Glenn van Zutphen on Saturday Mornings with Neil Humphreys

🚗“Saturday Mornings Show” host Glenn van Zutphen and co-host Neil Humphreys are joined by Kwee Neng Say, Managing Partner at ONE Strategic Consulting and a veteran of Singapore’s automotive industry. They unpack the latest COE prices: Category A premiums have hit a record $128,105, with Category B climbing to $141,000. What’s driving these sky-high prices? From longer tender gaps and car roadshows to cheaper EVs and the looming reduction of clean-energy incentives in 2026, we explore some reasons behind the surge. Say breaks it down in plain terms—why premiums are soaring, where he thinks they'll go next. He also discusses deeper questions: the necessity of the COE system fair and what the alternative looks like? Should private-hire vehicles be treated differently from private car owners? And will car ownership soon be as exclusive as flying first class? Photo Courtesy: MoneySmart  

🎨“Saturday Mornings Show” host Glennvan Zutphen and co-host Neil Humphreys sit down with Tamsin Greulich-Smith, Director of Design Practice at DesignSingapore Council, to preview the return of the Design Education Summit 2025—Singapore’s premier thought leadership event on the future of learning through design. Happening on 6 November at The Star Performing Arts Centre, this fourth edition is themed The Wonder Lab and promises bold ideas, immersive experiences, and transformative conversations. Tamsin shares how design thinking is reshaping education by empowering students, educators, and communities to approach challenges with creativity, empathy, and courage. From inclusive classrooms to future-ready skills, we explore how design mindsets are unlocking new possibilities for learning in Singapore and beyond. We also dive into The Wonder Bites—a series of playful, hands-on workshops open to the public that bring design principles to life ahead of the summit. Whether you're an educator, parent, policymaker, or lifelong learner, this episode offers a front-row seat to the ideas shaping tomorrow’s classrooms.  

🌏“Saturday Mornings Show” host Glennvan Zutphen and co-host Neil Humphreys talk with Steve Okun, CEO of APAC Advisors. He's just returned from a trip to Shanghai with fresh insights on "involution" and the mood on the ground—from cautious optimism to shifting trade dynamics. We unpack what he says is top of mind for Chinese policymakers and how it could shape regional strategy. Next, we explore a major shift in business sentiment: over 40% of Asia-Pacific companies are planning to pivot away from the U.S. as their primary market, with many turning toward intra-Asia and European opportunities. What does this recalibration mean for Singapore and SEA? We also dive into the latest Henley Passport Index, where Singapore retains its crown as the world’s most powerful passport, while the U.S. drops out of the top 10 for the first time in two decades. What does this say about global mobility and soft power? And finally, we touch on the political football that is the 2026 World Cup. President Trump has threatened to pull matches from host cities over safety concerns, raising questions about governance, logistics, and geopolitics.

📻 “Saturday Mornings Show” host Glennvan Zutphen and co-host Neil Humphreys talk with investigative journalist and Billion Dollar Whale co-author Tom Wright to unpack Project Brazen’s latest exposé—an alleged $1.5 billion criminal enterprise stretching from scam centers in Southeast Asia to high-powered boardrooms and luxury penthouses around the world. The investigation reveals how a transnational network quietly took control of a major financial institution, allegedly breaking securities laws and laundering billions in crypto, shares, and cash. With suspected protection from political elites, the operation uses shell companies, crypto exchanges, and opaque offshore fund structures to move illicit money through the region’s financial systems—while regulators remain silent. We explore how scam centers in the region are estimated to siphon $10 billion annually from unsuspecting victims, and why international authorities are increasingly concerned about the lack of enforcement and transparency.  

📻 “Saturday Mornings Show” host Glennvan Zutphen and co-host Neil Humphreys sit down with Mathilda D’Silva, Founder of Ocean Purpose Project and a familiar face from Singapore Idol, to explore how one woman’s health crisis sparked a national sustainability movement. Based in Pasir Ris, Mathilda’s Project Tanah Air is the first in Singapore to use seaweed for both marine restoration and sustainable agriculture—earning global recognition at the UN Ocean Conference. The initiative transforms seaweed into biostimulants for growing traditional Asian herbs, with senior citizens leading the charge in harvesting, fertilising, and cooking. It’s a circular model that links ocean health to soil regeneration and human wellbeing—while building community resilience and climate awareness. We discuss how blue carbon sequestration, nature-based solutions, and citizen science are helping Singapore tackle algal blooms, aquaculture decline, and soil degradation. Mathilda also shares heartwarming stories from the ground—yes, including chickens—and how Pasir Ris is becoming a hub for eco-innovation. Learn more at oceanpurposeproject.com.

