language in defining womb loss and the healing power of creating safe spaces for those who have e...

Ep 84: Sharing My Story of Pregnancy Loss 13.10.2024

In this heartfelt episode, Nicole Cruz shares her deeply personal experience of pregnancy loss, discussing the emotional and physical challenges she faced. She emphasizes the importance of sharing such stories to foster connection and support among those who have experienced similar losses. She also highlights the significance of allowing oneself to grieve and the healing power of community and sh...

Ep 83: Reflect, Reassess, and Refocus Your Goals for 2024 06.10.2024

In this episode, Nicole Cruz reflects on her personal journey through the year, sharing insights on the importance of reassessing goals, celebrating accomplishments, and practicing self-compassion. She provides actionable prompts for listeners to reflect on their own experiences in 2024, encouraging a mindset shift towards understanding and growth. The episode emphasizes the significance of recogn...

Ep 82: Reclaiming Your Story: How Immigrant Journeys Shape Personal Branding 29.09.2024

In this conversation, Jasmine Haitalani, a Creative Director and founder of creative agency Highflier Powerhouse, shares her immigrant journey from Syria, the challenges of fitting into a new culture, and how these experiences shaped her approach to branding. Nicole and Jasmine discuss the importance of intentionality in branding, the role of privilege in immigrant experiences, and how 1st & 2nd g...

Ep 81: Overqualified and Unrecognized: Reclaiming Your Skills as a First-Gen Professional 22.09.2024

In this episode, Nicole Cruz interviews award-winning instructional designer and online course expert Mariana Pena. As a first-generation immigrant, Mariana shares her experience of feeling overqualified in certain roles and how she embraced a learner-first approach to create impactful courses. Mariana discusses the challenges of immigrating to the Netherlands, the impact on her identity and caree...

Ep 80: [From Your Ate] My Journey to Playing Bigger 15.09.2024

In this special episode of First to Thrive, Nicole shares a deeply personal story about her journey from living according to others' expectations to creating a life of her own design. Nicole opens up about the struggles of breaking away from societal pressures, family expectations, and self-imposed limitations, highlighting the importance of self-liberation and finding true fulfillment. This one i...

Ep 79: When Family Doesn't Understand: Embracing Queer Identity Beyond Cultural Expectations 08.09.2024

In this episode of First to Thrive, Nicole is joined by TR Deanon, who shares their journey of self-discovery and acceptance as a non-binary individual within the Filipino community. They discuss the challenges of navigating cultural expectations and the importance of finding support in chosen family. TR's story serves as a powerful representation for others who may be struggling to embrace their...

Ep 78: Navigating Obligation Choices as a Child of Immigrants 01.09.2024

Do you find yourself thinking, "I have to," "I need to," or "I should?" In this episode of First to Thrive, we're gonna get into something that strongly echoes with many first and second-gen immigrants—navigating the weight of family obligations while trying to create a life that feels true to our desires. Yes, our families made incredible sacrifices so we could live better lives, but that often l...

Ep 77: [From Your Ate] How Choices Helped me to Love Myself 25.08.2024

The choices you make along the way can help you build a life that you love and are proud of.   In this deeply personal episode, I'm sharing my journey of learning to love myself—an ongoing process filled with challenges, fear, and ultimately, empowerment.  Growing up as a second-gen immigrant, I struggled with self-esteem, always trying to fit in and please others. It wasn't until I started making...

Ep 76: Making Decisions That Reflect Your Values, Wants, & Goals 18.08.2024

Do your decisions reflect your values, your wants, and your goals? In this episode, we're gonna simplify the complex decision-making process that so many of us—especially first and second-gen immigrants—struggle with. Our cultural conditioning often leads to analysis paralysis so I'll share a powerful tool I use with my clients to help them make decisions that truly reflect their values, wants, an...

Ep 75: Choosing Our Path: Why Agency is Key for 1st/2nd Gen Empowerment 11.08.2024
Ep 74: Building Undeniable Authority as a 1st/2nd Gen 28.07.2024

In this episode of First to Thrive, we have a powerhouse guest who continues to inspire and revolutionize the fashion and entrepreneurial world – Laura Fama ! For those who might not know, Laura, a dynamic Filipina fashion pioneer, founded Dimepiece LA at the young age of 23. Her brand skyrocketed, gracing celebs and even getting featured in Vogue Business! Now, she's channeling her experience int...

