Melting Pot

In this heartwarming episode, Payal sits down with Anthony Wong as he takes us on a nostalgic journey through his childhood at Jiak Kim Road, once known as Jiang Road or Tiong Bahru. Anthony vividly recalls growing up in a close-knit community, spending carefree days playing street games, flying kites, catching spiders, and inventing fun without gadgets. He paints a touching picture of life in a humble four-storey block where thirteen family members shared one bathroom, yet lived harmoniously under one roof. Through Anthony’s memories, we glimpse a simpler time filled with imagination, togetherness, and the unspoken warmth of...

In this episode, Payal speaks with Dawn Tam, who grew up in Singapore during the transformative decades from the 1960s onward. Through her recollections, Dawn offers a vivid glimpse into life in Loyang, once a seaside fishing village before land reclamation reshaped the landscape. She shares personal and historical memories from her birth in the Year of the Tiger to witnessing her community’s relocation after a fire. Dawn also reminisces about the vibrant entertainment hubs of her youth , Happy World, New World, and Great World , spaces that defined leisure and joy in old Singapore. Her stories beautifully capture th...

In this conversation, Payal speaks with Ellil, who fondly revisits his childhood growing up in Singapore’s east, particularly around Kallang Airport Road. Through his stories, listeners are transported to a time before the National Stadium and bustling hawker centres, when neighborhoods thrived on friendship and community spirit.

Ellil recalls the joy of simple, carefree days,playing football in open spaces, catching rainbow fish in monsoon drains, and sharing meals with neighbors in a close-knit, multiracial community. With humor and warmth, he paints a picture of a childhood filled with freedom, curiosity, and camaraderie. His memories of...

In this nostalgic episode, Payal speaks with Fredrick, who takes us back to his childhood in a rural kampong more than sixty years ago. He recalls life in a muddy, undeveloped neighborhood, where daily routines included helping his mother rear pigs and chickens, fetching water from ponds, and playing freely in the rain. Fredrick paints a rich picture of open spaces filled with fruit trees, local opera stages, and nearby quarries, a world full of simplicity and adventure.

He also reminisces about his early years living in a colonial black-and-white house, where his father worked as...

In this delightful episode, Payal speaks with Jake, who transports us to his childhood days living in a rented shophouse along McPherson Road. From his upstairs window, young Jake would spend evenings counting passing cars with his mother, turning simple moments into imaginative games. He recalls the vibrant sights outside, laundry spread like colorful tapestries across open fields and the comforting aroma of freshly brewed coffee drifting from a nearby coffeeshop.

Jake also shares fond memories of the Pasar Malam (night market), a weekly highlight filled with lights, laughter, food stalls, and performances that brought the...

In this episode, Payal speaks with Jeremy Tay, a community leader whose lifelong dedication to social work and public service has shaped many aspects of Singapore’s community development. Trained in social work, Jeremy shares his experiences serving in various roles  from director at Outward Bound Singapore to Dean of the National Community Leadership Institute, and as the founding president of Morningstar Community Services, which supports families and strengthens relationships. Reflecting on his childhood in Ang Mo Kio, Jeremy recalls growing up in a small provision shop house along Jalan Hwi Yoh, surrounded by friendly neighbors and the nearby old...

In this touching episode, Payal speaks with Li Leng, a 68-year-old jumping instructor who shares vivid recollections of her childhood in Singapore. She takes us back to her early years in a small compound along Mount Road, where five wooden stilt houses stood close together, home to Malay and Chinese families who all spoke Cantonese.

Li Leng fondly remembers the warmth of this tight-knit community and her short walks to Canossa Convent School with her sister. Later, when the government redeveloped the area, her family moved to Tanglin Halt. There, she recalls watching passing trains through...

In this heart warming episode, Payal sits down with Mr. Song, who shares his memories of growing up in a bustling shophouse above a dim sum stall at the junction of Victoria Street and Arab Street.

