The Modern Crone

Random Cool People I Know with, Yun Chen

Join us as Yun patches in from her family home in China to share with us her journey to Singapore as a young teenager via a scholarship, and then chooses Singapore as her home. Hear about her fabulous ability to redefine herself, through mastering each role she has taken and attracting sponsorship from her employers. Yun shares with us the importance of determination and work ethic, yet in balance with rest and inner work. Learn about her coaching approach that combines ontology, positive psychology and systems thinking as a powerful offering for leaders and teams to find congruency within. We touch on the power of language and sensation to cultivate resilience and clarity, how the relationship that you cultivate with yourself is key to all relationships and the role of daily meditation and cleansing rituals in her success.

Fanny (Chen Yun) is a seasoned Executive and Life Coach with over 17 years of corporate experience in Change Management across Data, Customer Analytics, Risk Analytics, Regulatory Reporting, and Climate Risk within the banking sector. Originally from China, Yun moved to Singapore as a teenager on a full scholarship and graduated with first-class honours in engineering in 2007. Her passion for continuous learning led her to further studies in Strategic Marketing and Positive Psychology, while leading cross-functional teams in delivering complex projects and driving organizational change in her corporate job.

In 2020, Yun received a scholarship from her employer for coaching training and certification, which sparked her transition into an internal Executive Coach in an international bank, supporting leaders in achieving professional and personal growth. With an ICF-ACC Credential and on her journey toward the ICF-PCC Credential, her passion pushed her to expand her coaching practice in 2024 by launching The Coaching Wave (TCW). Through TCW, Yun helps clients embrace their authentic selves, cultivate resilience and achieve fulfilment, using a holistic coaching approach that integrates ontology, systems thinking, and positive psychology.

Yun’s unique journey from academia to the corporate world and now coaching equips her with a comprehensive understanding of leadership, transformation, and sustainable growth. She said, “I find purpose and joy in coaching.”

You can contact Yun here:

Website: 

https://www.thecoachingwave.com/

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/yun-chen-12199b23/

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/fanny.c.yun

And if your spirit is stirred by these amazing conversations, don’t forget to like, subscribe and leave a review - so more people can find their way to The Modern Crone. Thank you for tuning in! 

The Modern Crone team -

Theme music and season intro tracks:

Sam Joole: 

www.samjoole.com

Cover design and photography

Luana Suciu

https://www.instagram.com/luanasuciu/

[email protected] 

Voice editing:

Christopher Hales - Mask Music Studios

[email protected]

Random Cool People I Know with, Stephanie Chok, PhD

Join us as Stephanie shares her journey into advocating for the vulnerable, how her PhD field work in the construction industry in Singapore propelled her from her volunteer work, into systemic change in law and politics and pursuing social justice. We talked about volunteering and altruism in the home, the importance of purpose and hope, the caring human nature and how she sees the difference between religion and spirituality. Stephanie talks us through the functions of HOME from shelters, to legal aid, medical aid, connection and training. I’m so grateful to have a deeper understanding of some of the issues our migrant workers deal with and to share Stephanie's inspiring story.

Stephanie Chok has more than 10 years of research experience working and volunteering in various non-governmental organisations in Singapore, with a focus on migrant workers' rights and income inequality.

She is interested in criminal justice reform, income inequality and social protection for marginalised communities and is the Executive Director, Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics (HOME).

You can contact Stephanie here:

Website: www.home.org.sg

L​inkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniechok/

And if your spirit is stirred by these amazing conversations, don’t forget to like, subscribe and leave a review - so more people can find their way to The Modern Crone. Thank you for tuning in! 

 The Modern Crone team -

Theme music and season intro tracks:

Sam Joole: 

www.samjoole.com

Cover design and photography

Luana Suciu

https://www.instagram.com/luanasuciu/

[email protected] 

Voice editing:

Christopher Hales - Mask Music Studios

[email protected]

Random Cool People I Know with, Claire Leow

Join us as Claire shares her story of advocacy for vulnerable communities and historical sites; how her background in journalism at Bloombergs evolved into giving voice for the voiceless; the power of storytelling and accurate and personal historical narratives; the beautiful customs and rituals of Bukit Brown cemetery; the relationship between geomancy, the zodiac and eternal rest; the meaning of Qingming as a reconnection for the living and the dead; the role of Singapore’s Tomb Keepers; Claire’s current humanitarian work with Airlink…and so much more!

