Education

CLOSER with Rachel Lim

CLOSER with Rachel Lim is about the conversations beneath the surface.

Rachel sits down with people who fascinate her to explore not just what they’ve done, but what has shaped who they are: the experiences, relationships, contradictions, failures, beliefs and questions that have made them who they are today.

Alongside long-form conversations are personal reflections from Rachel on what she is learning, unlearning and seeing differently in her own life. There may not always be a clear answer.. but perhaps the point is to come away seeing someone differently, seeing ourselves differently, and feeling a little closer.

To ourselves.

To each other.

To what matters.

Latest Episodes:

#53: Diane von Furstenberg: How She Became the Woman She Wanted to Be Apr 16, 2026

Show notes

“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 Apr 07, 2026

Show notes

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 Mar 10, 2026

Show notes

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 Feb 24, 2026

Show notes

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" Jan 27, 2026

Show notes

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 Jan 20, 2026

Show notes

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 Oct 21, 2025

Show notes

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 Oct 08, 2025

Show notes

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 Aug 11, 2025

Show notes

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/

#44: President of Microsoft Asia: Lessons from My Mum, Asia & Leading 30,000 People Jul 14, 2025

Show notes

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: