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In my latest podcast conversation with Leonard Cheong, founder and creative director of Finix, he talks about trauma, fluidity, spiritual awakening, and redefining what it means to live and dress with freedom.

From surviving the Fukushima nuclear disaster to launching Singapore’s first gender-fluid ath-flow label, Leonard shares the reality behind the brand.

Despite his success as a designer and former dancer, Leonard spent years navigating a world that tried to “reprogram” him, holding together a public persona while burying his true self under societal expectations.

What Leonard reveals in this conversation:

* The origin story: Why shopping in the men’s section sparked a frustration that birthed a brand

* The trauma pivot: How living 40km from the Fukushima nuclear plant traumatised him but ultimately shaped his resilience

* The spiritual bootcamp: Why entrepreneurship forced him to face himself with no escape

* The identity cost: Navigating the space between “he/him” and “they/them” in a conservative society

* The vision: How he sees trends not through data, but through vibration and intuition

* The flagship moment: The emotional reality of opening a sanctuary on Keong Saik Road

Key insights: