The Straits Times Podcasts

The move may be difficult, but can be rewarding for both personal and professional development. Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a headstart in your personal finance and career with The Straits Times. Talents with overseas exposure are coveted for their ability to help companies realise their global aspirations. There is also robust appetite among Singapore talents to work abroad. However, employers frequently find it challenging to convince talents here to take up overseas opportunities. Journalist Tay Hong Yi speaks to those who have navigated and are helping others to navigate this complex undertaking to work abroad to shed light on the dilemma. His guests are: Dr Nadir Zafar, chief experience officer at the Human Capital Leadership Institute and director of the Singapore Leaders Network Ms Cheryl Lin, a business analyst based in Copenhagen who moved there for further studies Highlights (click/tap above): 2:39 What are the pathways to working abroad? 5:23 What are some of the trade-offs to consider? 7:52 Why do employers find it especially challenging to convince talents to move elsewhere? 16:58 What can you do to increase the chances of an offer? 24:57 What support is needed to increase the number of locals who work abroad to develop professionally? Read the feature by Kai Xiang discussed on the podcast: https://str.sg/dPro Read Tay Hong Yi's articles: https://str.sg/w6cz Follow Tay Hong Yi on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/AAxy Host: Tay Hong Yi ([email protected]) Produced & edited by: Amirul Karim Executive producers: Ernest Luis, Lynda Hong & Joanna Seow Follow Headstart On Record Podcast channel here: Channel: https://str.sg/wB2m Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wuN3 Spotify: https://str.sg/wBr9 Feedback to: [email protected] Get business/career tips in ST's Headstart newsletter: https://str.sg/headstart-nl --- Follow more podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX #headstartSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We examine the impact of the recent US presidential election result. Synopsis: The Straits Times’ associate foreign editor Lim Ai Leen and senior columnist Lin Suling meet up in the studio with Bhagyashree Garekar, The Straits Times’ United States bureau chief who covered the US presidential election all year long, and is back in Singapore for a short break. In this episode, they discuss how Bhagya arrived at her early prediction of a Trump win before the Nov 5 election, how Trump played to the male and minority voters, global anti-incumbency election trends and how they think Asian countries will shape to deal with the impact. Highlights (click/tap above): 5:12 How Trump appealed to male voters in this 'woke' age, why Trump beat expectations to win the minority vote in the US 15:50 Political lessons for governments in Asia and how they relate to voters; expected impact from incoming Trump administration 17:54 Dissecting the dynamics of the phone call between Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and US President-elect Donald Trump on Nov 11 24:00 Tariffs: Making sense of Trump's promises from the Asian perspective 27:50 3 words to define US politics in the incoming Trump era Hosts: Lim Ai Leen ([email protected]) and Lin Suling ([email protected]) Follow Bhagyashree Garekar’s articles: https://str.sg/whNo Register for Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/stnewsletters Produced and edited by: Fa’izah Sani Executive producer: Ernest Luis Follow Asian Insider Podcast on Fridays here: Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7 Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8 Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX Feedback to: [email protected] --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX --- #STAsianInsiderSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Labubu craze exploded earlier in 2024 thanks to Blackpink's Lisa. What's keeping the love for Labubu going? Synopsis: The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah hunts for new perspectives on issues that matter to young people. Inspired by Scandinavian folklore, Labubu was created by Hong Kong-born artist Kasing Lung as part of his Monsters character series in 2015. How do you know when a toy is a big deal? When people are brazenly committing crimes to get it. And when hundreds of people queue overnight to be the first to get their hands on it. When fans get into shoving matches and the police have to be called. Bakers make cakes in its image, while enterprising sellers offer product customisations like braces, make-up and custom identity cards.Perhaps the true hallmarks of a product’s popularity are a hot reseller market and the existence of fake versions.In a nutshell, these events describe the months-long craze over Labubu – the fanged little elf that everyone around the world is going gaga over.Even though Labubu has been around since 2015, her star skyrocketed earlier in 2024 with a little bit of help from a popular K-pop star Lisa of Blackpink fame. Distilling it for the people who don't get the hype, Natasha finds out what the hype is all about and why collectors enjoy these art toys so much.To give her the download on all things 'LBB', Jeremy Lee, 44, the business director for South-east Asia at Pop Mart International and Yumiko Kayahara, 35, a KISS92 FM DJ, join her on The Usual Place to explain the current craze. Pop Mart is the international brand that owns the exclusive rights to the Labubu intellectual property (IP). From being a “kidult” to how Pop Mart is keeping up with the demand, they chat with Natasha in this wide-ranging interview on why this plushie has people going ga-ga. Highlights (click/tap above): 4:55 The celebrity endorsement effect 13:10 The reseller market and fakes on the market 20:15 Customisations and copyright of Labubu - will Pop Mart do something about it? 26:24 Who is a “kidult”? 36:21 Will Pop Mart have another toy that matches Labubu’s popularity? 6 things you did not know about Labubu: https://str.sg/dNhY Host: Natasha Zachariah ([email protected]) Follow Natasha on her IG account and DM her your thoughts on this topic: https://str.sg/8WavRead Natasha's articles: https://str.sg/iSXmFollow Natasha on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/v6DN Filmed by: Studio+65 Edited by ST Podcast producers: Eden Soh & Teo Tong Kai Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong Follow The Usual Place Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops: Channel: https://str.sg/5nfm Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/9ijX Spotify: https://str.sg/cd2P YouTube: https://str.sg/wEr7u Feedback to: [email protected] --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX #tup #tuptrSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Technology is advancing at such a pace as Chinese electric vehicle brand Xpeng is aiming to prove to the global market. Synopsis: In this special episode, The Straits Times' Lee Nian Tjoe meets Mr He Xiaopeng, the chairman and chief executive of Chinese electric vehicle brand, Xpeng. By 2025, Xpeng cars will bring the driver from door-to-door with barely any human intervention and in 2026, it plans to deliver its first flying vehicle. Xpeng is using automated driving technology to make driving safer and more relaxing. The target, Mr He says, is to make the cars behave like “good drivers” on the road, adapt to local conditions and behaviours. Concurrently, the company is taking to the skies. Its first flying vehicle will reach customers in 2026. Highlights (click/tap above): 2:55 By 2025, Xpeng’s drivers will only need to step in to take control once or twice per 100km covered 3:45 Level 5 autonomous driving means that the vehicle can handle itself in all conditions, whether it is a typhoon or an earthquake 5:25 Automated driving technology does not mean drivers will lose their jobs 7:00 Flying cars? 8:46 How Xpeng picks its markets and goes about entering them 9:35 On why only a minority of car companies in China today will survive in the next five to 10 years Read Lee Nian Tjoe's articles: https://str.sg/wt8G Follow Lee Nian Tjoe on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/iqkJ Read more COE articles: https://str.sg/iGKC Host: Lee Nian Tjoe ([email protected]) Produced & edited by: Amirul Karim and Teo Tong Kai Executive producers: Ernest Luis and Lynda Hong Follow COE Watch Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops: Channel: https://str.sg/iTtE Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/iqW2 Spotify: https://str.sg/iqgB Feedback to: [email protected] --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX #coewatchSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Should young people be talking about - and planning for - their deaths? Synopsis: The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah hunts for new perspectives on issues that matter to young people. In this episode of The Usual Place, three millennials under 35 get candid about mortality and what changed their perspectives on death.Ho Hui Sze, 30, a counselling psychologist and host of Being With Grief podcast, G. Kethlyn Gayatiri, 32, a freelance educator, and Muhammad Alif, 28, a financial advisor and content creator, are no strangers to talking about death. They feature on Let's Talk About Death - a five-episode docuseries by The Straits Times, which premiered on Oct 23, 2024. From choosing a casket to protecting their passwords for their online accounts, each of them explores different aspects of end-of-life planning and dying well.Kethlyn is filmed in Episode 2 with her mother, Irene Koh, while Alif appears with his wife Liyana (@financewithliyandlif), in Episode 4. As for Hui Sze(@beingwith.grief), she chooses to memorialise her own bedroom in Episode 5. Natasha wants to find out how discussing death can be liberating, the misconceptions that often come up when planning for death, and how thinking about dying has made them live life differently. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:36 What made these millennials change their perspective of death?6:16 Hui Sze talks about the pain of death and the gifts of grief17:19 What if I die first? Kethlyn recounts talking to her mother 23:12 Alif gets emotional when creating his will - his “last love letter”31:25 A ‘Dabao Kit’ and and Death Cafes to talk about death39:32 How has talking about death made them live life differently? Watch ST's "Let's talk about death" video series here: https://str.sg/a4EyFollow Natasha on her IG account and DM her your thoughts on this topic: https://str.sg/8WavHost: Natasha Zachariah ([email protected])Read Natasha's articles: https://str.sg/iSXmFollow Natasha on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/v6DN Filmed by: Studio+65 Edited by ST Podcast producers: Eden Soh & Teo Tong Kai Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong Follow The Usual Place Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops: Channel: https://str.sg/5nfm Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/9ijX Spotify: https://str.sg/cd2P YouTube: https://str.sg/wEr7u Feedback to: [email protected] --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX #tup #tuptrSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Where is Singapore dementia research headed? Synopsis: Every first Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you. This episode is on a topic that affects millions worldwide: dementia. We will explore the differences between how dementia presents in Asian versus Caucasian populations, and what this means when it comes to early intervention and future treatments. Professor Nagaendran Kandiah, director of the Dementia Research Centre (Singapore) at the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine at Nanyang Technological University is our guest. He also talks to Joyce Teo about Lecanemab and Donanemab, two drugs that can slow down Alzheimer’s disease by treating the root cause. Donanemab, for instance, has been approved, but not recommended for the National Health Service in England. Highlights (click/tap above) 1:05 Differences in the way dementia shows up in Asians and Caucasians 6:01 A blood test to pick up dementia 11:59 Lecanemab and Donanemab, two drugs that have been approved elsewhere for those with Alzheimer’s disease 18:50 What can you do to lower your risk of vascular dementia? Check out ST's new series, No health without mental health: https://str.sg/mentalhealthmatters Read Joyce Teo's stories: https://str.sg/JbxN Host: Joyce Teo ([email protected]) Produced and edited by: Amirul Karim Executive producers: Ernest Luis and Lynda Hong Follow Health Check Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaN Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWRX Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaQ Feedback to: [email protected] --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX #healthcheckSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

