Actsplore This

What does Merdeka mean when home is thousands of miles away? 🇲🇾For us, growing up in Malaysia, Merdeka (Indepence Day) meant school celebrations, the Jalur Gemilang, and proudly singing the national anthem. But now, as two Malaysians living abroad, we've realised that being Malaysian means so much more than where you’re from.In this special Merdeka episode, we get nostalgic about the things that make Malaysia feel like home - chaotic family gatherings, incredible food, “have you eaten?”, Malaysian hospitality, and the effortless mix of languages and cultural references that never need explaining.We also reflect on how leaving Malaysia has made us more conscious of our identity, more appreciative of home, and perhaps even more proud to be Malaysian.From the little traditions we recreate overseas to the parts of Malaysia we never realised we'd miss, this is a conversation about home, identity, and the pieces of ourselves we carry wherever we go. 🇲🇾💛In this episode:🇲🇾 What Merdeka means to us now🏡 The childhood memories we miss most🍜 Why food is the ultimate love language❤️ The Malaysian warmth we took for granted🌏 How living abroad changed our relationship with home✨ The little ways we keep our Malaysian-ness aliveExciting announcement for our KL Community: Come join us in person this October for our next Actsplore This Community event: Own Your Career: How to Thrive in an Age of Change.We'll be joined by Azran Osman-Rani and Freda Liu for an honest conversation about navigating uncertainty, making intentional career choices and staying relevant in a changing world , plus plenty of opportunities to meet and connect with our community.🎟️ Tickets are coming soon. Follow @ActsploreThisPodcast on Instagram and stay tuned. We’d love to see you there!CONNECT WITH US HERE:✨Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@actsplorethispodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠✨Tiktok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@actsplorethispodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠✨Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Actsplore This Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠✨Apple Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Actsplore This on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠✨Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠✨Buy us a coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/actsplorethis

How do you rebuild yourself when everything that once defined you changes? Today's conversation is about what happens when migration doesn't just change your postcode, but it changes your sense of self and everything in between. Fabiola Campbell, founder of Professional Migrant Women and author of "Own It: A Call to Migrant Women Who D.A.R.E. to Be Seen", unpacks what it means to rebuild your social capital and find your sense of belonging when no one knows your story.Together, we explore:🌏 How migration can quietly reshape the way we see ourselves when the world around us no longer knows our story.👥 Why finding your "village" and becoming a good "villager" is essential to rebuilding connection and social capital.✒️ What it means to own your story, including your accent, cultural identity and the experiences that make you who you are.🦋 How Fabiola’s D.A.R.E. framework can help us Detect, Acknowledge, Reclaim and Embrace difficult emotions.🗝️ Why learning to articulate your value is key to becoming more visible and confident in your career.Check out Fabiola's self-published book here:https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/240618900-own-itCONNECT WITH US HERE:✨Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@actsplorethispodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠✨Tiktok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@actsplorethispodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠✨Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Actsplore This Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠✨Apple Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Actsplore This on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠✨Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠✨Buy us a coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/actsplorethis

Work is so much more than just what we do each day. It shapes our confidence, our identity, and so much of the life we go on to build. But the way we build careers has changed. Careers today are much less linear, with pivots, career changes and unexpected disruptions.  To celebrate our 100th episode milestone, we're joined by Helen Tupper, whose work has helped millions rethink what a successful career looks like. Helen is the Co-Founder and CEO of Amazing If, a three-time Sunday Times bestselling author, and co-host of the award-winning Squiggly Careers podcast. Before starting Amazing If, she held leadership roles at BP, Virgin, and Microsoft, and has become one of the world's leading voices on career development.We explore:How to build a reputation for the career you want - before you have itThe role Values play in making better career decisionsWhy learning is your greatest career superpower in the age of AIThe mindset shift to help you navigate failurePractical ways to build a career that's aligned with who you are - not who others expect you to beWhether you're considering a career pivot, or simply trying to make sense of work in an increasingly uncertain world, this conversation is packed with practical wisdom, honest reflections and actionable ideas that we hope will encourage you on your own squiggly journey Get Values toolkit here: https://www.amazingif.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Tool-%E2%80%93-Exploring-your-values.pdfHELEN TUPPER Website: https://www.amazingif.com/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helentupper/FOLLOW THE PODCAST :✨Instagram: Actsplore This Podcast 🎙 (@actsplorethispodcast) • Instagram photos and videos✨Youtube: Actsplore This Podcast - YouTube✨Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/02xWljGMOwQEyKWRFFvN3e?si=f869d84b31464d6b ✨Apple Podcast: Actsplore This on Apple Podcasts✨Email: [email protected]✨Buy us a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/actsplorethis

