Who We Are with Rachel Lim

ตอน

• #58: What If Your Next Chapter Is Bigger Than You've Imagined? 01.07.2026 23นาที

  You don't need a crisis to enter a new chapter. Sometimes life is moving along just fine. And yet, you find yourself carrying questions you can't quite shake. This conversation feels especially meaningful to me. Three years ago, Bill Burnett helped shape one of the biggest chapters of my life. Today, I'm returning to his work because the questions I'm asking have changed, and I need that space again. Together, we explore why so many of us feel there's "something more," why life was never meant to be a straight line, and how creating the time, space, and structure to think differently can help us navigate what's next with greater clarity, intention, and possibility. If this conversation resonates with you, Bill and I will be hosting a special CLOSER experience in Singapore on 25th July. We'd love for you to join us as we explore what your next chapter could become. Sing up for CLOSER x Bill Burnett here: https://tinyurl.com/5n7dkdrb Follow Rachel here: https://www.instagram.com/ms_rach/ Visit Bill Burnett’s website here: https://designingyour.life/ Read ‘Designing Your Life’ here: https://designingyour.life/books-designing-life-original-book/
• #57: What 'Kiasu' Culture Is Really Costing Us with Teo You Yenn 16.06.2026 43นาที

  Most of us have been taught that the pressure Singaporean parents feel is a mindset problem. That we just need to relax. Stop being so kiasu. The data tells a completely different story. Associate Professor Teo You Yenn spent three years interviewing 92 Singaporean parents across every class background for her new book Unease; and what she found will reframe how you see your own life. Not just parenting. The whole thing. She makes the case that the exhaustion, the anxiety, the feeling that you're doing everything right and still something is off.. none of it is personal. It's structural. And until we understand that distinction, nothing changes. We talked about: Why "kiasu" is not a cultural trait; and what it actually is What it means that most parents describe their child as a problem to solve Why Singapore's falling birth rate isn't a fertility problem - it's a conditions-for-family-life problem The three quiet costs to our society that nobody is talking about What the opposite of unease actually is (it's not ease) What stayed with me long after we stopped recording: the way we're living is shaping who we're becoming. As individuals, as parents, as a society. And we haven't stopped to ask if this is who we want to be. Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:36 Meet You Yenn: Exposing the Contradiction of Singaporean Success 00:04:02 Defining “Unease”: The Quiet Struggle of Helplessness in Singapore 00:05:45 Why “Kiasu Mentality” is Too Simple an Excuse 00:07:33 How the System Conditions Singaporeans to Run the Race 00:10:48 The Painful Cost of Losing Agency 00:12:00 Returning to the Original Dream of Prosperity in Singapore 00:14:30 Seeing Our Children Through the Lens of Problems 00:16:49 Reevaluating Our Values Across Class Lines 00:20:48 The Unequal Weight of Motherhood 00:23:42 What Does a “Pro-Family” Society Look Like? 00:25:43 Singapore’s Low TFR: A Fertility Problem or a Family Life Problem? 00:28:01 Singapore’s Obsession with Finding “Top Talents” 00:32:29 Shifting the Narrow Definition of “Family” in Singapore 00:34:17 Writing for a Historian 50 Years from Now 00:36:10 Finding Hope in a Shared Public Resonance 00:39:15 Final Reflections Follow Rachel here: https://www.instagram.com/ms_rach/ Follow You Yenn’s updates here: https://www.instagram.com/ethosbooks/ Purchase ‘Unease: Life in Singapore Families’ here: https://www.ethosbooks.com.sg/products/unease-life-in-singapore-families Write in to the team at hello@rachreflects.com
• #56: Minister Indranee Rajah: What Does It Take to Want a Future in Singapore? 19.05.2026 49นาที

