You Never Know with Nicole Lee
You Never Know with Nicole Lee
Podcast Description
Welcome to You Never Know where we talk about life, career, change & the stories of people who have taken the unconventional road & embraced the unknown. Where we talk about things we don’t normally talk about with our families and sometimes even with our friends, especially here in Asia. After more than a decade in a top private bank and a transformational experience at a startup which changed my life, I am now rewriting my life story, walking into the unknown, and inspiring others to thrive in life. Thank you so much for your support, wherever you are in the world. It means a lot to me. - Nicole
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast covers various themes such as career reinvention, generational dilemmas, and personal transformation. Highlights include discussions on the pressure faced by Gen Z regarding social media, as well as stories of professionals like Frank Koo who challenge traditional views of success and fulfillment, emphasizing purpose over pay.
Hi, I’m Nicole — host of You Never Know, a podcast for real conversations about life, career, finance, and health, with visionary people who’ve taken the unconventional road and embraced the unknowns.
After 13 years at a top private bank, and a transformational leap into fintech and entrepreneurship, I created You Never Know to inspire people to discover the infinite pathways in life that come from within.
Thank you so much for being here. If this resonates with you, I’d love for you to like, comment, subscribe, and share it with someone who might need it today.
With ❤️ from Singapore,
Nicole
Former Political Secretary to then–Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, Ei Sun OH, shares his honest reflections on what it was really like working inside Malaysia’s seat of power — and why he eventually chose to walk away.
From the early days of 1MDB to the 2018 elections that ended Barisan Nasional’s 61-year rule, Ei Sun opens up about the realities of politics and leadership — and weighs in on Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s challenges today, Malaysia’s evolving identity, and what ASEAN’s future might look like amid rising China–U.S. tensions.
We dive into:
💬 What does a political secretary to a prime minister actually do?
🔥 What was the original intention behind 1MDB?
⚖️ Did the 2018 elections truly mark a new era of democracy for Malaysia?
🤝 Are Malaysia and Singapore more like siblings or rivals?
🌏 Can ASEAN really stay neutral between the U.S. and China?
🍜 And finally — who does food better: Malaysia or Singapore?
This episode is a must-watch for anyone curious about politics, leadership, and Southeast Asia’s future.
⏱️ Chapters
00:00 — Becoming Najib’s Political Secretary
05:30 — What a Political Secretary Actually Does
08:45 — Inside Najib’s Office & Cabinet Dynamics
10:30 — Working in a Racially Charged Environment
12:30 — The Art of Political Mediation
17:10 — Why Ei Sun Left Government
18:50 — The Original Vision of 1MDB
22:00 — What Malaysia Learned (and Hasn’t) from 1MDB
25:50 — The 2018 Election That Changed Everything
29:30 — Mahathir’s Return at 92
31:30 — Malaysia Under Anwar Ibrahim
33:30 — Reform vs Religion: The Country’s Biggest Tension
36:00 — What Outsiders Misunderstand About Malaysia
38:00 — Malaysia & Singapore: Siblings or Rivals?
44:20 — Can ASEAN Stay Neutral Between the U.S. and China?
55:30 — Advice for Southeast Asian Leaders
58:00 — If You Could Change One Law in Malaysia…
59:40 — Malaysia vs Singapore: Who Does Chicken Rice & Char Kway Teow Better?
👉🏼 Ei Sun OH is currently the Principal Adviser at the Pacific Research Center of Malaysia, a Senior Fellow at the Singapore Institute of International Affairs, and a Justice of the Peace in Sabah, Malaysia.
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🔗 Connect with Ei Sun OH
👤 LinkedIn: https://my.linkedin.com/in/ei-sun-oh-%E8%83%A1%E9%80%B8%E5%B1%B1-3966206
📲 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ei_sun_oh/?hl=en
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ei.sun.oh/
🔗 Connect with Nicole Lee
🌐 Website: www.youneverknow.co
👤 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/nicoleleethisisme
📺 YouTube: www.youtube.com/@nicoleleethisisme
📲 Instagram/Tiktok: @nicoleleethisisme
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