EDIT HISTORY

What does it take to build a podcast that's designed to outlast you? Keith Yap, host of The Front Row Podcast, grew his show to 15K subscribers in under a year - not by chasing trends, but by doing the opposite. His mission: create a living archive of Singapore's brightest minds on geopolitics, economics, and technology. A time capsule for the next generation of Singaporeans. In this conversation, Keith reflects on how his role has evolved from nervous first-timer to confident interlocutor - someone who doesn't just ask questions, but challenges, supplements, and connects ideas across a growing catalog of diplomats, economists, historians, and technologists. We also get into: how he landed his very first guest (Ambassador Chan Heng Chee), why he thinks Singapore is two degrees from anyone, his personal learning stack, and his bigger vision - making Singapore the intellectual capital of Southeast Asia. TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Trailer & Opening (01:29) The Front Row Podcast (03:03) Getting High-Calibre Guests (07:24) The Cringey Early Episodes (09:37) How Keith's Role as a Podcaster Has Evolved (12:11) What Makes a Conversation Deep and Meaningful (14:34) Editing & Episode Fidelity (16:18) The Biggest Shift in Keith's Hosting Style (19:50) Stress-Testing Your Own Views as a Host (21:38) How Genuine Curiosity Is Developed (25:00) The Questions Great Thinkers Ask (31:16) Guest Criteria, Outreach, and Saying No (34:47) Personal Learning Curriculum (38:29) The Big Question Keith Is Trying to Answer (42:33) Keith's Listener Demographics (43:50) Where His Interest in Geopolitics & Policy Began (45:21) Quality of Thought and Articulation (47:15) Measuring Impact (54:16) Keith's Advice for Podcasters and Creators CONNECT WITH KEITH YAP YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@keithyap65 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keithyap1 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-yap Website: https://www.ykeith.com CONNECT WITH CHERYL LAU Website: https://cheryllau.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@cheryltheory Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheryltheory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryllau WORK WITH CHERYL LAU I produce distinctive and deeply resonant podcasts for leaders and organizations who want their content to command attention, spark meaningful conversations, and attract high-value opportunities. I ensure your podcast isn't just another show in the feed - it's an asset that elevates your authority and moves your work forward. Here are 3 ways we can work together: ✨ 1:1 Editorial Podcast Production ✨ Corporate Podcast Producing & Consulting ✨ Hosting for Corporate Shows Schedule a discovery call for us to explore what working together might look like: https://cheryllau.com/discovery CONTACT Please email [email protected] for business inquiries.

Claire Tan started her first business at 17 - not because she had a plan, but because she refused to work in a system where someone else decided how far she could go. In this episode, Claire walks us through how she built Ladyy Claire Makeup into one of Singapore's first makeup-only bridal companies, pivoted into luxury real estate during COVID, and quietly became one of the most respected agents working with high-net-worth clients - all while being a self-described introvert who hides behind the curtains at parties. We get into: why she broke her scholarship bond and never looked back, how she practiced three hairstyles a day and cried through all of it, how she lied about her age to land early clients (then revealed the truth after the job), what it actually takes to sell $3-5M properties as a 21-year-old, and the one belief she's still working on unlearning - that her self-worth equals her output. TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Trailer & Opening (02:20) Starting a makeup business in Singapore at 17 (06:10) Why Claire chose entrepreneurship over a "safe" career (10:34) Building resilience before success (12:33) From makeup empire to real estate (14:03) The skills Claire had to grind to improve (17:25) Being an introvert in people-facing businesses (19:17) What it really takes to succeed in real estate (23:45) Building confidence by holding yourself to high standards (25:27) What Claire is actively working on as a leader now (28:49) A mindset shift for those still figuring things out (30:47) "Good advice" Claire chose not to follow - and why (35:13) Being underestimated in her business & career (40:35) The belief Claire had to unlearn as success grew (42:55) Closing CONNECT WITH CLAIRE TAN Main Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clairetankt Make Up Company Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ladyyclairemakeup Real Estate Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ladyyclaireproperties CONNECT WITH CHERYL LAU Website: https://cheryllau.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@cheryltheory Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheryltheory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryllau WORK WITH CHERYL LAU I produce distinctive and deeply resonant podcasts for leaders and organizations who want their content to command attention, spark meaningful conversations, and attract high-value opportunities. I ensure your podcast isn't just another show in the feed - it's an asset that elevates your authority and moves your work forward. Here are 3 ways we can work together: ✨ 1:1 Editorial Podcast Production ✨ Corporate Podcast Producing & Consulting ✨ Hosting for Corporate Shows Schedule a discovery call for us to explore what working together might look like: https://cheryllau.com/discovery CONTACT Please email [email protected] for business inquiries.