  Singapore's total fertility rate has hit a historic low. But this conversation was never really about birth rates. It was about what modern life actually feels like for many Singaporeans today. The pressure. The exhaustion. The invisible weight of always having to keep up. And the quiet calculation so many people are running; about whether building a family here is something they can imagine, afford, or want. Minister Indranee Rajah leads Singapore's Marriage and Parenthood Reset. She is also single. And she has no children of her own. In this conversation, we go beyond policy. We talk about: - The invisible mental load women carry that no support system fully removes - ⁠The pressure parents feel before a child is even born - and why it starts earlier than most people realise - ⁠The women who have built lives they genuinely love - and aren't sure they want to give that up - What the public reaction to the word "detour" was really saying - What it means to lead this conversation as a single woman without children - The family she lost - and why their absence shaped her understanding of family itself - Whether modern Singaporean life still feels emotionally sustainable enough to build a family within Chapters 00:00:00 Minister Indranee Rajah: The Minister Tasked With Singapore’s Future 00:02:50 Growing Up Between Two Cultures & Faiths 00:05:59 Her Mother's Greatest Gift 00:06:57 How Her Legal Mindset Shapes Singapore’s Toughest Conversation 00:10:21 Why Singaporeans Are Rejecting the Life Script — Not Family 00:14:36 The Overachievement Culture That Made Good Enough Feel Like Failure 00:17:14 The Growing Pressure of Raising Kids in Singapore 00:21:08 The Invisible Mental Load Women Carry 00:22:31 The Woman Who Hid Her Fertility Treatment From Her Boss 00:23:37 Addressing Singaporean Work Culture & Fertility Stigma 00:29:56 Why Singaporeans Are Choosing Their Quality of Life Over Parenthood 00:32:07 The “Detour” Comment That Sparked Debate 00:35:37 Leading Singapore’s Parenthood Conversation as a Single Woman 00:38:10 Why Baby Bonuses Don’t Apply to Unwed Mothers 00:41:43 Why She's Doing This — Even When Everyone Says It's Impossible 00:44:47 What Makes Her Believe Singapore Can Change Follow Rachel here:  https://www.instagram.com/ms_rach/ Follow Minister Indranee here: https://www.instagram.com/indraneerajah/ Download the FSS fertility workplace support guide here: https://fertilitysupport.sg/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/FSS-workplace-support-guide.pdf Write in to the team at hello@rachreflects.com.
• #55: The Fertility Convo That's Long Overdue ft. Margaret Wang 12.05.2026 27นาที

  Most of us only start thinking about fertility when something suddenly feels urgent; a doctor’s appointment, a breakup, a birthday, or the quiet realisation that time may not feel as endless as we once thought. In this episode, I sit down with Margaret Wang, CEO of GenPrime and Rhea Fertility, for a deeply honest conversation about fertility, womanhood, pressure, timing, and learning to listen to our bodies before life forces us to. Together, we talk about: why fertility shouldn’t just be a “women’s issue” the invisible emotional load many women quietly carry ⁠egg freezing, aging, and the pressure surrounding motherhood and timelines the questions many of us don’t even know to ask about our own bodies and why so many women still feel alone in this conversation Margaret also opens up personally about navigating egg freezing, heartbreak, societal expectations, and the tension between building a career, building a company, and hoping to one day build a family. Whether fertility feels far away, deeply present, or painfully emotional for you right now, this conversation is an invitation to get curious, ask earlier questions, and feel a little less alone. Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:09 Get to Know Margaret Wang: The Woman Reshaping Fertility Care Across Asia 00:04:18 A Holistic Approach to Redefining Fertility Stigma 00:06:12 Egg Freezing: Progress, Freedom and the Gaps We Don’t Talk About 00:08:52 Why Fertility Conversations Still Feel Taboo 00:13:22 Nobody Taught Us How Fertility Actually Works 00:15:51 How to Ask the Right Questions About Fertility 00:19:01 Numerical Age vs Biological Age: Is It Too Late? 00:21:08 Debunking Fertility Myths and Misconceptions 00:23:20 The Personal Cost of Working in Fertility Care 00:25:53 Margaret Wang’s Message to the World 00:27:07 Final Reflections Follow Rachel here:  https://www.instagram.com/ms_rach/ Connect with Margaret here: https://sg.linkedin.com/in/margaretmwang Find out more about Rhea Fertility here: https://www.rheafertility.com/ Write in to the team at hello@rachreflects.com.
• #54: Nathania Ong: First Singaporean to Lead the West End, And She Almost Gave Up 28.04.2026 1ชม. 2นาที

  Nathania Ong is the first Singaporean to lead both Les Misérables and Hamilton on London’s West End. But before any of that, she was 18, alone in a foreign city, rejected by every drama school she applied to in a single week. This is a story about the years nobody sees.. the flight home after every door closes, and the quiet season where you have to decide: Do I keep going, or do I let this go? In this conversation, Nathania opens up about: the rejections that almost broke her the stage fright she developed after going viral ⁠the best friend who talked her back from the edge and the philosophy that has carried her through every closed door since “Sometimes it’s not no. Sometimes it’s not yet. And what is for you will not pass you by.” Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:29 Meet Nathania Ong: From Singapore to the West End 00:02:35 Growing Up in a House Full of Voices 00:07:11 The First Win That Changed Everything 00:10:00 Losing Singing — and Finding Herself Again 00:13:57 Five Rejections in One Week 00:18:00 “I Almost Gave Up” 00:19:47 The Second Chance She Almost Didn’t Take 00:25:55 Her Greatest Triumph Wasn’t Success 00:28:10 What Keeps You Going When Nothing Does 00:29:18 Why Rejection Feels So Personal 00:32:22 Becoming Éponine — And Redefining the Role 00:37:00 When Success Brings Fear 00:38:28 Stage Fright, Anxiety, and Finding Ground Again 00:41:04 Pre-Show Rituals & Becoming the Character 00:42:04 Creating Something Honest for Herself 00:43:33 What She’d Tell Her Younger Self 00:45:11 Advice for Anyone Chasing a Dream 00:45:38 Final Reflections Follow Rachel here:  https://www.instagram.com/ms_rach/ Follow Nathania Ong here: https://www.instagram.com/nattyong/ Write in to the team at hello@rachreflects.com.
• #53: Diane von Furstenberg: How She Became the Woman She Wanted to Be 16.04.2026 22นาที

