Best Tan Geek Podcasts (2024)

1
Kheng Lian Ho: Law to Turn Capital Managing Partner, Buying Flash Coffee Thailand & Turnaround & Emerging Fund Manager Advice - E498 33:37

10h ago33:37

33:37

Kheng Lian Ho, Managing Partner at Turn Capital, and Jeremy Au discussed: 1. Law to Turn Capital Managing Partner: Kheng’s disciplined childhood as a 11-year old Singapore national badminton athlete laid the foundation for her early legal carer For six years, she practiced restructuring and cross-border litigation in Singapore and Hong Kong, drawn …

1
Trump 2028 Tariffs, iPhone Ban Protectionism vs. Globalization & ASEAN Unity & Peace with Gita Sjahrir - E497 30:30

2d ago30:30

30:30

Gita Sjahrir, Head of Investment at BNI Ventures, and Jeremy Au discussed: 1. Trump 2028 Tariffs: With Trump’s return to the presidency and Republican dominance in the Senate, House, and Supreme Court, the stage is set for new tariffs on Chinese imports. This is likely to redirect manufacturing to Southeast Asia, positioning countries like Vietnam …

1
Trump Win vs. Southeast Asia Trade, China Talent Flows & Silicon Valley Divided with Shiyan Koh- E496 32:01

5d ago32:01

32:01

Shiyan Koh, Managing Partner of Hustle Fund, and Jeremy Au discussed: 1. Trump Win vs. Southeast Asia Trade: Trump’s 2024 landslide election victory across the White House, Senate and House of Representatives, will reshape Southeast Asia’s economic landscape. His proposed “global 10% tariff” on all US imports and a targeted 60% tariff on Chinese …

1
Charles Ormiston: Founding Bain Southeast Asia, Reengineer Your Career & Angsana Council on China vs. USA Rivalry - E495 1:01:07

7d ago1:01:07

1:01:07

Charles Ormiston, Founding Partner of Bain Southeast Asia, and Jeremy Au discussed: 1. Founding Bain Southeast Asia: Charles established Bain's office in Singapore, which initially faced major skepticism from Bain’s leadership who favored Hong Kong as the regional hub. Believing Singapore’s strategic location to be better suited for Southeast Asia,…

1
Richard Reeves on Boys and Men in Crisis 1:07:08

6d ago1:07:08

1:07:08

In a thought-provoking interview, Michael Krasny speaks with Richard Reeves, founder of the American Institute for Boys and Men, about the mounting challenges facing boys and men in contemporary society. Reeves, drawing from his experience at the Brookings Institution, outlines how girls have significantly surpassed boys in educational achievement,…

1
Silicon Valley Talent Vortex, Southeast Asia Time Machine & Sea Turtle Migration with Adriel Yong - E493 28:25

12d ago28:25

28:25

Jeremy Au and Adriel Yong discussed whether Southeast Asian founders should move to Silicon Valley, and why "sea turtle" professionals are returning from America (and China) to Singapore, Indonesia and Vietnam. San Francisco and New York are global tech talent vortexes, where non-American founders are attracted to their deep VC funding pools and a …

1
NPR's Ron Elving on the Upcoming Elections 1:07:17

9h ago1:07:17

1:07:17

In a wide-ranging conversation with Michael Krasny, NPR Senior Editor and Correspondent Ron Elving provided insightful political analysis of the upcoming elections. The discussion began with an examination of polling efficacy and the impact of absentee ballots before delving into the roles of race and gender in the presidential race. The conversati…

1
Adrian Tan: Laid-Off To HR Founder, Writing “No More Bosses” & Solopreneur Work-Life Challenges - E492 30:02

14d ago30:02

30:02

Adrian Tan, Author of “No More Bosses” & Chief Marketing Strategist at Marketing Sumo, and Jeremy Au discussed: 1. Laid-Off To HR Founder: Adrian’s career in HR began as he navigated the volatile job market of the early 2000s. After layoffs from tech companies during the dotcom bubble and another setback in 2003 with the SARS epidemic, he sought gr…

1
Indonesia: 109 Member 48 Ministry Cabinet Coalition, Temu Ban, TikTok & Bukalapak & VC Investments with Gita Sjahrir - E491 31:40

16d ago31:40

31:40

Gita Sjahrir, Head of Investment at BNI Ventures, and Jeremy Au discussed: 1. 109 Member 48 Ministry Cabinet Coalition: With the inauguration on October 20, 2024, President Prabowo Subianto expanded the cabinet from 34 to 48 ministries, the largest since 1966. Prabowo's coalition-building strategy is to accommodate political allies and unify the se…

1
Arthur C. Clarke’s “Crazy” 1974 Prediction, 10X vs. Status Quo & Tech Marketing Principles - E490 13:34

19d ago13:34

13:34

Jeremy Au explored the evolution of technology marketing and how marketers have adapted to communicate complex innovations effectively. He began by referencing sci-fi writer Arthur C. Clarke’s 1974 “crazy” prediction about how their room-sized computers would eventually shrink to the size of briefcases and that people would eventually be able to wo…

1
Tina Amper: Geeks on a Beach, 12M Filipino Diaspora Reverse Culture Shock & Burnout to Community Leader - E489 32:10

21d ago32:10

32:10

Tina Amper, Strategic Director of Geeks on a Beach, and Jeremy Au discussed: 1. Burnout to Community Leader: Tina shared her experience of migrating from the Philippines with an engineering degree from the University of San Carlos to California’s booming tech industry in the 1990s. She excelled in product marketing and business development roles, b…

1
Felicity Barringer - The West Is a Tortoise on the Environment Ahead of Other Tortoises 58:00

8d ago58:00

58:00

We began our second Bill Lane Center for the American West sponsored episode with leading long-time environmental and former Russia-based journalist Felicity Barringer, editor of & the West, a magazine about the future and nature of the West. We discussed the future of water in the West, focusing on the divisions in the Colorado River, new water te…

1
Singapore Vetoes Allianz $4.4B Insurer Acquisition, NTUC 1961 History & Income Cooperative Mandate & Trump vs. Kamala Impact on Southeast Asia with Shiyan Koh - E488 27:12

23d ago27:12

27:12

Shiyan Koh, Managing Partner of Hustle Fund, and Jeremy Au discussed: 1. Singapore Vetoes Allianz $4.4B Insurer Acquisition: They discussed the Singapore government’s veto of the NTUC Income and Allianz merger, primarily over concerns of an undisclosed plan for $2B capital withdrawal post-merger. This case illustrated the delicate balance require…

1
David vs. Goliath: Startup Disruption, Incumbent Scale & Asymmetric War For Customers - E487 30:33

26d ago30:33

30:33

Jeremy Au breaks down the "David vs. Goliath" dynamics of startups challenging industry giants. Startups face unique marketing challenges but can thrive by focusing on experimentation and innovation, creating entirely new market categories. Just like the rise of oat milk and nicotine vapes, disruptive marketing turned once-unknown products into bil…

1
Michael Chua: Consultant to Award-Winning Actor at Age 50, AI Disrupting Filmmaking & Climbing the 'Third Mountain' - E486 31:53

28d ago31:53

31:53

Michael Chua, Award-Winning Actor, and Jeremy Au discussed: 1. Consultant to Award-Winning Actor at Age 50: Michael had a a long and successful career as a technology consultant traveling across Europe. At the age of 50, he was talent-scouted through a Facebook photo to become an actor. His curiosity exploring a new creative field quickly blossomed…

1
Malcolm Gladwell - One of the World's Most Successful Authors and Podcasters 1:03:44

15d ago1:03:44

1:03:44

A wide-ranging discussion featured acclaimed author and podcaster Malcolm Gladwell. Michael Krasny began by exploring Malcolm's entry into podcasting. Malcolm shared his love for the medium and how his podcast, Revisionist History, showcases his "mischievous side." They discussed the success of podcasters Joe Rogan and Bill Simmons and the importan…

1
China: US$1.1 Trillion Monetary Stimulus, Temu & Shein vs. USA De Minimis Tariffs & YouTube & Shopee Anti-TikTok Shop Alliance with Jianggan Li- E485 24:04

