EDIT HISTORY

Most people trying to build thought leadership are doing it backwards. They share their story online, wait for people to connect with it, and wonder why the bookings aren't coming.

Simone Heng has a blunter take: nobody cares about your story. Not unless you're Michael Jordan.

Simone is a human connection specialist, award-winning author of Let's Talk About Loneliness, and one of the few Asian women speaking at the level she does - at Harvard, Google, the UN, and stages across the Middle East and Southeast Asia. She spent six figures educating herself before anyone paid to hear her speak. For four years, her former radio employer controlled her Instagram and stopped her from being herself. The week that ended, she built a six-figure business in a pandemic.

In this conversation, we talk about what actually gets you booked, why your story is the least interesting thing about your thought leadership, and what the "sophomore slump" looks like when your first book receives six international awards.

TIMESTAMPS

(00:00) Introduction

(01:57) "I've never seen an Asian woman speak like that"

(03:13) Developing a subject matter expertise

(07:17) Choosing your topic of expertise

(09:20) Being told to hide parts of you

(10:41) The behind the scenes work

(12:36) Your story isn't enough

(16:09) Do you need a PhD to be a thought leader?

(22:24) Reviewing Simone's past content

(26:52) Become a speaker or author

(30:49) What's next for Simone

(35:43) Actionable Takeaways

CONNECT WITH SIMONE HENG

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simoneheng

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simone-heng-speaker

Website: https://simoneheng.com

Thought Leaders Now: https://www.thoughtleadersnow.com

CONNECT WITH CHERYL LAU

Website: https://cheryllau.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@cheryltheory

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheryltheory

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryllau

WORK WITH CHERYL LAU

I produce distinctive and deeply resonant podcasts for leaders and organizations who want their content to command attention, spark meaningful conversations, and attract high-value opportunities.

I ensure your podcast isn't just another show in the feed - it's an asset that elevates your authority and moves your work forward.

Here are 3 ways we can work together:

✨ 1:1 Editorial Podcast Production

✨ Corporate Podcast Producing & Consulting

✨ Hosting for Corporate Shows

Schedule a discovery call for us to explore what working together might look like: https://cheryllau.com/discovery

CONTACT

Please email [email protected] for business inquiries.

There's a moment when we're taught to quiet ourselves. Maybe someone told you that you were too much. Maybe your accent made you feel like your voice didn't belong. Maybe something happened that made staying quiet feel safer than speaking up.

Jam Gamble knows what it means to have your voice taken from you. In 2021, she experienced a hate crime. Weeks later, she forgot to cancel a webinar with Shopify - and got on the call anyway, mid-anxiety attack, and told them exactly what was happening. A year after that, she delivered a keynote to 180 pharmaceutical sales executives, broke down on stage, and said: "Speaking about this is how I reclaim what was stolen from me."

Jam is the CEO of Slay The Mic, an award-winning media personality, and one of the clearest voices on what it actually means to reclaim your voice - not as a performance, but as an act of resistance.

In this episode, we talk about the "Who Is Your Kanye" framework, why your accent is flavor not a flaw, and what it looks like to acknowledge the elephant in the room before it tramples you.

Someone out there is waiting for you to go first.

TIMESTAMPS

(00:00) Introduction

(01:39) Who's Your Kanye? (Framework)

(03:04) Who was Jam's Kanye?

(05:30) 3 Types of Kanye

(08:40) Acknowledging the elephant in the room

(11:42) Resonating with your audience

(14:47) Reclaiming your voice

(23:56) Reviewing Jam's past content

(31:39) Vocal roadblocks

(32:41) Speaking with an accent

(36:31) You ARE the example

(41:38) Actionable Takeaways

CONNECT WITH JAM GAMBLE

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamjamgamble

Website: https://www.iamjamgamble.com

CONNECT WITH CHERYL LAU

Website: https://cheryllau.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@cheryltheory

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheryltheory

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryllau

WORK WITH CHERYL LAU

I produce distinctive and deeply resonant podcasts for leaders and organizations who want their content to command attention, spark meaningful conversations, and attract high-value opportunities.

