Let's Talk, Singapore

“I'm not physically sick… I just can’t do today.” Ever heard this in your head in the morning? Sometimes we need a break, even if we don't have the flu or a fever. But is that a legitimate reason to take leave? Are mental health days a right that is needed in today's landscape, or is it still misunderstood?   Presented by Audrey Siek, Ryan Huang & Emaad Akhtar Pro...

Are we finally done with the office market rollercoaster? After a couple of choppy years, rents across Asia-Pacific are stabilising, and prime spaces are seeing demand again. The big question now is: who has the upper hand going into 2026: landlords or tenants? We find out with Tridiana Ong, Head of Occupier Strategy and Solutions for Singapore at Knight Frank . Produced and presented by Audrey Si...

Are you burnt out?  Does it mean you should change companies or switch careers even? It all depends on your individual situation, and this is why investigation how you truly feel is important. Are you overworked, or just staying in a job that isn't aligned with your long-term goals? Emaad, Ryan and Audrey share what the experts are saying.   Presented by Emaad Akhtar, Ryan Huang & Au...

From AI-powered shopping agents to instant payments and embedded finance, commerce is evolving faster than many businesses realise. On Mind Your Business, the Breakfast Show speaks with  Krishnaraj Tantri, Senior Vice President, South and SEA, Global Payments , to break down the six forces redefining how consumers pay, spend and interact with businesses across Asia. See omnystudio.com/listene...

Singapore’s workforce is entering 2026 with a striking disconnect: while most workers believe happiness at work is possible, only 56% say they actually feel happy, placing Singapore among the lowest in the region. Esther Lee, Managing Director, Singapore, Jobstreet by SEEK unpacks new findings that point to burnout, limited career progression and uneven access to purpose and recognition as k...

U.S. markets rebounded sharply as fears of AI-driven disruption eased, lifting the S&P 500, Nasdaq, and Dow in a broad relief rally. A blockbuster multiyear partnership between Advanced Micro Devices and Meta Platforms — including up to 6 gigawatts of GPUs and a potential 160 million-share warrant — reignited the AI capex narrative and raised fresh questions about competition with...

As policy rates peak across ASEAN, what does easing mean for banks, asset quality and the broader credit cycle?  Daniel Lau, Portfolio Manager, Eastspring Investments shares where the real opportunities lie, and which of Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand or Vietnam offers the best risk-reward today. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Winter Olympics 2026 are in full swing - and that means our favourite winter sports are back in the spotlight! Now, curling may not be as popular as the likes of snowboarding, figure skating, or freestyle skiing, but it's idiosyncracies may pique your interest! Emaad, Ryan and Audrey dive into the basic rules and some fun facts on Curling is Cool Day!   Presented by Emaad Akhtar, Ryan Hua...

Singapore’s retail sector is facing intensifying pressure. While nearly 90% of registered retail entities are locally owned, the rapid expansion of Chinese brands across F&B, fashion, beauty and lifestyle has sharpened competition in malls and prime retail spaces. But beyond brand visibility, the real strain lies in a cost environment and competitive model that increasingly rewards scale...

US stocks slid sharply as AI disruption fears and renewed tariff tensions under President Donald Trump rattled sentiment, pushing the S&P 500 back into negative territory for 2026. Heavyweights like IBM, Microsoft and CrowdStrike led the decline amid fresh competition from Anthropic. Fabien Yip, Market Analyst, IG  breaks down the Supreme Court tariff implications, the close of US Q4 earn...

Jessica Min, Travel Trends & Destinations Expert, Skyscanner  shares the biggest hurdles Singaporeans face when planning their overseas vacations, the most popular cheap destinations for 2026, how travellers can maximize value on short trips, and whether there really is a cheapest day to fly. Produced & Presented by: Emaad Akhtar See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Breakfast Bites, we’re tackling one of modern parenting’s trickiest debates. If your child has a smartphone, do you have the right to check it? Is that responsible parenting, or a serious invasion of privacy? Audrey, Ryan and Emaad dive into safety versus trust in the age of smartphones. Presented by Audrey Siek, Ryan Huang & Emaad Akhtar Produced by Audrey Siek Edited by Trisha...

