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Ep 75: My Mother and I Both Ordained: She as a Nun, I as a Monk. Here’s Why ft Phra Anand

3 min read

She raised her son while trying not to drown — fighting teachers, fighting her husband, fighting to keep her family afloat, and never once seeming happy. Years later, both mother and son would leave their old lives behind and ordain. In this raw conversation, Phra Anand traces his mother's journey from a decade of failed meditation teachers to the one who finally taught her wisdom before technique — and how watching her transform set him on the same path.

Ep 74: I’m Not Good Enough ft. Angela and Cheryl

3 min read

Can you find peace by wanting it less?

In this episode of the Handful of Leaves podcast, hosts Cheryl and Angela sit down together for the first time since attending a March meditation retreat led by Ajahn Jayasaro, to unpack what the experience taught them once they brought it back into ordinary life. Both arrived quietly depleted — Angela nursing work burnout, Cheryl anxious and adrift after a company restructuring — and what follows is a candid conversation about what happened when they sat with that depletion instead of running from it.

Ep 73: Retiring from Singapore Elite Special Forces to Buddhist Monk ft. Venerable Drachom

16 min read

Can you become fearless not by becoming stronger, but by learning to love more deeply?

In this thought-provoking conversation, Ven Drachom explores what it means to move beyond fear and develop a deeper relationship with compassion, courage, discipline, and suffering. Drawing from his experiences as a former SEAL-trained anti-terrorist commando and his Buddhist spiritual practice, he offers a very different perspective on what it means to become a spiritual warrior.

Rather than seeing fear as something that must simply be defeated, Ven Drachom describes a transformation in which fear gradually gives way to love. The goal is not to become emotionally numb or invulnerable. Instead, it is to develop the inner strength to meet difficult experiences without immediately reacting to them.

Ep 72: Buddhist Monk with The Duty to Kill ft Venerable Drachom

18 min read

What happens when a former Special Forces operative turns his attention from confronting external threats to confronting the hardest enemy of all—the mind?
In this episode, Ven Drachom reflects on his experience in Singapore’s Special Forces, the meaning of responsibility, and his journey into Buddhist practice. He shares why the happiness we chase externally is temporary, how self-cherishing creates suffering, and why the ultimate goal isn't simply to feel peaceful—but to develop clarity so we can do more for others.

Ep 71: From Princeton Graduate & Singapore Civil Servant to Buddhist Nun ft Venerable Damcho

22 min read

What happens when you follow the Singapore path, tick the right boxes, and still feel like something is missing?
In this episode, Cheryl speaks with Venerable Damcho on her unexpected path into Buddhism, from heartbreak and anxiety in university, to meditation, retreats, ordination, and discovering a kind of happiness that did not depend on external success.

Ep 70: Harvard Monk’s Secret: How to Find Peace When Life Falls Apart? Explains Ft. Haenim Sunim, Zen Monk & Bestselling Author

10 min read

What if the peace you've been searching for was never outside of you?

In this profound conversation, internationally renowned Zen monk and bestselling author Haemin Sunim shares timeless wisdom on navigating heartbreak, uncertainty, difficult relationships, and life's inevitable challenges. Drawing from Buddhist teachings and personal experience, he reveals how inner peace emerges not from controlling the world around us, but from trusting the strength already within us.

Whether you're facing loss, struggling with difficult people, or simply feeling overwhelmed by life, this episode offers practical insights to help you find calm, resilience, and freedom amidst the chaos.

Ep 69: Why You Feel Unworthy? A Harvard Monk Explains Ft. Haemin Sunim, Zen Monk & Bestselling Author

16 min read

Why do we feel like we’re never enough even when everything seems “fine” on the outside? In this heartfelt conversation, Haemin Sunim unpacks the hidden roots of unworthiness, revealing how our deepest insecurities are often shaped by childhood survival instincts and our need to belong. Through gentle wisdom and practical insights, he shows us how to reconnect with our inner child, shift our attention away from negativity, and rediscover a sense of peace and intrinsic worth that has always been within us.

Ep 68: Do We Really Need Another Monastery? Ft. Ajahn Nisabho from Clear Mountain

21 min read

In this episode, Cheryl sits down with Ajahn Nisabho to explore a powerful question: with so many Buddhist paths available, why commit deeply to one? Drawing from his journey in the Thai Forest Tradition, Ajahn Nisabho shares how commitment is less about limitation and more about depth and sincerity. Through his experience training as a monk and helping to build a monastery in the West, he reflects on how practice, service, and community are not competing priorities, but interconnected expressions of the same path.

Ep 67: Why Buddhist Couples Stay Happier – The Surprising Truth

19 min read

Many couples don’t fall apart because of a lack of love — they drift because they stop listening, growing, and meeting each other where they are. In this episode, Cheryl sits down with Angela, founder of Almost Peaceful, to explore why some relationships deepen over time while others quietly disconnect.

Drawing from lived experience, Buddhist principles, and years of working with couples, Angela shares how mindfulness, curiosity, and honest communication can transform conflict into connection — and why lasting love is less about grand gestures and more about daily intention.

Ep 66: Alone But Not Lonely ft. Ven Sumangala

11 min read

What does it mean to be alone without feeling lonely? In this episode, Venerable Sumangala reflects on solitude, companionship, and the inner stability needed to stand confidently on our own. Drawing from Buddhist teachings and lived experience, she shares why learning to be at ease with oneself is essential for mental freedom, emotional resilience, and genuine connection with others.

Ep 65: The Buddhist Path to Finding Your True Purpose ft. Ven Sumangala

14 min read

What gives life true meaning beyond achievement, comfort, and success? In this episode, Venerable Sumangala reflects on purpose, happiness, and the Buddhist path—challenging modern ideas of fulfillment and inviting us to look inward. Through teachings on non-attachment, mental training, and the Noble Eightfold Path, this conversation explores how lasting happiness comes from freedom of mind, not endless striving.

Why a 31-Years-Old Singaporean Techie Chose the Monk Life ft. Phra Ryan

10 min read

In this reflective episode, Phra Ryan shares his journey from a comfortable tech career in Singapore to embracing the simplicity and discipline of monastic life in Thailand. He speaks openly about seeking peace beyond material success, learning to let go of attachments, and finding fulfillment through mindfulness and faith.

Ep 62: A Narrow Heart Is a Fragile Heart ft. Lopen Ani Pema Deki (Ven Emma Slade)

11 min read

Emma Slade (Ani Pema Deki) shares her remarkable journey from high-pressure investment banking to life as a Buddhist nun in Bhutan. She reflects on the difference between fleeting worldly happiness and lasting liberation, how small acts of kindness can reshape busy lives, and why expanding our hearts beyond self-interest leads to true resilience and joy.

Ep 59: Buddhism Saved My Life ft. Harry Ho

19 min read

Struggling with grief, diabetes, and depression, Harry’s life took a turn when he discovered the practical wisdom of the Dhamma. In this episode, he reveals how mindfulness and meditation helped him manage suffering, let go of self-criticism, and build a more content and meaningful life—one breath at a time.

Ep 58: What Vesak Means to Us ft. Jiayi and Soon

22 min read

In this heartfelt Vesak special, three young Buddhists share how their understanding of the Buddha and Dhamma transformed over time—from childhood traditions to meaningful personal practice. Discover how faith, reflection, and daily renunciation shape a more intentional, joyful life.

This is Goodbye

24 min read

HOL's co-founder Kai Xin announces her departure from Handful of Leaves to focus on deepening her Dhamma practice. In this reflective episode, she and co-founder Heng Xuan discuss the journey, the transition, and what lies ahead for HOL.

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