Mr. Tok Show

Tok Jia Jie

Mr. Tok Show is produced and hosted by Tok Jia Jie, in Singapore. Mr. Tok Show is a long format interview show. The interview is not edited, unless indicated otherwise, for which reason(s) I shall declare in my show notes. Any sponsorship, monetary or otherwise, will also be declared in the episode's show notes. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Similarly, words spoken by me are solely my own and do not express the views or opinions of organisations and institutions I am affiliated with from time to time. I aspire the show to be a platform for guests from all walks of life to share their stories, express their opinions and beliefs. I very much welcome all feedback and discussion on the show's content. read less
Society & CultureSociety & Culture

Episodes

MTS#25 Alvin Chiong, Volunteer, Loving Hand Fellowship, on Drugs and Accepting Christ
Aug 8 2022
MTS#25 Alvin Chiong, Volunteer, Loving Hand Fellowship, on Drugs and Accepting Christ
Alvin is a former drug abuser and "recovering addict".  He was incarcerated 4 times for drug abuse. As a kid, he watched his Father abuse opium and later heroin. His Father passed away at the hospital, with opium in his bedside drawer. His Mother left the family. His wife divorced him because of his drug habits, but they later remarried again after he kicked the habit (what a great story!)  In this episode, we talk about his experience and journey with drugs. Why he believes he is just a "recovering addict". His journey accepting Christ, and why asking for help is the most important and powerful thing anyone can do.  Follow Alvin on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100076420544641 Timestamps 0:00 The F&B Industry 3:48 Career vs. Job 4:37 Serving as a Prison Volunteer 6:15 Remarrying his Wife 7:00 Incarceration because of Drugs 8:02 What is a Halfway House? 9:08 Getting a Second Chance at a Halfway House 10:56 3 Kind of People at the Halfway House 14:45 Seeking Help at Halfway House 16:02 Detox at IMH 16:33 Withdrawal Symptoms of Drugs/Addiction 18:13 Worrying Trend of Youngsters Abusing Drugs 19:51 Drug Sources/Drug Dealers' Lifestyle 21:00 Evolving Demographics of Drug Abusers 22:03 Maintaining a Drug Free Singapore 22:39 First Exposure to Drug/Father's Drug Addiction & Vices 25:04 Elder Brother/The Importance of People you Mix With 26:32 Only Regret 26:54 "Triad Trial" by Architect of Life 30:53 Rituals of Secret Societies 31:33 Involvement in Secret Societies 32:17 The Drug Rehabilitation Center (DRC) 33:40 Continuing Rehabilitation at a Halfway House/Cannot Prove Anything While Inside 35:36 Aftercare Services 37:11 Challenges Inmates Face after Release 40:44 Support Network for Inmates 42:08 Repeat Drug Abusers/"We are just Recovering Addicts" 44:38 New "Normal" for Drug Abusers 47:34 CNB Operations 49:12 Who Runs the Drug Syndicates? 52:02 Quitting his Job to Become a Full Time Volunteer 55:38 Accepting Christ & Becoming a Christian 58:20 Understanding Love 1:00:03 Being Able to Share our Problems 1:01:23 Experience with God/Attempting Suicide 1:04:22 Applying Lessons from the Bible/Relationship with God 1:08:32 Suicidal Thoughts Mentality 1:09:16 What Happened to his Father? 1:12:20 Relationship with Wife & 2 Sons 1:14:03 Thoughts of the Death Penalty for Drug Traffickers 1:19:09 The Right Mindset to Quit Drugs 1:21:18 YOLO & FOMO/Thailand's Legalisation of Cannabis 1:25:54 Philosophy to Living Life/What is a Good Life? 1:28:47 Dealing with Negative Comments 1:29:36 Advice to Drug Abusers 1:31:48 Importance of Education/Life Long Learning 1:34:36 Biggest Wish 1:35:32 Plans for the Future/His Concerns 1:36:48 Message for Wife 1:37:33 JJ's Sharing about his Mother 1:39:10 Christianity is about your Relationship with God/On Filial Piety 1:42:01 His Mother 1:43:26 On Building a Relationship with God 1:46:22 Outro  Follow Us on our Social Media!  JJ & The Mr. Tok Show  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrtokshow  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tokjiajie  Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mrtokshow  Twitter: https://twitter.com/mrtokshow
MTS#24 Ken Koh, Director, Nanyang Sauce, on Preserving his Family's Handmade Soy Sauce Heritage
Aug 3 2022
MTS#24 Ken Koh, Director, Nanyang Sauce, on Preserving his Family's Handmade Soy Sauce Heritage
Ken is the 3rd Generation family member of Nanyang Sauce. Nanyang Sauce was founded in 1959 by his grandfather, Mr Tan Tiong How and is a premium artisan sauce maker operating in Singapore. Since joining the family business, he has transformed and rejuvenated the aging business through innovation and cultivating an intrapreneurial culture.  Ken has a strong belief in transforming lives. Prior to joining the family business, Ken was involved in starting his own training business which he ran for 13 years.  In this episode, we talk about why Nanyang Sauce is special, his thoughts on taking over the family business, the modern food industry, the first Web 3.0 Sauce he is concocting, and more!  Nanyang Sauce's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nanyangsauce  Sauce Legend's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saucelegend  Ken's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenkoh/  Timestamps 0:00 Brand New Boutique Shop at Changi Jewel: Sauce Legend 6:04 Why Changi Jewel? 7:38 Vision Behind Sauce Legend 11:09 Why Is Nanyang Sauce Not Available in All Supermarkets? 15:19 Taking over the Family Business 18:11 The Food Industry/Nanyang's Manufacturing Process 20:49 A Sunset Industry 25:32 The Origins of Soya Sauce 27:34 Being Honest with Customers 28:37 Why did the Family Not Call It a Day and Wind Up the Business? 32:50 Remembering his Grandfather, Founder of Nanyang Sauce 35:44 Upholding Traditions in the Business 38:36 Fermenting Nanyang Soya Sauce at Home 40:47 On Family Business & Business Succession 49:33 Going on a Sauce Brewery Tour in the Region/Discovering What's Most Valuable 55:05 Cancer Inducing Food/Researching the Content of our Food 1:06:03 JJ's Tasting! 1:13:07 The Magic of Nanyang Sauce 1:15:55 The Pros & Cons of Running a Family Business 1:18:23 Preserving Food Heritage via Sauce Legend 1:27:56 Business Strategy for Nanyang Sauce 1:29:52 Customer Driven Innovation 1:35:30 Philosophy Towards Marketing 1:43:38 What is a Web 3.0 Sauce? 1:55:25 Preserving Memories of our Loved Ones 1:57:07 What's the Future of Nanyang Sauce? 2:00:49 Make All Sauces Safe Again 2:03:50 Outro Follow Us on our Social Media! JJ & The Mr. Tok Show Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrtokshow Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tokjiajie Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mrtokshow Twitter: https://twitter.com/mrtokshow  JJ's Post Production Notes  "Soy sauce, the condiment that surely must be present in all Asian households that cook. I honestly never thought too much about the manufacturing process of something as common as soy sauce. I would have thought that machines and technology would help in fermenting our soy sauce, but never imagined most of the soy sauce we buy today are essentially chemically produced. There is a Chinese saying 病从口入, it means "illnesses enter through our mouth", I guess referring to the food we eat. Is it then any wonder that cancer continues to be the leading principal cause of death in many modern and developed societies? Is this an inevitable tradeoff for convenience? I am glad there are food manufacturers like Ken who continue to espouse the belief that they would not feed their customers what they would not feed their own children. Meeting a businessman who is a romantic at heart is always refreshing. When dollars and cents, and commercial success is not the only end goal. When preserving a priceless family heritage is as important as making a living. I wish Ken and Nanyang Sauce all the best for generations to come. One thing for sure after this episode, they have got another loyal customer in me who will swear by their products. To umami and good health!“ -JJ
MTS#23 Dr. Alvona Loh, Medical Officer, Ministry of Health on Being a Doctor & Learning Mandarin
Aug 2 2022
MTS#23 Dr. Alvona Loh, Medical Officer, Ministry of Health on Being a Doctor & Learning Mandarin
Dr. Alvona Loh is a young doctor from Singapore. She studied Medicine at National University of Singapore and is currently practising at the National Center for Infectious Diseases (NCID). She also writes and review medical research papers to promote academia.  She has also been writing and contributing articles to media outlets such as Lianhe Zaobao and TODAY over the years. She is also known for being effectively bilingual, with a strong command of both English and Mandarin.  In this episode, we discuss life as a junior doctor working in a Singapore public hospital, her advice for aspiring doctors, her family background, how she became effectively bilingual and adulting issues.  Connect with Dr. Alvona on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alvona-loh/  Timestamps  0:00 Introduction 1:02 Working as a Medical Officer at the National Center for Infectious Disease 4:40 Most & Least Enjoyable Aspects of Job 10:36 The Roster Monster 12:25 The Night Calls 13:39 The Healthcare Great Resignation 14:57 Dr. Alvona's Career Path 16:18 JJ's Experience as a Caregiver/Learning Lessons from the Hospitals 20:54 Palliative Medicine 24:51 Experience with Death Growing Up/Grandfather's Passing Away 26:15 Lessons from Being a Doctor 28:15 Mayor of Taipei City: Professor Ko Wen-je 30:08 Advice for Aspiring Doctor33:01 Has She Always Wanted to be a Doctor?/Attachment Experiences 35:17 Family Background 37:05 Our Experiences in Kebun Bahru 39:45 JJ's Memory of his Paternal Grandmother 41:46 On Community Service 47:07 On Living as a Millennial 49:57 Issues on Dr. Alvona's Mind 52:18 On Singapore Politics/Joining Business China 55:40 China's Variety Shows (最强大脑&奇葩说) 1:02:13 JJ on Distributing Mandarin Content in China 1:04:22 On Bilingualism, Chinese Culture and Learning Mandarin 1:10:55 On Other Cultures 1:12:08 Making an Effort to Learn Mandarin/Writing for Lianhe Zaobao 1:14:58 On Writing 1:18:22 Learning from a Film Production Set 1:19:26 Plans for Upcoming Community Work in Thailand/Lifelong Learning 1:23:36 On Relationships (Does Dr. Alvona have a Boyfriend?) 1:28:37 Dr. Alvona's Ideal Partner 1:31:20 On Adulting/Adult Money 1:34:54 Dealing with People's Perceptions 1:36:44 On Recognizing Own Strengths & Weaknesses 1:38:22 People's Judgement & Assumption 1:42:04 Wanting to Learn Tiktok 1:44:50 On Gender Stereotypes 1:50:10 Our Views on Toxic Masculinity 1:55:18 On Raising Boys & Girls 1:56:30 Outro  Follow Us on our Social Media!  JJ & The Mr. Tok Show Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrtokshow  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tokjiajie  Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mrtokshow  Twitter: https://twitter.com/mrtokshow
MTS#22, Dr. Angela Tan, Co-Founder, Academy of Relationship and Sex on Sex & the Metaverse
Jun 27 2022
MTS#22, Dr. Angela Tan, Co-Founder, Academy of Relationship and Sex on Sex & the Metaverse
Dr. Angela Tan is family physician, intimacy coach and social venture builder. She is the Co-Founder of The Academy of Relationship & Sex (ARAS), which aspires to help people forge deeper & meaningful connections that strengthens their relationships and expression of sexual identity. In this episode, I ask Dr. Angela curious questions about sex and relationship, her aspiration to build a sexual wellness academy in the metaverse, and what her team at ARAS is up to with their upcoming 2nd NFT series drop. Academy of Relationship & Sex & Dr. Angela Tan ARAS' Website: https://www.academyrns.com/ ARAS' YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdKMsLqrcYsnnFXGPdhWFLw ARAS' IG: https://www.instagram.com/academyrns/ ARAS' Twitter: https://twitter.com/Academyrns Dr. Tan's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-angela-tan-338080183/ The Intimacy Kit! https://www.academyrns.com/intimacy-merchanise/merchandise?tag=Intimacy%20KitYes-No-Maybe by ARAShttps://static1.squarespace.com/static/5f83e4c75fcfbb2127f808d6/t/611ba82e60a9ed2e90fffc81/1629202484459/YES-NO-MAYBE+%281%29+%281%29.pdfTimestamps 0:00 Introduction 1:17 Referring Patients with Issues Relating to Sex 1:54 The Importance of Relationships in our Life/Dr. Angela's Work 4:15 How Should We Learn to Have Sex? 6:20 How Should Parents Approach their Children's First Relationship 8:46 What is the Significance of Sex? 10:10 Do Men & Women Face Similar Issues? 11:36 Sex is not just about the Intercourse 12:02 Issues Married Couples Face/How to Reject Request/Scheduling Sex 14:20 Are Singaporean Couples Not having Enough Sex? 15:16 Is there an Ideal Frequency for Sex? 16:46 Is it Ok for Married Couples to not have Sex? 17:35 When do People see Dr. Angela? 18:57 Pre-Marital Sex/Teaching Consequences & Respect 22:10 Sex Education in Schools 25:40 Teaching Consent 28:34 The Work of Academy of Relationships & Sex 30:30 The Academy of Relationships & Sex's Vision & Signature Pleasure Masterclass 32:14 What is Web 3.0 & NFTs to Dr. Angela? 33:33 Creating a Healing Space in the Metaverse 34:38 Why do Some People Always Attract the Wrong Partners? 37:23 Good Guys Finish Last?/Why do Girls like Bad Boys? 38:42 Are Men & Women Wired Differently with Regards to Infidelity? 42:25 Red Lines in Relationships? 43:35 How can Singles Practice Sexual Wellness? 44:51 Views on Different Relationship Models/Presenting a JD in Relationships 47:11 Setting Expectations & Boundaries Early on in a Relationship 49:33 Academy of Relationships & Sex's 1st NFT Series: #CelebrateWomb 51:21 Upcoming NFT Launch: &Otterhalf 52:45 Building a Fairer Community in the Metaverse 55:24 Academy of Relationships & Sex's Intimacy Kit 58:50 Final Advice for Men & Women 1:01:59 Dr. Angela's Self Care Framework Zhuang Ying 1:03:52 &Otterhalf NFT Project 1:05:30 Why Otters? 1:06:26 How does the Couple Matching Platform Work? 1:09:22 Creative Challenges
