Seriously Casual : Recent Episodes
Mike and Stephan
Seriously Casual is hosted by two cultural misfits working in the dynamic tech industry... It is a collective reflection on our life and career, and our pursuit of self-discovery. We’d love to invite you on this journey where we take a casual spin on (semi) serious topics - featuring perspectives from inspirational guests. Sit back, relax, and get seriously casual with us! Get in touch with us at podcastseriouslycasual@gmail.com.
What are the differences between analysts, data scientists, and data engineers? In this Let's Talk Careers episode, we welcome Tria (Katherine) Unson, Analytics Manager at Google to help us understand these popular jargons and unpack her extensive marketing career, including becoming Google Philippines’ first hire. Tria once aspired to become Don Draper and has now found her true calling — solving complex consumer research questions with insights and analytics.
Reddit subforum r/wallstreetbets has turned GameStop into a global phenomenon. In these past few weeks, retail investors made an unforgettable dent in the financial market. Underperforming stocks including $GME, $AMC, $BB, and $NOK have all experienced never-before-seen volatility. How did it happen? In this episode, we will share our opinions and learnings from this rocketship, which went to the moon and back.
Is journaling the new chicken soup for the soul? In this episode, we interview Joshua Ng, a Measurement Lead at Google, a passionate Liverpool FC fan, and possibly the winner of the best husband award. Tune in to hear how journaling has helped him cultivate mindfulness & self-awareness during this pandemic. You can reach him for more information @ eeffocian@gmail.com
Did someone say 6-pack? In this episode, we will share with you our top 3 aspirations and goals for 2021. Most importantly, we will discuss the steps we are taking and the guardrails we are setting up to hold ourselves accountable. What are your new year goals? How do you plan to keep yourself motivated? We'd love to hear yours!
In this Let's Talk Career episode, we welcome Cumarran Kaliyaperumal, a former Engagement Manager at McKinsey to guide us through the world of Management Consulting. A former pilot, drone pilot and intelligence officer in the Singapore Airforce, Cumarran shares his unique experiences and career path that led him into this relationship business.
The pandemic of the decade, COVID-19 has affected millions of lives. As scientists race to produce a safe and effective vaccine for the virus, many experts are pondering whether vaccination should be mandatory. In this episode, we discuss how vaccines work, what are the available options, the controversies, and our opinions on the role that institutions should play in administering vaccines.
Welcome back to Season 3 of Seriously Casual! In this episode, we interview our friend Alex Nordmark, a Samurai bloodlined, Sámi descendant, part Swedish, and part Singaporean - a true cultural misfit. Together, we discuss his journey growing up, the search for a place to fit in, and his own cultural identity.
iPhone 12 without a cable and a charger, has Apple gone mad? Is it truly for the environment or a PR tactic to save costs? In our last episode of season 2, we discuss the role that tech companies play in building a sustainable future - by working towards carbon neutrality. Remember, without a sustainable environment, there may no longer be a top or bottom line...
The global gaming industry is projected to double in size by 2025 to $300B. Southeast Asia is now the world's fastest-growing gaming market, with more than 80% of gamers playing on the mobile platform. In this episode, we interview Vanessa Heng, who is an eSports marketing expert, gamer, and former Twitch streamer. Listen in as she gives us the inside scoop into the competitive world of eSports.
Big Tech is constantly under the microscope for their impact on society and the economy with a number of alleged violations, lawsuits and congress hearings that are pushing for greater regulation on user trust, data privacy, and more. Most recently, this is highlighted in the Netflix docudrama, “The Social Dilemma”. In this episode, we discuss our opinions on the film, the jargons surrounding data privacy and the responsibility we hold as individuals.
Why should we care about habits? In this episode, our guest speaker Edric takes us on his habit transformation journey in the last 5 years. From developing early morning routines to quitting a pornography addiction, we discuss how to form good habits and how to get rid of bad habits. Follow Edric on his Youtube channel @ Edric Subur to learn more about his 30-day challenges!
Godzilla, K-pop, Mukbang. In the digital age, cultural exports have become significant economic drivers, but not all countries do it the same way, nor are they all successful. In this episode, we discuss the key enablers, products and tactics that have led to the success of some of the most dominant cultural superpowers in the world.
Work-life balance is more relevant now than it ever has been, thanks to COVID-19. The approaches to achieving this harmony can vary from setting clear boundaries to work-life integration. In this episode, we talk about how our perspectives on work-life balance have evolved over the years and share helpful tips you can consider to avoid burning out.
Kicking off our new mini-series, Let’s Talk Careers, we welcome Priscilla Chen, a Vendor Manager at Amazon. In this episode, Priscilla tells us all about Retail Category Management and her advice to break into the retail and e-commerce industry. Tune in for more upcoming episodes where we interview amazing guests from different industries and explore their career journeys.
COVID-19 has forever changed the world. Recently, more borders are slowly beginning to open, yet others remain closed. This begs the question, what does the future of travel look like in the post-pandemic world? In this episode, we share our deeper appreciation for travel, our thoughts on the future, and innovations that will transform the industry.
Why is mentorship so important? When and how should you establish the perfect mentor/mentee relationship? In this episode, we interview our guest speaker Flo Yeow, a Business Development Manager at Google and a long time mentor to the local SMU student community to tell you all about becoming a mentor and the value of having one.
Is less really more? Welcome back to Season 2 of Seriously Casual. In this episode, we discuss why humans are prone to consume more than we need. We also share some practical minimalist tips on how to become happier living with less.
Welcome to the Season 1 finale of Seriously Casual. In this episode, we discuss the creative process behind this podcast. We also share our learnings and challenges over the past 10 weeks. We are incredibly excited about what lies ahead.
Financial Independence, Retire Early (F.I.R.E.), is a financial movement defined by frugality and extreme savings/investments. In this episode, we discuss the principles, considerations, and our thoughts on the path to financial freedom.
COVID-19 has triggered a WFH movement at an unprecedented scale. Very few historical events have had such a rapid and radical impact on the global workforce as the event we are seeing now. In this episode, we discuss the perks and drawbacks of this new norm
Social commerce is taking the world by storm, and China has been at the heart of its emergence. Join our conversation this week to find out what the hype is all about in this $250B industry.
Ever thought of moving to Singapore? Or what it is like to live in Singapore? Join us for some fun facts, and our experience living here as an expat. Perhaps Singapore is the destination for your next adventure!
This episode is our reflection on the #blacklivesmatter movement. We discuss some of our thoughts around the current events and explore different levels of racism by drawing examples from our personal experiences. We aim to share everyday actions each and every one of us can take in this fight against racism.
From an internet subculture to a multi-billion dollar behemoth, the gaming industry has dramatically evolved in the last two decades. Gaming has influenced us throughout our lives and in this episode, we discuss the past, the present, and the future of the gaming industry.
Myth-busting, a day in the life and an insider’s scoop of what it’s like to work in the tech industry. In this episode, we will discuss our tips and advice for the non-technical aspiring techies.
In the current economic environment, is it still worth it to pursue an MBA? With a plethora of MBA “products” in the market, is it, and what is right for you? In this episode, we’ll share our personal experience pre/post-MBA and the key questions you should consider before making this life-changing decision.
Welcome to the first episode of Seriously Casual! In this pilot, we will share a bit about who we are, why we started this podcast, and a preview on what to expect next! We are super excited for you to join us on this journey.