In this episode of Tradition Breakers, host Mary Moses sits down with Michelle Florendo — a Stanford-trained Decision Engineer, executive coach, and Filipino American mother of two — to unpack the exact 3-part framework she teaches leaders to make decisions with clarity, confidence, and intention.

If you've ever felt overwhelmed by choices, stuck in analysis paralysis, or pressured to follow the "safe" path you were raised to pursue, this conversation will feel like a breath of fresh air.

Michelle breaks down the proven decision-making model taught at Stanford — Objectives, Options, and Information — and explains how to use it to move through life with less stress and more alignment. She also shares deeply personal insights about being raised by immigrant parents, unlearning the old rulebook for success, and navigating the fear and risk aversion common in the AAPI community.

You'll learn:

• The 3-part framework that simplifies even the most complex decisions

• Why smart, successful people still get stuck in overthinking — and how to stop

• How to integrate emotion + logic for choices that "feel right" and make sense

• The difference between a maximizer and a satisfier mindset

• How children of immigrants can redefine risk and choose paths that honor both heritage and individuality

• Why making intentional decisions is not only a skill — but a privilege and a gift

Whether you're navigating a career pivot, entrepreneurship, parenthood, or simply trying to make better choices with less stress, this episode gives you the tools and language to move forward with confidence.

If you're an AAPI creative, founder, or leader working to break tradition and build a life on your own terms — this conversation was made for you.

Links:

• Schedule a call with Fractional CMO, Mary Moses: https://tastydirectives.com/contact
• Follow Tradition Breakers on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/traditionbreakers
• Follow Mary on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/traditionbreakers
• Visit Michelle's website, Powered By Decisions, where her information, courses, services, and podcast link live: https://www.poweredbydecisions.com/
• Connect with Michelle on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelleflorendo

In this deeply moving episode of Tradition Breakers, host, Mary Moses, sits down with Alice Kao — an Asian American woman who went from being a 12-year-old "parachute kid" raising herself in the U.S. to becoming the CEO of one of Southern California's largest indoor climbing gyms, Sender One.

Alice opens up about the raw, often unseen journey behind her success. She shares how being sent to the U.S. alone as a child forged a resilience and independence that later became essential in building a multi-location climbing gym and leading through crises like the COVID-19 pandemic.

Her entrepreneurial story began with heartbreak. After a devastating breakup left her in depression, Alice discovered rock climbing — a sport that grounded her, healed her, and connected her to a community that would eventually inspire her to build something far bigger than she ever imagined.

As one of the few Asian women CEOs in the climbing industry, Alice talks candidly about the weight of cultural expectations, what she calls her "Asian woman backpack," and her lifelong dance with imposter syndrome. She shares why emotional vulnerability is core to her leadership, how asking for help became her superpower, and why community — not strategy — is truly what sustains entrepreneurs.

This conversation is for anyone who has ever felt like an outsider, carried the pressure of immigrant-family expectations, or built something while healing themselves at the same time.

• How being a "parachute kid" shaped Alice's survival instincts and leadership style

• Why rock climbing became the gateway to her emotional healing

• How a passion project grew into one of SoCal's largest climbing gym companies

• What it means to lead as a vulnerable, emotionally honest Asian American woman

• The truth about imposter syndrome and the "Asian woman backpack"

• How asking for help became Alice's defining leadership strength

• The loneliness of entrepreneurship and the power of community

• The lifelong work of self-acceptance, breaking traditions, and redefining identity

Links:

• Schedule a call with Fractional CMO, Mary Moses: https://tastydirectives.com/contact
• Follow Tradition Breakers on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/traditionbreakers
• Follow Mary on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/traditionbreakers
• Visit Sender One's website: https://www.senderoneclimbing.com/
• Connect with Alice on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alice-kao-ca

In this powerful episode of Tradition Breakers, host Mary Moses sits down with Ingrid Hu Dahl, leadership coach, consultant, and author of the memoir, Sun Shining on Morning Snow, for an intimate conversation on identity, grief, belonging, and the evolution of "humane leadership."

Born into an interracial household and navigating life as a mixed-race, queer Asian woman, Ingrid grew up straddling cultures, expectations, and the feeling of being "othered." After the loss of her mother to cancer, she felt an urgent calling to preserve her family's stories and confront the deeper layers of identity she'd long carried.

