The Silverfox Hustle Podcast

Silverfox Hustle #100 - Thiruben -1:49.94 - A National Record Story

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/886255/fan_mail/new] I mark the pod’s 100th by sitting down with Thiruben, Singapore’s 800m national record holder, to trace a path from the football fields and gifted program classrooms to a time of 1:49.94 in perfect cool conditions in Korea.  The episode offers a rare, unvarnished look at how talent, culture and systems intersect. He grew up steeped in sport through his father, flirted seriously with football and only found running because his school lacked a football CCA. Early success in 1500m and cross country sparked ambition, but what truly shaped him was curiosity.  Thiruben shares candid insights on mindset, recovery and why belief is the first training plan worth mastering. He shares about the injury that broke his season, the A-Levels crash and therapy.  Beyond the track, Thiruben helped grow Singapore Athletics’ reach, turning 4,000 Instagram followers into over 13,000 and quadrupling sponsors. He believes fans back people, not just times, so he wrote record features that humanised athletes and widened the sport’s circle. The same logic underpins his decision to go pro: performance follows focus. If Singapore wants more Asian finalists and Olympians, athletes need real pathways and sustainable income, not token stipends.  His choice to go pro isn’t a gamble; it’s calculated urgency. At 26, windows close fast.  If you care about Singapore sport, talent pipelines or simply want to know what courage sounds and looks like - this episode is for you!  #silverfoxhustlepodcast   #silverfoxhustle   #silverfox   #podcast   #podcasting   #podcaster   #storytellers   #getinspired   #inspirationalstories   #workethics   #gratitude   #hustle   #underdog   #attitude   #podcastmovement   #podcastfamily   #thehivestudios #thiruben

Silverfox Hustle #99 - Aleksandar Rankovic - From the Streets of Belgrade To Singapore Glory

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/886255/fan_mail/new] 1 SPL title, 3 Singapore Cups, 1 Coach of the Year & a fine run all the way to the Final of the Asian Champions League 2 - Aleksandar Rankovic has won it all in Singapore club football.  Our conversation starts in the streets of Belgrade as Aleks shares his childhood and how the love of the game took him from his hometown to the Eredivisie in Holland. He shares some special moments sharing the pitch with some big names in the Dutch league! Aleks talks about how he started his coaching journey and shares some interesting coaching truths. Coaches starting out will want to hear what he has to say from his experience.  It all gets very interesting as we get into the Lion City Sailors FC story! He reveals how he got the job, his goal/objective, first impressions of the football here, thoughts on the honours he achieved here etc. And if fans wanted to know the real Aleks, he was candid about his coaching philosophy, if he plays safe/boring football, accusations that he is arrogant, working with Forrest Li and of course the real question - why was he sacked? Some questions were answered and some..... All this and more as we say goodbye to Aleks and we wish him all the best for his next adventure!

Silverfox Hustle #98 - Lalitha Rajah - From Courtrooms To Yoga Mats

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/886255/fan_mail/new] What if the path you’re on was poured for you long before you could choose? Lalita Rajah grew up in a family where law was more lineage than option, excelled at the academics, and built a steady career in corporate litigation and trademarks. The work was demanding but not ruthless, the colleagues became friends, and the respect was real. Yet beneath the competence was a quiet absence: fulfilment. A personal loss she couldn’t step away to honour and a cycle of heartbreak cracked the surface, and a single yoga class offered something she hadn’t felt in years — breath, focus and space. We walk through how she went from curious student to certified teacher, trading billable hours for playlists and progressions. You’ll hear what Inside Flow really requires — choosing BPM that matches the arc of a song, crafting sequences that fit lyrics and phrasing, and sharing a true story that invites students to feel, not perform. We talk accessibility and progress: how wall-supported inversions demystify fear, how practice frequency changes outcomes, and how joy shows up in the moment a student realises, “I can do this.”  If you’ve ever felt your career was “set in wet cement,” this conversation is a timely reminder that we can make a change. Success doesn’t always wear heels and a title; sometimes it’s barefoot, on the beat and that's enough.

Silverfox Hustle SPL Preview - Lion City Sailors FC

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/886255/fan_mail/new] Fresh off a historic treble-winning campaign, Lion City Sailors head coach Aleksandar Rankovic joins us for the SPL Preview. Reflecting on last season's remarkable success, Rankovic surprisingly describes their SPL title, Singapore Cup triumph, and ACL2 final appearance as "unexpected" - a refreshing dose of humility from the leader of the league's wealthiest club. "Knowing as a coach, and definitely as a former player, that's never easy," he explains, especially following Albirex Niigata's period of domestic dominance. The Serbian tactician offers fascinating insights into his transfer strategy, emphasizing character alongside quality when building his squad. New signings Anderson (former J-League top scorer), midfielder Tsiy Ndenge, and 2.03m goalkeeper Ivan Susak have all been brought in to raise standards, while returning Singapore international Safuwan adds vital experience after 12-13 years abroad. Rankovic particularly praises Hariss Harun as "one of the best players in Singapore" for his versatility and tactical intelligence. Squad depth remains a pressing concern as the Sailors prepare to navigate a congested fixture list across multiple competitions. "We have to watch from game to game," Rankovic admits, explaining the challenges of managing his roster with foreign player limitations. His brutally honest take on player management might surprise some: "It's not my job to make them happy. The player is only happy when he plays, so he has to show every time that he wants to play." Looking ahead to their ACL2 campaign, Rankovic views their group as evenly matched without a clear favorite - a different challenge from last season's continental run. His targets remain ambitious: defend the SPL title, challenge for cups, and advance from continental group stages. The recent Community Shield defeat provided an early reality check, but Rankovic was encouraged by the packed stadium: "This is the first time since I'm here that I saw full stands for a local game - that means something good is happening." Join us for this revealing conversation with one of Singapore football's most successful coaches as he prepares to write the next chapter in Lion City Sailors' story.

Silverfox Hustle SPL Preview - Geylang Int'l FC

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/886255/fan_mail/new] How do you replace a striker who scored 44 goals and broke multiple league records? That's the challenge facing Geylang International head coach Noor Ali as he enters his tenth season with the Eagles. Following an impressive third-place finish last campaign, Geylang must now navigate life without Tomoyuki Doi, the Japanese sensation who netted an astonishing 44 goals including nine hat-tricks. Rather than seeking a like-for-like replacement, Noor Ali reveals his strategy to build a more balanced team that can "defend together and attack together" - acknowledging that last season's 97-goal tally simply won't be replicated. The conversation offers fascinating insights into player recruitment philosophy, with Noor Ali preferring familiar faces over unknown quantities. This approach has led to strategic signings like veteran playmaker Shahdan Sulaiman, whose class and leadership are already making an impact in training. Meanwhile, Serbian defender Nikola Ignjatovic brings much-needed aggression as a "warrior" in defense, while young Korean midfielder Ko Jaehyun impresses with his technical ability and game intelligence. Most revealing is Noor Ali's perspective on Singapore football's broader challenges: "We have to look at ourselves and realize we have not been good enough for the last five or ten years." With seven foreign player slots now available to all clubs, the contributions of local players will be crucial in determining success in what promises to be an incredibly competitive SPL season.