Hear To Last

When you're in your twenties and early thirties, life seems to be promising and everlasting. Most would have found a footing in the workplace and perhaps even steadily climbing the corporate ladder. It's also at this stage in life couples are thinking about tying the knot or even starting a family. It's an exciting season of life and you can feel almost invincible—like nothing will ever slow you down or stop you from achieving your dreams. But for Michelle Loi, something unexpected happened as she was progressing the fast lane. The most unexpected news hit her and her future plans came to an abrupt halt. I sat down with Michelle to trace her journey from cancer diagnosis to her current state, as a wife, momma and someone with such wisdom. There is much to be gleaned about life and surviving the storms of life. I hope this episode inspires you as much as it did for me. All links here: https://linktr.ee/heartolast Drop me at hello on Instagram @heartolast or www.heartolast.com 

You can learn to find meaning in your work. I don't just mean your 9 to 5 job that pays you a salary. Your work is what keeps your hands busy all day. All of life is work and all work can be meaningful. The challenge is finding what is meaningful to you. In fact, many of the things we do already have an impact on others or are part of something bigger, but we aren't aware of it. What is important is to recover this sense of meaning and be aware of why we do things. In truth, purpose often depends on our perspective. Lean in as I share 2 ways to help frame that perspective and some questions that can help you find work that is both personally fulfilling and life-giving to others. All links here: https://linktr.ee/heartolast Drop me at hello on Instagram @heartolast or www.heartolast.com 

Parenthood is far from the first time your identity will undergo a shift. Every major transition in life somewhat alters our identity. All parents make sacrifices and put their kids first, but it shouldn't be at the expense of losing our identity and the person we were created to be.What I'm gonna be sharing today is a topic that is close to my heart. It has been something that I wanted to talk about and was given a gentle nudge by a listener to speak about. While it is about parenthood, motherhood, fatherhood - the lessons learnt are applicable to anyone going through transitions in life. It's about identity, finding self in the midst of transition and finding purpose in the present season of life. Being a parent is one the biggest transitions anyone will ever face. No book, workshop, course or pep talk can prepare you for the changes you will face. It has a big impact on our personality and temperament. So how do we embrace the gift of parenthood without losing ourselves, but instead find purpose through this journey?Lean in as I share 3 ways to rediscover yourself while being a parent. Lean in and listen! All links here: https://linktr.ee/heartolast Drop me at hello on Instagram @heartolast or www.heartolast.com 

Have you heard of the term humblebrag? Well, it is actually bragging while trying not to sound like a showoff. But… humblebrags almost, always backfire - because it makes eyes roll! Being able to talk about your wins and successes without making everyone around you roll their eyes is actually a skill. A skill that starts with awareness. And… there's a time and a place for it. Lean in and listen as I share three ways on how to do it well and sincerely. If you're thinking, “Why should I even share my successes?” - then listen in too, because maybe (just maybe) there could be some false humility there. Lean in and listen! All links here: https://linktr.ee/heartolast Drop me at hello on Instagram @heartolast or www.heartolast.com 

Parenting is a privilege and we want to give it our best. How can you honour the privilege of raising a child in the midst of all the opinions that are floating around? Can you mesh "old school parenting" with new and improved parenting solutions? How do you make right stuff that you've been doing wrong? Join me as I talk to Samantha Yeoh, a certified life coach who is passionate about parenting with purpose. She works with parents to help them understand and make the most of the parenting journey because as we know it, it's not easy peasy lemon squeezy, but it sure is fulfilling. Let's dive in, shall we?  Good stuff Book: Parenting by the book | John Rosemond | www.parentingbythebook.comBook: Parenting - 14 Gospel Principles That Can Radically Change Your Family | www.paultripp.com/parentingInsta Follow: Caley Kukla | @caleykuklaConnect with SamanthaInstagram | @realmumscryWebsite | https://samanthayeoh.comConnect with me at www.heartolast.com Follow me on Spotify & Apple Podcast. 

