Thriving as a

2025 hasn't been the best year for F&B in Singapore, with multiple restaurants and chains closing down.

In today's episode, we sit down with Alex Chua and Jose Alonso from AC Concepts to discuss all things F&B. Are landlords are really to blame for the recent F&B closures? Are Home-based businesses unfairly competing with restaurants? What is it really like to work as a chef, and more.

Timestamps:

01:16 - Alex and Jose introduction

01:51 - What is AC concepts

03:50 - The reality of working as a chef

06:27 - How they decide on the menu

08:39 - “restaurant is not food”

13:58 - Singaporeans = experts on Japanese food?

18:53 - On F&B businesses shutting down

20:54 - On landlords raising rent

24:54 - Are people dining out less?

26:49 - Home-based businesses = competition?

30:02 - On Chinese brands like Haidilao and Mixue etc

32:41 - Is local hawker culture dying?

34:48 - Thoughts on food influencers/social media

36:43 - Final words of advice

Credits:

Written by: Daryl Choo and Andrew Wong

Hosted by: Lynette Koh and Andrew Wong

Edited by: Andrew Wong

Produced by: Daryl Choo

Send your questions, thoughts, story ideas, and feedback to thrivebt@sph.com.sg

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Discover more BT podcast series:

BT Mark To Market at: bt.sg/btmark2mkt 

WealthBT at: bt.sg/btpropertybt

PropertyBT at: bt.sg/btmktfocus

BT Money Hacks at: bt.sg/btmoneyhacks

BT Market Focus at: bt.sg/btmktfocus

BT Podcasts at: bt.sg/podcasts

BT Branded Podcasts at: bt.sg/brpod

BT Lens On: bt.sg/btlenson

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In today's episode we sit down with two Dyson engineers, Shawn Lim and James Dsouza, to find out what it's like being an engineer at Dyson. We find out why there's so many hair samples in their office and how Dyson's motor are made right here in Singapore.

Timestamps:

0:00 - Intro

3:07 - Shawn as a chemical engineer

8:32 - Grab drivers asking do you work at Dyson?

10:06 - Different temperature settings

12:47 - Dyson motors are made in Singapore

27:16 - Thought and design behind Dyson products

28:18 - Engineering fails

32:01 - Importance of continuous learning

32:52 - How you got into engineering

35:01 - One product you could design without limitations?

39:29 - Creative ways to solve modern problems

40:01 - Final advice for aspiring engineers

42:58 - Outro

Credits:

Written by: Daryl Choo and Vivien Shiao

Hosted by: Daryl Choo and Lynette Koh

Edited by: Rasuna Azrayl

Produced by: Rasuna Azrayl

Send your questions, thoughts, story ideas, and feedback to thrivebt@sph.com.sg

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Discover more BT podcast series:

BT Mark To Market at: bt.sg/btmark2mkt 

WealthBT at: bt.sg/btpropertybt

PropertyBT at: bt.sg/btmktfocus

BT Money Hacks at: bt.sg/btmoneyhacks

BT Market Focus at: bt.sg/btmktfocus

BT Podcasts at: bt.sg/podcasts

BT Branded Podcasts at: bt.sg/brpod

BT Lens On: bt.sg/btlenson

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today's episode we sit down with Vishal Harnal, managing partner of 500 Global, to find out what it's like being a venture capitalist, why he still invests in companies with only 1% chance of making it big, and the importance of enjoying what you do.

Timestamps:

0:00 - Intro

0:53 - Introduction of Vishal: What is a venture capitalist?

3:38 - How does venture capital firms / venture capitalists make money?

6:28 - Qualities Vishal look for in potential businesses before investing

7:51 - Where do VC firms get their funds from?

10:33 - The story behind investing in Grain

14:48 - Before Vishal became a venture capitalist

16:53 - Importance of enjoying what you do

18:23 - Networking with people from LinkedIn

21:03 - What is Vishal’s day like?

21:55 - Hunting for deals Vishal wants

24:38 - Vishal’s favorite part of the job

26:58 - What will the world look like in 10 years to Vishal?

28:43 - Artificial General Intelligence

29:18 - Vishal’s thoughts about the future

31:58 - Does Vishal dream of becoming a Shark?

33:14 - Do you need a finance/business degree to join VC?

35:00 - What Vishal looks out for when hiring

37:03 - An unspoken rule in the VC industry?

38:36 - 99% of startups cannot make it

39:43 - Looking for companies that give asymmetrical returns

40:43 - Personal investing vs venture capital firms

43:08 - The weirdest pitch Vishal heard

46:20 - What to say during coffee chats?

50:33 - People have a superficial understanding of themselves

51:13 - Never too late to restart

54:08 - Outro 

Credits:

Written by: Daryl Choo and Vivien Shiao

Hosted by: Daryl Choo and Lynette Koh

Edited by: Rasuna Azrayl

Produced by: Rasuna Azrayl

Send your questions, thoughts, story ideas, and feedback to thrivebt@sph.com.sg

services. Please consult professional advisors for independent advice. 

