Be Yourself Podcast

Singapore’s first-ever badminton world champion, Loh Kean Yew, sits down with Viaano Spruyt for a heartfelt and inspiring episode. From his journey to becoming a world champion to the incredible honor of representing Singapore at the Olympics, Kean Yew opens up about the pressures, the triumphs, and the mindset that keeps him going. This episode goes deeper as he reflects on his recent journey int...

Singapore’s first and only Olympic gold medalist, Joseph Schooling, sits down with Viaano Spruyt to share the story of his swimming journey, the legendary moment of coming up against Michael Phelps and clinching his country's first-ever Olympic gold, navigating the immense pressures of being a top athlete, his experiences living in the U.S., his passions beyond the pool, and much more. Check u...

Vanessa Lee is rewriting her country's athletics history, holding 4 national records in the Mile, 3000m steeplechase, 5000m & 10km. After a five-year hiatus following a traumatic event, she recently returned to the 3000m steeplechase, showcasing her strong resilience in conquering her fears. In this episode, Vanessa shares the origins of her passion for running, her fight with body image c...

Kabir Anurag, Singapore’s first ever Formula 1 development driver under Alpine, shares his journey from overcoming early challenges to chasing his dream of reaching F1 by 23. He reflects on resilience, personal growth, and the power of process-driven goals. An inspiring story of passion, perseverance & ambition! Check us out: https://huddle.so/ https://apps.apple.com/app/huddleverse-talk-share...

SEA Games gold medallist and Asian Games silver medallist Stephenie Chen made history as the first Singaporean kayaker to reach an Olympic final. In this episode, Stephenie shares her journey from discovering her passion for kayaking to competing on the world stage. She opens up about the sacrifices she’s made, the heartbreak of narrowly missing the Tokyo Olympics by mere seconds—not once, but twi...

Asian Games gold medallist Kimberly Lim made history as the first Singaporean sailor, alongside her teammate Cecilia Low, to qualify for a medal race at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. In this episode, Kimberly reflects on her journey from starting sailing at age 10 to competing on the biggest stage of all—the Olympic Games. She shares the sacrifices she's made throughout her sailing career, her pers...

Chef Ian Tan is the first Asian and Singaporean to win the World Young Chef competition held in Monaco last year. From humble beginnings as a dishwasher, Ian’s passion for cooking has taken him on a remarkable journey. In this episode, Ian reflects on his groundbreaking win, shares the unconventional dishes he's crafted, and reveals what it's really like to run a kitchen compared to the in...

Ryan Ang is a national golfer who recently secured his PGA Tour of Australasia card, following in the footsteps of legends like Adam Scott. With aspirations to qualify for the Asian Tour and ultimately compete in major championships like the Masters, Ryan remains focused on his long-term goals, including representing his country in the Olympics. Check us out: https://huddle.so/ https://apps.apple....

Wai Yhann is the first Singaporean woman to win a PSA Challenger Tour event—a milestone that has marked a significant achievement in her squash career. Wai Yhann’s journey began with a deep passion for sports, deeply influenced by her father’s love for squash. Now, with her sights set on the 2028 LA Olympics, Wai Yhann is diligently preparing for this long-term goal. Driven by her ambition to repr...

Jonathan Chan made history as Singapore's first-ever diver to qualify for the Olympics. He secured his spot in the 2020 Tokyo Games by winning gold in the men's 10m platform event at the Asian Diving Cup in 2019. In this episode, Jonathan shares his journey with me from starting as a gymnast to becoming Singapore's first Olympic diver. He reflects on his Tokyo Olympics experience and t...

Join Shayna Ng, a 3-time world bowling champion and 2-time Sportswoman of the Year, as she shares her journey in bowling. Listed in Forbes 30 under 30 in 2019, Shayna reflects on her most memorable moments on the international stage in our latest episode. She discusses the support from the Spex Scholarship program, her experience with a sports psychologist, and how she managed through tough period...

Soh Rui Yong, the celebrated long-distance runner hailing from Singapore, is a name synonymous with endurance and resilience. From his educational pursuits in the UK to his record-breaking feats back home, Soh's journey has been nothing short of remarkable. In this exclusive podcast episode, Soh reveals the passion driving his running career, sheds light on the challenges he's confronted,...

