Before We Get There

Nicholas Braman
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Before We Get There is a podcast about resilience, pivots, and the unfinished paths we all walk. Host Nicholas Braman sits down with creatives, athletes, chefs, entrepreneurs, and others from Singapore and across Asia to surface the moments that reshape them, what stops working, what becomes clearer, and what keeps them moving forward before anything feels settled. New episodes every other Thursday. Learn more at https://nicholasbraman.com/podcast.

  1. 22 Jul

    47. Keeping Art Selfish with Nini Marini

    Host Nicholas Braman interviews Nini Marini, a multi-artist and art advocate who spent nearly 20 years in Malaysian broadcasting before leaving to pursue art full-time. Nini explains how she coined “multi-artist” to describe her multidimensional identity, how she balanced a dual track of media work and art, and how a phoenix painting unexpectedly merged her private art life with her corporate role. She recounts proposing a reduced workweek, ultimately taking a package to leave, and using COVID to reassess, study branding, and explore opportunities like a New York surface pattern exhibition. Nini shares that full-time art brought income-driven pressure and dissatisfaction with commissions, leading her toward structured work in art philanthropy focused on heritage, policy gaps for creatives, and elevating craftspeople who don’t see themselves as artists.   Nini's links: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ninimarini.art  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ninimarini_  Website: http://www.ninimarini.art/  Podcast links: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2h9gsrWKH9C1KY1OzR12kr?si=2a4d19970632465f Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/before-we-get-there/id1775182252 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beforewegettherepodcast/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/nicholasbraman Website: https://nicholasbraman.com/podcast 00:00 Podcast Intro and Guest 04:38 Art Roots and Identity 08:13 Parents Practical Advice 16:06 Phoenix Painting Breakthrough 21:49 Leaving Corporate Behind 24:05 Money Pressure on Creativity 29:08 Why Full Time Art Felt Heavy 36:38 Craftspeople Worth and Recognition 43:20 Where to Find Nini

  2. 8 Jul

    46. Still Not Faking It with Alyssa Lie

    At 18, Alyssa Lie auditioned her way into musical theater with almost no training. A decade later she had the followers, the campaigns, the viral comedy, and she was burning out doing it. Then the comments started. Her accent was fake. Her positivity was fake. Maybe the whole bright, likeable person she'd built online was a performance. She went to Bali to work out whether any of it was real, and the trip made it worse before it made it better. This one's about what's left of you when you stop giving people the version they came for. Alyssa on choosing the risky path young, managing her entire career herself, and the difference between the self you perform and the self you protect. Alyssas' links: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsalyssalie/  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mxjulianaheng  Website: https://www.alyssalie.com/  Podcast links: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2h9gsrWKH9C1KY1OzR12kr?si=2a4d19970632465f Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/before-we-get-there/id1775182252 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beforewegettherepodcast/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/nicholasbraman Website: https://nicholasbraman.com/podcast 00:00 Introducing Alyssa Lie 03:49 Choosing Plan A 10:06 Bullied In Class 17:11 Graduation Reality Check 20:28 TikTok Algorithm Trap 25:52 Hate Comments And Doubt 27:15 Bali Wake Up Call 31:55 Rebuilding Authentic Content 35:50 Art Versus Income 39:50 Five-Year Vision 41:12 Wrap Up And Where To Find

  3. 24 Jun

    45. Just Talk Only with Juliana Heng

    Host Nicholas Braman interviews Juliana Heng, who left a career in accounting in Malaysia to pursue stand-up comedy and, through performing, better understand their identity. Juliana describes being drawn to comedians’ unfiltered expressiveness, struggling and bombing early on, and using comedy as an escape from an unbearable corporate job before briefly living on savings and taking odd jobs like driving Grab and deliveries. They explain how it took about a year to find their footing by choosing the right topics and learning joke structure, but also how difficult it is to make a living from stand-up. Juliana shares discovering they are autistic after the label was raised at work, later confirming it with professionals, and how naming autism on stage improved audience connection. They discuss masking, being queer and neurodivergent, finding community at Edinburgh Fringe, leaving an emotionally unsafe family home, and defining success as being happy, healthy, and well-loved. Juliana's links: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mxjulianaheng/  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mxjulianaheng  Podcast links: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2h9gsrWKH9C1KY1OzR12kr?si=2a4d19970632465f Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/before-we-get-there/id1775182252 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beforewegettherepodcast/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/nicholasbraman Website: https://nicholasbraman.com/podcast   00:00 Introducing Juliana Heng 03:36 Escaping Accounting Life 08:28 Quitting Job And Money Reality 12:16 Realizing Autism Through Comedy 16:20 Naming It And Empowerment 22:26 Labels Without Limits 24:33 Edinburgh Fringe Audience Magnet 32:09 Family Pressure And Control 40:35 Redefining Success Checklist 43:14 Where To Follow And Farewell

  4. 10 Jun

    44. Picking Up Strangers with Michelle Lee

    In this episode, Nicholas Braman sits down with Michelle Lee, who did what most people only talk about: she planned her retirement at 18, hit her number in her early 30s, and walked away from a top career in financial advisory. But the story isn't the money. It's what came after, the year she sat on her resignation letter, the identity crisis of no longer being "the finance person," and the strange emptiness of a finish line that felt like any other day. Now a part-time private hire driver with no financial reason to work, Michelle shares why she chose the driver's seat over the corner office: the passengers who open up to a stranger, the friendships she burned during her years in survival mode, and the lesson her father's death at 42 taught her about time. It is a conversation about what money can and cannot buy, and learning to spend the wealth you spent your whole life building. 00:00 Introduction to Michelle Lee? 02:39 Early Retirement Plan 07:13 Empty Finish Line 11:07 Freedom Without Agenda 15:30 Rider Conversations 20:45 Sharing the Journey Online 25:44 Regrets And Priorities 30:28 Childhood Money Mindset 36:23 Enjoying Wealth Without Guilt 39:25 Mortality And Motivation 41:15 Where To Follow And Wrap

  5. 1 Apr

    43. Walls of Memory and Fiction with Yip Yew Chong

    In this episode, Nicholas Braman sits down with Yip Yew Chong, the artist whose nostalgic murals have become a defining feature of Singapore's urban landscape. While his work captures the soul of neighborhoods like Chinatown and Tiong Bahru, the story behind the brush is one of pragmatic transition and mid-career reinvention. Yew Chong spent 25 years as a finance director before transitioning to full-time artistry at age 49. We move past the aesthetics of his work to explore the "how" of his journey—the three-year "parallel run" where he balanced international business trips with weekend painting sessions on the streets. It is a conversation about the stamina required to follow a passion without ignoring the reality of keeping food on the table. Michelle's links: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/askmichellelee/  Website: https://www.askmichellelee.com/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/askmichelleleee  Podcast links: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2h9gsrWKH9C1KY1OzR12kr?si=2a4d19970632465f Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/before-we-get-there/id1775182252 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beforewegettherepodcast/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/nicholasbraman Website: https://nicholasbraman.com/podcast   00:00 Meet Yip Yew Chong 04:44 Breaking Into Chinatown Walls 07:34 Nostalgia Versus Reality 16:32 Finding His Signature Style 22:16 Not Starting Earlier 26:06 Pragmatic Passion Advice 34:19 Evolving And Dream Projects 40:12 Defining Success And Happiness 43:55 Where To Follow And Farewell

  6. 18 Mar

    42. Brewing Inspiring Moments with Martin Bém

    Host Nicholas Braman interviews Martin Bém, founder of Level 33, the world’s highest microbrewery, about his life path and entrepreneurship in Singapore. Martin moved to Singapore in 1999 as San Pellegrino’s Director Asia, helped grow Western brands as Asian markets opened, then left corporate life after three years to start an agency bringing European brands to Asia, only to be hit immediately by SARS, nearly running out of funds before a partner invested. He later launched his own restaurant concepts despite no operations background, emphasizing quick feedback, humility, and decision-making driven by numbers rather than attachment to ideas. Bém explains Level 33’s concept (fresh beer, serious food, and wine), adapting to trends like cocktails and sustainability, retaining talent through structured HR practices, and navigating COVID without layoffs while reflecting on exits and future health-focused concepts. Martin's links: Level33 Website: https://level33.com.sg/  Level33 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/level33_sg/  Podcast links: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2h9gsrWKH9C1KY1OzR12kr?si=2a4d19970632465f Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/before-we-get-there/id1775182252 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beforewegettherepodcast/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/nicholasbraman Website: https://nicholasbraman.com/podcast 00:00 Intro to Martin Bém 04:13 Taking the Leap Abroad 08:34 Building Brands and Ownership 11:26 Learning to Pivot Fast 17:15 Keeping the Concept Evolving 21:21 Coping With Setbacks 31:46 Work Life Balance Reality 36:27 Next Goals and New Concepts 42:48 Social Links and Farewell

