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:

#43: Adrian Ang: What I Built Almost Cost Me Who I Am Jun 30, 2025

Show notes

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/

#42: Rolf Dobelli on Thinking Clearly in a Noisy World May 20, 2025

Show notes

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

#41: From DBS Intern to CEO: Tan Su Shan on Redefining Leadership at the Top May 06, 2025

Show notes

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 Introduction

00:38 From Intern to CEO: Su Shan’s Early Days at DBS

02:04 When a “Demotion” Becomes a Turning Point

07:16 Facing Self-Doubt and Leading Through Discomfort

08:57 Learning to Command the Room with Confidence

12:02 Grounding Leadership in Customer-Centricity

14:08 How “WRECKOON” Shaped Her Perspective as a Leader

15:41 The One Leadership Skill That Will Define the Next Decade

17:57 The Best Investments Su Shan Has Made in Life

19:28 Q&A: Building Clarity and Communicating with Impact

21:07 Q&A: Finding the Right Mentors and Sponsors

23:59 Q&A: What It Really Takes to Build Great Teams

26:15 Final Reflections: What Leadership Means Today

Follow 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 Apr 14, 2025

Show notes

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 Introduction

01:28 Dr Cheryl Loh on Championing Adolescent Mental Health in Singapore

04:24 Why Teen Mental Health Deserves More Attention

10:13 Are Our Teens Simply Misunderstood?

14:37 Parent Guilt, Anxious Parenting & the Pressure to Get It Right

17:33 Teens vs the Internet: Navigating Influence, Shame & Identity

22:37 How to Stay Present in Your Teen’s Life — Without Pushing Them Away

27:16 Seeing the Good: Shifting from Fixing to Connecting

30:03 What Increases the Risk of Mental Health Struggles in Adolescents?

34:36 The Role Educators & Schools Play in Teen Emotional Safety

37:55 The Social Media Trap: Why Teens Seek Validation Online

39:42 Showing Up for Your Teen & Playing the Long Game

44:17 Netflix’s Adolescence: When Emotional Needs Go Unmet

46:45 Why Healthy Parent-Teen Relationships Matter More Than Ever

48:53 Helping Teens Build an Inner Compass in a Noisy World

50:52 The Power of Good-Enough Parenting

52:57 What Gives Dr Cheryl Hope About This Generation

54:40 The Billboard Question: “Say Hello to Your Kid Today”

56:07 Episode Closing

Follow 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 Apr 01, 2025

Show notes

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 into
What it means to “incept negative ideas” and how to avoid it
Why saying less can help you lead more effectively
The underrated power of self-awareness and reframing
How to personalise your communication to truly connect

Tune in and learn how to lead not just with vision, but with voice.

00:00 Introduction

00:55 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 Message

14:41 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/weskao

Subscribe to her newsletter here: https://newsletter.weskao.com/

#38: Supporting Leo Through Depression: The Role We Can Play As Partners Mar 24, 2025

Show notes

After Leo’s episode, I was deeply moved by the messages that poured in, not just about his story, but about the unspoken weight many of you are carrying in your own lives. So many asked: How do you support someone you love when they’re struggling? How do you stay steady for them without losing yourself in the process?

In this intimate solo episode, I share my personal experience; what it looked like to walk beside Leo during one of his hardest seasons. Not from a place of having it all figured out, but through the lens of the lessons it taught me.

I open up about what helped, what didn’t, and the truths I had to learn the hard way; like not taking his withdrawal personally, listening to understand (not to fix), and continuing to show up with love, even when I felt emptied out.