I had a teachable and humbling moment in my life a couple of weeks where my son spotted a blindspot of mine. It was the inspiration for this episode on how to uncover blind spots. As with everything worthwhile and worth doing, it takes intentionality. Blindspots in our life restrict us from reaching our full potential. They can be bad habits, mindsets or attitudes we picked up along the way whether consciously or unconsciously. Find out what's standing in the way of us seeing our blind spots? What can we do to uncover them? Lean in and listen! All links here: https://linktr.ee/heartolast Drop me at hello on Instagram @heartolast or www.heartolast.com 

Marriage is not just hard work, it's a journey. And in every journey there are twists and turns, there are times we don't where to go and find ourselves in chartered territory needing a map.  Marriage is beautiful and meaningful - and it also can be messy at times. But that's life, isn't it? No part of life is squeaky clean and without its rough edges. It's in the mess that we find even more meaning.So what keeps a marriage going? If you're married, lean in and listen and share your thoughts with me. If you're not married, going to get married or want to one day tie the knot - you gotta listen to this. It'll prepare you for it (although, nothing quite prepares you for the REAL deal).  My marriage is nowhere near perfect, but as I dug a little deeper, I thought about what makes a marriage work and I want to share 5 significant and consequential things that have kept mine alive.  [BONUS] My significant other will jump in to share his wisdom too, so stick around till the end! Lean in and listen! All links here: https://linktr.ee/heartolast Drop me at hello on Instagram @heartolast

It's the small things that make ALL the difference, isn't it? When you pay attention to the small things, unconsciously, we start living more purposefully and intentionally. Remember, little drops of water make a mighty ocean. Small things done consistently can change the way our life pans out and it can also change the trajectory of someone else's life. I share 3 seemingly simple acts that often be overlooked - but when I experienced them, it left a mark in my life. Your simple and small can mean the world for someone else. Lean in and listen! All links here: https://linktr.ee/heartolast Drop me at hello on Instagram @heartolast or www.heartolast.com 

I took an impromptu hiatus and I'm super happy to be back. I've got a line up of ideas and episodes brewing - but first Happy New Year to you! Hello, 2021!There's something exciting about things that are new. There is a novelty about seasons in a life marked by the description NEW. There is a fresh expectation, excitement and intention in the air. But, what so great about the new year? In this episode, I share three ways (thoughts) that'll set you up for the next 12 months and beyond. Let's make the most of 2021 regardless of how 2020 was and has been. It's gonna be a great year! Drop me a hello at www.heartolast.com and follow me on Insta @heartolast. 

Technology and social media have infiltrated almost every facet of our life, both personal and professional. I can hardly find a person in my generation that's not on at least one social media platforms. To say no to technology is absolutely impossible, in fact, it's ridiculous. But how do we make the most of it? Join me on a conversation with Grace Tan, the founder of Comma-Rethink Life as she shares her personal journey of how she has embraced technology and social media in her parenting journey and marriage for good. She shares tips on how she deals with temper tantrums post-screen time with her kids, some do's and don'ts when it comes to posting stuff about her marriage and how she grapples with staying authentic, on screen. Good stuff 15 Minutes to LoveBook: Your Dream Life Starts Here by Kristina KarlssonBook: Parenting By The Book by John RosemondResources: Focus on the Family (Malaysia)  | IG: https://www.instagram.com/fotfmalaysiaConnect with Grace Tan Comma Rethink Life  | IG: @comma.rethinklife Stories.my (Photography) | IG: @stories.myGrace's IG: @gracetan.stories Grace's FB: https://www.facebook.com/gracetanscConnect with me at www.heartolast.com 

Do you feel pulled in multiple directions, regularly juggling balls in your efforts to manage responsibilities, commitments, and expectations? However, unless you're careful, you can easily find yourself spread very thin and majoring in many minor activities, ending up super busy but not particularly effective. 'Don't major over minor things' is a phrase that stuck with me the moment I heard. It got stashed away for a bit, but I recently rediscovered it and found much depth in these simple five words. In this episode, I'm sharing with you two mind searing thoughts on living a busy life but meaningful life. The truth is, there will be gazillion things demanding our attention, there are matters of great importance, and then there's everything else. How will you decide? Drop me a hello at www.heartolast.com

We hate to admit it but Covid-19 has pretty much infiltrated most of our conversations - personal, corporate or otherwise. As the pandemic drags on, the initial fear or novelty of working from home and extra family time would have started to wear off by now. In fact, the word “new normal” is not new any more. Pandemic fatigue is real and we need to recognise it in order to overcome it. It's like running a marathon, and some of us have “hit the wall.” It is hard to pace ourselves when we don't know the endpoint.So how do we thrive and not just survive? What do we do when we hit the next low? Reach out if you need to talk. Comment if you've felt the same. Let's get through the last two months of 2020 thriving. Connect with me: www.heartolast.com 

This episode was triggered by the up and coming American presidential elections. All the drama, bantering, personal jabbing triggered something in me and inspired me to talk about it! Got me thinking…. Can we actually have a good conversation with someone on something that we disagree about? Those topics are numerous, ranging from religious and political views to the way we parent and lead, to lifestyle habits and life choices. Conversations like these crop up every now and then - do we know how to navigate them? Coming from a person that is conflict-averse, I've learned to lean in when I disagree instead of fleeing. I share 3 ways we can all do so - to enter into tough conversations with a mature mind.Let's converse! Connect with me at www.heartolast.com 

