The Dream Catchers Show
The Dream Catchers Show is hosted by Shalima Motial, the founder and CEO of Dream Catchers. The podcast focuses on the events, theatre, and film projects produced by Dream Catchers since 2011. It features conversations with performing artists and entrepreneurs whose dreams have been part of the company's work. Shalima also shares insights from her experience as an entrepreneur, film producer, actor, model, writer, podcaster, and talk show host.
Episodes
From “You Need Tamil” to Esplanade: Her Journey Building Hindi Theatre in Singapore
She came to Singapore looking for acting work. Nearly two decades later, Singapore’s Esplanade came looking for her to create a Hindi production.In this episode of The Dream Catchers Show, I sit down with Shalaka Karnik Ranadive, founder of We Can Do It! Productions and festival director of Dastak, to unpack how she built a life in theatre from Mumbai and London to Singapore and India.IN THIS EPIS
Diagnosed With Parkinson’s at 30—Then Brain Surgery Gave Her Life Back
Most photographers worry about lighting. Gargi Mazumdar worried whether her body would cooperate long enough to finish the shoot.In this episode, I sit down with the celebrated Singapore photographer who was diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson’s disease at just 30. She opens up about hiding her symptoms, struggling to hold her baby, losing mobility, and continuing to work through it all.Gargi als
Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life? A Therapist Explains
I had to ask—what makes someone dedicate their entire life to understanding the human mind? For Saima Salman, it began with one book at just 15 years old.In this episode, I sit down with Saima Salman, founder and CEO of Rational Living Inc, leading cognitive behaviour therapist, clinical supervisor, motivational speaker, and someone who has spent three decades helping people confront the parts of
The Money Habits That Create Financial Freedom
I had to ask—what does a man who started investing at 18 really know about surviving today’s chaos? Turns out, a lot.In this episode, I sit down with Mandar Padhye—seasoned investor, author of The Resilient Investor, and someone who’s lived through market shocks, uncertainty, and still built real financial resilience.We get into how he navigates the market without reacting to noise, why “stay inve
How to Live a Fully Used Up Life — Prem John
He stripped naked on stage, kissed another man, and got whipped. Prem John didn't know any of this when he said yes to his first acting role — and he'd do it all over again.Prem John is a Singapore comic, actor, and founder of East Coast Comedy — but at 34 he was a consulting partner chasing Lamborghinis and feeling completely empty. This conversation covers the life rules he built from fa
From Selling Pizza in School to Building a Global Diamond Brand: This Entrepreneur Started Young
This guest turned selling pizza slices in school into a mindset that now runs a global luxury jewellery brand. In this episode of The Dream Catchers Show, I sit down with Saagar Mehta, the entrepreneur behind Infiniti Jewels Singapore, a third-generation fine jewellery and diamond business known for bespoke designs and rare gemstones. We talk about his journey from early hustles to launching a mod
She Almost Ended Her Life. Now She Teaches Women Courage
I almost had to pause the conversation when Lilian Ong shared the moment she stood on her balcony wondering how to end her life… and what happened next changed everything. In this episode of The Dream Catchers Show, I sit down with the founder of the Her Courage Business Network, a women empowerment platform helping women turn trauma into purpose and leadership. IN THIS EPISODE00:00 | Teaser03:31
Why he left Grab to help people launch podcasts
What happens when you swap a cushy corporate job for the chaos of building something from scratch?I sat down with Amit Ray, founder of CrazyTok, to talk about his bold leap from running operations at Uber and Grab to creating one of Singapore’s fastest-growing podcast agencies.From his first scrappy startup idea in 2000 to turning a passion project into a full-fledged business, Amit’s journey is a
AI Won’t Replace You. But THIS WILL | Bindhu Nelson on AI & Future of Work
What happens when a leader leaves a $4 trillion tech giant to chase purpose?On this episode of The Dream Catchers Show, I sit down with Bindhu Nelson, Managing Partner at Purpose Lab, to talk about her journey from leading cloud and AI initiatives at Microsoft to helping businesses adopt AI responsibly. Bindhu shares why she believes AI in business is not about replacing people but about transform
How One TikTok Video Sparked a Cheesecake Empire