What if moving abroad didn't just change your address but changed who you became?As we celebrate ATP's 5th Anniversary 🎉, we're wrapping up our What No One Tells You miniseries with our most honest and reflective conversation yet. Looking back on our journeys in Australia and the UK, we unpack the unexpected ways living abroad has reshaped our identity, priorities, relationships, and definition of success. Whether you're living overseas, dreaming of taking the leap, or simply navigating a season of change, we hope this episode reminds you that growth often happens in the places you least expect.In this episode, we reflect on:🌍 How moving overseas transforms not just where you live, but who you become.💪 Navigating uncertainty to building a life from scratch, we share the lessons no one prepares you for.❤️ Why work-life balance and meaningful relationships matter more than ever to us.🏡 Honest reflections on missing family milestones, friendships, and the quiet grief of distance.🌱 Encouragement for anyone navigating change, rebuilding their life, or stepping into a brand-new season.Thank you for being part of our journey over the past 5 years. Here's to many more conversations that inspire us to explore, reflect, and grow together 💛CONNECT WITH US HERE:✨Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@actsplorethispodcast⁠⁠⁠✨Tiktok: ⁠⁠⁠@actsplorethispodcast⁠⁠⁠✨Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠Actsplore This Podcast⁠⁠⁠✨Apple Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠Actsplore This on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠✨Email: ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠✨Buy us a coffee: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/actsplorethis

Moving abroad is exciting… until you realise you have to start over at work.We often hear stories about courage, resilience, and chasing opportunities overseas. But what people don't always talk about is the emotional side of rebuilding your career in a new country.In Part 2 of our three-part miniseries, What No One Tells You About Moving Abroad, we unpack what it's really like to navigate a new workplace, new culture, and new expectations, while trying to rebuild confidence and credibility from scratch.In this episode, we explore:🌱 Why starting over can feel like grieving a previous version of yourself🌏 The biggest cultural differences we experienced working in Australia and the UK🗣️ Learning to adapt communication styles and workplace expectations🤝 Why building relationships matters more than proving yourself📚 Book recommendations that helped us navigate new work environmentsWhether you're planning an international move, have recently started a new job, or simply find yourself navigating unfamiliar territory, we hope this conversation reminds you that feeling like a beginner doesn't erase the experience you've already built.CONNECT WITH US HERE:✨Instagram: ⁠⁠@actsplorethispodcast⁠⁠✨Tiktok: ⁠⁠@actsplorethispodcast⁠⁠✨Youtube: ⁠⁠Actsplore This Podcast⁠⁠✨Apple Podcast: ⁠⁠Actsplore This on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠✨Email: ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠✨Buy us a coffee: ⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/actsplorethis

Moving abroad is exciting, transformative, and often romanticised. But what about the friendships that quietly change along the way?In Part 1 of our three-part miniseries, What Nobody Tells You About Moving Abroad, we unpack the realities of maintaining meaningful friendships across time zones while building a new life in a different country.From missing milestone moments like weddings and new babies, to learning how to show up through voice notes, calendar reminders, and intentional check-ins, we explore the quiet grief, unexpected growth, and evolving dynamics of long-distance friendships.We also share practical lessons on building community abroad: from finding your anchor, saying yes to uncomfortable opportunities, and investing deeply in the relationships that matter most.Whether you're living overseas, considering a move abroad, or navigating friendships through a season of change, this episode is a reminder that meaningful relationships don't survive by default, they survive by design.In this episode, we explore:🌏 How moving abroad reshapes friendship dynamics💌 Navigating milestone moments from afar🎙️ Practical ways to stay connected across time zones💭 Letting go of guilt when friendships evolve🤝 Building intentional community in a new cityWhat was something nobody told you about moving abroad? We'd love to hear from you so tag us when you tune into this episode with your story on Instagram.CONNECT WITH US HERE:✨Instagram: ⁠@actsplorethispodcast⁠✨Tiktok: ⁠@actsplorethispodcast⁠✨Youtube: ⁠Actsplore This Podcast⁠✨Apple Podcast: ⁠Actsplore This on Apple Podcasts⁠✨Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠✨Buy us a coffee: ⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/actsplorethis

When was the last time you actually trusted your gut - not just physically, but in life?In this episode, we sit down with Julian Koh, founder of Supergulp - a homegrown sparkling prebiotic brand making gut health fun, accessible, and part of everyday life. From creative design to tech, and now entrepreneurship, Julian shares the exact moment a simple supermarket visit turned into a business idea.We unpack:🛒 The inspiration behind Supergulp💡 Turning gaps in affordability and access into opportunity🚪 Navigating rejection (and not taking it personally)💰 Why product-market fit is more than just hype🤝 Building a brand through communityPlus, we get real about the founder journey - including the lonely parts people don’t talk about enough.Whether you’re thinking of starting something, pivoting careers, or just figuring things out as you go, this episode is your reminder to start first, refine later - and trust your gut along the way.Special thanks to Julian and Supergulp for being one of our local sponsors for our #ActsploreThisIRL Building Influence event in January 2026 🙌🏻Check out Supergulp products here 👇:https://supergulp.co/

