ACCEPT with Yip Pin Xiu
Shades of Love by Anthea Ong
In this episode based on the book chapter called ACCEPT, I am joined by Yip Pin Xiu, gold medalist Paralympian. “When I think of who I would love to have a conversation with on this shade of love of self-acceptance, independence and triumph, I immediately thought of my fellow Nominated Member of Parliament and dear friend whom I hang out with at our favourite vegan restaurant called Loving Hut in Joo Chiat Road, Yip Pin Xiu. Pin Xiu is a three-time Paralympic gold medallist in swimming and holds two world records. Her early successes sparked public debate about the treatment and...
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THRIVE with Stephane de Montlivault
Shades of Love by Anthea Ong
In this episode based on the book chapter called THRIVE, I am joined by Stephane de Montlivault, Asia Pacific President of OTIS. “When I was thinking of who I would like to have a conversation with on this shade of love, more than a few leaders I know came to mind yet I don’t think we can talk about thriving without discussing the climate and mental health crisis that we are facing, and unpacking the responsibility and purpose of leadership. So my friend, Stephane de Montlivault, came to mind. Stephane is French but has not lived in France for 2/3 of his life, he now lives in...
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SEEK with Imran Taib
Shades of Love by Anthea Ong
In this episode based on the book chapter called SEEK, I am joined by Imran Taib, a philosopher and an interfaith and multiculturalism expert to explore the realm of religion and spirituality with empathy and curiosity. “When I was thinking of who I would like to have a conversation with on this shade of love on religion, spirituality and humanity, I immediately thought of my learned friend whom I enjoy these conversations of spirituality and religion with - he’s none other than Mohamed Imran Mohamed Taib. Imran already had a sterling reputation as one of Singapore’s foremost...
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TURN with Zakir Hossain Khokan
Shades of Love by Anthea Ong
In this episode based on the book chapter called TURN, I am joined by Zakir Hossain Khokan, a poet and author, also a fellow migrant worker to explore the conversation of gratitude and renewal. "When I was thinking of who I would like to have a conversation with on this shade of love on loss and turnarounds, I immediately thought of my friend - Zakir Hussain Khokan. I first met Zakir a good number of years back when he attended one of the Hush Teabar community sessions. Zakir was a journalist in Dhaka Bangladesh before he left for Singapore to join the construction industry here in 2003,...
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EXTRICATE and DESTRUCT with Carrie Gill
Shades of Love by Anthea Ong
In this episode based on the book chapters called EXTRICATE and DESTRUCT, I am joined by Carrie Gill, a friend and lawyer who helped me through my divorce during one of the toughest phases of my life. “When I met Carrie 14/15 years ago, she was the youngest lawyer to be made partner at her firm at that time before the age of 30. She didn’t just act for me as my divorce lawyer but also took on all the litigation matters when the ex-husband sued my company, Knowledge Director. She also went through her own divorce as a mother of two young children about a year later. We used to hang...
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RELEASE with Susan de Silva
Shades of Love by Anthea Ong
In this episode based on the book chapter called RELEASE, I invite Susan de Silva to join me for a conversation on transitions. “I was initially scratching my head about who to have a conversation with on this shade of love about holding on tightly and letting go lightly, of groundbreaking transitions. And then viola, Susan was sent to me that week with a group of lawyers who wanted to discuss mental wellbeing for the legal industry! Unlike me who has always been seduced by possibilities especially in my work and vocation, Susan spent 30 years as a top corporate and employment...
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PARDON with Linda Collins
Shades of Love by Anthea Ong
CW: Suicide, Youth Mental Health and Abortion In this episode based on the book chapter called PARDON, I invite Linda Collins to join me to explore the difficult topics of abortion, suicide and youth mental health. "When I was thinking of who I would trust to have an intimate conversation with on this shade of love of loss and forgiveness that still shakes me, Linda Collins came to mind. I met Linda for the first time with a few mothers a couple of years back. United by the loss of their children to suicide, they founded the Please Stay Movement in Oct 2019. A survivor herself,...
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RISE with Alfian Sa'at
Shades of Love by Anthea Ong
In this episode based on the book chapter called RISE, I invite Alfian Sa'at to join me in a conversation about the arts and measures of success. "When I was thinking of who I would like to have a conversation with on this shade of love on success and social acceptance, a friend whom I’m a big fan of was my first thought because the choices he made as a young adult could not have been more different from mine. Prior to that, we would have been seen as following a trajectory that would make all Singaporean parents proud - we both went to neighbourhood primary schools, moved on to...
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ADAPT with Zulhaqem Zulkifli
Shades of Love by Anthea Ong
In this episode based on the book chapter called ADAPT, I invite Zulhaqem Zulkifli to join me in a conversation about poverty, dignity and meritocracy. "When I was thinking of who I would like to have a conversation with on this shade of love regarding dignity, agency and poverty, I immediately thought of my new young friend - Zulhaqem Zulkifli who has an incredible tale of twists and turns and whose father is also central to much of how he has been shaped. Not even 30 yet, Zul has a bagful of experience from sleeping in void decks to collecting cardboards to now studying his Masters in...
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APPROVE with Raeesah Khan
Shades of Love by Anthea Ong
In this episode based on the book chapter called APPROVE, I invite Raeesah Khan to join me in a conversation about approvals, parenting and youth mental wellbeing. "When I was thinking of who I would love to have a conversation with on this shade of love on approvals and sense of self, especially as a young person and the role of parents, Raeesah Khan was the first person to pop up in my head. At 27, she’s unequivocally young and as a new mother, she also has the precious perspective of discussing parenting capacity. Raeesah is also a member of parliament with the Workers’ Party and...
info_outlineIn this episode based on the book chapter called RISE, I invite Alfian Sa'at to join me in a conversation about the arts and measures of success.
"When I was thinking of who I would like to have a conversation with on this shade of love on success and social acceptance, a friend whom I’m a big fan of was my first thought because the choices he made as a young adult could not have been more different from mine. Prior to that, we would have been seen as following a trajectory that would make all Singaporean parents proud - we both went to neighbourhood primary schools, moved on to top schools and then landed at the National University of Singapore. I finished business school and started my career as a young banker but this friend, Alfian Sa’at who’s more than a few years younger than me, attended medical school but chose to take a road less travelled that led him to become one of Singapore’s most acclaimed and prolific artists - Alfian is a writer, poet and playwright and currently the resident playwright for theatre group, WildRice."
This is a plain-spoken and enlightening conversation between two people who have had such contrasting life trajectories yet are charmingly similar in the way they have let themselves be led by life to find meaning in arts and community.
Also, come find out why the Tualang tree is paired with this shade of love in the book!
MY INVITATION TO YOU: How do you define success? What is the story you are writing for yourself?
RESOURCES:
WildRice https://www.wildrice.com.sg/
TheatreWorks http://theatreworks.org.sg/cover/home.htm
The Necessary Stage https://www.necessary.org/
DramaBox http://www.dramabox.org/
Ethos Books https://www.ethosbooks.com.sg/
Epigram Books https://epigrambookshop.sg/