152: Finding Love and Purpose in Unexpected Places ft Chris Teo & Genevieve Toh

On this episode of White Label American, host Raphael Harry talks with Genevieve and Chris Teo, two talented individuals who share their stories of growing up in Singapore and finding their passions in life. The conversation covers parenting, career paths, and the healing powers of songwriting along with a love story. Chris and Genevieve discuss the challenges of being in a new place and connecting with others. Through their stories, Chris and Genevieve shows the power of sharing personal experiences and the importance of listening to others and grace. We may be looking at a future leader or politician amongst our guests. Stay tuned!

Check out Genevieve's music everywhere you can stream music and on her website www.genevievetohmusic.com

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TIME STAMPED OVERVIEW:

[00:00:00] "White Label American is a podcast featuring interviews with immigrants breaking down barriers. The host is happy to have two talented and distinguished guests from their country of origin. Support the podcast and check out the show notes."

[00:14:11] Childhood memories with grandparents, sharing a bed and playing on a unique Chinese piece of furniture. Emotional reminiscing.

[00:22:08] Childhood desire to be a sprinter led to questioning of intelligence due to societal pressure for traditional careers; shift in acceptance of non-traditional careers occurred with success and monetary gain.

[00:37:20] The speaker was recruited for a job but turned it down to pursue her love of playing piano. She became a music teacher and experienced difficulty in her personal life, including her father's bankruptcy and death. After moving to New York, she took up singing and songwriting, which became her purpose and artistry.

[00:47:15] A woman becomes friends with a Muslim drummer but decides to let go of any romantic feelings and focus on herself. Eventually, she's able to be herself around him and they spend time laughing and talking. One day, during what she thought was a casual hangout, they end up sitting in a romantic spot together.

[01:00:25] The responsibility of having children changes things, making it harder to meet up spontaneously. Even alone, there is still loneliness and difficulty navigating a new place. The podcast discusses how to navigate parenting in New York, especially during the pandemic.

[01:06:45] Parenting is a rich journey of cultivating, influencing, and caring for another life. The power of shaping a child is immense, but it's not always easy, especially when dealing with political situations. The hope is that the seeds sown today will yield harvest many years from now, as long as the parent is a vessel for love and grace.

[01:23:33] Songwriting is a means of processing lived experiences and capturing big moments in few words for the author. Writing is a concession that involves translating visual and emotional experiences into words. The inspiration comes from a need to say something and songwriting is a primal need. The author finds relief in pouring out their heart into a song. Song titles come easily.

[01:31:50] Encourages people to stay free in a time of confusion.