Update: Tia broke the 13 metre barrier 4 days ago! 💙 (this episode was filmed in march 2024) Discover Tia Rozario's inspirational journey from her jumping roots to becoming Singapore's reigning national record holder in both long jump and triple jump. She also discusses her academic path from Princeton University to Duke University, alongside her reflections on navigating the challenges o...

Kampton Kam takes us on an exhilarating journey through the highs and lows of his record-breaking career as a high jumper. From the origins of his passion for the sport to overcoming significant setbacks, including suffering a collapsed lung and family health struggles, Kampton's resilience shines through. He delves into the enthralling experience of competing on the international stage, inclu...

Kohei Wong made history as the first-ever Singaporean to sign with a professional baseball team, the Ibaraki Astro Planets. In this episode, he shares insights into his baseball life in Japan, covering training, food, meeting people from all over the world, and the challenges he faced throughout his inspiring journey. Kohei also discusses his thoughts on elevating Singapore's baseball scene, o...

Lila is a professional footballer who plays for Lion City Sailors and the Singapore national team. In this episode, we explore Lila's early connection with the sport, the emotions of earning her first international cap, how she balances modelling, football, and studies, and the challenges she's faced throughout her journey. She also discusses societal standards, emphasizing the importance...

Nicholas Mahabir, a rising swimming star representing Singapore, recently made history by becoming the first-ever Singaporean to break the 1-minute mark in the 100m Breaststroke at the 2023 US Pro Championships. In this episode, Nicholas shares his journey with Viaano, covering his roots in Singapore, experiences living in California, the hurdles he had to overcome to break the elusive 60-second b...

Nathania Ong recently made history as the first-ever Singaporean to play Eponine on the West End stage in the universally acclaimed musical, Les Misérables. In this episode, she unveils her extraordinary journey, revealing the emotional impact after facing rejection from all five drama schools she auditioned for in the UK, moments of stage fright following viral attention online, and the profound...

Hailey Loh is a national golfer for Singapore and also an NCAA Division 1 athlete for the University of Minnesota in the US. In this episode, Hailey had a chat with Viaano to explore how her golf journey started at the age of 5, what it felt like to be the first-ever Singaporean golfer to win an NCAA conference championship, how she dealt with performance anxiety, and many more! Check us out: http...

In this episode, Formula Racing driver and world’s youngest karting champion, Christian Ho, shares with Viaano Spruyt how his passion for racing started, the challenges of relocating to Italy at a young age to pursue his F1 dream, him having to bounce back from breaking his arm and shoulder in a crash, and many more inspiring moments. Check us out: https://huddle.so/ https://apps.apple.com/app/hud...

Teh Xiu Hong, a national shooting athlete representing Singapore, sat down with Viaano Spruyt to reveal insights into her life as a shooter and discuss key moments in her career. This episode highlighted pivotal moments, notably her crowning achievement as the ISSF World Cup champion in the 25m Pistol Women’s event in Changwon, Korea last year. It also delved into her transformative phase, where s...

Danelle Tan is not only Singapore's youngest-ever female goalscorer, but she's also the very first Singaporean woman to make her mark in European football. Now, she's etching her name in history once more as the first Asian footballer to join the prestigious European club, Borussia Dortmund. In this episode, Danelle shares with Viaano Spruyt her daily routine, her favorite football pos...

Reigning Formula Kite World Champion and Asian Games 2023 Gold Medalist, Max Maeder, talks to Viaano Spruyt about the origins of his kiteboarding journey, the deep sense of pride that comes with representing his nation on the global stage, his dynamic and adventurous lifestyle that involves constant travel for international tours, his personal favorite Singaporean dish, and many more. Check us out...

Chess Grandmaster Tin Jingyao joins Viaano Spruyt on our podcast out of Georgia, United States where he is currently on an exchange program. Watch on to find out more about what it takes to play chess at the highest level. Check us out: https://huddle.so/ https://apps.apple.com/app/huddleverse-talk-share-vent/id1669019532

Is mental health forgotten in Japan? Why is mental health so tricky in Japan? Join Viaano Spruyt and Ghib Ojisan (Japanese vlogger living in Singapore) as they attempt to demystify the frontiers attributed to mental health in Japan, all on this week's Be Yourself Podcast. Check us out: https://huddle.so/ https://apps.apple.com/app/huddleverse-talk-share-vent/id1669019532