EDIT HISTORY
What does it really take to build a body of work you can stand behind - especially when the numbers don’t immediately reflect the care you’re putting into it? In this episode of EDIT HISTORY, Cheryl steps into the interviewee seat and unpacks the insecurities, turning points, and decisions that shaped different stages of her career as a podcaster. This conversation is for entrepreneurs, professionals, and podcasters who’ve ever wondered: Am I legit enough? Should I be further along by now? What if my work doesn’t look like everyone else’s, but still matters? TIMETAMPS ...
info_outlineEDIT HISTORY
My podcast won two awards this year - but not for the reasons you might think. This episode unpacks the creative decisions, format choices, and editorial discipline that made EDIT HISTORY resonate with judges and listeners alike. Whether you’re building a podcast, a business, or any long-term creative project, this is a deep dive into what really matters. TIMETAMPS (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...
info_outlineEDIT HISTORY
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...
info_outlineEDIT HISTORY
Before Aiken Chia became one of Singapore’s most recognizable YouTubers and food content creators, he was a broke twenty-something who had spent years auditioning, collecting rejection after rejection, and was on the verge of quitting media altogether. It was that mix of setbacks, resilience, and the unwavering support of his community that shaped the creator he is today. From his breakout years through producing a popular series called Food King, to now building his own independent channel, Aiken has created a body of work that blends food and travel storytelling with raw, personal...
info_outlineEDIT HISTORY
When Ainul Md Razib first started posting about tech careers on TikTok, almost no one in Singapore was doing it. While most of the platform was filled with dance trends and food reviews, she chose to talk about coding and professional growth - becoming one of the first local career-focused creators. Today, Ainul is a Cybersecurity Engineer at IBM, known online as AinLovesCode. She’s been named to the Singapore 100 Women in Tech 2025 list, and her work continues to champion diversity and inclusion in the industry. In this episode, we explore Ainul’s journey - the pressures of...
info_outlineEDIT HISTORY
Most of us introduce ourselves with a title: “I’m a coach,” “I’m a banker,” “I’m a podcaster.” The problem with this is that the moment you do that, you’ve put yourself in the same box as everyone else with that title. Our guest today, Simon Alexander Ong - bestselling author of Energize, international keynote speaker, and award-winning coach - knows this firsthand. For years, he chased job titles he thought would define his success, until he realised that real success and true differentiation come from embracing your whole self. This includes your story, your skills, and...
info_outlineEDIT HISTORY
In this unscripted bonus episode, I answer delightfully weird and deeply personal questions from friends - Covering everything from past insecurities, podcast advice, to how my friendships have evolved. In this episode, we cover: (00:00) Introduction (0:35) What crime would you commit if it were legal for 12 hours? (0:59) If you were a cult leader, what’s your cult’s name and aesthetic? (01:41) What’s the weirdest compliment that would absolutely make your day? (03:03) You’re suddenly famous for something stupid. What did you do? (03:44) If you woke up as a brand...
info_outlineEDIT HISTORY
Today, I’m taking you behind the scenes of what it actually takes to create an authority-building podcast, through the lens of my work as a podcast producer for organizations and other established shows. If you’ve been thinking about starting a podcast or turning your existing one into a real authority-building asset, this episode will give you a look at what it actually takes. In this episode, we cover: (00:00) Introduction (02:09) Stage 1: Pre-Production (08:58) Stage 2: Recording (11:44) Stage 3: Editorial Post-Production (15:19) Stage 4: Technical...
info_outlineEDIT HISTORY
A lot of us don’t like how we sound. We cringe at our recorded voice. We worry our accent makes us seem less polished, less credible, less worthy of being listened to. Our guest today, Caitanya Tan - or Cait - knows that feeling intimately. As an actress, host, voiceover artist, and content creator with over 200,000 followers on both TikTok AND Instagram, her voice is the tool she’s built her career on… Yet it’s also the thing she’s had to constantly adjust, explain, and defend. In today’s conversation, we explore what it means to represent your people, why Singaporeans often...
info_outlineEDIT HISTORY
What if your most defining trait wasn’t talent, luck, or strategy… But simply the willingness to keep going, even when no one’s watching, and nothing seems to be working? Today on EDIT HISTORY, we’re joined by Laurie Wang - Speaker, entrepreneur, and YouTuber with nearly 200,000 subscribers - As she reflects on the invisible seasons that shaped her body of work. In this conversation, we explore what consistency really looks like behind the scenes, the emotional cost of comparison, the lessons Laurie took from her failed startup, and how she’s now building a business and life aligned...
info_outlineIn this impromptu bonus episode of EDIT HISTORY, I answer spontaneous questions from my friends after a last-minute guest cancellation.
From podcasting highs and moments of self-doubt to K-pop playlists and unpopular opinions, I get candid about my personal quirks, creative process, and what keeps me going as a solopreneur podcaster.
In this episode, we cover:
(00:00) Introduction
(00:23) What’s one decision you’re so proud of?
(01:57) What do you do to make guests feel comfortable?
(04:20) Have you ever replaced a bad habit with another bad habit?
(06:05) Have you ever wanted to give up on your podcast?
(08:20) What are your qualifying conditions for choosing guests?
(10:40) If the world were ruled by cats, how would life be different?
(11:49) Would you rather only be able to use public restrooms or be 10 minutes late to everything?
(12:58) What’s a hot take/unpopular opinion of yours?
(17:47) Who or what it is Cheryl fiercely loyal to?
(19:19) Intermission break
(20:27) Favorite kpop groups
(21:10) What’s on your repeat playlist?
(21:44) What would you pay lots of money for? What would you refuse to pay for?
(22:56) What was your dream job when you were a kid?
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
ANNOTATIONS - The Newsletter
The edits that got cut from the podcast.
Every interview on EDIT HISTORY runs about 60 minutes. But less than 40 minutes makes it into the final cut. This newsletter is where the rest live.
ANNOTATIONS is where I share the 33% I left behind — and the insights that came after we stopped recording.
Subscribe at: https://cheryllau.com/email
Contact
Please email hello@cheryllau.com for business inquiries.