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/

Every founder feels the pressure this time of year. Ads everywhere. Deep discounts. Competing voices shouting "Do more! Sell more!"

But does your brand really have to follow the same playbook?

In this solo episode of Tradition Breakers, host Mary Moses — Fractional CMO for growing brands — shares how to approach Black Friday and Cyber Monday differently. You'll learn how to turn short-term sales into long-term brand growth without losing your margins, your focus, or your values.

Mary breaks down:

• Why most DTC brands over-discount — and what to do instead

• How authentic customer nurturing can boost profits by up to 95%

• The real secret to using BFCM momentum to fuel year-round sales

• How to stay grounded in your brand integrity while still driving results

If you're a DTC founder, creative entrepreneur, or purpose-driven brand owner, this episode will help you close out the year strong — with clarity, confidence, and a growth strategy that actually lasts.

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

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 episode of Tradition Breakers, we sit down with Desire Lacap, also known as @lacapturevisuals. She is a filmmaker, content creator, and director of photography for her production company, Lacap Productions.

Raised in a Filipino household where careers in medicine were the expected path, Desire chose a different journey — one built on storytelling, creativity, and self-discovery. She opens up about breaking generational trauma, the role of forgiveness in her healing, and how those lessons shaped her creative path.

We explore:

• How Desire broke from cultural and family expectations to follow her passion for filmmaking.

• The importance of forgiveness, mental health, and self-love in fueling creative growth.

• Building an engaged community on TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram.

• Tips for content creators on negotiating brand deals and valuing their work.

• Transitioning from corporate editing jobs to running her own production company.

Whether you're an emerging creator, entrepreneur, or someone navigating cultural expectations, Desire's story is both inspiring and practical — showing how creativity and healing can go hand-in-hand.

Links:

• Schedule a free marketing consultation with Tasty Directives.

• Follow Tradition Breakers and Mary Vallarta on Instagram.

• Follow Desire Lacap on Instagram and website.

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.