Episodes

  • No Justice Without Wealth: Rethinking Financial Liberation [221]
    Aug 22 2025

    We talk about justice.
    We talk about money.
    But rarely do we admit: there’s no justice without wealth.

    In this episode, Adina shares a bold reframe on what financial liberation really means — especially in a world where our communities are under constant attack.
    Because true justice isn’t just legal. It’s also financial.
    And financial work is justice work.

    Whether you're quietly budgeting for the first time, helping your community build wealth, or building a social impact organization or business — this episode is for you.

    You’ll hear:

    • Why financial disempowerment is a deliberate tool of oppression

    • How trauma around money gets passed down — and how we heal it

    • Financial empowerment as a form of activism

    • How financial coaching, community education, and building businesses can shift generations

    • What we’re building through Immigrant Finance & International Empowerment — and why it matters now more than ever

    This episode is a grounding force and a rally cry.
    You’re not behind. You’re part of a bigger movement.
    Financial healing is activism. Let’s build together.

    🔑 Takeaways:

    • Financial trauma doesn’t stop with one person — it echoes for generations

    • Wealth-building is resistance

    • Systems create justice — and we’re building them now

    ✨ Want to go deeper?
    DM Adina the word LIBERATION on Instagram @adinaappelbaum

    Learn more about the Immigrant Finance® Certification Program: https://www.internationalempowerment.com/immigrant-finance-certification-program

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    14 mins
  • From TikTok to a National Movement: How Sophia Zarate Is Rewriting the Rules of Community-Led Impact [220]
    Aug 12 2025

    What happens when one Latina posts a TikTok out of corporate loneliness — and accidentally starts a nationwide movement?

    In this episode, Adina sits down with Sophia Zarate, founder of Corporate Pero Latinos, a nonprofit creating professional and social connection points for the Latino community — while fueling massive impact behind the scenes.

    📍Started as a Facebook group.

    🏆 Won a grant from Bad Bunny + Cheetos.

    📈 Now spanning 4 chapters (and counting), CPL leads national initiatives like scholarships for DACA and undocumented students, alongside chapter-led local programs such as ESL classes in NYC, where volunteers teach English to hospitality workers—all rooted in community and courage.

    Sophia is a true model of a changemaker.

    She didn’t wait for the “right time.”

    She took the leap — before she had it all figured out.

    Tune in for a conversation that’s equal parts inspiration + strategy. Because the future of movement-building doesn’t look like a boardroom. It looks like this.

    🔑 In this episode:

    • How Corporate Pero Latinos grew from one TikTok post into a nonprofit with 20K+ supporters

    • The surprising moment that pushed Sophia to quit her 9–5 and bet on the mission

    • How they’re building wealth and giving back through a unique triple-mission model

    • The real reason “giving back” felt out of reach for so many — and what her community did instead

    • Advice for changemakers afraid of being visible online (and what to do instead)

    💥 Whether you’re building a business, nonprofit, or movement — this is your reminder that:

    You don’t need a perfect plan. You need a clear why — and people who believe in it with you.

    🎧 Listen now and share with someone who needs to hear it.

    📍Follow Sophia @sophiealamexicana

    🌍 Follow the org @corporateperolatinos

    Loved this episode?

    Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps more changemakers find this show and dare to be seen.

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    48 mins
  • My Little Secret, the Big Ugly Bill, and the New System We’re Building [219]
    Jul 8 2025

    If you’re reeling from the political moment, you’re not alone.

    This episode is part story, part rage, part prayer for a new world — and a whole lot of power.

    Adina shares a raw, real-time reflection on the passage of the “Big Ugly Bill” — a devastating legislative attack on poor and immigrant communities — and what changemakers can do.

    While they gut the social safety net, expand ICE, and strip people of their basic rights and benefits, we’re being called to something bigger.

    Spoiler: it’s not just resistance.

    It’s about building what comes next — even when they’re successfully doing the opposite.

    You’ll hear:

    • A personal “little secret” behind the scenes of Immigrant Finance — and why it matters more now than ever

    • The role of small, often invisible actions in legacy-level change

    • A radical reframe for changemakers overwhelmed by this moment (and your role in it)

    • Why we can’t only play defense — and what it looks like to wield both the shield and the sword

    This episode is a permission slip, a rally cry, and a strategy session — for leaders, activists, and visionaries ready to build a new system rooted in purpose and power.