International carbon markets can help to channel funding to developing countries and help them take action to tackle climate change. Synopsis: Every first and third Tuesday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. What is the difference between carbon avoidance, removal or reduction? This question is one of a few key ones holding up global consensus on the establishment of a global carbon credit programme under Article 6 the Paris Agreement. At the UN climate conference COP29, which will be held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from Nov 11 to 22, negotiators will be hammering out the details to enable this programme to be implemented. Article 6 of the Paris Agreement allows countries to cooperate with one another to achieve their climate targets, such as through carbon markets. What are the differences between these three terms, and why are they so contentious? To find out more about the roadblocks hindering an agreement on carbon markets at COP29, hosts Audrey Tan and David Fogarty chat with Mr Anshari Rahman, director of policy and analytics and investment firm GenZero. Mr Anshari was a former climate negotiator on Article 6 with the Singapore Government. Highlights of conversation (click/tap above): 2:08 What is Article 6 all about? 4:07 Why is Article 6 important for South-east Asia? 7:42 What are the main sticking points of negotiations on Article 6? 9:33 What are the issues surrounding the varying definitions of carbon avoidance, removal, or reduction? 13:58 What are the other benefits that Article 6 can deliver? Follow Audrey Tan on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/848W Read her articles: https://str.sg/JLM2 Follow David Fogarty on X: https://str.sg/JLM6 Read his articles: https://str.sg/JLMu Hosts: Audrey Tan ([email protected]) & David Fogarty ([email protected]) Produced and edited by: Eden Soh Executive producer: Ernest Luis Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag Feedback to: [email protected] --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX --- #greenpulseSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

DBS’ sustainability chief reveals ways to get into sustainability and why sustainable finance matters. Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a headstart in your personal finance and career with The Straits Times. The warmer the weather, the more we feel the impact of human activities on climate change. But how do we make a difference? Should we find jobs that work on sustainability, particularly on the environment front? Or invest in more meaningful asset classes in the sustainability field? In this episode, ST business correspondent Sue-Ann Tan examines why sustainability matters, how to get a job in the ESG field, and what we can do in our daily lives and with our investing to contribute to a more sustainable world. Her guest, Helge Muenkel, also describes how his career started with a Masters in development economics, and the twists and turns he made before finally landing in his current position as DBS chief sustainability officer. Highlights (click/tap above): 6:52 What skills do I need to work in sustainability? 10:20 What is sustainable finance? 12:47 Do my individual efforts make a difference? 15:07 How caring about climate change protects what we love 26:03 Three little things you can do to change the world Read Sue-Ann Tan's articles: https://str.sg/mvSa Follow Sue-Ann Tan on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/A86X Host: Sue-Ann Tan ([email protected]) Produced & edited by: Amirul Karim Executive producers: Ernest Luis, Lynda Hong & Joanna Seow Follow Headstart On Record Podcast channel here: Channel: https://str.sg/wB2m Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wuN3 Spotify: https://str.sg/wBr9 Feedback to: [email protected] Get business/career tips in ST's Headstart newsletter: https://str.sg/headstart-nl --- Follow more podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX --- #headstartSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Its warren of underground bunkers and tunnels, which sheltered the city’s residents during the heavy bombing of the Second Sino-Japanese war, are turned into lifestyle destinations today. Synopsis: The Straits Times chats with ST’s global correspondents about life as it goes on, amid the screaming headlines and bubbling crises. Chongqing bears a grim wartime history. As China’s wartime capital which Chiang Kai-shek’s Kuomintang government decamped to in 1937, it was heavily bombed during the Second Sino-Japanese war. Bunkers - some 16,000 - were built into the city’s hills and mountains, sheltering terrified residents as the bombs rained down. Some eight decades on, the Chongqing government has given these underground shelters a new lease of life. In this episode, ST’s foreign editor Li Xueying speaks to China correspondent Aw Cheng Wei about what it is like to be in those bunkers today, and why Chongqing is approaching its wartime past differently from other Chinese cities. Highlights (click/tap above): 0:39 Bookshops, car washes and mahjong sessions 2:51 A real coming to terms with its history? 8:24 Making the most of one’s past 14:04 The Straits Times sets up shop in Chongqing Read Aw Cheng Wei’s article here: https://str.sg/w2Esn Read Li Xueying’s articles: https://str.sg/iqmR Follow Li Xueying on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/ip4x Register for Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/stnewsletters Host: Li Xueying ([email protected]) Edited by: Fa’izah Sani Executive producer: Lynda Hong Follow Asian Insider on Fridays here: Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7 Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8 Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX Feedback to: [email protected] --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX --- #STAsianInsiderSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Political upheaval in Japan as its snap elections see the ruling party lose its majority, reshaping its ties with the US and Asia. Synopsis: Join The Straits Times’ senior columnist Ravi Velloor, as he distils his experience from four decades of covering the Asian continent. In this episode, Ravi speaks with Tobias Harris, founder of political risk consultancy Japan Foresight on the fallout from the stunning electoral reverses suffered by Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba following his decision to hold snap polls. They discuss what the results, which saw the long-governing Liberal Democratic Party and allied party Komeito lose their parliamentary majority, mean for Japan, its alliance with the US, and its ties with wider Asia. Tobias and Ravi also discuss how the results could impact on fiscal policy, and whether the government would now be forced to go in for further fiscal expansion. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:36 Japan’s political ‘earthquake’ 4:33 Anger, frustration in Japan 7:50 Domestic priorities to be a focus 8:33 Japan’s foreign policy 17:55 Fiscal discipline will be difficult 21:17 A modernised LDP Host: Ravi Velloor ([email protected]) Read Ravi's columns: https://str.sg/3xRP Follow Ravi on X: https://twitter.com/RaviVelloor Register for Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/stnewsletters Produced and edited by: Fa’izah Sani Executive producer: Lynda Hong Follow Asian Insider Podcast on Fridays here: Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7 Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8 Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: [email protected] --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX --- #STAsianInsiderSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Unless one candidate wins swing states decisively, a quick settlement is unlikely in America’s cliffhanger election. Synopsis: The Straits Times' global contributor Nirmal Ghosh shines a light on Asian perspectives of global and Asian issues with expert guests. The United States’ presidential election, which polls show is currently in a statistical tie, is unlikely to be settled quickly unless one candidate decisively wins enough swing states - which remains a possibility. Short of that however, both parties have armies of lawyers ready to file challenges to the result - with resolution potentially taking a long time, and concerns over instability in the interim. While a Kamala Harris presidency would bring a degree of continuity to foreign policy - and possibly some push back against Israel’s conduct - a Donald Trump presidency would have echoes of his first term, in which he bristled against the traditional post World War II international order, bringing up issues even with American allies such as NATO. A second term would bring more transactionalism and disruption even as some countries would like to see him back in power. He has also claimed that he will end the Russia-Ukraine war in 24 hours. From the eye of the gathering storm in an increasingly severely polarised America, senior journalist, author and veteran foreign correspondent Steven Herman, Chief National Correspondent of Voice of America, shares his views with Asian Insider host Nirmal Ghosh. Highlights (click/tap above): 2:17 The implications from the elections on foreign policies 5:05 Global perceptions of America and how some are eager to see Donald Trump return 6:33 Potential for political instability and the possibility of a long unresolved election 11:16 The public sentiment and political polarization of the elections 15:03 How Trump and Harris are looking at reaching out to younger audience through podcasts Host: Nirmal Ghosh ([email protected]) Produced and edited by: Fa’izah Sani Executive producer: Ernest Luis Follow Asian Insider on Fridays here: Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7 Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8 Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: [email protected] Follow Nirmal Ghosh on X: https://str.sg/JD7r Read Nirmal Ghosh's articles: https://str.sg/JbxG Register for Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/stnewsletters --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX --- #STAsianInsiderSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Navigating the US election scene - from Trump's rise to economic worries and the shifting tides of masculinity in politics. Synopsis: The Straits Times’ assistant foreign editor Clement Tan catches up with US bureau chief Bhagyashree Garekar to share her insights into the US presidential elections on Nov 5, 2024. Clement Tan speaks with Bhagyashree Garekar, ST’s US bureau chief, about her experiences covering the US elections. They discuss the changes in American society, the rise of Trump, and the impact of inflation concerns on voter sentiment. In this episode, Bhagya shares memorable encounters from her travels across the US, highlighting the political landscape and the growing diversity in the population. The conversation also touches on the psychological aspects of masculinity in politics and the uncertainty surrounding the upcoming election results. Highlights (click/tap above): 2:51 Memorable encounters on the campaign trail 8:23 Changes in infrastructure and American society 12:33 The rise of Trump and white nationalism 16:41 Masculinity and political identity 18:57 Economic concerns and election predictions Follow Clement Tan on X: https://str.sg/uErS Read Clement Tan's articles: https://str.sg/Ep62 Register for Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/stnewsletters Host: Clement Tan ([email protected]) & Bhagyashree Garekar ([email protected]) Produced and edited by: Fa’izah Sani Executive producer: Lynda Hong Follow Asian Insider on Fridays here: Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7 Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8 Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX Feedback to: [email protected] --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX --- #STAsianInsiderSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Observing with empathy, asking the right questions and listening will go a long way to charting out how to give meaningful support. Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a headstart in your personal finance and career with The Straits Times. Diversity, equity and inclusion are aspirational ideals that have permeated conversations of work life and good employment. Yet, there is still room for improvement when it comes to putting these aspirations into practice, if a survey on diversity issues commissioned by The Straits Times and release in August is anything to go by. In this episode, ST journalist Tay Hong Yi finds out how employers and employees both have their part to play in making workplaces more inclusive in meaningful ways without patronising those who benefit. His guests are: Ms Winifred Ling, a couples therapist and relationship coach who has lived with an invisible disability for close to two decades Ms Hsu Yi Peng, a young leader who helmed an initiative to provide students with diverse needs internship opportunities at her company, HSBC, on top of her day job as a product specialist. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:46 How did the idea of diversity, equity and inclusion come to the guests’ attention? 5:01 What was the learning curve like for Yi Peng when she took on the initiative? 9:20 Should employers or employees lead the charge to promote inclusion? 13:20 How did HSBC devise the support moves for students in the initiative? 