When you've always been the straight-A student, quitting feels like a character flaw - not a decision. In this episode, my friend Jennifer Ho turns the tables and interviews me. We go through my three-page resume and look for everything it doesn't show: the shame of quitting law school, my mum telling me I needed to "bring harmony back into the family," and then quitting a PhD years later - terrified of becoming a two-time quitter. This is a conversation about high-functioning doubt, outsourcing your identity to systems, and how I eventually stopped making decisions based on what would make me look good - and started making ones I could actually stand behind. TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Trailer (00:47) Opening (01:47) The story my resume can't tell (06:02) How I used to define success (06:46) Why law school and a PhD didn't actually fit me (11:38) How long I knew something had to change - before I quit (15:21) The strengths I carried through every pivot (20:31) How do you know when something isn't right - even if you're good at it? (23:27) The skill gaps I'm actively working on now (26:47) How I'm thinking about future-proofing my career (30:53) My edge vs and the part of my work that still scares me (32:21) What an irresponsible career risk looks like (33:29) What will never need to be on my resume (36:34) Closing CONNECT WITH CHERYL LAU Website: https://cheryllau.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@cheryltheory Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheryltheory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryllau WORK WITH CHERYL LAU I produce distinctive and deeply resonant podcasts for leaders and organizations who want their content to command attention, spark meaningful conversations, and attract high-value opportunities. I ensure your podcast isn't just another show in the feed - it's an asset that elevates your authority and moves your work forward. Here are 3 ways we can work together: ✨ 1:1 Editorial Podcast Production ✨ Corporate Podcast Producing & Consulting ✨ Hosting for Corporate Shows Schedule a discovery call for us to explore what working together might look like: https://cheryllau.com/discovery CONTACT Please email [email protected] for business inquiries.

For five years, I've been podcasting. Side Hustle Club. Thought Leader Club. Now EDIT HISTORY. And for most of that time, I built it while quietly wondering if I was actually qualified to do any of it. In this episode, my friend Rae Fung interviews me - and we go deep into the parts that don't show up in the highlights: why I rebranded twice, what I learned when my most casual episode outperformed my most carefully crafted one, and how I kept saying yes to opportunities I felt completely unready for. TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Trailer (00:49) Opening (03:11) What "success" and credibility meant in the early days (06:13) External validation vs internal motivation (09:43) Advice and templates that didn't actually fit (12:29) The moment Cheryl realized where her real value was (16:09) What she's most proud of from the early iterations (18:29) Letting people into the thought process behind the work (23:49) Seeing Cheryl's thought process (26:39) The fears and resistance behind going all-in on podcasting (31:16) What Cheryl wants to deepen and sharpen in 2026 (34:38) What Cheryl is working on deepening in 2026 (36:51) A message to little Cheryl (37:52) If every body of work has a draft - what's the current one? (39:19) Closing CONNECT WITH CHERYL LAU Website: https://cheryllau.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@cheryltheory Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheryltheory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryllau WORK WITH CHERYL LAU I produce distinctive and deeply resonant podcasts for leaders and organizations who want their content to command attention, spark meaningful conversations, and attract high-value opportunities. I ensure your podcast isn't just another show in the feed - it's an asset that elevates your authority and moves your work forward. Here are 3 ways we can work together: ✨ 1:1 Editorial Podcast Production ✨ Corporate Podcast Producing & Consulting ✨ Hosting for Corporate Shows Schedule a discovery call for us to explore what working together might look like: https://cheryllau.com/discovery CONTACT Please email [email protected] for business inquiries.

My podcast won two awards at the 2025 Asia Podcast Awards. In this solo episode, I break down what I think actually makes a podcast stand out. TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Introduction (03:31) The Current State of Podcasts (05:12) Show Concept (09:29) Differentiation (15:14) Consistency (18:23) Success as a Podcaster (20:30) What Awards Don't Measure CONNECT WITH CHERYL LAU Website: https://cheryllau.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@cheryltheory Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheryltheory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryllau WORK WITH CHERYL LAU I produce distinctive and deeply resonant podcasts for leaders and organizations who want their content to command attention, spark meaningful conversations, and attract high-value opportunities. I ensure your podcast isn't just another show in the feed - it's an asset that elevates your authority and moves your work forward. Here are 3 ways we can work together: ✨ 1:1 Editorial Podcast Production ✨ Corporate Podcast Producing & Consulting ✨ Hosting for Corporate Shows Schedule a discovery call for us to explore what working together might look like: https://cheryllau.com/discovery CONTACT Please email [email protected] for business inquiries.

