You Never Know with Nicole Lee

#42 — Full-Time YouTuber: Is It Worth It? | Max Chernov on Choosing Singapore & Reinvention

Max Chernov built a YouTube channel interviewing expats, entrepreneurs and billionaires across Asia. Born in Russia, lived in eight countries, and now calls Singapore home. We talk about living in Singapore, what it really costs to be a full-time creator, what billionaires actually teach you about success, and why so many foreigners never leave the expat bubble. TODAY'S GUEST 🌐 YouTube: https://youtube.com/@maxchernov?si=CUL57DUDlixzjf5A [https://youtube.com/@maxchernov?si=CUL57DUDlixzjf5A] 🌐Instagram: instagram.com/chernov_networking [http://instagram.com/chernov_networking] 🌐 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/maxchernov [http://linkedin.com/in/maxchernov] CONNECT WITH ME 🌐 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/nicoleleethisisme [http://www.linkedin.com/in/nicoleleethisisme] ▪️ Instagram & TikTok: @nicoleleethisisme ▪️ YouTube: www.youtube.com/@nicoleleethisisme [http://www.youtube.com/@nicoleleethisisme] ▪️ Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/show/5uRGujeye6cPVvaIGsAt7p?si=91942ccd3c054c1e [https://open.spotify.com/show/5uRGujeye6cPVvaIGsAt7p?si=91942ccd3c054c1e] ▪️ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/you-never-know-with-nicole-lee/id1789080795 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/you-never-know-with-nicole-lee/id1789080795]  🌐 Website: www.youneverknow.co [http://www.youneverknow.co] ✉️ Partnership & Speaking Enquiries: nicole@youneverknow.co [nicole@youneverknow.co]  WATCH NEXT ► Best Cities In The World To Live & Work | Nirbhay Handa with Nicole Lee [https://youtu.be/gTzW6-ao4BM?si=jh7iSqFeB9TxWlGL] ► Why Rich People Can Still Feel Poor | Kees Stoute with Nicole Lee [https://youtu.be/Y4a2O8U9KvU] ► No Gold Behind Paper Gold | Christophe Numa with Nicole Lee [https://youtu.be/2fMMcuOJJLo?si=_OTvZNV9V3PfZsD2] TIMESTAMPS 00:27 Introduction 01:02 From Russia to Finding Home in Singapore 03:56 Embracing Local Culture as an Expat 05:56 The Upside of Singapore’s Predictability 09:21 What Travel Teaches 12:19 The Reality of Being a YouTuber 14:41 From Street Interviews to Meeting Billionaires 17:54 What Successful People All Have in Common 21:55 Inside the Backstage Circle 25:35 Why Creators Should Be Creative and Business-Savvy 29:46 What It Takes to be a Successful YouTuber 33:31 How Do You Find Your Passion in Life? 40:48 What You Never Know Means to Max 💌 I'm Nicole Lee. I spent more than a decade in private banking, took a leap of faith into fintech, walked away without a job while navigating a defining life transition — and started the You Never Know Podcast to have real conversations that challenge the way we think, what we believe, and how we live. Today, I'm also a moderator, speaker, and podcast producer — partnering with visionary leaders and businesses to shape strategic narratives through authentic storytelling. —-----

#41 — No Gold Behind Paper Gold | Christophe Numa: "Gold Is Not A Speculative Asset."

Most people think they own gold. They don't. I discuss all things gold with Christophe Numa, Founder & CEO of Gauld — who spent over a decade building businesses around physical gold, from running a multi-million dollar trading platform backed by global hedge fund Millennium, to now making physical gold ownership accessible to everyone, anywhere in the world. Enjoy! TODAY'S GUEST 🌐 Learn about Gauld: www.gauld.com [http://www.gauld.com] 🌐 LinkedIn: https://sg.linkedin.com/in/christophe-numa-69946927/en [https://sg.linkedin.com/in/christophe-numa-69946927/en]  CONNECT WITH ME 🌐 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/nicoleleethisisme [http://www.linkedin.com/in/nicoleleethisisme] 🌐 Instagram & TikTok: @nicoleleethisisme 🌐 Website: www.youneverknow.co [http://www.youneverknow.co] ✉️ Partnership & Speaking Enquiries: nicole@youneverknow.co [nicole@youneverknow.co]  TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Intro 02:44 Is Gold Really A Safe Haven? 04:40 Paper Gold vs Physical Gold: The Real Difference 11:06 What Gold ETFs Actually Invest In 15:44 How Physical Gold Actually Works 18:40 Gold Supply Chain: Mine to Vault 23:10 How Physical Gold Is Priced 25:20 How To Buy Physical Gold Today 26:13 How To Know If Your Gold Is Legitimate 32:30 Gold vs Real Estate 34:43 How To Generate Yield On Gold 35:25 Gold Price Outlook 39:40 Should Everyone Hold Gold? 40:15 Why Christophe Started Gauld 45:38 The Syria Story That Changed Everything 47:20 Is There Enough Gold For Everyone? 49:22 Gold vs Silver: Which to Hold First? 51:20 What Would Change His Mind About Gold 52:28 What "You Never Know" Means to Chris 💌 I'm Nicole Lee. I spent more than a decade in private banking, took a leap of faith into fintech, walked away without a job while navigating a defining life transition — and started the You Never Know Podcast to have real conversations that challenge the way we think, what we believe, and how we live. Today, I'm also a moderator, speaker, and podcast producer — partnering with visionary leaders and businesses to shape strategic narratives through authentic storytelling.

#40 — Best Cities In The World To Live & Work | Nirbhay Handa

If you could live anywhere in the world, would you know where to go? I speak with Nirbhay Handa, global mobility entrepreneur & CEO of Multipolitan, about how cities are evolving, why global mobility is becoming more nuanced, and how Millennials and Gen Zs are shaping a more borderless way of living. We explore why cities are increasingly becoming “pseudo-states” where talent and capital concentrate, the three types of cities that will thrive — financial centres, nomad-friendly cities, and startup-friendly cities — and why “builder cities” like Singapore and Dubai are rising while legacy titans risk falling behind. We also dive into digital states, AI, sovereignty beyond geography, and what people often get wrong when choosing where to live. Chapter markers: 00:00 Introduction 02:10 Millennials & Gen Z: Redefining Success 04:18 What Wealth Means Today: Optionality, Frictionless Living, Well-Being 06:31 Decoupling Identity From Your Birth Certificate 08:44 Why Cities Are Becoming “Pseudo-States” 09:28 The 3 Types of Cities That Will Thrive 10:30 Builder Cities vs Legacy Titans 12:09 Why Singapore and Dubai Are Rising 17:15 How to Choose Where to Live Today 24:37 Alternative Residencies & Hedging Your Life 33:30 Digital States 37:00 One Underrated City to Watch 38:00 The Future of Global Mobility 39:12 What Most People Get Wrong About Choosing Where to Live 40:14 What “Home” Means in a Borderless World 💌 If you’re new to this channel, I’m Nicole Lee. I spent more than a decade in private banking, took a leap of faith into fintech, walked away without a job while navigating a defining life transition — and started the You Never Know Podcast to have real conversations that challenge the way we think, what we believe, and how we live. Today, through You Never Know Studios, I partner with leaders and organizations to shape strategic narratives through video content that authentically resonates. --- 🔗 Connect with Nirbhay Handa 🌐 Website: https://www.multipolitan.com/ 👤 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/nirbhay-handa-44949822 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nirbhay-handa-44949822/] 📲 Instagram: @handa.eth @multipolitan.app 🔗 Connect with Nicole Lee 🌐 Website: www.youneverknow.co 👤 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/nicoleleethisisme 📺 YouTube: www.youtube.com/@nicoleleethisisme 📲 Instagram / TikTok: @nicoleleethisisme

#39 — Your Body Never Forgets: What Pain, Disease & Insomnia Are Telling You | Sufen Paphassarang: “It’s Never Just A Headache or Illness.”

