Break The Cycle

November, A month before I turned 25, I recorded this episode where I share the 25 lessons life had taught me before 25. Three months after turning 25 and a quarter into the new year - there is no better time to premiere it than now. These lessons are a timeless reminder that life is all about playing the long game and consistently implementing the tools you acquire throughout your journey. I want to spread game about everything I've learned about investing, trusting yourself, knowing your worth, and working smarter when working harder. Most importantly, I want you to take in the most important lesson I've learned thus far in my life: As you continue to reach for success and break toxic cycles in your life, there will be many times you feel lost or stuck in the dark; trust yourself anyways in those moments and have faith that there is a lesson in that experience that is meant to aid you in your growth and development. It's part of the journey, but at least you're not alone. We got this. We gonna make it.

At the beginning of this year, I moved to Washington DC for three months to be a Congressional Intern on Capitol Hill. It took me a long while to process that whole experience, and all that has happened since then. In this episode, I talk about my experience working on the Hill, how it impacted my life (negatively and positively), and what I learned from it all. I also give some new life updates and talk about my state of mind since coming back from DC and going into the second half of 2022. So, put on your headphones, turn on your DND, and Enjoy!

The first episode of Season 3 is here!! In this premiere episode, I am interviewing Yvonne Hernandez - a Salvadorian-American college graduate from UC Merced and a current congressional intern. Yvonne has had such an interesting trajectory- from Compton to Capitol Hill - In this episode, Yvonne will talk about the challenges, lessons, and transitions in her journey that led to her becoming the empathetic, patient, and determined woman that she is today. Tune in to our conversation and get ready to laugh, cry, and learn. Also, make sure to stick around till the end to hear a life update on Yvonne that you won't want to miss!

In this special season 2 finale episode, I interview Sophia Rosario, an event planner and amazing humanitarian. Sophia talks about her trip to the Dominican Republic that changed her life and led her to start her fundraiser " Feeding Family of 15". Tune in to learn the moving story behind this fundraiser and how you can support it. Sophia and I close out this second season of BTC talking about family, community, self-care, the importance of presence and growing up in the diaspora as Dominican-Americans. Enjoy!

On January 6th, 2021 -one of the most consequential days in modern American history- I made plans to interview Michael Wiafe, an SDSU Alum and current Berkeley Grad student/TA. Our original intent was to discuss the recent 2020 election and it's impact. After a shocking day, we met and spoke about everything but The Capital Riots that just happened hours before we met. We discussed our experiences as black immigrants, education inequity, the importance of hope, the power of civic engagement, the significance of taking up space, and how policy impacts our communities. We talk about voting, the Obamas; we joke about moms and their WhatsApp voice notes. Tune into this intellectual, funny, moving, blunt convo about the global black experience and how you can influence policy that can help close inequity gaps affecting marginalized communities.

In this very personal episode of Break The Cycle, I discuss my very unconventional and complex education journey as a first-generation student. As an Afro-Dominican immigrant, I explain how education has become both a symbol of privilege & oppression to me. I will get brutally honest about my education journey and the impact it had on my mental health. Tune in as I share the personal experiences, insights, and lessons I encountered, and explain how it all inspired me to start a new initiative called: El Cibao Drive.

MONEY TALK! Due to the pandemic and other recent events, many people have had an increasing curiosity about investing & the stockmarket. In this episode, I speak with Louis Desuka, a private market analyst, about the basic beginner principles of investing and the different ways people can invest in the stock market. We break down everything from the difference between crypto & stocks, the foreign exchange market, 401K pros & cons, as well as why longevity is the name of the game when it comes to investing. Tune in, take notes, and enjoy this valuable conversation on how to make your money work for you!

GO SHAWTY, ITS YA BIRTHDAY!! WE GONNA PARTY LIKE ITS YA BIRTHDAY!! It's my MF Birthday!! In this special episode, I talk a little bit about what birthdays mean to me, and how I use my birthday to check-in with myself. Since it's also my Jordan year, I discuss what that means to me and how I am planning to make the best out of this new revolution around the sun. So get a glass of mimosa, get comfortable, and celebrate another year of life with me on this special episode of Break The Cycle.

I know it's been a minute, but this episode explains why it's taken me some time to get back on this podcast, as well as why it's important to take time for yourself. It's been an insane year. The year of the unplanned surprises, losses, tragedies, celebrations, and innovations. It's easy to feel like you haven't done enough with your time or haven't been using it as wisely as you could (especially if you're young). This episode is a quick reminder though to TAKE YOUR TIME. You got this. Sometimes even surviving is succeeding, especially during these challenging times.

"Self-Cation and Reset" - BREAK THE CYCLE IS BACK FROM A BREAK Y'ALL! Tune in as I discuss in this episode the importance of taking a vacation by yourself a.k.a " self-cation" as a way to improve your relationship with yourself. I also discuss the importance of resetting and recharging yourself, especially during these hectic times.