Everyone commends you for being brave when you start over. But no one tells you that your reinvention might also look… ridiculous. For our guest today, that looked like explaining to people - very seriously - that she quit her career as a lawyer… to start a podcast as a cat. Because that's the thing about starting something new: More often than not, it doesn't look polished or profound. It looks like curiosity, experimentation - and sometimes, doing something absolutely absurd, but quintessentially you. Today's guest, Iman Ibrahim, embodies that exact spirit. After nearly two decades in law, she left her career behind to rebuild from scratch - first as a coach, and then as the creator of I Am the Advocat, a podcast where a cat becomes the unlikely voice for real stories of burnout, bullying, and survival in the legal world. This episode is about what it really takes to start again, and what becomes possible when we finally stop performing who we're "supposed" to be. TIMETAMPS (00:00) Introduction (01:40) Quitting law after 19 years (02:21) I am the Advocat (05:17) Judgment from colleagues (06:46) Support for the cause (09:08) Introducing the (c)lawyers (12:54) Building an episode (15:34) Iman's EDIT HISTORY (17:29) Building an episode (cont.) (18:43) The constraints of law (23:43) Starting over and self doubts (28:38) Iman's inner self critic (34:19) One year later (39:31) Actionable takeaways CONNECT WITH IMAN IBRAHIM Instagram (Personal): https://www.instagram.com/imanisoverit Instagram (I am the Advocat): https://www.instagram.com/iamtheadvocat Instagram (Over It Club): https://www.instagram.com/overit.club YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iamtheadvocat LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iman-ibrahim/ CONNECT WITH CHERYL LAU Website: https://cheryllau.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@cheryltheory Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheryltheory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryllau WORK WITH CHERYL LAU I produce distinctive and deeply resonant podcasts for leaders and organizations who want their content to command attention, spark meaningful conversations, and attract high-value opportunities. I ensure your podcast isn't just another show in the feed - it's an asset that elevates your authority and moves your work forward. Here are 3 ways we can work together: ✨ 1:1 Editorial Podcast Production ✨ Corporate Podcast Producing & Consulting ✨ Hosting for Corporate Shows Schedule a discovery call for us to explore what working together might look like: https://cheryllau.com/discovery CONTACT Please email [email protected] for business inquiries.

When Aiken Chia was broke and ready to walk away from media after six years of rejection, a friend paid his phone bill so he wouldn't miss a callback. That single act changed everything. In this episode, Aiken sits down with us to go beyond the Food King years and the viral moments - including the video where he sat with his mum to unpack her 18-year affair on camera. We talk about what it costs to make something that personal, the values that have kept him grounded through success and betrayal, and why he still doesn't run mid-roll ads on YouTube even when the money would help. This is a conversation about what actually gives creative work longevity - and it's not the numbers. TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Introduction (01:30) Character matters more than talent (03:03) Being called fat (05:56) Aiken's insecurities (07:49) Being in survival mode (09:23) People who see your potential (11:57) The upwards trajectory (13:29) Why do others support Aiken (16:12) Being sincere (17:31) Executing your creative vision (20:00) How creators create impact (25:43) How Aiken is monetizing (26:57) Breaking out of the "food creator" box (29:59) What Aiken is working on right now (32:32) Going through a rough patch (36:27) Aiken interviews his mom (42:15) Guiding values as a creator (45:19) Actionable takeaways CONNECT WITH AIKEN CHIA YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AikenChiaMing Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aikenchia TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aikenchia CONNECT WITH CHERYL LAU Website: https://cheryllau.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@cheryltheory Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheryltheory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryllau WORK WITH CHERYL LAU I produce distinctive and deeply resonant podcasts for leaders and organizations who want their content to command attention, spark meaningful conversations, and attract high-value opportunities. I ensure your podcast isn't just another show in the feed - it's an asset that elevates your authority and moves your work forward. Here are 3 ways we can work together: ✨ 1:1 Editorial Podcast Production ✨ Corporate Podcast Producing & Consulting ✨ Hosting for Corporate Shows Schedule a discovery call for us to explore what working together might look like: https://cheryllau.com/discovery CONTACT Please email [email protected] for business inquiries.