SMEs power Singapore’s economy, but rising costs, intense competition and talent pressures are making survival tougher than ever. With people often the biggest expense line, is HR still being treated as back-office admin instead of a strategic function? We speak with Stephanie Chua, Founder of Vault Personnel , about whether HR has evolved fast enough to meet the realities facing SMEs today,...

Markets are navigating fresh uncertainty after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down former President Trump’s emergency tariff powers, while oil prices swing on U.S.-Iran tensions and AI-fueled tech stocks brace for Nvidia’s earnings. We speak with Vasu Menon, Managing Director, Investment Strategy, OCBC Bank about what this means for investors in Asia, market volatility ahead, and whethe...

You don’t need a long rest to reset,  studies on micro-breaks show that even pauses under five minutes can lift your mood, restore attention and reduce mental fatigue. So, a simple three-minute pause gives your brain just enough space to detach and let its “reset networks” switch on, so you return sharper than before.  This episode explores why these “micro-resets...

Entrepreneurship is often framed as speed, scale and venture capital. But what if longevity is the real advantage? The Breakfast Show invites Joanna Teo, Managing Director of Attribute Data , to share her journey from bootstrapping a profitable data agency to building a self-funded product startup, and what sustainable entrepreneurship really looks like in Singapore. See omnystudio.com/listener fo...

Budget 2026 has added nuance to Singapore’s sustainability journey. While the country remains committed to its long-term net-zero ambitions, the tone around carbon pricing appears more measured, reflecting a global environment where climate momentum has become less uniform and economic pressures more pronounced. Beyond the carbon tax, the Government continues to push ahead with solar expansi...

U.S. stocks pulled back, leaving the S&P 500 hovering near flat for the year as investors rotated out of financials and kept a close eye on simmering tensions between the United States and Iran.  Steve Sosnick, Chief Strategist, Interactive Brokers  examines mixed corporate signals from Walmart and Deere & Company, and what they reveal about the consumer and cyclical outlook. Wit...

Interest rates have plateaued, long yields are easing, and capital is slowly returning to property markets. But is 2026 a true recovery year for real estate, or just selective strength? Dan Koh sits down with Vijay Natarajan, Vice President, Real Estate & REITs, Equity Research, RHB Singapore to unpack the rate impact on property valuations, segment divergence across real estate, and the inves...

Startups may dominate headlines, but SMEs remain the backbone of Singapore’s economy. So why are so many struggling to scale or survive beyond the founder? On this episode of Mind Your Business, the Breakfast Show speaks with Daniel Charles, Founder & CEO of Sum Capital Partners , about acquiring and modernising traditional businesses, building shared systems across SMEs, and using AI as...

The New York Times is back in focus after Berkshire Hathaway disclosed a roughly 3% stake in the media company. Shares jumped following the news, adding to a strong 12-month rally driven by digital subscription and advertising growth. Dan Koh and Audrey Siek break down why Warren Buffett’s move matters, how NYT’s business has transformed, and what investors should watch next. See omnys...

Under Budget 2026, Singapore will raise the qualifying salaries for Employment Pass and S Pass holders from 2027, alongside lifting the local qualifying salary and adjusting selected work permit levies. The changes are phased in, but they form part of a continued calibration of the foreign workforce framework. So, how might firms adjust their workforce mix? And what should businesses be reviewing...

In the spirit of Budget 2026, we put your global knowledge to the test with a fun, fast-paced quiz on government grants and support schemes around the world! From Singapore’s hawker subsidies to generous maternity leave in Bulgaria, how well do you really know where the money goes? Play along and see if you can ace this global “goodies” edition of Breakfast Quiz.   Presented...

Budget 2026 sets aside $50 million for a new SG Partnerships Fund to back ground-up community projects as part of a broader push to strengthen social bonds and build what Prime Minister Lawrence Wong calls a “we first” society. Corporate volunteer and donation tax incentives have also been extended to 2029, signalling a continued effort to encourage businesses to play a larger role in...

Have you ever been in a situation where a less experienced colleague has been promoted ahead of you? How did you react? Emaad, Ryan and Audrey share expert tips on good practices to follow in such instances, including shifting the narrative from "why not me" to "what would it take." Have a listen!   Presented by Emaad Akhtar, Ryan Huang & Audrey Siek Produced by Emaad Akhtar Edited by Dan...