Airwaves and Advocacy: Meet the Radio DJ Turning Up the Volume on Sustainability

Juliana Yeow’s journey is different from the usual media personality path. Through her passion for craft and environmental care, she inspires everyone to adopt conscious and impactful consumer choices.

By: CHNG REE SER LETICIA, GABRIEL MICHAEL WONG ZHI WEI, ULRICA SIM YAN TING

You may recognise her voice as a Radio DJ on SPH Radio’s Kiss92 “The Owls with Juliana Yeow on Mondays” from 8pm to midnight, and “Saturday Mornings with Juliana Yeow” from 7am to 11am.

You may know her as a host of the “Stacked Insider Tours” series with Stacked Homes.

You may even spot her hosting events in and around Singapore.

The 33-year-old media personality’s portfolio practically screams “media”.

But how did this media personality go from the airwaves, bridging  media, sustainability, and our environment?

The Journey To Conscious Consumerism 

Before diving into sustainable consumerism, Yeow was already making her mark in the media world. She got her start in Ngee Ann Polytechnic, where she graduated with a Diploma with Merit in Mass Communication.

Those early days at Ngee Ann helped her build the skills and confidence she needed for media roles that require adaptability and charisma.

Long before she became a familiar voice on the radio, Yeow was already in demand as an event host. Her passion and skill led her to host everything from product launches and press conferences to webinars and commercial livestreams during the pandemic. These gigs didn’t just broaden her media profile; they also opened doors to meaningful brand partnerships with companies that shared her values.

(Juliana during her midnight shift for The Owls at Kiss92. PHOTO: Juliana Yeow)

But Yeow’s background isn’t only about media.

Interestingly, her background is rich with hands-on experiences in the world of sustainable design and craftsmanship, tracing back to her days at Nanyang Technological University, where she studied Industrial and Product Design.

As a major in product design, she learned about traditional garment-making which contrasted sharply with the practices of fast fashion - its quick and disposable nature. 

This exposure influenced her choices in everyday life, cultivating a mindset of "quality over quantity."

In fact, Yeow didn’t stop there - she launched four brands over the years. Each brand was a reflection of her drive to create, innovate, and leave a mark – even if some of those ventures didn’t make it to the long haul. 

Her first business, founded in 2011 was Operation Overhaul (though it’s no longer in operation – and no, that’s not a pun!), which was also Yeow’s first venture.

(DIY creations from Juliana’s first startup, Operation Overhaul. Screenshots via @operationoverhaul/Instagram)

Operation Overhaul was all about making crafting fun and accessible. The idea was simple.

To help people create beautiful personalised items rather than buying mass-produced products. Through workshops and online tutorials, Yeow was able to teach people how to make unique DIY crafts from repurposed scrap materials. 

One of her coolest projects was a collaboration with Swatch. The brand handed over boxes of old promotional posters, each from previous seasonal campaigns and asked Yeow’s team to come up with a creative way to reuse them. 

The result? 

DIY kits where people could turn the colourful bits of the posters into custom tassels.

(The materials used in the making of Swatch’s DIY tassels, repurposing their old promotional posters.

PHOTO: Juliana Yeow)

This was sustainability with a playful twist, and for Yeow, it was a great way to introduce people to the idea of repurposing materials. 

“They had all these posters from past releases. We cut them up, added craft materials, and created kits to teach people to make something new from old materials,” she recalls. 

This experience cultivated a deep respect for resourcefulness and minimal waste, principles she has carried into her work and lifestyle.

However, that has not been her only adventure.

Her journey into sustainable materials, like fish skin leather sourced from an Icelandic company for her wallet business, gave her valuable insights into the real challenges of sustainability. 

“It opened my eyes to how tough it can be to source eco-friendly materials, but it’s worth it,” she reflected.

(The scaly nature of fish leather and its exotic patterns, which could act as a replacement for crocodile skin. PHOTO: thestar.co.ke/Monicah Mwangi)

Despite being on par with leather, this special material cost 20 times as much due to its environmentally friendly production methods like non-polluting dyes.

Looking back on her start-ups, she recalls, “I was doing everything on my own, without any investor backing. It was all about being as resourceful as possible.”

“Every material was valuable to me - whether it was offcut wood or leftover yarn. I always found a way to repurpose those small pieces instead of throwing them away,” she said nostalgically. 

Yeow quickly discovered a deep connection with sustainability as we were interviewing her, sparked by her past start-ups and the events she had hosted.

“I truly admire when a brand genuinely embraces sustainability,” she shared. “It’s not something companies do on a whim - it's a conscious choice, and it’s not always cheap.”

Turning to the events sector, she noted how venues are increasingly opting for reusable cups and water coolers to reduce the reliance on single-use plastic bottles. 

“There are still some gaps to fill, but it’s definitely a step in the right direction,” she pointed out with a hopeful smile.

Personal Life

Reflecting on sustainability in her life, Juliana shared, “I don’t want something I know will only last me a few wears.”

With a strong focus on longevity and responsibility, she incorporates this mindset into her daily routine - carrying a lunchbox, a tumbler, and a reusable coffee cup wherever she goes.

When it comes to shopping, she’s got a quirky habit.

“If it doesn’t fit in my hand, then I don’t buy it,” she laughed. “It may seem ridiculous, but I’m serious!”

And here’s something you might not expect. 

“My biggest pet peeve? Recycling bags!”

Surprised? 

Well, there’s a thoughtful reason behind it - and it's not as random as it seems.

