Starting a podcast (June 2024)

1/ Why? Solving for the Unknown Unknowns

The ability to navigate uncertainty has been a game-changer in my personal growth. I went from struggling with exams in tertiary education to becoming a scholar—not by simply studying harder, but by learning how to learn. Categorizing knowledge, identifying the right frameworks, and understanding how to approach the unknown made all the difference.

Rumsfeld Matrix's Four Quadrants

One of the most effective ways I’ve found to tackle Unknown Unknowns is through conversations with experienced people. There’s something uniquely powerful about unstructured knowledge transfer—the kind that doesn’t come from books or courses but from open-ended discussions. These conversations plant mental breadcrumbs, leading to insights I wouldn’t have otherwise considered.

2/ How? A Scalable Format for Insightful Conversations

Since 2017, I’ve been deep in the podcast rabbit hole—devouring episodes of How I Built This by Guy Raz, Diary of a CEO by Steven Bartlett, Huberman Lab by Andrew Huberman, and View from the Top by Stanford. Each one provided invaluable insights, but something was missing—a version that felt more relevant to the Asian context.

All time favourites

Starting my own podcast is my way of bridging that gap. It’s a scalable format that allows me to ask tough, raw, and unfiltered questions—the kind that often lead to unexpected breakthroughs. It feels like an untapped bank of knowledge waiting to be explored. I’ve never been a podcast host before, but I’ll let curiosity take the lead and iterate like a product manager—experimenting, refining, and improving along the way.

3/ What? Actionable Insights to Drive Innovation

The spark that led to my startup journey came from two beliefs:

1. There’s no downside to starting something while you’re young.

2. Risk tolerance decreases exponentially with age.

That ticking clock pushed me to launch multiple startup ideas—after the fourth attempt, Ethlas was born. It’s the same advice I give undergrads: Start before you feel ready. Most successful ventures don’t begin as billion-dollar ideas—they start as small initiatives, experiments, or side projects.

Through this podcast, I hope to demystify entrepreneurship and show that innovation is more accessible than people think. It’s not about grand visions or perfect plans—it’s about taking baby steps, whether you’re in school, at work, or just exploring an idea.

Recording day!

At the core, this podcast is about solving for the Unknown Unknowns—unlocking insights that help people take action. Because inaction leads to obsolescence, and innovation is what keeps us relevant.