Today's episode marks the end of season one. Thank you to all of you for listening to An Open Invitation, and to everyone who has been a part of this journey with us. This includes all 30 guests, friends who have provided feedback or have been a part of our pilot test episodes, and to all of our listeners.  

We started this podcast because we were lost and looking for insight. Ironically, at the end, we're still feeling lost and we're still looking for insight. Perhaps we have grown a little in this process, perhaps not. One thing's for sure: self-discovery is a hell of a long process. 

Music by Epidemic Sound (http://www.epidemicsound.com)

With time our thoughts can mature and change. Unsurprisingly, we've found that producing a podcast is a means of archiving versions of ourselves on audio – have a listen to some of our goals and visions for the podcast before the launch.

Music by Epidemic Sound (http://www.epidemicsound.com)

Have you noticed how you react when you get criticised? Or even when you get complimented? Kathy Low helps us wrap up this season of An Open Invitation by explaining how self-awareness is the crucial step to introducing changes in your life. Having struggled with accepting her own narrative being in the family business, she describes her journey to taking responsibility for her own responses and mindset. This is our most honest and open conversation yet; we hope you enjoy this episode of AOI.  

Music by Epidemic Sound (http://www.epidemicsound.com)

So much of our lives involve music. Many of our memories are associated with the songs we listened to at that time: Avril Lavigne and Marina and the Diamonds in our teens, Katy Perry in the 2010s and Olivia Rodrigo in the present. In this episode, People Musician Gabriel Hoe breaks down why he thinks music can serve its purpose best if there is a community involved. The purpose is to bring people together. Why play music if you can't share it? 

Music by Epidemic Sound (http://www.epidemicsound.com)

What if we could integrate design into the Singaporean school educational curriculum? This is a question that Ryan Leong, author, illustrator and senior trainer of design thinking hopes for people to think about more often. According to him, creativity can go a long way in transforming our current educational system. Using design as a common factor in many of his creative pursuits – which include worldbuilding – Ryan explains to us how he uses his skills to expand his vision and get opportunities. 

Music by Epidemic Sound (http://www.epidemicsound.com)

The gaming community is an enigma for many, and unfortunately, poorly understood communities are often painted in ways that are misrepresentative. Especially in our more pragmatic society, many think gamers are lazy and distracted and wasting time. However, as someone who enjoys playing games myself, I think that exposing the narratives of people in the gaming community will not only create a more open and understanding society, but also reveal the finesse in games/gamers that is often overlooked. There's so much wonder in how one can indulge and get lost in the creative worlds that are constructed in games. This episode is a special one for me; we talk to Shikin, who is also the most laid-back guests we've ever had on this show, about the pleasures that gaming offers her. 

Music by Epidemic Sound (http://www.epidemicsound.com)

At this point of our podcast, we've come to observe how many of us want to do more than just one thing. We want to be more than our jobs and we want to explore our passions. M DRAKO is a prime example of a generalist: she plays Go, the violin and she sings – all while working full time as a game designer. We're beyond excited to have one of the creators of the card game Plantopia on AOI tell us about how fun a diverse skillset can be!

Music by Epidemic Sound (http://www.epidemicsound.com)

We're interested in how a person grows. For Dawn, her growth is deeply entangled with her craft. Dawn has been auctioning and exhibiting her paintings since she was eight. The composed and soft-spoken artist tells us how her relationship with her art has evolved over time. While motivations and objectives have changed, art, according to her, has always been a medium for emotional expression and healing. Now she hopes to create similar experiences with her clients.  

Music by Epidemic Sound (http://www.epidemicsound.com)

Thurgood Marshall – the first African American U.S. Supreme Court Justice – once said "In recognizing the humanity of our fellow beings, we pay ourselves the highest tribute." Many of our life lessons come from how we process and interact with the people around us. For Joshua, witnessing and being intimately involved in the narratives and growth of his clients have helped him grow into the person he is. Equal parts intelligent and empathetic, listen in as Joshua, who works as a social worker, reflects on his journey in becoming a social worker.

Music by Epidemic Sound (http://www.epidemicsound.com)

How often have we allowed the opinion of another person affect what we think of ourselves and the decisions we make? At some point in our lives, most of us have made decisions that are less representative of our authentic desires. A buffer against this external influence is a strong sense of self. Today we speak with Chuan Jie, who chose to switch her major from Information Systems to Social Work – a move that some may perceive to be a downgrade, but she perceives to be right for her.

Music by Epidemic Sound (http://www.epidemicsound.com)