EDIT HISTORY

Hosted by Cheryl Lau

Business Education

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248

Latest episode

Apr 2026

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About the show

EDIT HISTORY is a podcast about the ideas that matter - and the people who built them. We zoom in on the actual argument: the question they started with, what the evidence forced them to revise, and what must change if they're right. Every guest has done the work. Some in universities. Some in courtrooms, clinics, or boardrooms. What they share is this: they arrived at a position - and they can defend it. One-line pitch: "What question were you trying to answer - and if you're right, what must change?" The problem it solves: Most podcasts interview people about their journey. Brilliant research stays trapped in journals. Thought leadership gets diluted into hot takes. EDIT HISTORY bridges scholarship and society - making serious ideas impossible to ignore. --- EDIT HISTORY won 2x at the 2025 Asia Podcast Awards (by Radioinfo Asia) in the "Best Education Podcast" and "Best Money and Business Podcast" categories. It was also shortlisted for the 2024 Asia Podcast Awards (by Radioinfo Asia) in the "Best Money and Business Podcast" category and won the 2023 Golden Crane Award (by the Asian American Podcasters Association) in the "Best Entrepreneur/Solopreneur Podcast" category.

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60 recent

April 7, 2026Episode 133 min

"Upskill. Adapt. Don't fall behind." - Ok, now what? | Michelle Mah

We are drowning in advice about AI. Upskill. Adapt. Stay ahead. But underneath all of that noise is a question nobody seems to be asking: what is this actually doing to us? Psychotherapist Michelle Mah works with high-performing professionals navigating exactly this - and what she's seeing in her practice isn't a skills gap. It's exhaustion, dysregulation, and an identity crisis that the productivity conversation keeps skipping over. In this episode, we get into AI anxiety, the psychological cost of being asked to change at machine speed, and why the "adapt or fall behind" message might be making things worse - not better. TIMETAMPS 00:00 - Introduction 01:58 - "Adapt or fall behind" 07:43 - How this anxiety is different from anything before 10:55 - The identity threat underneath the career threat 18:33 - What we should never outsource to AI 21:41 - AI influencers & content 24:35 - Will AI replace therapists? 27:46 - Trust as the new economy 31:13 - Michelle's thesis: what will hold through every disruption CONNECT WITH MICHELLE MAH LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellemahsg/ Website: https://thecuriousbonsai.com.sg/ 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 hello@cheryllau.com for business inquiries.

February 2, 2026Episode 3156 min

He's Building a Time Capsule of Singapore's Greatest Minds | Keith Yap

What does it take to build a podcast that's designed to outlast you? Keith Yap, host of The Front Row Podcast, grew his show to 15K subscribers in under a year - not by chasing trends, but by doing the opposite. His mission: create a living archive of Singapore's brightest minds on geopolitics, economics, and technology. A time capsule for the next generation of Singaporeans. In this conversation, Keith reflects on how his role has evolved from nervous first-timer to confident interlocutor - someone who doesn't just ask questions, but challenges, supplements, and connects ideas across a growing catalog of diplomats, economists, historians, and technologists. We also get into: how he landed his very first guest (Ambassador Chan Heng Chee), why he thinks Singapore is two degrees from anyone, his personal learning stack, and his bigger vision - making Singapore the intellectual capital of Southeast Asia. TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Trailer & Opening (01:29) The Front Row Podcast (03:03) Getting High-Calibre Guests (07:24) The Cringey Early Episodes (09:37) How Keith's Role as a Podcaster Has Evolved (12:11) What Makes a Conversation Deep and Meaningful (14:34) Editing & Episode Fidelity (16:18) The Biggest Shift in Keith's Hosting Style (19:50) Stress-Testing Your Own Views as a Host (21:38) How Genuine Curiosity Is Developed (25:00) The Questions Great Thinkers Ask (31:16) Guest Criteria, Outreach, and Saying No (34:47) Personal Learning Curriculum (38:29) The Big Question Keith Is Trying to Answer (42:33) Keith's Listener Demographics (43:50) Where His Interest in Geopolitics & Policy Began (45:21) Quality of Thought and Articulation (47:15) Measuring Impact (54:16) Keith's Advice for Podcasters and Creators CONNECT WITH KEITH YAP YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@keithyap65 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keithyap1 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-yap Website: https://www.ykeith.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 hello@cheryllau.com for business inquiries.

January 25, 2026Episode 3044 min

Makeup Artist by Day, Million-Dollar Real Estate Agent by Night | Claire Tan

Claire Tan started her first business at 17 - not because she had a plan, but because she refused to work in a system where someone else decided how far she could go. In this episode, Claire walks us through how she built Ladyy Claire Makeup into one of Singapore's first makeup-only bridal companies, pivoted into luxury real estate during COVID, and quietly became one of the most respected agents working with high-net-worth clients - all while being a self-described introvert who hides behind the curtains at parties. We get into: why she broke her scholarship bond and never looked back, how she practiced three hairstyles a day and cried through all of it, how she lied about her age to land early clients (then revealed the truth after the job), what it actually takes to sell $3-5M properties as a 21-year-old, and the one belief she's still working on unlearning - that her self-worth equals her output. TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Trailer & Opening (02:20) Starting a makeup business in Singapore at 17 (06:10) Why Claire chose entrepreneurship over a "safe" career (10:34) Building resilience before success (12:33) From makeup empire to real estate (14:03) The skills Claire had to grind to improve (17:25) Being an introvert in people-facing businesses (19:17) What it really takes to succeed in real estate (23:45) Building confidence by holding yourself to high standards (25:27) What Claire is actively working on as a leader now (28:49) A mindset shift for those still figuring things out (30:47) "Good advice" Claire chose not to follow - and why (35:13) Being underestimated in her business & career (40:35) The belief Claire had to unlearn as success grew (42:55) Closing CONNECT WITH CLAIRE TAN Main Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clairetankt Make Up Company Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ladyyclairemakeup Real Estate Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ladyyclaireproperties 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 hello@cheryllau.com for business inquiries.

January 11, 2026Episode 2937 min

I quit law school. Then I quit my PhD. | Cheryl Lau

When you've always been the straight-A student, quitting feels like a character flaw - not a decision. In this episode, my friend Jennifer Ho turns the tables and interviews me. We go through my three-page resume and look for everything it doesn't show: the shame of quitting law school, my mum telling me I needed to "bring harmony back into the family," and then quitting a PhD years later - terrified of becoming a two-time quitter. This is a conversation about high-functioning doubt, outsourcing your identity to systems, and how I eventually stopped making decisions based on what would make me look good - and started making ones I could actually stand behind. TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Trailer (00:47) Opening (01:47) The story my resume can't tell (06:02) How I used to define success (06:46) Why law school and a PhD didn't actually fit me (11:38) How long I knew something had to change - before I quit (15:21) The strengths I carried through every pivot (20:31) How do you know when something isn't right - even if you're good at it? (23:27) The skill gaps I'm actively working on now (26:47) How I'm thinking about future-proofing my career (30:53) My edge vs and the part of my work that still scares me (32:21) What an irresponsible career risk looks like (33:29) What will never need to be on my resume (36:34) 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 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 hello@cheryllau.com for business inquiries.

December 28, 2025Episode 2842 min

5 Years of Podcasting. Still Not Sure I'm Qualified. | Cheryl Lau

For five years, I've been podcasting. Side Hustle Club. Thought Leader Club. Now EDIT HISTORY. And for most of that time, I built it while quietly wondering if I was actually qualified to do any of it. In this episode, my friend Rae Fung interviews me - and we go deep into the parts that don't show up in the highlights: why I rebranded twice, what I learned when my most casual episode outperformed my most carefully crafted one, and how I kept saying yes to opportunities I felt completely unready for. TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Trailer (00:49) Opening (03:11) What "success" and credibility meant in the early days (06:13) External validation vs internal motivation (09:43) Advice and templates that didn't actually fit (12:29) The moment Cheryl realized where her real value was (16:09) What she's most proud of from the early iterations (18:29) Letting people into the thought process behind the work (23:49) Seeing Cheryl's thought process (26:39) The fears and resistance behind going all-in on podcasting (31:16) What Cheryl wants to deepen and sharpen in 2026 (34:38) What Cheryl is working on deepening in 2026 (36:51) A message to little Cheryl (37:52) If every body of work has a draft - what's the current one? (39:19) 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 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 hello@cheryllau.com for business inquiries.

November 22, 2025Episode 2722 min

My Podcast Won Two Awards - But That's Not the Point | Cheryl Lau

My podcast won two awards at the 2025 Asia Podcast Awards. In this solo episode, I break down what I think actually makes a podcast stand out. TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Introduction (03:31) The Current State of Podcasts (05:12) Show Concept (09:29) Differentiation (15:14) Consistency (18:23) Success as a Podcaster (20:30) What Awards Don't Measure 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 hello@cheryllau.com for business inquiries.

October 26, 2025Episode 2645 min

She Quit Law to Start a Podcast From Scratch… as a Cat | Iman Ibrahim

Everyone commends you for being brave when you start over. But no one tells you that your reinvention might also look… ridiculous. For our guest today, that looked like explaining to people - very seriously - that she quit her career as a lawyer… to start a podcast as a cat. Because that's the thing about starting something new: More often than not, it doesn't look polished or profound. It looks like curiosity, experimentation - and sometimes, doing something absolutely absurd, but quintessentially you. Today's guest, Iman Ibrahim, embodies that exact spirit. After nearly two decades in law, she left her career behind to rebuild from scratch - first as a coach, and then as the creator of I Am the Advocat, a podcast where a cat becomes the unlikely voice for real stories of burnout, bullying, and survival in the legal world. This episode is about what it really takes to start again, and what becomes possible when we finally stop performing who we're "supposed" to be. TIMETAMPS (00:00) Introduction (01:40) Quitting law after 19 years (02:21) I am the Advocat (05:17) Judgment from colleagues (06:46) Support for the cause (09:08) Introducing the (c)lawyers (12:54) Building an episode (15:34) Iman's EDIT HISTORY (17:29) Building an episode (cont.) (18:43) The constraints of law (23:43) Starting over and self doubts (28:38) Iman's inner self critic (34:19) One year later (39:31) Actionable takeaways CONNECT WITH IMAN IBRAHIM Instagram (Personal): https://www.instagram.com/imanisoverit Instagram (I am the Advocat): https://www.instagram.com/iamtheadvocat Instagram (Over It Club): https://www.instagram.com/overit.club YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iamtheadvocat LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iman-ibrahim/ 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 hello@cheryllau.com for business inquiries.