You’ve heard the phrase: people don’t quit jobs, they quit bosses. So why does “managing up” still feel a little misunderstood when it’s so central to how we experience our work?In this episode, we’re joined by award-winning executive coach and author, Melody Wilding, to unpack how managing up is less about politics, and more about taking ownership of your career.For over a decade, Melody has worked with top performers at companies like Google, JPMorgan Chase, and Verizon, helping them earn the recognition, respect, and compensation they deserve. She’s a licensed social worker with a master’s from Columbia University, a professor of human behavior at Hunter College, and a former emotions researcher at Rutgers University.Drawing on her book Managing Up: How to Get What You Need from the People in Charge, we explore:How to use your 1:1s as a lever for career accelerationPractical shifts to set boundaries without burning bridgesHow to advocate for your progression - even in uncertain timesNavigating salary conversations with clarity and confidenceIf you’ve ever felt stuck, overlooked, or unsure how to advocate for yourself at work - this one’s for you.MELODY WILDINGWebsite: https://melodywilding.comLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melodywilding/FOLLOW THE PODCAST :✨Instagram: Actsplore This Podcast 🎙 (@actsplorethispodcast) • Instagram photos and videos✨Youtube: Actsplore This Podcast - YouTube✨Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/02xWljGMOwQEyKWRFFvN3e?si=f869d84b31464d6b ✨Apple Podcast: Actsplore This on Apple Podcasts✨Email: [email protected]✨Buy us a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/actsplorethis

Recorded live from the Actsplore This Building Influence workshop in Kuala Lumpur, we sat down with Prof Dr Ong Kian Ming and Zalina Jamaluddin to unpack how we can lead with impact -  through intention, curiosity, and the courage to act before you feel “ready.”Together, we explored:What influence really means and why it mattersHow to lead and create impact before you have the titleBuilding trust with sceptical stakeholders and competing interestsThe role of networks and social capital in amplifying influenceProf Dr Ong Kian Ming is the Executive Director of RGE and an Adjunct Professor at Taylor’s University. Prior to this, he served as Malaysia’s Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry (2018–2020) and was a two-term Member of Parliament. Today, he continues to advise businesses, industry bodies, and think tanks alongside his academic and executive roles.Zalina Jamaluddin is the Head of Decarbonisation at Hibiscus Petroleum Berhad. With over 20 years of experience across the private and public sectors, she has held senior roles at ExxonMobil and Talisman Energy, was a founding member and Vice President of the Malaysia Petroleum Resources Corporation (MPRC), and currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE).To everyone who joined us live at the Building Influence workshop  - thank you for showing up with such openness, curiosity, and energy. We’re truly grateful you chose to kick-start 2026 with us. And to those tuning in now, we hope this conversation sparks a reminder that influence doesn’t begin with a title; it begins with how you choose to show up, right where you are.

Before 2025 clocks out, we’re pulling up the chair (& our mics!) for a cozy, honest, no-filters reflection on the year that flew, stretched us, and quietly changed us in ways we didn’t see coming😌In our final episode of Season 6 for the year 2025, we crack open the Year Compass and reflect about the highs that grounded us, the plot twists we didn’t sign up for, and the lessons we’re choosing to carry (and leave behind).We get into:🌱 The moments of joy that kept us sane💛 Navigating uncertainty, road bumps, and “what now?” seasons🧠 Small wins, personal growth & protecting our mental wellbeing🏃‍♀️ Discipline, resilience, and learning when to push vs. let go🚦 Choosing peace and a more rested, intentional 2026If this episode hits close to home, come reflect with us in person.We’re hosting an exclusive in-person workshop on Building Influence, designed for those who want to step into 2026 with clarity, confidence, and presence ✨🎟️ Early bird extended til 25/12 so save your spot for our in-person event here 👇🏻 https://luma.com/gikysqau📘 Download the Year Compass here:https://yearcompass.com/ & tag us when you tune into this ep with your own reflections of 2025!CONNECT WITH US HERE:✨Instagram: @actsplorethispodcast✨Tiktok: @actsplorethispodcast✨Youtube: Actsplore This Podcast✨Apple Podcast: Actsplore This on Apple Podcasts✨Email: [email protected]✨Buy us a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/actsplorethis