Latinas with Masters Podcast ~ A Digital Sanctuary Podcast

In this episode of the Latinas with Masters podcast, Dr. Christina Rodriguez interviews Veronica Suazo, a Bay Area Latina graduating with a master's in Marriage, Family, and Therapy from Alliant International University. Veronica shares her remarkable journey from struggling in San Francisco's school system with undiagnosed ADHD, barely graduating high school, to earning her bachelor's from USF an...

Two besties in a pod! Alexis Linares-Sierra joins me for Season 4, Episode 2 and we get into the messy beautiful parts of it. Growing up first-gen, navigating machismo, coming out, family acceptance, Salvadoran representation in research, and protecting your peace while chasing your doctorate. Alexis is East LA raised, son of Salvadoran immigrants, a sweet soul, proudly gay man owning every part o...

Everything you have been waiting for is here in Season 4! I am kicking off the season opener of the Latinas with Masters Podcast with Doctora Mara Noemí Lopez, the inaugural Director of the Hispanic Serving Institution Research Center at the University of Arizona. We get real about our non-linear journeys to higher education, what it really takes to survive and thrive as a first-generation Latina...

Latinas with Masters is a safe space where me and you can share our stories, our narratives and our truths. In this 2nd episode of Let’s Talk About…, I share 10 red flags to look out for during a job interview and as a job seeker myself, how some of these red flags have shown up in my interviews and my personal take on how I handles each and every situation. Don't settle for less amigxs! If you ex...

Latinas with Masters is a safe space where you can share your story, your narrative and your truth. On this groundbreaking episode, Christina talks about her recent experience with working in a toxic culture environment and how we as Latinas and Women of Color need to speak up more about these toxic workplace experiences to uplift others who may be on this similar journey. This is only the beginni...

In this episode of the Latinas with Masters Podcast, host Christina Rodriguez converses with her cousin Leticia V. Garay, a mental health advocate, blogger & a recent MBA graduate from UC Davis. They discuss their shared experiences as Latinas & Nicaraguans in higher education, emphasizing the importance of mental health. Leticia shares her journey through graduate school, the challenges o...

Join the Latinas with Masters Podcast as we dive into the world of financial empowerment with Lea Landaverde, known as the Latina Wealth Activist. Based in Dallas, TX, Lea is the visionary founder of The Riqueza Collective, an innovative financial coaching practice focused on bilingual financial education. With a Master's in Finance form the University of Utah and over 9+ years of industry exp...

On this episode of the Latinas with Masters Podcast, Christina delves into the inspiring journey of Laura Walker, M.Ed., a resilient Mexicana born in Mexico and raised in the U.S. from the tender age of 2. Laura's committment to education, instilled by her mother, drove her to promise her mother that she would graduate high school- a promise she steadfastly kept, earning a perfect 4.0 GPA. Mar...

On this episode of the Latinas with Masters Podcast, Christina interviews a straight up Chingona, Maria Linares, MPA who is an Emerita Trustee of the California State University, Board of Trustees which was a position appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom. She is a proud Latina first generation college graduate raised in an immigrant working class neighborhood in the city of Santa Ana, CA. Her work t...

On this episode of the Latinas with Masters Podcast, Christina interviews Vanessa Sirias, First Generation Nicaraguense, digital content creator, actress, producer and comedian. Some of her dope creative work includes "Life of Karen", Christina's absolute favorite, "Nicaraguan's Moms Be Like" and representing Nicoya's on social media as THE FIRST Nicaraguense on Buz...

On this episode of the Latinas with Masters Podcast, Christina interviews Sandy Correa, MS, a native East Los Angeles and first gen Salvadorian and Puerto Rican Latina who recieved her Bachelor's in Sociology from UC Santa Cruz and a Master's in Health Care Management from Cal State Los Angeles. Ana María Gaona, MPA , is a first gen bilingual Latina and the eldest daughter of immigrant par...

On this season 3 opener of the Latinas with Masters Podcast, Christina interviews Prisca Dorcas Mojica Rodriguez, Nicaraguan author of, "For Brown Girls with Sharp Edges and Tender Hearts." What we love about Prisca is that she is unapologetic and uncompromising about protecting and upholding the stories of Latinx communities and we are very fortunate to have her as the first guest of Season 3 on...