If you’re in that space right now, quietly holding it all together, I hope this conversation reminds you:

You are not alone. And you are allowed to be strong and tired at the same time 💛

00:00 Introduction: Why This Episode Matters

01:38 Q&A: Navigating Turbulent Seasons in Relationships

02:15 The Subtle Signs: Spotting Early Symptoms of Depression

05:16 Creating a Safe Space for Vulnerability

09:25 How to Stay Resilient When There’s No Timeline

12:49 What Support Really Looks Like: Small Acts, Big Impact

16:29 My Own Breaking Point: Personal Struggles and Lessons

19:15 The Hardest Truths I Had to Learn

21:45 If I Could Speak to Her: A Heart-to-Heart With My Younger Self

26:45 Final Reflections & Closing

Follow Rachel here: https://www.instagram.com/ms_rach/

Listen to Leo's story here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7cfdJMK348KROmJzLJzKgo?si=iT5YgN0xRG6ATPEHFTvHjQ

#37: Conscious Leadership with Joyce Chen: A Live Session with Entrepreneurs Mar 10, 2025

Show notes

Leadership is more than just strategy; it’s about self-awareness, emotional mastery, and the ability to lead from a place of integrity and presence. In this special live session, renowned leadership coach Joyce Chen joins a room full of entrepreneurs for a deep, unfiltered conversation on what it truly means to lead with consciousness.

This episode features four live coaching sessions, where Joyce guides participants through some of the most pressing leadership dilemmas:

🔹 How to hold yourself and your team accountable using the Teach the Class method.

🔹 Navigating burnout and knowing when to take a break; is it a whole-body yes or time to realign?

🔹 Leading by example; how to teach the Above-Below the Line framework through role modeling.

🔹 Overcoming overwhelm and uncertainty; learning to trust your instincts while staying open to growth.

Through raw, honest coaching and actionable insights, Joyce helps uncover the deeper patterns that shape how we lead and shows us how to shift into a more empowered, intentional way of showing up - both in business and in life.

00:00 Introduction

00:54 Understanding the ‘Above-Below the Line Framework’

03:42 Shifting from Contraction to Expansion

05:24 ‘Teaching The Class’ Method for Improved Accountability

12:00 ‘Whole Body Yes’ Framework: Navigating Burnout and Indecision

18:04 Role-modelling and Implementing Change as Leaders

20:41 The Importance of Joy and Celebrating Wins

24:55 Evaluating Progress from Above the Line / How to Know I’m Doing Things Right

26:46 Final Reflections and Key Takeaways

Follow Rachel here: https://www.instagram.com/ms_rach/

Get connected with Joyce: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joyce-chen-coach/

#36: Gurmit Singh: The Untold Cost of Fame, Family & Finding Purpose Mar 03, 2025

Show notes

This conversation with Gurmit Singh moved me deeply. It’s not just about a career; it’s about the constant pull between ambition and presence, the delicate balance between success and self-worth, and the courage it takes to step away and realign with what truly matters. Whether you’re in the thick of building your career, questioning your path, or seeking clarity in life’s transitions, this conversation will stay with you long after it ends. I can’t wait for you to hear it.

For over two decades, Gurmit Singh was a household name, bringing laughter to millions. But behind the scenes, he was giving everything; his time, his energy, and unknowingly, pieces of himself, to an industry that demanded more than it gave. Then, at the height of his fame, he made a decision few expected—he walked away. In this deeply personal conversation, Gurmit shares the story of why he left, the sacrifices he made along the way, and the hard-earned wisdom that reshaped his understanding of identity, purpose, and what it truly means to live a meaningful life.

00:00 Welcome & Introduction

01:47 Gurmit Singh: The Man Behind the Laughter

07:06 Fighting Inner Battles: Overcoming Inferiority Complex

10:45 The Legacy and Burden of Phua Chu Kang

13:31 Why Gurmit Walked Away from Fame for Family

17:22 The Power of Saying ‘No’: Guarding Time & Priorities

19:35 A Child’s Silent Plea: The Cost of a Father’s Absence

23:45 Parenting in a Changing World: Lessons & Challenges

26:40 Choosing Love Without Conditions: A Father’s Journey

30:03 Bridging Generational & Belief Gaps with Your Kids

35:27 A Near-Death Experience That Changed Everything

40:31 What Gurmit Would Tell His Younger Self Today

44:47 Beyond the Persona: Who Is Gurmit Singh, Really?