I ensure your podcast isn't just another show in the feed - it's an asset that elevates your authority and moves your work forward.

Here are 3 ways we can work together:

✨ 1:1 Editorial Podcast Production

✨ Corporate Podcast Producing & Consulting

✨ Hosting for Corporate Shows

Schedule a discovery call for us to explore what working together might look like: https://cheryllau.com/discovery

CONTACT

Please email [email protected] for business inquiries.

In January 2023, Dexter Zhuang published the first issue of his newsletter. It was literally just survey results - 75 Singapore expats answering questions about how they invest their money. He had no idea if anyone would care.

Two years later, the newsletter had grown to 7,000+ subscribers, hosted real-life meetups in Singapore where almost everyone in the room had just quit their job, and pivoted its entire brand from Money Abroad to Portfolio Path. Some subscribers left. Some came back specifically for the new direction.

Dexter is a fractional product leader and former Dropbox operator who treats everything - including his newsletter - as an experiment. In this conversation, we talk about how he used audience surveys to build something people actually wanted, what it felt like to pivot a growing brand mid-journey, and why it takes longer than you think even when it's working.

TIMESTAMPS

(00:00) Introduction

(02:02) Starting a newsletter as an experiment

(06:11) Pivoting the newsletter

(11:10) Reviewing Dexter's past content

(16:26) Insecurities when building the newsletter

(20:49) Content is a stepping stone for the audience

(23:24) Conducting surveys with your audience

(30:52) Underrated parts of building a newsletter

(37:26) Actionable Takeaways

CONNECT WITH DEXTER ZHUANG

Newsletter: https://www.theportfoliopath.com/subscribe

Website: https://www.dexterzhuang.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dexterzhuang

CONNECT WITH CHERYL LAU

Website: https://cheryllau.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@cheryltheory

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheryltheory

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryllau

WORK WITH CHERYL LAU

I produce distinctive and deeply resonant podcasts for leaders and organizations who want their content to command attention, spark meaningful conversations, and attract high-value opportunities.

I ensure your podcast isn't just another show in the feed - it's an asset that elevates your authority and moves your work forward.

Here are 3 ways we can work together:

✨ 1:1 Editorial Podcast Production

✨ Corporate Podcast Producing & Consulting

✨ Hosting for Corporate Shows

Schedule a discovery call for us to explore what working together might look like: https://cheryllau.com/discovery

CONTACT

Please email [email protected] for business inquiries.

In 2018, a stranger's Instagram post stopped me mid-scroll. She had just quit her corporate job to start a business, and something about the way she wrote it gave me the courage I didn't know I needed. That person was Vanessa Lau. That post was why I eventually started this podcast.

In this solo episode, I share what's working on EDIT HISTORY right now, one thing I'm doing differently, and one experiment I'm running - including a new episode structure I'm testing called the Stone Age, the Renaissance, and the Present Day.

I also answer two listener questions: why I stopped talking about leaving law school (and then talk about it in full), and why I chose podcasting specifically as my medium.

TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:47) What's working

(05:25) What's not working

(11:41) What I'm experimenting with

(15:46) Q&A 1: You don't talk about leaving law school or the PhD much anymore!

(22:35) Q&A 2: Why did you choose to start a podcast?

CONNECT WITH CHERYL LAU

Website: https://cheryllau.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@cheryltheory

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheryltheory

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryllau

WORK WITH CHERYL LAU

I produce distinctive and deeply resonant podcasts for leaders and organizations who want their content to command attention, spark meaningful conversations, and attract high-value opportunities.

I ensure your podcast isn't just another show in the feed - it's an asset that elevates your authority and moves your work forward.

Here are 3 ways we can work together:

✨ 1:1 Editorial Podcast Production

✨ Corporate Podcast Producing & Consulting

✨ Hosting for Corporate Shows

Schedule a discovery call for us to explore what working together might look like: https://cheryllau.com/discovery

CONTACT

Please email [email protected] for business inquiries.

When Janice Tee started her business in 2020, someone told her she was delusional. She didn't disagree.

She didn't know the market was saturated. She didn't have a perfect strategy. She just showed up on Instagram Stories every single day for two years - and missed exactly one day. In her second month, she made five figures. A few years later, a free Instagram account had bought her two houses.

Janice is a business coach and social media strategist based in Singapore. But more than the results, what makes her story worth hearing is this: she never performed confidence she didn't have. She built it by showing up before she felt ready.

In this episode, we revisit one of her earliest Instagram posts - a carousel with no call to action, no photo of herself, and content she'd write completely differently today - and talk about what five years of consistent, focused action actually builds.

TIMESTAMPS

(00:00) Introduction

(01:13) Janice's insecurities

(02:47) Judgment that Janice faced

(06:41) Consistent messaging

(10:46) Reviewing Janice's past content

(16:42) Confidence and conviction

(21:29) What Janice is excited about

(27:07) How Janice built her business and life

(30:59) Focused hard work

(39:06) Actionable Takeaways

CONNECT WITH JANICE TEE

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janice.tee

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janicetee

Podcast: Let's Kill It

CONNECT WITH CHERYL LAU

Website: https://cheryllau.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@cheryltheory

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheryltheory

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryllau

WORK WITH CHERYL LAU

I produce distinctive and deeply resonant podcasts for leaders and organizations who want their content to command attention, spark meaningful conversations, and attract high-value opportunities.

I ensure your podcast isn't just another show in the feed - it's an asset that elevates your authority and moves your work forward.

Here are 3 ways we can work together:

✨ 1:1 Editorial Podcast Production

✨ Corporate Podcast Producing & Consulting

✨ Hosting for Corporate Shows

Schedule a discovery call for us to explore what working together might look like: https://cheryllau.com/discovery

CONTACT

Please email [email protected] for business inquiries.

In August 2024, two weeks before her 29th birthday, Dielle Charon had a kitchen floor breakdown. She was dealing with a failed launch, a six-figure tax bill from her accountant's mistakes, team issues, online hate, client drama, and summer seasonal depression - all at once. That year, she made $1.4M cash.

When a YouTube channel with 10,000 subscribers made a video tearing her down, Dielle didn't ignore it. She messaged them and asked to be interviewed - live, unedited, in front of an audience that hates the coaching industry. She had an answer for every question.

Dielle is a sales coach and founder of a seven-figure business who has helped over 300 clients and grown a podcast with 150,000+ downloads. In this conversation, we revisit the podcast episode she recorded at her lowest point and talk about what actually keeps someone going when everything feels like too much at once.

TIMESTAMPS

(00:00) Introduction

(01:15) A rough 2024 in business & life

(04:23) The downside of sharing your struggles

(07:35) Putting coaches on a pedestal

(10:00) Reviewing Dielle's past content

(12:50) Haters can't take your business out

(16:04) Dielle did a livestream with a hater

(19:33) Learning from criticism

(22:21) Not showing up when things felt hard

(26:11) The "business rules" that coaches box themselves into

(31:40) Comparisons & jealousy

(35:13) Your job is racist

(39:57) Actionable Takeaways

CONNECT WITH DIELLE CHARON

Website https://diellecharon.com/

IG https://www.instagram.com/diellecharon/

Podcast https://diellecharon.com/podcast/

Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@diellecharon

CONNECT WITH CHERYL LAU

Website: https://cheryllau.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@cheryltheory

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheryltheory

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryllau

WORK WITH CHERYL LAU

I produce distinctive and deeply resonant podcasts for leaders and organizations who want their content to command attention, spark meaningful conversations, and attract high-value opportunities.

I ensure your podcast isn't just another show in the feed - it's an asset that elevates your authority and moves your work forward.

Here are 3 ways we can work together:

✨ 1:1 Editorial Podcast Production

✨ Corporate Podcast Producing & Consulting

✨ Hosting for Corporate Shows

Schedule a discovery call for us to explore what working together might look like: https://cheryllau.com/discovery

CONTACT

Please email [email protected] for business inquiries.

