The Zhen Podcast | What Death Teaches You About Actually Living | Jermaine Ee

Most people do not think about estate planning until someone dies. And most people do not think about living intentionally until it is almost too late. Jermaine Ee thinks that is exactly backwards.

Jermaine is the founder of Heirlight — a platform that makes estate planning accessible to everyone, not just the wealthy — and his journey to building it started with a single conversation with his mother that changed how he saw everything. Money. Legacy. Purpose. Time. What it actually means to live a life that was yours and not someone else's idea of what yours should look like.

This episode is not really about estate planning. It is about what happens when you stop avoiding the uncomfortable questions — about death, about money, about whether the life you are building is the one you actually want — and start using those questions as a compass instead.

Connect with Jermaine Ee: 
https://heirlight.com/en
https://www.linkedin.com/in/eejermaine/
https://www.eejermaine.com/

If you have ever felt like you are chasing a version of success that does not quite fit, or like you are moving fast but not sure where you are actually going — this conversation is going to slow you down in the best possible way.

In this episode: — Jermaine's personal story of loss, legacy, and what it took to build Heirlight — Why estate planning is not just for the wealthy or the old — it is for everyone right now — How to identify your own North Star and start living with genuine intention — Breaking free from societal definitions of success and building your own — The power of writing your own eulogy — and what it reveals about how you are actually living — Practical steps to start managing money with purpose — zero to one not zero to a hundred — How cultural background and environment quietly shape what we believe we are allowed to want — Why simplicity and gratitude consistently produce more happiness than achievement alone — How grief can become the fuel for a more intentional and purposeful life — What confronting mortality actually does to the way you show up every single day

Timestamps: 00:00 — Meet Jermaine Ee and the story behind Heirlight 00:23 — The conversation with his mom that started everything 01:25 — Why everyone regardless of age should be thinking about money and legacy 02:02 — Estate planning is not just for the rich or the old — here is why it matters now 03:12 — Why talking about death early changes how you live 04:07 — Why money management feels taboo and how to flip the script 05:19 — Money and happiness — instant gratification versus long term fulfillment 07:23 — The traps people fall into with money and how to break free 08:49 — Personal stories of saving spending and the cultural narratives shaping our choices 10:12 — The dilemma of saving versus spending — how to live fully until the end 11:07 — Designing life with intention and the power of meaningful goals 12:24 — How reflecting on death redefines what success actually means 13:23 — Confronting mortality and building a legacy through intentional living 15:12 — Writing your own eulogy — and what it forces you to focus on 16:50 — Understanding your stories and the subconscious beliefs running your life 18:15 — How loss grief and gratitude guide us toward purpose 19:28 — The power of storytelling and sharing diverse narratives 22:30 — Processing grief and transforming pain into legacy building energy 24:22 — Controlling your energy and environment for more intentional living 26:17 — Challenging societal narratives about success and happiness 28:33 — The importance of surrounding yourself with purposeful influences 31:52 — How your environment and social circle shape your entire worldview 33:55 — How brands and societal signals define what we think success looks like 36:46 — The stories we tell ourselves and the subconscious beliefs underneath them 39:39 — Practicing clarity and self awareness to live with intention 40:49 — Family health and the simple moments that actually matter 44:49 — Making the most of the time you have 45:44 — Compassion for aging parents and navigating intergenerational expectations 47:16 — Simplifying estate planning — from zero to one with Heirlight 50:10 — How to connect with Jermaine and learn more

If anything in this episode brought something up for you — support is available: 📞 Mental health and crisis support — call or text 988 📞 Substance use support — 1-800-662-4357 💬 Crisis Text Line — text HOME to 741741

The Zhen Podcast is mental wellness for people who are done being told to just think positive. Real conversations. Real healing. No filter. New episodes every week.

What is The Zhen Podcast ?

You’re listening to The Zhen Podcast - a show focused on mental health, physical health, relationship health, and the daily practices that support real, lasting change.

Each episode features thoughtful conversations with guests who share real-life experiences — from their own journeys to the work they’ve done with clients - offering practical examples of healing, learning, and growth. We explore what actually helps people move forward, whether that comes from science, health, psychology, spirituality, or simple habits that make a meaningful difference.

The goal is clarity, self-awareness, and tools you can apply to your own life — now let's begin the conversation

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