Who We Are with Rachel Lim

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.Chapters00:00:00 A Year of Reflection with Leo00:02:14 Fatherhood, Presence, and Breaking Old Patterns00:06:21 Finding Joy Again Through Cooking and Showing Up Consistently00:07:58 Starting Over at 52: Building Something New from Scratch00:12:02 Marriage Under Pressure and Choosing to Stay00:14:00 Learning to Stay Open During Hard Conversations00:17:01 Letting Go of Ego and the Need for Control00:20:58 Becoming More Open and Staying Teachable00:28:24 When Self-Worth Is Shaken and Slowly Rebuilt00:31:16 Closing ReflectionsFollow 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

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.Chapters00:00:00 A Check-In as We Step Into 202600:02:53 Moving Through a Full Year Without Losing Myself00:06:08 Our Marriage, What This Season Asked of Us00:07:32 Learning to Stay With Discomfort00:08:41 The Part of 2025 That Challenged Me the Most00:11:23 The Small Routines and Circles That Carried Me00:13:46 What Misalignment Taught Me About Pain and Listening Earlier00:16:26 The Word I’m Carrying Into This New Year00:17:38 How I’m Thinking About the Podcast in 202600:18:50 A Few Closing Thoughts Before We GoFollow 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. 

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.Chapters00:00:00 Introduction00:01:31 The Childhood That Shaped Steven Bartlett00:05:58 Delusion and Self Belief as Prerequisites for Success00:09:28 Choosing Uncertainty Over Certain Misery00:13:48 Becoming a Plan A Thinker00:15:36 Stacking Skills to Increase Your Value00:20:27 What Steven Looks For When Investing00:25:48 Hiring and Why People Are Your Greatest Asset00:31:36 Breaking Paper Walls and Asking Why00:36:41 Nir Eyal on Overcoming Distraction00:40:54 The 16 Chip Rule for Prioritizing Time00:43:21 Working With Failure and Experimentation00:50:23 Steven’s Most Valuable Mistake00:53:05 Finding Your Version of a Well Lived LifeFollow Rachel here: https://www.instagram.com/ms_rach/Follow Steven Bartlett here: https://www.instagram.com/steven/

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 with Infertility at 29 04:59 Redefining Infertility: What It Actually Means 05:48 Understanding IVF and How It Works 07:58 Rachel’s Story: Facing Secondary Infertility 09:03 The Unspoken Grief: Shumin’s Miscarriage Journey 17:00 The Partner’s Role in Navigating Loss 19:08 Unlearning Stigmas and Letting Go of Control 23:27 How to Support a Friend Facing 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 Fertility Guidebook & Supporting Women in Workplaces 43:43 To My 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/

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 Introduction 01:17 Rapid Fire with Rebecca Lim 05:24 Meet Rebecca: Childhood, School Days & First Acting Dreams 09:39 Battling Imposter Syndrome in the Early Years 14:43 Facing Negativity, Criticism & Self-Doubt 15:53 The Quiet Sacrifices Behind the Success 16:52 The Career-Changing Role That Defined Her 19:31 If She Could Go Back: Advice to Her Younger Self 20:40 Running on Empty: Motherhood’s First Impact 23:44 Rediscovering Herself After Becoming a Mother 26:50 Weathering Public Scrutiny & Staying True 29:16 Choosing Silence & Protecting Her Peace 33:04 Navigating Friendship Changes & Building Healthy Boundaries 35:57 Losing Her Father: A Silent Grief 42:24 Her Hardest Role Yet: Motherhood 49:14 Post-Maternity Comeback to Acting 52:04 Managing ‘Mom Guilt’ After Returning to Work 55:58 Redefining Success on Her Own Terms 57:56 Rethinking Beauty Standards in Entertainment 01:01:21 To My Younger Self: You Don’t Have to Be a Shooting Star 01:02:39 The Non-Negotiable Boundaries She Lives By 01:03:43 Learning from Past Mistakes 01:05:14 Final Reflections & Takeaways Follow Rachel here: https://www.instagram.com/ms_rach/ Follow Rebecca here: https://www.instagram.com/limrebecca/

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/

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 sunglasses – How he nearly lost himself trying to keep it all together – Drinking to escape, leading while empty, and hurting the people he loved most – And what it really means to heal — slowly, gently, from the inside out ——— 00:00 Introduction: The Man Behind the Persona 01:37 Adrian Today: Diving Beneath the Surface 04:54 Kampung Childhood & Free-Spirited Beginnings 06:50 Becoming “Xiao Ming”: The Internet Persona Is Born 09:20 When the Character Overshadows the Creator 11:22 The Cost of Compartmentalising Who We Are 16:17 Chasing Impact, Validation & Approval 22:37 What Success Really Cost Him 25:56 Breaking Point: The Spiral He Couldn’t Ignore 30:31 Shutting Down, Pushing Love Away 34:53 Reclaiming Himself, One Layer at a Time 38:58 The Practice of Healing & Rewiring 44:12 The Hardest Work: Sitting With Discomfort 48:54 Learning to Find Peace Within 51:29 Redefining Success, Impact & Enoughness 56:58 To My Younger Self: It’s Okay to Feel 01:02:58 If His Eyes Could Speak… 01:04:08 Closing Reflections: The Journey Back to Self Follow Rachel here: https://www.instagram.com/ms_rach/ Follow Adrian here: https://www.instagram.com/adrian.xiaoming/

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 Message 30:22 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: https://singapore.kinokuniya.com/bw/9781444759549 Purchase 'The Not to Do List: The Surprisingly Simple Art of Success' online here: https://singapore.kinokuniya.com/bw/9781805464228

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

Dr. Cheryl Loh, a leading adolescent psychiatrist from Singapore and a mother of two, delves into the complex emotional landscape of today’s teenagers. She discusses the profound need for belonging, identity, and emotional safety, emphasizing why many seek solace online. Cheryl offers invaluable parenting insights, focusing on how to truly connect with teens by fostering open communication and building trust. Highlighting the importance of consistent presence and positive reinforcement, she empowers parents to meet their children’s emotional needs effectively.