Live Well with Michelle

Oil spikes, gold stumbles, and private funds start locking the gates - are investors missing the real risks? March has reshaped the investing landscape as geopolitical tensions send oil soaring and markets into flux, hosted by Michelle Martin. Brent crude surges past $120, forcing investors to rethink inflation, energy exposure and portfolio resilience. At the same time, gold’s unexpected decline challenges its role as the ultimate safe haven in times of crisis. We also unpack why private credit funds are “gating” redemptions - and what that signals about underlying liquidity risks. Plus, why Asia may feel the pain of higher oil prices more acutely than the rest of the world - and what investors should watch next.

Social media giants face a legal reckoning, Keppel races toward a $200 billion ambition, and AI stocks are back on fire - what does it all mean for investors? Markets are navigating a collision of regulation, reinvention and rally, hosted by Michelle Martin with Ryan Huang. A landmark ruling puts pressure on platforms like Meta, Instagram and YouTube, raising new risks for Big Tech. Meanwhile, Keppel pivots hard into an asset-light future, chasing scale in infrastructure, energy transition and digital assets. In the US, names like Super Micro, Dell and HPE surge as AI demand fuels a fresh wave of optimism. Plus, UP or DOWN on Microsoft, On Holding, Banyan Group and Japanese IPOs - while Apple teases its next AI leap.

If you need a new blueprint for thinking about careers, Michelle says, this is the book to pick up. In this conversation with Ricky Foo, author and headhunter, she explores the uncomfortable truth: job hunting is no longer a one-off slog but requires an "always-on" mindset. Why is the traditional CV-and-apply model  breaking down in an AI-filtered world? How can you approach personal branding with a “Four P” of strategy? We unpack how to stay relevant, mid-career reinvention, job scarcity at senior levels, and whether AI is shrinking opportunities - or reshaping them and our approach to getting that great next job.

As Asia ages at record speed, the old “save then spend” playbook is evolving. Michelle Martin speaks with Andy Budden of Capital Group on why a 100-year life demands a complete rethink of investing. From China’s pension pressures to Singapore’s CPF LIFE, the gap between savings and real needs is widening. We explore why income resilience - not just portfolio size - is the new goal for retirees. And how multi-asset strategies are emerging as the bridge between growth, protection, and lifelong income.

A $375M verdict, oil profits on steroids, and AI winners splitting from losers - markets are sending sharp signals. Asia-Pacific markets take their cue from Wall Street’s wobble as geopolitics and valuations collide, hosted by Michelle Martin with Ryan Huang. From Meta’s landmark legal setback to TotalEnergies flagging unprecedented refining margins, policy and profit cycles are colliding. In tech, Arm Holdings surges on AI optimism while Micron Technology slides despite strong earnings - a divergence investors can’t ignore. Meanwhile, governance questions deepen at Grab Holdings, even as U.S. equities start to look “cheap” again. Singapore’s Straits Times Index edges higher, with DFI Retail Group and Jardine Matheson leading, while Wilmar International lags. And in the Last Word - Apple bets big on an AI-powered Siri reboot.

Michelle Martin speaks with Dr Chen Shiling, Founder of the Happee Hearts Movement and Straits Times Singaporean of the Year 2025, in this deeply moving conversation on purpose and impact. She could have been a successful nephrologist but instead is using her medical skills to step into the gap she saw for inclusive healthcare.  We explore what “high-quality healthcare” truly means for adults with intellectual disabilities - and where the current system can fall short. Dr Chen opens up about what it really takes to unlock healing for those with intellectual disabilities, as we ask: what must Singapore do next to truly leave no one behind?

From weak demand for REIT fundraising to a sharp selloff in one of Europe’s biggest companies, markets are sending mixed signals, hosted by Michelle Martin with Willie Keng, Founder, Dividend Titan. (https://www.dividendtitan.com) Lendlease REIT’s preferential offering saw a tepid response, raising concerns about investor appetite for yield plays in a higher-rate world. At the same time, Novo Nordisk - once a market darling - has plunged sharply, wiping out billions in value. We unpack whether this is a valuation reset, competitive pressure, or a deeper shift in the obesity drug narrative. What does this mean for income investors relying on REITs and growth investors chasing healthcare innovation? Plus; Michelle and Willie discuss how if the AI craze is leading us to  overlook skills important to build to flourish.  

A single post moves markets, oil swings wildly, and one founder widens his grip - are investors missing the bigger risks? Markets whipsawed overnight as geopolitics, governance and energy shocks collided in real time, hosted by Michelle Martin with Ryan Huang. Grab’s proposal to boost founder voting power raises fresh questions about control versus accountability - even as it expands into fintech and M&A. Oil plunged more than 10% after signals of easing tensions, but underlying damage to Middle East energy infrastructure may keep prices volatile. Unusual pre-announcement trading activity is sparking debate about market efficiency and information asymmetry. Meanwhile, corporate moves from Sony, Tokio Marine, Lumentum and Hybe highlight divergent sector momentum. Closer to home, the STI remains under pressure, with broad-based declines signalling cautious investor sentiment.  

Michelle Martin speaks with Eugene Lim, Founder and CEO of “The Assembly Place,” on the lessons from his new book "The Placemaker" which is about this Singapore entrepreneur how used streetsmarts to develop a whole new business model of community living. From launching in 2019 to listing on the Singapore Exchange, his journey is a masterclass in resilience and reinvention. Eugene shares the mindset shifts required to move from one of the youngest real estate agents at age 22 to becoming CEO of a listed company. Plus his plans to extend dignity and community to underserved segments like migrant workers. Hosted by Michelle Martin Guest: Eugene Lim, Founder and CEO of “The Assembly Place” and his book "The Placemaker".

What if one person, one idea, and one restless night could build a global gaming success? Michelle Martin sits down with 33-year-old Yeo Ying Zhi, founder of YYZ Studio, to explore how indie developers are reshaping the gaming industry. From building Havendock into a 100,000-player hit to creating viral web games like Enchanted Heroes, YYZ shares what it really takes to go solo. We unpack the indie business model - owning your IP, taking full risk, and competing without big studio backing. Hosted by Michelle Martin.