The Weight of an Untold Story: Susan Lieu on Excavating Her Family Narrative Artwork

This is My Silver Lining

You know that feeling when you see a break in the clouds? After the storm, a ray of sun shines through, and without even thinking about it, you relax and take in the moment of gratitude. This is My Silver Lining is what we like to call a “pozcast” that brings that feeling to your ears and your hearts. That’s right, a “pozcast”! Not just a good news story, but one that celebrates the gifts of connection and community that come through periods of challenge. Each week, This is My Silver Lining (a/k/a TIMSL) shines a light on ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Our guests share their stories of resilience, courage, optimism, and gratitude. Each episode proves that, no matter how tough the journey, there is always a silver lining.

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This is My Silver Lining

The Weight of an Untold Story: Susan Lieu on Excavating Her Family Narrative

April 09, 2025 • Silver Linings Media LLC

When playwright, author, and performer Susan Lieu was just 11 years old, her mother died after undergoing what should have been a routine tummy tuck. Her family never talked about it.

The trauma, silence, and injustice was a hard-edged shadow for Susan. Her family’s silence only reinforced her determination to find answers.

Years later, Susan embarked on a courageous journey to make sense of the silence. In this episode, she shares how she uncovered the truth about so much more than her mother’s death and how she transformed her grief into bold, moving works of art, including a powerful memoir, The Manicurist’s Daughter.

In this episode of This is My Silver Lining, we talk about:

✔️ Breaking intergenerational silence
✔️ Turning trauma into purpose
✔️ Finding healing through storytelling

Susan’s story is a powerful reminder of how reclaiming our narratives can set us free. 🎭

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People on this episode

Ingrid Busson-Hall

Co-host

Kathleen Merrigan

Co-host