Small Talk! With Alec Cuenca - Motivation & Mindset Podcast

In this episode, @cleoloque shares the decision that changed everything.. choosing focus over doing more. After graduating, she had more space, and instead of filling it with new things, she removed distractions and went all-in on what truly mattered. That one shift led to their first 9-figure year.. not because she did more, but because she finally did less with intention. This conversation goes...

In this episode, @cleoloque shares the real story behind building Hiraya Pilipina from just borrowing ₱20,000 from her parents to becoming a 9-figure brand. What looks like overnight success was actually built through trial and error, expensive mistakes, and moments of doubt that most people never see. From failed product launches to a multi-million peso event that didn’t go as planned, this conve...

In this episode, @aynbernos talks about one of the hardest lessons in content creation.. you have to stop forcing a style that was never meant for you. She shares how easy it is to look at other creators and think, “Why am I not like that?” but explains why growth really starts when you stop copying what works for others and start leaning into what feels natural for you. The conversation also dive...

In this episode, @aynbernos talks about the full circle conversation about content creation, growth, and identity online. From teaching English, travel vlogging, beauty, fitness, and now creator education, Ayn shares how every version of her online journey led her back to one clear truth.. you are the niche. Not the trend. Not the format. Your perspective is what people stay for. This episode also...

In this episode, @giannehinolan talks about the part of singlehood that most people don’t say out loud.. the frustration, the waiting, the loneliness, and the pressure to rush into the next season. But instead of treating singlehood like a punishment, she shares why it can actually become a season of preparation, healing, and deep joy.. if you learn how to live it well. This conversation also goes...

In this episode, @giannehinolan shares how she went from creating content for brands to finally building her own platform and how "Medyo Seryosong Podcast" started after years of “waiting for the perfect time.”  The conversation goes deeper into what creatives need to grow.. a safe space, supportive people, and the grace to “suck at something.” Gianne also explains how faith became personal f...

In this episode, @angelydub talked about evolution. Not the glamorous kind. The uncomfortable kind. The kind where you wake up one day and realize the life you built no longer feels like you. She opens up about learning to feel every emotion in her 30s. Fear. Nervousness. Grief. Excitement. She shares how she used to cope by traveling constantly, how it became part of her identity, and what it fel...

Angely Dub is a dynamic and successful entrepreneur, content creator, and influencer known for her authenticity and bold personality. She talks about the evolution of her identity, from a fearless 20-year-old who wasn’t scared to try, to the version of her now that’s calmer, clearer, and more grounded. And the reason is simple: self-awareness. This episode also goes into the part most people skip:...

Dating in 2026 feels different because people are not dating to survive anymore. Standards have shifted. Expectations are louder. Options are endless. And love has become less about “can we make it through” and more about “do you actually add peace to my life.” In this episode, we unpack why more women are choosing to stay single, why success increases temptation for men, and why cheating is rarel...

In this episode, I sit down with the No.1 Dating Coach, Coach Vee, to discuss how to stop sabotaging your love life. She reveals why chasing that “spark” may be the reason you’re attracting all the wrong people. She explains how to date smarter and why that simple shift in mindset could change the way you approach relationships for good. Plus, discover the REAL reason you keep choosing the wrong p...

Manifestation isn’t just about wishing for something. It’s about staying excited, happy, and inspired. When you stay in a high vibration, that’s when everything starts aligning faster. In this episode, a very special guest, one who's very dear to my heart, my wife, Yani Moya-Cuenca. Yani and I sit down to talk about how to truly manifest your dreams and the importance of staying high vibrational,...

Finally had the opportunity to guest the love of my life on my podcast again but this time we're talking about manifestation and how we manifested our dream wedding. If you're looking for a podcast that you and your partner or your future partner would love to listen to, check out our newest episode of @smalltalkpodcasts. Credit: @yanimcuenca x @smalltalkpodcasts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pri...