  7. 4 Mar

    41. Breaking Back Out with Wendy Vaz

    Host Nicholas Braman interviews entrepreneur and content creator Wendy Vaz two months after she left a six-year corporate career to go all-in on her own business amid major life changes, including a wedding, a move, and a serious back fracture. Wendy describes initial self-doubt, seeking outside validation, and becoming more grounded by trusting her own plan and slowing down to calm her nervous system, drawing on past mental health struggles. She shares her long history of blogging and content creation, overcoming insecurity about her accent after studying in Vancouver on a scholarship, and choosing to stay in Malaysia due to distance from family and depression. Wendy explains adopting a “no plan B” mindset, staying open to pivots while remaining committed to helping people struggling mentally, and aiming to scale impact, earn sustainably, and eventually retire her parents. Wendy's links: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wendyvazzy/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wendyvazzy YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/WendyVaz Podcast links: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2h9gsrWKH9C1KY1OzR12kr?si=2a4d19970632465f Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/before-we-get-there/id1775182252 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beforewegettherepodcast/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/nicholasbraman Website: https://nicholasbraman.com/podcast 00:00 Meet Wendy Vaz 05:38 Why Entrepreneurship 13:12 Content Creator Origins 17:57 Authenticity Online 21:09 Scholarship to Canada 25:09 Depression and Coming Home 28:55 Quitting Without Plan B 33:51 A Year of Big Changes 39:00 Purpose Driven Business 44:32 Closing and Outro

  8. 18 Feb

    40. Facing My Mask with Charlene Chew

    In this episode of Before We Get There, host Nicholas Braman sits down with Charlene Chew, a creator and athlete widely recognized for her resilience following a traumatic burn accident. Charlene discusses the evolution of her relationship with fitness, moving from a bodybuilding background into calisthenics and shifting her focus toward nervous system regulation rather than pure performance. She shares a candid look at the "mask" required of a public creator and the mental health cost of maintaining a high-energy persona while processing deep, interconnected traumas. The conversation moves past the headlines of her recovery to explore the reality of her current transition, her decision to step back from the "grind" after a five-year sprint, and her search for a new identity that isn't defined by her past. Charlene also reflects on the burden of being viewed as a savior by her audience and her long-term goal of building something tangible to help others feel seen and safe. Charlene's links: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charlenechew/  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@charlenechew3005  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@charlenechew250  Podcast links: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2h9gsrWKH9C1KY1OzR12kr?si=2a4d19970632465f       Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/before-we-get-there/id1775182252 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beforewegettherepodcast/    Linktree: https://linktr.ee/nicholasbraman Website: https://nicholasbraman.com/podcast 00:00 Introduction to Charlene Chew 04:21 Training After the Accident: Scars, Comfort, and Nervous System Regulation 06:48 Catching the Inner Critic: Therapy, Suppression, and Self-Repair 12:34 Beyond ‘Burn Survivor’: Social Media Pressure, DMs, and Evolving Identity 18:06 What’s Next? Rest, Slowing Down, and Blending Fitness + Beauty + Regulation 23:07 The ‘Mask’ in Public: Triggers, Burn Scars, and Autopilot Mode 31:11 Slowing Down to Process Trauma: Burnout, Grief, and Interconnected Healing 37:00 Making Peace with ‘What If’: Identity, Appearance, Style, and Self-Acceptance 39:30 Five-Year Vision + Where to Find Charlene (Closing & Subscribe)

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About

Before We Get There is a podcast about resilience, pivots, and the unfinished paths we all walk. Host Nicholas Braman sits down with creatives, athletes, chefs, entrepreneurs, and others from Singapore and across Asia to surface the moments that reshape them, what stops working, what becomes clearer, and what keeps them moving forward before anything feels settled. New episodes every other Thursday. Learn more at https://nicholasbraman.com/podcast.

Information

  • Creator
    Nicholas Braman
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    49
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2024 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Before We Get There