MTS#21, AhJie文王爷, 来自马来西亚的民间文化创作者
Jun 16 2022
MTS#21, AhJie文王爷, 来自马来西亚的民间文化创作者
DISCLAIMER:此影片涉及宗教,尤其是对道教庙宇文化的讨论。纯属个人看法,仅供参考。 AhJie文王爷是来自马来西亚的民間信仰影片创作者。 我通过追踪他的IG,偶然知道他人在新加坡,拍摄不同庙宇的故事。 因此决定邀请他一起在节目上聊聊我们对道教以及庙宇文化的想法。 AhJie文王爷YouTube频道: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0hgH-nQ8zDnScoUkf6xosg IG: https://www.instagram.com/ahjie1996/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wenwang0428 Timestamps 0:00 开场 1:22 有关Youtube 4:10 对新加坡的回忆 5:05 新加坡的改变/与马来西亚的不同 7:03 新加坡庙宇地契的问题 8:12 新加坡的喊标文化/经济上的不同 11:21 马来西亚不同区域的文化差别 12:35 成长背景 13:37 歌台/布袋戏文化 15:31 什么时候开始对庙宇文化产生兴趣? 17:09 跳童/乩童文化 21:43 平安符/冲花澡的意义是什么? 22:59 文王爷的跳童心得 24:23 恩主:温侯元帅 26:44 如何请天令? 27:45 我们的民间神明到底是谁?/分灵的概念 32:19 用政治系统来探讨分灵的概念 33:58 家中神明的供奉 35:01 布施行善,回向,累计阴德 38:00 回响的方法 38:43 跳童时的体验 40:46 死后的状态 42:15 祭拜祖先的意义 45:22 庙宇人力资源的问题 47:32 正面的与神明交流的心态 49:17 道教的负面新闻 50:19 有关鬼神 51:57 与印度教的渊源 53:58 帮印度和道教恩主服务的区别 54:36 跳童时自身的灵魂在哪? 55:23 马来西亚华人信奉印度教多吗? 56:11 神是什么? 57:00 面对批评 58:26 做Youtuber的感触 59:30 新加坡之旅 1:00:23 文王爷的经典之作 1:02:35 与观众的交流 1:05:36 对未来的期许 1:07:26 初学者可以如何开始探讨道教文化? 1:09:31 拿督公文化 1:18:08 总结 Follow Us on our Social Media! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrtokshow Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tokjiajie Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mrtokshow Twitter: https://twitter.com/mrtokshow Listen to the Mr. Tok Show's Audio Podcast Website: https://www.mrtokshow.com Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7LaJKpUpkxxV2lglkZwawg?si=0044d09c576144b3 Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/sg/podcast/mr-tok-show/id1558280398 JJ's Post Production Notes "我本身从小生长在道教家庭。爷爷爸爸都信奉道教神明。对我而言,道教文化,庙宇文化有着一层神秘的面纱。不同的庙宇都有自己的一套体系及做法,各有各法。我和妈妈在2018年皈依了佛门三宝。但是毕竟儒释道在中华文化息息相关,所以我还是对道教信仰有着浓厚的兴趣。AhJie文王爷说我们的访谈是个交流,我再同意不过。非常开心有这个机会和邻国的自媒体创作者有这样的交流。希望你们也能从我们的交流中得到一些对于道教文化新的认识。“ -JJ
MTS#20, Goh Meng Seng, Secretary-Gen, People's Power Party, on the Pandemic & SG's V Programme
Jun 10 2022
MTS#20, Goh Meng Seng, Secretary-Gen, People's Power Party, on the Pandemic & SG's V Programme
Timestamps0:00 Content Creation & Freedom of Speech3:03 What is Science?3:27  Where is the Boundary for Freedom of Speech?/How to Moderate Content?11:16 Do we Need to Police the Internet?15:10 Linking our Singpass to Social Media17:10 The "Internet Brigade" 20:49 Views on Facebook's Fact Checkers 23:26 How do we Deal with the Unknown?/How would he have Handled the Masking Issue?34:25 How does GMS Work with Data?39:04 Does V Confer Protection?41:58 GMS "Do Not Know" if V Confer Protection44:19 Does Benefits of V Outweigh Risk?46:13 Should we Encourage the Elderly to Receive the V?50:22 JJ's Family's COVID Infection Experience/What is "Home/Early Treatment"?55:34 How would GMS Administer V in Singapore?58:41 "You Should Know your Body"/We Need Customized Advice for Everyone?1:00:22 What Happens if we do not have the V?/"Early Treatment" Saves the Day1:03:40 GMS will not Provide V for All Singaporeans/Focus on "Early Treatment"1:05:28 Why GMS Doesn't Believe the V is Safe1:09:05 GMS: V is Contributing to Excess Death1:15:40 Increased Sighting of Ambulances/What does it mean for GMS?1:20:43 Who is the Expert?/GMS: "In Front of the Unknown, no one is an Expert"1:23:53 The Importance of Long Term Data1:24:51 V Technology1:27:58 GMS Believes People are Dying Because of the V1:29:06 What Could be Happening in North Korea?/The Delta Wave at India1:30:47 How Does GMS Read Death Rates1:32:30 V Injuries1:33:23 JJ's Paternal Grandfather's Passing Away1:41:47 Will there be an Emerging Trend of Increased Heart Disease Related Issues?1:44:18 The Social & Economic Cost of the Pandemic 1:46:40 GMS's "Confidence" in his Early Treatment Methods1:51:26 GMS: "The Virus will Mutate Itself until It's Mild"1:52:39 The Govt had Good Intentions, but Made the Wrong Judgement1:53:24 GMS's Approach to Handling the Pandemic 1:55:14 Alternative Treatments Effective?/GMS: V is not the Solution1:57:38 GMS: LHQW has Saved the Day in Singapore/Kim Jong Un Should Stock Up on It2:00:53 No Long Term Data, No Talk2:03:45 GMS: The mRNA Technology has been a Failure All Along 2:07:26 Fraud?/GMS: It's Impossible the Trials Were Conducted Properly 2:14:02 Why have Almost All Govts Approved the V?2:16:36 GMS: Hong Kong Shot Themself in the Foot 2:21:00 GMS: Government is Downplaying V Injuries 2:27:02 Do People Generally Accept the Risk of V Injuries?2:29:53 Long Term Data, How many Years do we Need?2:31:31 GMS Wants to Make Singaporeans Pay for their Own V 2:33:45 GMS: COVID-19 is not as Deadly as we Make it out to be2:34:18 On Long COVID2:36:37 Is GMS Prejudiced and Biased?2:42:10 GMS: "I want to get COVID"2:45:47 Does GMS Really "Want to get COVID"?2:48:47 GMS Seemingly Can't Get COVID? He Already Got COVID Back in Oct 2019??2:52:21 Does GMS Feel Lonely and Isolated?2:53:45 Does Benefits of V outweigh Risk?2:55:13 GMS: Government is not Pushing for Boosters2:57:13 GMS: There are 1,291 Known Adverse Reactions to the V3:01:00 On Taiwan3:01:46 GMS: People Do Not Understand Enough the Risk of the V3:03:08 Leveraging Big Data to Analyse Trends3:05:24 Why Does GMS Think More People are Agreeing with his Views?3:06:33 GMS: "Almost everyone or every family have heard of someone dying after V"3:08:45 GMS: 3 Elements Needed to Emerge from Pandemic 3:13:34 China's Zero COVID Policy3:15:18 GMS: "We Need to have Controlled Infection of the Young"3:19:21 Is V for the Collective Good of Society?3:19:51 GMS Does Not Know if Singapore is very Different from Shangh
MTS#18, Dr. Koong Heng Nung, Founder, Tobacco Free Generation International Ltd, on Tackling Smoking
May 31 2022
MTS#18, Dr. Koong Heng Nung, Founder, Tobacco Free Generation International Ltd, on Tackling Smoking
