Time To Grow Up

By Choong Kwan

Growing up is hard, and as a young dad I just want to talk about things that might make life easier for others alike.... more

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FAQs about Time To Grow Up:

How many episodes does Time To Grow Up have?

The podcast currently has 43 episodes available.

Time To Grow Up episodes:

July 31, 2026 10 Things Every Dad Should Tell Their Kids Before Age 4
I had to record this twice. The first time, I forgot to press record lol. Sat through the entire thing , tears and all only to realise nothing was captured (ahh how tech fails me!)
So here it is, take two: 10 things I want my boys to know before they turn four.
00:00 Intro
01:21 # 1: You need to be reminded more than you need to be taught
04:00 #2: Before you fall, know we love you
06:17 #3: Time doesn't feel linear , it takes exponential jumps
08:30 #4: We don't know everything (we're just guessing)
10:30 #5: Time away from you isn't because we don't love you
12:00 #6: You mould us into who we really are
14:11 #7: I'm jealous of what you both have
16:30 #8: I wish I made more money earlier in life
19:00 #9: I'm glad I prioritised my health early
21:00 #10: You make me a better person , and helped me love my parents more

Resources and links to check out

Resources and links to check out

A FREE list of 10 books to read this year https://go.iamchoong.com/book-list

A FREE resource of 150 recipes to help improve your health https://go.iamchoong.com/free-recipe-pack

If you need some help with your health and fitness coaching check out how I can help you https://go.iamchoong.com/coaching

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/i_am_choong/
...more
26min
July 12, 2026Your Kids Dont Need You To Be Average
Most parents don't want to be average. But somewhere between childhood and adulthood, we learned to hide the very things that made us special , and now we're teaching our kids to do the same.
In this episode of the Time to Grow Up podcast, I break down why authenticity isn't something you force, it's something that emerges through exposure, experience, and the courage to stay weird when the world tells you to fit in.
I go through
Why kids are natural individualists and how social pressure slowly erases that
My own story: going from a kid who acted on TV and loved public speaking to a teenager who buried it all just to fit in
The Jiu-Jitsu sideline problem and what it reveals about parents living vicariously through their kids
The single best thing parents can do (hint: it's exposure, not molding)
Why losing your authenticity in your 20s hits hardest in your 30s and what to do about it
0:00 Intro
0:24 The authenticity paradox
1:00 Kids are natural individualists
2:06 My story
3:16 What I want for my kids
4:06 The parent's role: exposure, not molding
6:35 Don't let the judgments of others dictate what you give up
8:32 Being average ≠ being inauthentic
11:38 Authenticity cannot be forced
12:28 When repetition becomes a choice, development begins
Resources and links to check out

A FREE list of 10 books to read this year https://go.iamchoong.com/book-list

A FREE resource of 150 recipes to help improve your health https://go.iamchoong.com/free-recipe-pack

If you need some help with your health and fitness coaching check out how I can help you https://go.iamchoong.com/coaching

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/i_am_choong/
...more
15min
June 21, 2026 Bare Minimums: Why You Don't Need to Go Harder at Everything
Doing the bare minimum is an advice that sounds wrong, yet it might just be one (of the many) advice I would give my kids.

In this episode, I break down why hustle culture is a coping mechanism disguised as ambition, and why the real skill isn't grinding harder , it's knowing when to shift into maintenance mode and do the bare minimum.A lot of the episode draws inspiration from Sahil Bloom's new book "5 Types of Wealth “ among other ideas I have come across in the past. This one's personal. It's also, I think, the conversation most dads in their 30s and 40s need to hear but rarely get.
Timestamps:
0:00 Welcome back to the podcast
1:30 Bare Minimums
2:40 The 5 Types of Wealth (Sahil Bloom)
3:44 Hustle culture is an addiction
7:02 The bare minimum rules for health
9:08 Make a list for your seasons

Resources and links to check out

A FREE list of 10 books to read this year https://go.iamchoong.com/book-list

A FREE resource of 150 recipes to help improve your health https://go.iamchoong.com/free-recipe-pack

If you need some help with your health and fitness coaching check out how I can help you https://go.iamchoong.com/coaching

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/i_am_choong/
...more
15min
May 25, 2026 Why Purpose Is A Lie (And What To Do Instead)
Purpose and passion have a huge intertwine yet they are not the same. In this episode of the Time To Grow Up podcast I break down why many burn out chasing passion and not true purpose and now how to start to view things differently which helps to put life into perspective.
Timestamps:
0:00 Introduction 1:30 Following your passion is bad advice
6:20 Finding purpose can be a lonely journey
9:29 The consistency equation 13:14 Purpose is like the stock market
Resources and links to check out
A FREE list of 10 books to read this year
https://go.iamchoong.com/book-list
A FREE resource of 150 recipes to help improve your health
https://go.iamchoong.com/free-recipe-pack
If you are a young adult check this out and use the code FREEFORGE for a month free
https://go.iamchoong.com/theforge
If you need some help with your health and fitness coaching check out how I can help you
https://go.iamchoong.com/coaching
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/i_am_choong/