In this episode, Ingrid shares:

• How grief cracked her open and transformed her relationship with purpose

• What it means to "become" when you've grown up mixed, underrepresented, or invisible

• Why she walked away from big tech to create more human-centered leadership spaces

• Her critique of cortisol-driven hustle culture and how leaders can detox from burnout

• The truth about authenticity, belonging, and choosing your own bold path

• Why mixed-race representation is one of the fastest-growing cultural needs today

Listen in for a story that reminds us: we get one life. Choose boldly. Choose yourself. Choose humanity.

Links:

• Sign up for the Growth Reset Audit (only 5 spots): https://tastydirectives.com/
• Follow Tradition Breakers on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/traditionbreakers
• Follow Mary on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/traditionbreakers
• Visit Ingrid Hu Dahl's website: https://www.ingridhudahl.com/
• Order Ingrid's book, Sun Shining on Morning Snow: https://www.sunshiningonmorningsnow.com/
• Catch Ingrid on stage in 2026: https://criticalmixedracestudies.com/cmrs2026-conference-theme/

Have you ever achieved "success" on paper but still felt stuck or unfulfilled inside?
In this episode of Tradition Breakers, host Mary Moses sits down with Judy Tsuei — a high-level mindset coach, former agency founder, and certified expert in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and Mental Emotional Release (MER) — to explore how rewiring the unconscious mind can create lasting transformation.

Judy shares:

• How aligning with your core values drives fulfillment and clarity

• The science-backed power of the unconscious mind (and why it processes millions more bits than your conscious one)

• A simple NLP exercise you can do today to reduce stress and access inner resources

• Why most high achievers fear their own power more than failure

• What it really means to "disappoint your parents" in order to live authentically

Whether you're an entrepreneur, leader, or creative breaking from cultural expectations, this episode will help you reconnect with your inner compass and unlock the mindset for true success.

🎧 Tune in to learn how to let go of emotional baggage, overcome limiting beliefs, and create rapid, lasting change from the inside out.

Tradition Breakers is a podcast that highlights the stories of AAPI individuals who broke from tradition to follow their own artistic, creative, and entrepreneurial paths. It's hosted by Mary Vallarta and produced by Tasty Directives, an integrated marketing agency based in Venice, CA.

Links:

• Sign up for the Growth Reset Audit (only 5 spots): https://tastydirectives.com/
• Follow Tradition Breakers on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/traditionbreakers
• Follow Mary on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/traditionbreakers
• Learn more about Judy: http://judytsuei.com/
• Pre-order Judy's book on Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/shamelessbook/book-how-to-disappoint-your-parents-in-10-shameless-steps
• Follow Judy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/judytsuei/

What if the fear, guilt, or anxiety you feel about money… isn't actually yours?

In this powerful episode of Tradition Breakers, somatic healing practitioner and TEDx speaker Meenadchi reveals how our money beliefs are shaped by inherited survival patterns — passed down through generations that had to fight, flee, and sacrifice to stay alive.

We explore how these "money shadows" show up today as:

✅ People-pleasing and shrinking your rates
✅ Staying in toxic jobs for the "security"
✅ Feeling guilty spending on yourself or your wellbeing
✅ Self-sabotage when success gets close
✅ Freezing when it's time to make a financial decision

Meenadchi brings a decolonized + trauma-informed approach to communication and ancestral healing — helping us honor the wisdom of our bodies while releasing the burdens we were never meant to carry.

✨ In this episode, you'll learn:
• Why generational trauma impacts your money mindset
• How to identify patterns that come from survival responses
• What embodied safety has to do with earning + receiving
• Why your lineage wants you to thrive and expand
• Small, actionable steps you can take today to shift your money story

This episode is an invitation to remember:
You don't have to make yourself smaller so others can be well.
Your ancestors are rooting for you to rise.

If you're ready to build a healthier relationship with money — one rooted in presence, dignity, and possibility — this conversation will meet you right where you are.

Enter Mary's 5-Day Challenge: https://www.tastydirectives.com/

Follow Tradition Breakers and Mary Vallarta on Instagram.