Today 31st May, is World No Tobacco Day, I specially sit down with Dr. Koong Heng Nung to talk about how we can save our future generations from becoming the victims of smoking and vaping. Dr Koong is the Founder of TFG International Ltd. TFG stands for Tobacco Free Generation. It is a registered non-profit organisation that seeks to promote the tobacco endgame. As a Specialist Doctor, he runs Koong & Ho Surgery Centre Pte Ltd, at Mt. Elizabeth Novena Hospital. At the international level, he is the global leader of the Tobacco Free Generation Endgame approach that is increasingly being adopted by governments to prevent smoking and vaping related diseases. Learn more about TFG's Vision & Mission! Website: https://www.tobaccofreegen.com/ Timestamps 0:00 JJ's Introduction 0:39 Dr. Koong's Self Introduction 1:16 On Lung Cancer 2:25 What does World No Tobacco Day Mean for Dr. Koong 3:19 JJ's Experience with Smokers 4:45 Current Measures to Bring Down Smoking Rates 8:46 The Shortcomings of Minimum Age Law 14:34 The Basis of Minimum Age Law 16:12 TFG's Vision 19:21 The Evil Tobacco Industry/We should not "Blame" Smokers 21:38 Educating the Younger Generation 22:46 TFG's Methodologies 24:15 We All Hope our Young Can Refrain from Smoking, Including the Smokers 26:29 Reaching out to the Smoke Free Cohorts/We Need to "Turn Off the Tap" 28:58 How do the Young React to TFG's Vision 31:47 How is TFG's Vision Communicated to Primary School Students? 34:53 Second Hand Smoke Kills 36:43 The Grandfathering Clause; Phasing out Current Practices 38:45 On Legislation 42:18 Success Story in Balanga City, Philippines 43:50 Teaching our Younger Generation Advocacy 46:49 Ground Consensus in Crucial in Implementing TFG's Vision 47:47 What is Stopping the Singapore Government from Implementing TFG? 52:35 Enforcing TFG on the Ground 54:27 What about Tourists? 55:27 The Vaping Problem/Is Vaping "Safer" than Smoking? 58:00 Is Just Education Efforts Sufficient? 59:31 The Global TFG Movement 1:01:55 Is Dr. Koong Optimistic that TFG's Vision can be Implemented in Singapore? 1:03:47 Implementing TFG on the Ground in Balanga City, Philippines 1:04:49 Cigarettes Retailers' Position 1:06:20 Going Against TFG; Is it Fair to Restrict Our Future Generation? 1:08:40 The Issue of Human Rights; The Rights to Smoke 1:10:28 Enforcing TFG on the Ground 1:11:27 The Social Cost of Smoking 1:12:42 Cost of Lung Cancer Treatment/Surviving Lung Cancer 1:14:49 How did Dr. Koong Start Championing the TFG Vision 1:17:27 Dr. Koong's Sense of Mission/Passion to Teach Advocacy 1:21:25 The People Supporting TFG 1:24:23 Kind Local Philanthropist's Support 1:26:02 Volunteering with TFG 1:26:42 Dr. Koong's Goal to Spread TFG's Vision Globally 1:28:16 JJ's Thoughts/Outro Follow Us on our Social Media!JJ & The Mr. Tok ShowInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrtokshowLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tokjiajieTiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mrtokshowTwitter: https://twitter.com/mrtokshow
MTS#19, Naomi Ong, Youth Volunteer, Tobacco Free Generation International Ltd
May 31 2022
MTS#19, Naomi Ong, Youth Volunteer, Tobacco Free Generation International Ltd
Correction: The minimum age to smoke in Singapore has already been raised to 21 years old since 1st January 2021. MOH Press Release: https://www.moh.gov.sg/news-highlights/details/minimum-legal-age-for-tobacco-raised-to-21-years-old-from-1-january-2021Naomi Ong is a youth volunteer with Tobacco Free Generation International Ltd (TFG). Today, 31st May, is World No Tobacco Day. You can watch my interview with Dr. Koong Heng Nung, Founder of TFG on their vision and mission to protect future generation from all tobacco products. Check out Ep. 18 of the show. Youtube interview with Dr. Koong: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AY8RWPdBuI Learn more about TFG's Vision & Mission! Website: https://www.tobaccofreegen.com/Dr. Koong suggested I get Naomi on the show to hear a youth volunteer perspective on TFG's vision. I was happy to! Naomi and I discussed if it's still seen as cool to be smoking today, her concerns on the environmental impact of the tobacco industry, and more.0:00 JJ's Introduction0:36 Naomi's Introduction1:06 Volunteering with TFG3:36 What does the TFG Vision Mean to Her?5:02 Is it Still Cool to be Smoking as a Teenager?6:09 Why do Teenagers Pick Up Smoking?7:16 Teenagers Vaping7:57 Is Naomi Curious about Smoking/Vaping?8:53 Smokers' Culture9:58 Concern about the Implementation of TFG11:09 Environmental Concerns of the Tobacco Industry12:45 Thoughts on Dr. Koong's Work with TFG16:00 OutroFollow Us on our Social Media!JJ & The Mr. Tok ShowInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrtokshowLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tokjiajieTiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mrtokshowTwitter: https://twitter.com/mrtokshowJJ's Post Production Notes "It's always refreshing talking to the younger generation. They are full of ideas, and the world is their oyster. Naomi came across as smart, kind and hardworking. I met her at Dr. Koong's clinic and saw her leadership skills in action as well. She's working on a video contest for TFG International and has good work to do alongside Dr. Koong. I wish her all the best for her studies as well! " -JJ
MTS#17, Mohammad Shariff Abdullah, Blade Runner, on overcoming adversities & living his best life
May 30 2022
MTS#17, Mohammad Shariff Abdullah, Blade Runner, on overcoming adversities & living his best life
Mr. Mohammad Shariff Abdullah is a professional Para-Athlete and an inspirational speaker. He was born without a left foot and had to crawl and hop around before his Father got him his first wooden prosthetic leg. In 2008, due to a skin infection on his stump, he had to undergo further amputation. He was devastated and entertained thoughts of ending his life. While searching for the term "suicide" on Youtube, he came across a video of Oscar Pistorius, a South African former professional sprinter, whose both feet were amputated when he was 11 months old owing to a congenital defect. He was inspired by what Oscar Pistorius was able to achieve being a double amputee, and decided he would become a runner too. In this episode, we talk about his childhood, how he overcame all the curveballs life threw at him, his work experiences, attitude towards money, his sporting feats, and much more! Topics in timestamps below as usual! "The Wheelchair Article" we Discussed at the Starthttps://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/wheelchair-users-bus-ramps-disabled-public-transport-2646311Watch Our Video Podcast on Youtube!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3N9SxIpVlAFollow Shariff's Instagram for more of life's goodness! Shariff's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shariffthebladeofficial/ Timestamps 0:00 On Wheelchair Users 2:05 Empathizing with Wheelchair Users 3:32 Hari Raya 2022 6:03 What does "God Willing" Mean? 8:58 Lying to Gain Employment 10:14 Hiding his Disability from his Employers 10:55 Becoming the Blade Runner 12:15 Fearing that Employers would Find Out about his Disability 13:38 We all Lie in Life/Is there a Better Way in Hindsight? 