Your headaches, pain, and illness aren't random — they're your body telling you something. Sufen Paphassarang reveals how your body stores every suppressed emotion — knowing exactly where, what caused it, and how it manifests as pain, disease, or chronic conditions — to get your attention. We explore the three brains — head, heart, and gut — what your 3am insomnia is really telling you, what the left and right sides of your body reveal about your past and future, and how men and women store emotions differently, and where it shows up physically. Sufen is an advanced BodyTalk practitioner, instructor, and owner of The Body Talk Center in Singapore, and helps people decode the deeper intelligence stored in their bodies to heal and thrive. She began her journey after fully recovering from Graves' disease, an autoimmune condition many consider incurable. If you've ever pushed through pain, or wondered why your body keeps breaking down in ways that don't make sense — this episode is a must watch. Your body never forgets. And it never lies to you. It's time to start listening. Chapters: 00:00 — Introduction 02:50 — What Is BodyTalk?: It’s Never Just About The Headache 05:00 — The Three Brains: Head, Heart & Gut Explained 09:10 — What Your Insomnia Is Telling You About Your Decisions 14:00 — Why Food Intolerance & Poisoning May Not Be About Food 18:20 — Why We Forget We're Even In Pain 22:00 — How Sufen Reads & Communicates With The Body 26:00 — How Men & Women Store Emotions Differently 33:00 — Resentment, Anger & Disease 43:50 — Where Emotions Live In The Body & Why You Wake Up Stiff 51:00 — What Pain In The Left & Right Sides Of Your Body Reveal About You 56:40 — Why Anger Is Good For You 57:40 — The One Question That Could Change Everything 💌 If you’re new to this channel, I’m Nicole Lee. I spent more than a decade in private banking, took a leap of faith into fintech, walked away without a job while navigating a defining life transition — and started the You Never Know Podcast to have real conversations that challenge the way we think, what we believe, and how we live. Today, through You Never Know Studios, I partner with leaders and organizations to shape strategic narratives through video content that authentically resonates. --- 🔗 Connect with Sufen Paphassarang 🌐 Website: sufen paphassarang [https://www.release.com.sg/about] 👤 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sufen-paphassarang-55b8061aa [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sufen-paphassarang-55b8061aa] 📲 Instagram / TikTok: @sufen_bodytalk 🔗 Connect with Nicole Lee 🌐 Website: www.youneverknow.co 👤 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/nicoleleethisisme 📺 YouTube: www.youtube.com/@nicoleleethisisme 📲 Instagram / TikTok: @nicoleleethisisme

#38 — Help! I’m Rich!: Why Rich People Can Still Feel Poor | Kees Stoute: “Many Tie Their Self-Worth To Their Net Worth.” “You’ll Never Have Enough If You Don’t Define Enough.”

Why do some rich people still feel poor? When is enough money, enough? Kees Stoute, former CEO of EFG Bank for Hong Kong and Singapore, and author of the book Help! I’m Rich!, believes the biggest challenge of wealth isn’t financial. It’s psychological. In this episode of the You Never Know Podcast, we explore why some of the wealthiest people still struggle with the idea of “enough”, how self-worth is often tied to net worth, and why money can create pressures and problems most people never expect. Kees also shares his unconventional journey from accidental IT programmer to bank CEO — and why sometimes the best opportunities appear when you stop trying to control every step of the way. What does wealth mean to you? And what actually makes your life feel rich? If you're curious about the psychology of wealth and investing, this conversation is for you. Chapters: 00:00 — Introduction 02:00 — The Hidden Problems of Being Rich 03:28 — The Biggest Mistakes Rich People Make 06:15 — Why Money Attracts the Wrong Crowd 07:00 — How to Spot a Bad Banker 09:30 — What a Good Wealth Manager Actually Does 12:10 — Why the Best Bankers Challenge Clients 16:30 — Why Money Stops Making You Happy 18:45 — When Is Enough Money Enough? 21:00 — Are Private Banks Losing Relevance? 22:35 — The Best Kept Secret in Investing 25:00 — From IT Programmer to Bank CEO 31:00 — Why Losing Your Job Isn’t the End 34:00 — What Wealth Really Means 34:45 — What “You Never Know” Means to Kees 💌 If you’re new to this channel, I’m Nicole Lee. I spent 13 years in private banking, took a leap of faith into fintech, walked away without a job while navigating a major life transition — and started the You Never Know Podcast to have real conversations that challenge the way we think, what we believe, and how we live. Today, through You Never Know Studios, I partner with leaders and organizations to shape strategic, credible narratives through video content that authentically resonates. --- 🔗 Connect with Kees Stoute 👤 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kees-stoute [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kees-stoute?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3BWO2Z5HkCSb2UNzK8Y1NSUQ%3D%3D] 📚 Buy Kees’ book, Help! I’m Rich!: https://www.wiley.com/en-us/Help%2C+I'm+Rich!%3A+Your+Compass+to+a+Value-Adding+Private+Banking+Experience-p-9781119020547 🔗 Connect with Nicole Lee 🌐 Website: www.youneverknow.co 👤 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/nicoleleethisisme 📺 YouTube: www.youtube.com/@nicoleleethisisme 📲 Instagram / TikTok: @nicoleleethisisme