On this episode of Latinas with Masters Podcast, Christina interviews Christopher Luis Partida, a graduate Assistant Coach for the Men's basketball team at the University of St. Katherine AND a future #FirstGen Mexicano pursing a Master's degree in Kienisiology at the University of St. Katherine. He's a proud first gen Mexicano from Torrence, CA, raised by Mexican parents who received inspiration...

On this episode of the Latinas with Masters Podcast, Christina speaks with Joseph Valadez (him/his) who shares his childhood upbringing as a Chicano in Southern California, serving in the military, celebrating his sobriety and despite all of the systemic barriers he experienced, he always knew that he belonged on a college campus! Joseph has an A.A. in Sociology and A.A. in History, being a transf...

On this episode of the Latinas with Masters Podcast, Christina welcomes Chris Norman (they/them), a queer, Blaxican housing policy & racial justice professional from the San Francisco Bay Area! They are a first-generation college and master's graduate who works to ensure folks from their communities are able to thrive and experience all the joy they can. Chris holds a Bachelor’s in Geography from...

On this episode of the Latinas with Masters Podcast, Christina interviews Sergio A. Gonzalez, a Bay Area native and proud Joto, Latinx, feminist, hijo de a first-generation Madre and Mexican Immigrant Padre, jotería scholar, & activist. Sergio received a BA in Communication Studies from Manhattanville College in Purchase New York and a Master's in Higher Education/Student Affairs from USC and...

On this week’s episode on the Latinas with Masters Podcast, Christina interviews Jesús Briceño, First-Generation Mexican-American from Los Angeles, CA. Jesus graduated from CSU Long Beach with a BA in Film Editing and a Master's in Education School Counseling from USC. He shares with us how his college experience shifted the moment he joined a brotherhood fraternity and the importance of finding a...

On this week’s episode on the Latinas with Masters Podcast, Christina interviews Fabio Peña, first-generation MBA graduate student born in Guadalajara Jalisco, Mexico. Fabio walks us through his personal journey from working in the agriculture fields to pursuing his dream of becoming a college graduate! He earned his Bachelors Degree in Social and Cultural Communications from the University of Was...

On this week's Season 2 opener, Christina Rodriguez interviews her homie and hermano from the 831, Benjamin Perez, founder of Latinx Greek Life podcast & the Find Your Purpose Instagram Live series. Benjamin is very proud to be a son of immigrants from Mexico and shares his educational journey being born and raised in Salinas, CA to being the first in his family to attend a 4-year university....

The final episode for Season 1 is here and what an adventurous year it has been. Join me as we take a trip down memory lane, reflecting on the episodes and podcast guests who inspired, empowered and educated us on how to navigate the hard knocks of higher education as a first generation college student. I also share my personal reflections on my key takeaways since creating Latinas with Masters, t...

On this week's episode of Latinas with Masters Podcast, Christina interviews Helena Diaz, a Colombian-American born and raised in Hamilton Heights, New York and a Future Latina with Masters attaining her Master's in Education with a concentration in Spanish. Helena shares her personal and academic experiences as a first gen Latina in predominately (non-Hispanic) population and discovering how coll...

On this week's episode of Latinas with Masters Podcast, Christina interviews Cristal Flores, a Oaxaqueña and a Latina with Masters Sociology major from California State University, Dominguez Hills. Cristal shares her personal and academic experiences as a first gen Latina navigating spaces where she felt like she didn't belong in and keeps is 100% real through the eyes of a true Sociologist. Crist...

On this week's episode of Latinas with Masters Podcast, Christina interviews una Latina muy maravilla,  Paulina Lainez. A first generation Latina to graduate in her family with a Bachelor's and Master's degree from Cal State Los Angeles. Paulina's family originates from Gaunajuato, Mexico and grew up in South Los Angeles. She shares with us her academic journey attending community college as...

On this week's episode of Latinas with Masters Podcast, Christina interviews Irene Kelly, a Latinx graduate with a double major in Finance and Entrepreneurship from the University of Utah. Originally from Mexico City, Irene shares with us her academic journey in attaining an education in the United States and the importance of financial literacy within our Latinx community. Irene is very passionat...

On this week's episode of Latinas with Masters Podcast, Christina interviews Arlette Molina-Reader, a Licensed Marriage Family Therapist who has deep roots in San Francisco and is a Bay Area girl at heart! With passion, patience and persistence, Arlette completed her Bachelor's degree in Psychology from San Francisco State University and a Master's in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Marr...