Cultura & Cash ™

Hosted by The First Gen Mentor

BusinessInterviews guests

Website RSS feed

Episodes

Latest episode

Apr 2026

Language

About the show

Spilling more tea from Cultura & Cash™ and meeting with experts to get their thoughts on topics covered in the book!

Listen to episodes

35 recent

April 15, 2026Episode 6021 min

Ep. 34: One Year in Spain- Your FAQs answered!

Hola, hola! It's your girl Gigi (Giovanna Gonzalez), also known as The First Gen Mentor, back with Season 3 of the Cultura & Cash! April marks one year since I left Chicago to move to Spain. On this episode, I answer your questions about my experience abroad 1 year post my big move. 🎧 What You’ll Hear in This Episode: 🔸 Why I chose Spain over Mexico 🔸 The top challenges I’ve had in my first year abroad 🔸 How I’ve built community in Spain, and do I have any Spanish friends yet? 🔸 How much healthcare costs and how it works 🔸 The health improvements I’ve had since immigrating to Spain This episode is one of a series of episodes I’ll share about my insights about life as an American living in Spain Let’s talk about it! 💬 👉 Hit play to hear all about it! Get tickets to the Milwaukee book signing here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hpgm-presents-giovanna-gonzalez-author-of-cultura-cash-at-boswell-tickets-1986815692219?aff=oddtdtcreator 📲 Connect with Giovanna Gonzalez | The First Gen Mentor: Tiktok: / thefirstgenmentor Instagram: / gigithefirstgenmentor LinkedIn: / giovannagonzalez #expat #Spain #movingabroad #digitalnomad #latinainspain #GiovannaGonzalez #FirstGenMentor #latinapodcast

March 25, 2026Episode 5945 min

Ep. 33: Unlock Your Book Potential with expert tips from Stacy Ennis

Hola, hola! It's your girl Gigi (Giovanna Gonzalez), also known as The First Gen Mentor, back with Season 3 of the Cultura & Cash! On this episode, I’m joined by my friend and former book coach, Stacy Ennis! Stacy is a seasoned book coach and author, shares her extensive experience in writing, editing, and coaching aspiring authors. A must listen for aspiring authors! 🎧 What You’ll Hear in This Episode: When it makes sense to work with a book coach The importance of purpose in writing a book Common barriers faced by Latina women and women of color in publishing and how to overcome them The role of support, accountability, and coaching in completing a book The impact of AI on the writing process and ethical considerations Strategies for maintaining flow and consistency in writing to actually get that book done Your book is already within you. All you need is the right support and strategies to make it happen! Let’s talk about it! 💬 Explore Stacy’s writing cohort: https://www.stacyennis.com/ideatodraft?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=referral Disclaimer: I make a small commission if you use the link above to enroll Get to know Stacy Listen to my episode on Stacy’s podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uup87G_GHU Beyond Better Podcast with Stacy Ennis: https://stacyennis.com/category/podcast/ Stacy’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stacyennis/?hl=en Stacy’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stacylynn/ Stacy’s website: https://stacyennis.com/ 👉 Hit play to hear all about it! 📲 Connect with Giovanna Gonzalez | The First Gen Mentor: Tiktok: / thefirstgenmentor Instagram: / gigithefirstgenmentor LinkedIn: / giovannagonzalez #bookwriting #Latinaauthors #publishing #bookcoaching #GiovannaGonzalez #FirstGenMentor #latinapodcast

March 18, 2026Episode 5824 min

Ep 32: Why I stopped contributing to retirement at age 36- A coast FIRE deep dive

Hola, hola! It's your girl Gigi (Giovanna Gonzalez), also known as The First Gen Mentor, back with Season 3 of the Cultura & Cash! On this episode, I share why I stopped contributing to my retirement accounts at 36! What’s behind this shocking decision? 🤯 🎧 What You’ll Hear in This Episode: How living abroad has affected my ability to contribute to retirement accounts An introduction to the FI/RE movement How I hit a major financial milestone- Coast FIRE! An inside look into my investing journey, and how the pandemic allowed me to lock in The actual math I’m using to calculate my projected retirement portfolio and how to calculate your projected annual expenses in retirement Why my goal is to die with zero How stepping away from retirement contributions has allowed me to work a job I enjoy and given me extra money to optimize my life now As you consider your own retirement planning, think about how your current situation and goals align with your financial strategies. What does this mean for you? Understanding your retirement options is crucial, especially if you’re considering retiring abroad. Let’s talk about it! 💬 Compound interest calculator: https://www.investor.gov/financial-tools-calculators/calculators/compound-interest-calculator 📲 Connect with Giovanna Gonzalez | The First Gen Mentor: Tiktok: / thefirstgenmentor Instagram: / gigithefirstgenmentor LinkedIn: / giovannagonzalez #GiovannaGonzalez #FirstGenMentor #latinapodcast #coastFIRE

