The Front Row Podcast

Thank you for checking out The Front Row Podcast and my interview with Kyle Chan.Here's what the podcast sponsor, Revolut is offering: 💰Get S$50 cashback when you sign up to Revolut Business at www.revolut.com/rb/tfr/ before 30 Nov 2025 and top up your account. T&Cs and end date apply.(This is also the first sponsorship I have taken since the inception of the podcast. Your support will help me grow the podcast) Kyle Chan is an American sociologist and postdoctoral researcher at Princeton University, as well as an adjunct researcher at the RAND Corporation. He is also a 2025 fellow with the Penn Project on the Future of U.S.–China Relations. His research centers on industrial policy, clean technology, and infrastructure in China and India, with work published in journals such as Current Sociology, Asian Survey, and the Chinese Journal of Sociology. Kyle has testified before the U.S.–China Economic and Security Review Commission and contributes to public debates through his widely read newsletter High Capacity and a New York Times op-ed on U.S.–China competition and technology.You can find his newsletter here: https://www.high-capacity.com/about This Is Episode 55 of The Front Row PodcastTimestamps:00:00 Trailer & Intro01:00 The Utility Of Sociology05:34 Revolut Ad07:00 Insights From China's HSR Projects11:17 Understanding The China Shock17:16 Made in China 2025: A Shift in Policy22:24 Divergence From The East Asian Model26:08 Compounding Effects of Overlapping Industries29:25 The Rise of Swiss Army Knife Companies33:02 Why Apple Abandoned EVs37:11 The US Service Economy vs. Manufacturing42:57 Goals for US Industrial Policy43:29 How China Resolves Tech Inequality48:13 US Policy Attempts At Reducing Inequality53:34 Lessons from China's Industrial Policy58:17 Is There An AI Race Between US and China?01:03:58 How China and US Diverge In AI?01:10:16 What Should US-China Relations Be Like?01:17:00 Will America Become Irrelevant?01:24:35 What US' China Strategy Should Be01:26:55 Advice For Fresh Graduates📖 Full episode transcripts: ykeith.com/tag/podcast💬 Join the conversation:Instagram: frontrow.65LinkedIn: Keith YapWebsite: ykeith.comEmail: keith@frontrow65.co🎧 Listen and subscribe for free:Spotify: The Front Row PodcastApple Podcasts: The Front Row Podcast

In a riveting conversation, Kishore Mahbubani, a former diplomat and founding dean at the Lee Kuan Yew School, shares powerful insights on contemporary geopolitics. He reflects on his early experiences in war-torn Cambodia and how they ignited his commitment to peace. Discussing Trump's tariffs, he analyzes their geopolitical repercussions and the allure of protectionism. Kishore emphasizes Asia's rising influence and cautions young Singaporeans about the importance of remaining vigilant and grounded in their success. A thought-provoking dialogue on the changing tides of global politics!

Marc Levinson, an acclaimed economist and historian known for his insightful writing on globalization, dives into the evolution of global trade. He discusses the transformative impact of containerization on commerce, spotlighting Malcolm McLean's innovations. The conversation highlights the transition from physical goods to the exchange of ideas in globalization and addresses the socio-economic effects of automation on workers. Levinson also explores how America can navigate its industrial future while adapting to technological changes in the job market.

Join Tansen Sen, a historian specializing in India-China relations, as he dives into the complexities of these two ancient civilizations. He discusses how Buddhism was integrated into Chinese culture and the historical significance of Nalanda University as a learning hub. Tansen explores the enduring impacts of colonialism on their relationship, emphasizing the importance of cultural exchanges for fostering cooperation. Delving into the past, he also highlights the interconnectedness of India and China and the challenges they face as major global powers today.

