Most people think storytelling is about making yourself look good. But today’s guest believes the opposite.

Anna Ong is the founder of What’s Your Story Slam (Singapore’s longest-running live storytelling show) and a global storytelling coach who’s helped over 300 leaders become impossible to ignore.

But before any of that, Anna spent 15 years in banking, hoping her work would speak for itself. It didn’t. What did she learned instead? Great ideas don’t win. Great storytellers do.

After leaving the corporate world, Anna started to build What’s Your Story Slam from the ground up after NOT being able to find the stage she needed, so, she created it.

In this episode, we explore why her show only welcomes stories that are raw, vulnerable, and real, not polished TED Talks or humblebrags. So, if you’ve ever said “I don’t have a story,” or wondered if your everyday moments matter, this is the conversation for you. 

In this episode, we cover: 

(00:00) Introduction

(01:51) Telling stories that show your flaws 

(03:10) What’s Your Story Slam

(06:06) Telling stories to impress 

(09:42) Humble bragging 

(15:23) The impact of storytelling 

(19:59) A storytelling stage built in Asia

(26:26) Anna’s past content 

(31:29) AI and storytelling 

(35:16) A story Anna is working on 

(39:35) Actionable takeaways 

Connect with Anna Ong

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-ong/

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

Website: https://www.anna-ong.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

ANNOTATIONS - The Newsletter 

The edits that got cut from the podcast.

Every interview on EDIT HISTORY runs about 60 minutes. But less than 40 minutes makes it into the final cut. This newsletter is where the rest live.

ANNOTATIONS is where I share the 33% I left behind — and the insights that came after we stopped recording.

Subscribe at: https://cheryllau.com/email 

Contact

Please email [email protected] for business inquiries.

Sometimes, silence comes at a cost. It shows up in missed job offers, overlooked talents, and years spent waiting for recognition that never arrives.

Dr. Gertrude Nonterah grew up in a culture where you weren’t supposed to promote yourself - you waited for others to notice your brilliance. But after losing her job in 2018, she realized that hard work wasn’t enough. If she didn’t learn to speak up and share her story, she’d keep getting passed over.

Today, Dr. G is the founder of The Bold PhD, where she helps graduate students and PhDs navigate careers beyond academia. She’s a medical communications professional with a Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology, and she has built a body of work that speaks for itself.

In this episode of EDIT HISTORY, Dr. G shares what it really takes to build a career and a personal brand, especially when life doesn’t go to plan. From freelancing as a survival strategy to landing speaking gigs at Ivy Leagues, her story is a powerful reminder: Your consistency is your credibility.

And if you’ve ever felt behind, discouraged, or tempted to give up, this episode is for you. Let’s dive in.

In this episode, we cover: 

(00:00) Introduction

(02:05) Being passed over for opportunities 

(04:41) Work ethic isn’t enough

(06:16) Feeling helpless amidst unfair circumstances

(11:18) Regaining power over your situation

(15:27) Building a body of work

(20:19) Not quitting = reliability 

(23:26) Insecurities Dr. G faced

(29:39) Your content is helping people 

(34:22) Reviewing Dr. G’s past content

(41:14) Take back control of your outcomes 

(45:45) Actionable takeaways

Connect with Dr. Gertrude Nonterah

Website: https://theboldphd.com/ 

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

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

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

Newsletter: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/63c76e31b4f015f30446ce4d 

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

ANNOTATIONS - The Newsletter 

The edits that got cut from the podcast.

Every interview on EDIT HISTORY runs about 60 minutes. But less than 40 minutes makes it into the final cut. This newsletter is where the rest live.

ANNOTATIONS is where I share the 33% I left behind — and the insights that came after we stopped recording.

Subscribe at: https://cheryllau.com/email 

Contact

Please email [email protected] for business inquiries.

In this episode, we will look at the five characteristics I see in the most successful podcasters I know. These are internal qualities — ways of thinking, ways of working — that shape everything you create. Characteristics that help you build not just a show… but a body of work.

Whether you're just starting out, or you’ve been at this for a while and feel like your podcast could go deeper, I hope today’s episode helps you reflect — and recommit — to the kind of creator you want to be. 

In this episode, we cover: 

(00:00) Introduction

(01:35) Characteristic 1

(04:06) Characteristic 2 

(06:31) Characteristic 3

(08:30) Characteristic 4

(11:58) Characteristic 5

(15:31) Closing

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

ANNOTATIONS - The Newsletter 

The edits that got cut from the podcast.

Every interview on EDIT HISTORY runs about 60 minutes. But less than 40 minutes makes it into the final cut. This newsletter is where the rest live.

ANNOTATIONS is where I share the 33% I left behind — and the insights that came after we stopped recording.

