Season Two continues exploring themes of resilience, inheritance, and reinvention. In Richie Barlow’s story, we saw how unmet needs became entrepreneurial muscle. In this conversation, we step through another doorway—immigration—to ask how identity and family are reshaped across borders.

Mary Grace Lim was born in Carmona Cavite, Philippines, and came to the U.S. twice: once at five with her mother and stepfather, and again at eleven with her sisters. Along the way, she was raised largely by her grandmother, navigated her mother’s long absences and addiction, and found safety in community, sports, and faith.

In this wide-ranging conversation, Mary Grace reflects on:

💔 Growing up between two countries — and the ache of leaving her grandmother behind
🌱 Raising herself when adults fell short, and the survival instincts that gave her strength
🏐 Sports as salvation — how volleyball and basketball gave her purpose, discipline, and voice
💸 Generational cycles of money and survival — and how she’s working to break them
🙏 Faith and artistry as compass points — discovering God, creativity, and self-forgiveness on her own terms
🧩 Healing generational trauma — inspired by Mark Wolynn’s It Didn’t Start With You

At the heart of her story is a hard-won lesson: forgiveness of all parts of the self, and the courage to set new boundaries.

🔗 Resources & Links

📘 Book: It Didn’t Start With You: How Inherited Family Trauma Shapes Who We Are and How to End the Cycleby Mark Wolynn
🧭 TCOM (Transformational Collaborative Outcomes Management) – Learn more about shared language for healing systems
🌍 CDC on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

💬 Favorite Quote

“I think I raised me. I took what I needed from where it was available—and gave myself what I didn’t get.”

🎧 Catch Up or Revisit

Missed our last conversation? Listen to S2 EP13: Finding Light in the Darkest Places and S2 EP14: Hold On Tight with Richie Barlow for more on resilience, survival, and transformation.

Additional Resources

Credits

Hosted by Kristen Cerelli
Cover art by @jacksonfall
Theme Music by Kristen Cerelli. Additional music by Ray Wyssman and The Simoleons
Podcast production by Timothy Fall