📻 In this special World Mental Health Day edition, join “Saturday Mornings Show” host Glennvan Zutphen and co-host Neil Humphreys ask: How ya doing, Singapore? Joining us are Dr. Jade Kua, Master Certified Coach and Founder of Jade Life & Wellness Coaching, and Dr. Adrian Loh, Senior Consultant Psychiatrist at Promises Healthcare. Dr. Kua, a medical doctor and wellness advocate, shares how coaching and community support can help Singaporeans navigate stress, burnout, and emotional fatigue. Dr. Loh brings clinical insights into anxiety, neurodiversity, and the deeper roots of bullying—asking, “What makes a bully a bully?” We also spotlight vulnerable groups, including migrant workers, whose mental health challenges often go unseen. With recent suicide cases and rising youth anxiety, the conversation turns to how families, workplaces, and society can better support mental well-being.

🌍 This week, Steve Okun, CEO of APAC Advisors, joins “Saturday Mornings Show” host Glennvan Zutphen and co-host Neil Humphreys to unpack four headline-grabbing stories shaping global conversations. First, the fragile Gaza ceasefire agreement brokered after weeks of escalating violence between Israel and Hamas, and what it signals for regional diplomacy. Next, Dr Anjani Sinha’s confirmation as Trump’s new ambassador to Singapore. The India-born orthopaedic surgeon, known for his ties to the Trump family, was approved in an en bloc Senate vote, raising questions about the administration’s Asia strategy. In Malaysia, Petronas CEO Tengku Muhammad Taufik apologises for joining the champagne shower celebrations at the Singapore Grand Prix. His “misplaced exuberance” sparked backlash over cultural sensitivities and corporate conduct. Finally, Singapore Airline's new rules for booking reward flight tickets and their cost structure. But will they fly with the traveling public?

"Saturday Mornings Show” host Glennvan Zutphen and co-host Neil Humphreys go behind the scenes of the SG60 Heart & Soul Experience—Singapore’s blockbuster national exhibition that’s winning hearts across the island. Executive Creative Director Gene Tan, the visionary behind the 2019 Bicentennial, returns to share how he and his team pulled off another cultural triumph. Joining him are Nishan Shirazi, Senior Animation Producer at CraveFX, and Kean Lim, Project Manager (Technology) at Accenture. Nishan reveals the creative process behind animated highlights like Windows in the Sky and Becoming Singaporean, while Kean explains how tech and AI were used to personalise each visitor’s journey—from avatar creation to future-facing conversations. Held at Orchard Library, the exhibition blends storytelling, innovation, and national pride. With every photo taken at Windows of Time booths, $1 is donated to mental wellness charities—up to $500,000.  

This week, Eric Olander, Editor-in-Chief of The China-Global South Project, joins us to unpack China’s latest foreign policy blueprint—the Global Governance Initiative (GGI). Launched at the recent SCO summit, the GGI adds a new layer to China’s expanding portfolio of global influence strategies, including the BRI, GSI, and GDI. Eric explains how the GGI aims to reshape international norms through consensus-based rulemaking, appealing to governments across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. But what does this mean for multilateralism, and how might it affect middle powers like Singapore? “Saturday Mornings Show” host Glennvan Zutphen and co-host Neil Humphreys also explore China’s “Super Golden Week” (Oct 1–8), a travel surge that combines National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival. With millions on the move domestically and abroad, the week offers insights into China’s consumer confidence, tourism recovery, and regional economic impact.

“Saturday Mornings Show” host Glennvan Zutphen and co-host Neil Humphreys welcome H.E. Peter Storer, Austria’s Ambassador to Singapore, as the two nations mark 60 years of diplomatic relations. From trade and tourism to cultural exchange, Ambassador Storer reflects on the evolution of Singapore-Austria ties and shares his personal impressions of life in the Lion City. We explore the significance of SG60 for both countries, highlighting how shared values and economic partnerships have deepened over the decades. Ambassador Storer also previews two exciting cultural events: a premiere exhibition by an Austrian artist at the ArtScience Museum (12–23 October), and the Joint German-Speaking Festival with Germany at the Goethe Institute (23 October–9 November), celebrating language, heritage, and artistic collaboration. Learn more at instagram.com/austriainsg/ and ArtScience Museum | Exhibitions in Singapore | Marina Bay Sands