Choosing Surrender Over Success (with Jasmine Chong)

What if You're One Try Away?: The Risk of Trying Again (with Julius Mwimo)

Have you ever pursued a dream wholeheartedly…only to keep falling short? Maybe the opportunity came…but not the funds for it. The door opened…but not quite enough. Your dream felt so near, yet painfully out of reach. My friend Julius knows that feeling. Our story began by what felt like an accident. We met at a medical conference during a short visit to Tanzania years ago. At the time, Julius was a young doctor working at one of the best hospitals in the city, trying again and again to pursue his dream in global health. Oxford. UCL. LSHTM. Commonwealth. Duke University. Shortlisted. Rejected. Accepted—but only with partial scholarships that still left the dream financially impossible. And maybe you know that feeling too—the ache of wondering: How many times can I keep trying and hoping…and still fall short? 💡 But one thing Julius said in this conversation stayed with me: "One of the most powerful words is the word again." Apply again. Hope again. Trust again. Try again. Because sometimes the breakthrough comes after the moment you almost stop. And somehow—through a series of deeply improbable events—God made a way for Julius to pursue his Master's at Duke University on a FULL scholarship. Obedience can look foolish. Persistence can feel exhausting. But maybe your story isn't over yet. In this final episode of the Risk Season on Dream Brave, Julius and I talk about: * how to keep going when doors keep closing * the hidden cost of pursuing a dream * what faith looks like when nothing makes sense * why sometimes the bravest thing is simply to try again

The Accidental Entrepreneur (with Ee-Ling Fock)

One of the things I love most about this conversation is that it's not just an interview—it's a friendship. I still remember the first time I encountered Ee-Ling's work. I was preparing for a calligraphy exhibition and needed something elegant to wear. Someone recommended her brand, and I stepped into her store not expecting much…but walked out with something that felt like more than just an outfit. Over the years, Ee-Ling has become a dear friend. She's interviewed me, cheered me on, and even clothed me for some of my shows—once telling me she sees what she does as giving women armor before they step out to speak, to lead, to show up. And that's exactly who she is. Ee-Ling is the founder of The Missing Piece, a homegrown Singaporean fashion label known for its elegance, versatility, and deep sense of community. But more than that, she's a mother of three, a quiet woman of faith, and someone who has built her life not on ambition—but on obedience. In this episode, we talk about: — why she left her corporate career to become a stay-at-home mum — how her business grew organically without a blueprint — what it looks like to let God lead, even in the small decisions — and the quiet cost—and beauty—of choosing family over ambition If you've ever wondered what it looks like to build something meaningful without losing what matters most, this conversation is for you.

The Risk of Disappointing Your Family (with Bronwyn Lea)

One of the riskiest things we can ever do is disappoint family—isn't it? Not move countries. Not quit your job. Not start something new. But to confront the truth and draw a boundary that our loved ones might never agree with. In this episode, Wai Jia is joined by Ps. Bronwyn Lea—pastor, Bible teacher, and coach at Propel Women, a ministry founded by Christine Caine. Ps. Bronwyn is trained in law and theology, is a licensed pastor, and is currently pursuing her Doctor of Ministry at Fuller Theological Seminary. In other words, Ps. Bronwyn understands both the theological weight and the relational cost of what she's talking about. She shares that one of the greatest risks she's taken was confronting family…and losing a relationship for over a year because of it. No applause. No clear reward. Just the cost of choosing integrity and obedience to God first. They talk about: * why "honoring your parents" doesn't always mean obeying them * the guilt of disappointing people you love * how to be clear, kind, honest… and still be misunderstood * and the freedom of realizing: we are not responsible for their response If you've ever felt torn between honoring your family and being truthful, this one is for you.

The Ambition of a Quiet Life (with Ang Hern Shung)

Some risks look dramatic. Some look admirable. But some risks look like choosing a quieter, less self-promoting life in a world that rewards visibility. In this episode, Dr. Wai Jia interviews a good friend, Hern Shung. He chose a path that looked "behind" by the world's standards, and shares honestly about the wrestle with comparison, ambition, recognition, and obedience over the years. Not all risk is loud. Sometimes the deeper risk is to live faithfully, quietly, and wholeheartedly before God—without needing to be seen. In this episode, we talk about: •⁠ ⁠what it means to choose obedience when others seem to be moving ahead •⁠ ⁠why faithfulness in small things matters more than platform •⁠ ⁠the danger of treating God like risk = reward •⁠ ⁠what it means to "aspire to live a quiet life"

$5 Became a 5-Million Cupcake Calling (with Mignon Francois)

What do you do when you only have $5…and six mouths to feed? In this powerful episode, Mignon Francois—founder of The Cupcake Collection and bestselling author of Made From Scratch—shares how she went from having no electricity and overwhelming debt to building a multi-million dollar cupcake business grounded in faith. 🧁 But this isn't just a story about success. It's about obedience and risk. From waking up at 3:17am to hear God's voice… To saying yes to an opportunity she had no resources for… To building a thriving business that refuses to open on the Sabbath… Mignon reveals what it really looks like to trust God when nothing makes sense. In this episode, we explore: * How to take your "only $5" and start anyway * Why God's instructions are simple—but require bold faith * How to hear God's voice in the middle of uncertainty * Why failure in one season may be preparation for the next If you've ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure if you can turn things around—this conversation will remind you: God doesn't need what you don't have. He works with what you're willing to give.