The Real Reason

Shulin Lee

🎙 The Real Reason with Shulin Lee A podcast about success, mindset, and growth. Featuring real experts who’ve lived it. Hosted by Shulin Lee, lawyer-turned-recruiter and Singapore’s #1 LinkedIn Creator. Get raw conversations on careers, purpose, mental health, and leadership, without the fluff. Stop taking advice from people who haven’t done the work. Learn from those who have. 

Episodes

  1. 1 DAY AGO

    This 60-Year-Old Doctor Looks 40 (Here's Her Secret) | Dr. Caroline Low

    🚨 Everyone wants to stop ageing. Your doctor is failing you. Here's what's really happening: If you're in your 30s, you've noticed changes you can't explain. If you're in your 40s, your energy is disappearing. If you're 50+, your body feels completely different. You sleep 8 hours but wake up tired. You get annoyed at people you love. Things that used to excite you now feel like a chore. You go to the doctor. They run blood tests. They say: "Everything's normal." But you don't feel normal at all. Here's the truth: Your hormones start changing in your 30s. By your 40s, you really notice it. By 55, everything shifts. Your energy, your mood, your relationships. This happens to 100% of people. The question is: Do you understand what's happening? Or do you just think "I guess this is what getting old feels like"? In this episode, Dr. Caroline Low tells you what your doctor isn't saying. Dr. Caroline is 60 years old. She looks 40. No surgery. Just science. What you'll learn: ✅ Why your "normal" blood test results don't mean you're healthy ✅ Why women gain confidence after 50 whilst men lose it ✅ Why you feel tired and grumpy even though tests say you're fine ✅ What changes start in your 30s (and what to do now) ✅ The 3 simple things that help you live better (they're free) ✅ Why short workouts might be hurting you, not helping you This isn't feel-good advice. This is real science about your body. Feeling sad at 48? Not normal. Can't think clearly? Not normal. Always exhausted? You can fix it. Whether you're 32 or 52, this matters. Watch this if you feel these symptoms. Watch this if you want to stop them before they start. Watch this if someone you care about is struggling. Then share it with someone who needs it. 📌 LINKS: - Subscribe: https://www.instagram.com/the.real.reason.pod/ - Connect with Shulin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shulinlee/ IMPORTANT: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It's not medical advice. Please talk to a doctor for advice specific to your health. #HormonalHealth #Longevity #Health #Wellness #Energy #Ageing #TheRealReason #DrCarolineLow EPISODE CHAPTERS (00:00) Trailer & Opening (01:30) Dr Caroline looks 40 at age 60 (no Botox) (02:53) Feeling young: What qualitative longevity is (06:44) When being tired, cranky, and moody became "normal" (09:50) Reading Shulin's blood test: why "normal" isn't optimal (12:59) Hormones aren't a women's issue - men are just as affected (16:27) Why men get "mellower" with age (20:57) Why couples drift apart as they age (22:48) What "hormonal issues" actually mean (24:31) Oestrogen vs progesterone (29:57) Should you even be taking supplements? (33:56) Insulin, cardio, and why exercise matters more as you age (38:27) Why men avoid talking about hormones (and pay the price) (39:37) The ageing effects of coffee (40:46) When men feel emasculated, and don't know why (44:11) Male hormonal symptoms (46:06) Sleep is the most underrated anti-ageing tool (47:41) Caloric restriction vs starvation (49:56) Want to feel young? You'll have to be a little antisocial (53:43) Inflammatory foods that age your body

    57 min

  2. 22 JAN

    Why You Fake Being Okay | Clinical Psychologist Janet Phang shares The Truth About Therapy

    “I thought I was fine… until I started crying in the middle of a restaurant.” No warning. No crisis. No obvious reason. Just tears - in public - over someone whom I *thought* I had already moved on from. Most people only consider therapy when something breaks. But what if that’s already too late? In this episode of The Real Reason, I sits down with clinical psychologist Janet Phang to unpack a truth many high-functioning adults don’t want to hear: 👉 Functioning is not the same as being okay. This conversation isn’t about being “mentally ill.” It’s about the emotional patterns we normalise, suppress, and intellectualise - until our body and brain force us to listen. WHAT WE COVER: Why waiting for a breakdown is the WORST reason to start therapy Why therapy often feels worse before it feels better (and why people quit too early) Whether words like trauma are being overused - and what trauma actually means How to know if your therapist is the right fit (and when to walk away) If you’ve ever said:  - “I’m fine, I just need to push through”  - “Other people have it worse”  - “I don’t need therapy… yet” This episode is for you 💛 🎧 Watch or listen now. DISCLAIMER This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, psychological, or professional advice. Please consult a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation. EPISODE CHAPTERS (00:00) Trailer & Opening(01:01) Meet Janet Phang(01:43) Why High-Functioning People Are the Last to Seek Therapy(04:18) How Do I Know If I Need Help?(06:27) Therapy Isn’t a Quick Fix(09:51) The Biggest Myths People Believe About Therapy (12:06) How to Tell If Your Therapist Is the Wrong Fit(13:53) Is Therapy Working - or Are You Quitting Too Early?(17:54) Suppressing Your Feelings(22:34) Can You Trust Your Feelings - or Are They Lying to You? (26:37) Saying “I Am Anxious” Shapes Your Identity(28:01) Has “Trauma” Lost Its Meaning?(30:20) Final Takeaways

