Live Well with Michelle

What if the next competitive advantage in business isn’t ruthless optimisation - but learning how to thrive? Hosted by Michelle Martin, this episode features Stephen Lew, Founder of The School of Positive Psychology, who shares why high achievement and deep fulfilment are often not the same thing. We explore how Positive Psychology and the science of resilience, meaning, creativity and human flourishing are increasingly relevant in a world of burnout, uncertainty and relentless performance pressure. Plus Stephen takes a question from a listener who believes his wife would benefit from therapy.

Singapore’s capital markets could be entering a new phase. Hosted by Michelle Martin with Ryan Huang, this episode examines the planned SGX-Nasdaq dual-listing bridge expected to launch by mid-2026, allowing eligible companies to access both Singapore and US investors through a streamlined listing process. We explore whether the initiative can help revive SGX liquidity, attract regional tech unicorns and strengthen Singapore’s position in global capital markets. The discussion also looks at the role of the Equity Market Development Programme and whether Singapore is taking a more active approach to supporting IPO activity and market depth. Plus: can SGX avoid becoming merely a secondary trading venue if valuation premiums and liquidity remain concentrated on Nasdaq - and what would success actually look like for Singapore’s market ecosystem?

Singapore’s financial advisory industry is changing fast - with consolidation, rising compliance costs and larger platforms reshaping the business of advice. Hosted by Michelle Martin, this episode with Christopher Tan, CEO of Providend, explores what happens when financial advice becomes increasingly concentrated in the hands of fewer, larger players. Both also discuss the part of retirement few talk about - spending wisely in retirement.

What’s Money Trauma and how can you heal from it?  Michelle Martin finds out in this insightful conversation with Gail Wong, Professional Coach and Investor, Livetrue. 

Suspiciously well-timed oil and prediction market trades tied to the Iran-U.S. conflict have reportedly totalled close to US$7 billion, raising fresh questions about geopolitics, insider conviction and how markets price fear. Oil surged after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned the conflict with Iran was “not over,” sending Brent crude above US$104 a barrel and WTI close to US$95. Hosted by Michelle Martin, this episode turns to veteran trader Simon Ree, Founder of Tao of Trading, to unpack whether these trades were pure foresight, sophisticated probability analysis - or something more.

After a lively on-air debate between dividend investing and ETFs, listeners cast their votes - and the results are revealing. Then Michelle explores executive presence and the subtle signals that shape influence at work. Because in modern careers, competence alone is rarely enough - presence can shape opportunity. Hosted by Michelle Martin.

Passive income goes head-to-head as ETF investing battles dividend growth investing in a lively showdown, as we ask which investing style might be best suited to be the main pillar for anyone's portfolio? Tim Phillips argues for the long-term power of ETFs, while Willie Keng makes the case for intelligent dividend investing. The debate dives into whether ETFs are still good diversifiers given market concentration, why dividend investing may not just be for retirees, and what really grows wealth over time. There’s also an unexpected “easter egg” in the episode, as both guests reveal a powerful investing moment from their own journeys. Hosted by Michelle Martin with guests Tim Phillips, Founder, TimTalksMoney (https://www.timtalksmoney.com) and Willie Keng, Founder, Dividend Titan. (https://www.dividendtitan.com)

Passwords are a part of life, but perhaps they reveal something bigger about modern life - the rising cognitive burden we carry every day. Listeners share how they are coping with password fatigue with Michelle. Maybe that’s the deeper issue here. The future isn’t just about making technology smarter. It’s about reducing unnecessary friction so human beings have more mental space for relationships, purpose, creativity, investing wisely. Are future companies are looking away from passwords to keep organisations safe? Then we hear more about Michelle's book pick today, John Coleman's "Good Money"

Author John Coleman spent his early years in a single-wide mobile home in the USA. When it rained in Florida, the family would buy movie tickets, and wait out the storm safely in the theatre. Today he is Co-CEO of Sovereign's Capital which invests in public equities, private equities and venture capital. Michelle Martin finds out how John's six-step framework in his book "Good Money, Six Steps to Building a Financial Life with Purpose" can help us change our relationship with money, so we can design a richer life across dimensions that we know, map to living well.

Michelle Martin speaks with Arnaud Frade about the rise of “sentient startups” and whether billion-dollar one-person companies could soon emerge - even from Singapore. They explore how entrepreneurs are already using AI beyond productivity. Arnaud also shares lessons from building Athena, his autonomous AI panelist, and explains why blind dependence on AI could become a dangerous trap for founders. As AI takes over more analysis and execution, the conversation asks a deeper wellness question: what uniquely human qualities will matter most for leaders at work? Hosted by Michelle Martin.