Entre Tías y Amiguis with Adri Rodriguez | Podcast on RSS.com

Entre Tías y Amiguis with Adri Rodriguez

Entre Tías y Amiguis with Adri Rodriguez

by Adri Rodriguez

Self-Improvement Mental Health

Season 2

In My Liberation Era: Breaking Generational Patterns and Choosing Yourself

This week on Entre Tías y Amiguis, Adri is joined by Suyapa Ulloa to talk about breaking cycles and choosing yourself in your liberation era. Together, they explore what it means to unlearn marianismo, reclaim your voice, and navigate the grief and freedom that come with saying “no más.” This one is for you if you’ve ever felt the weight of being the eldest daughter, and you’re learning to set boundaries that honor your truth. -------------- In this heart-centered conversation, Adri is joined by Suyapa Ulloa, trauma therapist, space holder, and eldest daughter healing through ancestral reconnection, to talk about what it really means to break free from the patterns we were taught to carry. From the pressure to fulfill the “perfect daughter” dream to the courage to walk away from an emotionally abusive marriage, Suyapa shares what it really looks like to liberate yourself, not just for you, but for your ancestors too. This episode is for the ones who grew up putting everyone else first. The ones healing from guilt that was never theirs to carry. The ones reclaiming their voice after years of silence. ✨ Together, we talk about: What it means to be “la mayor” in a family shaped by disability and trauma How marianismo and religious expectations shaped Suyapa’s marriage The grief and clarity that come with post-divorce liberation Releasing guilt and redefining generational healing without needing to be a parent The magic of ancestral validation and intuitive connection Building chosen family when you’ve always been the strong one How therapists heal too, and why showing our humanness matters ✨ Closing Reflection Suyapa reminds us that you don’t have to be a parent to be a cycle-breaker. That liberation is allowed to feel messy, holy, and deeply human. And that healing means learning to choose yourself without apology—even when it’s scary. This is for everyone doing the hard and beautiful work of changing the family story. Tune in when you’re ready to dip your toe into the dream, and maybe be a little delulu along the way. ✨ About Suyapa Ulloa Suyapa Ulloa (she/her/ella) is a licensed clinical social worker, trauma and anxiety therapist, and eldest daughter of immigrant parents from Honduras and Mexico. Her work centers on generational healing, sibling relationships, and supporting Latinx adults unlearning people-pleasing and reclaiming their voice. As a therapist and Tía figure, she holds space for individual and collective liberation rooted in cultural and ancestral wisdom. 🌿 Follow Suyapa: Instagram – @suyapasutherapist Website – suyapasutherapist.com

What We Lost, What We’re Reclaiming: A Sí Sabo Kid Journey

This week on Entre Tías y Amiguis, Adri is joined by Stacy Godoy, LMFT, to talk about language loss, reclamation, and coming home to yourself. Together, they explore what it means to reconnect with your culture and identity as an act of healing and resistance. This one is for you if you’ve ever felt ashamed for not speaking Spanish and you’re learning that healing is about returning, not performing. In this heart-centered conversation, Adri is joined by Stacy Godoy, a Los Angeles-based therapist and proud second-generation Mexicana, to talk about what it means to move from "no sabo" to "sí sabo." From losing connection to language through assimilation and survival, to reclaiming identity through immersion, therapy, and community, Stacy shares what it really looks like to return to yourself with gentleness and courage. This episode is for the ones who are learning to speak their mother tongue without shame. The ones piecing together their roots, one word at a time. The ones realizing that belonging isn’t lost, it’s waiting for you. Together, we talk about: What sparked Stacy’s journey to learn Spanish as a second-generation Latina The painful therapy session that awakened her desire to reclaim her language How language loss is not personal failure but the result of colonization and assimilation What it feels like to emote in Spanish and unlock ancestral emotions through language How reconnecting with culture is reshaping her relationships, identity, and sense of belonging Why learning Spanish as an adult can be both an act of love and of resistance Closing Reflection Stacy reminds us that healing doesn’t always look like arriving. Sometimes it looks like beginning again. That returning to language is also returning to love. And that healing means honoring the stories we inherited while still choosing our own. This is for everyone finding their way back to themselves, one palabra, one memory, one generation at a time. Tune in when you’re ready to remember that you already belong. About Stacy Godoy Stacy Rae Godoy, LMFT (she/her/ella) is a therapist based in Los Angeles, offering online therapy and coaching to adults across California. With over a decade of experience in eating disorder treatment, Stacy’s work centers harm reduction, body trust, and cultural connection. Her heart-led mission is to make mental health care more accessible, inclusive, and grounded in compassion, both in English and Spanish. 🌿 Follow Stacy: Instagram – @bolognasandwich Website – stacygodoymft.com

Don’t Give Up When Life Gets Hard: On Disability, Dignity & Determination

This week on Entre Tías y Amiguis, Adri is joined by Dra. Terry Orozco to talk about navigating life with disability, identity, and legacy. Together, they explore what it means to hold space for your truth, ask for help, and become the support you once needed. This one is for you if you’ve ever felt like giving up but kept going anyway, and if you’re learning to balance care for others with care for yourself. In this heart-centered conversation, Adri is joined by Dra. Terry Orozco, academic coach, first-gen Latina, and unapologetic advocate for students navigating hard things, to talk about the quiet power of perseverance, grief, and becoming your own kind of helper. From being underestimated and navigating ableism to earning a doctorate and launching her own business, Terry shares what it really looks like to move through guilt, grief, and burnout—and choose grace anyway. This episode is for the ones who have carried invisible weight for years. The ones who never had a mentor like them growing up. The ones doing it their own way, even when the world doesn’t make room for them. Together, we talk about: How Terry’s experience with SMA shaped her view of strength and dignity The power of helpers, chosen family, and breaking the rules to do the right thing Facing discrimination as a disabled Latina in education and the workplace Academic burnout, grief, and shame, and how she moved through it Why entrepreneurship offered the freedom to help people on her own terms Closing Reflection Terry reminds us that you don’t need to prove yourself to anyone but you. That sometimes you’re not failing, you just need a nap, a pause, or a community. And that healing means choosing softness, rest, and courage even when life gets hard. 🌿 This is for everyone learning how to be strong in a different way. About Dra. Terry Orozco Dra. Terry Orozco (she/her) is a first-gen Mexican-American academic coach, disability advocate, and the only person in her family with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). A proud doctoral graduate, Terry now supports other Latinas navigating school, identity, and purpose. Her work centers on legacy, empathy, and showing up for others, on her own terms. Follow Terry: Instagram – @terryorozco.psyd Website - https://terryorozcopsyd.com/ Tune in when you’re ready to release shame, reclaim your story, and remind yourself: you’re not done yet.

The Eldest Daughter Rewrite: Culture, Queerness, and Coming Home to Yourself

This week on Entre Tías y Amiguis, Adri is joined by Sara Stanizai to talk about what it means to reclaim your culture, identity, and story on your own terms. Together, they explore how to honor your collectivist roots while honoring yourself, and how reconnecting to your culture can be one of the most transformative acts of self-love. This one is for you if you’ve ever felt too far from your culture, and you’re ready to do it your way, with pride, nuance, and tenderness. In this heart-centered conversation, Adri is joined by Sara Stanizai, a queer Afghan American feminist therapist, speaker, and host of the “You Did That!” podcast, to talk about cultural reclamation, eldest daughter energy, and finding belonging beyond binaries. From internalized shame and disconnection to reconnection, visibility, and purpose, Sara shares what it really looks like to redefine success and healing when you haven’t seen it modeled before. This episode is for the ones who have carried too much for too long. The ones who are learning that culture can be reclaimed with love, not guilt. The ones ready to take up space in their own way, bold, gentle, and true. Together, we talk about: Reconnecting to culture as a radical act of healing Eldest daughter expectations and reclaiming self-trust Integrating queerness, faith, and family on your own terms Building a therapy practice rooted in lived experience Balancing collectivist values with self-honoring boundaries Why integrity and self-trust are core to liberation Doing something you haven’t seen done before Closing Reflection Sara reminds us that there’s no test for belonging, once you claim it, you are part of it. That reconnection is not about doing culture “right,” it’s about doing it your way. And that healing means returning to yourself, honoring where you come from, and daring to live fully in your truth. This is for everyone learning to bridge the worlds they come from and the one they’re creating. About Sara Stanizai Sara Stanizai (she/her) is a queer Afghan American therapist, coach, and speaker. She is the founder of Prospect Therapy, a queer- and trans-affirming practice based in Long Beach, CA, and the host of the You Did That! podcast, celebrating the black sheep and cycle-breakers rewriting success on their own terms. Her work centers belonging, cultural reclamation, and helping first-gen and diaspora communities reconnect to themselves with compassion and pride. Follow Sara: Instagram – @prospecttherapy Website – prospecttherapy.com

Not Perfect, But Present: Redefining Parenting Through Compassion

This week on Entre Tías y Amiguis, Adri is joined by Dr. Melissa Londono Connally to talk about parenting, compassion, and creating healing tools for caregivers. Together, they explore what it means to support families with creativity and presence, even when you're doing it for the first time. This one is for you if you’re learning how to parent differently than you were raised 💛 and if you’ve ever struggled to offer yourself the compassion you give to others. In this heart-centered conversation, Adri is joined by Dr. Melissa Londono Connally, a Colombian-American psychologist, visual artist, mom, and co-founder of G Parenting, to talk about parenting, trauma, and building accessible healing tools for families. From internalized pressure and burnout to creative freedom and cycle breaking, Dr. Melissa shares what it really looks like to care for others without losing yourself—and to choose compassion over perfection. This episode is for the ones who are caregiving while healing 🌀 The ones reparenting themselves as they raise their kids 🌱 The ones trying to show up gently in a world that never modeled how 💔 Together, we talk about: Why compassion feels hard—and how to practice it anyway Parenting with boundaries, care, and flexibility How ACT, somatics, and trauma-informed care can support families The role of creativity in healing for both kids and adults What it means to take up space while staying grounded in your values Closing Reflection Dr. Melissa Londono Connally reminds us that: Compassion isn’t a weakness, it’s a radical choice. Parenting doesn’t require perfection; it requires presence. And that healing means honoring our full humanity, even when we’re still figuring it out 🌿 This is for everyone trying to raise the next generation while still tending to themselves. Tune in when you’re ready to breathe, reflect, and move toward what matters. About Dr. Melissa Londono Connally Dr. Melissa Londono Connally (she/her/ella) is a daughter of Colombian immigrants, psychologist in private practice, visual artist, author, and co-founder of G Parenting—a parenting education company offering trauma-informed, accessible resources for caregivers. Her work lives at the intersection of psychology, art, and cultural healing. She believes not everyone can access therapy, but everyone deserves support. Through books, workshops, and education, she offers families tools to move toward gentler, more connected relationships—with their children and with themselves. 🌿 Follow Dr. Melissa: Instagram – @dr.melissaconnally Website – https://www.gparentingcourses.com/ Book – To Be With Me: A Trauma Healing Book for Parents and Children

It’s Giving Tía Energy: Building What Didn’t Exist for Us

This week on Entre Tías y Amiguis, Adri is joined by Dra. Aeriell Armas to talk about first-gen leadership, mentorship, and building community in higher education. Together, they explore what it means to become the person you needed, especially in spaces where you never felt fully seen. This one is for you if you’ve ever felt like the only one in the room and you’re dreaming of making it easier for those coming after you. Adri is joined by Dra. Aeriell Armas, a first-gen PhD, content creator, and founder of Grad Life Grind, to talk about mentorship, visibility, and doing it your own way. From navigating systems that weren’t built for us to creating resources and community from scratch, Aeriell shares what it really looks like to step into your tía energy with heart and purpose. This episode is for the ones who have ever had to Google their way through grad school. The ones carrying the weight of being the first and the blueprint. The ones who are becoming the guides they never had. ✨ Together, we talk about: Growing up in NYC as a first-gen eldest daughter What made her say “I want to be a psychologist” at age 12 How mentorship (or the lack of it) shaped her academic journey Why she created Grad Life Grind and how it’s helping others What it means to build what didn’t exist and make it joyful ✨ Closing Reflection Dra. Aeriell Armas reminds us that you don’t need to wait for permission to lead. That being first is hard, but it’s also powerful. And that healing means turning around, reaching back, and building for those who are still finding their way. 🌿 This is for everyone who's felt invisible in a system that wasn’t made for you, but showed up anyway. Tune in when you’re ready to step into your brilliance and claim your space. ✨ About Dra. Aeriell Armas Dra. Aeriell Armas (she/ella) is a titi, daughter, dog mami, friend, Christian, New Yorker, and academic content creator. She recently earned her PhD in Clinical Psychology and is the founder and CEO of Grad Life Grind, a platform that supports first-gen and underrepresented students through the grad school process and beyond. For over five years, Aeriell has shared her journey through academia and adulting on social media, offering guidance, real talk, and community. Her signature programs, the Pathway to PhD webinar and 12-Week Grad App Grind Bootcamp, have supported students all over the country. Her clinical work and research focus on trauma and intimate partner violence (IPV) in the Latine community. She is deeply committed to addressing disparities in mental health and education by using the wisdom, creativity, and faith passed down through her family. 🌿 Follow Aeriell: Instagram – @gradlifegrind Website – www.gradlifegrind.com