------

Discover more BT podcast series:

BT Mark To Market at: bt.sg/btmark2mkt 

WealthBT at: bt.sg/btpropertybt

PropertyBT at: bt.sg/btmktfocus

BT Money Hacks at: bt.sg/btmoneyhacks

BT Market Focus at: bt.sg/btmktfocus

BT Podcasts at: bt.sg/podcasts

BT Branded Podcasts at: bt.sg/brpod

BT Lens On: bt.sg/btlenson

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today's episode Thrive co-hosts Daryl and Estelle chats with Ng Sze Wee, co-founder of interior design firm Office Of_, about top red flags new home owners should look out for, scams in the ID industry, and what he really thinks about trends like Japandi.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Hook

00:40 - Intro

01:08 - Difference between architect vs ID

02:19 - His exact jobscope

04:33 - Long working hours

06:31 - Designing during construction stage

07:58 - Likes/dislikes of the job

09:16 - Honest thoughts about Japandi/arches

12:29 - Need formal qualification to become ID?

16:19 - Scams in the industry

17:13 - 🚩 Red flag 1: downpayment too high

19:03 - Too much built-in??

21:09 - 🚩 Red flag 2: push product too hard

23:27 - 🚩 Red flag 3: cost too low

25:22 - Thoughts on Taobao furniture

27:46 - Most rewarding part of the job

28:38 - High turnover in the industry

30:17 - What made him want to stay

31:58 - Hire contractor = cheaper??

34:53 - Advice to young designers

Credits:

Written by: Daryl Choo and Vivien Shiao

Hosted by: Daryl Choo and Estelle

Edited by: Andrew Wong and Rasuna Azrayl

Produced by: Andrew Wong

Send your questions, thoughts, story ideas, and feedback to thrivebt@sph.com.sg

services. Please consult professional advisors for independent advice. 

------

Discover more BT podcast series:

BT Mark To Market at: bt.sg/btmark2mkt 

WealthBT at: bt.sg/btpropertybt

PropertyBT at: bt.sg/btmktfocus

BT Money Hacks at: bt.sg/btmoneyhacks

BT Market Focus at: bt.sg/btmktfocus

BT Podcasts at: bt.sg/podcasts

BT Branded Podcasts at: bt.sg/brpod

BT Lens On: bt.sg/btlenson

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today's episode Thrive co-hosts Daryl and Estelle chats with Lee Lung-Nien, Chairman of Citi Private Bank, Asia South to find out what it takes to succeed as an investment banker, why he thinks you should stay in the same company and more.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Hook

00:28 - Intro

00:42 - Lung-Nien's introduction

01:13 - What does a banker do?

02:21 - On staying in the same company

03:07 - How he ended up in banking

04:18 - "You don't need to study banking."

05:50 - What he looks out for when hiring

08:15 - Trick question during interviews

11:27 - "Do things outside of work"

12:00 - On bankers working long hours

14:48 - What investment bankers really do

16:09 - Investment bankers earing 5-figures

19:06 - "Young people have no patience."

20:45 - Job switching vs loyalty

23:27 - Quickfire questions

27:46 - What he would tell his younger self

29:06 - Stressing over internships

32:50 - Final quote

Credits:

Written by: Daryl Choo and Vivien Shiao

Hosted by: Daryl Choo and Estelle

Edited by: Andrew Wong and Rasuna Azrayl

Produced by: Andrew Wong

Send your questions, thoughts, story ideas, and feedback to thrivebt@sph.com.sg

services. Please consult professional advisors for independent advice. 

------

Discover more BT podcast series:

BT Mark To Market at: bt.sg/btmark2mkt 

WealthBT at: bt.sg/btpropertybt

PropertyBT at: bt.sg/btmktfocus

BT Money Hacks at: bt.sg/btmoneyhacks

BT Market Focus at: bt.sg/btmktfocus

BT Podcasts at: bt.sg/podcasts

BT Branded Podcasts at: bt.sg/brpod

BT Lens On: bt.sg/btlenson

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Defending a client who's clearly guilty?? Thrive co-hosts Daryl and Estelle chat with Lee Ee Yang, managing director at Covenant Chambers LLC on long hours as a lawyer in the Big 4, burnout in the industry and more.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Hook

00:31 - Intro

01:10 - Ee Yang's introduction

01:26 - Lawyer = arguing in courtroom?

03:09 - Defending someone who's guilty

05:36 - Serving document to high profile member in SG

07:16 - On young laywers being overworked

09:30 - What are The Big 4 firms

13:34 - Long working hours

14:35 - Is it harder to be a lawyer now?

17:48 - Winning arguments at home

19:50 - Traits of a lawyer

22:26 - On suing in personal capacity

23:30 - People defending themselves in court

25:54 - Longer training for trainee lawyers

28:45 - Do working hours improve?