...more
18min
May 03, 2026 Balance Is A Lie
So I truly believe the idea of balance is a lie. Its something many would like to achieve yet I dont think its something we can do in this modern world. I wish that I am able to tell my kids that they can find balance, or dad is living a balanced life but in reality its not going to happen, and I doubt it will ever be. In the episode I cover things about how I view balance , why do people like to go hard and find it difficult to slow down (like kids), and why taking time off is so hard to do yet we know its beneficial.
Enjoy.
Here are 10 books I think you should read especially if you are a young adult trying to make sense of life right now
https://go.iamchoong.com/book-list

I send out 1 weekly email a week on a Wednesday covering topics from mindset, life, nutrition and training. If you would like to hear more of what I say (or read in fact) the link is down below:
https://go.iamchoong.com/weekly-emails

If you would like 150 free recipes to help with your health goals check them out :here https://go.iamchoong.com/free-recipe-pack

...more
39min
April 07, 2026 I Took A Year Off (Unintentionally)
So a lot has happened over the last year since the last episode came out in June. Thankfully while I did , intend to throw in the towel in this podcasting escapade, I came to realise why I started it in the first place, and I would like to share just some quick insights and updates on the last year since I last recorded an episode.

I send out 1 weekly email a week on a Wednesday covering topics from mindset, life, nutrition and trianing. If you would like to hear more of what I say (or read in fact) the link is down below:
https://go.iamchoong.com/weekly-emails
If you would like 150 free recipes to help with your health goals check them out :here https://go.iamchoong.com/free-recipe-pack
...more
17min
June 01, 2025 Reflecting on Episode 18 with Sarah Summers
What a cool chat with Sarah! I could sit back and process my conversation with her after a few days.
Hearing it from the point of view of a parent whose kid is on the other side of the world helps to put some things into perspective regarding my situation with my parents and what could be going through their minds.
It was also interesting to hear her talk about her experience as a surrogate mother, and something that struck me after the conversation was that not a lot of people would consider that as a way of helping others; many who do tend to view it as a financial gain first but in Sarah's case it was very much a case of trying to be as helpful as possible. I admire her in that regard.
You can find Sarah here at https://www.instagram.com/wakeupreadyl.lc/
My is IG https://www.instagram.com/i_am_choong/
And if you would like 150 free recipes to help with your health goals check them out :here https://go.iamchoong.com/free-recipe.-pack
...more
14min
May 25, 2025 Episode 18 With Sarah Summers
Sarah has such a unique story, and I am so glad we cross paths to allow me to gain some insight on what it is like to be ‘on the other side’ of the coin when it comes to being a parent, where you have a child that is studying in a completely different country. I was very much (and still am) that child to my parents, and of course, I have my views, but it was terrific to get a perspective from someone (Sarah) who has her child currently studying in Japan. All this while doing her Masters at the University of Illinois and being a coach.
In addition, Sarah also has a fantastic story about being a surrogate mother, and she goes into detail on some of the points to consider before going down the path and how she has decided to still keep in touch with the child and the family till this very day.
You can find Sarah here at https://www.instagram.com/wakeupreadyllc/
My IG https://www.instagram.com/i_am_choong/
And if you would like 150 free recipes to help with your health goals check them out here https://go.iamchoong.com/free-recipe-pack
...more
46min
May 18, 2025 Reflecting on Episode 17 with Mike Mahaffey
They say as you grow older, your views change, and in the case of Mike, that was the vibe I was getting. Honestly, I give all the credit to him because for someone who might be old, being receptive to change is important, especially as a parent, and always being able to adapt to the situation.
The conversation opened up my eyes to see that we need to ensure we let our children be who they want to be, but even as parents, we sometimes need to be open to exploring new things for ourselves, be it a new hobby, going into therapy or just talking to someone about your feelings (the big F word) but also dont force someone to change unless if they are ready emotionally to do so.
You can find Mike here at https://www.instagram.com/oldbastardbjj/ T
he gym he is at at https://www.instagram.com/magicbjj/
My IG https://www.instagram.com/i_am_choong/
...more
15min
May 11, 2025 Episode 17 with Mike Mahaffey
I had the pleasure of speaking to none other than the old bastard himself, Mr Mike Mahaffery. Mike and I connected via a little mutual group called BJJ Mental Models. While he graciously stroked my ego a couple of times on my BJJ skill (thanks, Mike), Mike gave me a few gems of wisdom as a father himself, having kids who are adults who mostly have their own interests and hobbies.
He reinforces the idea that at the end of the day, kids will grow up into adults of their own, and its essential always to acknowledge that as a parent. Aside from being a BJJ Black Belt, Mike also shared some of his experiences, being a Gen X , on his views on therapy and why and how parents should look into it more often even if you are of the so called 'older generation'.
You can find Mike here at https://www.instagram.com/oldbastardbjj/
The gym he is at at https://www.instagram.com/magicbjj/
My 28-day free nutrition coaching series: https://sendfox.com/choong
My 150 free recipes https://sendfox.com/lp/1d8qdj
My IG https://www.instagram.com/i_am_choong/
...more
45min

FAQs about Time To Grow Up:

How many episodes does Time To Grow Up have?

The podcast currently has 43 episodes available.