Cycle Breakers & Money Makers

Hosted by Mariela De La Mora | Leadership & Business Mentor for Women of Color

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May 2026

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About the show

For daughters of immigrants and WOC who are breaking cycles in their family by earning more than "just enough" and doing what no one before them has. Join me, Mariela De La Mora, as I help you break free in survival mode, lead with confidence and make more money doing it. Each week, we will dive into business, mindset and leadership coaching that is focused on the lived experiences of First Gen. Because let's be real - daughters of immigrants need to be coached differently. As the eldest daughter of immigrants, I have personally broken cycles and helped over 100 women do the same. I left a 16 year career as a Marketing Executive where I was the only WOC in the space, to now coaching 6-7 figure CEOs and high ranking women at organizations like Google, Microsoft and the United Nations. Using the tools I teach, I've since built a million-dollar business as a single mom. We’ll cover topics that will help you become an unstoppable, badass, money-making leader who knows her worth and has the receipts to show for it.

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May 22, 202632 min

91. How I Brought in 30 Clients in Q1 — BTS: 100 Clients in 2026

If you've been selling yourself — your access, your time, your proximity — and wondering why scaling feels impossible, this episode is going to reframe the whole thing.This is Part 1 of Behind the Scenes: 100 Clients in 2026, an ongoing series where I'm sharing what I'm actually changing in my business, my process, and my mindset as I work toward a goal I've never attempted before. In Q1 alone, I brought in 30 clients — and I did it by making shifts I want to walk you through in real time.In this episode, I'm breaking down the five business shifts I made to go from selling proximity to selling a process — and why that distinction is everything if you want to grow without burning out or capping yourself.I talk about:why documenting your IP is an act of service, not a loss of the human element — and how to deliver your expertise without being in the room every timehow to tell the difference between demand you manufactured and demand that already exists — and why launching to the wrong one costs you more than you thinkwhat it means to message for strangers instead of fans, and why the language your audience is actually shopping in is not the language you're probably usingwhy testing demand before launching saved me from the warm-leads-run-out trap — and the two low-stakes ways I validated my method before selling it at scalethe one system every business owner needs before posting on social media becomes their entire marketing strategyThis one is for you if you're ready to grow beyond what your time and proximity can hold — and you want to see exactly how that happens from the inside.Listen now.Work with me:If you want to build a story-led content system that brings in clients consistently, join Category of One hereTo work together privately on your offer, your process, or your next level, learn more about private coaching hereFree resource: Download the Six Figure Storyselling Bundle — 60 days of storyselling prompts and the Sellable Stories GPT, so you can start identifying and telling the stories that actually sell

April 17, 202628 min

90. How I've made make huge identify-shifting decisions over the last decade+

What if you’re not actually confused?What if you already know what needs to change, but you’re afraid to feel the grief, guilt, or fear that comes with saying it out loud?In this episode, I’m sharing from a very personal place.I’m currently sitting in a big decision about whether I’m leaving San Francisco, the Bay Area, or even the country. And what I’ve realized is that the hardest part of a decision like this isn’t always the logistics. Sometimes it’s admitting that you’ve outgrown something that still looks beautiful, successful, or meaningful on paper.I’m talking about what it looks like to make identity-shifting decisions when you don’t have the full plan yet. The kind of decisions that ask you to trust yourself before you have proof. The kind that come with grief because they affect not just you, but your daughter, your parents, your hometown, your identity, and the life you’ve worked so hard to build.I also share how this has shown up in other major decisions across my life, from leaving a 13-year relationship, to quitting jobs, to solo travel, to starting over, to building a business and a life that would have made no sense to the version of me that was once just trying to survive.In this episode, I talk about:how to tell the difference between confusion and avoiding your feelingswhy you usually know what you don’t want before you know exactly what you do wanthow grief, guilt, and fear can keep you stuck in a decision you’ve already made privatelythe reflection questions I ask myself when I know I’ve outgrown a season, identity, city, or way of livingwhat it looks like to trust yourself when the emotional truth arrives before the logistical clarityIf you’re in a season where something no longer fits, but you haven’t been ready to fully admit it yet, this episode will hit.Work with me:If you want to sell more through your story and build a brand around who you are, join the waitlist for Category of OneTo work with me on an identity shift you're going through, learn more here and schedule a call.Free resource: To uncover your most sellable, high converting stories, download the Six Figure Storyselling Bundle here. It includes 60 days of storyselling prompts + my custom Sellable Stories Coach custom GPT.

