Tradition Breakers

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

"Who do I really want to become?" This is a question that can cause us to either take on the challenge of going into the unknown to find the answer or to retreat to the world we already know.

In today's episode, I sit down with Ryan Letada—a dad, serial entrepreneur, immigrant, and human migration futurist. Ryan's story begins in the Middle East, where his family immigrated from the Philippines, driven by the pursuit of a better life. Raised in New York City, Ryan's journey has taken him through various roles and ventures, each one preparing him for his current work as the founder of Next Day Better, an award-winning innovation agency. Through this work, Ryan is at the forefront of redefining what it means to lead in a borderless world of work, commerce, and communities.

But beyond his professional achievements, this conversation is about much more. Ryan opens up about how, as a parent and entrepreneur, he realized the need to break free from living up to the expectations of his family, society, as well as from the never-ending pursuit of accolades . He began asking himself a powerful question: "Who do I really want to become?" This question led him to embrace his curiosities, which he believes is the key to self-discovery.

In our discussion, Ryan shares how following his curiosities brought him clarity on not just who he is, but who he wants to be. It's a powerful message about trusting the unknown and allowing curiosity to guide you, and I think you'll find inspiration in his story, especially if you're in the process of figuring out your own path. So, without further ado, here's my conversation with Ryan Letada.

Schedule a free marketing consultation with Tasty Directives.

Follow Tradition Breakers on Instagram.

Follow Mary Vallarta on Instagram.

Learn more about Ryan's work at Next Day Better.

Episode five of Tradition Breakers is for those of you who've ever felt like an outsider. If want to learn how to turn that feeling into a powerful force for creating a meaningful career, a thriving community, and a fulfilling family life, this conversation is for you.

My guest, Misa Chien, is an experienced entrepreneur who has achieved success across multiple ventures. She built a six-figure business before graduating from college, launched a seven-figure food truck business that was featured on the Food Network's Food Truck Wars, was discovered as a model in her 20s and continues to model internationally, and now she's building a thriving community for Asian American female leaders called, The Authentic Asian. She's also a devoted wife and loving mom to two wonderful kiddos.

On paper, it might seem like Misa has had a seamless journey, fitting right in from the start. But reality couldn't be further from the truth. Growing up in a predominantly white neighborhood in San Diego, Misa often felt different and disconnected from her peers. Her struggles with dyslexia and the rigid school system added to the challenges she faced. However, she found refuge in the unwavering support of her family, which fueled her entrepreneurial spirit and helped her pursue her interests. Misa attended UCLA as an undergrad and is now finishing her Alumni program at Harvard Business School, all while continuing to build The Authentic Asian. I had so much fun talking to and learning from this woman and I hope you pick up some nuggets of wisdom yourselves.

Schedule a free marketing consultation with Tasty Directives

Follow Tradition Breakers on Instagram

Follow Mary Vallarta on Instagram

Learn more about Misa Chien and The Authentic Asian

Follow Misa on Instagram and The Authentic Asian on Instagram

Episode 4 of Tradition Breakers is for anyone who has ever struggled to fully embrace their true self or for those who ever felt split between 2 very different cultures. My guest today is Vasavi Kumar, a first-generation Indian immigrant who has firsthand experience breaking free from societal and cultural expectations. And because of that, she now helps others do the same, empowering them to find and embrace their authentic voice. Vasavi is a Columbia University trained therapist, speaker, and the author of Say It Out Loud, a transformational book that teaches you how to harness the power of your voice, listen to your deepest thoughts, and boldly pursue your dreams. In this episode, we discuss the techniques and practices outlined in her book, as well as diving into certain pivotal life moments, from her upbringing to the challenges of navigating bipilar disorder, divorce, addiction, and more. So without further ado, here's my conversation with Vasavi Kumar.

Schedule a free marketing consultation with Tasty Directives

Learn more about Vasavi and her book, Say It Out Loud.

Follow Vasavi on Instagram.

Today's episode of Tradition Breakers is really going to hit home for those of you who may not have been born into a supportive family dynamic.

My guest, Carol, had that experience. But you know what - she proves that that doesn't have to be a setback. She's going to tell us how that lack of family support actually led her to get so good at this one critical life skill that helped her create the life, the work, and the community that she now treasures today. Carol is such an excellent example of focus, self-awareness, and determination. She was born in Taiwan and came to the United States at the age of 19 to attend Cal State Long Beach. But her mission wasn't just to study here; it was really to stay and build a life here, and that's exactly what she did.

Fast forward to today, Carol has amassed an impressive knowledge and work experience in the world of e-commerce and tech. And that eventually led her to co-founding Qode Space, which is one of the top minority women-led Shopify and creative agencies here in Los Angeles. Carol is also a wife and a mom to a young toddler with another one on the way. So without further ado, here is my interview with Carol Shih.

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.

Schedule a free marketing consultation with Tasty Directives

Learn more about Carol Shih and her business, Qode Space. Email her at [email protected].

Follow Carol and Qode Space on Instagram

Tradition Breakers Episode 2 is for those of you looking to create the relationships you've only dreamed of in both your personal and professional lives.

My guest, Christine Chang, is a podcast host and a bestselling author and speaker. She helps high-performing women who are kicking ass in life, but struggling in LOVE, by teaching them self-awareness, boundaries, accountability, and communication skills. In my conversation with Christine, she shares her journey from childhood to adulthood, her personal, familial, and relationship struggles, and the resources and teachings she encountered that led her to building the life she loves today.

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.

Schedule a free marketing consultation with Tasty Directives

Learn more about Christine Chang

Order her book, Show Up: Finding Love For Independent Women

Follow Christine Chang on Instagram

Listen to Christine Chang's podcasts:

• Not Your Asian Women
• Show Up with Christine Chang

We launch Tradition Breakers with a powerful episode with Filipina on the Rise founder, Krystl Fabella. As an avid podcast listener, in January 2019, Krystl was desperately searching for Podcasts of Filipino women. Finding none, instead of feeling disempowered, she saw this as her calling to start telling stories about Filipino women to share their hidden histories, impact, and influence in society.

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.

Schedule a free marketing consultation

Learn more about Filipina on the Rise

Follow Filipina on the Rise on Instagram

Listen to the Filipina on the Rise podcast