Ep 73: A Guide to Reclaiming Your Agency, Coming Soon 21.07.2024

If you joined me live recently, you already know what's up. For those who missed it, no worries—you can catch up right here in this week's podcast episode because I am writing a book! Tune in to hear more. Join the waitlist here: http://nicolecruzcoaching.com/book

Ep 72: Mid Year Reset:The 1st/2nd Gen Way 14.07.2024

In this episode, we'll navigate a mid-year recalibration together so we can reclaim the rest of 2024. Tune in to take stock and reset your goals with actionable steps. Listen now to hear and learn all about: Understanding the importance of taking stock without judgment Meeting yourself where you are now Reconnecting with your current wants, priorities, and values Resetting your goals for the remai...

Ep 71: My Husband's POV On My Coaching Journey 07.07.2024

Get access to my free library: https://nicolecruzcoaching.com/free-resources Explore the website:  https://nicolecruzcoaching.com/ Follow me on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/nicolecruzcoaching/

Ep 70: The Rebrand: A New Era of Unapologetic Thriving 04.07.2024

After six transformative years, I'm pulling back the curtain to reveal the exciting new rebranding of my business. It's more than just a fresh coat of paint; it's a vibrant reflection of the evolution as a coach, a leader, and a person who wants to unlock the hidden potential in first and second-generation communities. Tune in to hear the motivations behind this rebrand, the journey it represents,...

1 Day Away Until the Big Reveal 04.07.2024

Watch now: How I found my purpose through coaching. 2019 Nicole is amazed by what has taken place over the last 6 years! What's next? Tune in tomorrow on Instagram (@ nicolecruzcoaching ) for the reveal.

2 Days Away: From Corporate Life to Full-Time Traveler 02.07.2024

From corporate life to full-time traveler - the next chapter of my story. I share why my travel era was so monumental for me and my life. Prompt to think on - What do you want? I encourage you to ask yourself this consistently. Tune in tomorrow on Instagram LIVE ( @nicolecruzcoaching ) at 5 pm EST to hear the next chapter of my journey in building my coaching biz. Stay tuned!

Countdown Begins: You Don't Have to Know What's Next 02.07.2024

The countdown begins, we're 3 days away from a surprise announcement that I've been keeping from you. Quitting my 11-year career in corporate to dive into the unknown. In this IG live, I talk about my story of quitting my corporate career as the daughter of immigrants. Big takeaway: You don't have to know what's next to make a change. Tune in tomorrow on Instagram LIVE ( @nicolecruzcoaching ) at 5...

Ep 69: How Being Mediocre Can Make You Happier 23.06.2024

Loraine Martinez Bellamy is a lawyer turned life and business coach. She helps lawyers, leaders, and other high-achieving women fearlessly expand beyond their 9-5s. Her clients are badass professionals who feel called to creative endeavors that take them beyond their successful careers. Her goal is to help women do less, make more, and be more present with their beautiful lives.   Follow Loraine:...

Ep 68: [From Your Ate] The Pattern That's Hard for Me to Break 16.06.2024

Feeling stuck in familiar patterns even when your intuition is nudging you to change? In the latest episode of the Living Bravely podcast, part of the "From Your Ate" (Big Sis) series, I dive deep into breaking the cycle of sticking to familiar yet non-serving behaviors and how to navigate evolutions in life and career. Highlights: 00:00 Change is unpredictable, uncomfortable, and non-linear. 04:3...

Ep 67: The Ups & Downs of Being the Eldest First in Your Family 09.06.2024

Recently, I had the chance to sit down with Justine, an incredible fellow 2nd generation immigrant and former client, to delve into some deep and meaningful conversations. She interviewed me in the latest podcast episode of Living Bravely and in this episode, we unpacked a lot about the struggles of being a first-generation individual, the importance of vulnerability, and the challenges of asking...

Ep 66: My Love Letter to You 02.06.2024

This episode is a clip taken from my TEDx Talk: The First-Gen Power of Being Undefinable. To listen to the full video, click here . 📌 Check out my free audio series: nicolecruzcoaching.com/2024 📌 Interested in one-on-one coaching? Apply at: nicolecruzcoaching.com/coaching

Ep 65: From Your Ate: A Journey of Body Acceptance & Appreciation 26.05.2024

Have you ever dreaded going to a family party because you just know they're going to comment on your body? In this first episode, I open up about the struggles I faced with body image and how I shifted from nitpicking my body to truly appreciating it. Timestamps: 00:00 New shift on transformative storytelling, personal journey. 05:08 Insecure about looks 08:43 Pressure on body image in ethnic comm...

Ep 64: How to Feel and Become More Powerful as a 1st & 2nd Generation Immigrant 19.05.2024

In today's episode, we explore ways for first and second gen immigrants to feel and be more powerful. We discuss the importance of personal agency and provides actionable steps to empower yourself. - Understanding personal agency and its significance for first and second gen immigrants - How historical and societal factors impact our sense of power - Five actionable ways to unleash your power - Re...

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