When Ainul Md Razib first started posting about tech careers on TikTok, almost nobody in Singapore was doing it. No blueprint, no local creator to follow, no way of knowing if it would land. In this episode, Ainul - cybersecurity engineer at IBM and one of Singapore's first career-focused tech creators - opens up about what it actually takes to build something original in a space that doesn't have rules yet. We talk about why she's never done a salary breakdown video (it comes down to her faith and Malay cultural values around wealth), how she navigates telling her manager about her social media before starting every new job, and what the viral hits taught her about what she actually doesn't want to become. TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Introduction (01:21) Being taken seriously (04:39) Creator pressures (07:50) Complexities as a Muslim creator (13:35) Setting parameters (17:36) Doubting your own work (20:35) Reviewing Ainul's past content (24:33) Balancing a full time job with content creation (29:37) Chasing external validation (32:32) Misconceptions about you (35:51) Why do you do what you do? (39:52) Actionable takeaways CONNECT WITH AINUL MD RAZIB Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ainlovescode/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ainlovescode Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/5UvDywqpB6Gzv428oNUbAI Website: https://www.ainlovescode.com/ CONNECT WITH CHERYL LAU Website: https://cheryllau.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@cheryltheory Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheryltheory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryllau WORK WITH CHERYL LAU I produce distinctive and deeply resonant podcasts for leaders and organizations who want their content to command attention, spark meaningful conversations, and attract high-value opportunities. I ensure your podcast isn't just another show in the feed - it's an asset that elevates your authority and moves your work forward. Here are 3 ways we can work together: ✨ 1:1 Editorial Podcast Production ✨ Corporate Podcast Producing & Consulting ✨ Hosting for Corporate Shows Schedule a discovery call for us to explore what working together might look like: https://cheryllau.com/discovery CONTACT Please email [email protected] for business inquiries.

For years, Simon Alexander Ong told his strict Asian father that the job was "going okay." What he didn't say was that he'd already quietly started coaching clients on the side - building a business in secret, evenings and weekends, until he had three paying clients and a decision to make. Today, Simon is a bestselling author, international keynote speaker, and one of the most-watched creators in his space - his video "I'm 40. If You're In Your 20s or 30s, Watch This" has 3.9M views. In this episode, we go behind the highlight reel: the double life, the conversations he had with his father once he finally had something to show, and why he says the biggest mistake career-changers make is quitting cold with no foundation. TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Introduction (01:26) Being boxed in by titles (03:35) Becoming a brand (06:14) Simon's objections (08:52) A partner who supports your goals (15:44) The pressure of having it together (18:05) A compelling vision (19:49) Learning vs being an expert (23:05) Creativity as a differentiator (25:18) What Simon is working on (26:41) Transferable skills (27:40) Does your family get what you do? (31:14) Should I quit my job? (35:00) How to do it all (40:25) 3 Tips for entrepreneurs & creators (46:01) Actionable takeaways CONNECT WITH SIMON ALEXANDER ONG YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@simonalexandero Website: https://simonalexanderong.com Book: https://simonalexanderong.com/book Newsletter: https://simonalexanderong.com/shots-of-energy Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simonalexandero LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonalexanderong CONNECT WITH CHERYL LAU Website: https://cheryllau.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@cheryltheory Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheryltheory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryllau WORK WITH CHERYL LAU I produce distinctive and deeply resonant podcasts for leaders and organizations who want their content to command attention, spark meaningful conversations, and attract high-value opportunities. I ensure your podcast isn't just another show in the feed - it's an asset that elevates your authority and moves your work forward. Here are 3 ways we can work together: ✨ 1:1 Editorial Podcast Production ✨ Corporate Podcast Producing & Consulting ✨ Hosting for Corporate Shows Schedule a discovery call for us to explore what working together might look like: https://cheryllau.com/discovery CONTACT Please email [email protected] for business inquiries.