The seventh of ten children, Mr. Song recalls the warmth and chaos of living in a small space filled with family, neighbors, and laughter. He talks about his childhood friendships with children from the nearby printing shop, his mischievous school days at St. Michael’s, and the joy of sneaking under the school fence to play football during holidays. Mr. So...

In this reflective episode, Payal speaks with Mr. Leong, who shares vivid memories of his childhood growing up in the shipyard quarters near present-day Keppel Bay.

As the son of a shipyard worker, he recalls life in a close-knit community of families living in two-storey flats surrounded by open fields, fruit trees, and the hum of industry. Mr. Leong paints a rich picture of a multicultural neighborhood, where children of all races played freely and doors were never locked. He fondly remembers days spent exploring the shipyard, watching ships being welded and painted, and learning to...

In this delightful episode, Payal speaks with Mr.Yeo and Ms. Karen, who share their  memories of growing up in very different parts of Singapore during the 1950s and ’60s.

Mr. Yeo recalls his early years along Hong Kong Street, near the Singapore River, where he watched bustling scenes of bumboats unloading rice and rubber at Boat Quay and remembers how the once murky river transformed into today’s lively waterfront. He also reminisces about the Cavenagh Bridge, which used to open for large vessels to pass through.

In contrast, Karen paints a charm...

In this engaging episode, Payal speaks with Mr. Richard Chan, who shares memories of growing up along Petain Road in a large family of eleven siblings raised by two mothers. Living in a modest SIT flat, Richard recalls the closeness of family life, sleeping on the balcony during humid nights and walking miles to school each day.

He paints a lively picture of the neighborhood’s food culture, from the famous char kway teow hawker who fried noodles while seated due to polio, to the aroma of dishes wrapped in opeh leaves. Richard also takes us ba...

Lumina Vitae presented by The Bloom Fund Singapore and Supported by The National Heritage Board Singapore!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lumina Vitae Presented by The Bloom Fund Singapore and Supported by The National Heritage board Singapore

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lumina Vitae Presented by The Bloom Fund Singapore and Supported by The National Heritage Board Singapore!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lumina Vitae Presented by The Bloom Fund Singapore and Supported by The National Heritage Board Singapore

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lumina Vitae Presented by The Bloom Fund Singapore and Supported by National Heritage Board Singapore!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lumina Vitae Presented by The Bloom Fund Singapore and Supported by The National Heritage Board Singapore!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lumina Vitae Presented by The Bloom Fund Singapore and Supported by The National Heritage Board Singapore!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lumina Vitae Presented by The Bloom Fund Singapore and Supported by The National Heritage Board Singapore!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lumina Vitae Presented by The Bloom Fund Singapore and Supported by The National Heritage Board Singapore!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lumina Vitae Presented by The Bloom Fund Singapore and The National Heritage Board Singapore!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lumina Vitae Presented by The Bloom Fund Singapore and Supported by The National Heritage Board Singapore!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Discover the world of Gema Galdón, a Barcelona-based milliner whose handcrafted hats blur the line between fashion and art.

What began as a hat she made for herself soon grew into a passion that captured hearts and evolved into her life’s work. Today, her studio ,The Gema Galdón Hat Gallery  is a space where craftsmanship, imagination, and design come together to create timeless, one-of-a-kind headwear.

In this episode, Gema shares her creative journey and the thoughtful process behind her work. Each hat she makes is crafted entirely by hand, free from c...

Step inside Silvia Ferrer Casanova’s Barcelona studio, a once-quiet garage that now overflows with colour, creativity and meaning.

Surrounded by her hand-painted silk scarves, intricate tapestries, and delicate fans, Silvia has built a world where art lives and breathes in every corner. Her work extends beyond decoration, it’s an invitation to experience beauty in everyday life.Through art therapy, she discovered a liberating way to create without judgment, allowing her to explore the power of art as both a healing and transformative practice.

In this episode, Silvia opens up about her journey as a...

Step into the serene world of Lola Rivière, a ceramist whose studio is a sanctuary of earth and fire.

Here, the tactile memory of childhood mud meets the refined skill of a master artisan. Each surface is a landscape of subtle textures and nuanced colors, where simple forms hold the quiet power of ancient artifacts.

Witness the alchemy of the kiln and the careful application of slips and oxides that transform clay into objects of profound, functional beauty. Walking through her space feels like a meditation on time, where every piece carries t...

What if everything you've been told about entrepreneurship is a lie? Sean Kling, CEO of The Aria Group and author of Outwork Them All, cuts through the fluff to expose the biggest misconceptions about success.

He reveals the harsh truth behind "overnight success" and why the business coaching industry is designed to sell you a dream it can't deliver. This is a no-BS conversation for every founder who's tired of the hype and ready for reality.

The full episode is live on Melting Pot.

[Podcast, New Episode, Behind The Mic...

They decided to end their marriage on a Sunday morning. After a decade of disconnect and a year locked down in a pandemic, the chasm between them felt too wide to cross. The life they had built together was over.

But what happened next defies every conventional story about separation. Instead of moving out, they moved into different bedrooms. Instead of silence, they started talking. And then, Terri made a radical, vulnerable proposal that would become the first step in a journey they never saw coming.

This is the story of Zeke and...

Exploring Barcelona laneways often leads to hidden gems, and one of them is Dim Light BCN. This eclectic gallery is the vision of  Marino along with Jalal, two talented and driven individuals who shared their creative journey with me.

In our conversation, they spoke about the inspiration and philosophy behind their art—how each piece reflects a unique story and identity. Jalal also opened up about his struggles and how he discovered that art is his true calling, turning challenges into purpose.

Dim Light BCN is more than just a gallery. It’s a cel...

Bestselling author Aaron Ryan wants his sons to understand a hard truth about the world: it is "extraordinarily unfair." In his award-winning saga, he wrestles with one of humanity's oldest struggles: the fiery, seductive line between justice and revenge. He gives you a glimpse into the powerful lesson that fuels his stories. A lesson about hope in the face of injustice.

Aaron Ryan watched his industry begin to vanish. Clients he'd worked with for years were replaced not by people, but by algorithms. He calls the damage "irreparable." This is the raw, unfiltered cost of AI...

At 15, Robin Ajder wasn’t sketching lines on a canvas.He was chasing lines on a table. What began as teenage highs spiraled into chaos, until art became the only way out.

With raw honesty, he shares how addiction nearly consumed him, how abstract art gave him a lifeline, and why he now creates not just for himself but for survival.

But amidst the darkness, he found a spark in art. He gives you a glimpse into how painting became more than an outlet; it became his way of survival and self-discovery.

Payal just stepped into Surarquía’s sun-lit workshop near the Sagrada Familia and straight into the story of two South-American dreamers who turned a Barcelona flat into a leather lab.

Alejandro (Venezuela) and Felipe (Colombia) swapped architecture sketches for pattern-making, taught themselves to sew, and after kitchen-table prototypes, opened this atelier where every bag is cut, skived, and stitched by their own hands 

. In 2023 they finally moved the machines out of the apartment and into a purpose-built space, but the process is still gloriously slow and local 

Blanca Rodríguez (@thewoundedhealer) is a bilingual storyteller who turns untreated childhood trauma into teachable hope. On stage she champions the “happy-chemistry” formula she calls D.O.S.E.- Dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, endorphins and shows how music, laughter and dance spark each one for real body-mind repair. 

In this Melting Pot episode Blanca unpacks:

• why a two-minute shoulder release on your dog can calm your own nervous system

• her roadmap from shattered childhood to global speaker, massage therapist and ocean-volunteer 

Ready for a dose of movem...

