Her Dinero Matters

It’s official! Her Dinero Matter’s 10-year birthday is here and I still can’t believe it. This episode is all about celebration, and we’ll do just that with a thorough review of the most unexpected truths I've learned about money, identity and what it really takes to feel financially confident, especially when you're carrying cultura, family and dreams on your shoulders. Are you ready to dig deep into these money lessons? 

Although this podcast has evolved over the years, the original vision still remains: the conversations we’ve had so far reflect the financial journeys of many, with a focus on how money intersects with language, culture, and upbringing, especially for Latinas. Today’s convo is all about highlighting something so many of us have already suspected: how money is deeply emotional and our decisions are often shaped by our upbringing, and this emotion is valid. It also emphasizes that every financial journey is unique and valid, progress is personal, and cultural expectations greatly influence money management.

In this episode, I'm sharing the most unexpected truths I've learned about money, identity and what it really takes to feel financially confident, especially when you're carrying cultura, family and dreams on your shoulders. Some of these lessons were beautiful, some were uncomfortable, but all of them were life changing. You might think this is just a celebration episode, but it's really a turning point. Let's get to it.

In this episode you will learn: 

• Why money is deeply emotional and how financial decisions are significantly shaped by our upbringing and cultural expectations.
• The importance of having open money conversations with your community.
• Why money confidence doesn’t come in a one-size-fits-all envelope. 

Have you ever re-crossed paths with someone from years ago and been stunned by the direction their life has taken? I know I have, and the resulting conversations almost always end up being fascinating. Since we are one week away from celebrating Her Dinero Matters 10-year anniversary (mic drops) this week’s episode will take you on a trip down memory lane along with four past guests. Today’s convos are all about catching up, reflecting on growth, and seeing how life (and money) has evolved for these incredible women. Get ready for a heartwarming journey through time and (of course!) transformation!

Ten years can bring about immense change, both personally and financially. However, more often than not, life moves in such mysterious ways that it’s almost impossible to keep up with your friends and acquaintances updates, let alone with news of anyone else. Just think about it for a second: when was the last time you listened to someone’s inspiring story only to forget all about them a few days later?

As Her Dinero Matter’s 10-year anniversary is (quite literally) around the corner,I wanted to take this opportunity to shine back a spotlight on some of our past guests. This is why, this week we are doing more than just talking about change: we’re hearing about  it firsthand. 

In this special episode I am reconnecting with Michelle Jackson, Jamila Souffrant, Lacey Langford, and Monica Rivera, who are coming back to the podcast to share what they’ve been up to. Get ready to uncover fascinating paths, unexpected turns, and the enduring power of financial wisdom. It's an episode filled with nostalgia, inspiration, and a reminder of how far we’ve all come.

In this episode you will learn: 

• The biggest change our 4-guests have experienced since the last time we met.  
• Ways they’ve been treating themselves lately.
• The one piece of advice they would give today to their past self. 

xiety-ridden way? Well, here is some good news: it is possible to use the wisdom of your bodily sensations to regulate your nervous system and get out of money stress mode. In this week’s episode, Sandra Hinojosa dives into big stuff like how money can be used as a weapon in relationships and what it really takes to feel safe and confident making financial decisions. Ready to be inspired?

If you’ve experienced a financial setback and had your mind spiraling out of control because of it (even when, deep down inside, you know that life happening is to be expected and no big deal), you know there are times when our bodies just seem to have a mind of their own: no matter how much we try to think “positively” or intellectualize the situation, our typical anxious response is always there, waiting to jump on us. 

Ever wondered why this happens? The short response to this is that our money experiences are deeply connected to how the body stores memories and traumas, particularly those related to early experiences with money. These experiences can create automatic responses that bypass logical thinking, especially in moments of perceived financial threat.

The good news is that there is a way out of this patterned “response” and this is exactly what Sandra Hinojosa, this week’s HDM guest will share with us. In today’s episode, Sandra emphasizes the importance of recognizing and tuning into the body’s signals or “cues” to distinguish between a genuine, current threat and a past trauma response.

Sandra Hinojosa Ludwig is a somatic experience and practitioner, ICF train certified coach, award winning, best selling author of Chica, Why Not?

In this episode you will learn: 

• What’s the impact of early money experiences on the nervous system and why understanding this matters. 
• How to tune into your body’s signals and cues to deal with financial stress.
• The 3 things you can start doing today to live an aligned life.

Have you ever had that weird moment where you realize your money habits aren’t entirely yours? That maybe, just maybe, you’re playing out a script written long before you were born? That’s the exact realization this week’s HDM guest had a few years ago. In this episode, I have a vulnerable and insightful conversation with Antuanett Lopez, where we talk about money stress, her journey from Peru to the US, and the impact this has had on her financial decisions. Let’s jump right in!

More often than not, money stories have nothing to do with factual, very much in-your-face numbers; it's about the emotions, the unspoken fears, and the silent lessons we carry. Those first impressions, the ones we often don’t even realize are there, can shape our financial lives in ways we never imagined (yes, money stress is a thing). A simple phrase overheard, a look of stress on a parent’s face, these tiny moments become the foundation of our relationship with wealth. They whisper stories of scarcity or security, fear or freedom, long before we ever balance a checkbook. It’s this undercurrent, the emotional weight behind the numbers, that truly drives our decisions.

Understanding how our money stories came to be and how they have shaped our decisions is something that is crucial to reshape our financial futures. This is why, in this week’s HDM episode, we delve into the intricate connections between our upbringing, cultural influences, and the money stress that, more often than not, brings unconscious narratives into our financial lives.

Antuanett Lopez is a bilingual mental health therapist dedicated to providing culturally competent care that supports personal development and healing through connection, education, and self-awareness. Antoinett has a private practice with a mission to create healthier generations and focuses.

In this episode you will learn: 

• The connection between money, survival, sacrifice, and silence in many Latino families.
• Antoinett Lopez's journey from Peru to the US and the financial challenges she and her mom faced.
• The weight of generational expectations and the role of therapy in healing money wounds.

Have you ever caught yourself reflecting on a past event, only to realize how much your current life situation has changed? Not only that: in hindsight, you can now see how this experience has fundamentally altered the way you understand yourself and your life. If you find yourself nodding along, this episode's journey on resilience and reinvention might just resonate with you. Join me as I welcome back Jackie Velez for a conversation about navigating life-altering shifts and discovering true abundance through adversity.

We tend to map out our lives with certain assumptions, believing we know how we'll face major challenges. We imagine ourselves responding with grace, logic, and strength. However, life rarely unfolds according to these plans. Reality often presents circumstances that are much more intricate and transformative than we could have predicted. These events can challenge the core of who we think we are and how we view the world. 

So, let me ask you this: can you truly picture yourself handling the aftermath of a completely unexpected event? An event that throws your routines into disarray and forces you to question everything you believed to be true about yourself? Can you imagine your relationships, values, and even your definition of what it means to be successful undergoing a fundamental shift after such a disruption?

If the thought feels overwhelming, you're not alone. Life's unexpected turns are a universal experience, and the path to navigating them is rarely straightforward —the insights and lessons often unfold along the way. 

To truly bring this point home, in this week’s HDM episode, Jackie Velez is back on the podcast to share how her life took an unexpected turn following a significant car accident. In this convo, she shares her journey from scarcity to abundance unfolds through music, community, and raw vulnerability.

Jackie Velez is a wellness and music practitioner blending music, movement, and neuroscience to guide people into aligned, intentional living. Through a mix of sound journeys, custom meditations, and workshops, she helps others reconnect with their truth. 

In this episode you will learn: 

• The unforeseen obstacles of dealing with medical systems and financial concerns in a foreign country in the wake of a traumatic event.
• A powerful transformation from a mindset of scarcity to recognizing the true riches of community and support.
• How embracing spirituality, music, and deep-seated passions became instrumental in Jacqueline's healing and metamorphosis.