Small Talk! With Alec Cuenca - Motivation & Mindset Podcast

In this Small Talk episode, Cho Lim returns to share the hardest season of his life—a moment when life took away his control and forced him to grow. After years of chasing success and avoiding responsibility, he hit a breaking point that didn’t just hurt him… it changed him. Cho opens up about the identity crisis he hid, the pain he tried to outrun, and the shift from ego to surrender. He reveals...

In this episode of Small Talk, Alec Cuenca sits down with Cho Lim: whose story is not about instant success, but about wasted years, hidden pain, and the one moment that forced him to finally change. Before becoming one of the most influential coaches in the country, Cho spent years drifting with no direction: stuck in comfort, vices, parties, and the belief that “there’s still time.” But everythi...

In this follow-up episode of Small Talk, Alec's back with Peng Mendoza to reveal a hard truth about high achievers: the more you try to control everything, the more anxious, restless, and unhappy you become. Peng opens up about the seasons when she was doing everything “right”: working hard, hitting goals, serving people. But yet still feeling empty and disconnected on the inside. She shares how t...

In this episode of Small Talk, Alec Cuenca sits down with Peng Mendoza to expose a hard truth about success: you can be moving up in life… and still feel empty inside. Peng opens up about chasing money, achievements, and recognition, only to realize that progress without purpose leads to burnout. She shares the moments when “winning” didn’t feel like winning, the pressure of always having to prove...

In this powerful follow-up episode of Small Talk, Alec sits down again with Tina Sioson to explore what modern leadership really looks like — and why the old ways no longer work. From understanding Gen Z and navigating burnout, to finding the balance between control and freedom, Tina shares the lessons that today’s leaders can’t afford to ignore. She dives deep into how leadership has become a pen...

In this eye-opening episode of Small Talk, Alec sits down with Tina Sioson to challenge one of the biggest lies in the workplace: that promotions and titles automatically make you a leader. With decades of experience in leadership development, Tina reveals why competence alone won’t make people follow you, how bad promotions create “accidental leaders,” and why character and readiness matter more...

In this powerful follow-up episode of Small Talk, Alec sits down again with Dennis Sy to go even deeper into the lessons behind his book Design Your Life. From letting go of weak foundations to anchoring your identity on something eternal, Dennis reveals how true growth requires surrender, why purpose can feel hollow without personhood, and how to escape the trap of living on autopilot. If you’ve...

In this new episode of Small Talk , Alec sits down with Dennis Sy to uncover the deeper story behind his health scare, his bestselling book Design Your Life, and the mindset shifts that helped him escape the trap of living on autopilot. From a hospital bed to a life of clarity and purpose, Dennis shares the raw, untold moments — the struggle, the surrender, and the systems he built to reclaim his...

In this episode of Small Talk, Sam Y.G. continued uncovering the real reasons behind his biggest career moves: from leaving Boy’s Night Out, to battling burnout, to rebuilding his life with purpose. Sam opens up about the risks, the lessons, and the mindset shifts that helped him move from hustle to intentional growth. Packed with raw honesty, actionable advice, and stories that will resonate with...

In this episode of Small Talk, Alec sits down with Sam YG to talk about growing up as a bullied kid, navigating identity in a Filipino-Indian household, and the turning point that changed everything. From being teased in grade school to becoming one of the country’s most recognizable radio personalities, Sam shares the real story behind his transformation — the early struggles, the first breaks, a...

In this episode of Small Talk, Alec continues the deep conversation with Nica Fabregas as she opens up about leaving stability behind, trusting her gut, and choosing to build a career she truly loves. From family interventions to self-doubt, Nica shares how she turned fear into fuel, overcame the pressure to follow the “safe” path, and found confidence in her own journey. Whether you’re thinking o...

In this episode of Small Talk, Alec sits down with Nica Fabregas to talk about growing up in a faith-centered household, battling mental health struggles, and the courage it took to stand up for herself. From letting go of a “safe” corporate path to pursuing content creation, Nica shares the real story behind her turning points — the quiet breakdowns, the family conversations, and the moments that...

