Live Well with Michelle

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. 

What if the biggest threat to food companies… isn’t inflation  but your shrinking appetite? GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic are reshaping consumer behavior, forcing food giants to rethink portions, pricing, and product strategy. Meanwhile, US markets wobble as the Russell 2000 slips into correction territory, raising questions about the durability of the rally. Asian tech earnings from Xiaomi, PDD, Meituan and BYD are now in focus as investors hunt for growth signals. Corporate headlines add to the volatility - from Super Micro’s sharp selloff to Sinopec’s profit drop and Elon Musk’s legal battles. And in tech, Amazon explores a bold return to smartphones, joining Apple, Google, Meta and OpenAI in the race to redefine AI hardware. Hosted by Michelle Martin with Ryan Huang. Companies in focus: Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta, OpenAI, Xiaomi, PDD Holdings (Pinduoduo), Meituan, BYD, Coca-Cola Andina, Super Micro, Sinopec, Singtel, Sembcorp Industries, Hongkong Land.

A niche corner of real estate is quietly delivering strong income - but is it built to last? Michelle Martin explores whether purpose-built worker and student housing can offer investors stable, resilient returns in uncertain markets. Hosted by Michelle Martin, with insights from Centurion Accommodation REIT’s Chief Investment Officer Ginny Ang, we unpack how the REIT beat its DPU forecast and what’s driving demand. We examine why worker housing may behave differently from offices and malls - especially during economic slowdowns. With occupancy already near full, the big question becomes: where does future growth come from? Plus, how rising interest rates and a focus on community well-being could shape long-term returns for investors.

A silent gas is shaking global markets - and most investors didn’t see it coming. Michelle Martin breaks down how a supply shock tied to Middle East tensions is rippling through semiconductors, healthcare and aerospace. The conversation tuns to s logistics giant FedEx posts blockbuster earnings. Hosted by Michelle Martin with Ryan Huang, both explore how industrial gas leaders like Linde and Air Products could benefit while chipmakers face rising cost pressures. We also unpack Novo Nordisk’s next obesity drug breakthrough, Xiaomi’s massive AI spending push, and strategic moves in Suntec REIT and Hongkong Land. Plus, what’s driving weakness in Singapore’s STI and whether select names like Sembcorp Industries can hold up amid broader declines. From invisible commodities to visible winners - this is a market driven by forces most investors overlook.

Oil above $110, war risks rising - yet markets are climbing… what’s really going on? Michelle Martin explores the surprising resilience of equities as the Fed holds rates steady despite inflation and geopolitical shocks. We unpack how Middle East tensions - from Iran to Qatar - are reshaping energy markets and reigniting inflation fears. At the same time, capital is rotating into AI, with Nvidia at the centre of renewed chip flows into China. Plus, a bold new frontier emerges: chips in space - could this redefine the next phase of computing and investment? All this and more, hosted by Michelle Martin.