March 20, 20262 hr 14 min

89. Webinar Replay: Create Daily Conversations, Weekly Leads, and Monthly High-Ticket Sales Through Storyselling

Your content isn’t random.But your results feel random.And even when people are viewing, it’s not always turning into clients.Part of that is messaging - 👉🏽If someone new lands on your page, can they immediately understand who you help and feel a connection to you beyond your work?And part of it is structure - 👉🏽Right now, most people are posting and hoping someone connects the dots on their own.But when the only next step is “book a call,” most people don’t take it.That’s what we’re fixing on this episode.In this free live training, I’m walking you through how your story, your messaging, and your content can finally work together so you’re always leading the right people towards with working with you.This is bigger than better hooks.Bigger than posting more often.Doors to Category of One (CO1) are now open.CO1 is a six-month program where your story, messaging, and content finally work together to grow your audience, generate leads, and land clients more consistently.If you’ve been thinking about joining, this is the room to be in.Learn more about Category of One: www.marieladelamora.com/category-of-one

February 15, 202627 min

88. How I sold out a brand new offer with 56% waitlist conversion

One of the biggest mistakes I see business owners make is creating offers they want to sell — without having a real process for listening to what people already want. They don't have a Demand Validation process.They feel excited about the idea. They believe people need it. They assume demand will be there.But they don’t validate whether it aligns with demand.And the result is they spend months trying to create demand instead of tapping into where it already exists.This doesn’t always require changing what you're selling. Sometimes it’s just how you talk about it or position it. But either way, skipping the listening and Demand Validation process almost always means you’ll have to manufacture demand instead of meet it.In this episode, I’m walking you through a behind-the-scenes breakdown of how I launched a brand new program and exceeded my stretch goal:14 beta enrollments95 new leads before opening cart56% conversion from my interest listAnd even though storytelling has been a core concept in my business for SIX years, I did not bypass the Demand Validation process.So if I can’t skip that process, no one can.This episode will show you exactly how I approached it — and how you can stop guessing and start listening.If what you heard in this episode sounds like what you've been looking for, here are two next steps - Free offer: Grab the Six Figure Storyselling Bundle - 60 days of prompts and a custom Sellable Stories Coach GPT to grow your audience, build demand, and sell your offer through your most sellable stories Group program: Join the Interest List for Category of One, a content-to-leads storyselling program for high ticket coaches, consultants and service providers. Doors open March 12.

December 29, 202536 min

87. How I'm Marketing Differently on Instagram Going Into 2026

If Instagram stopped feeling fun, if your account stopped growing, or if you used to land clients from it but that has slowed drastically— this episode is your reset.In this episode, I’m sharing how I’m actually shifting my content strategy going into 2026 — not based on trends, but on what’s working. This isn’t about being viral or cute for the algorithm. It’s about building connection, getting strategic with content that has different jobs, and making your IG feel fun again by turning IG into a funnel vs something that carries your whole business.We talk about:Why not every post should be about selling (and what to do instead)How Instagram’s 2025 algorithm update changed everythingWhat “top of funnel” content really is and how to use it to grow your audienceWhy storytelling is non-negotiable (and what kind of stories to share)How trial reels + better hooks = more visibility and more aligned leadsHow to turn IG into a funnel that grows your list and converts — without hard sellingWhether you’re burnt out on IG or ready to make it your most powerful tool again, this episode breaks down what’s working right now and how to implement it in a way that feels sustainable and aligned with your identity.GRAB YOUR FREE STORYSELLING BUNDLE -That's why I created Six Figure Storyselling Hooks - 60 days of prompts that will grow your account, build high ticket trust and authority, and convert followers to clients - all through your story.https://marieladelamora.myflodesk.com/storyselling-hooksAnd in the emails that follow the Storyselling Hooks, you'll receive a limited time bonus that's normally only available in my paid offers - my Sellable Stories Coach custom GPT.It's designed to position you as a Category of One (through your story) and extract your top 3 sellable stories. Grab it now - it's an insane amount of value that will totally change the way you market on IG.CHAPTERS:00:00 – Intro: Why Instagram Feels Different02:15 – What Changed in the 2025 Algorithm06:58 – Why Your Posts Need Different Jobs09:25 – The 50/30/20 Rule for Content Strategy12:44 – Why Storytelling is STILL the Move16:40 – Writing Better Hooks (and Why They Matter)20:01 – What Top of Funnel Content Actually Looks Like25:00 – Why Trial Reels Are Your New Favorite Hack28:45 – The Funnel Mindset: Using IG to Grow Your List33:10 – The Freebie You’ll Want (Six-Figure Story Selling + GPT)35:00 – Why This Gets to Be More Fun (and Strategic)

December 10, 202536 min

86. "You are the niche" vs "pick a profitable niche" -which is it?