    32 min

  3. 6 JAN

    How to Stay Focused and Become Indistractable | Nir Eyal

    Everyone says we’re addicted to our phones.In this episode, Nir Eyal explains why “phone addiction” is a myth, and what actually helps us stay focused in a distracted world. Phone addiction is a lie. And the moment I accepted that, everything changed. Because if it were the phone's fault (if it were the algorithm, the apps, the endless scroll) I wouldn't have to look at myself. But here's the truth Nir Eyal forced me to face:It's not the technology. It's me. When I read Indistractable, I highlighted this line: "What example are we setting for our children if our loving faces are replaced by the tops of our heads as we constantly stare into our screens?" That wasn't a quote. It was a mirror. As a busy mum, recruiter, and founder who runs her own business and podcast, I care deeply about being present. And still... my hand reaches for my phone before I even realise it. In this episode, Nir doesn't let anyone off the hook. Not Big Tech, not parents, not me. He challenges the entire narrative around distraction and explains why the people in our lives are watching what we do, not listening to what we say. This conversation made me uncomfortable. And that's exactly why you need to hear it. WHAT WE COVER: • Why "phone addiction" is a lie, and what's actually happening instead • The invisible cost of distraction, and it's not the device • What Nir told his daughter that changed everything: "I struggle with this too. Let's work on it together." • Why kids don't do what we say. They do what they see. • How to model vulnerability, accountability, and presence instead of enforcing hypocritical rules • The one uncomfortable question for 2026: Who actually deserves your attention? Your phone, or the people you love? WHO IS NIR EYAL? Nir Eyal is a bestselling author, behavioural designer, and leading expert on building and breaking habits. He has lectured at Stanford's Graduate School of Business, worked with companies designing the products we use every day, and has been featured in Harvard Business Review, Time, and The New York Times. His books Hooked and Indistractable have helped millions understand how technology shapes behaviour and how to take control back. This isn't another "put your phone down" lecture. This is about looking in the mirror. And asking yourself: What example am I actually modelling? 🎧 Watch or listen now. Episode Chapters (00:00) Trailer & Opening (02:00) Meet Nir Eyal (02:46) Nir’s Wake-Up Call (04:58) The Skill That Determines Success Today (07:03) Distraction vs Traction (09:11) Notifications Aren’t The Real Problem (10:33) What We’re Really Escaping When We Scroll (12:45) Should Social Media Be Banned for Kids? (13:45) Are Phones Really Destroying Our Kids? (17:25) Families & Phones at Restaurants (18:29) Doing Better for Our Kids Starts With Us (20:43) Should I Set Screen-Time Rules for My Kids? (27:28) “Look in the Mirror” (29:14) Being Present While Juggling Work & Kids (33:09) Why We Procrastinate (38:22) Time Management Is Pain Management (40:59) How Beliefs Shape Reality & Identity (41:57) ADHD, Diagnosis Culture & Over-Medicalisation (48:41) 4 Steps to Become Indistractable (52:39) Final Takeaways

    57 min

  4. 08/12/2025

    How to Not Screw Up Your Kids (A Clinical Psychologist Explains) | Janet Phang

    You're damaging your kids right now. There. I said it. And the worst part? You already know it. You feel it every time you snap at them the exact way your mother snapped at you. Every time that voice in your head sounds like your father's disappointment. We're the generation that swore we'd do it differently. Millennials who read all the parenting books, who apologize to our 4-year-olds, who are so terrified of causing pain that we've over-apologized ourselves into a different kind of damage. But here's what nobody tells you: You can't out-parent your unhealed childhood. Clinical psychologist Janet Phang didn't sugarcoat it: "Your childhood baggage doesn't disappear when you become a parent. It resurfaces. Often violently." The moment you hold your baby, something cracks open. Not just love - but every wound you thought you'd buried. Every criticism you swallowed. Every moment you felt unseen. Suddenly you're not just parenting your child. You're parenting the child you once were. And you're doing it badly because nobody taught you how. So how do we stop screwing up our kids? We don't. That's the painful truth. The question isn't if you'll mess them up - it's how much and in what ways. In this raw episode of The Real Reason, Janet and I talk about: Why you speak to yourself in ways you'd never speak to your child The moment parenthood reactivates trauma you didn't know you carried What actual healing from your parents looks like This isn't gentle parenting advice. This is the conversation that might make you cry in your car. 🎧 Listen to The Real Reason - because breaking generational patterns starts with seeing the ones you're still carrying. This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, psychological, or professional advice. Please consult a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation. Follow Janet Phang: Website: https://www.psychologymatters.com.sg/ Follow Shulin Lee: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theshulinlee LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shulinlee Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction(01:14) Janet’s introduction(02:08) Why we treat our feelings like problems(04:35) Your child’s self-worth & self-esteem(07:19) Intergenerational trauma(09:24) How much praise is “too much”?(11:12) Healing wounds from our parents(16:16) “Good enough parenting”(17:59) Why we still seek approval from our parents(20:21) The 5 stages of grief(21:58) Why many adult children stay stuck in anger(26:27) Should you talk to your parents about your hurt?