This corporate banker with 25 years of experience left his job... to sell desserts in Singapore!In this episode, I sit down with Sandeep Dhingra to talk about what really happens when you leave a 25-year career in banking to start a restaurant business in Singapore - and how he managed a dessert brand that suddenly went viral on TikTok.Sandeep talks about how his Dubai chocolate cheesecake became
From 111 Kgs to Top Health Coach: Ritika Shravan’s Weight Loss Story
What’s tougher - saying no to Punjabi food or sticking to a diet plan?In this episode, I sat down with Ritika Shravan, a certified health coach in Singapore who went from weighing 111 kgs to becoming one of the country’s top voices on fitness and nutrition.Her journey from crash diets and fainting spells to finding balance through mindful eating is as real as it gets. Today, she helps busy profess
His Side Hustle Became Everyone’s Dream Weekend
Why would a top insurance director start a yacht business during a pandemic?When I met Jake Yu, I thought I was just talking to the founder of Jake Yu Yachts. But his story turned out to be about way more than boats. During the COVID lockdown, Jake bought his first yacht, not to chase profits, but to create memorable experiences for clients, friends, and eventually, the public.He runs one of Singa
How to Reinvent Yourself at Any Age
What kind of person ditches engineering, survives a financial crisis, and becomes financially free by 40?I sat down with Mandar Padhye—a self-taught investor who went from IT guy to trusted wealth advisor in Singapore. In this episode, he shares his honest, unfiltered journey of navigating risk, writing The Resilient Investor, and helping others find freedom without chasing hype.If you’ve ever won
Two Women. Two Marriages. One Fight for Freedom.
What do you do when your own home stops feeling safe—but no one else can see it?On this episode of The Dream Catchers Show, I sat down with two brave, inspiring women—Akshata Jantali and Devarti Ghosh—who shared what it really took to walk away from years of abuse and start over as single mothers. They opened up about everything: the red flags, the fear of judgement, and how they found the courage
This Man Failed 3 Businesses. Then Became a Bestseller
Ever felt like giving up after too many rejections? I sure have.In this episode, I sit down with Shiv Khera—yes, the “You Can Win” guy—who went from washing cars in Canada to building a global reputation as a bestselling author and speaker. He shares how a brutal reprimand changed his life, why making money isn’t the same as earning it, and what discipline really looks like.This one’s packed with
Your Child’s Grades Don’t Matter As Much As You Think
What if school wasn’t just about grades—but about raising future-ready humans?When I sat down with Deepika Sodhi, principal of GIIS East Coast, I saw why this school isn’t your typical academic grind. With its 9 GEMS framework, GIIS blends academics, creativity, sports, values—and even ethical AI use—into everyday learning. Deepika shares how the school creates confident, well-rounded students whi
Joshua Simon's Untold Stories: From Radio to Stardom!
What happens behind the scenes before a viral celebrity interview goes live?I still remember the day Joshua Simon walked into our studio 14 years ago—wide-eyed, talented, and armed with a dream (and a camera). Today, he’s one of Singapore’s most loved radio presenters, a singer-songwriter, podcaster, and LGBTQ advocate. In this heartwarming episode, Joshua opens up about chasing dreams, losing fli
The One Skill That Can Change Your Life w/ Kamil Haque
Is life just a series of performances? Or are we all just playing different roles?In this episode, I sat down with Kamil Haque, a multi-talented actor, director, and acting coach who believes we’re all performers—on stage and in life. From discovering his passion for acting as a restless kid in Singapore to training in LA and launching his own coaching company, Kamil’s journey is nothing short of
She Built the First Live Bollywood Radio in Southeast Asia
How did a simple desire for Bollywood music in Singapore lead to the creation of the first live Bollywood radio in Southeast Asia?Meet Renuka Arora Bhagat, the powerhouse behind Radio Masti 24x7, and join us on a journey of unexpected entrepreneurship. From a spontaneous email to MediaCorp to becoming a celebrated media leader, Renuka’s tale is one of passion meeting opportunities.Dive into her st
The Rise of MathVision: The Untold Journey
How does one go from teaching a single student to leading a global education company?In this episode, I talk with Divesh Shah, the CEO of MathVision, who shares his incredible journey from starting with just one student in Singapore to now educating over 20,000 students across 34 countries. Divesh opens up about the challenges he faced, including the collapse of his first business in India, and ho
