misfits-rafie-chua

Rafie Chua is the founder and creator behind custom furniture studio, Plane and Bevel. In a fast paced consumerism society that demands for cheap and the good, he left banking and dived into this sunset industry of woodworking. He has since created a sustainable business.

Rafie’s creation can found in restaurant, cafes such as Odette, Merely Ice Cream and Choice Cuts. He has most recently been featured on Michelin Guide Singapore. In the interview, we spoke about:

  • The woodworking scene in Singapore
  • Machinery and wood working technique
  • Lessons learnt from traveling around the globe
  • Difference that separate a hobbyist and professional
  • Schools of thoughts in woodworking

If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be able to built the Little Free Library (thank you!).

If you have only got 2 mins to spare, here’s a short snippet on (Why he Choose to Leave his Banking Job to be a Wood Worker).

Enjoy!

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Scroll down for the link and show notes…

Show Notes

Rafie helped to build the Little Free Library [03:10]
Carpenter vs Wood Worker [06:20]
Rafie’s journey before Plane and Bevel [09:16]
Friends’ and parents’ reaction toward Rafie’s career switch [13:41]
What made Rafie quit his white collar job [16:34]
How did Rafie finance Plane and Bevel [17:43]
Advice when working with a partner [21:10]
What would Rafie like to see in young carpenters [25:25]
Rafie’s proudest project [27:23]
Plane and Bevel furniture design process [28:53]
Why Rafie chose to go to Japan to learn woodworking [34:33]
Advice for young wood workers in Singapore [39:03]
Rafie’s favourite tools [43:33]
Mindset of a hobbyist and a profession [45:42]
The underlying passion of woodworking [49:09]
Why is woodworking culture missing in Singapore? [52:59]
Woodworker in the region [55:28]
Rafie’s solo traveling experiences [58:25]
What did Rafie learn from travelling? [1:01:14]

Links

Connect with Rafie:
If I Were a Carpenter (Bangkok, Thailand)
Into the Wild by John Krakauer

Misfits-1

Fakkah Fuzz is undoubtedly one of the funniest man in Singapore. I first saw him years ago in a Freestyle Rap Battle where he was “EminemRoasting” the opposing rappers. I was cheering for him. In fact, this episode need to be release 3 months later because one of his YouTube video has offended the Malaysian politician activist group.

Fuzz, unlike many of us, he DID not do well in school in Malacca. After coming back to Singapore, he took whatever jobs that were available. If the job called for him to be a security guard or a waiter, he took it. Fast forward, he nailed it at his very own one-hour comedy special – “In Fuzz We Trust” at the Singapore Comedy Fringe 2016. If you are ready to laugh your sock off, check out the YouTube ( 1, 2) highlight.

If you’ve only got 5 minutes, here’s a short video on (Fakkah Fuzz’s tips on how to get on with life even after failing O levels)

Enjoy!

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Scroll down for the link and show notes…

Show Notes

The name “Fakkah Fuzz” [01:45]
Growing up in Malacca, Malaysia [4:22]
How to mix with new group of people [8:30]
Childhood hobbies – punk band [14:05]
How Fakkah Fuzz got into comedy [16:10]
How to find out what you want to do in life [21:36]
What would be a skill you want to learn [29:45]
Toughest period of his life [31:57]
People who help him along the way [36:12]
Roadmap of a comedian [41:00]
Advice to young comedian [48:50]
YouTube haters [51:00]
What do you enjoy most these day [54:35]
Links Mentioned

Connect with Fakkah Fuzz:
Website | YouTube | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

Red Dynasty Paintball Park
Einstein quotes (12)
Snowing in Bali by Kathryn Bonella
Hotel K by Kathryn Bonella
Comic Insights by Franky Ajaye
Hard Truth to Keep Singapore Going by Lee Kuan Yew
Malay Dilemma by Mahathir Mohamad

“Every stage in your career, you keep pushing yourself to be a little bit more uncomfortable. What’s the worst that can happen? You don’t make it in.. You can come back.”  
Calvin Soh

Calvin Soh entered the advertising industry with no certificate and left as the Vice Chairman, chief creative officer Asia for Publics Asia (which owned Saatchi and Fallon). The reason is to spend time with his children, Dylan and Ava.

In the span of 5 years, Dylan has spoken in 2 TEDx talks, co-authored a book, successfully funded a Kickstarter campaign (GIY stick) and has written a 2,000 word essay for Esquire magazine.

We dive into the world of advertising, being a 21st century parent and beyond. Enjoy!

