Susan Lieu: Confronting Loss, Finding Healing Through Storytelling
In this episode, I sit down with Susan Lieu, a Vietnamese American playwright, performer, and author, to explore her journey of healing and self-discovery after the loss of her mother. Susan shares her experience growing up in a large immigrant family and how her mother's unexpected death during a cosmetic surgery procedure became a pivotal moment that shaped her life.
Susan's story is a testament to the power of storytelling and the healing that can come from confronting long-buried emotions. She takes us through her journey of uncovering the truth about her mother's passing, from tracking down the plastic surgeon to piecing together her family's history.
Key Insights:
The impact of growing up in a large Vietnamese immigrant familyHow Susan's mother's death became a catalyst for her artistic journeyThe challenges of navigating cultural expectations and personal dreamsThe therapeutic power of sharing one's story through performance and writingFinding connection and healing through vulnerability and authenticity
Susan's journey from a child silenced by cultural norms to an artist who uses her voice to heal herself and others is both inspiring and thought-provoking. Her story offers hope and encouragement for anyone grappling with loss, identity, or the desire to live authentically.
Whether you're dealing with unresolved grief, seeking to understand your family history, or simply looking for inspiration to share your own story, this conversation provides valuable insights into the human experience of loss, resilience, and self-discovery.
About Susan Lieu:
Susan Lieu is a Vietnamese American playwright, performer, and author based in Seattle, Washington. Her one-woman show, "140 LBS: How Beauty Killed My Mother," has touched thousands of lives across the country. Susan's memoir, which delves deeper into her family's history and her journey of healing, is now being taught in high schools and colleges across America.
Connect with Susan Lieu:
www.susanlieu.me
IG: @susanlieu @celadonbooks, @modelminoritymoms
FB: www.facebook.com/susanlieuofficial
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanlieu/
#themanicuristsdaughter #whenwefeelweheal
00:00:00 Introduction to the Life Shift Podcast
00:07:02 Susan's Childhood as a Vietnamese Refugee
00:15:09 The Tragic Loss of Susan's Mother
00:28:43 Breaking the Silence Through Art
00:47:13 The Healing Power of Sharing Stories
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healing journey, loss of a parent, vietnamese american, immigrant family, mother's death, storytelling, one-woman show, memoir, self-discovery, cultural expectations
