Cliff's Viral Reach and Recognition

Recorded onsite in London, we speak with Cliff Tan, architect and creator of Dear Modern, on how a “very Singaporean” path led him to global fame. Cliff breaks down his passion for feng shui without the mysticism, how COVID quarantine sparked his content breakthrough, and explains the ins and outs of his current business which includes online consultations, books and much more. So now you know!

(00:00) Folklory
(01:11) Intro
(03:11) Internet Fame and What 7.5 Million Followers Feels Like
(05:43) Growing Up Singaporean and Wanting to Be an Architect
(07:01) UOB Plaza, Sharp Buildings, and Discovering Feng Shui
(08:21) Feng Shui Is Not an Urban Legend
(10:49) The Desk Position Test That Converts Skeptics
(12:53) Covid Quarantine, TikTok, and the First Viral Video
(16:21) Early Viral Projects and Redrawing the MRT Map 
(18:23) Opening Consultations and Getting Fully Booked
(20:08) Learning Through Global Clients and Cultural Differences 
(24:18) Realising Content Creation Could Be a Career 
(25:02) Feng Shui as Therapy and Emotional Labour
(28:28) Helping Clients Untangle Big Life Decisions 
(31:27) Consulting Clients From Over 100 Countries 
(34:01) Designing for Americans, Europeans, and Asian Families
(35:03) The Fear of Knowledge Being Lost 
(37:18) Why He Feels Responsible to Keep Teaching 
(42:06) Design, Psychology, and Reading People Quickly 
(48:12) How He Adapts His Advice Across Cultures 
(51:06) The Limits of Feng Shui and What It Can’t Fix
(57:02) Final Reflections on Meaning, Work, and Legacy 
(59:53) One Shiok Thing
(01:06:22) Post-Interview Reflection

𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗸𝗹𝗼𝗿𝘆
If you’re looking for a meaningful gift, we’d love to help you create a personal podcast for a loved one. Get started at Folklory.com

𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗦𝗵𝗶𝗼𝗸 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴

• Cliff: Google Gemini
• Terence: The Beatles on YouTube
• Haresh: Jamie CRUMBLES Under Micah’s RELENTLESS Roasting 😂🔥 | A League Of Their Own

𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸 𝗢𝘂𝘁 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗳 & 𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗻!

• Dear Modern on Instagram, YouTube & TikTok

𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘂𝘀!
Drop us an email at contact@ministryoffunny.com! We’re always looking out for people to do cool stuff with, so let’s chat!

𝗦𝘂𝗯𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗹𝘆 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 – "𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗟𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗕𝗶𝘁”
Get a roundup of our One Shiok Things & first dibs on our latest launches delivered straight to your inbox!
Subscribe Here

𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲!
Reddit | Telegram

𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀
TikTok | Instagram | Facebook

𝘔𝘪𝘤𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 @𝘴𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘦
𝘌𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘪𝘹𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘛𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘠𝘦𝘢𝘬