Natasha Pierre has been talking about video content for seven years. Same topic, different angles, over and over. Her first video of 2025 got 40,000 views and doubled the size of her YouTube channel.

One of her most counterintuitive beliefs: if you're bored of your message, you're probably just starting to become known for it. Most creators pivot way too soon, convinced they need to keep things fresh - right at the moment their audience is finally starting to associate them with something.

Natasha is a video marketing coach and host of the Shine Online Podcast. In this episode, we revisit her Back to Basics series from 2023, watch her current Simple Video System series in progress, and talk about the signature series strategy that got her 300 new email subscribers from a single content run.

TIMESTAMPS

(00:00) Introduction

(00:44) How did you decide what to be known for?

(02:24) Insecurity with video

(04:12) Worried about judgment

(05:18) Becoming confident on video

(08:34) Reviewing Natasha's past content

(15:30) Stressing over metrics

(17:27) Mental health vs metrics

(20:13) Comparing Natasha's recent content

(29:01) Creating a signature series

(33:37) Natasha's content plan

(35:37) Becoming known for something

(43:17) Actionable Takeaways

CONNECT WITH NATASHA PIERRE

3-Day Video Confidence Challenge: https://shinewithnatasha.com/challenge

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCL2BMkT_7jIu5NeV_yAXScw

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shinewithnatasha/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shinewithnatasha

Shine Studio: https://www.withshinestudio.com/

CONNECT WITH CHERYL LAU

Website: https://cheryllau.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@cheryltheory

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheryltheory

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryllau

WORK WITH CHERYL LAU

I produce distinctive and deeply resonant podcasts for leaders and organizations who want their content to command attention, spark meaningful conversations, and attract high-value opportunities.

I ensure your podcast isn't just another show in the feed - it's an asset that elevates your authority and moves your work forward.

Here are 3 ways we can work together:

✨ 1:1 Editorial Podcast Production

✨ Corporate Podcast Producing & Consulting

✨ Hosting for Corporate Shows

Schedule a discovery call for us to explore what working together might look like: https://cheryllau.com/discovery

CONTACT

Please email [email protected] for business inquiries.

At some point, Latasha James noticed something in YouTube search: when she typed her own name, the autocomplete filled in "social media manager" and "social media marketing." Strangers were searching for her name alongside her niche. She hadn't announced anything. It just happened - after years of showing up every single Friday.

Latasha started her Freelance Friday Podcast in 2018 while still working full time. She felt imposter syndrome about it. She has a video approaching a million views that she cringes at every time because of how she looks. She knows exactly which type of content would get her more views - and she chooses not to make it, because it doesn't feel like her.

In this episode, we revisit one of her earliest videos, talk about the era of content she now feels slightly out of alignment with, and get into what seven years of consistent, values-driven work actually builds.

TIMETAMPS

(00:00) Introduction

(01:51) How do you know when you've built authority?

(05:14) Insecurities as a creator

(07:07) Showing up in spite of your insecurities

(10:39) Reviewing Latasha's past content

(16:48) Resonating with your audience by being relatable

(18:37) The formula for success as a content creator

(21:44) Content that felt out of alignment

(25:17) "Authority" content

(31:39) Hesitating to share your viewpoint

(36:32) How do you know if you're in the right direction?

(38:46) Actionable Takeaways

CONNECT WITH LATASHA JAMES

Website: https://www.latashajames.com

YouTube: youtube.com/@thelatashajames

Instagram: instagram.com/thelatashajames

CONNECT WITH CHERYL LAU

Website: https://cheryllau.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@cheryltheory

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheryltheory

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryllau

WORK WITH CHERYL LAU

I produce distinctive and deeply resonant podcasts for leaders and organizations who want their content to command attention, spark meaningful conversations, and attract high-value opportunities.

I ensure your podcast isn't just another show in the feed - it's an asset that elevates your authority and moves your work forward.

Here are 3 ways we can work together:

✨ 1:1 Editorial Podcast Production

✨ Corporate Podcast Producing & Consulting

✨ Hosting for Corporate Shows

Schedule a discovery call for us to explore what working together might look like: https://cheryllau.com/discovery

CONTACT

Please email [email protected] for business inquiries.