In this unscripted bonus episode, I answer delightfully weird and deeply personal questions from friends - Covering everything from past insecurities, podcast advice, to how my friendships have evolved. TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Introduction (0:35) What crime would you commit if it were legal for 12 hours? (0:59) If you were a cult leader, what's your cult's name and aesthetic? (01:41) What's the weirdest compliment that would absolutely make your day? (03:03) You're suddenly famous for something stupid. What did you do? (03:44) If you woke up as a brand new person, where would you want to live? (04:20) If you woke up as a brand new person, what job do you want to do (05:08) If you woke up as a brand new person, what superpower will you have? (05:22) What would you tell baby podcaster cheryl? (07:12) If we caught you doomscrolling, what would you be watching? (09:16) What used to be an insecurity that no longer is? (10:26) What is an insecurity you still have? (11:15) What is your pet peeve/most annoying trait about a person? (11:44) Which emoji do you spiritually identify with? (12:27) What are 3 telling "first impression" signs of a podcast that is likely to be successful? (14:52) How has your friendships evolved overtime? CONNECT WITH CHERYL LAU Website: https://cheryllau.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@cheryltheory Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheryltheory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryllau WORK WITH CHERYL LAU I produce distinctive and deeply resonant podcasts for leaders and organizations who want their content to command attention, spark meaningful conversations, and attract high-value opportunities. I ensure your podcast isn't just another show in the feed - it's an asset that elevates your authority and moves your work forward. Here are 3 ways we can work together: ✨ 1:1 Editorial Podcast Production ✨ Corporate Podcast Producing & Consulting ✨ Hosting for Corporate Shows Schedule a discovery call for us to explore what working together might look like: https://cheryllau.com/discovery CONTACT Please email [email protected] for business inquiries.

Most people think podcast production is editing. Clean the audio, add the music, hit publish. But here's what that misses: if the pre-production is weak, no amount of editing will save the episode. In this solo episode, I take you through the four stages of producing an authority-building podcast - the way I do it for organizations like the Institute of Mental Health Singapore and established shows like The Financial Coconut. If you're building a podcast - or wondering why your existing one isn't landing - this one's for you. TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Introduction (02:09) Stage 1: Pre-Production (08:58) Stage 2: Recording (11:44) Stage 3: Editorial Post-Production (15:19) Stage 4: Technical Post-Production CONNECT WITH CHERYL LAU Website: https://cheryllau.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@cheryltheory Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheryltheory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryllau WORK WITH CHERYL LAU I produce distinctive and deeply resonant podcasts for leaders and organizations who want their content to command attention, spark meaningful conversations, and attract high-value opportunities. I ensure your podcast isn't just another show in the feed - it's an asset that elevates your authority and moves your work forward. Here are 3 ways we can work together: ✨ 1:1 Editorial Podcast Production ✨ Corporate Podcast Producing & Consulting ✨ Hosting for Corporate Shows Schedule a discovery call for us to explore what working together might look like: https://cheryllau.com/discovery CONTACT Please email [email protected] for business inquiries.

A lot of us don't like how we sound. We cringe at our recorded voice, worry our accent makes us seem less credible, and sometimes never start at all because of it. Caitanya Tan - actress, host, voiceover artist, and content creator with over 200,000 followers on both TikTok and Instagram - has spent years being asked to explain and defend how she sounds. In this episode, she responds to a 300+ comment Reddit thread asking why Singapore podcasters are so cringe, breaks down what it actually means to represent your people, and shares the one line from her mentor that completely changed how she handles opinions. Oh, and she built all 200K followers using just her phone. The barrier to entry is low. The price, she says, is the audacity. TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Introduction (01:21) Cait's voice (02:57) Pressure to sound less Singaporean (04:45) How Cait learned to speak (06:35) Singlish isn't represented (08:16) Cait's past content (10:14) Feeling embarrassed by your accent or voice (15:03) Authenticity and using your voice (16:29) Cait's insecurities (18:13) Not trying because you're scared (21:43) Assumptions about Cait's success (25:20) Cait's morning routine (27:16) Doing everything with just a phone (27:58) Singaporean podcasts (33:31) Actionable Takeaways CONNECT WITH CAITANYA TAN Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caitofalltraits TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@caitofalltraits Website: https://www.caitanyatan.com CONNECT WITH CHERYL LAU Website: https://cheryllau.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@cheryltheory Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheryltheory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryllau WORK WITH CHERYL LAU I produce distinctive and deeply resonant podcasts for leaders and organizations who want their content to command attention, spark meaningful conversations, and attract high-value opportunities. I ensure your podcast isn't just another show in the feed - it's an asset that elevates your authority and moves your work forward. Here are 3 ways we can work together: ✨ 1:1 Editorial Podcast Production ✨ Corporate Podcast Producing & Consulting ✨ Hosting for Corporate Shows Schedule a discovery call for us to explore what working together might look like: https://cheryllau.com/discovery CONTACT Please email [email protected] for business inquiries.

