Actsplore This is a podcast for the modern day working professional. The show is hosted by Janice and Sarah-Ann, former lawyers who went on to do an MBA before pivoting careers. Each week, we pick the minds of inspiring guests who will bring you actionable insights on how you can thrive personally & professionally. From career insights, to personal development hacks, mental health chats and more, join us as we Actsplore how to create a more meaningful and fulfilled life!
Actsplore This is a podcast for the modern day working professional. The show is hosted by Janice and Sarah-Ann, former lawyers who went on to do an MBA before pivoting careers. Each week, we pick the minds of inspiring guests who will bring you actionable insights on how you can thrive personally & professionally. From career insights, to personal development hacks, mental health chats and more, join us as we Actsplore how to create a more meaningful and fulfilled life!
What happens when a former corporate exec walks on stage in a bathing suit... in front of 120 professional women? 🔥
Penny Locaso — Happiness Hacker, Harvard writer, TEDx speaker, and authentic leadership trailblazer — did just that to prove one bold point: true change starts where your comfort zone ends.
In this raw and revealing conversation, Penny takes us behind the scenes of her midlife awakening moment, the true motivation behind her quest to redefine success in her own terms and why self-compassion is the leadership skill we need more of, in our world today.
We also explore:
💥 How she turned public fear into a power move that still echoes today 🌀 Why the "perfect path" is a myth — and why your zigzag might be the key to fulfillment 🧭 What it really takes to rewrite your definition of success (hint: it involves grief, grit, and one hell of a truth bomb)
💡 How action — even messy, imperfect action — creates the confidence you're waiting for
From grief to growth, bathing suits to boardrooms — this episode is a masterclass in becoming unapologetically you.
Witty Warning: Listening may cause spontaneous courage, clarity, and the desire to radically rethink your personal definition of success.
Remember: If you’re listening and something in this conversation lit a spark — don’t rush past it. Take a beat, sit in that discomfort, and see where it wants to take you.
Resources:
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In this episode, we’re sharing six mindset shifts that have helped us navigate change, growth, and new chapters. These aren’t just surface-level reframes, but meaningful shifts that have shaped how we show up in our work and personal lives.
From embracing the discomfort of being a beginner, creating space for reflection, to leaning into difficult conversations - we reflect on what it really takes to grow with intention in the midst of life transitions.
In this episode, we explore:
Why it’s okay (and even necessary) to be bad at something new
How stepping away from constant productivity can unlock creativity
What happens when we lead with curiosity
And why action often creates clarity—not the other way around
We’d love to hear your mindset shifts too: what’s been helping you level up lately, in whatever season you're in? Connect with us on Instagram @actsplorethispodcast and join the conversation.
PARTNER SPOTLIGHT:
This episode was brought to you by Woon Advisory, your trusted partner for talent acquisition. Head to http://woonadvisory.com and hit the ‘Contact Us’ button for a complimentary Talent Strategy Session with Charles - make sure you mention ‘Actsplore This Podcast’ in the email title.
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What if the key to winning hearts (and boardrooms) isn’t data... but your X-Factor?
Yamini Naidu is the world's only Economist turned Bollywood dancing business storyteller.
In this high-impact episode, Yamini reveals how to ditch dull presentations and turn your message into something people feel—and remember.
Whether you're leading a team, pitching an idea, or navigating career change, this episode will help you to discover and unlock your X Factor potential and become a more unforgettable communicator.
🔥GIVEAWAY ALERT: Yamini is giving away 1 signed copy of her book X Factor: Unleash Your Presenting Superpower to the first Australian-based listener who shares a key takeaway from this episode on LinkedIn and tags her!
Resources:
100-Banned-X-factor-words-2023-Version.pdf
Yamini-Naidu-X-factor-101-ways-to-discover-.pdf
CONNECT WITH US HERE:
✨Instagram: Actsplore This Podcast 🎙 (@actsplorethispodcast) • Instagram photos and videos
✨Youtube: Actsplore This Podcast - YouTube
✨Apple Podcast: Actsplore This on Apple Podcasts
✨Email: actsplorethis@gmail.com
✨Buy us a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/actsplorethis
What does it take to go from starting out in a foreign country to shaping national policy and earning one of the UK’s highest honors -the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)?