A few months ago, I seriously considered whether episode 200 would be my last.

After years of podcasting, I felt like I'd run out of things to say - and the growth wasn't where I wanted it to be. Instead of quitting, I completely rebuilt the show. And something unexpected happened: guests with large audiences started saying yes - not because my show is big, but because the format gave them something they'd never had the chance to do before.

This is a solo episode where I share one thing that's working, one thing I'm doing differently, and one thing I'm currently testing. I also dig into a past post from my archives - a 2019 hand-drawn Instagram diagram about free vs. paid content - and why I now think I was just repeating what every other business coach was saying at the time.

TIMETAMPS

(00:00) Introduction

(1:50) What's working

(5:11) What's not working

(6:36) What I'm experimenting with

(9:55) Q&A 1: What surprised you about the rebrand?

(12:05) Q&A 2: Audio vs video podcasting

(14:44) Q&A 3: The cringiest content Cheryl has posted

CONNECT WITH CHERYL LAU

Website: https://cheryllau.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@cheryltheory

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheryltheory

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryllau

WORK WITH CHERYL LAU

I produce distinctive and deeply resonant podcasts for leaders and organizations who want their content to command attention, spark meaningful conversations, and attract high-value opportunities.

I ensure your podcast isn't just another show in the feed - it's an asset that elevates your authority and moves your work forward.

Here are 3 ways we can work together:

✨ 1:1 Editorial Podcast Production

✨ Corporate Podcast Producing & Consulting

✨ Hosting for Corporate Shows

Schedule a discovery call for us to explore what working together might look like: https://cheryllau.com/discovery

CONTACT

Please email [email protected] for business inquiries.

Victoria's Secret tried to become more inclusive and body positive. They updated their messaging. People didn't buy it - because everything else stayed visually the same. Meanwhile, Abercrombie quietly repositioned itself as a capsule wardrobe staple for working adults and became one of retail's biggest comeback stories.

Jasmine Haitalani uses these kinds of brand case studies to think about her own business - and she's been applying those lessons since 2020 when she started her creative agency, Highflier Powerhouse. In 2021, as other online business owners were returning to their nine-to-fives, she briefly wondered if she should apply to med school. Instead, she committed to one offer. She's been refining it ever since. Four years later, it's called the Rebrand Experience, and it's still the core of her business.

In this episode, we look at the case study post she made documenting every evolution of that offer - and talk about what it actually takes to stay relevant without constantly starting over.

TIMESTAMPS

(00:00) Introduction

(1:28) Making business decisions to stay relevant

(3:48) Flip-flopping in your business

(7:02) How long does it take to know if it's working?

(9:02) Reviewing Jasmine's past content

(12:21) Standing out

(14:56) Developing your creativity

(17:34) Identify your strengths

(20:56) Brands that became irrelevant

(24:33) Finding inspiration

(31:27) What Jasmine would improve on

(33:56) A brand framework

(35:39) Jasmine's body of work

(38:34) You're capable

(42:32) Actionable Takeaways

CONNECT WITH JASMINE HAITALANI

Website: https://highflierpowerhouse.com/

Podcast: https://highflierpowerhouse.com/podcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/highflierpowerhouse/

CONNECT WITH CHERYL LAU

Website: https://cheryllau.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@cheryltheory

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheryltheory

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryllau

WORK WITH CHERYL LAU

I produce distinctive and deeply resonant podcasts for leaders and organizations who want their content to command attention, spark meaningful conversations, and attract high-value opportunities.

I ensure your podcast isn't just another show in the feed - it's an asset that elevates your authority and moves your work forward.

Here are 3 ways we can work together:

✨ 1:1 Editorial Podcast Production

✨ Corporate Podcast Producing & Consulting

✨ Hosting for Corporate Shows

Schedule a discovery call for us to explore what working together might look like: https://cheryllau.com/discovery

CONTACT

Please email [email protected] for business inquiries.