What if the most important part of building something wasn't the strategy or the talent, but the willingness to keep going through the seasons when nothing seems to be working? Laurie Wang built a YouTube channel with nearly 200K subscribers. But before that, she ran a startup that failed, sat in what she calls the "liminal space" - that in-between period when you don't know what comes next - and had to learn how to keep going without knowing where she was going. In this conversation, we talk about what consistency actually builds (hint: it's not just a following), the failed supper club startup she launched after leaving Google, why she stopped comparing herself to creators ahead of her, and how her calendar became her most honest mirror of what she actually values. TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Introduction (01:06) What kept you going? (05:10) Laurie's insecurities (06:32) When your husband is also a YouTuber (10:00) Cultivating the entrepreneurial spark (14:45) Habits & decisions (16:01) Networking tips (21:38) AI vs Youtubers (25:05) A lesson from Laurie (26:35) Connecting the dots (28:44) A failed startup (31:01) Pickup yourself up after failure (33:20) Challenges outside of YouTube (36:56) Things you like & dislike about yourself (40:44) Building a business around your life (46:39) Actionable Takeaways CONNECT WITH LAURIE WANG YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lauriexwang Website: https://lauriewang.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauriewang/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamlauriewang/ CONNECT WITH CHERYL LAU Website: https://cheryllau.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@cheryltheory Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheryltheory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryllau WORK WITH CHERYL LAU I produce distinctive and deeply resonant podcasts for leaders and organizations who want their content to command attention, spark meaningful conversations, and attract high-value opportunities. I ensure your podcast isn't just another show in the feed - it's an asset that elevates your authority and moves your work forward. Here are 3 ways we can work together: ✨ 1:1 Editorial Podcast Production ✨ Corporate Podcast Producing & Consulting ✨ Hosting for Corporate Shows Schedule a discovery call for us to explore what working together might look like: https://cheryllau.com/discovery CONTACT Please email [email protected] for business inquiries.

In this impromptu bonus episode of EDIT HISTORY, I answer spontaneous questions from my friends after a last-minute guest cancellation. From podcasting highs and moments of self-doubt to K-pop playlists and unpopular opinions, I get candid about my personal quirks, creative process, and what keeps me going as a solopreneur podcaster. TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Introduction (00:23) What's one decision you're so proud of? (01:57) What do you do to make guests feel comfortable? (04:20) Have you ever replaced a bad habit with another bad habit? (06:05) Have you ever wanted to give up on your podcast? (08:20) What are your qualifying conditions for choosing guests? (10:40) If the world were ruled by cats, how would life be different? (11:49) Would you rather only be able to use public restrooms or be 10 minutes late to everything? (12:58) What's a hot take/unpopular opinion of yours? (17:47) Who or what it is Cheryl fiercely loyal to? (19:19) Intermission break (20:27) Favorite kpop groups (21:10) What's on your repeat playlist? (21:44) What would you pay lots of money for? What would you refuse to pay for? (22:56) What was your dream job when you were a kid? CONNECT WITH CHERYL LAU Website: https://cheryllau.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@cheryltheory Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheryltheory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryllau WORK WITH CHERYL LAU I produce distinctive and deeply resonant podcasts for leaders and organizations who want their content to command attention, spark meaningful conversations, and attract high-value opportunities. I ensure your podcast isn't just another show in the feed - it's an asset that elevates your authority and moves your work forward. Here are 3 ways we can work together: ✨ 1:1 Editorial Podcast Production ✨ Corporate Podcast Producing & Consulting ✨ Hosting for Corporate Shows Schedule a discovery call for us to explore what working together might look like: https://cheryllau.com/discovery CONTACT Please email [email protected] for business inquiries.