16:20 His Life Journey (Learning from Life's Lessons and not Quitting) 17:58 Volunteering for the Yellow Ribbon Project 20:04 Let's not Judge People 21:09 His Mindset Approaching Life/Childhood 23:59 His First Job/First Learning about Money 26:13 Getting Married 30:25 His Father/First Time Receiving his Prosthetic Leg 34:04 Father's Passing Away 35:10 Father's Inspiration 36:09 His Mother 37:42 When did he Start Telling Himself Good Stories? 41:22 How to Improve your Life? Environment is Very Important 43:36 Lowest Point in Life 48:56 Moving on from his Amputation and Picking up Sports 51:31 Becoming a Motivation Speaker/Getting Advice from Oscar Pistorius 54:00 The D.R.E.A.M Framework/First TED Talk 55:57 Giving Back 58:29 Philosophy Towards Money/Money Habits 1:00:14 Moving to a Condo 1:01:51 Doing Ad Hoc Work 1:02:44 "Life is like a Marathon" 1:03:38 Contentment vs. Ambition 1:05:36 Proudest Sporting Feat & Achievement 1:08:24 FWD North Pole Marathon 1:16:18 On Personal Branding & Social Media 1:19:49 Spread Positivity 1:20:57 Plans for the Future 1:21:58 Giving Thanks to Sponsors 1:23:10 "Go to Sleep with a Clean Heart, Wake up & Set your Intentions" 1:25:30 Advice to Younger Generation 1:26:17 Outro
MTS#16, Jane Tor, on values, healing and why the fabric of our consciousness is love
May 27 2022
MTS#16, Jane Tor, on values, healing and why the fabric of our consciousness is love
Jane is a digital nomad, working on a full time job on the go, at various countries. After going through a divorce, she decided to prioritise her mental well-being, healing and finding herself again. She needed space to heal from her trauma, and started traveling in the initial stages of the pandemic. Jane and I discussed the concept of love, what it means to be Chinese, ego, her parents' parenting style, marriage, and what my biggest worry in life is. It was nearly a therapy session for me. She is inviting anyone who can resonate with her to get in touch. She has set out to be of service to others, by sharing her experiences and thoughts. If you would like to get in touch with her, please do so! Write to Jane! DM her & follow her journey on IG: https://www.instagram.com/janetoryl/ Connect on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetor/ Watch her on Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@janetoryl?lang=enTimestamps 0:00 Next Destination 1:11 Does Singapore feel Different with Eased COVID-19 Restrictions? 2:42 Countries she Traveled to the 2 Years/What's Society? 5:52 Society vs. Community 7:23 On Conflict, Misunderstandings, & Ego/The Truth Hurts 9:14 Tech in Communication/Different Communication Modes 10:00 Views on Asian Expectations/How do we Identify as Chinese? 15:31 Jane's Upbringing & Family's Culture 17:35 On Filial Piety/The Various Identities we Hold 19:27 Ego Standing in the Way of Communication 21:03 Dealing with Stubborn People 21:33 Biggest "Disagreement" with Parents; Religious Faith 24:51 What is Love? What does it Mean we are all Made of Love? 29:18 Taking Calculated Risk during her Travels 30:59 First Traveling to Mexico in 2020 and Finding a Place to Heal 33:55 JJ's Backpacking Experience 36:30 Expectations Leaving Singapore 38:00 Mental Health/State Initially 39:21 The Pain Jane was Suffering 42:00 Knowing Someone Before Marriage 45:55 On Hurt 47:00 Marriage Advice/Is there a Common Vision & Future? 48:00 On Marriage 52:30 On Interpersonal Relationships 56:35 On Truth 57:10 Jane's Change in the last 2 Years/Being our Authentic Self 59:26 How do we not "Hurt" People? 1:01:08 Dealing with Criticisms 1:03:47 Digital Nomad vs. Getting Posted Overseas as CEO of a Big Bank 1:06:17 Do her Parents Worry about her Lifestyle as a Digital Nomad? 1:11:11 Are her Parents Unique in their Thinking? 1:13:20 How do we Change our Parents' Perspective of Us? 1:14:45 Her Blog/Her Thinking Process/On Intentions 1:17:32 Jane's Intention to be of Service to People/What's Troubling JJ 1:23:28 On Indulging in Durians 1:29:26 Meeting Expectations in Life & On Disappointment 1:32:14 Be Aware & Pick your Emotions 1:32:57 On Stress & Retirement 1:35:35 Relationship with Singapore 1:38:30 Enjoying the Ocean/Favourite City 1:41:43 How does she Intend to be of Service to Others? 1:42:45 How to Heal?/The Benefits of Therapy 1:46:01 It's in our Capacity to Change & Learn & Improve 1:49:22 On being of Service to Others 1:50:59 Is it Difficult for Jane to Find & Accept Romance Again? 1:55:23 How does Jane Sets her Intentions? 1:57:16 "We Pick the Battles we Think we can Win"/On Regrets 1:59:41 On being Woke 2:01:00 Jane's Open Invitation to get in Touch 2:03:28 Outro
MTS#15, Jacky Mak, on being an independent artist in Singapore
May 25 2022
MTS#15, Jacky Mak, on being an independent artist in Singapore
Jacky is a Singapore-based mural artist who first picked up a brush in 2009. He immediately realised he had to pursue painting for the rest of his life. Most well-known for his massive murals of vivid landscape scenes & animal portraits, he is deeply inspired by the original Impressionists. He is constantly looking for bigger walls to paint upon & share how he sees the world. He has come a long way since taking art as a subject in school, to making a full time living with his art via commercial and commissioned work. In this conversation, we talk about his journey as an artist, how he approaches online & personal branding, and his parents' reaction to him pursuing art full time. Jacky Mak Jacky's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackyvsthewall/ Timestamps0:00 Meeting Jacky at his First Solo Exhibition 1:05 Plans for Second Exhibition? 1:33 What does this Exhibition mean for Jacky?/Preparation Process 3:21 Memorable Experiences from the Exhibition/Learning Lessons 6:40 Vision for the Next Exhibition 8:08 Jacky's Journey as an Artist 9:17 Parents' Reaction to his Inclination to Pursue Art as a Career 13:03 First Time Making Money with his Art 14:34 When did he First Thought of Pursuing Art Full Time? 17:05 Promoting Himself on Social Media 18:02 The Importance of Leveraging Social Media 20:16 The Internet Changing the Art Marketplace 23:09 Networking as an Artist 24:45 Tips for Artists who Struggle with Self Promotion 26:51 How does he View Competition as an Artist 30:21 The Importance of Putting Bread & Butter on the Table (Part 1) 31:19 The Singapore Art Community 32:20 Bread & Butter (Part 2) 33:49 Connecting with the Singapore Art Community 34:41 How has his Artistic Style Evolved over the Years 37:15 Mentors 37:58 Has he Settled on Art as his Full Time Career 38:53 Talent vs. Hard Work/What does it Take to get to the Top as an Artist? 40:48 Humility vs. Self Confidence as an Artist 42:43 Views on NFTs 45:07 Explore other Art Forms?/Moving out into a Dedicated Work Space 46:52 Plans for the Next 6 Months 49:30 How does he Balance the Stress of Commercial Work & Ensuring his Creative Best 52:21 Getting Busy ("Busy is good, busy is the best") 54:52 Views on Societal Expectations 57:44 There are Many Pathways to Success/Support is Always Appreciated when Starting Out 59:34 Taking Accountability for our Own Decision 1:00:01 What does Success Mean to Him/Plans for the Future 1:01:27 Does he Intend to Remain a Solo Artist or Scale his Art Business? 1:03:16 Advice to Aspiring Artists 1:04:33 Outro