  “I did not know what I wanted to do. But I knew the kind of woman I wanted to be.” Diane von Furstenberg’s mother survived Auschwitz at 29 kilos. Doctors said she would die in childbirth, that her child would not be normal. The following December, Diane was born. In this conversation, DVF takes us through the moments that shaped her: the principles her mother gave her that she never let go of, the little dress that became a flag of freedom, the empire she built, lost, and rebuilt, and the philosophy of life she has arrived at after 79 years. We talk about: How to stay whole across love, ambition, and motherhood Why kindness is a currency that compounds What it means to own who you are; not perform it Aging as living, not losing The one relationship we cannot afford to lose This is not a conversation about fashion. It’s a conversation about what it means to be in charge of your own life. Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:24 Diane von Furstenberg: Born a “Torch of Freedom” 00:03:53 The Childhood That Shaped Everything 00:05:11 The Little Dress That Changed Her Life 00:06:14 Finding Her Door to Success in New York 00:08:20 Making 25,000 Dresses By 27 00:09:27 The Fall & Reinvention of DVF 00:11:03 Taking Back and Owning Her Legacy 00:12:12 Diane’s Most Important Advice to Women — Don’t Lose Yourself 00:14:02 Breaking the Fear of Aging in Women 00:14:56 Choosing 3 Words That Defines Her Year 00:16:11 Diane von Furstenberg’s Message to the World 00:17:13 Discovering The Power of Self & Kindness: Currency That Compounds 00:20:34 Embracing Her Winter Season in Life Follow Rachel here:  https://www.instagram.com/ms_rach/ Follow Diane von Furstenberg here: https://www.instagram.com/therealdvf/ Purchase ‘Own It: The Secret to Life’ by Diane von Furstenberg here: https://www.amazon.sg/Own-Secret-Diane-von-Furstenberg/dp/B0BGN66CK4 Write in to the team at hello@rachreflects.com.
• #52: 450 People Depending on Her — Then She Lost Her Job 07.04.2026 36นาที

  Jennifer Baile is the Vice President of Global Services & Solutions at HP; one of the world's most recognised technology companies. But what drew me to her wasn't the title or the résumé. It was the quiet steadiness underneath it all. Four weeks after moving her entire life to Singapore, her role was eliminated. She had 450 people depending on her. And instead of panicking, she did something that changed the trajectory of everything that came after. In this episode, Jennifer and I talk about: What it actually means to lead when certainty is unavailable and the data is incomplete Why she stopped trying to do it all — and what she outsourced instead The mindset that turned job loss into a better role How to ask for help without feeling like a failure What titles, status and success actually mean once you've had enough of them Raising four children to know they are enough in a world that constantly tells them otherwise The dinner table ritual she started when her girls were small - and why it changed everything This is a conversation about the long game. About trading titles for purpose. About what age, experience and a few very good mentors can clarify in you over time. If you're navigating a hard season — professionally or personally — this one is for you. Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:12 Meet Jennifer Baile: A Leader with an Unlikely Career Path 00:02:25 Learning to Sit in the Storm 00:04:47 Unlocking the Courage to Ask for Help 00:06:10 How to Lead Without Certainty 00:11:58 What People Get Wrong About Leadership 00:14:18 How to Steward Strong Business Mentorships 00:18:04 Redefining Success After 30 Years in Business 00:19:38 Growing a Family Amid Heavy Responsibilities 00:23:02 Dealing with Mom Guilt and Not “Doing It All” 00:26:09 Raising Confident Daughters in a Social Media World 00:31:17 You’re Only as Happy as Your Unhappiest Child 00:32:50 Strengthening Your Marriage After Having Kids 00:34:52 The Message Jennifer Baile Hopes to Leave Behind Follow Rachel here:  https://www.instagram.com/ms_rach/ Connect with Jennifer Baile here: https://sg.linkedin.com/in/jenbaile Write in to the team at hello@rachreflects.com.
• #51: Tan Kheng Hua: On Choosing Yourself Without Apology 10.03.2026 1ชม.

