In this episode of Unpolished Wisdom, Dr. Katrina Gisbert Tay speaks to Siva Shankar Jayaraj. Siva grew up in a kampong in Malacca with no address and no plan — just an unshakeable belief that having nothing to lose was its own kind of freedom. That belief carried him to Nike, where he spent 11 years building some of the boldest brand experiences in Southeast Asia. Then one night, watching The Greatest Showman on a long-haul flight, he asked himself the question that changed everything: was Nike the circus, or was I?

This is a conversation about walking away from the rocket, betting on yourself with no safety net, and what it really means to build a life on your own terms.

Dr. Suhina Singh grew up in apartheid South Africa where danger wasn't an exception — it was the baseline. Hypervigilance became her identity. Competence became survival. And for decades, her body absorbed everything her mind refused to feel.

Then the pandemic hit. Chronic inflammation, unexplainable pain, and a nervous system finally at its limit forced her into what she calls her first emotional education — a journey that revealed Complex PTSD, possible neurodivergence, and a lifetime of suppressed grief.

In this episode, Suhina opens up about forgiveness as physical medicine, learning to name emotions she didn't know she had, and what it finally feels like to stop performing and simply be.

What happens when life doesn’t follow the timeline you thought you had to keep?

In this conversation, Bianca Yuzon Henares, multidisciplinary artist, dream pop musician, and mother - shares her journey of creative reinvention, identity, and learning to begin again in unfamiliar spaces. From moving countries to stepping into motherhood she never planned for, Bianca opens up about the belief that once shaped her choices, that time was running out, and how letting that go changed everything.

We explore what it means to rebuild a sense of self in the midst of transition. The tension between ambition and presence. The quiet shift from measuring worth through output to finding wholeness in who you are now.

This is a conversation about starting over, about motherhood and identity, about the courage to stay with the unknown long enough for something new to emerge.

Key themes: creative reinvention, motherhood and identity, starting over, self-worth, artist life, personal transformation

Jessica Nomi Spain, board certified nutritionist, health coach, and mother of four, spent decades living without knowing her origins after being adopted at age four following her Korean mother's death. She opens up about the narratives she created to survive—that she was chosen, that everything was fine—and how a DNA test changed everything when she discovered the family who had never stopped searching for her. This conversation explores how our bodies hold our stories, why finding your roots doesn't fix you but frees you, and the moment she realized she'd been rejecting herself all along. From feeling like she had to earn her way into every space to finally settling into belonging.

Terrie Lupberger, ICF Master Certified Coach and author of "Uncommon Wisdom at Work," spent seven years writing a book that kept teaching her what she wasn't ready to learn in year one. She opens up about the collective myths we live by—that more is better, that separation protects us, that our worth equals what we produce—and how these invisible stories create endless suffering at work.

This conversation explores why we over-effort instead of asking for help, how to hold the paradox of wanting boldness while needing grace, and what it means to declare satisfaction without giving up on growth. From toxic positivity to fundamental well-being, Terrie reveals why bringing our whole humanity to work isn't soft—it's the hardest skill there is.

Dani Van de Velde, meditation teacher, intuitive healer, and author of Spirited, reveals that sometimes the whisper you keep ignoring isn't doubt—it's your soul asking for attention. She opens up about walking away from a successful finance career spanning continents when the dissonance became unbearable, navigating spiritual awakening when the people around you don't understand, and discovering that meditation isn't just wellness—it's the shift from living reactively to living responsively.

This conversation explores the space between imagination and psychic perception, why our sensitivity gets shut down and how to reopen it, and the courage it takes to trust what you're feeling even when it doesn't make rational sense.

Lyn Lee, the first Asian woman to have served as Global Chief DEI Officer at Shell and bestselling author of Tiny Rice Grains, reveals that even with all her achievements, she still struggles with feeling truly seen. She opens up about discovering that the narratives we inherit about success, belonging, and who we should be don't have to be the ones we keep, navigating imposter syndrome while leading global change, and learning that small ripples matter more than waiting to make a big splash. This conversation explores the gap between visibility and being seen, why self-doubt persists even at the peak, and how each act of reclaiming your truth creates impact far beyond yourself.

Corinna Vistan and Ian Takahashi are award-winning filmmakers who have worked on movies and tv shows such as The Suicide Squad, The White Lotus and the Marvel Studios films. Corinna made a decision that seemed crazy to everyone around them—choosing to leave Hollywood success at its peak, leaving her job at Marvel right after Avengers: Endgame, to move their family to Manila. Ian continues to work as a Cinematographer in Hollywood now with a slightly longer commute. They open up about what it takes to pivot when you're already "winning," navigating profound uncertainty as creative partners and parents, and why sometimes the bravest choice is stepping away from everything you've built. This conversation explores the magic behind the movies and the deeper magic of a relationship built on mutual challenge, support, and the courage to reinvent together.

Matt Collier, founder and CEO of DignifyX, discovered that the darkness we encounter often reflects something we need to see in ourselves. He opens up about leaving a toxic work environment without a backup plan, confronting the narratives he'd been telling himself, and learning that the people who triggered him most were mirroring parts of himself he needed to heal. The conversation explores the uncomfortable space between shadow and light—where real transformation happens when we're brave enough to own our share. For mid-career professionals navigating difficult transitions, entrepreneurs facing their shadows, or anyone learning that growth doesn't follow a neat timeline.

Cornelia Dahinten, a Singapore-based family therapist and conscious parenting coach, reveals that the secret to conscious parenting isn't perfection—it's presence. She opens up about raising three children before she had the therapeutic tools she has now, making imperfect choices, and discovering what her kids actually needed from her in the messy middle of motherhood. The conversation explores co-regulation, self-compassion, and why children don't need flawless parents—they need emotionally available parents willing to repair and stay present. For parents navigating their own messy middle, professionals balancing parenthood and career, or anyone seeking a more compassionate approach to relationships.