47:48 Final Reflections & Parting Wisdom

Follow Rachel here: https://www.instagram.com/ms_rach/

Follow Gurmit Singh here: https://www.instagram.com/gurmit.65/

#35: James Dyson: Defying Experts, Ignoring Focus Groups, and Betting on Big Ideas Feb 24, 2025

Show notes

At 77, James Dyson is still inventing, still questioning, and still challenging the way things are done. His story is a testament to the power of persistence, the beauty of thinking differently, and the magic that happens when you refuse to give up.

James knows what it means to push through doubt, failure, and rejection. For years, no one believed in his vision of a bagless vacuum. He was rejected over 5,000 times, told that customers wouldn’t want to see the dirt they were cleaning, and advised by experts to follow industry norms. But he didn’t listen. Instead, he bet on his instincts, ignored focus groups, and built one of the most revolutionary companies of our time.

In this personal conversation, James Dyson shares the unconventional mindset that led to his greatest breakthroughs - why he believes naivety is an advantage, why failure is something to run toward, and how resilience is the real key to innovation.

We talk about:

Why he believes naivety is an advantage - and why fresh thinkers change the world
The art of trusting yourself - especially when everyone else says you’re wrong
Why experts and market research can lead you astray - and when to follow your gut instead
The Dyson vacuum, the bladeless fan, and the products that almost never happened
What it takes to push through self-doubt and uncertainty
The James Dyson Award and his greatest hope for young innovators

If you’ve ever doubted yourself, faced rejection, or wondered if your idea was worth pursuing—this conversation is for you.

00:00 Introduction

01:58 How Dyson Fuels a Culture of Innovation

03:41 The Advantage of Naivety

05:43 James Dyson’s Leadership Approach

08:25 The Art of Trusting Your Instincts

10:26 Pivotal Figures in James Dyson’s Innovation Journey

12:53 Intuition vs. Data: When to Trust Your Gut Over the Numbers

14:45 Overcoming Your ‘Pain Barrier’ to Achieve Breakthroughs

16:14 How James Dyson Overcame Failure

21:29 The Evolution & Impact of the James Dyson Award

25:33 The Billboard Question: James Dyson’s Message

25:59 Closing

Follow Rachel here: https://www.instagram.com/ms_rach/

Stay updated with the James Dyson Award here: https://www.instagram.com/jamesdysonaward/

#34: The Courage to Start Over at 52 with Leo Feb 18, 2025

Show notes

Some stories carry more weight than others. This is one of them❤️‍🩹 When we sat down to reflect on 2024 and share our hopes for 2025, we had no idea just how deeply this conversation would unfold. Leo (my husband) opened up about his journey of rebuilding; navigating change, rediscovering purpose, and finding the courage to start fresh in his 50s. We knew it would be emotional.. but in that moment, we were reminded of just how much strength and growth this season has brought. Life’s transitions are never easy, but they offer us a chance to redefine what truly matters. Letting go of what once defined us isn’t about loss; it’s about making space for something new. So many of us walk through seasons of reinvention, uncertainty, and self-discovery. If you’ve ever been in that space, we hope this conversation reminds you that you’re not alone. This is one of the most raw and heartfelt reflections we’ve shared - one that has shaped us deeply, and one we hope speaks to you, too. ——— 00:26 Introduction: Welcome to 2025 01:23 Couple Q&A 01:43 Rachel and Leo’s 2025 Aspirations 04:14 Leo’s Big Announcement 08:17 Rachel’s 2025 Mission 10:26 The Power of Awe in Marriage 13:09 Navigating Depression as a Couple 17:34 Losing a Job After 25 Years: Grief, Identity & Reinvention 22:08 Finding Purpose in Closed Doors 29:47 Lessons From Our Kids That Changed Us 34:58 Leo’s Message to His Younger Self 36:25 Final Reflections Follow Rachel here: https://www.instagram.com/ms_rach/ Follow Leo here: https://www.instagram.com/mr_agleooleo/

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