Claire Leow is a former journalist. She was the chief reporter for Bloomberg in Southeast Asia before becoming the bureau chief for Bloomberg Indonesia, where she lived for 8 years. She returned to Singapore to find heritage under threat, and campaigned first on the Railway Corridor, the historic former railway lands owned by Malaysia until July 2011. This is the most successful civil society campaign in recent history. 

By the end of the year, she was the lead campaigner to save Bukit Brown Cemetery, the largest and oldest cemetery in Singapore and one of the largest in Southeast Asia. She formed All Things Bukit Brown to raise awareness of the intrinsic value of the site, and successfully won an application for a World Monuments Fund listing in 2014. Here is her TED talk. 

With her interest in war history, she also published a book, World War II at Bukit Brown (Ethos Books), and is editing a second edition for the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Singapore in 2025. She has rallied a group of volunteers who have collectively guided more than 27,000 people to the site, including academics, researchers, archaeologists and sociologists. 

Claire’s walking tours are under the banner “Between Monsoons” to reflect the contemporaneous history and connect those aspects to modern Singapore. 

Claire currently works for Washington, DC-based Airlink Inc., a 501(C) aviation-based  non-profit that specialises in the logistics of humanitarian response. Airlink is responding to natural disasters as well as conflicts.

You can contact Claire here:
[email protected]

Random Cool People I Know with, Megha Singh

Join us as Megha shares her story from studies and early career in India, to becoming a seasoned coach and community builder in Singapore, her initiation into motherhood and how this evolved into working with female founders, her take on women, altruism and the money-mindset, how she manages to be so massively productive, her beautiful spirituality that blends origin practices with modern perspectives, and so much more!

Megha Singh is a Business Growth Coach; Fractional Consultant in the areas of Marketing, Communication and Community Building; an Independent Board Director and a Professional Speaker. 

She has over 17 years of work experience across startups, SMEs and MNCs like Shell, Sephora, Meta, Publicis Group and Honeycombers.

Through her company, Megha has worked in a variety of roles including Project Management, Community Management, Relationship Management, Marketing, Communication, PR, Events, Partnerships, Business Development, People Management and Pitch Training across industries including Lifestyle, Entrepreneurship Development, Education, Media, Energy, Impact & Art.

Megha has also been building vibrant communities since 2015 including CRIB, Trehaus and Launchpad.

She has a Master’s degree in mass communication and loves the arts - word, visual and motion. 

 Mom to 2 boys, she is currently working on her first book. 

She is also a trustee on the board of Swayam Foundation, an Indian NGO that is creating learning and work opportunities for people in the country. 

You can contact Megha here:

Website: https://www.b-inc.asia/

Instagram: @bincbymegha

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

Email: [email protected]

And if your spirit is stirred by these amazing conversations, don’t forget to like, subscribe and leave a review - so more people can find their way to The Modern Crone. Thank you for tuning in! 

The Modern Crone team -

Theme music and season intro tracks:

Sam Joole: 

www.samjoole.com

Cover design and photography

Luana Suciu

https://www.instagram.com/luanasuciu/

[email protected] 

Voice editing:

Christopher Hales - Mask Music Studios

[email protected]

Random Cool People I Know with, Ed Howard

Join us as Ed shares his incredible journey from Corporate Law and Banking, to being ordained a Zen Buddhist monk in Japan, to now bringing Zen principles of mindfulness and non-duality to industry leaders. Discover a refreshing take on 'Zen' and how we can adopt Zen's ancient principles into modern busy lives. 

Born in the North West of England, Ed Howard relocated to Singapore in 2016 bringing with him extensive experience in investment and wholesale financial law and regulation including roles at Merrill Lynch, Bank of America, SMBC and Standard Chartered. Having lived for five years in Japan after university, he was ordained in the Soto Zen tradition and completed a Master’s degree in Advanced Japanese. 

 In 2024, having graduated from incubators with the Founder’s Institute and ACE he set up Kokoro Business Performance, combining almost 30 years of Zen and other techniques with a deep understanding of the corporate world, executive coaching and consultancy. Drawing on the latest research in neuroscience and psychology, he currently offers online and in-person speaking engagements and seminar programmes and 1-1 coaching. Kokoro is also building online AI driven tools for large businesses, aimed at providing techniques to prevent burnout in employees and leaders by discovering what really matters whilst developing resilience and an innovative mindset. 