Mid-divorce, Karen Rudolf rang her paralegal to vent. “Every complaint is cha-ching, and a judge will soon decide your kids’ future.” That blunt response snapped her Mama Bear wide awake. 

Instead of drowning in rage and legal fees, Karen plunged into communication bootcamps so she could speak for herself and for her children, inside the courtroom and beyond. Those hard-earned skills became her Stop-Change-Shift clarity framework, a sassy-classy-bad-assy method that helps you pause, breathe, ask sharper questions, and steer your own story.

Ready to try it?

The full journey is live o...

From Chicago to Hollywood sets and the heart of historic Greenwood Avenue, John Wayne S III’s path was anything but predictable. Once a pre-med student, a chance phone call landed him on a film set and he never looked back.

Over a career spanning three decades, John has directed music videos for Grammy-winning artists, produced award-winning films like “Red All Over” and “The Tuskegee Airmen Project,” and founded Londyn Town Pictures, inspired by his daughter. But what sets his work apart isn’t just the credits, it’s his unwavering commitment to telling stories that push for c...

What if you didn’t have to choose just one life?

Adam LaSalle never fit in a box and he doesn’t want you to, either. From teaching English and math, to leading a music program, to acting on NBC’s Chicago Fire and performing off-Broadway, Adam has built a career by refusing to follow the “one path” rule.

In this episode, Adam reveals:

-       Why being a multi-hyphenate actor, musician, coach, writer is powerful.

-       The moment he realized he could rewrite his own story (and what it t...

“I flatlined. I lost my husband. I lost years. But I never lost myself.” 

-

Cyndee Dhalai

Cyndee has been called a medical enigma. Surviving multiple near-death experiences, living 11 years in a wheelchair, and allergic to nearly every drug. But that’s not the story she chooses to tell.

Instead, she tells us what it means to begin again. To grieve without drowning. To listen when the body breaks and answer back with spirit.

A poet, educator, and the author of Grief is the Price You Pay for...

"You’re not too old. You’re just telling yourself that.”

After 34 years working with the blind, David Petrovay walked away- burnt out, but not done.

Today, he helps people reframe their stories, identify their strengths, and step into careers that actually feel meaningful.

David’s not just a coach. He’s a former educator, a narrative builder, and someone who’s walked the hard road of reinvention.

In this episode of Melting Pot, we talk about:

– Listening to the real story you’re telling yourself

–...

What if your ‘positivity’ is actually hiding self-loathing?

When Suzan Peltekian walked away from a thriving real estate career, it wasn’t just a professional pivot, it was a radical act of self-trust.

In this episode, Suzan reveals: 

-The silent grip of toxic positivity

-The one decision that rewired her life

-Her Miracle Morning rituals that turn intention into action

-Why your subconscious mind is running the show (and how to change the script)

This one’s for anyone feeling stuck in a life th...

From tossing lo hei with Christabel to pickling tea leaves with Thet, this episode takes you on a journey across kitchens, wet markets, hawker stalls, and family dining tables—through the voices of the women who live in this city’s diversity every day.

- A South African barbecue in the tropics.

- A Singaporean-Indians go-to hawker stalls.

- Banana stems and tea leaf salad in Peninsula Plaza.

- Cheese, dim sum, and food rituals that span generations.

🎙️ Listen to “Singapore’s Secret Ingredient? Women Who Keep Its Food Cult...

What do dinosaurs, planets, and squats have in common? For Raj Khedun, they were the starting points of a lifelong search for deeper meaning.

In episode 9 of our ongoing season 19, we sit down with the dynamic founder of Keep Fit Kingdom, who’s on a mission to help a billion people live healthily to 100. A seasoned relationship coach, yogi, author, and wellness entrepreneur, Raj shares how his childhood curiosity evolved into the 3:3 Metaverse Breathing Method- a simple, powerful technique that’s helping people overcome anxiety and insomnia in under 3 minutes.

We talk about: