Intro
Mathew Yuhico is a video producer, visual storyteller, and creative all-rounder whose journey has taken him from the Philippines to Singapore — from designing corporate campaigns to producing stories for VICE. Along the way, he’s learned what it means to build a creative career, navigate burnout, and rediscover joy in making things for their own sake.
In this episode, we talk about how Mathew moved from graphic design to video production, how a rap video landed him a job at VICE during the pandemic, and why Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has become his anchor outside of work. It’s a conversation about creativity, courage, and finding meaning in the process, not the outcome.
Story Highlights
- Growing up in a creative family and discovering art through his mother
- Transitioning from business school to visual design and storytelling
- Making a viral rap video that got him hired by VICE
- How burnout changed his relationship with creativity
- What Jiu-Jitsu and filmmaking have in common
Quote
“If anything, Jiu-Jitsu has taught me it’s just perseverance. You keep going in any endeavor, whether it’s a career-based endeavor or something in your life. Most people, most of the time, will quit. If you just keep going, you’re going to be the successful one at the end.”
About Mathew Yuhico
Mathew Yuhico is a Singapore-based video producer, content creator, and storyteller. Originally from Manila, he studied at Singapore Management University before beginning his career in PR and design. His creative path led him to VICE, where his innovative approach to visual storytelling helped shape their digital and social content. Outside of media, he’s a dedicated Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner and continues to create personal films exploring emotion, mental health, and everyday life.
Why This Conversation Matters
Mathew’s story is about following creative instincts even when the path isn’t clear. From rejection to reinvention, his journey reminds us that growth doesn’t always mean climbing a ladder — sometimes it’s about rediscovering joy in what you do, making things for yourself, and learning to embrace imperfection.
Turning Points
After starting in business school, Mathew realized his true interests lay in design and visual storytelling. He built a small portfolio through freelance projects and eventually transitioned into video. During the pandemic, after losing his job and a planned move to film school, he took a bold risk — submitting a rap video as his job application to VICE. That video went viral, earning him the role that would change his career. Today, whether he’s filming, training Jiu-Jitsu, or creating short pieces about life, Mathew continues to chase meaning through creativity, not metrics.
Key Lessons
Do it for the joy. Not every project needs to be a career move.
Make time for what feeds you. Creativity needs space, not just deadlines.
Start before you’re ready. You can figure it out as you go.
Perseverance outlasts talent. Keep showing up — that’s what matters most.
Let yourself evolve. What fulfills you at 25 may change by 30.
If You Enjoyed This Episode
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- Bow T on Content Creation, Confidence, and Life Abroad — exploring authenticity and self-expression across borders.
- Erica Eng on Rejection, Reflection, and Finding Freedom Through Art — about resilience and the beauty of creative process.