“You are the niche.” “Pick a profitable niche.”These two messages get thrown around like absolute truths — but what if both are true and incomplete?In this episode, I unpack the real nuance between building a personal brand rooted in identity versus choosing a business model based on strategy — and what happens when one of those is missing. Whether your content is resonating but not converting, or you feel invisible in your own brand, this episode will help you reconnect with what actually creates trust, sales, and freedom.We cover:Why “you are the niche” and “choose a niche” both hold truthWhat’s changed in the creator economy and content visibilityWhy a strong personal brand still matters — even without a clear offerWhat to do if you have reach but not revenueWhat to do if you had revenue, but now your content feels offQuestions This Episode Will Answer:What’s the difference between “you are the niche” and “choosing a niche”?Why isn’t my content converting if people love me and engage with it?What do I do if my revenue is down but my audience is still growing?How do I shift my business if I’m burned out or boxed in by my niche?How has content visibility changed, and what does it mean for my strategy?How to work with me:Schedule a discovery call to find out if 1:1 coaching is a fitDM me on Instagram if you walk to talk through shorter term, foced options like a month of Telegram coaching ($700) or a Sellable Stories Intensive ($497) Timestamps / Chapters:00:00 – You Are the Niche vs Choosing a Niche: Which Is It?02:10 – Personal brand vs business-first camps06:25 – Why both perspectives are true but incomplete10:48 – What’s changed in visibility, content, and trust14:32 – When reach ≠ revenue17:58 – When you had revenue but feel invisible now21:15 – The new formula: Visibility, Resonance, Trust, Sales28:40 – Why personal brand is still the glue34:05 – How to evolve without abandoning your identity

November 12, 202530 min

85. How to Know If Your Niche Is Too Narrow or Not Profitable

Choosing or refining your niche isn’t just a task for new business owners. Even 5+ years in, your niche may be the reason your visibility, revenue, or lead quality has plateaued.Especially with interest-based content becoming the norm on platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok, your niche must be clear, compelling, and immediately relevant — even to people who’ve never heard of you.In this episode, I walk you through exactly how to define a niche that is both aligned and profitable — and how to avoid the most common mistakes that keep established entrepreneurs stuck in outdated or overly narrow positioning.🎯 What you’ll learn:What actually makes a niche profitableHow to define the problem in the buyer’s language (not your own)The most BASIC way to define a niche vs the most profitableWhy you may need to redefine your niche even after years in businessWhat makes a niche too narrow and how to adjust without starting overWhy your niche must reflect current market behavior, not just what worked in 2020Questions this episode will answer:What makes a niche profitable?Why does it take so long for people to buy from me?Why do people only buy from me when they get referred?How do I know if my niche is still working?Am I too niche or not niche enough?Why am I getting leads who aren’t the right fit?🎧 Tune in if you’re ready to refine your message, attract aligned clients, and grow your visibility without burning it all down.How to work with me:Schedule a discovery call with me so we can talk about exactly how I can help youDM me on Instagram to grab a spot for Telegram coaching ($700) or to schedule a 90-min Content Intensive//00:00 - Intro: Why experienced business owners need to revisit their niche02:15 - Why visibility is down even when you're booked out05:30 - The difference between being followed and being searchable08:45 - What makes a niche profitable (and how to know)11:10 - The 3 levels of defining a problem14:25 - Why your niche must reflect actual buyer behavior18:50 - How to define the “right fit” client without over-niching22:40 - The danger of passion-based niching26:05 - Positioning your method as your differentiator30:00 - Signs your niche is too narrow (and what to do about it)35:45 - Final thoughts and client examples

October 15, 202520 min

84. 4 Ways to Stop Letting Your Emotions Rule Your Sales

As someone who spent my whole adult life with my emotions being invalidated, I used to be so triggered by the idea that my emotions shouldn't impact my marketing.Until I realized that while emotions will always be present in business, we can’t let them be in the driver’s seat—or we won’t make money consistently. And as a single parent breadwinner, I can't afford to "wait to feel better." So this episode covers what I have done instead.There’s a difference between honoring your emotions and letting them be the CEO, marketing director or sales manager.This episode isn’t about bypassing your emotions. It’s about creating safety in your business so you’re not dependent on motivation, confidence, or creativity in order to show up.I’m walking you through 4 ways that have helped me and my clients reduce emotional dependency in business—so they can keep marketing and making sales even when life is life-ing.These are typically the four reasons I see clients stop showing up, stall their sales, or go quiet—because their emotions become drivers vs passengers (your emotions will always be present in the vehicle).Here’s what I walk through:The question I ask myself (and clients) to interrupt emotional spiralsWhy your content strategy must run on facts—not feelingsHow isolation quietly magnifies shame and self-doubtWhat it looks like to add nervous system care to your CEO job descriptionThis isn’t a checklist. You don’t need to do all four.But even one of these may be the thing that helps you feel safer showing up consistently—and that’s what’s required to build a sustainable business.Because if your business only makes money when you feel good, you’ll never feel safe in your business.👉 This is exactly what I help my clients with inside private coaching—creating a business that doesn’t collapse based on your humanity.Schedule a call to discuss private coachingJoin the waitlist for Reclamation Mastermind

