You First- A Journey to Self
Welcome to You First: A journey to self the podcast empowering women to uncover their true selves and regain personal power. Join host Maria Fuentes, a leading expert in Women's Emotional Mastery and Self-Discovery, as she guides you through emotional awareness, self-exploration, and nurturing healthy relationships. With nearly two decades of experience in psychology and mental health, Maria shares transformative insights to help you prioritize yourself, overcome challenges, and find inner happiness. Tune in weekly to start your journey of self-discovery and emotional mastery.
Episodes
112 episodes
The Real Reason You Don’t Feel Seen in Love (It’s Not Your Standards)
Have It All Series | Episode 3: Title - The Real Reason You Don’t Feel Seen in Love (It’s Not Your Standards)Ambitious women are not bad at love.But many of us are exhausted in our relationships w...
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31:28
The Emotional Skill Most Ambitious Women Were Never Taught
Most ambitious women are extremely capable—we can build careers, manage households, and hold everything together. But the skill most of us were never taught is emotional self-leadership: how to lead ourselves emotionally so we can feel g...
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24:23
Why Wanting It All Isn't The Problem- Believing You Are Worthy Is
The biggest block for ambitious women isn’t desire—it’s worthiness.Most of us want it all. Love, success, peace, passion, fulfillment. And we believe it’s possible.But beneath that belief, there’s often a quiet hesitation… a pause th...
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19:33
Why 2025 Felt So Hard (And How to Turn the Pain Into Power in 2026)
2025 was not an easy year for many women, and in this episode, I unpack why intense years feel so emotionally heavy and what they are actually here to teach us. I share my personal reflections on nervous system overwhelm, emotional triggers, sp...
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19:41
Stop Abandoning Yourself For The Relationship
After eloping in New Zealand and stepping into this next chapter of marriage, I started noticing something familiar: the quiet tendency to abandon myself in the name of love. In this episode, I’m sharing what it looks like to slowly lose yourse...
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13:58
Command Respect in Your Relationship 3 Do's and Dont's Every Woman Needs to Know
In this episode, I’m diving deep into one of the most important elements of a healthy relationship: respect. Because love, attention, and attraction are beautiful—but if he doesn’t respect you, none of it lasts.I share 3 things you shou...
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Episode 21
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19:23
Overwhelmed, Again? When Being the Strong One Feels Overwhelming
In this solo episode, I’m speaking straight from the heart to my fellow strong, high-achieving women—the ones who always seem to have it all together, but feel like they’re slowly falling apart inside.If you’re the one people rely on, t...
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19:57
The Honeymoon's Over… Now What?
In this honest and heart-opening episode, sit down with my fiancé TJ to talk about what happens after the honeymoon phase fades—and how to rebuild a deeper, more grounded love. We open up about the real challenges of long-term relationships, fr...
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35:31
Formula to set boundaries and stay in your power
In this episode, I’m diving into a conversation that hits close to home—how to set boundaries without feeling like you’re being too much, or losing yourself in the process. I’ve been the girl who kept quiet, and I’ve been the girl who let her r...
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18:30
The Feminine Rituals That Changed My Life - Glow Up From The Inside Out
In this soulful and practical episode of You First: A Journey to Self, I share over 25 powerful habits and routines that help me feel grounded, radiant, and deeply connected to my feminine energy. From gut health and morning rituals to luxuriou...
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Episode 15
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25:31
How to be Strong & Soft: The Secret to Unshakeable Feminine Power
If you’ve ever found yourself constantly doing, fixing, or over-functioning in your relationships or business, this episode will help you understand the hidden cost of living in survival mode—and how to reclaim the soft, grounded strength of yo...
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Episode 14
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30:37
The #1 Thing That’s Secretly Damaging Your Relationship
If you’ve ever found yourself in your masculine energy, feeling the need to control, fix, or lead the relationship, this episode will give you the self-awareness and tools to break the pattern.I share vulnerable stories from my past mar...
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Season 1
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Episode 13
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30:11
How to Take Your Power Back and Reclaim Your Confidence
Feeling disconnected or drained lately? This episode will help you identify where your energy has been leaking—and guide you back to yourself. You’ll be reminded that you’re not alone in your emotions, and that it’s safe to slow down, reconnect...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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18:09
Tap Into Your Magnetism & Call In Everything You Desire
Welcome to this week's episode, where we celebrate the arrival of spring and explore how to become magnetic to your desires! Discover practical strategies for reevaluating your goals and aligning your mind, body, and spirit for greater fulfillm...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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22:27
Why Healing Feels So Hard (And How to Move Through It)
Healing can feel overwhelming, draining, and downright difficult - but why? In this episode, we dive deep into the real reasons why healing feels so hard and how to move through it with self-compassion, patience, and trust.🔹 Are you jud...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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22:36
Balancing Feminine & Masculine Energy for a More Aligned Life
Are you stuck in hyper-masculine mode, constantly doing, controlling, and striving-yet feeling disconnected from your feminine flow? In this episode of You First: A Journey to Self , we dive deep into balancing masculine and feminine energy to ...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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30:57
How to Gain Self-Respect & Earn Respect from Others: The Key to Confidence & Boundaries
Do you struggle with self-respect and setting boundaries? Do you feel like people don’t respect you the way you deserve? In this episode of *You First: A Journey to Self*, we’re diving deep into the power of self-respect, how it influen...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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11:27
Stop Caring What Others Think: How to Stay Confident & Unshaken by Criticism
No one who is truly thriving has time to criticize you. In this episode of You First: A Journey to Self, we’re diving into the mindset shift that will help you stop worrying about what others think and fully embrace your growth. If fea...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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11:37
How to Break Free from Stress, Overwhelm & Anxiety for Good
Are you constantly overwhelmed, anxious, or stressed? Do you find yourself saying, "I'll do it later," only to never follow through? In this episode, we dive deep into the root causes of stress and self-doubt, uncovering how a lack...
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Episode 6
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23:43
From Anxiety & Depression to True Alignment | My Self-Mastery Journey
Have you ever felt so overwhelmed by emotions that you just wanted to escape your own body? I know that feeling all too well. For years, I lived with crippling anxiety, deep depression, and a victim mindset, believing that life was again...
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Episode 94
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35:34
Navigating Challenges as a Couple with My Fiancé- TJ Drechsel
Hey there, my beautiful Muses! Welcome back to this week’s episode. Today, I have a very special guest—my fiancé! Yep, it’s pre-date night, and we’re recording this before heading out, so it’s a fun, relaxed vibe. We’ve been through some challe...
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Episode 93
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25:54
Lead Yourself First: Mastering Emotional Connection in Relationships
Hey, my beautiful muses! Welcome back to another episode of You First: A Journey to Self. Today, I’m diving into something near and dear to my heart – how to lead yourself in your relationship and communicate your needs and desires in ...
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Season 1
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Episode 92
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17:05
You asked, I answered - Answering your Personal Questions About Love, Money, Relationships and More
Hey beautiful Muses! Welcome back to another episode of You First: A Journey to Self. This week, I’m answering some of YOUR questions, and let me tell you – it's extra juicy! I asked over on Instagram what you wanted to know about my p...
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Season 1
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Episode 91
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18:02
Energetic Hack to Staying Consistent
Hello, my beautiful muses! 🌸 In this episode, we’re diving into the art of staying consistent in a way that feels aligned with our natural cycles as women. Life throws us highs and lows, and we’re not designed to be the same every day—but that ...
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Season 1
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Episode 90
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18:44