Subscribe at: https://cheryllau.com/email 

Contact

Please email [email protected] for business inquiries.

Most people start building an online presence with one goal in mind: to be seen. To grow an audience, promote their work, and build credibility.But over time, that purpose often shifts.

For those who stick with it, who keep showing up with intention, an online presence can become something far more meaningful. It becomes a platform to advocate for the things that truly matter.

In this episode, I sit down with Jennifer Van Alstyne to talk about what it means to create content that goes beyond visibility. Jennifer is the owner of The Academic Designer LLC, and she empowers professors to feel confident showing up online through website design, social media, and bio writing.

Because ultimately, your platform isn’t just about you. It can be a powerful tool for change, if you choose to use it that way. This is a conversation about advocacy, community, and the courage it takes to keep showing up, with your values at the center.

In this episode, we cover: 

(00:00) Introduction

(01:40) Showing up after hate comments and going viral

(06:11) Reviewing Jennifer’s past content 

(09:24) Developing your character as an entrepreneur 

(12:56) Separating personal challenges from business 

(16:34) Finding community online 

(20:58) Realizing you are making an impact via your content 

(24:38) Low engagement and small audience size 

(28:44) Changes amidst AI

(31:39) Safety vs AI

(36:24) The meaning behind your work

(40:30) Actionable Takeaways 

Connect with Jennifer van Alstyne

Website: https://theacademicdesigner.com/

Website: https://jennifervanalstyne.com/

Work with Jennifer: https://higheredpr.as.me/meet-with-jennifer

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

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/jenvanalstyne.bsky.social

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@higheredpr

Instagram: http://instagram.com/higheredpr

YouTube: http://youtube.com/@higheredpr

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0BCuleBpXeRcpko3t3AYC4?si=a2e570d559354141

Facebook: https://facebook.com/higheredpr

X: http://x.com/higheredpr

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

ANNOTATIONS - The Newsletter 

The edits that got cut from the podcast.

Every interview on EDIT HISTORY runs about 60 minutes. But less than 40 minutes makes it into the final cut. This newsletter is where the rest live.

ANNOTATIONS is where I share the 33% I left behind — and the insights that came after we stopped recording.

Subscribe at: https://cheryllau.com/email 

Contact

Please email [email protected] for business inquiries.

There’s a reason most people never become known for their thought leadership. It’s not because they lack ideas… But because they haven’t done the work to build their credibility or subject matter expertise.

Today’s guest is Simone Heng, a human connection specialist and award-winning author. Simone’s mission is to inspire deeper connection in a world that’s increasingly disconnected.

Her book Let’s Talk About Loneliness has received six international accolades. She’s also spoken to thousands (ex: Harvard, Google, Meta, the United Nations, and more), and her work has been featured by CNN, Al Jazeera, Forbes, Harvard Business Review, and BBC Radio.

Simone built her career in thought leadership not through shortcuts, but through years of intentional work - Educating herself, building a credible brand, and publishing ideas that are not only polished, but profound. If you’ve ever wondered what it looks like to play the long game in a world that rewards speed… This is the conversation. 

In this episode, we cover: 

(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

ANNOTATIONS - The Newsletter 

The edits that got cut from the podcast.

Every interview on EDIT HISTORY runs about 60 minutes. But less than 40 minutes makes it into the final cut. This newsletter is where the rest live.

ANNOTATIONS is where I share the 33% I left behind — and the insights that came after we stopped recording.

Subscribe at: https://cheryllau.com/email 

Contact

Please email [email protected] for business inquiries.

There’s a moment when we’re taught to quiet ourselves. Maybe someone said they couldn’t understand your accent. Maybe you were told you were “too much.” Or maybe something happened that made you start playing small just to stay safe.

And so your voice - your real voice - gets buried under layers of doubt, conditioning, and fear… But what happens when you decide you’re done with that?

Today’s guest is Jam Gamble, an educator, award-winning media personality, and one of the fiercest advocates for vocal empowerment I’ve ever met. She’s the CEO behind Slay The Mic, a program that helps speakers, content creators, and entrepreneurs transform how they use their voice.

In this episode, we talk about reclaiming your voice after it’s been silenced, why your story is more powerful than you think, and how giving yourself permission to be heard might just be the most pivotal thing you do. Because somewhere out there, someone is waiting for you to go first.

In this episode, we cover: 

(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

ANNOTATIONS - The Newsletter 

The edits that got cut from the podcast.

Every interview on EDIT HISTORY runs about 60 minutes. But less than 40 minutes makes it into the final cut. This newsletter is where the rest live.

ANNOTATIONS is where I share the 33% I left behind — and the insights that came after we stopped recording.

Subscribe at: https://cheryllau.com/email 

Contact

Please email [email protected] for business inquiries.