1M ago24:04

24:04

Jianggan Li, Founder & CEO of Momentum Works, and Jeremy Au discussed: 1. US$1.1 Trillion Monetary Stimulus: Jianggan and Jeremy examined China’s recent monetary measures (equivalent to 6% of nominal GDP) boosting consumer confidence and stabilizing the housing and stock markets. The Politburo launched a $114 billion lending pool to support stock b…

1
8 Ways to Build a Unicorn with 1 in 40 Roulette Odds - E484 24:14

1M ago24:14

24:14

Jeremy Au defined startups as newly established businesses bringing future technologies to the present, with unicorns being those valued at over $1 billion. These valuations are typically driven by revenue generation of around $100 million annually and market confidence in future profitability, eg. Palantir and Salesforce. Private markets apply val…

1
Johann Wah: Student Founder Beginnings, Amazon to Nika.eco Founder & Climate Change Perspective - E483 23:21

1M ago23:21

23:21

Johann Wah, President & Cofounder of Nika.eco, and Jeremy Au discussed: 1. Student Founder Beginnings: While attending Yale-NUS, Johann founded a sustainable apparel company to pay for his university expenses and dates with his now-wife. The business started gaining traction after a Straits Times article featured their eco-friendly fabrics, but the…

1
Self Proclaimed Tech Geek Jim Louderback Opines 58:32

1M ago58:32

58:32

Michael Krasny began this episode with tech and media expert Jim Louderback by asking him what he foresees for the future of digital media and the dialogue then moved on to a discussion of AI and ChatGPT. From there the conversation went to the fate of TikTok & Jim's opinions on Instagram, YouTube and its creators, Netflix, and entrepreneurship. Th…

1
Thailand: New Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Founder Failure Stigma & Electric Vehicle (EV) Manufacturing with Wing Vasiksiri - E482 33:30

1M ago33:30

33:30

Wing Vasiksiri, General Partner & Founder of WV Fund, and Jeremy Au discussed: 1. Founder Failure Stigma: They compared how failure is perceived by founders and society in Southeast Asia versus the US, focusing on Thailand and Singapore. In Thailand, failure carries a strong stigma, making it harder for failed founders to reintegrate into the ecosy…

1
APAC VC Panel: India Early-Stage Recovery, Emerging Markets Cross-Border Challenges & Deep Tech Boom - E482 24:01

1M ago24:01

24:01

Jeremy Au moderated a panel of venture capitalists to unpack the key trends shaping APAC’s investment landscape. Nruthya Madappa emphasized India's rapid recovery in early-stage VC, driven by second and third-time founders and $600 million deployed across 80+ companies at 3one4 Capital. She outlined how India's growing consumer class now outpaces C…

1
Borko Kovacevic: Serbia Childhood to Singapore, 17 Years at Microsoft & Podcast Founder Poddster - E480 34:56

1M ago34:56

34:56

Borko Kovacevic, Cofounder of Poddster, and Jeremy Au discussed: 1. Serbia Childhood to Singapore: Borko reflected on his childhood in Serbia during the 1980s and 1990s, witnessing both Yugoslavia's prosperity and the hardships of the Bosnian and Kosovo wars. Economic instability and rising crime taught him street smarts and resilience, values he n…

1
David M Kennedy on the American West 57:18

29d ago57:18

57:18

We began this first of four episodes, sponsored by the Bill Lane Center for the American West, with its co-founder and emeritus Stanford History Professor and Pulitzer Prize-winning author David M. Kennedy, discussing the real and the mythic American West and the nation's possibly most interdisciplinary course offered by the Center on the West and …

1
Vietnam: $3.3B Super Typhoon Disaster, VNG Police Raid & GoJek Market Exit with Valerie Vu- E479 27:57

1M ago27:57

27:57

Valerie Vu, Founding Partner of Ansible Ventures, and Jeremy Au discussed: 1. $3.3B Super Typhoon Disaster: Super Typhoon Yagi caused over $3.3 billion in damage and resulted in more than 300 deaths in northern Vietnam. The typhoon was one of the worst in 30 years, which significantly disrupted Vietnam’s economy with power outages in factories and …

1
Audra Pakalnyte: Lithuania To Malaysia, Adapt & Localize (Groupon Malaysia, KFit & Fave) & First Move VC Partner - E478 33:17

2M ago33:17

33:17

Audra Pakalnyte, Partner at First Move, and Jeremy Au discussed: 1. Lithuania To Malaysia: Growing up as the youngest of three daughters, Audra's childhood was shaped by Lithuania's national post-Soviet transformation. Her parents' dinner table conversations about multiple entrepreneurial ventures taught her first lessons in business dynamics and t…

1
Elizabeth Farnsworth - A Woman of Distinction 57:12

1M ago57:12

57:12

Elizabeth Farnsworth, former PBS Newshour anchor and reporter turned writer, engaged in a wide-ranging conversation with host Michael Krasny about her career and latest work. The discussion covered her memorable interviews, mentors, and experiences as a foreign correspondent, including traumatic events that led to her leaving that role. Farnsworth …

1
Joseph Mocanu: PHD MedTech Founder, Global Healthcare VC & Emerging Manager Investor Myths - E477 31:14

2M ago31:14

31:14

Joseph Mocanu, Managing Partner at Verge HealthTech Fund, and Jeremy Au discussed: 1. PHD MedTech Founder: Joseph shared his educational journey from studying molecular genetics at the University of Toronto where he initially focused on aging and cancer research, to realizing the essential role of business skills in bringing scientific advancements…

1
Indonesia: Pope Visit, Shrinking Middle Class & Policy Reforms & Financial Literacy with Gita Sjahrir - E476 30:44

2M ago30:44

30:44

Gita Sjahrir, Head of Investment at BNI Ventures, and Jeremy Au discussed: 1. Pope Visit: They reflect on Pope Francis’ recent visit to Indonesia, emphasizing its significance as a beacon of positive media influence. The visit was part of a broader Asia Pacific tour and marked the first extensive travel of the Pope to the region. Gita noted the mas…

1
Sherry Jiang: Founder Poker Strategy, Navigating Product-Market Fit Pivots & Big Tech Career Advice- E475 25:50

2M ago25:50

25:50

Sherry Jiang, CEO & Cofounder of Peek, and Jeremy Au explored three key topics: 1. Navigating Product-Market Fit Pivots: Crypto winter forced Sherry to pivot from her original idea—an algorithmic stablecoin protocol for Southeast Asian currencies. This shift led to the creation of Peek, an AI-powered platform for managing net worth. She highlighted…

1
Oscar Jesionek: Austria Digital Nomad to Vietnam Founder, Audio Learning Product-Market Fit & Trust Your Gut - E474 33:29

2M ago33:29

33:29

Oscar Jesionek, CEO & Cofounder of Fonos, and Jeremy Au discussed: 1. Austria Digital Nomad to Vietnam Founder: Oscar traces his entrepreneurial path, starting from his academic background in economics in Austria to his diverse professional experiences in headhunting, healthcare, and finance. His early career was a period of self-discovery, where h…

1
Perry Garfinkel - Gandhi was a Great Marketeer 49:44

2M ago49:44

49:44

We spent a recorded hour with esteemed journalist and editor Perry Garfinkel, author of the bestselling Buddha or Bust and the recently published Becoming Gandhi. Perry spoke of his quest to find morality in Gandhi's life and work and Gandhi's six principles and the differences between being and becoming – the latter presupposing the infinite in pr…

1
Singapore: Johor Special Economic Zone, US Anti-China Reverse CFIUS & Regional Trade Diversification with Shiyan Koh - E473 18:32

2M ago18:32

18:32

Shiyan Koh, Managing Partner of Hustle Fund, and Jeremy Au discussed: 1. Johor Special Economic Zone (SEZ): They explored the potential impact of the upcoming Johor-Singapore SEZ agreement, scheduled for signing in November. The SEZ, which is more than 4 times the size of Singapore, is seen as an opportunity to deepen economic ties between the tw…