You can contact Ed here:

[email protected]

www.kokorobusinessperformance.com

www.linkedin.com/in/edward-howard-a86aa823/

And if your spirit is stirred by these amazing conversations, don’t forget to like, subscribe and leave a review - so more people can find their way to The Modern Crone. Thank you for tuning in! 

The Modern Crone team -

Theme music and season intro tracks:

Sam Joole: 

www.samjoole.com

Cover design and photography

Luana Suciu

https://www.instagram.com/luanasuciu/

[email protected] 

Voice editing:

Christopher Hales - Mask Music Studios

[email protected]

Random Cool People I Know with, Suparna Kapoor

Join us as Suparna shares her incredible experience of hiking to Everest Base Camp earlier this year (2024), learning to hold fear, how Lord Shiva influenced her experience, and how her psychic awareness amplified on the mountain.

Suparna is a personal trainer and specialist in pre and post-natal fitness, dedicated to empowering women on their fitness journeys. Her passion for fitness began at 18 while living in India, where she wanted to get healthier and lose weight. This path led her to become a certified Reebok Step Aerobics instructor, and shortly after, a certified personal trainer. For over eight years, she worked as a freelance trainer, helping men and women from all walks of life achieve their fitness goals.

However, her true transformation came during her second pregnancy, when she faced unexpected challenges during and after childbirth. This experience set her on a journey of self-discovery, reshaping her understanding of what it means to be fit and healthy. Now in her mid-40s and a mother of two, she draws from her personal experiences to help guide women through their own unique processes, focusing on strength, balance, and well-being at every stage of life.

Suparna's contacts:
Instagram: 

https://www.instagram.com/kapoorsuparna?igsh=MTVxbnNnaHIycXN3aQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Email : [email protected]

And if your spirit is stirred by these amazing conversations, don’t forget to like, subscribe and leave a review - so more people can find their way to The Modern Crone. Thank you for tuning in! 

Podcast Information

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THE MODERN CRONE

Season 5: The Spirit of Love with PhD Student and Commentator on Gender and Sexuality Representation in Australian Film and Society, Issey Kane

Issey Kane, is a PhD student at the University of Melbourne who is researching the intersection of public and cultural policy to explore the fifty year-long project that is curating Australia's national identity through film. 

Raised in Singapore from an early age, Issey embarked on her academic journey at the Australian International School before graduating from the International Baccalaureate program in 2016. She pursued her passion for the arts, earning a Bachelor of Arts with majors in Media and Communication and Film and Cultural Studies from the University of Melbourne. Continuing her scholarly pursuits, she obtained a Master of Arts and Cultural Management in 2022 and has just begun her PhD as of February 2024 after spending a semester teaching at the University in film and visual media classes. 

 Beyond the surface of cinema, Issey's research delves deep into the nuances of representations and aesthetics within National Cinemas. Her focus lies in deciphering the cultural resonance embedded in films and understanding their impact on audiences. Of particular interest to her, as a lesbian, is the portrayal of gender and sexuality in these national films, and the industrial landscape that shapes their narratives through policy on funding, distribution, and exhibition.

 Through her work, Issey strives to uncover the intricate connections between film, culture, and identity, shedding light on the broader socio-political landscape of Australia through a contemporary and historical lens. 

Join us as we explore Issey’s journey as a young lesbian in today’s world and the subtle prejudices that still exist; the queer identity in public spaces; the importance of self-censorship when travelling; the continuous nature of ’coming out’ in a hetero-normative standard of most societies; the impact of Pride and D&I movements for young gay lovers; the impact of institutional gender dynamics; what’s the best way to navigate the queer gender labels; the importance of honest representation of self and listening…and so much more!

The Modern Crone team -

Theme music and season intro tracks:

Sam Joole: 

www.samjoole.com

Cover design and photography

Luana Suciu

https://www.instagram.com/luanasuciu/

[email protected] 

Voice editing:

Christopher Hales - Mask Music Studios

[email protected]

The Spirit of Love with Psychologist and Life Coach, Dr Glenn Graves

Glenn is an American psychologist and Life Coach with specialisation in Creativity and believes that creativity is an essential component in healing. For nearly two decades, Glenn has counselled expatriate and Singaporean individuals and families on a variety of issues, including PTSD, anger management, anxiety, alcohol abuse, marital conflicts, cross cultural marital conflicts, divorce, sexual compulsion, adolescents and their family, to name a few. 