How to Overcome Fear and Speak Confidently in Public
Can a shy introvert transform into a world-renowned public speaking champion?Join us on the Dream Catchers Show, where we dive deep into the life of Mr. Manoj Vasudevan, a master of conquering glossophobia—the fear of public speaking. Manoj, a leadership coach and CEO of Thought Expressions, shares his personal journey from being timid in crowds to captivating large audiences and coaching leaders
How To Transform Your Physical and Mental Well-Being
Have you ever wondered how a career in counseling or naturopathy begins?Join me as I talk to Lilian Ong and Ketki, who share their inspiring journeys. As for Lilian, she started as a counselor working with prisoners, discovering the deep emotional pain behind their actions and finding her passion for helping others heal. Ketki, on the other hand, battled personal health struggles, which led her to
Explore, experiment and experience
What is it that school doesn't teach you? In today's episode of The Dream Catchers Show, we dive into the life and insights of Nihit Mohan, a banker by profession and a passionate writer. Nihit, who started his writing journey with a blog, found his calling after an encouraging nudge from a friend led him to write his first book.His work not only explores his personal experiences but also
Commitment to social impact: How Venkataraman Kumar’s businesses enable others’ dreams
How does a multi-faceted entrepreneur channel his passion into diverse ventures?In this episode of "The Dreamcatchers Show," we meet Venkataraman Kumar, a dynamic entrepreneur who has made significant strides in wealth management, Satvic certification, and IT consultancy. From his early days in corporate giants like Hewlett Packard and Shell to founding three companies, Venkataraman shares how per
Expert Counseling Tips to Save Your Marriage
Have you ever wondered how a counselor views their work with couples?On today's episode of the Dreamcatchers show, we're joined by Geetika Malhotra, an empathetic and skilled counselor with over nine years of experience in marriage counseling. Geetika, the founder of Balanced Life Psychotherapy and Counseling, dives into the complexities of relationships, discussing the importance of commu
How Singapore’s Cricket Caption Turned Into A Global Entrepreneur
What does it take to turn a cricket dream into a global business?In this episode, I sit down with Chetan Suryawanshi, a former Singapore national cricket team captain who transformed his passion for the game into Crick Kingdom, an international cricket academy. How did he make the leap from leading on the field to leading a team of coaches across multiple countries? We explore Chetan's persona
Entrepreneurship & Corporate life — Couple describes how to balance work, passion & a happy marriage
Ever wondered how it feels to chase your dreams alongside your partner in crime?Dive into the extraordinary journey of Shalima and Himanshu Motial on The Dreamcatcher Show, where they unravel the essence of turning passions into reality. From exploring diverse careers to creating magic on and off the screen, this power couple shares their secrets to resilience, positivity, and relentless pursuit o
The Passion Behind Singapore's Theater Scene: Indranil Banerjee's Take
What drives a successful IT and business transformation leader to pursue his passion for theater in Singapore, a place where the arts rely more on passion than systemic support?In this episode, we dive into the story of Indranil Banerjee, a man who masterfully balances his corporate life with his love for theater. We explore the challenges and joys of keeping theater alive in Singapore, dive into
Architect to Foodpreneur The Secret Sauce to Achieving Your Dreams
Join us on the first episode of the Dream Catchers Show, where dreams come to life! I'm Shalima Motial, your host, and today we dive deep into the inspiring journey of Amit Bhatnagar, an architect turned food entrepreneur. From the hustle of setting up his own practice to the unexpected move to Singapore, Amit shares the highs, lows, and the unwavering belief that fueled his dream. Tune in for
How eClarity Redefined the Diamond Market
How did Amanda Koo, a computer science graduate and gemologist, turn her passion into a pioneering venture in the diamond industry?In this episode of The Dream Catchers Show, Amanda shares her journey from starting eClarity Diamonds with her life savings to revolutionizing the market with customization and lab-grown diamonds. Despite early challenges, including balancing motherhood and business, h
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