Most people ask, “How do I grow my money?” But the deeper question is who you are being in the process. Money moves like air. It flows toward the person who can hold it with a steady nervous system and a clean relationship with giving and receiving. The reframe here is simple. You are not just earning money, you are the money-making machine. And the way you treat money often mirrors the way you tr...

If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing “everything right” but still feel stuck, anxious, or secretly exhausted.. this episode is for you. I’m joined again by Coach Russ, my mentor and one of the biggest reasons I started taking transformation seriously. We went deep.. not just into mindset, but into the things people don’t talk about enough: suffering, letting go of approval, money wounds, and why...

Most businesses don’t fail because they’re unprofitable. They fail because they run out of cash. In Part 2 of this conversation, Steve Sy breaks down the business principles most entrepreneurs overlook.. from why cash flow is the true lifeline of a company, to why chasing revenue without structure leads to collapse. He explains the difference between profit, sales, and cash flow, why many “success...

Steve Sy is one of the most respected names in Philippine e-commerce today. But his success wasn’t built on shortcuts, hype, or overnight wins. In this episode, Steve breaks down why chasing profit alone can actually destroy a business, how most entrepreneurs scale before they’re ready, and why capacity, systems, and purpose matter more than opportunity. He opens up about being ₱32,000,000 in debt...

In this second part with Carlo Ople, we go beyond business success and talk about purpose, advocacy, faith, and the responsibility that comes with influence. Carlo shares why real impact doesn’t always require running for office.. and how lobbying, content, and entrepreneurship can be powerful tools for national change. From co-founding Creators Against Corruption to building businesses that creat...

Carlo Ople has built one of the most influential careers in the Philippine digital space.. but his journey didn’t start with success. It started in an internet cafe, a life-or-death moment, and a decision that changed everything. In this episode, Carlo opens up about the night he was held at gunpoint, why he spent 18 years building his business after working 9–5, and how he finally walked away fro...

In this episode, we dive into why formal education on business management, working with brands, and understanding contracts is critical for your success. You might be a content creator, but without this knowledge, you're setting yourself up for failure. Icy shares his insights on the creator economy, how data, AI, and community building will shape the future, and why nurturing a loyal community is...

In this episode, Alec sits down with IC Mendoza, a digital marketing entrepreneur and the co-founder of InCircle Inc., the leading talent management agency in the Philippines. IC shares his incredible journey from showbiz to entrepreneurship, offering insights into building a successful business, staying ahead in the influencer world, and finding success through authentic connections. What you’ll...

In this new episode, Rajiv Talreja breaks down the simple, obvious, and painfully common mistake that quietly destroys most businesses. It’s not the economy. It’s not the competition. It’s not even the lack of skill. It’s the business owner. Rajiv explains why many entrepreneurs unknowingly sabotage their own success—by hiring the wrong people, avoiding uncomfortable decisions, and leading without...

In this new episode with Alec, Rajiv breaks down the painful truth behind why so many aspiring entrepreneurs never make it past the first stage. Rajiv shares how he became an “entrepreneur by force, not by choice,” and why early praise and empty encouragement almost destroyed his career. Instead of shortcuts and motivational hype, he reveals the real foundations every business owner needs — clarit...

In this special episode of Small Talk, we break down 30 years of financial lessons into a clear, practical, and honest conversation. No jargon. No hype. Just real wisdom you can apply today. This episode goes beyond earning and saving — it’s about understanding how money affects identity, family, confidence, and the way you move through life. We talk about the mistakes most people don’t realize th...

In this follow-up episode of Small Talk with Alec Cuenca, Nicole Alba opens up about her journey toward financial independence — and the truth behind growing up privileged yet wanting to build something on her own. From her early years watching her parents work tirelessly to send her and her siblings to school, to realizing how money shapes our choices, Nicole shares a side of success that’s often...

In this Small Talk episode, Nicole Alba opens up about what truly happens behind the camera — the burnout, the silence, and the courage it takes to start again. Known for her calm yet insightful voice in the world of personal finance, Nicole reveals what pushed her to take a break at the height of her success, and what it really means to rebuild with intention. She talks about the pressure of alwa...