In this episode, we get up close and personal with the remarkable Jane Chelliah-Manning, who is the Assistant Director, Senior Policy Lead at the UK Department of Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy.
With over 2 decades in the UK public sector, Jane has played a key role in major policy developments, from navigating Britain’s exit from the European Union to shaping responses during the pandemic.
In this episode, Jane gets real about the ups, downs, and game-changing moments that defined her career in the UK public sector, where she eventually earned an MBE for her work, joining the ranks of a few Malaysians who have received this award.
Tune in as Jane shares powerful mindset shifts around feminine leadership and what it truly takes to drive meaningful impact.
CONNECT WITH US HERE:
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✨Youtube: Actsplore This Podcast - YouTube
✨Apple Podcast: Actsplore This on Apple Podcasts
✨Email: actsplorethis@gmail.com
✨Buy us a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/actsplorethis
Anne Marie Chaker went from breaking news at The Wall Street Journal to breaking personal records on the bodybuilding stage, and her story is anything but typical. After weathering a series of personal curveballs, a lift session in a hotel gym flipped Anne Marie’s whole world.
Now, she’s living proof that it’s never too late to build strength, own your power, and rewrite your story.In this conversation, Anne Marie get real about her journey turning struggle into strength.
In this episode, we unpack what it really takes to rise from rock bottom, why embracing discomfort is the ultimate superpower, and how your toughest seasons can fuel your biggest transformations. We also dive into insights from her upcoming book, LIFT, where she challenges the “skinny ideal” and explores the untapped power of muscle & why women should focus on building rather than shrinking themselves.
CONNECT WITH US HERE:
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✨Youtube: Actsplore This Podcast - YouTube
✨Apple Podcast: Actsplore This on Apple Podcasts
✨Email: actsplorethis@gmail.com
✨Buy us a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/actsplorethis
Happy International Women’s Day from us to you!🌷
This week’s episode is an Actsplore This Podcast Favourite - a re-release in conjunction with International Women's Day on 'Owning Your Story & Billion Dollar Goals’.
If there's one person who embodies dreaming big, wild, and audacious, it's none other than Malaysian born and bred, Washington based Sarah Chen-Spellings!
In this wide-ranging and unfiltered conversation, Sarah shares the formative experiences that drove her to start Lean In Malaysia and Beyond the Billion, the highs and lows of her career trajectory smashing the glass ceilings, how she redefines failure, the value of authentic leadership, and much more.
CONNECT WITH US HERE:
✨Instagram: Actsplore This Podcast 🎙 (@actsplorethispodcast) • Instagram photos and videos
✨Youtube: Actsplore This Podcast - YouTube
✨Apple Podcast: Actsplore This on Apple Podcasts
✨Email: actsplorethis@gmail.com
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NGL - 2024 has been a year of HUGE change for us 🙈😌
From changing jobs to moving countries on totally opposite sides of the world to each other, we’re learning to ride this rollercoaster 🎢 of change with our arms lifted high and as open as possible!🙌🏻
While change is never easy, it’s always an opportunity to grow 🌱.
In this episode, we dive into the twists and turns of navigating these life transitions as well as explore what it takes to embrace change while staying grounded.
Join us as we share our experiences and tips to help you navigate your own transitions (big or small!) with ease ✨
This week’s episode is a re-release of one of our favorite conversations on Career Prototyping with the incredible Bill Burnett. This conversation feels especially timely as we reflect on fresh starts and set intentions for the year ahead.
We speak to Bill Burnett, the co-author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Designing Your Life and Executive Director of the Design Program at Stanford University, to understand how design thinking can help us create a life and career that is both meaningful and fulfilling!
In this actionable and insight-filled episode, Bill unpacks how we can apply the concept of prototyping in our own lives to test out ideas and how we can reframe the dysfunctional beliefs that hold us back. (Spoiler alert: stay tuned to hear how you can better manage your energy as Bill walks us through his Energy Engagement map at the end!)
Featuring our beloved friend and pod guest extraordinaire, Crystal Cha, we explore how life changes, global events, and personal growth shape our narratives.
In this episode, Crystal shares her journey and the inspiration behind her brand new 'Ground and Grow Guided Journal', offering a unique blend of storytelling and actionable prompts for self-reflection, just in time for the start of this new year 2025 and in whichever season in life you may be in.