    Because every micro-action matters. Especially the ones no one sees.

    🔑 Takeaways:

    • Your quiet, unseen actions carry generational impact

    • We can’t save systems that were designed to harm — we’re here to build what comes next

    • You were never meant to disappear. You were meant to lead.

    ✨ Want support clarifying your mission + building your movement?
    DM Adina on Instagram @adinaappelbaum
    or reach out at hello@internationalempowerment.com

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    14 mins
  • This Moment Isn’t Just Political. It’s an Awakening. [218]
    Jun 19 2025

    If you’ve been feeling everything—grief, fear, rage, numbness—you’re not broken. You’re awake.

    In this solo episode, Adina shares a potent message for changemakers, immigrant leaders, and purpose-driven entrepreneurs navigating today’s charged political and energetic landscape. This moment isn’t just chaos—it’s an initiation. A call.

    You’ll hear:

    • Why feeling deeply right now is a sign of power, not weakness

    • How astrology is revealing the deeper truth behind this collective unrest

    • A radical reframe of what it means to lead in a collapsing world

    • Encouragement for those whose voices shake, but still speak

    • A reminder that rest is sacred—but avoidance and disappearance is not your destiny

    This isn’t about hustling harder. It’s about honoring your sensitivity as strategy, and reclaiming your voice. You were born for this. And we need you—in your full, grounded, imperfect leadership—now.

    🔑 Episode Takeaways

    • Sensitivity is not a flaw—it’s an asset for systemic transformation

    • Jupiter, Pluto, and Saturn are aligning to call forward emotionally intelligent leadership

    • You don’t need a five-step plan. You need to move with clarity inside the chaos

    • The mission isn’t to fix old systems. It’s to build new ones.

    ✨ What to Do Next

    Ground into your own leadership:

    • Breathe.

    • Take inventory.

    • Speak, build, and lead in the ways that feel true.

    ✨ And if you’ve been holding back - unsure how to build your soul-led changemaker brand in a moment like this -
    Start with MISSION.
    It’s the masterclass to help you find your business “thing” + set the world alight with your heart.
    Designed to move you from overwhelm into strategic clarity.
    → Your core message
    → Who you’re here to serve (exactly)
    → Your business structure
    → Your next profitable, powerful step
    Because stepping into being the changemaker you were born to be in this moment is more important more than ever.

    And waiting won’t make it clearer.

    Enroll in MISSION here: https://www.internationalempowerment.com/mission

    P.S. If this episode sparked something, leave a review or share with a fellow visionary who needs this message.

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    9 mins
  • Daring to Be Seen: Why Branding is a Tool for Social Impact with Natalia Gaitan [217]
    Jun 7 2025

    This episode brings an energizing and expansive conversation with Natalia Gaitan, a Colombian immigrant, Creative Director, and Founder of Hola Luz Creative. Natalia's studio helps audacious, impact-driven entrepreneurs transform their purpose into powerful visual presence.

    From designing for Fortune 500 brands like TJ Maxx and JC Penney to launching a mission-driven creative agency, Natalia shares how her entrepreneurial journey has been an act of defiance, empowerment, and storytelling. We explore:

    • How branding becomes a political act for Latina and minority-owned businesses

    • The power of redefining wealth, success, and visibility through entrepreneurship

    • Why investing in your brand is non-negotiable if you’re building a legacy of impact

    • Why purpose-led business needs strategy, not just passion

    • Tangible insights for changemakers ready to take their message seriously

    Whether you’re a startup founder, creative, nonprofit leader, or seasoned entrepreneur - this episode is your reminder that branding isn’t about ego. It’s about credibility, impact, and giving your message the vessel it deserves. As Natalia explains in the episode, “If you took your business as seriously as you take your purpose, everything would change.”

    About Natalia Gaitan: Natalia, founder and lead designer of Hola Luz Creative Studio, is a bold advocate for purpose-driven branding. As a Latina entrepreneur with a background in designing for Fortune 500 companies, Natalia has transformed her passion for storytelling, cultural connection, and design into a thriving creative studio that serves audacious, impact-driven founders and organizations. Her work focuses on helping businesses amplify their voices and create lasting legacies through strategic branding and web design.

