The Bridge Generation: The Weight We Carried and the Legacy We're Building

Episode DescriptionWhat does it cost to be the child of immigrants — and what does it give you? In this deeply personal solo episode, Dr. Sohee Jun shares a story she has never told quite like this before. It begins with a little girl emptying trash cans in corporate office buildings at night, rehearsing what she would say if anyone from school ever saw her. It ends with her daughter watching her command a stage full of high school girls — and saying the words that changed everything.This one is for the immigrant kids who are all grown up. For the parents trying to do it differently. For the Asian women who made it into rooms their parents could only clean.What You'll Learn in This EpisodeWhat it felt like to hide her parents' work as a child — and the story she told insteadHow internalized shame shows up in our ambition, our overachieving, and our need to prove ourselvesWhat Dr. Sohee calls "ambition in a really nice outfit" — and how to recognize it in yourselfThe full circle moment that cracked her wide open on stage, with her daughter watching from the front rowWhat it means to be the bridge generation — carrying the weight of what came before while choosing what gets passed onWhat healing looks like across generations — and why it doesn't always look the way we expectQuotes From This Episode"Some of what we call ambition is actually shame in a really nice outfit. ""The shame was never about my parents. It was about a story I had absorbed that said some kinds of work were worthy of being seen — and others needed to be hidden.""My parents didn't come to this country working their asses off so I could be ashamed of them. They came so I could stand on the stages they would never get invited to.""We are the ones who get to decide what gets passed on — and what stops with us.""That is what healing looks like across generations. Sometimes it looks like your kid saying the words you couldn't say to the person you became because of the people you used to hide."Reflection Questions for You1. What did your parents do for work that you didn't want your friends to know about — and what story did you tell instead?2. What's a specific image of your parents working that has stayed with you, and what does it bring up for you now as an adult?3. Where in your professional life are you still "cleaning offices" — over-performing, over-delivering, or making yourself smaller but more useful, because some part of you believes that's the price of being allowed to stay in the room?4. What does it mean to thank your parents not for what they gave you, but for what they survived?5. What do you want the next generation to inherit from you that your parents couldn't give you — and what do you want them to inherit from your parents that almost got lost in translation?About Dr. Sohee JunDr. Sohee Jun is the founder of "asian, like me…"— a podcast and community for the modern Asian woman redefining what it means to thrive. A Korean immigrant, executive coach, author, and entrepreneur, Sohee has spent years helping Asian women navigate culture, career, and identity. She is also the founder of EVRten, a wellness brand for women who are ever curious and growth focused.Resources & LinksConnect with Dr. Sohee to explore 1:1 coaching: www.soheejunphd.comConnect with Dr. Sohee to explore speaking at your company or event:https://soheejunphd.com/contactExplore Dr. Sohee's bestselling books: https://soheejunphd.com/booksExplore Dr. Sohee's wellness products: www.evrten.comSUBSCRIBE to the podcast and don't miss a drop: https://soheejunphd.com/insightsEnjoyed This Episode?Share it with an Asian woman in your life who needs to hear this — or send it to your mom, if you're brave enoughLeave a review — it helps the community growSubscribe to Dr. Sohee Jun's newsletter at www.soheejunphd.comFollow "asian, like me…" on your favorite podcast platformThis is your space to feel seen, heard, and inspired. Let's grow together.Keywords & TagsAsian women podcast, immigrant daughter, bridge generation, Asian female leadership, cultural shame and healing, immigrant kids grown up, generational healing, Asian American identity, Dr. Sohee Jun, asian like me podcast, children of immigrants, overachieving Asian women, imposter syndrome, inner work outer success, modern Asian woman, legacy and family, immigrant parents, generational trauma, shame and ambition, full circle moment