As creators, many of us start with a hunch, a curiosity, or a simple “let’s see where this goes.” Today’s guest, Dexter Zhuang, embodies this experimental mindset. He’s the founder of Portfolio Path and a fractional product leader who’s spent the last 12 years leading teams across the U.S., Southeast Asia, and Latin America at companies like Dropbox and Xendit.

In 2023, Dexter launched Money Abroad—a newsletter exploring personal finance for expats—as an experiment. Over time, it evolved into Portfolio Path, an education platform that helps high-performers grow their portfolio careers and manage their money with intention.

Today, Portfolio Path reaches over 7,000 subscribers. Along the way, Dexter has leaned into audience surveys, embraced feedback, and navigated the common insecurities that come with publishing your ideas publicly.

In this episode, we unpack that journey—from testing an idea to building something that resonates deeply with a growing community.

In this episode, we cover: 

(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

ANNOTATIONS - The Newsletter 

The edits that got cut from the podcast.

Every interview on EDIT HISTORY runs about 60 minutes. But less than 40 minutes makes it into the final cut. This newsletter is where the rest live.

ANNOTATIONS is where I share the 33% I left behind — and the insights that came after we stopped recording.

Subscribe at: https://cheryllau.com/email 

Contact

Please email [email protected] for business inquiries.

Have you ever listened to a podcast and thought, “That was good… but I don’t really feel anything new?”

This is something I was wondering about in my own podcast. Yes, the conversations were insightful, but they weren’t always sparking that “Ohhh… WOW” moment that sticks with you long after the episode ends.

So on today’s solo episode, I’ll be sharing one thing that’s working, one thing that I’d do differently moving forward, and one thing that I’m experimenting with right now. I also answer a few questions from listeners.

In this episode, we cover: 

(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 

Newsletter: https://cheryllau.com/email 

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

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

Free Resource for Podcasters  

THE PODCAST CONTENT AUDIT: Build a differentiated and timeless body of work 

- Audit 9 different parts of your podcast content strategy

- Identify the specific areas you can improve on right away to set your podcast apart from the rest

Get the Audit here: https://cheryllau.com/audit 

Contact

Please email [email protected] for business inquiries.

We all have insecurities. And for most people, those insecurities and self-doubts are enough to stop them before they even start. They spend months, sometimes years, overanalyzing the right strategy, waiting for the right circumstances.

But the truth is… nothing changes unless you focus on what’s within your control right now and take action consistently, over and over again.

Our guest today, Janice Tee, understood this. Janice is a business coach and social media strategist, and when she started her business, she didn’t waste time worrying about what she didn’t know. She focused on what she could do - Showing up, staying consistent, and trusting that confidence follows action, not the other way around.

In this episode of EDIT HISTORY, Janice and I dive into what it really takes to overcome self-doubt and refuse to let it hold you back. 

In this episode, we cover: 

(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 Cheryl Lau

Website: https://cheryllau.com 

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

Newsletter: https://cheryllau.com/email 

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

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

Connect with Janice Tee

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

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

Podcast: Let’s Kill It 

Free Resource for Podcasters  

THE PODCAST CONTENT AUDIT: Build a differentiated and timeless body of work 

- Audit 9 different parts of your podcast content strategy

- Identify the specific areas you can improve on right away to set your podcast apart from the rest

Get the Audit here: https://cheryllau.com/audit 

Contact

Please email [email protected] for business inquiries.

Have you ever thought about quitting your business? Not just in a fleeting moment of frustration, but in a deep, overwhelming way—when the pressure feels unbearable?

Maybe it’s the unexpected challenges piling up all at once. Maybe it’s the clients who are unhappy but won’t say why. Or maybe, it’s the strangers online who seem to have an opinion about everything you do.

Our guest today, Dielle Charon, knows this feeling firsthand. She’s built a 7-figure business, helped over 300 clients, and grown a podcast with over 150,000 downloads. But even at the height of her success, she’s faced harsh criticism from people who don’t even know her, difficult moments with clients, and personal challenges that made her question everything.

On this episode of EDIT HISTORY, Dielle shares how she’s navigated these moments, built resilience, and continued to create a business that matters—not just for her bank account, but for the clients and community she serves. If you’ve ever felt like quitting, this conversation might be exactly what you need to hear.

In this episode, we cover: 

(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 Cheryl Lau

Website: https://cheryllau.com 

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

Newsletter: https://cheryllau.com/email 

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

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

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

Free Resource for Podcasters  

THE PODCAST CONTENT AUDIT: Build a differentiated and timeless body of work 

- Audit 9 different parts of your podcast content strategy

- Identify the specific areas you can improve on right away to set your podcast apart from the rest

Get the Audit here: https://cheryllau.com/audit 

Contact

Please email [email protected] for business inquiries.