The Motivation Burrito
By Melissa Rodriguez
A unique, flavorful blend of conversation and self expression.
The Motivation BurritoMay 06, 2023
00:00
47:58
How to Survive
#triggerwarning #suicide #mentalhealth #anxiety #depression #awareness #survival
May 06, 202347:58
Gone too Soon
TW: Suicide Awareness. Talking about the celebrity deaths at the hands of Suicide and what it looks like for some.
Dec 22, 202221:19
Episode 84: 1-800-Eff-You
Disclaimer: talks of suicide/triggers/sensitive topics
Sep 02, 202234:58
Episode 83: Women's/Mental Health
Trigger Warnings: Pregnancy, abortion, mental health, anxiety, depression. Talking on the importance of women's health and mental health. They are both so deeply intertwined.
Aug 25, 202227:58
Episode 82: The Purging Process
The Purge is another one of those personal development processes not often talked about. Sometimes it can even look like a depression. But what makes a purge different is that it's very instinctual. And also very hard. So here's my current experience.
Mar 24, 202238:59
Episode 81: New Adventures
I recently decided to work with my boyfriend and his business Solar Pro Roofing. I talk about what I've learned so far and why I think more people should go solar. For more info, check out Solar Pro Roofing on Facebook and Instagram!
Feb 03, 202234:17
Episode 80: Trash Bag Trauma
When my abusive relationship ended, I had to move back home. That weekend I came back to pick up my things and found them all in trash bags. Not only did I feel like my things were being discarded, I felt like I was being discarded too. To me, trash bag trauma is a real thing. Although, that's probably not the official name for it, but you get the idea.
Dec 30, 202148:07
Episode 79: The Ugly, the Messy, the Choice
God is Ugly. There I said it. And a lot of people are probably going to be angry but I don't care. We've all been there. Our world turned upside down and we go through a shit storm. We pray and pray and end up in a moment of truth. We have to make a choice, we can't stay here. But when we're scared, God chooses for us, and it's often ugly, messy and painful.
Dec 16, 202143:24
Episode 78: My Truth about Anxiety and Depression
This is the most vulnerable episode I've ever recorded. In this episode, I share what my anxiety and depression look like and feel like for me. Mental illness is not a joke, mental illness is serious. And the more we call fake or uneducated attention to it, the more we put those who genuinely experience it at risk.
Nov 29, 202101:22:38
Episode 77: Podcasts, Painting and Expression
This episode is all over the place lol. It's supposed to be about mental health, but I actually said in this episode I was going to call it Podcasts, Painting and Death because my numbers have tanked. But as I kept going through this episode I realized that everything I do has a common theme: they're forms of expression. There's also an action question for the day: How can I expand my capacity to receive? Tune in for all the deets and actionable tasks!
Oct 25, 202145:37
Episode 76: The Forgotten
It all started with the Steve and the Blues Clues video. It really hit me in the feels and it made me realize that I forgot about a lot of things. Including the reason why I started this podcast in the first place. Take a listen and enjoy!
Sep 11, 202134:27
Episode 75: The Cape May Jenga House
My first vacation with my boyfriend, we went to Cape May. There was this house where the foundations looked like a game of Jenga. Parts seemed to be missing and I wondered how that house was still standing! Sometimes this happens in life. Our foundations are shaken and we wonder how we're still standing when it seemed like the weight would cause us to collapse.
Aug 02, 202142:10
Episode 74: Lion's Gate Portal - Brave Decisions
The Lion's Gate portal is officially open and this weekend rocked me. Every year this crazy portal causes a little shake up and causes a pivotal moment: run or heal. The last two years, I've made the decision to heal what needed to be healed and move forward in courage and confidence. This year, the Universe confirmed my decision in a BIG way. Check it out.
Jul 27, 202147:37
Episode 73: Not a Housewife
I've been dying to record this episode and just kept forgetting or was too stressed out. But it's fine because today needed to be a 2 for 1 message anyway. Today's "burrito therapy" talks on manifesting your desires and anxiety before talking about my life as a "Housewife".
Jul 21, 202138:19
Episode 72: Burrito Therapy
I had an awesome session with my therapist who basically told me I should be one. Even though that's too much school and money, it did help me realize that I possess a pretty cool set of skills and awareness. It was also the kick in the butt I needed to record another episode. I'm wondering if I should make this a thing? Taco Tuesday Therapy lol.
Jun 14, 202154:16
Episode 71: One Year Later
A little late, but the Motivation Burrito had its one year anniversary on May 22. Here we are, 70 episodes in, and we've had some amazing conversations as well as amazing guests. To witness the podcast is to also witness me, and I've experienced so much in just one year's time. Recapping my life in a year as well as some of my favorite episodes!