Anna Ong spent 15 years in banking hoping her work would speak for itself. It didn't. What she learned instead: great ideas don't win. Great storytellers do. After leaving banking, Anna couldn't find a stage for the kind of stories she wanted to tell - raw, vulnerable, real - so she built one. What's Your Story Slam is now Singapore's longest-running live storytelling show, and Anna has coached over 300 leaders to tell theirs. In this conversation, we talk about why she rejects polished TED Talks and humblebrags on her stage, the question she asks every storyteller before they're allowed to perform ("is this a wound or a scar?"), why she believes everyone has a story worth telling - even if they don't believe it yet - and what happened when her five-year-old niece said "I love you, good night" for the first time. TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Introduction (01:51) Telling stories that show your flaws (03:10) What's Your Story Slam (06:06) Telling stories to impress (09:42) Humble bragging (15:23) The impact of storytelling (19:59) A storytelling stage built in Asia (26:26) Anna's past content (31:29) AI and storytelling (35:16) A story Anna is working on (39:35) Actionable takeaways CONNECT WITH ANNA ONG LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-ong/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whatsyourstoryslam Website: https://www.anna-ong.com/ CONNECT WITH CHERYL LAU Website: https://cheryllau.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@cheryltheory Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheryltheory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryllau WORK WITH CHERYL LAU I produce distinctive and deeply resonant podcasts for leaders and organizations who want their content to command attention, spark meaningful conversations, and attract high-value opportunities. I ensure your podcast isn't just another show in the feed - it's an asset that elevates your authority and moves your work forward. Here are 3 ways we can work together: ✨ 1:1 Editorial Podcast Production ✨ Corporate Podcast Producing & Consulting ✨ Hosting for Corporate Shows Schedule a discovery call for us to explore what working together might look like: https://cheryllau.com/discovery CONTACT Please email [email protected] for business inquiries.

In 2018, Dr. Gertrude Nonterah lost her postdoc position. For the next 18 months, she applied for jobs with a PhD in Microbiology and Immunology — and heard nothing. During that stretch, she googled "famous people who were fired" just to find something to hold onto. Today, Dr. G is the founder of The Bold PhD, helping graduate students navigate careers beyond academia. She's spoken at Oxford, Northwestern, Johns Hopkins - and Brown University, where she was invited not by faculty or administrators, but by a graduate student who'd been watching her videos. She never attended an Ivy League school. She now speaks at them regularly. In this episode, we talk about what it actually costs to stay quiet, why hard work alone stopped being enough, how she built a body of work during her most uncertain season, and what seven years of consistency quietly communicates to the people watching. TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Introduction (02:05) Being passed over for opportunities (04:41) Work ethic isn't enough (06:16) Feeling helpless amidst unfair circumstances (11:18) Regaining power over your situation (15:27) Building a body of work (20:19) Not quitting = reliability (23:26) Insecurities Dr. G faced (29:39) Your content is helping people (34:22) Reviewing Dr. G's past content (41:14) Take back control of your outcomes (45:45) Actionable takeaways CONNECT WITH DR. GERTRUDE NONTERAH Website: https://theboldphd.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theboldphd YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBoldPhD LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/geenonterah/ Newsletter: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/63c76e31b4f015f30446ce4d CONNECT WITH CHERYL LAU Website: https://cheryllau.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@cheryltheory Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheryltheory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryllau WORK WITH CHERYL LAU I produce distinctive and deeply resonant podcasts for leaders and organizations who want their content to command attention, spark meaningful conversations, and attract high-value opportunities. I ensure your podcast isn't just another show in the feed - it's an asset that elevates your authority and moves your work forward. Here are 3 ways we can work together: ✨ 1:1 Editorial Podcast Production ✨ Corporate Podcast Producing & Consulting ✨ Hosting for Corporate Shows Schedule a discovery call for us to explore what working together might look like: https://cheryllau.com/discovery CONTACT Please email [email protected] for business inquiries.

Most podcasting advice is about tactics: the mic, the posting schedule, the SEO. This episode is about something harder to find and more valuable to build. In this solo episode, I share the five internal qualities I see in the most successful podcasters I know - the ones whose shows hold up years after they started. Not the ones with the biggest numbers, but the ones people keep coming back to. We cover: why discernment matters more than consistency, how to create from lived conviction instead of borrowed frameworks, what it actually means to protect the essence of your work when growth pressures start to creep in, and why the podcasters who last are playing a completely different game from the ones chasing weekly spikes. TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Introduction (01:35) Characteristic 1 (04:06) Characteristic 2 (06:31) Characteristic 3 (08:30) Characteristic 4 (11:58) Characteristic 5 (15:31) Closing CONNECT WITH CHERYL LAU Website: https://cheryllau.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@cheryltheory Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheryltheory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryllau WORK WITH CHERYL LAU I produce distinctive and deeply resonant podcasts for leaders and organizations who want their content to command attention, spark meaningful conversations, and attract high-value opportunities. I ensure your podcast isn't just another show in the feed - it's an asset that elevates your authority and moves your work forward. Here are 3 ways we can work together: ✨ 1:1 Editorial Podcast Production ✨ Corporate Podcast Producing & Consulting ✨ Hosting for Corporate Shows Schedule a discovery call for us to explore what working together might look like: https://cheryllau.com/discovery CONTACT Please email [email protected] for business inquiries.

