Podcasts

"We have no time to doubt ourselves," says Malaysian biofuels industry trailblazer, Vinesh Sinha, the founder and CEO of FatHopes Energy on Crazy Smart Asia. In conversation with Gen.T's former regional head Lee Williamson, Sinha shares how one Top Gear episode inspired him to get started, how he's scaling a circular economy business using a 90/10 approach and the unexpected plastic surgery waste material you'll never guess can be upcycled.

"If you don't show fear, truly, honestly; they back up," says Mahbouba Seraj, a women's rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize nominee, on Crazy Smart Asia. In conversation with Tatler Gen.T's Tamara Lamuniere, Seraj shares why she refuses to leave Afghanistan, what happens when you're forced to fight for what you believe in, and why we must let up in the fight for the freedom and autonomy of women and girls, all over the world.

"What is success? For me, it's something that we can truly enjoy during our lives," says Juan Pablo Escobar, now known as Sebastián Marroquín, the son of the notorious politician, criminal and cartel leader, Pablo Escobar, on Crazy Smart Asia. In conversation with Gen.T's Lee Williamson, Marroquín shares how to step out of your father's shadow to redefine your legacy, the power of choosing your own path and what Netflix's Narcos got wrong about his father-the world's most feared drug kingpin.

"When you're sleep deprived and you have a bad diet, you're half dead," says the tech billionaire biohacking his body and mind in pursuit of immortality, Blueprint founder Bryan Johnson, on Crazy Smart Asia. In conversation with Gen. T's Lee Williamson, Johnson shares why being an unhealthy entrepreneur is holding you back, how his anti-ageing regimen has lowered his biological age by 31 years, and why sleep should always be your starting point.

This week, we've picked out five inspiring quotes from the latest episodes of Crazy Smart Asia to help you build a better world, a better business, or even just a better you. Listen for a quickfire highlights reel of crazy-smart perspectives from our guests, with Tatler Gen.T's Lee Williamson.

"Anywhere on earth can be your classroom, as long as it fits your lifestyle," says Tommie Lo, the founder of Al-powered education platform Preface, on Crazy Smart Asia. In conversation with Gen.T's Lee Williamson, Lo shares how growing up on a boat as a fisherman's son decentralised his views on education, why he chose waiting tables in a Chinese restaurant over following Barack Obama to The White House, and which football team he credits with his leadership style.

"Climate change is not an immediate entrepreneurial target," says Max Song, ex-coder and founder and CEO of Carbonbase, on Crazy Smart Asia. From gaining his first gig couch-surfing post-Burning Man in California, to living on the streets of Paris, Max tells Gen.T's Lee Williamson why running a company's like surfing, how an internship with Nasa inspired intergalactic goals, and a quickfire confession to make you smile.

"Mothers are the best business leaders because they don't have the luxury of time," says Sarah Chen-Spellings, the co-founder of Beyond the Billion, a consortium of venture capital funds focused on getting US$1 billion into the pockets of female founders, on Crazy Smart Asia. In conversation with Gen.T's Lee Williamson, Chen-Spellings shares how she's trying to redress the vast gender imbalance in VC funding, how she secured a US$30 million deal at just 25 years old, and why she's always looking to eat more salt.

"If we don't do this, I don't think anyone else can do it," says Angeline Tham, the co-founder and CEO of Angkas, the on-demand motorcycle taxi app revolutionising how people get around in the gridlocked city of Manila, on Crazy Smart Asia. In conversation with Gen.T's Lee Williamson, Angeline shares insights on how to successfully run a business with your partner, the moment that led her to consider hiring bodyguards, and why ending poverty in the Philippines is her ultimate mission.

"What's unexpected is the idea that two young students, two nobodies, can essentially transform a country's democracy," say Qyira Yusri and Tharma Pillai, co-founders of Malaysian advocacy group Undi18, on Crazy Smart Asia. In conversation with Gen.T's Lee Williamson, Yusri and Pillai share the anatomy of a winning political campaign, why young Malaysians are a force to be reckoned with, and the surprisingly antagonistic start to their co-founder dynamic.

This week, we've picked out five inspiring quotes from the last eight episodes of Crazy Smart Asia to help you build a better world, a better business, or even just a better you. Listen for a quickfire highlights reel of crazy-smart perspectives from our guests, with Gen. T's Lee Williamson.

"Validation is just a cherry on top," says Victoria Tang-Owen, the creative director and serial entrepreneur behind Thirty30 Creative and Victoria Tang Studio, on Crazy Smart Asia. In conversation with Gen.T's Lee Williamson, Tang-Owen shares insights on how to hone a unique creative outlook that will stand you apart from the crowd, the secret to successfully doing business with your family, and a rebellious Sagittarius streak that spelled teenage trouble.

“Don’t take the shortcut, never start walking the grey line,” says Joel Neoh, a four-time exited founder and titan of the Malaysian entrepreneurial scene, on Crazy Smart Asia. In conversation with Gen.T’s Lee Williamson, Neoh shares a comprehensive guide on how to be a kick-ass entrepreneur: why having the entrepreneurial x-factor is about being a visionary, an optimist and a realist, why purpose is crucial to success, and why he was always more into playing with snails than selling lemonade.

“Think about your energy and your mental health like any other resource,” says Neurum Health founder Megan Lam, who is revolutionising the path to personalised mental healthcare, on Crazy Smart Asia. In conversation with Gen.T’s Lee Williamson, Lam shares her own journey with mental health, how she dealt with discriminatory investors looking to slash her company’s valuation because of an engagement ring, and why every entrepreneur needs the odd blanket burrito moment.

Singapore’s only queer, transgender street artist, Sam Lo, shares how they’ve defied binary societal expectations and broken out the box to be one of Singapore’s stand-out creatives. From stickers to graffiti to murals, Sam, who was once subbed “Sticker Lady”, is a multi-talented artist who has overcome the odds to become one of Asia’s biggest up and coming young artists.