🌬🔥🌏💧 With insights drawn from nature's elements—wind, fire, earth, and water, we discuss the importance of pausing amidst life's chaos to cultivate mindfulness and purpose.
Specially for our Actsplore This Podcast listeners, the first 15 listeners who DM us (on Instagram): “YES, I’M READY TO GROUND AND GROW ✨” will receive a free downloadable copy of Crystal’s exclusive Ground and Grow Guided Journal!
CONNECT WITH US HERE: ✨Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/actsplorethispodcast/ ✨Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/02xWljGMOwQEyKWRFFvN3e ✨Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/my/podcast/actsplore-this/id1576842664 ✨Email: actsplorethis@gmail.com ✨Buy us a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/actsplorethis
Let’s be real, sharing the personal stuff can feel daunting, but we wanted to bring our #ActsploreThis fam along as we dive into the highs, lows and in betweens of life in our 30s!
In this episode, we reflect on this new chapter: shifts in our career, evolving family & friendship dynamics, and how our relationships have evolved since our 20s.
It’s raw, real and relatable as we unpack themes of grief, growth and the messy yet meaningful journey of figuring it all out.
HIGHLIGHTS:
00:37 Reflecting on our 30's era
03:46 Career pivots and lessons learnt
10:05 Evolving family dynamics
18:40 Navigating friendships in our 30s
25:02 Relationship insights and personal growth
32:20 Advice to Our Younger Selves
CONNECT WITH US HERE:
✨Instagram: Actsplore This Podcast 🎙 (@actsplorethispodcast) • Instagram photos and videos
✨Youtube: Actsplore This Podcast - YouTube
✨Apple Podcast: Actsplore This on Apple Podcasts
✨Email: actsplorethis@gmail.com
✨Buy us a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/actsplorethis
It's been a hot min, fam and we're back with a belated episode: Ask Us Anything & Life Updates with Sarah-Ann and Janice.
Huge thanks to our listeners for submitting a range of deep & thought-provoking questions to us, from the best and most underrated piece of career advice we've received, to our audacious goals, how we nurture our inner selves and the 'What Ifs' if life hasn't brought us to where we are today...
Spoiler alert: stick around for some major life updates! It's been a long time coming and we're grateful that you're sticking around!💖
Thank you for all the support we've received so far - #staytuned for our next episode on 'Life in our 30s'!
CONNECT WITH US HERE:
✨Email: actsplorethis@gmail.com
Freda Liu is one of the most recognisable voices in Malaysia. She has lived and breathed business in the past decade with Malaysia’s only business radio station BFM 89.9, and is currently the producer and presenter of The Shift Asia, a podcast platform that focuses on ESG, SDG, sustainability, and embracing fresh & innovative strategies in business practices
Besides being the author to 7 books, she is a powerhouse communicator and has been skillfully merging her experience as a journalist, broadcaster, emcee, moderator over the years.
In this episode, Freda shares her journey from early storytelling competitions to a surprising career in broadcasting, and the pivotal moments that shaped her trajectory in media. We delve into her bold career moves, including joining BFM 89.9, and the lessons she learned from conducting thousands of interviews.
Freda opens up about how she navigated personal challenges, including her divorce, and how she transformed adversity into strength. Freda also shares some tips on how you can use the Wheel of Life exercise to find fulfillment beyond work.
HIGHLIGHTS:
3:30 Freda’s divine pivot into the world of broadcasting
6:40 Why it’s crucial to try different things
9:42 Freda’s annual practice for intentional growth
13:07 What being ‘Better and not Bitter’ looked like & what her divorce taught her
18:28 Her daily monologue whilst navigating grief
20:46 Saying YES to joining BFM 89.9
26:38 Freda’s very first BFM interview
30:40 The Wheel of Life and how this practice changed her life
33:41 Freda’s self care mechanism
38:59 How Freda is ‘Elevating’ herself this year
CONNECT WITH US HERE:
✨Email: actsplorethis@gmail.com
Peter Yong (aka Mr Money TV) grew up believing that money was the root of all evil.
So how did Peter eventually go on to become a wildly successful personal finance YouTuber with a 7-figure media empire?!
In this unfiltered conversation, we dive into the twists & turns in Peter’s journey (spoiler alert: he had multiple pivots in his career before building Mr Money TV..one of which involved a lucrative stint selling insurance!)
Peter shares about the challenging beginnings of building Mr Money TV, balancing multiple odd jobs to keep the venture alive, the brutal lessons he learnt as he scaled the business and how he plans to advance his mission of demystifying the complex world of finance for the average Malaysian through accessible and engaging content.
Episode Highlights:
2:00 Growing up with very little money
4:04 Mr Money was a bad boy?!
5:42 What his dad’s bankruptcy taught him
6:55 Peter’s first job…in HR?
8:00 Peter grew up thinking that money is the root of all evil
10:41 The life lesson that his first job taught him
13:23 Brutal realities of being an insurance agent
15:10 The secret to getting good at something
18:00 Uploading his first YouTube video
20:00 Working multiple odd jobs to sustain Mr Money TV
21:35 The moment he decided to go all in
24:42 How Peter found his co-founders
29:35 Navigating difficult conversations
32:28 The most brutal lesson he learnt building Mr Money TV
36:50 Peter’s ‘Ikigai’
40:11 Unpacking the content creation strategy of Mr Money TV
42:13 How Peter successfully monetised his podcast
44:14 Taking advice from the people around him..and an MIT professor!
46:46 What’s next for Mr Money TV?
Watch it on YouTube: https://youtu.be/B1iVwpIFMFs
CONNECT WITH US HERE:
✨Email: actsplorethis@gmail.com
It’s hard to believe we’re almost halfway through 2024! When time flies by so quickly, we want to take a moment to hit the pause button and reflect on the whirlwind that was the first half of the year.
Tune in as we share our reflections on a recent Actsplore This milestone! We also share personal experiences with caregiving, struggling with ambiguity, the new habits that have made a difference in our daily lives ..and more!
We hope that this conversation will prompt you to pause and reflect on the first half of 2024. As always, connect with us on socials and share with us a practice/habit you’ve implemented that has made a difference for you.
CONNECT WITH US HERE:
✨Email: actsplorethis@gmail.com
Dr Ong Kian Ming (better known as OK Man) is the former Deputy Minister of MITI and two term Member of Parliament in Malaysia from 2013 to 2022, representing the Democratic Action Party (DAP) and serving the largest parliamentary constituency in the country. He currently serves as the Program Director of Malaysia’s very first Philosophy Politics & Economics (PPE) program at Taylor’s University.
In this wide-ranging discussion, we uncover the life & leadership lessons that Dr Ong learnt the hard way - so you don’t have to! (Spoiler alert: we get some insights on Value-Added Networking, Value-Added Transparency and Value-Added Mentoring)
Tune in as Dr Ong shares about his lesser-known childhood stories, lessons from his yester-years of management consulting, roadblocks that he faced as a policymaker, how Sheraton Move took a toll on his mental health, what a ‘return to politics’ could look like - and more!
Episode Highlights:
1:35 OKM’s lesser known childhood fun fact
7:40 His proudest policy achivements
11:22 Not taking credit as a politician
12:26 Main roadblocks bringing a policy from strategy to ideation
15:11 First Difficult Lesson (Value added networking)
20:17 Second Difficult Lesson (Value added transparency)
22:27 His involvement with the vaccination exercise during the COVID Pandemic
25:56 Balancing conviction and ROI as a politician
26:54 Third Difficult Lesson (Value added mentoring)
29:39 Who is his mentor in the political landscape?
32:26 Sheraton Move and how it affected his mental health
40:31 His aspirations with his podcast venture, Are We Ok?
42:40 What he would do differently if he rejoined politics
CONNECT WITH US HERE:
✨Email: actsplorethis@gmail.com
What is one thing you would do in your life if you had more confidence?
In our journey of self discovery, we often find ourselves grappling with the nagging question: “Am I good enough?” Feelings of doubt, imposter syndrome and lack of self worth often holds us back from moving forward to achieving our fullest potential and reaching our goals.
Kelli is a women’s leadership coach and speaker who helps women advance to the rooms where decisions are made.
She is the author of the critically acclaimed book, Closing The Confidence Gap: Boost Your Peace, Your Potential & Your Paycheck, and has coached and trained thousands of women to trust themselves, lead with more confidence, and create a career they love.
Kellie is also the founder of the Clarity & Confidence Women's Leadership Program, and a Stevie Award winner for Women in Business—Coach of the Year.