  Tan Kheng Hua is one of Singapore’s most beloved actors; known for Phua Chu Kang, Crazy Rich Asians, and three seasons of Kung Fu on The CW. She has spent a lifetime choosing herself, not selfishly, but deliberately. And in doing so, she became a better mother, a better artist, and a more grounded human being. She did not build a long and remarkable career by chasing what looked good or what felt safe. She built it by returning, again and again, to what felt true. To joy over ego. To interest over image. To a life she did not have to shrink in order to hold. In this episode, Kheng Hua speaks with striking honesty about what it really takes to stay rooted in your craft, your relationships, and yourself. We spoke about: motherhood, and why she refused to let it shrink her life. ⁠the decision-making rule she has followed for decades that gave her her longevity. ⁠divorce, co-parenting, and how a friendship outlasted a marriage. ⁠the honesty cave: going inward, admitting the ugly feelings first, and choosing the next step from truth rather than fear. ⁠therapy, and why she believes gathering the tools to be better is not optional, but a responsibility to everyone who loves you. This is a conversation about living from the inside out. About following joy over ego. About learning that being responsible and being happy are not opposites after all. Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:34 The Childhood That Quietly Shaped Everything 00:06:50 What Her 25-Year-Old Self Would Never Have Predicted 00:10:32 Why She Treated Her Daughter Like a Person, Not a Project 00:16:12 "My Purpose Was Never Just For Her" 00:22:25 The Secret to Co-Parenting With Someone You Divorced After 27 Years 00:27:16 The 8am Class Nobody Wanted That Changed Her Life 00:35:12 The One Habit Behind 30 Years of Staying Power 00:36:29 Her Golden Rule for Choosing Every Project 00:40:13 11 Years, One Family, One Stage — Inside Phua Chu Kang 00:42:10 What Crazy Rich Asians Taught Her About Letting Go 00:48:22 The Honesty Cave — How She Faces Every Hard Moment 00:49:56 Why She'd Rather Call Her Therapist Than Her Best Friend 00:54:10 Be Better. Do Better. Live Guided By How You Want to Die. 00:56:54 What Kheng Hua Wants You to Know If You're Still Finding Your Way Follow Rachel here:  https://www.instagram.com/ms_rach/ Follow Kheng Hua here: https://www.instagram.com/khenghua/ Write in to the team at hello@rachreflects.com.
• #50: What a Trial Lawyer Learned About Love, Arguments & Raising Kids 24.02.2026 37นาที

  What does a trial lawyer — someone trained to win arguments — learn about love, emotional regulation, and parenting? In this episode, Jefferson Fisher shares the courtroom lessons that completely changed how he sees conflict, persuasion, and connection. We explore: ⁠The hidden cost of winning arguments What people are really fighting for beneath the surface How to regulate yourself before you react The breathing technique Jefferson teaches his clients — and his kids The 3 steps to shifting someone’s perspective with empathy Why he lets his children argue — and what that builds in them How to model repair, humility, and recovery at home And why being a safe space matters more than being right This conversation goes beyond communication tips. It’s about security, ego, humility, and choosing kindness.. especially when it’s hard. If you’ve ever walked away from a conversation wishing you handled it differently, this episode will stay with you. Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:07 Meet Jefferson Fisher: From Trial Lawyer to Communication Coach 00:03:14 The Cost of Winning an Argument 00:04:44 A Technique That Turns Timidness Into Calm Confidence 00:08:02 Jefferson’s Biggest Lessons From the Courtroom 00:11:22 3 Steps to Changing Someone’s Mind 00:14:47 Thinking Like a Lawyer in Everyday Conversations 00:17:39 Parenting With Humility: Modelling Recovery 00:19:29 Becoming a Safe Space for Your Children 00:22:24 Why Jefferson Fisher Allows His Children to Argue 00:26:21 What People Are Really Fighting For Beneath Arguments 00:29:37 How to Stay Grounded When Triggered 00:36:03 The Message Jefferson Fisher Hopes to Leave Behind Follow Rachel here:  https://www.instagram.com/ms_rach/ Follow Jefferson Fisher here: https://www.instagram.com/jefferson_fisher/ Purchase ‘The Next Conversation: Argue Less, Talk More’ here: https://singapore.kinokuniya.com/bw/9780241719886 Write in to the team at hello@rachreflects.com
• #49: Leo: "The Most Humbling Season Of My Life" 27.01.2026 33นาที

  Over the past year, I’ve watched Leo move through what he describes as one of the most humbling seasons of his life. In this conversation, he reflects openly on what it has meant to start again, to build from scratch, and to remain teachable after years of experience. He speaks honestly about doubt, ego, frustration, and the courage it takes to stay with the work when things feel uncertain. What made this conversation especially meaningful for me was how deeply moved I was by his honesty.. watching him name his struggles, sit with discomfort, and keep choosing growth in real time. This is a story of growth in progress; honest, unfinished, and grounded in real life. Chapters 00:00:00 A Year of Reflection with Leo 00:02:14 Fatherhood, Presence, and Breaking Old Patterns 00:06:21 Finding Joy Again Through Cooking and Showing Up Consistently 00:07:58 Starting Over at 52: Building Something New from Scratch 00:12:02 Marriage Under Pressure and Choosing to Stay 00:14:00 Learning to Stay Open During Hard Conversations 00:17:01 Letting Go of Ego and the Need for Control 00:20:58 Becoming More Open and Staying Teachable 00:28:24 When Self-Worth Is Shaken and Slowly Rebuilt 00:31:16 Closing Reflections Follow Rachel here:  https://www.instagram.com/ms_rach/ Follow Leo here: https://www.instagram.com/mr_agleooleo/ Discover ANON here: https://www.instagram.com/thehouseofanon/ Write in to the team at hello@rachreflects.com
• #48: First Episode of 2026: A Solo Reflection with Rachel Lim 20.01.2026 19นาที