May 24, 202101:20:57
Episode 70: Too Much on my Plate
The last few episodes of my podcast have been really emotional, lots more crying than I wanted and I started to feel like I couldn't bring anything positive to the table. I then realized, I had too much on my plate and I needed to decide where I wanted to focus my energy. I knew that first and foremost, I wanted to be present in my new relationship and see where it goes. I knew I had a great guy, I just needed to give him that time and space. So here's what's been happening!
May 13, 202153:05
Episode 69: Love and Anxiety
I'm just putting it out there at this point. I fell so hard for my boyfriend and I love him. But tonight I fucked up because I let my anxiety take control. And I may have just damaged my relationship in the process. So here's another tear fest of an episode.
Apr 05, 202130:18
Episode 68: Relationship Fail, Anchors and Going All In
I feel like I'm failing as a girlfriend. And if you didn't think that could be a thing, it's a fucking thing. And it's a shitty feeling at that. Knowing that you deeply care about your SO and finding yourself struggling in the relationship is not a good place to be in. What's worse is this overwhelming fear that this person will change their mind about you. So here I am, in pure emotion of course, trying to be a better girlfriend.
Apr 01, 202135:49
Episode 67: Happiness
I honestly didn't know what to title this. It feels like God/The Universe just hit fast forward and I never expected I'd be recording this episode and talking about my new relationship. And yet, here I am, the happiest I've ever been. The Universe really can be magic!
Mar 18, 202137:37
Episode 66: Getting Deep with the Emotions lol
Things got a little weird the last couple weeks. I'm talking like heavy in the emotions weird, which you guys know by now, I just don't like to do. But as much as I've spent most of my life avoiding them, I felt like I needed to lean in. Because if I'm going to continue to heal this emotional eating, and even heal my mind, I have to show up. And not just show up, but learn to stay present. So let's get weird, let's get emotional. I mean, that's how we grow right?
Mar 11, 202101:13:23
Episode 65: Heart to Heart
This episode is a recap of the last 6 months in my journey. From committing to my physical health, to my struggles emotionally and spiritually. I had to learn the hard way, but I guess that just earned me some XP points and an extra life. I also briefly discuss some things related to American Heart Health month and ways to keep your heart healthy.
Feb 23, 202101:16:46
Episode 64: Tankedddd
Once again, I tanked with another guy. And honestly I'm tired. I'm throwing in the towel on dating. Because dating with mental health issues is hard and there are not many who understand what it's like or what goes on inside our heads. And it's not like you can put that info on your dating profile without judgment. It's a guaranteed rejection. So I tanked. Because my thoughts got away from me. And now it's midnight, I'm recording this episode and can't stop crying.
Feb 12, 202132:25
Episode 63: The Secret of the Maneater
The Maneater. She's a dangerous woman. As the song says, she'll chew you up. But that's because nobody knows her secret. Her big secret. The Maneater is actually highly emotionally aware. There's a reason why she keeps it secret though. In fact, the Maneater is more relatable than we think. Tune in to find out why!
Feb 11, 202159:31
Episode 62: Have Your F**king Cake
Today I was having a ton of mixed feelings and emotions on a lot of things. I know the lesson is ultimately a lesson on receiving and allowing, but I've just been so tired of asking for things and limiting myself or feeling like momentum stops. So instead of having just a slice of what I want, I'm ready for the whole damn cake.
Feb 10, 202158:39
Episode 61: Checking In, Checking Out
I checked out the last couple weeks. I honestly got to the point where I just was so emotionally exhausted that I didn't care anymore. I couldn't see a reason to stay in the game and to keep playing. And to be honest, I'm still kind of checked out. But I'm trying to check back in. Not easy to do though when you feel like you're walking without a line of sight. So what do you do?
Feb 02, 202158:08
Episode 60: Harley Jade
This episode is different. Once upon a time, I wanted to write a RomCom novel. I had the main characters lined out. I spent hours researching their names and was super excited to be able to bring them to life. But I didn't. I never wrote the book, I never brought them to life. I abandoned them. Until this week, when something told me I needed to talk about Harley Jade, and it wasn't until the day of this episode, that I realized why.
Jan 22, 202101:04:52
Episode 59: Sitting in the Dark
The Dark Place, void, depression, whatever you want to call it, is a place that nobody likes to talk about. It's a place that I've honestly been in for a while. And while there are moments when I have pulled myself out, those moments are temporary and something happens to pull me back in. I honestly don't know where this road takes me, but I know that right now, there may be someone in this space that needs to know they're not alone
Jan 17, 202101:02:15
Episode 58: When it All Breaks
This week I actually joined a dating site. Wild, I know. So why not have a conversation about dating, breakups, breakdowns, and breaking the rules. Plus a really interesting story or two.
