About this Video

• Video Title: EPISODE 10 AUDIO
• Channel: Mike Helfman's Curiosity
• Speakers: Serma Ibrahim, Mike Helfman
• Duration: 01:37:40

Introduction

This podcast features an interview with Serma Ibrahim, a singer, actress, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. The conversation primarily focuses on Serma's life experiences, including her martial arts background, near-fatal scuba diving incident, skydiving experiences, and her work in mental health philanthropy. The discussion also touches upon her acting career, cultural identity as a mixed-race individual, and the challenges and rewards of navigating the entertainment industry.

Key Takeaways

• Martial Arts & Performance: Serma's Goju Ryu karate training provided discipline, focus, and memorization skills valuable in her acting and hosting career. She advocates for martial arts training, especially for women, emphasizing its practical and grounding benefits.
• Near-Fatal Scuba Diving Incident: Serma recounts a near-fatal scuba diving experience due to regulator failure, highlighting the importance of safety precautions and equipment checks. She emphasizes the importance of preparedness and risk assessment in extreme activities.
• Skydiving & Risk: Her skydiving experiences, including a parachute malfunction, underscore her willingness to embrace calculated risks. This risk-taking is seen as a parallel to her career and life choices.
• Mental Health Advocacy: Serma's involvement with MIASA (Mental Illness Association of Malaysia) and Empathy highlights her dedication to mental health awareness and support, particularly focusing on postnatal depression and the challenges faced by young people.
• Cultural Identity & Code-Switching: Serma discusses her unique cultural background (Irish, Chinese, Malay) and the experience of "code-switching" to navigate different cultural contexts. This experience has informed her understanding of human behavior and has shaped her perspective on identity and belonging.