    Natalia’s journey—from building her business in a second language to stepping into leadership as a speaker and mentor—reflects her commitment to breaking barriers and empowering women of color and underrepresented communities. She believes that a brand is not just a business asset but a powerful tool for connection, belonging, and change.

    Through Hola Luz Creative Studio, Natalia collaborates with clients to craft bold, authentic brands that inspire connection, elevate their visibility, and shine a light on their unique stories. With a blend of expertise, empathy, and cultural resonance, she’s on a mission to help entrepreneurs build brands that don’t just look good but also make an impact.

    Connect with Natalia:

    • Instagram: @holaluzcreative

    • Website: www.holaluzcreative.com

    Loved this episode? ✨ Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps more changemakers find this show and dare to be seen.

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    34 mins
  • 216. Why Most Financial Advisors Are Failing Immigrants (And What You Can Do About It)
    May 22 2025

    The financial industry is failing immigrant communities.Not because immigrants lack the ability to build wealth—But because most financial professionals lack the training to guide them.

    In this episode, I share the truth no one in finance is talking about:👉 Immigrants can invest, build credit, own property, and start businesses.But misinformation is keeping them stuck, disempowered, and underserved.

    You’ll learn:

    • Why most financial advisors are unequipped to support immigrant clients

      • What happened when my husband immigrated to the U.S. and no one could guide us financially
      • How we spent years mapping the financial and immigration systems together
      • The movement we’re building now to train professionals to serve immigrant communities with clarity, confidence, and power
      • What you can do right now to become part of the solution


    • If you’re ready to expand your business and your impact…

      If you want to help close the immigrant wealth gap with real skills and integrity…

      💥 Watch our free training: ⁠LEAD THE MOVEMENT⁠🔗 ⁠https://www.internationalempowerment.com/lead-the-movement⁠

      This is how we change the system - from the inside out.

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    8 mins
  • 215. How to Stop Fear from Hijacking Your Mission
    Apr 25 2025

    What if fear isn’t the red flag we’ve been taught to run from… but the signal that expansion is near?

    In this deeply personal and politically urgent episode, I open up about how fear has been showing up for me lately—as a lawyer, a business owner, and a mom—and why it’s time we stop letting it run the show.

    We talk about:– How fear is baked into the systems we’re here to change– Why recognizing fear is the first step to reclaiming your power– What it looks like to lead despite fear, especially in a time when silence is compliance

    I also walk you through my 3-part Fear Repatterning Ritual:Recognize. Reclaim. Reempower....with raw stories from the front lines of entrepreneurship, advocacy, and visibility.

    If you’ve been afraid to speak out, grow your business, or rise as a leader—this one’s for you.

    If fear’s been keeping your mission small, here’s your moment:It’s time to rise.My Soul-to-Scale Mapping Session helps changemakers like you move from frozen to forward.It’s clarity. It’s energetic leadership. It’s strategy rooted in power.

    DM me on Instagram ⁠@adinaaappelbaum⁠ to book your session or book your Soul-to-Scale Mapping Session ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.

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    19 mins
  • 214: The Truth About Money, Impact & Staying Mission-Driven with Gloria Garcia Cisneros
    Mar 18 2025

    Do you ever feel guilty for wanting more money? Have you struggled with the balance between financial growth and staying true to your mission? If so, this episode is exactly what you need.

    In this episode, I sit down with Gloria Garcia Cisneros, a Certified Financial Professional®, first-gen immigrant, proud Mexicana, and impact-driven entrepreneur, to discuss why changemakers need to shift their mindset around wealth, ownership, and sustainability. Gloria shares her powerful story of growing up undocumented, breaking generational cycles, and building financial stability—not just for herself, but for her community.

    What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

    *Why it’s not just okay—but necessary—to want more money (and how to get clear on what you want it for)
    * How to fill your own cup first so you can create lasting change for others
    *The hidden danger of comparison and why staying true to your mission is the key to long-term success
    *The power of financial knowledge and how to use it to build both wealth and impact

    If you’re a changemaker who dreams of financial expansion without losing your integrity, this episode is your permission slip. Money isn’t the enemy—it’s the fuel for your mission.

    Listen now and step into the next level of your purpose-driven wealth.

    Connect with Gloria on IG @migloriaco, Linkedin, and migloria.co

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    38 mins