In fact, a statistic shared by the Danish Environmental Protection Agency in February 2018 shows that for a polyester PET and a conventional cotton bag to be counted as an environmentally friendly alternative to plastic bags, it must be used at least 84 and 7,100 times respectively. 

"As an emcee, I can't exactly wear the same dress to every event," she chuckled. "With all the photos floating around, people would definitely notice."

She shrugged, her gaze drifting as if picturing her wardrobe. 

"That's why my closet is filled with dresses I've probably only worn once."

But, unlike probably many of us, she doesn’t just let them sit there collecting dust. 

“I actually find ways to repurpose them. Sometimes, I use the fabric to patch up holes on my more frequently worn clothes.”

And if that's not an option? 

"I sell them second-hand on Carousell," she added with a smile.

This minimalist philosophy extends to her views on recycling. 

“People need to learn to not just buy reusable bags; they should use what they have,” she insists, pointing out that a cotton bag must be reused 7,900 times to offset its environmental impact. 

Instead, she suggests a more thoughtful approach to ownership - one that echoes Heveya’s ethos of longevity and quality in its products.

A Coincidental Meeting

About a year ago, Yeow was hosting a commercial livestream for ShopBack, and bedding company, Heveya Singapore, was a sponsor for the giveaway.

Melinda Lim, marketing manager at Heveya Singapore says, “When we watched her, she was very inspiring, and we knew that she was one of the hosts for Stacked Homes. So, with the thought that we were going to have a World Sleep Month – that happens in March every year, we were thinking maybe we could do something different with Juliana as our host instead of always using our salespeople.”

From that moment on, this special partnership was formed.

The Connection

When asked what drew her to work with Heveya as a brand ambassador, Yeow said, “They genuinely walk the talk. It's not just lip service because ‘sustainability’ is the trend. You can feel that they truly believe in their mission to make a difference.”

As the pioneer in Asia for organic bedding that has also achieved a B Corp certification, it exemplifies that Heveya is committed to social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency.

(Heveya’s B Corp certified beds at their showroom located at Great World City. PHOTO: Gabriel Wong)

The process for B Corp certification requires meeting high standards across multiple key areas:

• A company must demonstrate high social and environmental performance by achieving a B Impact assessment score of 0 or above and pass their risk review.

• Make a legal commitment to be accountable to all stakeholders and shareholders. 

• Exhibit transparency by allowing information about their performance measured against B Lab’s standards to be publicly available on their B Corp profile on B Lab’s website. 

  
  

This dedication is echoed from Lim’s examples of Heveya’s partnership with Replant World.

“With Replant World, we’re on a mission to plant 12,000 trees every year – and it’s not just about the trees. It’s about benefiting the community too!” she said enthusiastically.

(For Heveya and Replant, Earth Day is Everyday with their dedication to plant trees in Borneo to benefit the community. Screenshot via @heveyasg/Instagram)

“Most of our trees are planted in Borneo, where locals still rely on these trees for important things like medicine and clean water.”

She paused, emphasising the bigger picture. 

“By planting, we’re not just growing a forest, we’re also growing opportunities. The local community is directly involved in planting the seeds – and here’s the best part,” she grinned, “the money they earn goes back into their education. How cool is that? It’s a win-win for both the environment and the people!"

At the same time, Heveya is deeply committed to supporting the local community through its partnership with Beyond Social Services.

"Rather than tossing out old mattresses, we take them back, store them in our warehouse, and then donate them to Beyond Social Services," she explained. 

"This way, the mattresses can be repurposed and given to families in need here in Singapore. It’s our way of reducing waste while directly giving back to the community – helping those who need it most."

In fact, Juliana is a huge fan of Heveya's pillows, having gone through 6 different ones over time!

Her favourite? Heveya, hands down. 

Not only does she love the comfort, but the sustainability factor also makes it a win in her book. And no, she’s not just saying that because she’s a brand ambassador - it’s genuinely her top pick!

Moving Forward

Today, Yeow continues to use her presence on both national radio and social media to talk about such matters.

From sharing about such practices or events that have some form of environmentally friendly aspect happening in the country, to partnering with companies that drive the environmental scene in Singapore, she hopes to slowly make a difference together with her listeners and followers.

Supporting her efforts, Lim noted that “we have to be more conscious about our choices. If we choose good quality (sustainable and environmentally friendly) products, in the end, we can save more – not just save our money, but also, saving the earth.”

Although sustainability and the environment may be an ongoing topic that requires much discussion, Yeow is certain that with the right mindset and assistance, we can be headed in the right direction.

Juliana’s message to consumers is clear: conscious choices matter, and supporting brands with integrity is a step toward a healthier planet.

For her, working with Heveya isn’t about promoting a product but aligning with a brand she trusts, one that respects the Earth and champions meaningful, positive change.

But like many of us, Yeow admits that she sometimes battles with herself. 

“You know, I often catch myself wondering: Am I doing enough?”

She recognises that while she strives for sustainability, there are days when it feels like there’s always more to do. 

Yet, she believes that this inner struggle is a part of the journey - constantly questioning and challenging ourselves is a way to grow and become better, one small action at a time.

“Ultimately,” she says, “I don’t think we should police each other. It’s about encouraging better habits - gently nudging each other to make more sustainable choices.”

Our Thoughts

For us personally? Her message is both refreshing and empowering. 

It’s not about guilt or shame - it’s about empowering people to take small, conscious steps that collectively lead to a big impact. 

In a world where sustainability can often feel overwhelming, Yeow’s approach invites us to embrace change, not as a burden, but as a natural and rewarding evolution.