1
Rob Snyder: McKinsey to Harvard MBA Founder, Cracking Product-Market Fit & Accelerate Or Die - E472 28:31

2M ago28:31

28:31

Rob Snyder, Founder of Reframe, and Jeremy Au discussed: 1. McKinsey to Harvard MBA Founder: Rob detailed his initial career moves from political philosophy to starting at McKinsey, where he developed critical analytical skills and professional discipline. His time at Harvard Business School was shaped by the “Founder's Journey” course, which provi…

1
Journey into Nature and Creativity with Author Amy Tan 58:55

2M ago58:55

58:55

This week we spoke with author Amy Tan about her most recent best-seller, The Backyard Bird Chronicles, a fascinating immersion into nature, the world of birds and her dedication to drawing them. In 2016 during a time of overt racism, especially towards Asian Americans, Amy decided to dive into nature journaling. There she discovered a fascination …

1
Serena Lam: Vietnam Refugee Inspiration, IBM to SaaS Founder & Sales Automation Consequences - E471 33:14

2M ago33:14

33:14

Serena Lam, CEO & Founder of Fuzzy Sequence, and Jeremy Au discussed: 1. IBM to SaaS Founder: Serena described her seven-year tenure at IBM, where she tackled diverse strategic roles across the U.S., China, and India. This experience provided her with a robust foundation in technology and business strategy, crucial for her later ventures. She empha…

1
China: Black Myth Wukong $1B AAA Game, $86B Tencent Publisher (League of Legends, SEA Group & VNG) & Real Estate Bubble Burst with Jianggan Li - E470 32:40

2M ago32:40

32:40

Jianggan Li, Founder & CEO of Momentum Works, and Jeremy Au discussed: 1. Black Myth Wukong $1B AAA Game: Jianggan and Jeremy examined the reinterpretation of 'Journey to the West' in the gaming blockbuster 'Black Myth: Wukong'. The developers overcame huge skepticism, incorporated complex cultural narratives into gameplay and overcame technical ch…

1
Jesse Choi: Bain Capital & Stanford MBA, Moving To Indonesia For Love & Founding Reku Investment Platform - E469 33:17

2M ago33:17

33:17

Jesse Choi, Cofounder of Reku, and Jeremy Au discussed: 1. Bain Capital & Stanford MBA: Jesse shared his journey from an operations research and economics student at Columbia University to an early career at Bain management consulting and Bain Capital private equity. His Stanford MBA experience also expanded his professional network, deepened his a…

1
Raditya Wibowo: Gojek Chief Transportation Officer, Founder MAKA Motors & How Hard Can It Be? - E468 28:25

2M ago28:25

28:25

Raditya (Dito) Wibowo, CEO & Founder of MAKA Motors, and Jeremy Au discussed: 1. Gojek Chief Transportation Officer: Raditya describes his seven-year tenure rise from managing a nascent on-demand transportation service from the modest two-story home HQ with only 2 toilets to becoming Chief Transport Officer. Developing Gojek's first dynamic pricing…

1
Jessica Calarco - Marginalized Groups and the Battle Against Inequities 1:00:44

2M ago1:00:44

1:00:44

A deep and wide ranging conversation with sociologist Jessica Calarco, focusing on educational disparities, class privilege, and social inequities. Key topics included the hidden curriculum in schools, the role of community colleges, and tax policies aimed at economic equality. The conversation began with a focus on the gap between the privileged a…

1
Vietnam: New President Tô Lâm, Immediate China State Visit & USA Rejection "Non-Market Economy"- E467 21:58

2M ago21:58

21:58

Valerie Vu, Founding Partner of Ansible Ventures, and Jeremy Au discussed: 1. New President Tô Lâm: The death and state-mandated mourning period for Vietnam's former Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong culminated in the swift elevation of Tô Lâm from the Ministry of Public Defense to President. This transition exhibited the controlle…

1
Avik Ashar: Zilingo Ethical Dilemmas, India vs. Southeast Asia Startups & Market & Consumer Diversity - E466 20:07

3M ago20:07

20:07

Avik Ashar, Principal at Artha Venture Fund, and Jeremy Au discussed: 1. Zilingo Ethical Dilemmas: Avik reflected on his experiences at Zilingo where rapid expansion led to questionable practices such as buying and selling Apple watches on their fashion lifestyle platform just to meet monthly sales targets, in order to achieve founder and board exp…