Tune in as young black filmmaker Tenneh Sandimanie talks about her passion for creating stories that amplify black culture and how her African culture influences her art. She talks about the kind of stories she wants to make and how she wants to depict black people in her films. Listen as Tenneh discusses the internal and external cycles she has had to break in order to reach her goals and elevate her creativity.

This episode of "Break The Cycle" addresses the idea of "manifestation". Manifestation has undoubtedly become one of the most popular "terms" if this generation. It has infiltrated our social media, our casual lingo, and our psyche. In this episode, I give my perspective on what it means to truly manifest the life you want to live. I break down the process that has helped me throughout my journey of manifestation, and I discuss why the most important step to manifestation is: Execution.

"I can never forget where I came from"- In this episode of "Break The Cycle", Adam Lomax, a photographer based in Flatbush, talks about how his love for his community influences his photography. He reflects back on the times when he was just mastering photography and where that journey has led him. Adam has shot campaigns for ASAP 12vy, LYBB (Last Year Being Broke), and was one of the main photographers for YamsDay 2019. However, in this episode,​ he explains why some of his most favorite people to snap have not been celebrities, but instead family, friends, and his community. Listen to Adam's story as he speaks about his journey, and drops some game for new photographers.

Break The Cycle is back from Hiatus with this very important episode about how to quarantine & chill with yourself. Globally, we are living through a challenging time due to the spread of COVID-19. This episode gives listeners insight on how to process, cope, and make the best out of this "time-out" the universe has given us. Tune in for some tips on different ways we can all stay calm, stay safe, stay healthy, and stay busy until this is over.

Blackness within the Dominican Republic: In our special "Dominican Independence Day" episode, Nicole Pozo and I explore what it means to be an Afro-Dominican. We explore our experiences with blackness in DR and within our families. Nicole, a recent Dominican immigrant, also speaks about her journey of discovering & embracing her blackness and how migrating here contributed to it. In this episode, we celebrate our Dominican identity while simultaneously acknowledging how our country can improve & reach it's highest potential.

In honor of Black History Month, this episode explores the Afro-Latinidad identity and the concept of blackness in Latin America. Tune in I speak about my journey towards embracing my blackness as an Afro-Dominican, global black solidarity, and ​the different racial narratives that exist outside of the US.

" I LOVE love!"- Monica Taveras considers herself a hopeless romantic, and I, a realistic romantic. In this episode, we discuss our unique perspectives on love. We explore what love is & why are people constantly looking for it. We discuss our love languages and how it affects our relationships. Tune in as we discuss what we look for in our partners, what we bring to the table, and how we've learned to love ourselves before loving others.

As Valentine's day approaches and we prepare to be bombarded with advertisements all about relationships & love, this episode explores the most important and impactful kind of love that there is: Self- Love. What does self-love look like? Why is it important? How do you love yourself even when you don't like who you are? Join me in exploring these questions on this special episode of BTC.

" This is for the Third-Eye Listener" - Says Kyle - a curious visionary who loves to question the world around him. Join us in this episode where we discuss everything from politics, to culture, self-awareness, and growing up in the Bronx. We discuss how our family and living environment contribute to our development and how our generation can break those repetitive cycles. Get some insight & perspective as you listen to kyle speak about his current journey to self-growth and self-betterment.

In this episode, we explore a new concept I like to call "Self-Induced Failure". Self-Induced Failure is when we assume we failed/or are going to fail before we give ourselves the opportunity to try. Similar to imposter syndrome, Self-Induced Failure feeds off of our fears and self-doubt. We explore how to overcome those feelings when they appear and how to remove ourselves as an obstacle when achieving our dreams.

"You will find your way, just trust the process". - In this episode, our guest star Afua Awuah talks about her future career path as a doctor and how there is a lack of black and brown doctors in the medical field. She discusses the significance of empowering young black women, providing resources to impoverished countries, and being confident in your skin. Tune in as Afua shares her perspective, sass, and wisdom about life & her journey that led to discovering her purpose and how she plans to use it to serve her community.

In this episode, we explore what it means to transition to a new year & a new decade. How do we manifest all our goals in this new year? Is it necessary to wait for a new year or a new decade to begin working on ourselves? This episode will explore these questions. This episode will provide insight, tips, and motivation on how to start your new year right by working on a better you​ and removing anything that gets in the way.

"Do you Wanna Be A Trend or Ralph Lauren?" - In this episode, I have the pleasure of speaking to the photographer, creator, and visionary Kevin James about what does it mean to make your goal a reality. What does it take? What do you have to sacrifice? and how do you stay committed and consistent with your craft? Allow Kevin to drop some jewels and share some wisdom with you as you listen to the second episode of Break The Cycle.

On this first episode of "Break The Cycle", we will discuss the process of GROWTH. What does it mean to grow? How does growth look like? How do you know when you're growing mentally and emotionally and not just physically? What does the process of growth actually look like vs. how it's depicted in the media that surrounds us today? Listeners will have the opportunity to reflect on these questions and explore the different stages of growth while listening to this episode.