In this episode of Small Talk, Alec sits down with Alex Diaz to talk about navigating hate, public criticism, and the noise of social media. From learning humility through starting over, to finding strength in the face of “keyboard warriors,” Alex shares what it really takes to live with resilience. He opens up about his journey in showbiz, the lessons from Bar Boys that mirror his own life, and h...

What happens when everything you thought you wanted slips away? In this episode of Small Talk, actor and content creator Alex Diaz opens up about losing everything he once worked for, what fame could never give him, and how starting over changed the way he sees life, success, and love. From the pressures of the spotlight to the pain of rebuilding from nothing, Alex shares the raw lessons he’s lear...

In this episode of Small Talk, Alec continues his deep conversation with life coach Russ Juson, diving into the lessons he’s learned about growth, faith, and living a life of purpose. Russ shares why true success isn’t just about money or achievements, but about expanding yourself, embracing new experiences, and staying connected to God. He explains why business failures don’t define you, how grow...

In this episode of Small Talk, Alec sits down with entrepreneur and coach Russ Juson to talk about life’s lowest points, finding purpose, and what it truly takes to turn pain into power. Russ opens up about the struggles that almost broke him, the realizations that came from rock bottom, and the mindset shift that allowed him to rebuild not just his career, but his life. From letting go of victimh...

In this episode of Small Talk with Alec Cuenca, Prax Yap shares how motherhood completely reshaped her life. From being a go-getter who always wanted control, to learning patience, surrender, and slowing down—Prax opens up about the lessons she never expected to learn as a mom. She also reflects on how her definition of success changed: from chasing milestones and achievements, to simply being pre...

In this episode of Small Talk, Alec sits down with Prax Yap to talk about the risks and rewards of choosing passion over money. From walking away from a stable career to carving out a life built on purpose, Prax shares the struggles, doubts, and breakthroughs that came with following what truly matters to her. She opens up about why money alone was never enough, the sacrifices she had to make, and...

From side hustles to doubling money—this episode with Jax Reyes dives deep into the realities of building wealth with intention. Alec and Jax talk about the transition from chasing quick wins to creating lasting financial habits. Jax shares his thoughts on why discipline is the real key to success, how budgeting doesn’t have to feel restrictive, and why it’s important to spend on what makes you ha...

In this episode of Small Talk, Alec sits down with financial content creator Jax Reyes to talk about budgeting, bills, and building a healthy money mindset. From his early money mistakes to the shifts that helped him grow his savings, Jax shares practical steps you can take—whether you’re starting late, struggling to budget, or simply wanting to make your money work smarter. He breaks down why bud...

Before turning 29, life handed me lessons I didn’t ask for—but needed. In this video, I open up about the quiet fears behind “playing it safe,” letting go of old expectations, and what it really means to want more out of life—more freedom, more purpose, more peace. I talk about money, faith, and the power of choosing what feels true, even when it doesn’t make sense to anyone else. Because sometime...

In this episode of Small Talk with Alec Cuenca, we dive deeper into the life of content creator Ichan Remigio—after losing millions, getting fired from his job, and reaching rock bottom. From exerting his best in the urban life just to get by, to creating viral content every hour, Ichan opens up about what it really means to hustle with purpose. He shares how failure sharpened his focus, how conte...

Small Talk! With Alec Cuenca - Motivation & Mindset Podcast In this episode of Small Talk with Alec Cuenca, we sit down with Ichan Remigio—content creator, storyteller, and former backend insurance worker turned viral voice online. Before the punchlines and relatable content, Ichan’s journey started with self-doubt, bullying, and the feeling of not being “enough.” He opens up about being told...

In this episode of Small Talk with Alec Cuenca, we continue the heartfelt conversation with Hannah Dela Rosa—vocal coach, singer-songwriter, and creative mentor—as she shares the next chapter of her journey: walking away from perfectionism and rediscovering her voice through purpose. After spending a decade in choir culture, Hannah found herself burned out, lost, and unsure of who she was outside...

In this episode of Small Talk with Alec Cuenca, we sit down with Hannah Dela Rosa, vocal coach, singer-songwriter, and former choir member, for a deeply honest conversation on identity, purpose, and redefining the dream. Hannah opens up about growing up in music, navigating insecurities in the industry, and the painful yet powerful seasons of questioning. She shares how burnout, the pandemic, and...