Jan 08, 202101:12:24
Episode 57: When Life Throws a Burrito at You
We're not even 5 days into the New Year and already I'm being tested by the Universe. And yet, we've been here before. You have been with me on this journey long enough to know that life will sometimes give you a messy burrito. But if the last 3 weeks have taught me anything, it's that the Burrito is home to me. Listen for the full lesson
Jan 05, 202158:10
Episode 56: A Man's Heart
I rewrote this description like 10 times. The last time I recorded an episode for the men, I was in a space of resistance, but I also was learning how to see men differently. Recently, while looking within my own heart, I started to think about what's in the heart of men? Specifically, what's in the heart of the men in my life. And how can I connect with them on a deeper level? How can I see them, love them, and let them know they are truly appreciated? How can I make them feel safe in my space? This episode looks at and honors not just the man, but the treasure in his heart.
Dec 15, 202001:22:40
Episode 55: I'm Not Going Anywhere
Title Change! I noticed that this is something I say to my friends a lot. I didn't fully understand why until I recently had a session where I talked about denial and abandonment. I realized that me saying "I'm not going anywhere" is one of the ways I cope with these two things. That because I never want anyone to feel abandoned, I feel the need to reinforce that I'm always here. Take a listen to what I discovered.
Dec 11, 202057:30
Episode 54: When Logic Fails, the Heart Prevails
Before finalizing the title of this episode, I literally looked up the definition of prevails and got a sentence that said it is hard for logic to prevail over emotion. This episode is about these moments where God/The Universe answers in the form of miracles and synchronicity. First, some updates, then the good stuff.
Dec 08, 202001:09:16
Episode 53: The Greatest Gift
Christmas is my favorite holiday. Second is Thanksgiving lol. To me, there's nothing greater than Christmas lights, coffee, hot chocolate, warm blankets, cozy socks, etc. When it comes to Christmas, I'm a Master at gifting. And yet, all my gifts, have something in common, which to me, is the greatest gift.
Dec 04, 202056:38
Episode 52: Weather the Storm
This episode is a kind of poetic insight to the madness of this year. Some of us have weathered some crazy storms. We've endured our darkest days, even when the storm has felt never-ending and massively overwhelming.
If you're like me, it felt like you left everything behind. You walked into the storm brave and confident, and then realized, you have no jacket, no umbrella. You're vulnerable, you're exposed, you're unprotected.
The question becomes, do you move forward in faith? Or do you move forward in fear?
If you're like me, it felt like you left everything behind. You walked into the storm brave and confident, and then realized, you have no jacket, no umbrella. You're vulnerable, you're exposed, you're unprotected.
The question becomes, do you move forward in faith? Or do you move forward in fear?
Dec 01, 202052:54
Episode 51: Build a Better House
This was definitely a hard episode for me as I finally explain what's been going on. My anxiety was at the worst its ever been and I lost control of my mind and my body. The feelings I felt are hard to describe, but I do my best. I'm now ring to find a way to navigate life, and I'm starting with a new foundation so that I can "Build a better House". Listen in, I love you all!
Nov 24, 202052:31
Episode 50: Grief and Cycles
I've decided to take a week, maybe two to take time for my mental and emotional health. In this episode, I share how the grief that has been felt in this year finally came to a head. The last few days I've spent a lot of time crying and releasing a ton of emotions. So I'll be taking time to integrate these feelings and tap into that deeper vulnerability. Stay well everyone, be back soon!
Nov 11, 202048:19
Episode 49: A Year in Reflection
This year has been quite a crazy year. Today, I turn 33 and if I could stop time, I honestly would. As I reflect on the last couple of months, I really felt like there's still something missing. While social media will remind everyone of my birthday, I find myself wondering more about the genuine connections vs the quantity of comments I'll receive. So here's an emotional rant of sorts lol.
Nov 09, 202034:47
Episode 48: Election Anxiety
It's Election Week and all throughout social media I've seen a lot of people talk about Election Anxiety and fears surrounding what is to potentially come. I almost didn't record this because there's already enough opinions floating on the internet, but I did want to acknowledge the anxiety is real, and it's ok to take the time and space needed to ensure your mental health and safety. Stay well my avocados!
