The Diary of an Independent Woman Podcast
What happens when the girl who always had it handled… gets tired?
The Diary of an Independent Woman is a personal storytelling podcast for every mujer (woman) who was praised for being mature too young, who made arroz (rice) and ran a household before she knew how to rest, and who thought being strong meant doing it all alone.
Hosted by Nancy Haines, this isn’t a self-help show. There’s no 5-step plan. No productivity hacks. Just real, reflective, sometimes funny, often tender stories about surviving, softening, and unlearning the hustle that once kept you safe.
Through raw solo episodes (and occasional guest stories), you’ll hear about grief, good girl guilt, burnout, softness, safety, and what it really means to choose yourself — especially when no one taught you how.
If you’ve ever carried the weight of being the strong one... this is your permission to set it down.
Bienvenida, mujer — welcome, girl. Let’s talk.
Listen on:
Episodes
19 hours ago
19 hours ago
In this entry, I remember the summer I asked to work in the fields with my aunt. I was between twelve and thirteen years of age and had been hearing my parents argue about money.
Without really understanding it, I decided I needed to take care of myself so I wouldn’t be a burden.
The work was harder than I expected, but I stayed. This was the summer I began tying independence to endurance.
7 days ago
7 days ago
In this entry, I remember the summers I spent at home caring for my younger siblings. By the time I was ten, I knew the rhythm of the day and what needed to be handled before anyone asked.
I didn’t think of it as responsibility. I thought it was what I was supposed to do.
This is where I began learning how to hold things together.
7 days ago
7 days ago
In the first entry, I begin in the kitchen I grew up in — a space that was always moving and where I learned, without being told, when to step in and help. It didn’t feel like responsibility then. It felt normal.
This is where I first remember becoming useful, and where I started paying attention to what other people needed before they said it.
No lessons. Just memory.
Tuesday Feb 17, 2026
Tuesday Feb 17, 2026
In this short introduction, I share what this diary is and why I’m finally reading it out loud. I talk about growing up as the eldest daughter, learning independence early, and how strength became something I carried for years without questioning.
There are no lessons here and no advice — just memory, humor, and the truth of how I’ve lived it.
Welcome to The Diary of an Independent Woman. Bienvenida!