Reclaiming My Voice: Healing in a World That Told Me to Hide

This week on Entre Tías y Amiguis, Adri is joined by Dr. Nancy Rodriguez to talk about visibility, healing, and voice reclamation. Together, they explore what it means to speak your truth in systems that weren’t built for you, and how reclaiming your voice can be an act of resistance, self-trust, and radical care. This one is for you if you’ve ever felt the pressure to hide your truth and you’re learning to speak from a place of worth, not perfection. --- In this heart-centered conversation, Adri is joined by Dr. Nancy Rodriguez, a clinical psychologist, plant mom, and founder of Healing Corazones, to talk about navigating visibility, breaking cycles of silence, and reclaiming your voice in life, work, and legacy. From the pressure to strive and stay silent to planting joy in her truth, Nancy shares what it really looks like to heal while holding space for others, and why your voice, and hers, matters deeply. This episode is for the ones who were told to stay quiet to survive. The ones breaking cycles of silence and striving. The ones learning to be seen on their own terms. Together, we talk about: Reclaiming voice as a form of resistance and healing Navigating higher education and mental health systems Creating a practice rooted in joy, visibility, and comunidad Undoing perfectionism and the pressure to overachieve Building a legacy of liberation, not just survival Closing Reflection Nancy reminds us that your voice is sacred, even if it shakes. That being seen doesn’t mean being perfect, it means being present and rooted in your truth. And that healing means reclaiming your worth, even when the world has tried to convince you you’re not enough. This is for everyone navigating visibility, unlearning survival, and planting something new. Tune in when you’re ready to speak up, slow down, and remember you are worthy of being heard. About Dr. Nancy Rodriguez Dra. Nancy Rodriguez (she/her) is an undocumented licensed clinical psychologist and the founder of Healing Corazones Psychotherapy. She founded her practice as a sanctuary for BIPOC individuals to unpack and heal from systemic oppression, intergenerational trauma, and racial trauma. Her approach is rooted in healing justice, centering decolonized psychotherapy and ancestral wisdom to help clients reclaim their narratives and thrive on their own terms. Beyond her clinical work, Dra. Rodriguez is passionate about fostering community. She hosts networking events for Latinx students pursuing higher education and early career Latinx professionals, creating spaces for connection, visibility, and support. Through these gatherings, she strives to cultivate a safe and empowering environment where womxn and femmes can share their experiences as BIWOC navigating institutions and spaces not built for them. Dra. Rodriguez is committed to fostering healing, resilience, and liberation, both in the therapy room and the broader community. Follow Nancy: Instagram – @healingcorazones_psychotherapy Website – healingcorazones.com

Queer Magic: Identity, Creativity and the Courage To Be Yourself

This week on Entre Tías y Amiguis, we’re talking about queerness, creativity, and the power of being your full self, even when the world tells you to shrink. In this vibrant and heartfelt conversation, Adri is joined by therapist, creative, and educator Luis Cornejo (he/they), founder of Queer Magic Entertainment. Together they explore what it means to grow up navigating strict cultural and religious expectations, and how reclaiming joy, style, and identity became a pathway back to self-love. From healing inner child wounds to redefining tío/tíe legacy outside of binaries, Luis shares how queerness is not just about who you are, it’s about what becomes possible when you stop performing and start creating from the heart. This episode is for the ones who were told they were “too much” or “not enough.” The ones building joy where there used to be shame. The ones learning to soften, be seen, and come home to themselves. Together, we talk about: Living outside the binary and reclaiming visibility on your terms Self-expression as resistance, healing, and celebration Healing from religious trauma while honoring your truth Unlearning gender roles and redefining masculinity Creating liberatory spaces for Queer and BIPOC communities Becoming the tíe/tío you needed as a kid Holding boundaries, joy, and softness at the same time Luis reminds us that healing isn’t always quiet—and that joy, style, and softness can be revolutionary. You don’t have to follow a blueprint. You get to create something entirely your own. This is for everyone learning to take up space. Tune in when you’re ready to remember you were never too much—you were always becoming. About Luis Cornejo Luis Cornejo (he/they) is a queer, first-generation Guatemalan and Mexican-American therapist, creative, educator, and founder of Queer Magic Entertainment. His work centers liberation, visibility, and healing through self-expression. Whether he’s walking runways, building community, or supporting clients in therapy, Luis leads with joy, resistance, and authenticity. They are passionate about dismantling oppressive systems, unlearning shame, and helping others reconnect with their voice, creativity, and truth. Connect with Luis and his work: 🪄 @luis_thee_lmft 🌐 www.luis-cornejo.com

Betting on Yourself and The Power of Your First-Gen Identity

This week on Entre Tías y Amiguis, we’re talking about what it means to bet on yourself and embrace the power of your first-gen identity, especially when you’ve grown up de aquí y de allá, navigating life between cultures, systems, and expectations. In this heart-centered conversation, Adri is joined by psychologist and speaker Dr. Lisette Sanchez, founder of First Gen Sin Barreras, to talk about first-gen identity, bicultural strength, and what it really looks like to build something without a blueprint. From the emotional weight of being “the first,” to navigating internalized oppression and finding power in the both/and, Lisette shares what it means to root into your story instead of running from it. This episode is for the ones who feel like they’re carrying their family’s dreams while still figuring out their own. The ones creating things they’ve never seen before. The ones learning to belong to themselves first. Together, we talk about: The pressure and purpose of being “the first” in your family Reframing first-gen identity as a bridge, not a burden Entrepreneurship without a safety net or generational wealth Internalized oppression, imposter feelings, and healing in public Reclaiming your story and honoring your cultural legacy What it means to become the kind of ancestor you needed Lisette reminds us that betting on yourself is a sacred act. That home isn’t something you find—it’s something you build within yourself. And that healing doesn’t mean erasing your story, it means coming back to it with compassion and pride. This is for everyone living in the in-between. Tune in when you’re ready to remember that your story holds power. About Dr. Lisette Sanchez Dr. Lisette Sanchez (she/her/ella), also known as @thefirstgenpsychologist, is a first-generation Latina psychologist, speaker, writer, and founder of First Gen Sin Barreras, a movement that empowers first-gen individuals to embrace their bicultural identity as a strength. Her work centers healing, visibility, and reclaiming narratives shaped by migration, identity, and systemic barriers. Follow Dra. Lisette: 🌿 Instagram – @thefirstgenpsychologist 🌿 Website – calatheawellness.com

Adelante con Orgullo: A Tío’s Journey of Service and Healing

This week on Entre Tías y Amiguis, we’re making space for tío energy, the kind that’s rooted in service, shaped by community, and driven by corazón. In this powerful conversation, Adri is joined by Armando Salud-Ambriz, Director of External Relations at Yolo Food Bank, former Deputy of Elections, and proud first-gen son of immigrants. Together, they reflect on what it means to lead with purpose, honor your roots, and break generational patterns, not just for yourself, but for everyone who comes after you. From small-town beginnings to seats at decision-making tables, Armando shares how he learned to carry both pride and grief, pressure and compassion, and how showing up as your full self is its own form of resistance. This episode is for the leaders with soft hearts. For the ones who’ve been the only one in the room. For those of us learning to rest, release resentment, and build legacy with intention. Together, we talk about: Growing up as a working-class immigrant and claiming space as a civic leader Being the youngest and only Latino in decision-making spaces Choosing service over ego and impact over image Letting go of rencor and embracing healing as a man of color Creating the Adelante con Orgullo scholarship for immigrant students Reimagining what leadership and legacy can look like for first-gens Armando reminds us that presence is powerful. And that no matter where we come from, we all deserve to move adelante con orgullo. This is tío wisdom in real time. Tune in when you’re ready to remember that showing up with heart is the legacy. 👤 About Armando Salud-Ambriz Armando Salud-Ambriz (he/him) is a dynamic and accomplished civic leader with a deep commitment to service, equity, and community care. He currently serves as the Director of External Relations at Yolo Food Bank, where he continues his work uplifting underrepresented voices and building stronger systems of support. Previously, Armando served as Deputy of Elections for Yolo County, where he led key efforts in elections management and accessibility. He is a Certified Elections/Registration Administrator, a California Registered Election Official, and a Credentialed California County Senior Executive. Armando holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of the Pacific at McGeorge School of Law and is the youngest person ever elected to the Yolo County Board of Education. He serves on national civic engagement committees, is a founding board member of the Greater Sacramento Chapter of ALPFA, and was recently honored as a Top Latino Changemaker by The Sacramento Bee. Connect with Armando: Instagram: @man2z08 Adelante con Orgullo Scholarship: Check with your counselor if the application is available for your school.

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