Nov 03, 202001:07:23
Episode 47: Stripped Down: My Instagram Series
I decided to record an episode about the Instagram series I did called Stripped Down. There were things I wanted to share and say but didn't because I felt like people wouldn't read it. And yet, I recorded it anyway. So here's me, stripping down the layers. To be seen, to be heard, to be loved.
Oct 30, 202001:16:51
Episode 46: CROSSOVER: That's My Burrito
Podcast host and NYC Comedian Stan Talouis joins me in a Super Awesome Crossover Event. That's My Shit Podcast and The Motivation Burrito join together to bring you "That's My Burrito". This episode is the meatiest, super stuffed burrito of burritos and we talk everything under the sun from the Media/Performance Industry, therapy and Mental Health, college days and life as a 30-something. You don't want to miss this one.
Oct 26, 202001:39:25
Episode 45: Belief Wars, Branding and Be-ers (not Beers) with Katherine Elizabeth
I am super excited to have Katherine Elizabeth on this overdue episode. Katherine is the person behind the awesome logo and branding of The Motivation Burrito and has given life to what was a crazy idea. She captured the essence of me, of this podcast and she's just so EPIC. Not only that, but in true Burrito styles, she shares how during our time together, we underwent a process of shifting and "belief wars". Did I mention, she's EPIC?
Oct 23, 202001:12:32
Episode 44: Resistance
After talking about this topic on and off for a few episodes, I finally dug deep into the topic and sat with my own resistance. Especially since I hit a wall last week and was unable to record Friday's episode. By taking the time and space needed to do this, I finally came up with 4 ways to start moving past the resistance. Keep in mind, this is just a starting point, but having the awareness and having a place to start is better than being stuck! If any of these work for you, please let me know!
GREAT NEWS: Website is now Live! Check out www.themotivationburrito.com and check us out on IG @themotivationburrito and Facebook: The Motivation Burrito Podcast
Oct 20, 202001:08:59
Episode 43: Pleasure and Pain: FOOD
If you haven't figured it out by now, I have a wild love for tacos and burritos. I had this crazy thought that maybe I should do a boudoir shoot but like with food. Foodoir. Except there's already a definition for foodoir and it's not that!!! How disappointing! Still, I talk about my genius idea and how Foodoir Photography needs to be a thing.
Oct 13, 202052:40
Episode 42: Tonight We W(h)ine!
A couple of years ago, I had this idea for a book that I was going to call Tonight We W(h)ine. In this gem of a book would be a wine pairing for each mood, situation or whatever was going on in our lives. The subtitle was just as great: Unbelievably True Stories About Life: Best Served with a Drink or Three. But since I never had the time or did the research necessary for this book, I decided to dive into what wines would go best with the Shit Storm of Emotions I've been feeling! Enjoy!
Oct 09, 202058:49
Episode 41: Tacos, Ta-Tas and Tequila
In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month, we're taking Ta-Tas while enjoying some tacos and tequila. This episode ends with a tribute to my fur friend Dewey, who we unfortunately had to let go of.
Oct 06, 202055:00
Episode 40: Shadow Season
It's shadow season. And I apologize in advance if the recording comes in and out, I was mobile while recording this one! Shadow season can be a very difficult time for a lot of people and this year doesn't make it easier. But moving through it is crucial to our growth, and it's in this space where magic can happen.
Oct 02, 202053:47
Episode 39: The Downside of Vulnerability
Last week's episode received mix reactions and to be honest, it threw me for a loop. I couldn't understand how such an important, profound, pivotal moment in my life didn't land and that I actually ended up having to explain or justify myself. And then I realized, it all comes down to what we have been programmed to believe and that a lot of us are still holding on to the idea that being vulnerable or emotional is not okay. So this is a very important message on the impact these beliefs have.
Sep 29, 202056:18
Episode 38: Love Karma: Breaking Up with Twin Flames
WARNING: If you are an empath or an HSP (highly sensitive person), I recommend tissues.
This is THE ONE. The episode where I finally bare it all from top to bottom. From the one who broke my heart to the one who opened it back up. Also I may have forgotten or missed some details. It's super hard to do a podcast episode when you're literally CRYING. This is what happens when you reach the height of your resistance and your choice is to either run and hide, or face it head on and take that leap of faith. I've only been talking about it for a while now. I've finally taken that leap.
Sep 23, 202001:14:57
Episode 37: Crisis on Burrito Earth!
This week was like the week of triggers, memories and past pains. A lot of stuff came up for me to the point where I not only imploded, but I spent a whole day and a half of crying. While September and October usually seem to be a season of grieving and releasing, I have done this long enough to know it doesn't have to be and that together, we can move through it better. It won't always be easy, but it will be worth it.
Sep 22, 202001:02:52