Jennifer Van Alstyne posted about academics being paid for their speaking. It went viral - but not in the way she hoped. The comments were hateful. Some were racist. Fellow academics pushed back. She kept showing up anyway. Jennifer is the founder of The Academic Designer, where she helps professors build their online presence through website design, social media, and bio writing. But before any of that, she was 18 years old, away at college, having lost her parents and left an abusive marriage - figuring out how to make her way in the world alone. In this conversation, we talk about what it means to build an online presence from your values rather than your metrics, why she stopped chasing views after a blog post with 15 readers changed one person's entire career, and how she learned that real community starts with one person who wouldn't take no for an answer. TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Introduction (01:40) Showing up after hate comments and going viral (06:11) Reviewing Jennifer's past content (09:24) Developing your character as an entrepreneur (12:56) Separating personal challenges from business (16:34) Finding community online (20:58) Realizing you are making an impact via your content (24:38) Low engagement and small audience size (28:44) Changes amidst AI (31:39) Safety vs AI (36:24) The meaning behind your work (40:30) Actionable Takeaways CONNECT WITH JENNIFER VAN ALSTYNE Website: https://theacademicdesigner.com/ Website: https://jennifervanalstyne.com/ Work with Jennifer: https://higheredpr.as.me/meet-with-jennifer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifervanalstyne/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/jenvanalstyne.bsky.social Threads: https://www.threads.net/@higheredpr Instagram: http://instagram.com/higheredpr YouTube: http://youtube.com/@higheredpr Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0BCuleBpXeRcpko3t3AYC4?si=a2e570d559354141 Facebook: https://facebook.com/higheredpr X: http://x.com/higheredpr CONNECT WITH CHERYL LAU Website: https://cheryllau.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@cheryltheory Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheryltheory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryllau WORK WITH CHERYL LAU I produce distinctive and deeply resonant podcasts for leaders and organizations who want their content to command attention, spark meaningful conversations, and attract high-value opportunities. I ensure your podcast isn't just another show in the feed - it's an asset that elevates your authority and moves your work forward. Here are 3 ways we can work together: ✨ 1:1 Editorial Podcast Production ✨ Corporate Podcast Producing & Consulting ✨ Hosting for Corporate Shows Schedule a discovery call for us to explore what working together might look like: https://cheryllau.com/discovery CONTACT Please email [email protected] for business inquiries.

Most people trying to build thought leadership are doing it backwards. They share their story online, wait for people to connect with it, and wonder why the bookings aren't coming. Simone Heng has a blunter take: nobody cares about your story. Not unless you're Michael Jordan. Simone is a human connection specialist, award-winning author of Let's Talk About Loneliness, and one of the few Asian women speaking at the level she does - at Harvard, Google, the UN, and stages across the Middle East and Southeast Asia. She spent six figures educating herself before anyone paid to hear her speak. For four years, her former radio employer controlled her Instagram and stopped her from being herself. The week that ended, she built a six-figure business in a pandemic. In this conversation, we talk about what actually gets you booked, why your story is the least interesting thing about your thought leadership, and what the "sophomore slump" looks like when your first book receives six international awards. TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Introduction (01:57) "I've never seen an Asian woman speak like that" (03:13) Developing a subject matter expertise (07:17) Choosing your topic of expertise (09:20) Being told to hide parts of you (10:41) The behind the scenes work (12:36) Your story isn't enough (16:09) Do you need a PhD to be a thought leader? (22:24) Reviewing Simone's past content (26:52) Become a speaker or author (30:49) What's next for Simone (35:43) Actionable Takeaways CONNECT WITH SIMONE HENG Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simoneheng LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simone-heng-speaker Website: https://simoneheng.com Thought Leaders Now: https://www.thoughtleadersnow.com CONNECT WITH CHERYL LAU Website: https://cheryllau.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@cheryltheory Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheryltheory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryllau WORK WITH CHERYL LAU I produce distinctive and deeply resonant podcasts for leaders and organizations who want their content to command attention, spark meaningful conversations, and attract high-value opportunities. I ensure your podcast isn't just another show in the feed - it's an asset that elevates your authority and moves your work forward. Here are 3 ways we can work together: ✨ 1:1 Editorial Podcast Production ✨ Corporate Podcast Producing & Consulting ✨ Hosting for Corporate Shows Schedule a discovery call for us to explore what working together might look like: https://cheryllau.com/discovery CONTACT Please email [email protected] for business inquiries.