30:24 - Start at big vs small firm

31:33 - Tearing up in court 

34:41 - Final advice

Credits:

Written by: Daryl Choo and Vivien Shiao

Hosted by: Daryl Choo and Estelle

Edited by: Andrew Wong and Rasuna Azrayl

Produced by: Andrew Wong

Send your questions, thoughts, story ideas, and feedback to thrivebt@sph.com.sg

services. Please consult professional advisors for independent advice. 

------

Discover more BT podcast series:

BT Mark To Market at: bt.sg/btmark2mkt 

WealthBT at: bt.sg/btpropertybt

PropertyBT at: bt.sg/btmktfocus

BT Money Hacks at: bt.sg/btmoneyhacks

BT Market Focus at: bt.sg/btmktfocus

BT Podcasts at: bt.sg/podcasts

BT Branded Podcasts at: bt.sg/brpod

BT Lens On: bt.sg/btlenson

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Creepy night shift stories in the hospital? Thrive co-hosts Daryl and Estelle chat with Kimberley-Ann Tan and Lim Wei Heong, both senior staff nurses from Tan Tock Seng Hospital on the reality of being a nurse in Singapore, their career progression and more.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Hook

00:31 - Intro

01:00 - Dual roles as a nurse

02:10 - What brought them to this role?

05:29 - Roll Call podcast

07:32 - Teased as a male nurse?

09:03 - Working hours/shift schedule

15:38 - Downsides of being a nurse

18:46 - "I held her hand."

21:07 - How real is Grey's Anatomy?

25:29 - Night shift horror stories

29:03 - Not enough nurses in SG

31:20 - Career progression as a nurse

33:43 - Ever regret being a nurse?

35:56 - Final words of advice

Credits:

Written by: Daryl Choo and Vivien Shiao

Hosted by: Daryl Choo and Estelle

Edited by: Andrew Wong and Rasuna Azrayl

Produced by: Andrew Wong

Send your questions, thoughts, story ideas, and feedback to thrivebt@sph.com.sg

services. Please consult professional advisors for independent advice. 

------

Discover more BT podcast series:

BT Mark To Market at: bt.sg/btmark2mkt 

WealthBT at: bt.sg/btpropertybt

PropertyBT at: bt.sg/btmktfocus

BT Money Hacks at: bt.sg/btmoneyhacks

BT Market Focus at: bt.sg/btmktfocus

BT Podcasts at: bt.sg/podcasts

BT Branded Podcasts at: bt.sg/brpod

BT Lens On: bt.sg/btlenson

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is being a content creator all about glamour and freebies? Thrive co-hosts Daryl and Estelle find out from Sya (@syafiqapls) and Leah Shannon (@mizchiefmagik) what being a content creator is REALLY like. 

Time stamps:

02:52 - Content creator is a dream job?

05:22 - Oversaturation in the market

08:35 - Agency vs independent

10:34 - Who pays you?

12:58 - Influencer vs content creator

18:01 - Comparing with office job

23:38 - Dealing with burnout

34:34 - Best and worst parts of job

46:29 - Sponsored content

50:30 - Is content creation sustainable?

53:34 - Final advice

Credits:

Written by: Daryl Choo and Vivien Shiao

Hosted by: Daryl Choo and Estelle

Edited by: Andrew Wong and Rasuna Azrayl

Produced by: Andrew Wong

Send your questions, thoughts, story ideas, and feedback to thrivebt@sph.com.sg

services. Please consult professional advisors for independent advice. 

------

Discover more BT podcast series:

BT Mark To Market at: bt.sg/btmark2mkt 

WealthBT at: bt.sg/btpropertybt

PropertyBT at: bt.sg/btmktfocus

BT Money Hacks at: bt.sg/btmoneyhacks

BT Market Focus at: bt.sg/btmktfocus

BT Podcasts at: bt.sg/podcasts

BT Branded Podcasts at: bt.sg/brpod

BT Lens On: bt.sg/btlenson

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What do counsellors really think about TikTok therapy? Thrive co-hosts Daryl and Estelle chat with Ether Kum and Dr Ong Mian-Li on whether young adults should follow mental health advice on social media. 

Time stamps: 

02:42 - Difference between counsellors and therapists

08:43 - Following the police??

10:53 - Career progression

14:50 - Client confidentiality

18:05 - On sharing with friends and family

22:33 - Is TikTok therapy legit?

28:33 - Misconceptions about their job

31:04 - The ~therapist~ voice

33:14 - Friends asking for free counselling

36:03 - Hobbies

40:16 - Do they gossip with therapist friends

43:17 - Confidentiality in school/workplace

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Discover more BT podcast series:

BT Mark To Market at: bt.sg/btmark2mkt 

WealthBT at: bt.sg/btpropertybt

PropertyBT at: bt.sg/btmktfocus

BT Money Hacks at: bt.sg/btmoneyhacks

BT Market Focus at: bt.sg/btmktfocus

BT Podcasts at: bt.sg/podcasts

BT Branded Podcasts at: bt.sg/brpod

BT Lens On: bt.sg/btlenson

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Introducing a brand new podcast series from thrive!

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