Cheong Yip Seng is the former Editor-in-Chief of The Straits Times, Singapore’s flagship English daily, where he led the newsroom for over two decades. Joining the paper as a young journalist, he rose through the ranks to shape its editorial direction during some of Singapore’s most pivotal years. Under his leadership, The Straits Times navigated the complexities of reporting in a young nation, balancing journalistic integrity with national sensitivities.He later chronicled his experiences in his memoir OB Markers: My Straits Times Story, offering a rare insider’s perspective on Singapore’s media–government relationship. Beyond his work in Singapore, he has also been closely involved with media developments across Asia, including advisory roles on the transformation of the South China Morning Post.He recently published his follow-up book, Ink and Influence- arguing that Singapore media can take a more international and geopolitical outlook. 📄 Full Transcript :⁠https://www.ykeith.com/tag/podcast/⁠📲 Let’s Connect:Instagram: ⁠@frontrow.65⁠LinkedIn: ⁠Keith Yap⁠Website: ⁠www.ykeith.com⁠Email: ⁠keith@frontrow65.co⁠🎧 Subscribe for Free:Spotify: ⁠Front Row⁠Apple Podcasts: ⁠Front Row⁠

Stephen Witt is a Los Angeles–based investigative journalist and author whose work appears regularly in The New Yorker.His latest book, The Thinking Machine (April 2025), chronicles the extraordinary rise of Nvidia and its CEO Jensen Huang—from immigrant dishwasher to leader of the world’s most valuable company. Stanford’s former computer science chair Bill Dally remarked: “Without Jensen we’d be ten years behind.”Witt’s previous book, How Music Got Free, explored the digital revolution that transformed the music industry and was later adapted into a TV documentary.TIMESTAMPS:00:00 Trailer 01:00 How Stephen Got To Jensen Huang06:35 Reading In An Age of Social Media08:15 How NVIDIA Became So Valuable12:25 Jensen Huang's Early Career and Its Impact13:48 Jensen Huang's Early Career17:15 The Secret of NVIDIA's Success18:06 Jensen Huang's Unique Management Style20:41 How LSI Made Him21:51 Why NVIDIA Didn't Make Financial Sense24:52 How NVIDIA Made The AI Transition30:58 How Jensen Leads34:35 How Jensen Evolved Into A Business Leader37:38 How Jensen Knew To Double Down on AI43:53 NVIDIA's Competitive Edge47:36 Current AI Bottleneck48:23 AMD vs NVIDIA50:52 NVIDIA in China52:25 Intel's Downfall56:05 Should We Be Worried About AI60:43 Advice for the Next GenerationFull transcripts: https://www.ykeith.com/tag/podcast/Connect:Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/frontrow.65/LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-yap/Website – www.ykeith.comEmail – keith@frontrow65.coSubscribe:Spotify – https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/keith-yap8Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/sg/podcast/front-row/id1771599400

Ooi Kee Beng, a political historian and executive director of Penang Institute, examines the intellectual legacy of Dr. Goh Keng Swee, Singapore's founding economic architect. He discusses Goh's contrasting leadership style with Lee Kuan Yew and the significance of historical awareness in modern geopolitics. The conversation also covers Singapore's unique economic strategies, the concept of socialism that works, and the importance of institutions in nation-building. Furthermore, he emphasizes critical thinking for new graduates in an AI-driven landscape.

🎙️ Guest: David Fishman | Principal, The Lantau GroupDavid Fishman is a Principal at The Lantau Group, a boutique strategy and economic consultancy focused on the Asia Pacific energy sector.He specializes in regulatory and economic intelligence for the Chinese power sector—including solar, wind, coal, nuclear, hydro, grid transmission, and power markets. His project portfolio spans renewable tariff policy, power market forecasting, green energy procurement for multinationals, and due diligence for clean energy assets.Outside of work, David runs a delightful blog exploring lesser-known corners of China’s economic transformation—covering topics like rural poverty alleviation, small-city trends, countryside solar, rural rejuvenation, and ethnic tourism.⏱️ Timestamps01:13 – China's Energy Landscape06:09 – The Global Implications of China's Energy Transition09:00 – How China Scales Green Tech14:09 – How China Innovates20:40 – Is Overcapacity A Challenge?24:57 – China's Energy Policy28:21 – Chinese Government As VC29:40 – Why Are SOEs Not As Prominent?33:03 – Downstream Impact of Chinese Policies34:15 – What Happens After China Peaks?34:34 – China's Clean Tech Transition: The Road Ahead37:19 – Can China Turn The Corner?38:20 – Understanding the Average Chinese Citizen44:34 – The Median City In China48:11 – The Practical Implementation of Common Prosperity50:39 – How China Does Infrastructure Development57:20 – The Myth of Chinese Ghost Cities01:00:24 – Lessons From China's Development Model01:05:51 – Advice For A Fresh Graduate📄 Full Transcript:https://www.ykeith.com/tag/podcast/📲 Let’s Connect:Instagram: @frontrow.65LinkedIn: Keith YapWebsite: www.ykeith.comEmail: keith@frontrow65.co🎧 Subscribe for Free:Spotify: Front RowApple Podcasts: Front Row

