An Open Invitation

Often in our 20s, we feel a pressure to start to specialize, to invest our efforts into one or two skills or things we want to develop. In today's conversation with Anda, an alternative approach to life is discussed. What if, instead of starting to settle, we spend the time to explore ideas and possibilities of life? Using her experiences as an entrepreneur as examples, Anda talks to us about the upsides of risk-taking in our 20s. 

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

What has been your biggest fall in life to date? Liyana told me about hers- and I'm sure this resonates with many of us- the realization that she is a flawed human being, and that no amount of trying is going to change that fact. We're all a little broken and lost. In today's conversation, Bernard Dinata, who goes by the artist name lullaboy, talks to us about what it is like to make mistakes and lose opportunities. According to him, these are what makes us human.

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

A pharmacist by day and a powerlifter by night, Farhanna Farid finds internal balance by fulfilling her vastly different interests. Her unique experience in powerlifting has given her a deeper awareness of how the bodies of women are being perceived. Like most other women and men, we struggle with appreciating our own bodies. How then can we move away from an appearance-focused society? According to Farhanna, we can do that by becoming more conscious of how our body serves us in terms of its function.

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

Hey. Here's a thought for you. How much do the pieces in your life overlap? For Crystal, what we observed was that everything she chose to make a part of her life complemented her personal values- 3 of which are humility, learning and service. Her work as an occupational therapist, and her faith in her religion, serve to build onto, and strengthen, her identity. Liyana, who has known Crystal since she was 13, has been telling me about how excited she is about this episode. Let us know if you enjoy it as much as we did! 

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

We typically park environmental issues in the realm of the secular, but is this the only place that they can exist? In today's conversation, Dennis Tan, a second year NUS Environmental Studies student, introduces us to a fresh take on environmental matters. He believes that being environmentally conscious is an integral part of the Christian faith, and calls on all people to make a connection between their faith and environment-related matters. Intelligent and thoughtful, we hope you enjoy the perspectives offered by Dennis as much as we did. 

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

Do you remember Jenna Rink from the movie 13 going on 30? She was a 13 year old who wanted to be a thriving 30 year old. Like herself, many of us have the notion that by age 30, we would have our lives in order. Today we talk to Farhanna Rahman, who turns 32 this year, about finding her identity in religion only in the later part of her 20s. Strikingly, she splits her life into pre- and post-religion, which signalled to us the level of influence it has on her life. Naturally inquisitive, funny and honest- those of you who are in the process of finding meaning in religion are going to enjoy today's conversation.

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

Fashion stylist, content creator, designer behind, and owner of, @camiraasrori, @camira.asrori talks about living authentically and being unapologetically ourselves. 

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

In this episode, we invited Mafer Seow. Mafer is a PhD student in City University of New York. Her journey to successfully becoming a PhD student was not plain sailing: she was rejected three times before she got offers to do a PhD. Despite this, her love for Science is apparent, and has carried her through periods of self-doubt and uncertainty. Her story is a perfect example of the grit and patience that academia demands. 

Music: https://www.purple-planet.com

In this episode, we invited soft-spoken artiste Amyrah Mustafa. Amyrah is the carrier of multiple talents and identities: she's an athlete, a host, a part time actress, a student and an entrepreneur. She hopes not to be limited by her past accomplishments and strives to look for more opportunities to help her grow. As she approaches the end of her Bachelor's, she describes how her identity evolves with each new life experience. 

Music: https://www.purple-planet.com

In this bonus track, we feature Celeste Tan, who is Shrey's (Ep 12) partner. She explains the concept of holding space for others, and how it has helped her in building better relationships. 

Music: https://www.purple-planet.com