Kelli’s here to guide us with her powerful stories and impactful strategies on how we can claim our confidence and advocate for ourselves in a way that is tangible and actionable.
More resources to help boost your peace, potential and paycheck here: DOWNLOADS | Kelli Thompson | Kelli Thompson | Women's Leadership & Executive Coach, Author & Speaker (kelliraethompson.com)
CONNECT WITH US HERE:
✨Email: actsplorethis@gmail.com
“You don’t have ordinary lives, you have unexplored lives.’
Wise and impactful words from Matthew Dicks, a world-renowned storyteller, teacher and bestselling author.
Whether it’s to improve your presentation skills for a business pitch, holding the attention of a lecture hall, or just being a more interesting person, being able to tell great stories is a superpower that we can fortunately get better at!
In this conversation, Matthew shares stories, techniques and insights for effective storytelling including:
✅ What are the elements of a great story
✅ Homework for Life
✅ What do people often get wrong about storytelling
✅ First Last, Best Worst exercise
✅ The Five Second Moment in a story
and more!
This conversation with Matthew was thought provoking, moving and left us feeling more inspired to take a closer look at the storyworthy moments that make up our lives.
Watch Matthew Dicks's Homework for Life on the TedxBerkshires Stage here.
If you’re curious about how you can be a great storyteller, and some tools and tips you can use to build your own story library…stay tuned!
CONNECT WITH US HERE:
✨Email: actsplorethis@gmail.com
How will AI disrupt the landscape of work and create job refugees? What does the future of Education look like in this technology-driven evolution?
With a career spanning decades in academia and innovation, we unpack these questions (and more!) with Professor Sanjay Sarma, the Chief Executive Officer, President and Dean of the Asia School of Business.
Sanjay served as the Vice President for Open Learning at MIT, where he oversaw OpenCourseWare and led the creation of MITx, MicroMasters, the MIT Integrated Learning Initiative and the Jameel World Education Lab. Fun fact: He played a part in developing many of the key technologies behind the EPC suite of RFID standards now used as a staple in industries worldwide!
In this wide-ranging discussion, we dive into Sanjay’s journey from MIT to ASB and hear all about:
- The turning point that led him from Engineering to Academia, and the story behind his move from USA to Asia
- The failures that have taught Sanjay valuable lessons
- Why an MBA is still relevant
- Exploring Agile Continuous Education (ACE) as a more impactful teaching methodology
- Why Curiosity and a Growth mindset is the most important skills in a post-GPT world
HIGHLIGHTS:
8:05 The pivotal career turning point from Engineering into Academia
10:54 What led Sanjay to take up the role as CEO, President & Dean at Asia School of Business
15:07 The most rewarding and challenging parts of the role
19:02 What Sanjay learnt from a recent Failure
27:17 The power of Reflection
30:48 How to be a more interesting person
35:21 How will AI create job refugees?
37:24 Essential skillsets for young professionals to thrive in the post-GPT world
38:22 Growth mindset is who we are
40:10 Is the MBA still relevant?
42:47 What Agile Continuous Education (ACE) would look like
48:44 What would the success of ACE look like?
50:38 The challenges of the ACE model
53:20 The value proposition of an ASB MBA
59:30 Impact of Generative AI on public policy-making and design
CONNECT WITH US HERE:
✨Instagram: Actsplore This Podcast 🎙 (@actsplorethispodcast) • Instagram photos and videos
✨Youtube: Actsplore This Podcast - YouTube
✨Email: actsplorethis@gmail.com
✨Buy us a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/actsplorethis
From fashion dreams to tech leadership as the President and Managing Director of SAP Southeast Asia, Verena Siow is truly a force of nature who knows how to design success on her own terms!
She has amassed a wealth of experience in sales, business development and startup ventures within the technology sector, spanning across the continents of Asia, the Middle East and Americas.
In her current role, Verena drives SAP's sustainable growth across the diverse markets of Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and other emerging regions.
Verena holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the Budapest University of Economic Sciences. She is currently based in Singapore, where her leadership continues to make a significant impact on SAP's mission to help SEA run better and improve people's lives with sustainability at the core.
In conjunction with International Women’s Day this year with the theme: Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress, Verena shines a light on how women can design success on their own terms and claim their seat at the table!
CONNECT WITH US HERE:
✨Email: actsplorethis@gmail.com