Let's face it, all of us have our insecurities - some more than others and sometimes these insecurities only ever creep up when we're at a low point. Do you find yourself constantly thinking about what others think of you? Are you worried that people might be judging you and what you are doing? Insecurities are real and they are potent. If we don't deal with them, we end up living with like access baggage in our life or the cellulite that lingers in unwanted areas. I've seen people act out or shrink back because their insecurities got the better of them.I wanted to talk about this because EVERYONE goes through phases of knowing themselves and finding out their identity. How then can we practically combat insecurities and stop worrying too much about what others think? I share 3 simple, yet powerful perspectives that have kept me grounded. ......Thank you for joining me in this conversation, leave a comment, or connect with me at www.heartolast.com. Subscribe if you haven't already done so! 

I had the pleasure of engaging with Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir in a candid, real, and inspiring chat. If you're Malaysian, you will definitely know of her just by the sound of her last name. What comes with having that last name, how did she carve a life of confidence and purpose? How did she develop a voice that not only speaks for herself but for those who need championing? This chat encapsulates the phrase, with ‘great privilege comes great responsibility'. Take a listen!  Always and anytime, I'd love to hear from you, connect with me at www.heartolast.com  

We are bombarded with ads 24/7 and our world is so full of stuff. How do we navigate parenting in modern consumeristic society? Little people have wants too, and wants are not wrong. Where do we draw the line? Ultimately as parents, we want to raise compassionate, responsible, appreciative children who don't put all their worth, value, and identity in stuff. I talk about 5 very practical, non-magical ways to raise non-materialistic children. Don't get me wrong, I don't have it all figured out and my kids are not perfect, but it seems to be working and that's why I'm still at it. Let's converse! Connect with me at www.heartolast.com 

Do you remember a time where you found yourself in a situation participating in small talk about topics you don't really care about – just to cover the awkward silence? Small talk can be tiring, not because of the number of questions asked, but because it goes nowhere. I share 4 very simple ways to break away from small talk and make an attempt to turn meaningless chatter to meaningful conversations. It's time to get chatting! As always, thanks for listening! I'd love to hear from you, connect with me at www.heartolast.com  

Finding out your passions in life can be a no-brainer for many, but for some, it can also be a clueless journey. Join me in conversation with my first guest, Annice Lyn, an award-winning photographer who stumbled into her passion for visual storytelling while pursuing her goal as a national figure skater. I asked the big question - Can passions be purposeful and can you make money from it? Find out more!  Good stuff  Book: Becoming by Michelle ObamaPodcast: Pretty Big Deal by Ashley Graham  Show: Athlete A  Show: Abstract: The Art of DesignConnect with Annice Lyn  Instagram | @annicelyn  Website | https://www.annicelyn.com/Women Photographers Malaysia (instagram) | @womenphotographersmy   Connect with me at www.heartolast.com  

We Asians parent differently - don't you agree? The way we talk to our kids, discipline and teach them and do life with them. You may chuckle at some observations I share in this episode, but I have a sneaky feeling that most of you (Asians) will simply nod in agreement - because these examples are so typically Asian. I hope you'd listen in and come away wanting to be the best Asian parent you can be… but don't be SO Asian lah!Connect with me: www.heartolast.com

Have you ever allowed some insects into your home willingly? Well, I did it! And this creepy crawlies taught me some significant life lessons about Change, Humility, and Personal Transformation! Get in touch at www.heartolast.com 

Hello world! Join me on this first episode of ‘Hear To Last' as I uncover this new leap of faith. I explain the back story of this project and why it terrifies and excites me all at once. I share why it is imperative to know our WHY for every new project we embark on.  “Hear to Last” is a podcast hosted by Deborah Chan where authentic and meaningful conversations on topics that matter in life are discussed. She's the author of "Live To Last” (the name is not a coincidence!) - a living memoir packed with life lessons. Check it out at the link below. Wait no more! Hit the play button - and don't be surprised if you hear some children's voices in this debut episode. Enjoy & subscribe! Special thanks to: My seed funder, who is a beautiful friend and new momma Kenny Chin who helped create the intro & outro My fam bam for their super cheerleading Links:Deborah's book "Live to Last": www.livetolastbook.com Music: “Inspirational Outlook” by scottholmesmusic.com“Positivity is the Energy by https://www.redafs.com/2018/08/positivity-is-energy.htmlThanks for listening!