  As we step into 2026, I wanted to begin the year with space to reflect. This solo episode is a pause and a check-in. A chance to look back on the year that was and share what it was really like beneath the surface. 2025 was a full year for me. Full in visible ways, and full in ways that were more internal and harder to articulate. From navigating change at home and work, to investing more deeply in my own voice and inner life, it was a year that asked me to slow down, pay closer attention, and meet challenges differently than I had before. In this episode, I reflect on what I’m proud of, what stretched me, and how I’ve noticed myself shifting on the inside. I talk about learning to stay with uncertainty without rushing for clarity, how my relationship with confidence evolved, and why growth now feels less about fewer challenges, and more about a steadier inner response to them. Thank you for being here, and for starting the year with me. Chapters 00:00:00 A Check-In as We Step Into 2026 00:02:53 Moving Through a Full Year Without Losing Myself 00:06:08 Our Marriage, What This Season Asked of Us 00:07:32 Learning to Stay With Discomfort 00:08:41 The Part of 2025 That Challenged Me the Most 00:11:23 The Small Routines and Circles That Carried Me 00:13:46 What Misalignment Taught Me About Pain and Listening Earlier 00:16:26 The Word I’m Carrying Into This New Year 00:17:38 How I’m Thinking About the Podcast in 2026 00:18:50 A Few Closing Thoughts Before We Go Follow Rachel here:  https://www.instagram.com/ms_rach/ For the year you’re about to have, purchase your first ‘I Am Well’ journal here: https://www.iamwelljournal.com/shop-i-am-well-journal/p/edition-2026? Write in to the team at hello@rachreflects.com.
• #47: CLOSER with Steven Bartlett: Live in Singapore 21.10.2025 55นาที

  Recorded live at CLOSER in Singapore, this was one of those rare sessions that reminded me of the heart behind CLOSER: to hold space for real, honest, soul-level conversations. In this conversation, Steven Bartlett opens up about his journey. He shares how he grew up as an outsider, built one of Europe’s fastest-growing companies, chose to walk away at the peak, and learned to find a fuller life beyond achievement. We also speak about what he is building today, and the lessons he has learned about making good decisions, building trust, and steering clear of the traps that hold people back. This episode is not the full conversation, but it offers a glimpse into some of the moments that moved us most. I hope something you hear in it stays with you, and maybe even shifts something in you, the way it did for me & so many others. To everyone who joined us that afternoon at CLOSER, thank you for leaning in with so much openness and heart. And to those tuning in now, I hope this conversation touches you the way it did all of us in the room. Take a breath, lean in, and come a little closer. Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:31 The Childhood That Shaped Steven Bartlett 00:05:58 Delusion and Self Belief as Prerequisites for Success 00:09:28 Choosing Uncertainty Over Certain Misery 00:13:48 Becoming a Plan A Thinker 00:15:36 Stacking Skills to Increase Your Value 00:20:27 What Steven Looks For When Investing 00:25:48 Hiring and Why People Are Your Greatest Asset 00:31:36 Breaking Paper Walls and Asking Why 00:36:41 Nir Eyal on Overcoming Distraction 00:40:54 The 16 Chip Rule for Prioritizing Time 00:43:21 Working With Failure and Experimentation 00:50:23 Steven’s Most Valuable Mistake 00:53:05 Finding Your Version of a Well Lived Life Follow Rachel here: https://www.instagram.com/ms_rach/ Follow Steven Bartlett here: https://www.instagram.com/steven/
• #46: Infertility, Miscarriage & Quiet Grief 08.10.2025 48นาที

  Infertility is more common than we think; and it doesn’t just mean struggling to get pregnant. It can also mean waiting for years. Losing a pregnancy. Trying, again and again, with no answers. It’s a kind of grief that lives quietly in the background of so many lives…and often, no one talks about it. In this heartfelt conversation, I sit with Shumin Lin; litigator at Drew & Napier and President of Fertility Support SG. She began IVF at 29 and experienced miscarriage before becoming a mother of two. She shares what it was like to navigate this path before anyone around her was talking about it, and how that pain led her to build a safe space for others. This episode is for anyone who’s walked this road, or loves someone who has. Because this, too, is motherhood. And no one should have to walk it alone. 00:00 Introduction 01:31 Shumin’s Journey: Facing Infertility at 29 04:59 Redefining Infertility: What It Really Means 05:48 Understanding IVF and the Emotional Toll 07:58 Rachel’s Story: Confronting Secondary Infertility 09:03 The Unspoken Grief: Shumin’s Miscarriage Journey 17:00 The Partner’s Role in Navigating Loss 19:08 Letting Go of Control and Unlearning Stigmas 23:27 How to Support a Friend Walking Through Infertility 28:37 The Weight of Expectations and Societal Pressure on Women 32:16 The Heart Behind Fertility Support Singapore 38:15 Launching Singapore’s First Workplace Fertility Guide 43:43 A Message to Her Younger Self: Hold On 46:00 Final Reflections Follow Rachel here: https://www.instagram.com/ms_rach/ Follow Fertility Support Singapore here: https://www.instagram.com/fertilitysupport.sg/ Find out more about Fertility Support Singapore here: https://fertilitysupport.sg/
• #45: Rebecca Lim: Lessons From Heartbreak, Motherhood & Fame 11.08.2025 1ชม. 8นาที