    31 min

  5. 18/11/2025

    How to Finally Lose Weight (Even When You’ve Tried Everything) | Riyana Rupani

    You eat healthy. You work out. You do everything “right.”So why does your body still feel stuck? In this episode of The Real Reason, Shulin Lee sits down with holistic nutritionist Riyana Rupani to uncover what’s really going on beneath the surface and why “doing more” isn’t always the answer. They dive into: How stress, hormones, and gut healthquietly dictate your resultsWhy over-exercising and under-eatingmight be slowing you downThe truth about “metabolic resets” and how to rebuild balance without guilt or extremes If you’ve ever looked in the mirror and thought, “What am I missing?” — this one’s for you.Because your body isn’t broken.It’s talking to you. You just haven’t learned how to listen yet. 🎧 Tune in to The Real Reason and find out what your body’s been trying to tell you all along. Follow Riyana Rupani: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/healthyishandhappy  Website: https://healthyishandhappy.com Resources from Riyana: Chili sauces and more: https://everidayfoods.com Healthy Recipes: https://healthyishandhappy.com/healthy-recipes/ Clean-in-15 Challenge: https://healthyishandhappy.com/clean-in-15 Follow Shulin Lee: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theshulinlee LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shulinlee   Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction (01:58) Riyana’s introduction (03:34) The Real Reason (05:04) The “Sugar Monster” (09:16) Shulin’s ice cream mistake (12:49) High achievers vs. Pushing through (15:56) The “Clean-in-15 Challenge” (17:29) The first step to eating clean (19:33) Alcohol (22:37) No one wants to be unhealthy (23:45) Mindless eating (26:30) Does your body need that much food? (28:15) Colleagues & after-work drinks (30:27) Pressure to eat the last piece of food (31:13) Family piling food onto your plate (33:06) Obstacles to eating healthy (34:03) Tips for eating at hawker (35:33) Harmful health fads (36:12) Intermittent fasting (38:28) 1200 calories per day (40:32) Breakfast ideas (43:37) Fruits vs. fruit juice (45:15) Riyana’s chili sauces (49:19) Read the ingredients (50:22) Food can be delicious and life changing (52:52) If someone is fit, but not eating healthy (54:28) Weight loss (56:27) Why food matters

    1h 1m

  6. 03/11/2025

    If You Are Feeling Stuck, You’ll Need To Hear This | Shulin Lee

    I had everything I was supposed to want the title, the career, the “success.” But deep down, I was stuck. Not lazy. Not ungrateful. Just… stuck. In this raw solo episode, I share: → When success stopped feeling like success → How hitting ZERO revenue in 2020 forced me to reinvent → The mindset shift that helped me rebuild everything → How fear kept me trapped This isn’t about motivation. It’s about telling the truth, even when it’s uncomfortable. Because sometimes, the hardest person to be honest with… is yourself. 🎧 If you’ve ever looked “successful” but felt lost, you need to listen in Follow Shulin Lee: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theshulinlee LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shulinlee   Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction (00:54) What is The Real Reason? (02:38) Quitting law (04:57) Proving yourself to others (08:45) Becoming a recruiter (09:43) It felt like a downgrade (12:09) What if you had stayed in law? (15:38) Family & motherhood (18:53) I didn’t want kids (20:48) Parenthood is hard 100x (22:12) Losing your ambitious identity (25:15) Motherhood made me a better person (28:36) Feeling stuck in marriage (32:26) Investing in your marriage (33:35) Holding on instead of letting go (35:23) Finding the right partner (37:10) Rebuilding after a co-founder fallout (40:28) Taking action (42:47) You’re not stuck

    45 min
  • 6 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

🎙 The Real Reason with Shulin Lee A podcast about success, mindset, and growth. Featuring real experts who’ve lived it. Hosted by Shulin Lee, lawyer-turned-recruiter and Singapore’s #1 LinkedIn Creator. Get raw conversations on careers, purpose, mental health, and leadership, without the fluff. Stop taking advice from people who haven’t done the work. Learn from those who have. 

Information

  • Creator
    Shulin Lee
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    6
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Shulin Lee
  • Show Website
    The Real Reason