Live Well with Michelle

She walked away at the top - so what does freedom really cost? Michelle Martin sits down with Michelle Lee, Founder of Better MoneyEQ, who retired at 35 after a stellar financial advisory career - and chose a radically different relationship with money. They unpack why financial success doesn’t always translate into fulfillment, and what “Money EQ” reveals about our deepest money patterns. From childhood conditioning to emotional triggers like fear, guilt, and avoidance, this episode explores why even smart investors make poor decisions. Michelle Lee shares how identity - not discipline - is the true lever for lasting financial change, and how small, intentional shifts can break old cycles. If you’ve ever felt stuck between earning well and living well, this conversation offers a new way forward - hosted by Michelle Martin.

What if the biggest investing mistake today is assuming every dip is a bargain? Michelle Martin explores whether the familiar “buy the dip” strategy still holds in today's market shaped by oil shocks, inflation pressures, and shifting rate expectations. Joined by Brian See Toh, Financial Services Manager at PhillipCapital, the conversation unpacks why today’s pullbacks may be fundamentally different from past quick rebounds. How can investors tell the difference between a short-term dip and a deeper market reset? We break down when averaging in makes sense, what to review before deploying capital, and how to avoid reacting emotionally to falling prices. Hosted by Michelle Martin, this episode offers a disciplined framework to help investors align market moves with their long-term life and wealth plans.

What if the biggest winners in tech today are the ones spending the most - despite the risks? Big Tech earnings surprise to the upside, but markets pick clear favourites as Alphabet surges while Meta slips on AI spending fears. Microsoft doubles down with a staggering US$190 billion capex plan, while Amazon’s cloud engine keeps delivering strong growth. In Singapore, DBS signals conviction in the AI future with a US$20 billion data centre push, even as profits edge higher. Meanwhile, Wall Street stays cautious - oil prices rise, the Fed shows rare division, and leadership uncertainty clouds policy direction. From Wilmar to Mapletree Industrial Trust, corporate Singapore reveals a mixed earnings landscape - hosted by Michelle Martin with Ryan Huang.

Why do some leaders leave you energised - while others quietly exhaust you? Michelle Martin sits down with Columbia University's Adam Galinsky, author of INSPIRE (The Universal Path for Leading Yourself and Others), to unpack the psychology behind leadership that truly moves people. Drawing on three decades of research, Galinsky explains why inspiration isn’t a personality trait - but a set of behaviours we can all learn. From Visionary to Exemplar to Mentor, discover the three roles that define leaders who elevate others. We explore how these ideas play out not just in boardrooms - but in families, and everyday life.

Hospital bills are rising - and now you’re expected to pay more upfront. What does that mean for your financial health? Michelle Martin speaks with Liaw Yit Ming and Lee Hong Huei of Foundation Healthcare Holdings to unpack Singapore’s evolving healthcare financing landscape. With new Integrated Shield Plan rider rules raising out-of-pocket costs, patients are feeling the strain. Is the real issue rising demand - or a fragmented system where insurers, hospitals, and doctors don’t communicate? We explore how technology, efficiency, and value-based care could reshape outcomes—and costs. Hosted by Michelle Martin. Correction: Foundation Healthcare, a Temasek-backed (through fully-owned Seatown Holdings) multi-specialist group, who is driving the shift towards sustainability in private healthcare.

Coffee is hot, soda is fizzing - but is the global consumer stronger than we think? Strong earnings from Starbucks and Coca-Cola suggest demand is holding firm - even as inflation lingers. From affordable indulgences to premium beverages, spending patterns are splitting across income groups. Meanwhile, the OPEC shake-up as the United Arab Emirates signals a potential reset in oil power dynamics. Markets pause as AI stocks retreat, while names like Spotify stumble despite strong earnings. In Asia, CapitaLand Investment and GoTo highlight resilience and turnaround stories - hosted by Michelle Martin with Ryan Huang.

Inflation is squeezing wallets - but could it quietly boost your REIT returns? Michelle Martin sits down with Willie Keng, Founder of Dividend Titan (https://www.dividendtitan.com/), to unpack how rising costs could reshape the financing vehicles that REITS are. From CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust’s strategic pivot to Paragon, to CapitaLand Ascendas Trust’s resilient 6% yield, we explore what’s really driving performance. How can we determine when REITS are likely to find inflation more of a foe than a friend?  We also break down the three key areas new REIT investors may need to check in on every quarter. Hosted by Michelle Martin.

What if the biggest threat to AI isn’t competition - but geopolitics? China blocks Meta Platforms’s AI ambitions, reshaping the rules of global tech investment overnight. Meanwhile, OpenAI and Microsoft loosen ties, signalling a new era of AI independence and rivalry. Markets edge higher even as oil surges past US$100, with Middle East tensions back in focus. Corporate movers from BP to ST Engineering highlight how geopolitics is driving winners and losers. All this and more as investors navigate a market where power, not just profits, is the real currency - hosted by Michelle Martin with Ryan Huang.

What if markets are rising not because risks are low - but because investors are underestimating them? Michelle Martin explores the medium-term fallout of a potential Strait of Hormuz disruption and why energy shocks may reshape Asia’s outlook. Despite geopolitical tensions and recession fears, global equities continue to climb—what’s driving this disconnect? We examine Singapore’s policy shift as the Monetary Authority of Singapore tightens for the first time since 2022 and what that signals. From inflation persistence to supply chain rewiring, the investment landscape may be shifting more than it appears. Hosted by Michelle Martin with guest Cheng Chye Hsern, Head of Investment, Providend.

Are markets rallying on strength - or simply ignoring the risks building beneath the surface? Big Tech splits into two camps: AI heavyweights like Alphabet, Amazon, Meta and Microsoft pour billions into the future, while Apple doubles down on massive buybacks. Intel shocks markets with its best day in decades, while Nvidia pushes past a staggering $5 trillion valuation milestone. Meanwhile, Morgan Stanley flags conviction picks ahead of earnings, even as expectations climb dangerously high. With the Federal Reserve leadership in flux and oil prices surging, investors face a complex mix of growth optimism and macro uncertainty. Hosted by Michelle Martin with Ryan Huang.