🎙️ Ambassador Chan Heng Chee is a prominent Singaporean academic, diplomat, and political scientist, known for her distinguished career in both academia and public service.She served as Singapore's Ambassador to the United States (1996–2012) and earlier as Permanent Representative to the United Nations (1989–1991), concurrently holding the roles of High Commissioner to Canada and Ambassador to Mexico.She currently serves as Ambassador-at-Large with the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs.🧭 This conversation is brought to you by the National Youth Council of Singapore, a government agency dedicated to partnering with young people — hearing their views, empowering them to act on their passions, and giving them a stake in Singapore’s future.🔗 Learn more: https://www.nyc.gov.sg/about-us🎧 This is Episode 47 of The Front Row Podcast.🕒 Timestamps:00:00 Intro & Trailer01:25 Singapore In 196506:43 Lessons From 1G Leaders09:40 Would The Merger Have Actually Worked13:54 Representing Singapore At The UN21:34 Singapore's National Interests25:54 Securing Singapore's Interests29:25 Singapore As Global City33:13 America's Unipolar Moment35:57 Remaking Singapore's Image in America40:38 Luck & Diplomacy43:10 How America Has Changed44:44 Will America Swing Back?47:20 China's Rise and Its Global Implications50:01 How Does Singapore Play Both Sides52:15 US-China Decoupling?55:03 The Role of the UN in Global Conflicts57:08 Singapore's Relevance to the United States59:05 The Taiwan Question01:04:00 Middle East Dynamics: Change and Continuity01:04:28 What Counts As Political Realism01:05:39 Making Sense Of The Middle East01:09:41 New Forms of Diplomacy01:12:15 Amb Chan's Message To The US01:19:00 Core Values for Singaporeans in a Complex World01:19:35 Multiracialism As A Singaporean Ideal01:20:32 Advice For The Audience01:22:51 Goh Keng Swee's Final Speech📝 Full transcript:https://www.ykeith.com/tag/podcast/💬 Join the conversation:📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frontrow.65/💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-yap/🌐 Website: https://www.ykeith.com📧 Email: keith@frontrow65.co🔔 Subscribe for free on:Spotify: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/keith-yap8Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/sg/podcast/front-row/id1771599400

Jamus Lim is an Associate Professor of Economics at ESSEC Business School and a Member of Parliament in Singapore. With a PhD from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and experience at the World Bank and Abu Dhabi Investment Authority , his work spans international economics, political economy, and development. In this episode, we discuss how Singapore and other NIEs succeeded and what the possible ways forward are. 00:00 Intro & Trailer 01:43 Why NIEs02:22 Understanding Heterogeneity Among Asian Economies06:36 The Contrast Between Singapore and Other NIEs08:16 Hong Kong vs. Singapore: Economic Divergence16:17 Was The Asian Miracle A Myth?20:49 India's Unique Economic Experiment24:41 How Singapore Can Stay Ahead28:04 Balancing Growth and Equality33:23 Are Wealth Taxes (Actually) Viable?47:31 The Tension of Being A Global Hub56:58 Urgent Problems Singapore Needs To Solve01:05:48 Advice For Graduating StudentsThis is Episode 46 of The Front Row Podcast. Full transcripts of episodes can be found here: https://www.ykeith.com/tag/podcast/Feel free to mingle in the comments below or head to...Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frontrow.65/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-yap/Website: www.ykeith.comEmail: keith@frontrow65.coGet access to every episode by subscribing for free on Spotify: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/keith-yap8 or Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/sg/podcast/front-row/id1771599400