1
Huiting Koh: Solo General Partner (GP) Experience, Gen Z vs. Generation Alpha & Blueprint's Distinctive Strategy - E465 23:54

3M ago23:54

23:54

Huiting Koh, Founding Managing Partner of Blueprint Ventures, and Jeremy Au discussed: 1. Solo General Partner (GP) Experience: Huiting discussed her journey as a solo GP, emphasizing the complexities of establishing Blueprint, her venture fund. She shared insights into the initial setup, overcoming challenges, and the decision-making processes inv…

1
Fighting Corruption, Waste and Politics to Address Climate Change. Ethan Elkind Explains 1:00:08

2M ago1:00:08

1:00:08

Ethan Elkind, a leading climate scientist, led us initially into an understanding of why climate goals were not being met and how that affects overall messaging. From there he spoke of the importance of battery technology, solar and wind renewable energies, and transition to minerals such as lithium, cobalt and graphite. He emphasized the need for …

1
Disney+ Arbitration PR Crisis, Good vs. Bad Startup Sci-Fi Ideas & Defence Tech Rise with Shiyan Koh - E464 18:58

3M ago18:58

18:58

Shiyan Koh, Managing Partner of Hustle Fund, and Jeremy Au talked about three main points: 1. Disney+ Arbitration PR Crisis: A woman died from an allergic reaction after eating at a Disney-affiliated restaurant. The husband sued Disney for "wrongful death" and $50,000+ of damages. Disney in May 2024 alleged that the husband accepted a forced arbi…

1
Jingjing Zhong: UC Berkeley to Investment Banking, General Manager Firefighting & Superbench Services AI Founder - E463 30:43

3M ago30:43

30:43

Jingjing Zhong, CEO & Cofounder of Superbench, and Jeremy Au talked about three main themes: 1. UC Berkeley to Investment Banking: Jingjing reflected on her time at UC Berkeley where the competitive environment introduced her to the high-stakes world of investment banking. She shared her initial motivation for joining Houlihan Lokey, which was to m…

1
Htay Aung: Anywheel Founder Struggles, Winning The Bike-sharing War & Rejecting VC & Acquisition Offers - E462 39:27

3M ago39:27

39:27

Htay Aung, CEO & Founder of Anywheel, and Jeremy Au talked about three main themes: 1. Early Inspiration and Challenges: Htay detailed his journey from an immigrant student facing cultural and language barriers in Singapore to becoming the founder of Anywheel. His initial inspiration came from dealing with traffic in Sydney and Singapore, which led…

1
Indonesia 39% Debt to GDP Ratio vs. Singapore, Free School Lunch Program & Capital City Move from Jakarta to Nusantara with Gita Sjahrir - E461 27:50

3M ago27:50

27:50

Gita Sjahrir, Head of Investment at BNI Ventures, and Jeremy Au talked about three main themes: 1. Indonesia 39% Debt to GDP Ratio vs. Singapore: Jeremy and Gita delved into the policy debate behind Prabowo's decision to increase Indonesia's debt-to-GDP ratio from 39% to 50%, and invest towards achieving an aggressive growth rate of 8% through a ni…

1
DJ Tan: Prince of Fermentation, Coffee Without Beans & Government Food Scientist - E460 30:18

3M ago30:18

30:18

BRAVE Southeast Asia Tech Podcast: DJ Tan, CTO & Cofounder of Prefer, and Jeremy Au talked about three main topics: 1. Government Food Scientist: DJ recounted his early fascination with science and his studies in chemistry at UCL, leading to a focus on food science at Singapore's ASTAR government lab. He shared how his academic and laboratory exper…

1
Patrick Linden: Dealguru $34M Acquisition, Southeast Asia Roll-Up Strategy & Match.asia M&A Marketplace - E459 35:31

3M ago35:31

35:31

Patrick Linden, Cofounder & Managing Partner of Match.Asia, and Jeremy Au discussed three main points: 1. Dealguru $34M Acquisition: Patrick shared his journey beginning from a small village in Germany to moving to Singapore and building iHipo, a platform to connect European students with opportunities in Southeast Asia. This early experience ignit…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Tan Geek Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide