Raised by Women: A Storytelling Podcast

Food, Culture, and the Women Who Raised Us | Tess Cheng

Willijah Dawson Season 2 Episode 6

Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.

0:00 | 27:19

Send us Fan Mail

What we inherit isn’t just tradition it’s how we care for ourselves, how we nourish others, and how we understand wellness.

In this episode of Raised by Women, Tess shares her journey growing up in Hong Kong in a household shaped by strong, nurturing women. Raised by her mother and sisters, she learned early that food was more than sustenance it was love, connection, and culture.

Her life shifted when she was diagnosed with hypoglycemia in her thirties, forcing her to examine long-held habits shaped by family tradition. What began as a personal health wake-up call became a global journey spanning London, New York, Los Angeles, and Miami ultimately leading Tess to build a career in nutrition and holistic wellness coaching.

Together, we explore:

  • How cultural traditions influence health and identity
  • The hidden wisdom passed through mothers and family rituals
  • The power of female support systems during major life transitions
  • Why strength and softness are not opposites but complements
  • How small, sustainable changes create lasting transformation

This conversation is a reminder that wellness is deeply personal, culturally rooted, and often shaped long before we realize it.

If you’ve ever questioned the habits you inherited or felt called to redefine wellness on your own terms, this episode invites you into that reflection.

To connect with Tess, visit the following sites:

If this conversation stirred something in you, join the Inner Circle a private space for listeners and guests to stay connected and continue the reflection beyond the show

www.willijahdawson.com/innercircle