S6EP3: Breaking Cycles & Trusting Your Gut with Susan Lieu
Hey mama friends! 💕 This conversation with Susan Lieu absolutely hit me right in the gut - and I know it's going to resonate deeply with so many of you who are navigating the beautiful, complex work of breaking generational cycles while raising our own little humans.
Susan is a Vietnamese American storyteller, activist, and author whose memoir The Manicurist's Daughter (an Apple Book Pick!) explores her journey of healing after losing her mother to a botched cosmetic surgery when she was just 11 years old. For three decades, her family never spoke about her mother or what happened - and that silence shaped everything about how Susan learned to move through the world.
What really stood out to me about our conversation:
• The courage it takes to parent differently • Her honesty about the messy journey of learning to trust yourself • The power of giving yourself permission
Here's what you'll learn in this episode:
🌟 How to break cycles of emotional suppression - practical ways to validate your children's feelings instead of shutting them down
🌟 Why trusting your intuition as a mother matters - and how to rebuild that muscle if it feels rusty
🌟 The connection between self-care and showing up fully - Susan's wisdom about hitting pause so you can serve from a full cup
🌟 How to "fan the embers" of your calling - even when you're deep in the thick of motherhood
🌟 Permission to live like you're mortal - Susan's powerful reminder that we don't know our timeline, so what are we waiting for?
My biggest takeaway:
Susan said something that's been sitting with me: "No one's watching. No one cares. And so, if it's going to serve you, if it's on your heart and mind, why not give it to yourself?"
Mama, if you've been turning down the volume on something that's calling to you - whether it's a creative project, a career pivot, or simply the courage to parent differently than how you were raised - this episode is for you.
About Susan Lieu:
Susan is a multi-hyphenate storyteller, activist, and author. She's the creator of the critically acclaimed solo show "140 LBS: How Beauty Killed My Mother," and her debut memoir The Manicurist's Daughter has received praise from The New York Times, NPR Books, Elle Magazine, and The Washington Post. She's also a mother to 4-year-old Art and recently became one of Seattle's Most Influential People for 2024.
Connect with Susan:
Instagram: @SusanLieu, @celadonbooks
TikTok: @susanlieuofficial
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanlieu/
Website: susanlieu.me
Watch her solo show "140 LBS"
Questions for reflection:
💠What's one "ember" in your life that's been calling for more oxygen?
💠How are you teaching your children that their feelings and bodies matter?
💠What would it look like to give yourself permission to explore something that makes you feel alive?
Thank you for listening, mama friends. Please know that you can do hard things, you deserve to trust your inner knowing, and it's never too late to create the life and family culture you actually want.
Sending you love, light, and joy.
With gratitude,
Jocelyn
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If this episode resonated with you, I'd love to hear about it! Leave us a review on Apple Podcast or send me a LinkedIn message. Your openness to share is what creates connection and belonging amongst us moms.