September 15, 2025Episode 2549 min

He Almost Quit Media. A Friend Paid His Phone Bill to Stop Him. | Aiken Chia

When Aiken Chia was broke and ready to walk away from media after six years of rejection, a friend paid his phone bill so he wouldn't miss a callback. That single act changed everything. In this episode, Aiken sits down with us to go beyond the Food King years and the viral moments - including the video where he sat with his mum to unpack her 18-year affair on camera. We talk about what it costs to make something that personal, the values that have kept him grounded through success and betrayal, and why he still doesn't run mid-roll ads on YouTube even when the money would help. This is a conversation about what actually gives creative work longevity - and it's not the numbers. TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Introduction (01:30) Character matters more than talent (03:03) Being called fat (05:56) Aiken's insecurities (07:49) Being in survival mode (09:23) People who see your potential (11:57) The upwards trajectory (13:29) Why do others support Aiken (16:12) Being sincere (17:31) Executing your creative vision (20:00) How creators create impact (25:43) How Aiken is monetizing (26:57) Breaking out of the "food creator" box (29:59) What Aiken is working on right now (32:32) Going through a rough patch (36:27) Aiken interviews his mom (42:15) Guiding values as a creator (45:19) Actionable takeaways CONNECT WITH AIKEN CHIA YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AikenChiaMing Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aikenchia TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aikenchia 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 hello@cheryllau.com for business inquiries.

September 8, 2025Episode 2445 min

She Chose Not to Go Viral. Her Audience Grew Anyway. | Ainul Md Razib

When Ainul Md Razib first started posting about tech careers on TikTok, almost nobody in Singapore was doing it. No blueprint, no local creator to follow, no way of knowing if it would land. In this episode, Ainul - cybersecurity engineer at IBM and one of Singapore's first career-focused tech creators - opens up about what it actually takes to build something original in a space that doesn't have rules yet. We talk about why she's never done a salary breakdown video (it comes down to her faith and Malay cultural values around wealth), how she navigates telling her manager about her social media before starting every new job, and what the viral hits taught her about what she actually doesn't want to become. TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Introduction (01:21) Being taken seriously (04:39) Creator pressures (07:50) Complexities as a Muslim creator (13:35) Setting parameters (17:36) Doubting your own work (20:35) Reviewing Ainul's past content (24:33) Balancing a full time job with content creation (29:37) Chasing external validation (32:32) Misconceptions about you (35:51) Why do you do what you do? (39:52) Actionable takeaways CONNECT WITH AINUL MD RAZIB Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ainlovescode/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ainlovescode Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/5UvDywqpB6Gzv428oNUbAI Website: https://www.ainlovescode.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 hello@cheryllau.com for business inquiries.

August 17, 2025Episode 2350 min

He Lied to His Asian Dad About Quitting His Job - Until He Had Proof | Simon Alexander Ong

For years, Simon Alexander Ong told his strict Asian father that the job was "going okay." What he didn't say was that he'd already quietly started coaching clients on the side - building a business in secret, evenings and weekends, until he had three paying clients and a decision to make. Today, Simon is a bestselling author, international keynote speaker, and one of the most-watched creators in his space - his video "I'm 40. If You're In Your 20s or 30s, Watch This" has 3.9M views. In this episode, we go behind the highlight reel: the double life, the conversations he had with his father once he finally had something to show, and why he says the biggest mistake career-changers make is quitting cold with no foundation. TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Introduction (01:26) Being boxed in by titles (03:35) Becoming a brand (06:14) Simon's objections (08:52) A partner who supports your goals (15:44) The pressure of having it together (18:05) A compelling vision (19:49) Learning vs being an expert (23:05) Creativity as a differentiator (25:18) What Simon is working on (26:41) Transferable skills (27:40) Does your family get what you do? (31:14) Should I quit my job? (35:00) How to do it all (40:25) 3 Tips for entrepreneurs & creators (46:01) Actionable takeaways CONNECT WITH SIMON ALEXANDER ONG YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@simonalexandero Website: https://simonalexanderong.com Book: https://simonalexanderong.com/book Newsletter: https://simonalexanderong.com/shots-of-energy Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simonalexandero LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonalexanderong 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 hello@cheryllau.com for business inquiries.