If you have only got 2 mins to spare, here’s a short snippet of the interview.

Links Mentioned

Connect with Calvin Soh:
One Kind House | LinkedIn | Facebook

The Big Red Dot by Dylan and Calvin Soh
Dylan Soh TEDx Talks (1, 2)
Dylan Soh Esquire article “Dear Future Son
NYC One Show
Navy Advertisement (1, 2)
Charles Darwin on Adaptability
Encyclopedia Britannica

Show Notes

Calvin on growing up [2:45]
Calvin’s first’s step into the advertising industry [6:10]
Calvin’s proudest advertising work [12:45]
Why did Calvin moved to NYC [17:07]
The anatomy of the advertising industry [20:28]
Calvin on advertising [28:02]
Calvin’s secret talents [38:15]
Calvin’s on after-school tuition [40:55]
Calvin transition after leaving his job [42:10]
How to strike a balance between discipline and nurturing when parenting [49: 21]
Calvin on modern parenting [53:20]
Designing a learning curriculum for individual children [57:45]
The story behind the “Big Red Dot” [1:03:40]
Calvin on falling in love and his relationship [1:12:39]
Calvin on the criteria for his choice of life projects [1:15:27]

George

“Even if it’s not your fault, f* take responsibility, own the problem, solve the problem…” – George Cherian Abhishek.

George Cherian Abhishek is the owner of the WORST bar in Singapore, Spiffy Dapper. But make no mistake, it is the worst bar that is PROFITABLE. George came from India to Singapore at the age of 16. He studied Mechanical Engineering at Nanyang Polytechnic. In the twist and turn of events, he ended up homeless, sleeping in the playground of Bishan.

If you have 5 minutes, check out George’s 10 Lessons at 29.

If you have only got 2 mins to spare, check out a short snippet of George’s interview.

Enjoy.

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Show Notes
Kerala, India [3:59]
Growing up in Kerala, India [8:28]
Studying in Singapore [9:55]
How did George became homeless [11:26]
George almost got into jail [17:02]
How did George got out of the funk [23:45]
The book that change George life [27:30]
On taking advice [30:20]
Why George choose to live in Singapore [32:09]
George built a co-working space [39:48]
The evolution of Spiffy Dapper [47:20]
People owned business, Dapper coffee [49:40]
Advice on starting any F&B business [56:28]
Links

Connect with George Cherian Abhishek
LinkedIn | Spiffy Dapper

Kerala, India
Getting Things Done by David Allen
Author, Jack London

Dr Loretta Chen have the widest range of life experiences of anyone I have met. Most would know Loretta as a consultant to Bhutan or the director of thought-provoking theatre productions but all that is just a tiny facet of her life story.

  • Theatre director, television presenter, radio personality, author and creative director
  • PhD in Critical Theory, Theatre (UCLA & NUS)
  • First nominated Nominated Member of Parliament (Arts & Culture)
  • Coach top CEOs and Head of States on presentation
  • Witnessing two suicides when she was merely 24 years old
  • Losing $250,000 in her first production company, Zebra Crossing
  • Lived in Los Angeles, London, Toronto and Honolulu

You will find out that in her book, Woman on Top, that she had gone through numerous public victories and personal losses.

If you only got 4 minutes, here’s a short video highlight.

Show Notes

The inspiration of her book [02:21]
The structure of the book [10:15]
The “censored” chapters of the book [10:40]
Her time in politics [12:10]
On her childhood [15:15]
On higher education [19:00]
On the concept of giving and receiving [25:30]
On her experience living overseas [37:50]
On getting in and out of depression [39:15]
Tips to help individuals in depression [45:00]
On being sexual harassed [47:50]
Her passion for the theatre [49:00]
How “The Vagina Monologues” was censored by MDA [52:15]
Lessons learnt from her first business failure [55:15]

Links Mentioned

Connect with Dr Loretta Chen:
Website | Facebook | Instagram

Woman on Top by Dr Loretta Chen
Druk Holding and Investments
People Action Party
Nominated member of Parliament 
Edmund Chen
Xiang Yun
Royal Holloway, University of London
The Vagina Monologues
Elim Chew
The Female Brain by Louann Brizendine
The Male Brain by Louann Brizendine
Books by Osho
The Diamond Cutter by Geshe Michael Roach and Lama Christie McNally
What makes you not a Buddhist by Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse
Philosophy by Roland Barthes
Philosophy by Michel Foucault
Night Falls fast by Kay Redfield Jamison

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