  In one of her most open conversations yet, award-winning actress Rebecca Lim reflects on the lessons she’s learned from heartbreak, motherhood, and life in the public eye.From childhood dreams and early imposter syndrome to the role that changed everything, Rebecca shares the sacrifices, self-doubt, and resilience it’s taken to sustain a career under constant scrutiny. She opens up about friendship changes, public criticism, and the private grief of losing her father, and how each chapter shaped the woman she is today.We also explore motherhood’s transformative impact, the realities of ‘mom guilt,’ and her evolving definitions of beauty, success, and boundaries.This is Rebecca Lim as you’ve never heard her before; honest, deeply human, and full of wisdom for anyone learning to let go, start again, and find peace.00:00 Introduction01:17 Rapid Fire with Rebecca Lim05:24 Meet Rebecca: Childhood, School Days & First Acting Dreams09:39 Battling Imposter Syndrome in the Early Years14:43 Facing Negativity, Criticism & Self-Doubt15:53 The Quiet Sacrifices Behind the Success16:52 The Career-Changing Role That Defined Her19:31 If She Could Go Back: Advice to Her Younger Self20:40 Running on Empty: Motherhood’s First Impact23:44 Rediscovering Herself After Becoming a Mother26:50 Weathering Public Scrutiny & Staying True29:16 Choosing Silence & Protecting Her Peace33:04 Navigating Friendship Changes & Building Healthy Boundaries35:57 Losing Her Father: A Silent Grief42:24 Her Hardest Role Yet: Motherhood49:14 Post-Maternity Comeback to Acting52:04 Managing ‘Mom Guilt’ After Returning to Work55:58 Redefining Success on Her Own Terms57:56 Rethinking Beauty Standards in Entertainment01:01:21 To My Younger Self: You Don’t Have to Be a Shooting Star01:02:39 The Non-Negotiable Boundaries She Lives By01:03:43 Learning from Past Mistakes01:05:14 Final Reflections & TakeawaysFollow Rachel here: https://www.instagram.com/ms_rach/Follow Rebecca here: https://www.instagram.com/limrebecca/
• #44: President of Microsoft Asia: Lessons from My Mum, Asia & Leading 30,000 People 14.07.2025 43นาที

  In this soulful and wide-ranging conversation, Rodrigo Kede Lima, President of Microsoft Asia, reflects on the people, places, and pivotal lessons that have shaped who he is today. From the quiet strength of his trailblazing mother to the humbling experience of starting over in Asia, and the responsibility of leading 30,000 people across cultures, Rodrigo shares what it truly means to lead with purpose, humility, and heart.We discuss:The values his mother and grandfather instilled in himWhat starting over in Asia taught him about leadershipHow he stays grounded while leading at scaleHis views on hierarchy, culture, and human-first systemsWhat AI will demand of future leadersUnlearning, wellness, and the second mountainWhy legacy is about leaving people better than you found them00:00 Introduction01:08 Meet Rodrigo: Childhood, Curiosity & Dreams of Medicine05:14 The Legacy of His Mother and Grandfather07:13 Core Beliefs That Shaped Rodrigo’s Leadership10:00 Bold Career Moves & Embracing Discomfort12:35 Starting Over in Asia: Humility, Curiosity & Reinvention14:59 Wellness Routines That Keep Rodrigo Grounded20:07 Leading 30,000 People: Culture, Connection & Systems24:07 Asia’s Rise: From Manufacturing Hub to Innovation Powerhouse26:44 The Values We Must Hold Onto in the AI Era29:07 What Fatherhood Taught Rodrigo About Learning & Letting Go32:49 Where to Begin: Practical Steps for Embracing AI36:40 Beyond Boardrooms: Lessons from Parenting39:40 Redefining Purpose: Rodrigo on Legacy, Joy & Giving Back41:15 The Message Rodrigo Hopes to Leave Behind42:27 Closing ReflectionsFollow Rachel here: https://www.instagram.com/ms_rach/Follow Rodrigo here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodrigo-kede-lima-51941129/
• #43: Adrian Ang: What I Built Almost Cost Me Who I Am 30.06.2025 1ชม. 6นาที

  You may know him as “Xiao Ming”, the funny guy behind the shades, the face of SGAG. But in this conversation, I sat with Adrian Ang, the man behind the persona.Adrian and I go way back to our school days. And over the past few years, we’ve reconnected, not over memes or milestones, but over the messy, honest work of untangling who we are from what we’ve built.In this episode, Adrian opens up about the cost of becoming someone the world applauds, and the quiet courage it took to start unbecoming what no longer served him.We talked about:The moment his son asked him to take off the sunglassesHow he nearly lost himself trying to keep it all togetherDrinking to escape, leading while empty, and hurting the people he loved mostAnd what it really means to heal — slowly, gently, from the inside out00:00 Introduction: The Man Behind the Persona01:37 Adrian Today: Diving Beneath the Surface04:54 Kampung Childhood & Free-Spirited Beginnings06:50 Becoming “Xiao Ming”: The Internet Persona Is Born09:20 When the Character Overshadows the Creator11:22 The Cost of Compartmentalising Who We Are16:17 Chasing Impact, Validation & Approval22:37 What Success Really Cost Him25:56 Breaking Point: The Spiral He Couldn’t Ignore30:31 Shutting Down, Pushing Love Away34:53 Reclaiming Himself, One Layer at a Time38:58 The Practice of Healing & Rewiring44:12 The Hardest Work: Sitting With Discomfort48:54 Learning to Find Peace Within51:29 Redefining Success, Impact & Enoughness56:58 To My Younger Self: It’s Okay to Feel01:02:58 If His Eyes Could Speak…01:04:08 Closing Reflections: The Journey Back to SelfFollow Rachel here: https://www.instagram.com/ms_rach/Follow Adrian here: https://www.instagram.com/adrian.xiaoming/
• #42: Rolf Dobelli on Thinking Clearly in a Noisy World 20.05.2025 31นาที

  Best known for The Art of Thinking Clearly, Rolf Dobelli has helped millions of readers sharpen their thinking and sidestep the traps that cloud our judgment. In his latest book The Not-To-Do List, he flips traditional self-help on its head; arguing that the key to a good life isn’t doing more, but doing less of what doesn’t serve us.In this candid conversation, Rolf shares practical ways to reclaim your attention and energy: how to stop overcommitting, why reliability matters more than talent, when to quit (and why it’s not a failure), and what he’s learned from consciously stepping away from the news cycle.This episode is a must-listen for anyone feeling stretched thin, trapped in a productivity loop, or simply ready to cut through the noise.00:00 Introduction 01:04 Rolf Dobelli’s Not-To-Do Habit: Overconfidence 02:44 Rolf’s Study on Cognitive Biases 05:14 The Sunk-Cost Fallacy’s Impact on Our Decisions 07:22 How to Avoid the Manipulation of Reciprocity 10:12 Rolf’s Inspiration Behind ‘The Not-To-Do List’12:44 Why Reliability Outweighs Brilliance 14:46 Knowing When to Quit or Persevere 18:33 Why To-Do-Lists Don’t Work 20:12 The Magic of Setting Low Expectations 23:54 Why Rolf Stopped Reading the News 27:25 Rolf Dobelli’s Mission to Sharpen the Quality of Our Thoughts 29:15 The Billboard Question: Rolf Dobelli’s Message30:22 Episode Closing Follow Rachel here: https://www.instagram.com/ms_rach/Stay up to date with Rolf Dobelli here: https://www.dobelli.com/en/Purchase 'The Art of Thinking Clearly: Better Thinking, Better Decisions' online here.Purchase 'The Not to Do List: The Surprisingly Simple Art of Success' online here.
• #41: From DBS Intern to CEO: Tan Su Shan on Redefining Leadership at the Top 06.05.2025 27นาที

  Tan Su Shan’s story is more than a career trajectory; it’s a masterclass in resilience, reinvention, and redefining what it means to lead. In this special and intimate conversation during Love, Bonito's IWD event, Su Shan, now the CEO of DBS, reflects on her journey from intern to the top of one of Asia’s most influential banks.She opens up about the moments of self-doubt, the lessons learned from “demotions,” and how she learned to command a room without changing who she is. From cultivating clarity and conviction, to breaking through the “sticky floor” that holds many women back, Su Shan shares powerful truths about ambition, presence, and the price of leadership.Whether you're a rising leader, a seasoned professional, or simply navigating what it means to take up space in your own life, this conversation is filled with wisdom, warmth, and actionable insight.00:00 Introduction00:38 From Intern to CEO: Su Shan’s Early Days at DBS02:04 When a “Demotion” Becomes a Turning Point07:16 Facing Self-Doubt and Leading Through Discomfort08:57 Learning to Command the Room with Confidence12:02 Grounding Leadership in Customer-Centricity14:08 How “WRECKOON” Shaped Her Perspective as a Leader15:41 The One Leadership Skill That Will Define the Next Decade17:57 The Best Investments Su Shan Has Made in Life19:28 Q&A: Building Clarity and Communicating with Impact21:07 Q&A: Finding the Right Mentors and Sponsors23:59 Q&A: What It Really Takes to Build Great Teams26:15 Final Reflections: What Leadership Means TodayFollow Rachel here: https://www.instagram.com/ms_rach/Follow Su Shan here: linkedin.com/in/tan-su-shan-50296732
• #40: Inside the Adolescent Mind: Belonging, Identity & Emotional Survival 14.04.2025 56นาที

  What’s really going on inside the minds and hearts of today’s teenagers?In this powerful and eye-opening episode, I sit down with Dr Cheryl Loh, one of Singapore’s leading adolescent psychiatrists and a mother to two teens, to explore the inner emotional world of adolescence: a time of searching, shaping, and often silent struggle.We unpack what teens are truly longing for, not just connection, but a deep sense of belonging, identity, and emotional safety. Dr Cheryl shares why so many adolescents turn to the digital world to cope, why shame is such a potent and often misunderstood force during these years, and how adults can begin to show up in ways that don’t just manage behaviour, but meet real emotional needs.What makes this conversation truly special is that it doesn’t stop at insight. Dr Cheryl offers practical, actionable ways for parents, caregivers, and educators to reconnect, rebuild trust, and offer teens the safe, anchored presence they may not know how to ask for.00:00 Introduction01:28 Dr Cheryl Loh on Championing Adolescent Mental Health in Singapore04:24 Why Teen Mental Health Deserves More Attention10:13 Are Our Teens Simply Misunderstood?14:37 Parent Guilt, Anxious Parenting & the Pressure to Get It Right17:33 Teens vs the Internet: Navigating Influence, Shame & Identity22:37 How to Stay Present in Your Teen’s Life — Without Pushing Them Away27:16 Seeing the Good: Shifting from Fixing to Connecting30:03 What Increases the Risk of Mental Health Struggles in Adolescents?34:36 The Role Educators & Schools Play in Teen Emotional Safety37:55 The Social Media Trap: Why Teens Seek Validation Online39:42 Showing Up for Your Teen & Playing the Long Game44:17 Netflix’s Adolescence: When Emotional Needs Go Unmet46:45 Why Healthy Parent-Teen Relationships Matter More Than Ever48:53 Helping Teens Build an Inner Compass in a Noisy World50:52 The Power of Good-Enough Parenting52:57 What Gives Dr Cheryl Hope About This Generation54:40 The Billboard Question: “Say Hello to Your Kid Today”56:07 Episode ClosingFollow Rachel here: https://www.instagram.com/ms_rach/You can book an appointment with Dr. Cheryl Loh at Garden Grove Clinic. Find out more here: https://gardengroveclinic.sg/about-us/
• #39: Don’t Just Lead — Communicate With Intention. Wes Kao Shows You How 01.04.2025 37นาที

  In this powerful episode, Wes Kao; co-founder of Maven and pioneer of cohort-based learning, joins us to explore what separates good leaders from great ones, and why intentional communication is at the heart of it all.We dive into everything from how to sharpen your judgment and make faster, better decisions, to why concise communication isn't just efficient, it's essential. Wes unpacks her signature concept of “avoiding negative inception” and shows how certain well-meaning phrases can actually sabotage your message and plant doubt.We also talk about how to turn worries into action, why owning your strengths is a quiet superpower, and what it looks like to challenge your own thoughts with intention. Wes shares her biggest leadership challenge to date, and how she learned to balance transparency with confidence, especially when leading through uncertainty.If you're a leader, creator, or communicator of any kind, this conversation is packed with tactical wisdom that will shift how you speak, lead, and show up.Topics we cover:The communication traps even smart leaders fall intoWhat it means to “incept negative ideas” and how to avoid itWhy saying less can help you lead more effectivelyThe underrated power of self-awareness and reframingHow to personalise your communication to truly connectTune in and learn how to lead not just with vision, but with voice.00:00 Introduction00:55 Wes Kao’s Passion for Education 02:08 Good vs Great Leadership: What Sets Them Apart?04:12 How to Sharpen Your Judgement and Make Better Decisions 08:28 The Importance of Concise Communication 10:24 Stop Incepting Negative Ideas: How to Protect Your Message14:41 Turning Your Worries Into Action 18:54 The Beauty of Owning Your Strengths 22:53 Saying ‘No’ to Unproductive Struggles 26:33 The Art of Challenging Your Own Thoughts 29:51 Wes Kao’s Biggest Leadership Challenge and Lessons Learned 31:59 Transparency vs. Confidence: Communication as Leaders 35:05 The Importance of Personalising Your Communication 36:25 Episode Closing Follow Rachel here: https://www.instagram.com/ms_rach/Follow Wes Kao here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/weskaoSubscribe to her newsletter here: https://newsletter.weskao.com/