MTS#14, OKJ, Documentary Filmmaker on his journey & upcoming project "The Feeling of Music Playing"
May 23 2022
MTS#14, OKJ, Documentary Filmmaker on his journey & upcoming project "The Feeling of Music Playing"
OKJ is a Singapore-based documentary storyteller. He is working on his biggest and most ambitious feature documentary yet, "The Feeling of Music Playing". He is embarking on this project as an independent documentary filmmaker, self funding the production in its entirety. I speak to him about his recent projects, including a series on Tiktok, the business of a documentary filmmaker, the risk he's taking on this latest and biggest project, and why the risk of regret ultimately outweighs everything. OKJ Telegram Channel: @okjworksLearning Mandarin Docu-Series on Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@okjworksWhy Monkey Bars Started Disappearing from Playgrounds?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zITMym7IOIQ&t=5sTimestamps 0:00 Starting a Tiktok Docu-series on him Learning Mandarin Again 5:33 Learning Mother Tongue vs. Picking up a Third Language Debate 10:43 Why was Tiktok the Chosen Platform 14:00 Producing what the Audience Wants vs. Exercising our Creative Freedom 18:02 Working On Screen 21:00 Motivation to be On Screen 23:16 Appeal of Video Podcasting for JJ 26:37 What does it Mean to do Justice to the Story? 29:23 How does he Reflect Upon whether he has done Justice to his Work? 30:53 On Commercial Success & Innate Talent 33:24 Aspiration in Life (To Replicate what his Parents Gave him for his Children) 35:53 What is the Business of a Documentary Filmmaker in Singapore? 39:01 "Life is not a Finite Multiple-choice" 42:44 Carving our Life's Destiny/Recognising our Blessings in Life 46:56 Risk Taking/Money Philosophy as an Independent Film Maker 49:29 The Risk of Regrets 52:56 Giving Himself a 10 Years Checkpoint in his Career/Setting Multiple Checkpoints in Life 1:00:19 JJ Dropping A Maths/Experience in Ngee Ann Poly School of Film & Media Studies 1:01:46 Producing & Funding his Upcoming Feature Documentary 1:05:58 How does he Plan to Sell this Feature Documentary 1:10:23 Going on the Film Festivals Circuit 1:11:21 How has the Documentary Industry Evolved in the last 10 Years 1:13:29 What is this Documentary "The Feeling of Music Playing" About? 1:20:01 What does the Film Hope to Achieve? 1:22:25 The Choice of Instruments Featured/Challenges of Making the Documentary 1:25:13 When will "The Feeling of Music Playing" be Available to Screen? 1:28:20 The Difficulty & Complexities of Capturing the Essence of Music 1:29:39 Innate Talent is not a Prerequisite to Succeed at or Enjoy doing Something 1:32:45 Work Smart or Work Hard? (Why not both?!) 1:35:28 What Made him Take this Leap of Faith to Self Fund this Documentary 1:37:59 The Role of Luck/Embracing the Serendipities of Life 1:42:00 Connecting the Dots Backwards/Reflecting upon his Journey 1:46:08 Getting in Touch with OKJ 1:47:44 Outro Watch the Video Podcast on Youtube!https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCORhVKcas-PmIfjtv0_Xh3w/videosFollow OKJ his Social Media! OKJ Work's Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/OKJWorks OKJ's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/okjworks/ OKJ's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/okjworks/ OKJ's Twitter: https://twitter.com/OKJWorks OKJ's Tiktok (The Chinese Docu-series): https://www.tiktok.com/@okjworks
MTS#13, Cherie Wang, Founder, Planner Bee, on disrupting the insurance industry
May 19 2022
MTS#13, Cherie Wang, Founder, Planner Bee, on disrupting the insurance industry
Cherie founded Planner Bee to put a mobile financial advisor in everyone's pocket. They reached 10,000 users in the first 7 months, and the app is now available across the region. Her career started in financial advisory, and she has always saw her role as an educator, helping clients make better financial decisions. Passionate about raising financial literacy, she is now driving Planner Bee with her Co-Founder (who happens to be her Brother) to empower users to reach their money goals. In this episode, we chat about our respective experience in the Financial Advisory industry, why she started Planner Bee, the challenges she faced, and an impromptu "app review" where we exchanged ideas on the apps' various features.Watch the Video Podcast on Youtube!https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCORhVKcas-PmIfjtv0_Xh3w/videosFollow Us on our Social Media!Cherie WangCherie's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherie-wang/Email (for feedback on Planner Bee app): cherie@plannerbee.coJJ & The Mr. Tok ShowFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/mrtokshowInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrtokshowLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tokjiajieTiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mrtokshowTwitter: https://twitter.com/mrtokshowJJ's Post Production Notes "There is a select group of insurance practitioners who aspire to do a lot more than just serve many clients and make lots of money while doing so. They think more deeply of the problem, often from a First Principles perspective and seek out to revolutionize the insurance industry. Cherie is one of them. It's a really tough pursuit because the industry is heavily regulated and many ideas are very capital intensive as well. I really applaud Cherie's courage to even have a go at it. My family and I are beneficiaries of life insurance. I have spent 12 years of my career with AIA Singapore, advising clients on their insurance needs. I absolutely agree with Cherie that many practices and structure are very backwards, outdated, and probably ripe for disruption. I wish Cherie and Planner Bee all the best in their endeavors. Her success will mean many good things. People are more aware of their financial status, own more insurance cover, and also keep the very traditional life insurance industry on their toes to keep innovating for their benefit of consumers. All the best to Planner Bee! "