Visit Meenadchi's website: https://www.meenadchi.com/

Follow Meenadchi on Instagram

What happens when a high-powered Goldman Sachs executive walks away from Wall Street to help people find love?

In this episode of Tradition Breakers, host Mary Moses sits down with Cassindy Chao, a proud daughter of Asian immigrants who left a demanding finance career to become an elite matchmaker, author, and speaker. Blending ancient Chinese wisdom with modern relationship strategy, Cassindy shares how she's helping people—especially Asian American women—build more authentic relationships rooted in self-awareness and respect.

They discuss:
💔 Why perfectionism and people-pleasing are sabotaging relationships
💡 How cultural conditioning shapes how we love and set boundaries
🔥 The state of modern dating (and why it's "in need of a shakeup")
💼 How Cassindy turned a side passion into a thriving business
💬 Her mission to bring civility, authenticity, and purpose back to love—and even into corporate networking

If you've ever felt torn between external success and inner fulfillment, this episode will remind you that redefining both is possible.

Tune in to learn how to break tradition, drop the need to be perfect, and fall back in love—with yourself and others.

Links:

Enter Mary's 5-Day Challenge: https://www.tastydirectives.com/

Follow Tradition Breakers and Mary Vallarta on Instagram.

Visit Cassindy's website: https://www.cassindy.com/home

Buy Cassindy's book: https://www.amazon.com/Ancient-Wisdom-Modern-Love-Chinese/dp/B0DM5FN5NP

Listen to our episode with Misa Chien

In this inspiring episode of Tradition Breakers, host Mary Moses sits down with Sonia Chand—psychotherapist, speaker, and advocate—whose late autism diagnosis at age 20 transformed her life. Growing up undiagnosed, Sonia faced relentless bullying, social isolation, and misunderstanding from peers, teachers, and even therapists. She opens up about her journey from feeling "othered" to embracing autism as a superpower, finding her voice, and building a career helping others navigate similar challenges.

We discuss:

• What it's like to grow up on the autism spectrum without knowing it

• The impact of cultural expectations and immigrant family dynamics

• How receiving a diagnosis can be a turning point in self-acceptance

• Practical strategies for self-advocacy, reframing negative thoughts, and building confidence

• Why Sonia believes being different can be your greatest strength

Sonia also shares a sneak peek into her upcoming memoir, Dropped in a Maze: From Outcast to Outstanding, and her podcast On the Spectrum with Sonia.

Whether you're on the spectrum, love someone who is, or simply want to better understand neurodiversity, this conversation is packed with wisdom, hope, and actionable advice.

🎧 Listen now to hear how Sonia turned decades of misunderstanding into a mission to empower others.

Links:

• Schedule a free marketing consultation with Tasty Directives.

• Follow Tradition Breakers on Instagram.

• Follow Mary Vallarta on Instagram.

• Visit Sonia Chand's website.

Have you ever thought to yourself, 'It's too late to write that book,' 'I'm too old to change careers,' or 'Social media is a young person's thing?' If you've ever felt these limiting beliefs hold you back from pursuing your dreams or exploring your curiosities, then you're going to love this week's episode. I'm interviewing my friend, Jessica Chun Williams, who'll demonstrate that there's no age limit when following your dreams and breaking from tradition.

Jessica is a writer, course creator, and HR consultant with a Master's in Communication Management from USC. She recently authored a cookbook aimed at people who didn't grow up with the typical Thanksgiving turkey dinner—immigrants, children of immigrants, and anyone unfamiliar with this American culinary tradition. Her recipes provide a way to connect with this classic holiday meal and are perfect for the season. And Jessica's not stopping there; she's currently working on a memoir about her family's immigrant journey from Qing Dynasty China to the Kingdom of Hawai'i, embracing her heritage and sharing insights on what it means to blend cultures and traditions in a meaningful way.

Jessica is also actively managing her HR consulting practice, proving that it's never too late to follow your interests while honoring your responsibilities. Her story is a reminder that forging your path doesn't need to follow a set timeline or approach; you can do it in your own way and at your own pace.

I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did!

Links:

Schedule a free marketing consultation with Tasty Directives.

Follow Tradition Breakers on Instagram.

Follow Mary Vallarta on Instagram.

Purchase Jessica's cookbook, Turkey Savvy.

Follow Jessica on Instagram