October 9, 202528 min

83. Three Reasons Your Business Growth in 2025 Feels Harder Than It Used To (and What to Shift)

I recorded this as an Instagram Live and a podcast episode at the same time, so you’ll hear me talk to both audiences throughout — but that’s also what gives this episode its live energy. In this episode, I’m walking you through three reasons your business growth feels harder in 2025 than it used to, what’s actually missing, what to do instead leading up to 2026, and how we are doing this inside Reclamation in Q4.These are the things that worked in the beginning but eventually stop working — and if you’re feeling like your results aren’t matching your effort anymore, this will help you understand why.Here’s what I cover:1️⃣ Selling through likability and referrals but not converting new people (cold leads)This is where most of us start. You get clients because people like you and trust you as a person — not necessarily because your offer was super clear, but because they knew you or someone referred them.That can work for a few years, but eventually you run out of warm leads.What’s missing:You need to be able to convert cold leads — people who find you on a Tuesday and pay you on a Wednesday. That comes from thought leadership (not just problem-solution content) and messaging that’s anchored in your clients’ words, not yours.2️⃣ Solving your business problems through content only vs. lead gen and marketingIn the early days, your audience might have grown just by you posting content or through word of mouth. But at a certain point, that stops working — not because you’re doing something wrong, but because the algorithm and your audience have changed.What’s missing:Lead generation, not just audience growth. They’re not the same thing.You need visibility beyond your own platform — third-party credibility that centers your expertise and thought leadership so new, qualified people are finding you consistently.#1 (Cold leads) and #2 (lead gen) go together.3️⃣ Delivering results that are bigger than what you’re charging forThis one can be sneaky because it still feels like success — you’re fully booked, but something feels off. Your expertise has outgrown the people you’re serving.What’s missing:You need to start talking to your best clients, not all of them.That might mean solving a higher-level version of the problem or introducing a higher-level way of thinking about it.Recap: Three things that make your growth feel harder than it used to:Selling through likability and referrals but not converting new people (cold leads)Solving your problems with content vs. lead gen and marketingDelivering results that are bigger than what you’re charging forAnd what’s missing:The ability to convert colder leads through thought leadership and messaging anchored in your clients’ wordsLead generation and third-party credibility beyond your own platformTalking to your best clients and positioning your work at your current level of masteryReclamation Mastermind will help you solve all three of these before the end of November — through a series of Demand Gen done-with-you workshops we’re running inside the program this quarter.Doors close TONIGHT, October 9th at midnight, and we start the week of October 20th.Apply and schedule your call now at the link below:www.marieladelamora.com/reclamation

October 4, 202546 min

82. How Quiet Powerhouses Book Out with Authenticity w/ Betty Chan

What if you weren’t afraid of being fully booked—but of what it might cost you? That was a quiet concern Betty carried—and one so many First Gen entrepreneurs know too well. As a daughter of Chinese-Burmese immigrants and an Authenticity coach, being booked out initially didn’t feel like freedom. It felt like pressure, perfectionism, and losing space to be. And yet - Betty became a booked-out coach with a 2-month waitlist while in Reclamation Mastermind.  This is Betty’s second round inside Reclamation and second time on the podcast (my first ever two-time guest!)In the first round of the mastermind, Betty hit their biggest revenue quarter and landed paid speaking engagements and workshops for big brands like Olly Vitamins. And this round? She’s fully booked, beyond what was expected as a ‘booked out’ number. We talk about what it really means to hit your version of capacity, especially when your business is rooted in identity, depth, and alignment—not just strategy. In this episode:How Betty ended up fully booked without chasing itFeeling safe to be booked out after a lifetime of over-functioning and overworkingWhy quiet seasons were the key to sustainable growthHow Reclamation helped structure her marketing to further support and stabilize what was already working (her referrals), while growing her thought leadership, leads and visibility through speaking, LinkedIn and YouTube.If you’ve been wondering how to grow without changing what’s working—this one’s for you.  If you saw yourself in Betty’s story - know that it can be yours too. You belong in Reclamation. Doors are open so apply now - we won't reopen again until March 2026.Apply for Reclamation: www.marieladelamora.com/reclamation Join Betty's newsletterBetty's YoutubeBetty's website