Glenn also formerly lectured at the School of Positive Psychology in Singapore. Glenn believes in addressing all the elements in a holistic approach to health and co-founded Elemental Wellness which is the wellness component of his business Counselling Perspective. He’s also the founder of Mindful Pathway which is dedicated to the technical neuroscience of healing. Using state of the art technology they can assess and train for adhd, anxiety, ocd, and a myriad of other issues. He’s a father of a son who was raised in Singapore and has a wealth of experience in some of the topics we discuss in this fascinating episode.

Join us as we explore the correlation between the digital mindset and the race for love; the changing concept of love; the importance of reflection; How we form our understanding of love from our family of origin and personal mythologies; Why do we sabotage love?; Why can there be so much cruelty in the love game?; Is love blind?; The physiology of young love and infatuation; The role of responsibility in love; Dr Glenn’s top tips for opening your heart to love…and so much more.

 You can contact Dr Glenn here:

https://www.counselingperspective.com/therapists/dr-glenn-graves


The Modern Crone team -

Theme music and season intro tracks:

Sam Joole: 

www.samjoole.com

Cover design and photography

Luana Suciu

https://www.instagram.com/luanasuciu/

[email protected] 

Voice editing:

Christopher Hales - Mask Music Studios

[email protected]

The Spirit of Love with Energy Healer and Mentor, Tracy Tsang

Tracy Tsang is an energy healer and mentor who helps women mend and improve unhappy personal relationships energetically, and transcend thoughts/actions that keeps them stuck with new perspectives that lead them to what their soul is seeking instead. She guides creative explorations into the world of energy, where problem solving with higher beings, co-creating/healing with energy and manifesting with the miraculously abundant universe can be experienced. 

 Her new book, ‘Absolute Truth is Love’ takes readers on a transcendental emotional, spiritual, mind and energy journey to reclaim their inner peace, freedom and blissful happiness. From the perspective of an energy healer, Tracy introduces a whole new realm of possibilities of how to heal, resolve and transcend emotional and personal relationship issues by working with the abundant universe and higher beings. ‘Absolute Truth is Love’ is available for pre-order at www.tracytsang.com/absolutetruthislove

Join us as we explore Tracy’s personal journey from burnout, to self-love, to healing others with the frequency of Love; How she works with different forms of love for healing; Her work with ‘Higher Beings’; How the frequency of Love transcends talk therapy and heals emotional wounds; The importance of addressing the vibration of hurt before deeper healing takes place; Creating chords to Universal Love and so much more!

Website/Blog: www.tracytsang.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/hmtracytsang

Fiona Maher, a counsellor and psychotherapist, adopts a Rogerian person-centred approach in her practice, placing utmost importance on ensuring her clients' comfort, safety, and confidentiality.

 This commitment has allowed her to cultivate profound working relationships, providing essential support and guidance through life's numerous challenges.

 Drawing from over two decades of teaching, counselling, and training expertise across diverse locations such as Ireland, Singapore, Germany, China, the United Kingdom, and beyond, Fiona holds a Master's Degree and a Diploma in Counselling.

 Her unique person-centric methodology is rooted in this extensive international experience, where she has encountered individuals facing various life trials. Fiona's rich background is not confined to a single narrative; she has lived multiple lives as an expat and a local, served as a compassionate counsellor, acted as a psycho-educator in the corporate sector, and embraced the role of a mother.

 This diverse tapestry of experiences forms the foundation for her integrative approach to professional life, characterised by a profound sense of empathy and understanding.

Join us for an insightful and very useful discussion on Love & Marriage as we dive into a deep exploitation of:

The post-COVID effect on marriage and relationships. 
Are our partners supposed to ‘heal’ us? 
How to assess the value we bring to our relationships? 
The importance of regular reviews of our marriages as we grow. 
Is love enough to sustain a relationship over time? 
Do men need to ‘step up’ to evolving marriage? 
The ‘grandiosity/shame’ balance. 
Is our long-term partner meant to be everything for us? 
Consulting the adaptive wise part of us and learning your partner’s love language…and so much more! 

Books Fiona references:

US by Terrence Real

Getting the Love you Want by Harville Hendrix Ph.D

The 5 Languages of Love by Gary Chapman

Fiona's contacts: [email protected]
Whatsapp: +65 91142020