MTS#10, Aerie Rei, on coming out as a transgender woman, family's reaction & her childhood (Part 1)
May 4 2022
MTS#10, Aerie Rei, on coming out as a transgender woman, family's reaction & her childhood (Part 1)
DISCLAIMER: NSFW. This interview discusses transgenderism, religion, bullying, and there are also sexual references. Minors below the Age of 18 may want to seek guidance from a trusted adult when watching this interview. Aerie Rei is a transgender woman, independent content creator, and porn star. Our full conversation is more than 2.5 hours long, and I am releasing them in 3 parts. In Part 1, we talk about her decision and process coming out as a transgender woman, her family's reaction to it, why she decided to quit her job as a civil servant, childhood, school life, and experience in army. Follow Us on our Social Media!Aerie ReiAerie Rei's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aerie_rei/Aerie Rei's Twitter: https://twitter.com/Aerie_ReiJJ & The Mr. Tok ShowFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/mrtokshowInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrtokshowLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tokjiajieTiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mrtokshowTwitter: https://twitter.com/mrtokshowJJ's Post Production Notes "What should I say... Well, first of all, I thank Aerie for accepting my invitation to come on the podcast to share her story. It's a huge privilege, for her to trust me to present her story to the world. She shared, so generously, so candidly, from the bottom of her heart. Coming out as a transgender takes so much courage and determination. I tried my best to ask the difficult questions while maintaining 100% respect for Aerie and her journey. That's very important to me, I have no intention to sensationalize anything for the sake of "content". And this is my aspiration for the Mr. Tok Show from the very start, giving a voice to everyone, and for it to be a trusted platform for life stories to be shared. I hope you enjoyed Part 1 of this interview, thank you!"
MTS#12, Aerie Rei, on polyamorous relationships, family ties, and dating as a trans woman (Part 3)
May 4 2022
MTS#12, Aerie Rei, on polyamorous relationships, family ties, and dating as a trans woman (Part 3)
DISCLAIMER: NSFW. This interview discusses transgenderism, religion, bullying, and there are also explicit sexual references. Minors below the Age of 18 may want to seek guidance from a trusted adult when watching this interview. Aerie Rei is a transgender woman, independent content creator, and porn star. Our full conversation is more than 2.5 hours long, and I am releasing them in 3 parts. This is the final Part 3. You can watch the other 2 parts here: Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OA1SaP86cM&t=3116s Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7FOU7SKX3I&t=2117s In Part 3, we talk about her marriage, the concept of polyamorous relationships, the woes of dating as a transgender woman and family ties.Follow Us on our Social Media!Aerie ReiAerie Rei's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aerie_rei/Aerie Rei's Twitter: https://twitter.com/Aerie_ReiJJ & The Mr. Tok ShowFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/mrtokshowInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrtokshowLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tokjiajieTiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mrtokshowTwitter: https://twitter.com/mrtokshowJJ's Post Production Notes "Ahhh... I really... you know, had to hold my tears back. What happens if my son comes along to tell me one day she is a woman? It's tough right. I know it's tough. But I strongly believe love can transcend all notions of gender, religion and philosophy. We have come to Part 3, and the final release of my interview with Aerie. She came across as someone intellectual, kind, and thoughtful. We went into this interview not knowing what we would discuss. We had a small set of questions prepared, but threw it away as soon as the interview started. This interview brought me to many places I never thought I would explore. I thoroughly enjoyed this conversation with Aerie. And once again, I thank her for giving me this opportunity to present her story. It's been an honour. I wish her all the best in all her future endeavors! "
MTS#11, Aerie Rei, on becoming a Porn Star in the USA (Part 2)
May 4 2022
MTS#11, Aerie Rei, on becoming a Porn Star in the USA (Part 2)
DISCLAIMER: NSFW. This interview discusses transgenderism, religion, bullying, and there are also sexual references. Minors below the Age of 18 may want to seek guidance from a trusted adult when watching this interview. Aerie Rei is a transgender woman, independent content creator, and porn star. Our full conversation is more than 2.5 hours long, and I am releasing them in 3 parts. This is Part 2. You can watch Part 1 here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OA1SaP86cM&t=2080s In Part 2, we talk about her desire and motivation behind becoming a porn star, her work as an escort, and experience shooting porn in the USA. Follow Us on our Social Media!Aerie ReiAerie Rei's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aerie_rei/Aerie Rei's Twitter: https://twitter.com/Aerie_ReiJJ & The Mr. Tok ShowFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/mrtokshowInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrtokshowLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tokjiajieTiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mrtokshowTwitter: https://twitter.com/mrtokshowJJ's Post Production Notes "What should I say... Well, first of all, I thank Aerie for accepting my invitation to come on the podcast to share her story. It's a huge privilege, for her to trust me to present her story to the world. She shared, so generously, so candidly, from the bottom of her heart. Coming out as a transgender takes so much courage and determination. I tried my best to ask the difficult questions while maintaining 100% respect for Aerie and her journey. That's very important to me, I have no intention to sensationalize anything for the sake of "content". And this is my aspiration for the Mr. Tok Show from the very start, giving a voice to everyone, and for it to be a trusted platform for life stories to be shared. I hope you enjoyed Part 1 of this interview, thank you!"