March 5, 2026Episode 5726 min

Ep 31: My name is Giovanna and I'm a social media addict

Hola, hola! It's your girl Gigi (Giovanna Gonzalez), also known as The First Gen Mentor, back with Season 3 of the Cultura & Cash! On this episode, I’m talking about my cell phone addiction and how I’ve created systems and better habits to improve my mental health and sleep quality. 🎧 What You’ll Hear in This Episode: An update on the Spanish adaptation of Cultura & Cash How a business coach encouraged me to detox from social media Navigating grief, insomnia and high stress My step-by-step sleep routine to unwind and get good quality sleep The new habits I’ve adopted to improve my relationship with social media Resources to learn more 👉 Hit play to hear all my reflections because health is wealth! 📲 Connect with Giovanna Gonzalez | The First Gen Mentor: Tiktok: / thefirstgenmentor Instagram: / gigithefirstgenmentor LinkedIn: / giovannagonzalez

February 25, 2026Episode 5646 min

Ep 30: The High 5 Banking Method with Sahirenys Pierce, the founder of Poised Finance & Lifestyle

Hola, hola! It's your girl Gigi (Giovanna Gonzalez), also known as The First Gen Mentor, back with Season 3 of the Cultura & Cash podcast! On this episode, I’m joined by my guest, Sahirenys Pierce. Sahirenys is the founder of Poised Finance & Lifestyle and the author of the upcoming book The High 5 Banking Method. 🎧 What You’ll Hear in This Episode: How her father instilled a mindset of abundance when she was a child How going through an eviction shaped her mindset and led her to a path as a financial educator How she acquired a book deal with Wiley and tips for aspiring authors How she developed The High 5 Banking Method and how listeners can use it to level up their finances How she’s making sure her children are set up for financial prosperity as a first-gen Latina 👉 Hit play to hear all my interview with Sahirenys! You can pre-order her book, The High 5 Banking Method, wherever you buy books, or by visiting her website at https://thepoisedlifestyle.com/the-high-5-banking-method-book/. 📲 Connect with Sahirenys, the founder of Poised Finance & Lifestyle: Instagram: poisedfinancelifestyle 📲 Connect with Giovanna Gonzalez | The First Gen Mentor: Tiktok: / thefirstgenmentor Instagram: / gigithefirstgenmentor LinkedIn: / giovannagonzalez #GiovannaGonzalez #FirstGenMentor #latinapodcast #moneybook

November 20, 202533 min

Ep 29: Life update- 6 months in Spain

Hola, hola! It's your girl Gigi (Giovanna Gonzalez), also known as The First Gen Mentor, back with Season 2 of the Cultura & Cash! In this solo episode, I’ll give you an update on life in Spain- 6 months in! 🎧 What You’ll Hear in This Episode: •An update on the Spanish translation of Cultura & Cash •Is the honeymoon period over? •Travel restrictions I have to abide by •The challenge in getting a Spanish driver’s license •How taxes and business formation has changed now that I’m based in Spain •Not being able to advocate for myself as a tenant •The benefits of life in Spain 6 months in 👉 Hit play to hear all about the challenges I’ve navigated and new information I’ve learned since moving abroad. 📲 Connect with Giovanna Gonzalez | The First Gen Mentor: Tiktok: / thefirstgenmentor Instagram: / gigithefirstgenmentor LinkedIn: / giovannagonzalez #GiovannaGonzalez #FirstGenMentor #latinapodcast #businesstips

November 13, 2025Episode 5353 min

Ep 28: Do corporate spaces REALLY want you to be authentic? With Hady Mendez

Hola, hola! It's your girl Gigi (Giovanna Gonzalez), also known as The First Gen Mentor, back with Season 2 of the Cultura & Cash! In this episode I’m joined by ERG coach, speaker, and bestselling author, Hady Mendez! 🎧 What You’ll Hear in This Episode: What life is like 2 months post her book launch Moments she realized her voice made leaders uncomfortable in the workplace How corporate culture can teach us to shrink or self-censor How she expresses her truth and advocates for other professionals through her content and book A new community for underestimated talent looking for community 👉 Hit play to learn how you can own your voice to make the workplace more inclusive for all Connect with Hady Mendez: Website: https://www.boldlyspeakingllc.com/ Instagram: @calladitanomore LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hadymendez/ Substack: https://hadyunfiltered.substack.com/ 📲 Connect with Giovanna Gonzalez | The First Gen Mentor: Tiktok: / thefirstgenmentor Instagram: / gigithefirstgenmentor LinkedIn: / giovannagonzalez #GiovannaGonzalez #FirstGenMentor #latinapodcast #businesstips

November 6, 2025Episode 5251 min

Ep 27: Understanding your business financials with Vanessa Duran

Hola, hola! It's your girl Gigi (Giovanna Gonzalez), also known as The First Gen Mentor, back with Season 2 of the Cultura & Cash! In this episode I’m joined by Vanessa Duran, Principal at Magda, a financial services firm supports founders with their tax and bookkeeping needs. 🎧 What You’ll Hear in This Episode: How she got an early exposure to a career in accounting through her mom’s job How she navigated imposter syndrome as a Latina working in finance in NYC Why motherhood encouraged her to pivot into entrepreneurship How she supports founders get clear on their business financials How to overcome the fear of facing your business financials and how they can be used as a tool for growth 👉 Hit play to learn how accounting concepts and bookkeeping don’t have to be scary, and can actually be simple and help your business scale Subscribe to my newsletter: https://thefirstgenmentor.lpages.co/newsletter-sign-up/ Connect with Vanessa Duran: Website: https://www.magdafinance.com/ Instagram: @magdafinance LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/magdafinance/ 📲 Connect with Giovanna Gonzalez | The First Gen Mentor: Tiktok: / thefirstgenmentor Instagram: / gigithefirstgenmentor LinkedIn: / giovannagonzalez #GiovannaGonzalez #FirstGenMentor #latinapodcast #businesstips

October 22, 2025Episode 5138 min

Ep 26: How to get your book into indie bookstores and how I landed a celebrity endorsement

Hola, hola! It's your girl Gigi (Giovanna Gonzalez), also known as The First Gen Mentor, back with Season 2 of the Cultura & Cash! In this solo episode, I share how authors can get their books stocked at independent bookstores and how I landed an A-list celebrity endorsement. 🎧 What You’ll Hear in This Episode: The future of the podcast and what you can expect moving forward Rose and Thorn of life in Spain An update on the Spanish translation of Cultura & Cash How authors can find indie bookstores and strategies they can use to get their books in stock The behind the scenes journey into landing my Eva Longoria endorsement 👉 Hit play to learn all things about indie bookstores and celebrity endorsements! Subscribe to my newsletter: https://thefirstgenmentor.lpages.co/newsletter-sign-up/ Eva’s DM to me: https://www.tiktok.com/@thefirstgenmentor/video/7322637905061481771?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7560680371081250335 📲 Connect with Giovanna Gonzalez | The First Gen Mentor: Tiktok: / thefirstgenmentor Instagram: / gigithefirstgenmentor LinkedIn: / giovannagonzalez #GiovannaGonzalez #FirstGenMentor #CulturaAndCash #booktour #latinapodcast

October 9, 2025Episode 501 hr 6 min

Ep 25: Unpacking financial trauma with Alejandra Rojas

Hola, hola! It's your girl Gigi (Giovanna Gonzalez), also known as The First Gen Mentor, back with Season 2 of the Cultura & Cash! In this episode, I speak with Forbes contributor and founder of Brown Way to Money, Alejandra Rojas about the concept of financial trauma. We explore how financial trauma can affect individuals' relationships with money, the cultural influences that shape these experiences, and the importance of community and professional support in healing. Alejandra shares her personal journey and insights into the emotional aspects of financial literacy, emphasizing the need for a holistic approach to financial education. The conversation also touches on resources for overcoming financial anxiety and the significance of creating a big vision for financial goals. 🎧 What You’ll Hear in This Episode: Financial trauma can stem from personal experiences or be passed down through generations. Understanding the emotional side of money is crucial for financial literacy. Financial trauma can manifest in various behaviors, such as avoidance or overspending. Seeking professional help is important for addressing financial trauma. Community support can help individuals feel validated in their financial struggles. Resources like books and podcasts can aid in understanding financial trauma. 👉 Hit play to unpack this important topic so that you can claim the financial abundance you deserve! Subscribe to Alejandra’s newsletter: https://brownwaytomoney.substack.com/ Connect with Alejandra on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alejandrar2019/ Visit Alejandra’s website: https://brownwaytomoney.com/ 📲 Connect with Giovanna Gonzalez | The First Gen Mentor: Tiktok: / thefirstgenmentor Instagram: / gigithefirstgenmentor LinkedIn: / giovannagonzalez #GiovannaGonzalez #FirstGenMentor #CulturaAndCash #booktour #latinapodcast