Miracle in a Briefcase #3 France Zaguirre, AIA Singapore, on Waiting Tables in F&B to Achieving COT
Apr 15 2022
Miracle in a Briefcase #3 France Zaguirre, AIA Singapore, on Waiting Tables in F&B to Achieving COT
France is a Financial Services Manager from AIA Singapore. France arrived in Singapore from the Philippines, on an internship. He graduated with a Degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management, and was offered a full time role in the F&B industry after he completed his internship. He took the offer to live and work in Singapore, but was constantly on the lookout for other opportunities. His life changed after one of his friends introduced him to the Financial Advisory industry. Today he is a consistent MDRT qualifier, with 4 times MDRT and 1 time COT qualification. He is now paying it forward by supporting various charities both in Singapore, and back home in Philippines. He also started a bubble tea chain back home, and currently runs 16 outlets, employing nearly 100 people. Listen to his inspiring story of success, and selfless sharing of how he excels in the Financial Advisory industry. Follow Us on our Social Media!JJ & The Mr. Tok Show/Miracle in a BriefcaseFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/mrtokshowInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrtokshowLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tokjiajieTiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mrtokshowTwitter: https://twitter.com/mrtokshowFrance ZaguirreFrance's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/france.zaguirreFrance's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frnczgr/France's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/france-zaguirre-81385b98/About Miracle in a Briefcase Miracle in a Briefcase is a podcast series showcasing professionals and practitioners of the Financial Advisory industry. JJ, the Producer and Host of the show, is a practitioner himself for nearly 12 years in the industry. He is now the Founder of KEI Advisory (Media), which produces the Mr. Tok Show and the Miracle in a Briefcase. He believes a commissioned podcast is one of the best tools for personal branding and video marketing on social media. It's one of the most effective ways to show the world, and your clients what you stand for. Your values, philosophy and ideas. For Directors/Managers, looking to power up your recruitment, imagine what a portfolio of interviews showcasing your top consultants can do to help potential candidates better understand your organisation and its culture. For Consultants, who believe in the power of building a personal brand online and leveraging on social media to position yourself in front of clients and prospects, imagine what an interview like this can do to boost your presence online. Your organisation and you will now be searchable on Youtube, Spotify, Apple Podcast, Google Podcast and more. If you are keen to feature on Miracle in a Briefcase, please contact us at Whatsapp: 8168 6224
Miracle in a Briefcase #1, Serene Seah, Journey to Top of the Table
Apr 15 2022
Miracle in a Briefcase #1, Serene Seah, Journey to Top of the Table
Serene Seah is a Financial Advisor with a Financial Advisory Firm. She's also my form teacher back in Secondary 3, at Catholic High School. She made Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT), Top of the Table (TOT) qualification last year. Less than 1% of all Financial Advisors would achieve Top of the Table Qualification in their entire career. However, she started out struggling in the business, and at one time would even hesitate to get for herself a $1 drink. Find out what happened in her amazing transformation from stray cat to king of the jungle. We talk about her mindset, attitude and philosophy in the FA business, her client-centric approach, and how her family and manager has played a big role supporting her career. Follow Us on Our Social!Serene SeahSerene's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PrincessBrashnessSerene's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/serene-seah-28489b56/JJ & The Mr. Tok Show/Miracle in a BriefcaseFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/mrtokshowInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrtokshowLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tokjiajieTiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mrtokshowTwitter: https://twitter.com/mrtokshowAbout Miracle in a Briefcase Miracle in a Briefcase is a podcast series showcasing professionals and practitioners of the Financial Advisory industry. JJ, the Producer and Host of the show, is a practitioner himself for nearly 12 years in the industry. He is now the Founder of KEI Advisory (Media), which produces the Mr. Tok Show and the Miracle in a Briefcase. He believes a commissioned podcast is one of the best tools for personal branding and video marketing on social media. It's one of the most effective ways to show the world, and your clients what you stand for. Your values, philosophy and ideas. For Directors/Managers, looking to power up your recruitment, imagine what a portfolio of interviews showcasing your top consultants can do to help potential candidates better understand your organisation and its culture. For Consultants, who believe in the power of building a personal brand online and leveraging on social media to position yourself in front of clients and prospects, imagine what an interview like this can do to boost your presence online. Your organisation and you will now be searchable on Youtube, Spotify, Apple Podcast, Google Podcast and more. If you are keen to feature on Miracle in a Briefcase, please contact us at Whatsapp: 8168 6224
Miracle in a Briefcase #2 Vivian Tan, AIA Singapore, on Transiting from Law to the FA Business
Apr 15 2022
Miracle in a Briefcase #2 Vivian Tan, AIA Singapore, on Transiting from Law to the FA Business
Vivian Tan is a Personal Wealth Manager from AIA Singapore Pte Ltd. She has a Degree in Law, but decided during her training days that a career in Law is probably not for her. She then thought she might be interested in giving the Financial Advisory (FA) industry a shot. She's interested in Finance, it's a people facing role and most importantly, she can be herself and aspire to build long term relationship with clients. She told her friend about her plan, and turns out her friend's Father is a veteran in the FA industry with 30 years of experience. She met him, and the rest is history. In this interview, Vivian shares her journey in the business, her plans to build her own agency, and an inspiring story her Mum told her during the lowest point in the career. Follow Us on Our Social! Vivian Tan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vivian_tsl/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vivian-tan-771b73156/ JJ & The Mr. Tok Show/Miracle in a BriefcaseFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/mrtokshow Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrtokshow Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tokjiajie Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mrtokshow Twitter: https://twitter.com/mrtokshowAbout Miracle in a Briefcase Miracle in a Briefcase is a podcast series showcasing professionals and practitioners of the Financial Advisory industry. JJ, the Producer and Host of the show, is a practitioner himself for nearly 12 years in the industry. He is now the Founder of KEI Advisory (Media), which produces the Mr. Tok Show and the Miracle in a Briefcase. He believes a commissioned podcast is one of the best tools for personal branding and video marketing on social media. It's one of the most effective ways to show the world, and your clients what you stand for. Your values, philosophy and ideas. For Directors/Managers, looking to power up your recruitment, imagine what a portfolio of interviews showcasing your top consultants can do to help potential candidates better understand your organisation and its culture. For Consultants, who believe in the power of building a personal brand online and leveraging on social media to position yourself in front of clients and prospects, imagine what an interview like this can do to boost your presence online.Your organisation and you will now be searchable on Youtube, Spotify, Apple Podcast, Google Podcast and more. If you are keen to feature on Miracle in a Briefcase, please contact us at Whatsapp: 8168 6224
MTS#9 Jack Sim, Founder, World Toilet Organisation, on how to lead a useful Life
Apr 7 2022
MTS#9 Jack Sim, Founder, World Toilet Organisation, on how to lead a useful Life
Jack Sim is Founder of World Toilet Organization (WTO). He started out as a salesman and having achieved financial success in his 40s, Jack felt the need to change his direction in life and give back to humanity. He wanted to live his life according to the motto “Live a useful life”. Jack soon left his business and embarked on a journey that saw him being the voice for those who cannot speak out and fighting for the dignity, rights and health for the vulnerable and poor worldwide.Follow Us on our Social Media!JJ & The Mr. Tok ShowFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/mrtokshowInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrtokshowLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tokjiajieTiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mrtokshowTwitter: https://twitter.com/mrtokshowJack SimJack Sim's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-sim-75732313b/Jack Sim's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jack.sim.1671JJ's Post Production Notes "I certainly enjoyed my conversation with Mr. Sim very much. Before the interview, he asked if he can share more about lessons in life, other than his work with World Toilet Organisation. Of course I said yes! He spoke candidly and with a lot of passion. Our conversation soon strayed into SG politics,  how he manages to keep his wife happy while pursuing his passions. I got so upset that my camera was out of focus... damn! This is yet another painful learning lesson. Well taken!" - JJ