19:12 How to balance between providing accommodations and seeing individuals for who they are beyond their traits? Read the feature by Rosalind Ang discussed on the podcast: https://str.sg/x4oC Read Tay Hong Yi's articles: https://str.sg/w6cz Follow Tay Hong Yi on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/AAxy Host: Tay Hong Yi ([email protected]) Produced & edited by: Amirul Karim Executive producers: Ernest Luis, Lynda Hong & Joanna Seow Follow Headstart On Record Podcast channel here: Channel: https://str.sg/wB2m Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wuN3 Spotify: https://str.sg/wBr9 Feedback to: [email protected] Get business/career tips in ST's Headstart newsletter: https://str.sg/headstart-nl --- Follow more podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX #headstartSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Unlocking new sources of financing for nature, ending harmful subsidies and benefit sharing among issues to be discussed Synopsis: Every first and third Sunday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. It has been two years since the Global Biodiversity Framework was adopted, and almost 200 countries are set to gather in Cali, Colombia, from Oct 21 to Nov 1 to discuss the way forward. The framework, touted as the biodiversity equivalent of the Paris Agreement that aims to help the world avert catastrophic climate change, wants to help slow, even reverse, nature’s decline. The framework outlines four goals that the world hopes to achieve by 2050, including protecting and restoring nature and closing the biodiversity finance gap. The framework also outlines 22 targets, to be achieved by 2030, to help the world achieve the longer-term goals. Targets include the one to restore 30 per cent of all degraded ecosystems by 2030, and to protect and restore 30 per cent of the world’s lands and seas by that same timeline. At COP16, countries are expected to come up with an action plan to translate these goals and targets into concrete action. But what are some hot topics, and how will countries navigate this? To find out more, hosts Audrey Tan and David Fogarty chat with Mr Will McGoldrick, Asia-Pacific managing director for The Nature Conservancy. Highlights of conversation (click/tap above): 2:29 Why is COP16 important? 4:48 What does The Nature Conservancy – one of the world’s largest environmental non-profit organisations that is tracking negotiations – expect to see at COP16? 6:40 Protecting nature does not come cheap. What are negotiations looking like on the finance front? 9:46 How do we start to phase out subsidies that harm nature? 14:30 Benefit sharing is expected to be another topic of discussions at COP16. What is it and why is it important? 17:12 How are South-east Asian countries approaching nature conservation? Follow Audrey Tan on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/848W Read her articles: https://str.sg/JLM2 Follow David Fogarty on X: https://str.sg/JLM6 Read his articles: https://str.sg/JLMu Hosts: Audrey Tan ([email protected]) & David Fogarty ([email protected]) Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim Executive producer: Ernest Luis Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag Feedback to: [email protected] --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX --- #greenpulseSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US trade policy and US-China competition concerns are high on the minds of South-east Asia observers. Synopsis: The Straits Times' global contributor Nirmal Ghosh shines a light on Asian perspectives of global and Asian issues with expert guests. Hardening strategic competition with China will remain front and centre of the foreign policy focus of the next US Administration in Washington DC. But while Asian countries have a mixed response to this superpower competition, most seek to stay on the right side of the United States and off the wrong side of China. Ahead of the US presidential elections on Nov 5, South-east Asia would foresee more continuity under a Kamala Harris Administration, with the Indo Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF, launched in 2022 by the Joe Biden Administration) continuing - while a second Donald Trump regime’s approach would be more bilateral, with Washington’s relations with individual countries shaped by factors such as trade deficits. Within the broader context of US-China competition though, South-east Asian countries would be looking for more clarity from Washington on distinctions between trade and investment and economic issues, and national security concerns, as host Nirmal Ghosh finds out in this episode. His guests are: Dr Satu Limaye, director of the East West Centre in Washington DC, creator of the Asia Matters for America initiative, and founding editor of the Asia Pacific Bulletin. Singapore-based APAC Advisors CEO Steven Okun served in the Clinton administration and is a veteran of numerous Democratic presidential campaigns. Highlights (click/tap above): 4:57 Directionally, the US-China relationship is going to be more tense… regardless of who wins on Nov 5 9:12 More fundamental understanding of the fragmented multi-polar and deconstructing international order 13:14 South-east Asia has been masterful at internationalising the search for autonomy; what could happen if there were to be a Trump 2.0 Administration? 16:02 How will Singapore fare? Why it will be very difficult for businesses and investors to do business or to invest if what's allowed today is not allowed tomorrow - for national security concerns 21:48 US-Asia relations: Why the threads of continuity are likely to overcome the threads of discontinuity Follow Nirmal Ghosh on X: https://str.sg/JD7r Read Nirmal Ghosh's articles: https://str.sg/JbxG Register for Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/stnewsletters Host: Nirmal Ghosh ([email protected]) Produced and edited by: Fa’izah Sani Executive producer: Ernest Luis Follow Asian Insider on Fridays here: Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7 Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8 Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX Feedback to: [email protected] --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX --- #STAsianInsiderSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The conversation in this episode dives into suicide prevention, stigma, and the changes needed to get to Zero-Suicide. Synopsis: The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah hunts for new perspectives on issues that matter to young people. In Singapore, suicide remains the leading cause of death for young people aged between 10 and 29. A 160-page white paper report called Project Hayat (meaning ‘life’ in Malay) was launched in conjunction with World Suicide Prevention Day on Sept 10 by advocacy group SG Mental Health Matters. Project Hayat outlines a national suicide prevention strategy for Singapore, and laid out its own research findings and 23 recommendations for addressing the gaps in suicide prevention here.In this episode, host Natasha Ann Zachariah finds out how we could talk more openly about suicide matters among young people, and what more can be done to address the gaps in support. Her guests on the show are the project’s co-lead Dr Rayner Tan, 35, who is from the National University of Singapore’s Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health. Shantini Sathiyanesan, 38, calls herself a “wounded healer” for her journey through suicidality, and also for having experienced the grief of losing someone to suicide. Highlights (click/tap above): 2:55 Has Project Hayat’s data studies shown unique barriers specific to minorities in society? 5:30 How to tell if someone has suicidal thoughts; passive and active suicide ideation; what is psychache (psychological pain)? 9:25 Shantini shares her own lived experience of suicidality - having suicidal thoughts, ideation, and losing someone to suicide - despite living a highly functioning life 13:58 What is the suicide question and why is it important to ask it? Paradox of saying “I don’t want to be a burden” 20:10 Importance of Project Hayat’s suicide prevention strategies; what can we do better when someone comes to us for help? 31:23 Dr Rayner Tan on Project Hayat’s bold ‘zero suicides’ target for Singapore; on SOS (Samaritans of Singapore) helplines and the experience it offers The Project Hayat White Paper is available here: www.sgmentalhealthmatters.com MENTAL WELL-BEING Institute of Mental Health’s Mental Health Helpline: 6389-2222 (24 hours) Samaritans of Singapore: 1-767 (24 hours) / 9151-1767 (24 hours CareText via WhatsApp) Singapore Association for Mental Health: 1800-283-7019 Silver Ribbon Singapore: 6386-1928 Tinkle Friend: 1800-274-4788 Chat, Centre of Excellence for Youth Mental Health: 6493-6500/1 Women’s Helpline (Aware): 1800-777-5555 (weekdays, 10am to 6pm) COUNSELLING Touchline (Counselling): 1800-377-2252 Touch Care Line (for caregivers): 6804-6555 Care Corner Counselling Centre: 6353-1180 Counselling and Care Centre: 6536-6366 We Care Community Services: 3165-8017 ONLINE RESOURCES https://moht.com.sg/mindline-sg/ https://fycs.org/ec2-sg/ https://www.tinklefriend.sg/ https://www.imh.com.sg/chat/Pages/default.aspx https://carey.carecorner.org.sg/ (for those aged 13 to 25) https://www.limitless.sg/talk (for those aged 12 to 25) Follow Natasha on her IG account and DM her your thoughts on this topic: https://str.sg/8WavHost: Natasha Zachariah ([email protected])Read Natasha's articles: https://str.sg/iSXmFollow Natasha on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/v6DN Filmed by: Studio+65 Edited by ST Podcast producers: Eden Soh & Teo Tong Kai Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong Follow The Usual Place Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops: Channel: https://str.sg/5nfm Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/9ijX Spotify: https://str.sg/cd2P YouTube: https://str.sg/wEr7u Feedback to: [email protected] --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX #tup #tuptr #healthcheck See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The SkillsFuture JobSeeker Support aims to help the retrenched tide over financially, while between jobs, after tough talks with unions, employers and the Government. Synopsis: Every month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests. As the global economy changes more rapidly and unpredictably, workers may face more risk from job loss despite best efforts. Yet, going out of a job can pose a hit to household finances. In an era of rising cost of living, lower- and middle-income workers are more likely to jump on the first job offer without considering their aptitudes. To give these workers more time to find the ‘right’ job for them, the SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support scheme will be launched in April 2025, with financial support structured to spur an active job search without incentivising prolonged unemployment. The scheme, estimated to cost the Government $200 million every year, comes as a result of tough talks among employers, unions and the Government. In this episode, ST assistant podcast editor Lynda Hong and journalist Tay Hong Yi host Manpower minister Tan See Leng to learn how the scheme has taken shape behind the scenes. Highlights (click/tap above): 5:38 On the Government relooking its position on financial support for those who have lost jobs 11:11 On the scheme’s gestation: What took place behind the scenes 17:51 What are the safeguards in place for the scheme and why? 21:48 Eligibility criteria: Too complex to understand for job seekers? 25:36 Will the scheme help workers at higher risk? 28:58 How does this scheme reflect the 4G leadership’s approach to policymaking? Read ST's Opinion section: https://str.sg/w7sH Read Tay Hong Yi’s articles: https://str.sg/dSAE Hosts: Lynda Hong ([email protected]) and Tay Hong Yi ([email protected]) Produced and edited by: Studio+65 and Hadyu Rahim Executive producer: Ernest Luis Follow In Your Opinion Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops: Channel: https://str.sg/w7Qt Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wukb Spotify: https://str.sg/w7sV Feedback to: [email protected] --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX --- #inyouropinionSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We don’t all have to live frugally and retire by 40 years old, but we need to be financially disciplined so we can retire meaningfully. Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a headstart in your personal finance and career with The Straits Times. FIRE in this context, stands for financial independence, retire early - a movement that points to the desire to retire earlier than the usual age range of 65 to 70, through a regime of aggressive investing, saving and frugality during one’s working years. In this episode, ST business correspondent Sue-Ann Tan investigates if Fire is for everyone, and if there are other ways to sustainably achieve financial freedom and retire at leisure. Her guests are Mr He Ruiming, 35, who as co-founder of the Woke Salaryman, talks about how he initially wanted to retire at the age of 32, and DBS financial literacy expert Lorna Tan, who feels that retiring meaningfully is more important to her. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:42 What are the different types of Fire? 3:14 Ruiming’s journey to achieve Fire by the age of 32 9:40 If I’m 25 now, what should I do to retire at 40? 12:56 What Ruiming wished he knew when he was younger 16:45 Lorna’s alternative to Fire, which is 'Firm' - financial independence, retiring meaningfully 21:46 Trends like loud budgeting which support more financial discipline 27:29 Using excel spreadsheets to track finances and goals Read Sue-Ann Tan's articles: https://str.sg/mvSa Follow Sue-Ann Tan on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/A86X Host: Sue-Ann Tan ([email protected]) Produced & edited by: Amirul Karim Executive producers: Ernest Luis, Lynda Hong & Joanna Seow Follow Headstart On Record Podcast channel here: Channel: https://str.sg/wB2m Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wuN3 Spotify: https://str.sg/wBr9 Feedback to: [email protected] Get business/career tips in ST's Headstart newsletter: https://str.sg/headstart-nl --- Follow more podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX #headstartSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Powering up: The world is warming up to nuclear energy as nations scramble for zero-carbon electricity. Synopsis: Every first and third Sunday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. For years, nuclear energy has been reviled as an energy source over safety, cost and the time taken to build the power plants. But with the world’s growing need for clean electricity to fuel everything from electric vehicles, heating and cooling to giant data centres, nuclear energy is getting its time in the sun again. Some countries, such as the United States, Japan and France, have committed to tripling nuclear energy capacity by 2050, while others, like Singapore, have said it is not ruling out its use. China is also making big investments in nuclear energy. Compared to generators powered by fossil fuels, nuclear reactors do not produce any planet-warming emissions. But will this be the silver bullet to getting the world to net-zero? What else is needed in the world’s decarbonisation journey? Our guest is Mr Chris Bradley, Director of McKinsey Global Institute and Senior Partner of McKinsey & Company. The institute is the consultancy’s research arm. Chris co-wrote a recent report looking at the global decarbonisation challenge and found that we are only about 10 per cent of the way on the low-emissions journey. Highlights (click/tap above): 2:07 What is accounting for the resurgence in interest in nuclear energy? 7:36 What are some outstanding issues hindering nuclear energy deployment? 10:18 What are the other challenges to the world’s path to net-zero? 12:18 What are the challenges for Asia’s decarbonisation journey? 15:56 How can South-east Asia speed up its energy transition? Follow Audrey Tan on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/848W Read her articles: https://str.sg/JLM2 Follow David Fogarty on X: https://str.sg/JLM6 Read his articles: https://str.sg/JLMu Hosts: Audrey Tan ([email protected]) & David Fogarty ([email protected]) Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim Executive producer: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag Feedback to: [email protected] --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX --- #greenpulseSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some are holding fast to their mother tongue, even with migration overseas, and are coming up with creative ways to spread the learning and use of Cantonese. Synopsis: The Straits Times chats with ST’s global correspondents about life as it goes on, amid the screaming headlines and bubbling crises. Want to pick up Cantonese? Some Hong Kongers - from a software engineer to a playgroup teacher based in Britain - have created new ways of learning the Chinese dialect such as through apps, videos and social media accounts. This surge in a grassroots effort is coming at a time when many Hong Kongers are feeling unmoored by the political turbulence of the past decade. As more migrate to non-Cantonese speaking societies, they are holding fast to their identity and language in a foreign environment. There are also growing fears that Cantonese in Hong Kong and Guangdong is a dying language with people abandoning it for English or Mandarin. In this episode, ST’s foreign editor Li Xueying speaks with Hong Kong correspondent Magdalene Fung on how true such concerns are, and her assessment of these new Cantonese-language tools. Highlights (click/tap above): 2:00 Why Hong Kongers are championing the use of Cantonese 5:20 How these new tools are different from traditional methods 9:50 A living and constantly changing language 13:00 The situation in Guangdong Read Magdalene Fung’s article here: https://str.sg/AfVW Read Li Xueying’s articles: https://str.sg/iqmR Follow Li Xueying on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/ip4x Register for Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/stnewsletters Host: Li Xueying ([email protected]) Produced and edited by: Fa’izah Sani Executive producer: Ernest Luis Follow Asian Insider on Fridays here: Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7 Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8 Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX Feedback to: [email protected] --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX --- #STAsianInsiderSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Your mother tongue can also be your super power - that’s what our three guests on The Usual Place tell us. Synopsis: The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah hunts for new perspectives on issues that matter to young people. In this episode, Zhang Xi Ying, a content producer at HeyKaki, C Aishwarya, a branding and promotions executive from Tamil Murasu and Rabiatul Adawiya Binhan, deputy audience and growth editor from Berita Harian, share their views on what it takes to be bilingual. Beyond acquiring another language, your mother tongue helps shape some sense of your identity, and preserve culture and connections with your roots. For one, it’s no longer passe to be fluent in your mother tongue, say Xi Ying and Aishwarya. But sometimes, the struggle to pick it up can be real, adds Rabiatul, who is trying to get her two children to learn Malay. Learning our mother tongues came up at the National Day Rally (NDR) in August 2024. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, said in his Mandarin speech, that he understood that the Chinese community is “very concerned” about the standard of Mandarin in Singapore. In an effort to spur on students who are strong in their mother tongue, Mr Wong announced that those who do well in these languages at primary school will be able to study it at a higher level from Secondary 1.Highlights (click/tap above): 5:59 Why learning your mother tongue brings you closer to culture 10:48 Clinging to their culture when they can’t speak their mother tongue 13:42 Mixing English and mother tongue languages to appeal 21:23 Hating on your mother tongue 27:26 Connecting with your mother tongue starts at home Check out the full vodcast here: https://str.sg/sfG2 Follow our guests on HeyKaki, Orang Muda Gitew and இன்னொரு day இன்னொரு slay Follow Natasha on her IG account and DM her your thoughts on this topic: https://str.sg/8WavHost: Natasha Zachariah ([email protected])Read Natasha's articles: https://str.sg/iSXmFollow Natasha on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/v6DN Filmed by: Studio+65 Edited by ST Podcast producers: Eden Soh & Teo Tong Kai Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong Follow The Usual Place Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops: Channel: https://str.sg/5nfm Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/9ijX Spotify: https://str.sg/cd2P YouTube: https://str.sg/wEr7u Feedback to: [email protected] --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX #tup #tuptrSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There is no health without mental health. Synopsis: Every first Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you. Mental health is a national priority in Singapore. While the recent 2023 National Population Health Survey showed that there was an improvement in the mental health of the general population between 2022 and 2023, younger adults aged 18 to 29 remained more affected than other age groups, with about 26 per cent of them reporting poor mental health. We, at ST, want to normalise conversations about mental health so that people can get timely support. This is super important because there is no health without mental health. This is why we’re starting a year-long Mental Health Series, which will feature a package of stories focusing on mental health every month. We will talk to people with mental health conditions about the challenges they face, and what they do to manage their conditions. We will also look at the evolving mental health landscape here, and tell you what is changing. In this podcast, ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo talks to two guests about their help seeking journey. They are her colleague Lee Li Ying, who’s a correspondent at ST and Yusri Shaggy Sapari, a freelance filmmaker. Highlights (click/tap above) 4:35 Li Ying’s first visit to a psychiatrist 9:13 Shaggy’s help-seeking journey via the polyclinic route 13:06 What’s the difference between a psychiatrist, a psychologist and a counsellor? 18:13 Tips for those thinking of seeking help Check out ST's new series, No health without mental health: https://str.sg/mentalhealthmatters Read Joyce Teo's stories: https://str.sg/JbxN Host: Joyce Teo ([email protected]) Produced and edited by: Amirul Karim Executive producers: Ernest Luis and Lynda Hong Follow Health Check Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaN Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWRX Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaQ Feedback to: [email protected] --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX #healthcheckSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why action is needed to avoid some countries being labelled as 'scam states'. Synopsis: Every third and fourth Friday of the month, The Straits Times' global contributor Nirmal Ghosh shines a light on Asian perspectives of global and Asian issues with expert guests. With their heavy security, territorial control and global reach, we look at South-east Asia’s industrial-size scam compounds, where thousands are lured from low-employment countries to work as forced labour stealing billions of dollars from victims worldwide. They are a national security threat to the countries they are based in as well as to the countries they target. The criminal organisations running these centres emanate mostly from China, and are physically located mainly in Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar but across the region in other countries as well. Sporadic crackdowns of the type recently seen in Laos’ Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone, are often choreographed ahead of time, enabling kingpins to evade them. According to a report released in May by the US Institute of Peace (USIP), as at the end of 2023, scam centres operating out of Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos had accounted for US$39 billion (S$50.1 billion) in stolen funds. Jason Tower, Myanmar country director at USIP, joins host Nirmal Ghosh in this episode of Asian Insider to talk about the many aspects of this criminal industry, from human trafficking to forced labour and cybercrime. He suggests that Malaysia - as the next chair of Asean - has an opportunity to exercise leadership as 2025 will mark the 10th anniversary of the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on Combating Transnational Crime. Highlights (click/tap above): 2:37 Victims from over 100 countries, with the average scam victim losing more or less all of their assets 5:17 Why Chinese police are becoming more proactive and responding to the situation 7:19 How scam compounds are extremely well-networked around the globe and can get advance information about an upcoming crackdown 11:22 The amounts brought in by these online scams can rival countries’ formal GDPs 15:50 Role of sanctions in combating scams - such as one on Ly Yong Phat, a notorious business figure involved in online scam compounds 19:32 A global crisis that demands action now Follow Nirmal Ghosh on X: https://str.sg/JD7r Read Nirmal Ghosh's articles: https://str.sg/JbxG Register for Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/stnewsletters Host: Nirmal Ghosh ([email protected]) Produced and edited by: Fa’izah Sani Executive producer: Ernest Luis Follow Asian Insider on Fridays here: Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7 Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8 Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX Feedback to: [email protected] --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX --- #STAsianInsiderSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Home-grown jazz saxophone player Sean Hong Wei is the 15th guest in this music channel. Synopsis (headphones recommended): The Straits Times invites music acts to its podcast studio. In the 15th episode of Music Lab, ST’s music correspondent Eddino Abdul Hadi hosts Singaporean jazz saxophone player Sean Hong Wei. The 25-year-old marked a milestone when his debut album The New Jersey Sessions - a collaboration with his mentor and home-grown jazz maestro Jeremy Monteiro - reached the Top 20 of the chart of American publication JazzWeek in July, 2024. The chart ranks releases based on airplay reports submitted by radio stations. The album had earlier gone to No. 1 on the overall chart and jazz chart on iTunes Singapore within two days of its release on Jan 1. The former banking and finance student is currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in music at The New School, New York. He also plays regular shows in the city’s vibrant jazz scene, where he meets and learns from seasoned veterans. He shares his experiences of touring in Asia, including recent performances in Shanghai, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. Sean discusses his plans to return to Singapore after completing his studies to contribute to the local jazz scene. Highlights (click/tap above): 0:57 On his album charting in the US jazz charts 4:13 On how his Singaporean background is not a barrier in the close-knit New York jazz scene 7:55 His experiences of touring, including recent gigs in Shanghai, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. 15:25 Getting into the saxophone, and jazz music, in secondary school 18:15 Dropping out of banking and finance studies and switching to music 25:56 Paying $1 for his saxophone, which is now worth $8,000 28:10 His future plans to help the local jazz scene grow Watch Sean Hong Wei's rendition of Body And Soul, a 1930 jazz standard composed by American songwriter Johnny Green: https://str.sg/nArc Discover home-grown artiste Sean Hong Wei at: Spotify: https://str.sg/An5E Instagram: https://str.sg/yZVP Read Eddino Hadi's articles: https://str.sg/wFVa Host: Eddino Abdul Hadi ([email protected]) Produced by: Eden Soh, Hadyu Rahim & Amirul Karim Recorded by: ST Podcast Team & Studio+65 Edited by: Amirul Karim Executive producer: Ernest Luis Discover previous artistes' live performances featured on Music Lab Podcast: Channel: https://str.sg/7m92 Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/w9TB Spotify: https://str.sg/w9T6 Feedback to: [email protected] --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX -- #musiclabSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How can Singapore business leaders become special? Synopsis: The Straits Times speaks with the new dean of Insead Asia Campus, Professor Sameer Hasija, on executive education and Singapore business leaders. The new dean of Insead Asia recounts the following meme in an era where workers do not stay put in one organisation for long anymore. The chief financial officer asks: "Should we be investing in training our people? What if they leave?" The chief executive answers: "Imagine we don't invest in them and they stay." In this exclusive, Prof Hasija tells host Krist Boo how going to a business school differs from going to a career coach. He points out why businesses should invest in workers and why business leaders must throw out the 'elitist' in themselves, in today's multi-generational and fragmented workplaces. He also talks about Singapore's strategy to put more Singaporeans into global leadership positions. Do Singaporeans lack ambition? Highlights (click/tap): 2:05 What does executive education do for me? 7:46 Why pay for employee development when they don't stay? 9:17 Why are there so few Singaporean global business leaders? 11:47 Do Singaporeans lack ambition, or is it cultural? Are there 'invisible ceilings' in global companies? 16:35 Has performative leadership overtaken values and integrity? 19:02 What could make Singapore's business leaders special in today's polarised world? Read Krist Boo's articles: https://str.sg/wB2P Follow Krist Boo on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/shcB Host: Krist Boo ([email protected]) Produced & edited by: Amirul Karim Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong Feedback to: [email protected] --- Follow more podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyXSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A university professor says his students are not keen on owning a car, while a motor industry expert says that they would, if cars were affordable. Synopsis: Every third Tuesday of the month, The Straits Times offers expert insights on new vehicles or transportation trends. In this episode, COE Watch host Lee Nian Tjoe invites Associate Professor Raymond Ong from the National University of Singapore, who wrote an opinion piece published in The Straits Times in August which said that the current price of certificate of entitlement (COE) needed to register a mass-market car is more affordable to households in Singapore today than it was in 2013. His other guest is motor trader-turned-consultant Say Kwee Neng. Highlights (click/tap above): 6:15 The reality at the showrooms, where the age of car buyers has changed from 10 years ago 12:05 Car-leasing firms for private hire have changed the game in the demand for COEs 26:20 The danger of the sense of defeatism in youths when cost of a car has reached far beyond their means 35:00 COE and car taxes in deterring ownership "have past a use-by date" 42:00 How much to pay under a distance-based road pricing system or a satellite-based system? Read Assoc Prof Ong's article for ST: https://str.sg/yKAg Read Lee Nian Tjoe's articles: https://str.sg/wt8G Follow Lee Nian Tjoe on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/iqkJ Read more COE articles: https://str.sg/iGKC Produced by: Lee Nian Tjoe ([email protected]), Ernest Luis and Teo Tong Kai Edited by: Teo Tong Kai Follow COE Watch Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops: Channel: https://str.sg/iTtE Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/iqW2 Spotify: https://str.sg/iqgB Feedback to: [email protected] --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX #coewatchSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Can there be respect? Synopsis: The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah hunts for new perspectives on issues of the day. Education Minister Chan Chun Seng recently announced at the Ministry of Education Schools Work Plan Seminar, how parents should communicate with teachers from now on. He said teachers are not required to share their personal phone numbers, and do not need to respond to work-related messages after school hours. Instead, they should use official channels like their e-mail and office number when contacting parents, and respond to work-related messages after school hours only in the event of emergencies, he added. These guidelines aim to help schools and parents work together more “positively, constructively and respectfully” while also establishing boundaries so that teachers can have “protected time” of their own. In this episode, Mr Chan dropped by The Usual Place to chat with host Natasha and her special co-host Jaime Ho, who is also the editor of The Straits Times. Why is this culture the way it is for now? Or is it just down to a seemingly larger issue of over-parenting or parents being unable to go with the flow in general? Highlights (click/tap above): 4:55 Is there a culture of over-parenting? Avoiding a 'crutch' mentality 9:50 Mr Chan on whether MOE should "over-protect, over-structure or remove all untidiness from life" for children in general 12:50 Social media impact today: The pressure of being compared, how children and also parents feel it in different ways 13:50 The 'spirit' of the new rule: why it matters, and how the culture could evolve 17:25 On the culture of bypassing the system to "get their own way"; on the case example of orientation for parents - not children - at one school 22:37 Mr Chan on why teachers in Singapore are not here to "service us" 32:40 Looking at flexibility for teachers too, while maintaining the "ethos of teaching", in a "code of conduct"; respecting teachers, their "private time" to "recharge" 36:10 Mr Chan's memories of teachers who inspired him Follow Natasha on her IG account and DM her your thoughts on this topic: https://str.sg/8Wav Host: Natasha Zachariah ([email protected]) Read Natasha's articles: https://str.sg/iSXm Follow Natasha on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/v6DN Filmed by: ST Video Edited by producers: Teo Tong Kai, Eden Soh, Jamie Koh and Rubeen Raj Executive producers: Ernest Luis and Lynda Hong Follow The Usual Place Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops: Channel: https://str.sg/5nfm Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/9ijX Spotify: https://str.sg/cd2P YouTube: https://str.sg/wEr7u Feedback to: [email protected] --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX #tup #tuptrSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The seasoned Singapore diplomat is bullish on India and Asean but says the US should not be underestimated. Synopsis: Every third and fourth Friday of the month, The Straits Times' global contributor Nirmal Ghosh shines a light on Asian perspectives of global and Asian issues with expert guests. Veteran Singapore diplomat Kishore Mahbubani, never shy about sharing his views, is bullish on India and Asean, believes China will not invade Taiwan unless the island declares independence - and warns that no one should underestimate America. In this episode, Mr Mahbubani says Europe should also revise its notions of being a global economic powerhouse, and the United Kingdom needs to give up its seat on the UN Security Council so India can take it. Asean has been successful as a regional organisation in preventing Brexit-style breakaways as well as wars in the region - and by 2030 its combined economy will be bigger than Japan’s, Mr Mahbubani contends. Pressure on China will grow regardless of who occupies the White House after America’s presidential election. In terms of tactics, Kamala Harris would be predictable, but Donald Trump would not. Mr Mahbubani, currently a Distinguished Fellow at the Asia Research Institute of the National University of Singapore, is among other things former Singapore Ambassador to the UN, former Permanent Secretary at Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and founding Dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. He has just published a new book titled Living The Asian Century: An Undiplomatic Memoir." Highlights (click/tap above): 1:54 Three geopolitical geniuses - Lee Kuan Yew, Goh Keng Swee, and S. Rajaratnam 5:32 South-east Asia has an enormous agency; Asean will be bigger than Japan by 2030 8:46 "I am extremely bullish about the prospects of India," says Kishore Mahbubani 11:11 Chinese and Indian inventors are responsible for 20% of all US patents 15:04 Wars are draining 16:59 Near-universal consensus in Washington DC that the US has about 10 years to stop China from becoming No.1 18:44 You can’t predict what Donald Trump is going to do Follow Nirmal Ghosh on X: https://str.sg/JD7r Read Nirmal Ghosh's articles: https://str.sg/JbxG Register for Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/stnewsletters Host: Nirmal Ghosh ([email protected]) Produced and edited by: Studio+65 and Fa’izah Sani Executive producer: Ernest Luis Follow Asian Insider on Fridays here: Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7 Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8 Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX Feedback to: [email protected] --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX --- #STAsianInsider See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Salaries need to be structured more flexibly to reflect broader aspirations. Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a headstart in your personal finance and career with The Straits Times. Views on pay issues vary widely among young workers depending on their professional and life goals. This was borne out in a survey of 1,000 young people commissioned by The Straits Times, carried out in May by market research firm Kantar and released in August. In this episode, ST journalist Tay Hong Yi digs deeper into the implications of the results and underlying beliefs that give rise to different attitudes. His guests are Dr Fermin Diez, a researcher on compensation issues with over 30 years of corporate experience, and young professional Jonathan Ng, who juggles being a business development manager with robotics company Otsaw while studying for a degree in marketing at the Singapore University of Social Sciences. Highlights (click/tap above): 2:38 How has working and studying at the same time influenced Jonathan’s views on salary? 4:10 How have career norms shifted? 8:33 Are companies keeping up with these shifting norms in how pay is designed? 12:43 Why does satisfaction with one’s salary and work-life balance decline with age? 15:29 Disclosing salary details 22:14 How can employers deal with inter-generational differences on how pay is perceived? Read the feature by Prisca Ang discussed on the podcast: https://str.sg/9aLR Read Tay Hong Yi's articles: https://str.sg/w6cz Follow Tay Hong Yi on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/AAxy Host: Tay Hong Yi ([email protected]) Produced & edited by: Amirul Karim Executive producers: Ernest Luis, Lynda Hong & Joanna Seow Follow Headstart On Record Podcast channel here: Channel: https://str.sg/wB2m Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wuN3 Spotify: https://str.sg/wBr9 Feedback to: [email protected] Get business/career tips in ST's Headstart newsletter: https://str.sg/headstart-nl --- Follow more podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX #headstartSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the bid to make alternative protein palatable to the consumer, South-east Asian cuisine offers some advantages. Synopsis: Every first and third Sunday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. Home to glitzy bars and Michelin star restaurants, Singapore is a foodie paradise. It is a reputation that extends well beyond the dinner plate – and it is not just diners who are noticing. The country’s research into ways of feeding the world in ways that are more beneficial for the climate and nature is also attracting global attention. On Sept 5, the Bezos Earth Fund launched Asia’s first Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein at the National University of Singapore, with a $39 million commitment from the Bezos Earth Fund. The fund was started by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos as a philanthropic commitment to address the climate crisis. What does this centre hope to do, and how will it help with Asia’s protein pivot? Green Pulse co-hosts Audrey Tan and David Fogarty get the lowdown from Dr Andy Jarvis, director of future of food at the Bezos Earth Fund. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:57 The link between food production, climate change and nature loss 4:27 Is producing alternative protein really more climate-friendly than regular animal-based protein? 5:34 What is the gap in alternative protein R&D identified by the Bezos Earth Fund? 9:23 What is the role of philanthropy in the great protein pivot toward sustainable source? 12:28 The focus for Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein in the National University of Singapore 14:27 What is one advantage that South-east Asian cuisine has over others, in terms of the move to sustainable protein? Follow Audrey Tan on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/848W Read her articles: https://str.sg/JLM2 Follow David Fogarty on X: https://str.sg/JLM6 Read his articles: https://str.sg/JLMu Hosts: Audrey Tan ([email protected]) & David Fogarty ([email protected]) Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim Executive producer: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag Feedback to: [email protected] --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX --- #greenpulseSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Revered as soldiers, the Gurkhas are Nepalis who are recruited into the British Army, the Singapore Police, the Indian Army, and recently, even the Russian army. Synopsis: Join The Straits Times' senior columnist Ravi Velloor, as he distils his experience from four decades of covering the Asian continent. In this episode, Ravi speaks with one of the most highly decorated officers of the Indian Army, retired Lt. Gen. Shokin Chauhan, on the future of Gurkhas, the famous warriors from the hill tribes of central Nepal. Gurkhas, who form the largest ethnic component of the Indian Army, have also lately been in the news after it was reported that some of them died fighting for Russia in the Ukraine War. A celebrated scholar-soldier and a retired second generation Gurkha Rifles officer of the Indian Army, Lt. Gen. Chauhan and Ravi discuss recent changes to India’s military recruitment policies that led Nepal to ban Gurkha recruitment by New Delhi, whether Nepal’s Maoist government will permit Nepalese soldiers to continue participating in UN peacekeeping operations, and the relevance of foot-soldiers in the era of robotics in warfare. Highlights (click/tap above): 2:00 Why Gurkha troops are special 08:50 Special height provisions for Gurkhas in British, Indian armies 11:15 Why Gurkhas go abroad to fight; Gurkhas in Russia 14:40 How India’s new recruitment policy hits Gurkhas 18:00 Could India’s Gurkha Regiment be disbanded? 22:50 Nepal and UN peace-keeping operations 25:00 Future of Gurkhas and infantry in the age of robotics Produced by: Ravi Velloor ([email protected]) and Fa’izah Sani Edited by: Fa’izah Sani Follow Speaking Of Asia Podcast every second Friday of the month here: Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7 Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8 Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: [email protected] Ravi Velloor's columns: https://str.sg/3xRP Ravi Velloor on X: https://twitter.com/RaviVelloor Register for Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/stnewsletters --- Discover more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 The Usual Place: https://str.sg/wEr7u In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m Hard Tackle: https://str.sg/JWRE #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX --- ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Special edition series: True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2 Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa --- Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX #STAsianInsiderSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Does living a meaningful, purpose-filled life trump materialistic goals and climbing the corporate ladder these days? Synopsis: The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah hunts for new perspectives on issues of the day, and finds out about what young people are talking about. Talk about the new definition of success has been fronted this year by Singapore’s new prime minister Lawrence Wong, who has called for wider definitions of success. But can it be done? In this episode, Natasha asks her three guests how possible it is to run on passion, and in redefining success, what does failure look like now? Also, what is one thing that young people need to do if they want to redefine what success looks like to them. Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth and Trade and Industry Alvin Tan, founder and executive director of Access Singapore Clarence Ching, and co-founder of River Valley Irregulars Sheila Manokaran speak about how they see the Singaporean dream moving beyond the 5Cs. The question - or is it an existential crisis? - that millennials and Gen Zs grapple with is about how they can make an impact that counts, even in a 9-to-5 job. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:49 Why is it necessary for us to redefine success now? 9:52 The stumbling blocks on the paths to success 18:35 Can chasing passions put food on the table?24:54 ”What is the government doing to ensure I have a job?”33:20 What does failure look like in this new definition of success? 40:25 What we need for a mindset shift Follow Natasha on her IG account and DM her your thoughts on this topic: https://str.sg/8Wav Host: Natasha Zachariah ([email protected]) Read Natasha's related story: https://str.sg/Mieu Read Natasha's articles: https://str.sg/iSXm Follow Natasha on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/v6DN Edited by producers: Teo Tong Kai and Eden Soh Executive producers: Ernest Luis and Lynda Hong Follow The Usual Place Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops: Channel: https://str.sg/5nfm Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/9ijX Spotify: https://str.sg/cd2P YouTube: https://str.sg/wEr7u Feedback to: [email protected] --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX #tup #tuptrSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two Singaporeans share their experiences working for Red Bull racing. Synopsis: The Straits Times tackles the talking points in sport every second Wednesday of the month. The 2024 Singapore Grand Prix returns on Sept 22 when fans here witness exhilarating action over 62 laps of the 4.94-kilometre Marina Bay Street Circuit. And while the title race between Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen and McLaren’s Lando Norris heats up on track, The Straits Times’ Hard Tackle revs up for the race weekend by learning more about what happens behind the scenes at a F1 team. In this episode, sports reporter Deepanraj Ganesan is joined by Singaporeans Charis Chua and Heng Yi-Hsin, students from Nanyang Technological University who look back on their 2½-month stint with Red Bull Racing and look ahead to the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix. Highlights (click/tap above): 5:30 Finding out about winning the internship challenge to work for Red Bull Racing 7:45 What Yi-Hsin and Chua did during their stints with RB 11:25 Why Formula 1 is more than just about fast cars and the famous drivers 13:30 The standout moments from the internship with RB 18:30 Looking ahead to 2024 Singapore Grand Prix Read: https://str.sg/LtoJ Follow Deepanraj Ganesan on X: https://str.sg/wtra Read his articles: https://str.sg/ip4G Catch visual snippets of the podcast from ST's sports Instagram page: https://str.sg/vn2F Produced by: Deepanraj Ganesan ([email protected]) and Amirul Karim Edited by: Amirul Karim Follow Hard Tackle every month here and get notified for new episode drops: Channel: https://str.sg/JWRE Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWRa Spotify: https://str.sg/JW6N Feedback to: [email protected] --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX #hardtackleSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Synopsis: The Straits Times' executive editor Sumiko Tan, who turns 60 this year in 2024, finds out the challenges to growing older as she confronts her own negative attitudes about ageing. Intergenerational friendships are not just about age groups, as Sumiko finds out from Michael Chiang. The playwright is nearly three decades older than married couple Jonathan Leong and Jeneen Goh, but the trio share a firm friendship. Host: Sumiko Tan ([email protected]) Produced by: Studio+65 Feedback to: [email protected] --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyXSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 'buy now, pay later' (BNPL) scheme allows for purchase on zero interest instalment plans with less credit requirement. Synopsis: Every month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests. In 2023, Singapore consumers spent $3.4 billion online and in-store using 'buy now, pay later' (BNPL) services from third-party providers like Atome and Grab PayLater, banks and retailers - without the need for minimum income as required by credit cards. And members of Gen Z, those between 18 and 24 years of age, and young millennials between 25 and 34, were among the bigger users of this method, according to the Worldpay’s 2024 Global Payments Report. With BNPL strengthening the purchasing power of youths, are there worrying social and financial implications from this new payment method, despite seemingly having more purchasing power? To discuss more about this, ST assistant podcast editor Lynda Hong co-hosts with business correspondent Sue-Ann Tan to speak with their guests about the possible implications of the BNPL scheme on youths. Once in financial trouble with a $75,000 debt, Khairul Abbas Hamzah is now heading a consultancy to help debtors who are in the same boat - that he managed to get out of. Also on the show is financial literacy expert Aaron Chwee, head of Wealth Advisory at OCBC Bank. Highlights (click/tap above): 3:03 Instant gratification impulse among younger generation? 10:55 When BNPL becomes a slippery slope; what types of financial habits BNPL inculcates 21:18 Phantom debt and the recourse to get out of debt troubles 26:24 Abbas’ $75,000 debt trouble 32:14 Social implications from BNPL Read ST's Opinion section: https://str.sg/w7sH Read Sue-Ann Tan’s articles: https://str.sg/KpUx Hosts: Lynda Hong ([email protected]) and Sue-Ann Tan ([email protected]) Produced and edited by: Amirul Karim Executive producer: Ernest Luis Follow In Your Opinion Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops: Channel: https://str.sg/w7Qt Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wukb Spotify: https://str.sg/w7sV Feedback to: [email protected] --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX --- #inyouropinionSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The bitter aftertaste though, is the story of how Chinese Indians are struggling to fit in. Synopsis: Every first Friday of the month, The Straits Times chats with ST’s correspondents in the Asia-Pacific, the US and Europe, about life as it goes on, amid the screaming headlines and bubbling crises. There is a popular sauce in India, which involves massive amounts of green chillies, salt and Indian spices such as turmeric. And it is sold as a Chinese sauce, in Kolkata’s Chinatown. From paneer chilli to green chilli, Chinese sauces, adapted for Indian taste buds, are very popular in India. It is also a representation of how ethnic Chinese - their origins in Kolkata can be traced to the 18th century in India - have assimilated. But that is not the complete story, for the community whose history has been fraught, from the fall-out from the 1962 war between India and China, to the after-effects of today’s border conflict. In this episode, ST’s foreign editor Li Xueying chats with India correspondent Debarshi Dasgupta on the Chinese-Indian community’s hopes and fears. Highlights (click/tap above): 0:48 What are Chinese-Indian sauces 1:59 Indian influences 3:13 A story of decline and atrophy 8:10 A painful history Read Debarshi Dasgupta's article here: https://str.sg/feZA Read ST's Letters From The Bureau: https://str.sg/3xRd Register for Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/stnewsletters Host: Li Xueying ([email protected]) Produced and edited by: Fa’izah Sani Follow Asian Insider here every month: Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7 Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8 Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX Feedback to: [email protected] --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX #STAsianInsiderSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How to choose a healthier salt and cooking oil. Synopsis: Every first Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you. Singapore is planning to introduce Nutri-Grade labelling for salt, sauces and seasonings, instant noodles and cooking oil. These are labels that will allow consumers to tell at a glance how healthy they are. The products will be graded A to D – with D being the least healthy choice, having the highest levels of sodium and/or saturated fat, among other possible nutrients. The mandatory Nutri-Grade label has been successfully used on pre-packaged and freshly prepared beverages. Drinks that exceed a threshold of sweetness are graded C and D, and there are also prohibitions on advertising such beverages that are grade D. Still, it would appear easier for someone to cut down on sugary drinks, or even eliminate them, than it is to significantly reduce the intake of sodium and saturated fats as savoury foods can form a big part of our diets. Will this new labelling requirement truly benefit us, and what should we watch out for, when it comes to maintaining healthier diets in the meantime? ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo finds out more from the president of the Singapore Nutrition Dietetics Association, Dr Kalpana Bhaskaran. She is the deputy director of Industry Partnerships and the head of the Glycemic Index Research Unit at the School of Applied Science at Temasek Polytechnic. Highlights (click/tap above) 2:29 The taste test: what’s the difference between potassium salt and table salt? 3:08 Watch out for hidden sodium 6:59 Salty tolerance for the elderly is much higher 10:39 What exactly are saturated fats? 13:17 How to pick out a healthier cooking oil 15:13 Is there any truth to the claim that coconut oil is actually good for health? Read Joyce Teo's stories: https://str.sg/JbxN Host: Joyce Teo ([email protected]) Produced and edited by: Eden Soh Executive producers: Ernest Luis, Lynda Hong Follow Health Check Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaN Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWRX Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaQ Feedback to: [email protected] --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX #healthcheckSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We ask Indranee Rajah - Minister in the Prime Minister's Office - to explain the mindset shift aim of the enhanced parental leave scheme, announced on Aug 18. Synopsis: The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah hunts for new perspectives on issues of the day, and finds out about what young people are talking about. When it was announced at the National Day Rally that the parental leave scheme would be enhanced starting in April 2025, Ms Indranee recalls young parents being happy to hear the news. Employers, she adds, on the other hand, are cautiously welcoming the news as they put forth their concerns about managing schedules and workloads. Ms Indranee talks about the need for a well-designed workplace to make shared parental leave work for all, not just parents of newborns. This would mean fathers giving advance notice of when they want to take their leave or compensating those who take on a parent’s workload - with the money freed up by the government-paid paternity leave. Natasha asks Ms Indranee why fathers haven’t been so keen to take up the existing provisions - reluctant line managers seem to be standing in the way - and if this would be the game-changing move couples need to support their aspirations to start and grow their families? Highlights (click/tap above) 1:56 Who’s happy, post-National Day Rally? 6:40 Sending a signal that dads should be more involved in child-raising 10:57 A mindset change and cultural shift in the workplace 19:06 Will the enhanced parental leave improve Singapore’s TFR? 21:42 Making a family-friendly Singapore Follow Natasha on her IG account and DM her your thoughts on this topic: https://str.sg/8Wav Host: Natasha Zachariah ([email protected]) Read Natasha's related story: https://str.sg/Mieu Read Natasha's articles: https://str.sg/iSXm Follow Natasha on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/v6DN Edited by producers: Eden Soh Executive producers: Ernest Luis and Lynda Hong Follow The Usual Place Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops: Channel: https://str.sg/5nfm Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/9ijX Spotify: https://str.sg/cd2P YouTube: https://str.sg/wEr7u Feedback to: [email protected] --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX #tup #tuptrSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Start early, compound your wealth, and try not to beat the market. Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a headstart in your personal finance and career with The Straits Times. Finance literacy experts always tell us to “start young” so we can make full use of the effect of compounding and grow our wealth from a young age. But how early is early enough for first-time, young investors? Can an undergraduate without a full-time job start investing? Crucially, if someone has just $100 a month to invest, what can they do with that amount? In this episode, ST business correspondent Sue-Ann Tan also looks at how university investing clubs help undergraduates to start growing their money, and the first investments that they can buy to begin. Her guests are Associate Professor of Finance Matthew Dearth from NTU who brings 30 years of finance experience, and NTU undergraduate Victor Tan, who has invested since age 18. The NTU Investment Interactive Club helps to link students to the finance community and hone their practical investing skills. It was founded in 1999 and now has over 5,000 members. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:30 How did Victor start investing at 18? 4:53 What’s the recommended age for people to start investing? 9:25 What products should people buy as a first investment? 12:17 Should we try to beat the market or do individual stock picking? 16:06 The biggest investment mistakes our guests have made 21:27 Where do you get your investing advice or knowledge from? Read Sue-Ann Tan's articles: https://str.sg/mvSa Follow Sue-Ann Tan on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/A86X Host: Sue-Ann Tan ([email protected]) Produced & edited by: Amirul Karim Executive producers: Ernest Luis, Lynda Hong & Joanna Seow Follow Headstart On Record Podcast channel here: Channel: https://str.sg/wB2m Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wuN3 Spotify: https://str.sg/wBr9 Feedback to: [email protected] Get business/career tips in ST's Headstart newsletter: https://str.sg/headstart-nl --- Follow more podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX #headstartSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Businesses are buying into new financial products that could help save nature, but funds for nature’s protection have not reached the scale required. Synopsis: Every first and third Sunday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. Coral reef bonds, biodiversity credits and schemes that enable national debt to be forgiven in exchange for conservation efforts. These are just some of the financial instruments that have been in the news recently, as the world races to find the funds needed to prevent nature from falling into further decline. But when did the financial sector start paying attention to nature, and can their involvement in conservation truly help to protect and restore natural ecosystems? Financing for nature is expected to be a key topic of discussion at the COP16 biodiversity conference in Colombia in October. In the lead-up to the United Nations summit, Green Pulse co-hosts Audrey Tan and David Fogarty discuss the role of the financial sector in nature conservation with Ms Hoon Ling Min, investment director at decarbonisation investment platform GenZero. Highlights (click/tap above): 4:05 Who are the buyers of nature-linked investment products? 9:14 What drives the development of new types of nature-related financial products? 15:43 In the absence of a measurable metric for nature, how can biodiversity benefits be quantified? 17:30 How important is the role of the private sector in protecting nature? Follow Audrey Tan on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/848W Read her articles: https://str.sg/JLM2 Follow David Fogarty on X: https://str.sg/JLM6 Read his articles: https://str.sg/JLMu Hosts: Audrey Tan ([email protected]) & David Fogarty ([email protected]) Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim Executive producer: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag Feedback to: [email protected] --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX --- #greenpulseSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New episodes from our rebranded podcast channel will drop here: https://str.sg/wB2m Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a headstart in your personal finance and career with The Straits Times. Our previous Money and Career podcast channel is now rebranded Headstart on Record, taking on a fresher and sharper approach on how to chase your aspirations and grow your money. Hosts Sue-Ann Tan and Tay Hong Yi will speak with guests on how to navigate jobs and finances in a daunting, complex world. Hong Yi has been covering manpower and talent topics for ST, with a focus on careers, the job market and workforce trends. Sue-Ann will look at how to invest your money and the delicate balancing act between saving and living. Sept 2 Monday sees her first episode dropping across our audio platforms and the ST app. Stay tuned for more episodes on chewy topics like how far would you go for your pay cheque and how you can invest from age 18. Read Sue-Ann Tan's articles: https://str.sg/mvSa Follow Sue-Ann Tan on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/A86X Read Tay Hong Yi's articles: https://str.sg/w6cz Follow Tay Hong Yi on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/D6vT Get business/career tips in ST's Headstart newsletter: str.sg/headstart-nl Produced by: Sue-Ann Tan ([email protected]), Tay Hong Yi ([email protected]), Ernest Luis and Amirul Karim Edited by: Amirul Karim Follow Headstart On Record Podcast channel here: Channel: https://str.sg/wB2m Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wuN3 Spotify: https://str.sg/wBr9 Feedback to: [email protected] --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Get ST's app (with a dedicated podcast player section): The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX #headstart See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hear home-grown rapper Shigga Shay's intimate live studio take of his latest single, Overachieve, which will also be included in his upcoming release Hanyu Pinyin. Synopsis (headphones recommended): This Music Lab playlist features the full live performance of music acts invited by The Straits Times to its podcast studio. Listen to Shigga Shay talk about his musical journey in the full audio-only podcast here: https://str.sg/yzJA Discover home-grown artiste Shigga Shay at: YouTube: https://str.sg/bnA6 Spotify: https://str.sg/BQLe Instagram: https://str.sg/vMyR Read Eddino Hadi's articles: https://str.sg/wFVa Host: Eddino Abdul Hadi ([email protected]) Produced by: Eden Soh, Hadyu Rahim & Amirul Karim Recorded by: ST Podcast Team & Studio+65 Mixed by: Hadyu Rahim Executive producer: Ernest Luis Discover previous artistes featured on Music Lab Podcast: Channel: https://str.sg/w9TX Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/w9TB Spotify: https://str.sg/w9T6 Feedback to: [email protected] --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX #musiclabSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Home-grown rapper Shigga Shay is the 14th guest in this music channel. Synopsis (headphones recommended): Each month, The Straits Times invites music acts to its podcast studio. In the 14th episode of Music Lab, ST’s music correspondent Eddino Abdul Hadi hosts Singaporean rapper Shigga Shay. The 31-year-old hip-hop artist speaks at length about his experience as the first Singaporean to take part in The Rap Of China 2024, the popular Chinese reality show (2017 to present) that looks for the country’s next rap star. He was among the 72 contestants out of 600 who passed the first round, and reached the 41st spot before being eliminated in the third round. It is still a win, he says, because his time on the show gave him a platform to reach out to a whole new fanbase in China. He still makes regular trips to China to work with his counterparts there on his upcoming release, a mixtape titled Hanyu Pinyin. Featuring verses in Mandarin, English and Hokkien, this new batch of songs reflect his identity as a multilingual rapper from Singapore who is ready to take on the global stage. Shigga also discusses how hip-hop helped him overcome his shyness, and how his late father gave him his stage name. In the episode, he also performs a rendition of his latest single, Overachieve, which will also be included in his upcoming release Hanyu Pinyin. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:54 On being the first Singaporean to take part in The Rap Of China 14:24 How his multilingual songs tells his story as a rapper from Singapore 18:15 On how he has been rapping for half is life 26:17 Why he calls himself Shigga Shay 30:20 He started making music videos in school 34:47 On running his own music company Listen to Shigga Shay’s live performance of Overachieve here: https://str.sg/GRrZ Discover home-grown artiste Shigga Shay at: YouTube: https://str.sg/bnA6 Spotify: https://str.sg/BQLe Instagram: https://str.sg/vMyR Read Eddino Hadi's articles: https://str.sg/wFVa Host: Eddino Abdul Hadi ([email protected]) Produced by: Eden Soh, Hadyu Rahim & Amirul Karim Recorded by: ST Podcast Team & Studio+65 Edited by: Amirul Karim Executive producer: Ernest Luis Discover previous artistes' live performances featured on Music Lab Podcast: Channel: https://str.sg/7m92 Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/w9TB Spotify: https://str.sg/w9T6 Feedback to: [email protected] --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX -- #musiclabSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Love or loathe them, could insects also become a food source in the wider context of the global population? Synopsis (headphones recommended): Green Trails is a 4-part environment podcast special for 2024 where The Straits Times hits the ground with experts. "Can this be eaten?” is an oft repeated question that every nature guide is familiar with. In July, Singapore approved 16 species of insects for human consumption, to the delight of sustainable food firms and disgust of some Singaporeans. But can bugs one day whet mainstream appetites like sambal stingray, a smokey South-east Asian dish crafted from the creature once considered as a “trash fish”? In this third episode of Green Trails, our team speaks to members of the Entomological Network of Singapore, a group of insect researchers and hobbyists, about the stories of insects in the city-state and whether these creatures can be foraged. At Windsor Nature Park, ST journalist Ang Qing meets Dr Sean Yap, a research fellow at Nanyang Technological University’s Tropical Ecology & Entomology Lab, Mr Foo Maosheng, a senior scientific officer at the National University of Singapore’s Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, and entomological educator and consultant James Khoo. For almost two hours, they go on a trail while discussing everything related to insects -  from Singapore's historical link to beetle science, to how pretty privilege shapes research in the insect kingdom. Highlights (click/tap above): 5:41 Singapore's historical role in beetle science 11:18 Debunking the myth about cockroaches 15:38 How insect as food can gain popularity akin to seafood like sambal stingray 17:53 The tastiest insects and can we forage for them 22:10 Sharing our home with insects Read Ang Qing’s previous article about a cockroach discovery in Singapore: https://str.sg/ikhv Listen to other Green Trails episodes:  Ep 1: Visit to Sungei Buloh: How Singapore can better host migratory birds - https://str.sg/BrqS Ep 2: Visit to East Coast: How reclamation will shape up against rising sea levels - https://str.sg/mRG8 Follow Ang Qing on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/ichp Read her articles: https://str.sg/i5gT Host: Ang Qing ([email protected]) Trail producers: Hadyu Rahim, Fa’izah Sani, Amirul Karim & Hana Chen Edited by: Hadyu Rahim Executive Producers: Lynda Hong ([email protected]), Ernest Luis ([email protected]) & Audrey Tan ([email protected]) Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag Feedback to: [email protected] --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcasts website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX --- #greenpulse #greentrailsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aggression from China is driving Manila and Washington closer, spurring a loose coalition against Beijing. Synopsis: Every third and fourth Friday of the month, The Straits Times' global contributor Nirmal Ghosh shines a light on Asian perspectives of global and Asian issues with expert guests. Despite talks between China and the Philippines regarding resupply of the small contingent of Philippine marines aboard the World War II era ship Sierra Madre which Manila had grounded on the disputed Second Thomas Shoal in 1999, tensions remain high in the South China Sea. In the latest incident, Chinese and Philippine Coast Guard vessels collided near Sabina Shoal, a disputed feature in the Spratly Islands, in the early hours of Monday, Aug 19. The vessels were damaged and though there were no casualties, Washington responded by reminding Beijing of the US's 73-year-old Mutual Defense Treaty with Manila. China claims most of the 1.3 million square miles of the South China Sea, including the Second Thomas Shoal, where Philippine vessels must run the gauntlet of a de facto Chinese blockade to resupply the marines on the Sierra Madre. The United States however, also needs to maintain a fine balance, being careful not to be too provocative and back China into a corner, says Indo-Pacific security expert Lisa Curtis, former top US official and now Senior Fellow and director of the Indo-Pacific Security Program at the Center for a New American Security in Washington, DC. Ms Curtis has served as deputy assistant to the US President under three successive national security advisors. She has 20 years of service in the US government including at the National Security Council, the CIA, the State Department, and Capitol Hill, specialising in the Indo-Pacific and South Asia. Ms Curtis guests on this episode of Asian Insider alongside Filipina writer Marites Vitug, a longtime investigative journalist and author of several books including the 2018 Rock Solid: How the Philippines Won Its Maritime Case Against China, and most recently, the just-released, co-authored Unrequited Love : Duterte's China Embrace which explores the various aspects of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's appeasement of China. Highlights (click/tap above): 3:25 Why (former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte) hated the US and still dislikes it 5:07 How far the US-Philippines relationship has progressed under President Marcos 9:20 Why it would be helpful if there is more engagement between the Philippines and the Quad 12:49 Provocative air manoeuvres; Chinese shooting flares right in front of the Philippines’ aircraft - is this a test of the resolve of the Philippines and the US? 14:26 A lot of domestic support for Marcos' shift in foreign policy; how South China Sea could be a likely conflict zone besides Taiwan Strait 17:34 Why the Marcos government should make clear to the US, what kind of help they want Follow Nirmal Ghosh on X: https://str.sg/JD7r Read Nirmal Ghosh's articles: https://str.sg/JbxG Register for Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/stnewsletters Produced by: Nirmal Ghosh ([email protected]) and Fa’izah Sani Edited by: Fa’izah Sani Follow Asian Insider with Nirmal Ghosh every third and fourth Friday of the month here: Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7 Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8 Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX Feedback to: [email protected] --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX #STAsianInsiderSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A motor industry expert connects popular culture to the success of Chinese car brands in Singapore. Synopsis: Every third Tuesday of the month, The Straits Times offers expert insights on new vehicles or transportation trends. BYD is leading the sales chart in Singapore and other Chinese car brands are also making their way here. In a market where the total number of vehicle registrations is capped, the success of the newcomers comes at the cost of incumbent players. Dr Victor Kwan, who was in the motor trade for more than 20 years before joining academia, explains what is driving this trend and whether it is sustainable. Highlights (click/tap above): 6:15 The reason for the appearance of so many new Chinese car brands in Singapore 8:20 What BYD Is doing right 22:00 The pressure to develop the charging infrastructure to spur the desire for electric cars 24:50 What dealers think about when deciding to bring in a car brand 38:00 Chinese car brands are here to stay Read Lee Nian Tjoe's articles: https://str.sg/wt8G Follow Lee Nian Tjoe on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/iqkJ Read more COE articles: https://str.sg/iGKC Produced by: Lee Nian Tjoe ([email protected]), Ernest Luis and Teo Tong Kai Edited by: Teo Tong Kai Follow COE Watch Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops: Channel: https://str.sg/iTtE Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/iqW2 Spotify: https://str.sg/iqgB Feedback to: [email protected] --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX #coewatchSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Climate and environment data disclosures are vital. But real action is needed for cutting emissions and nature protection. Synopsis: Every first and third Sunday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. There’s a saying in sustainability circles: What gets measured, gets changed. And this applies particularly to companies, which are the major source of carbon emissions heating up the planet. Companies are also top sources of damage to nature, especially biodiversity loss. Corporate supply chains, products and services all have a carbon and nature footprint. So, what companies, as well as cities and public institutions, decide really matters. But until recently, companies were under no obligation to fully measure and report their impacts and what they were doing about it. Times have changed. A growing number of countries, including Singapore, are mandating annual corporate climate disclosures. And likely soon, nature impact disclosures, too. One organisation that has been at the forefront of corporate environmental disclosures is the non-profit CDP. But can we really trust the data in corporate climate and environment disclosures? Who's checking? And are disclosures really making a difference? ST's climate change editor David Fogarty hosts Sherry Madera, chief executive of CDP, which manages an environmental disclosure system for companies, cities, states and regions. Highlights of conversation (click/tap above): 2:01 What data is being provided to CDP and is it getting better? 5:20 What percentage of companies, cities and public institutions that share data with CDP come from Asia? 7:32 How are investors using the data given to CDP? 9:40 What are the main gaps in the data? And where are companies, cities and others failing to take action? 12:42 How can we really trust the data supplied to CDP? How do you check it? 16:14 In what ways is data disclosure translating into real action on the ground? Some examples? Follow David Fogarty on X: https://str.sg/JLM6 Read his articles: https://str.sg/JLMu Produced by: David Fogarty ([email protected]), Ernest Luis & Amirul Karim Edited by: Hadyu Rahim Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag Feedback to: [email protected] --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX --- #greenpulseSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What triggers one’s frustrations in Singapore? Even the smallest inconvenience can spark irritation, making it feel like we’re always on the edge of our temper. Synopsis: The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah explores contemporary societal choices and youth perspectives. Murals and HDB block patterns, poor service, bad food, long queues, queue cutters, ‘undeserving’ seat occupiers on public transport, slow walkers, ‘pawrents’ spending money on their furkids, XMMs — the list of what grinds Singaporeans’ gears seems to grow by the day.Throw in social media platforms into the mix, and the rants come fast and furious.There's an appetite for it - just look at the existence of Singapore-centric complaint groups online and the number of members they have. Or the TikTok videos that pop up, where people rant about a perceived slight or minor irritation. Or the people who have been caught in 4K acting out on the roads, in malls or restaurants. We could go on.Natasha goes outdoors to find out if people share this sentiment and what we can do should we encounter the Angry Person. Highlights (click/tap above) 0:45 Anger in comment section 1:55 The anonymity factor 4:50 Context is everything 6:58 Breathe in, breathe out - anger is unhealthy Follow Natasha on her IG account and DM her your thoughts on this topic: https://str.sg/8Wav Host: Natasha Zachariah ([email protected]) Read Natasha's articles: https://str.sg/iSXm Follow Natasha on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/v6DN Filmed by: Amirul Karim and Hana Chen Edited by producers: Teo Tong Kai and Eden Soh Executive producers: Ernest Luis and Lynda Hong Follow The Usual Place Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops: Channel: https://str.sg/5nfm Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/9ijX Spotify: https://str.sg/cd2P YouTube: https://str.sg/wEr7u Feedback to: [email protected] --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX #tup #tuptrSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ST sports reporters and the SG bronze medalist look back at memorable moments in the Paris Olympics. Synopsis: The Straits Times tackles the talking points in sport every second Wednesday of the month. History was made on Aug 9, 2024, when kitefoiler Maximilian Maeder became Singapore’s youngest Olympic medallist after he clinched a bronze in the Formula Kite event. In this episode, ST's sports reporter Deepanraj Ganesan is joined by assistant sports editor Rohit Brijnath and sports correspondent Kimberly Kwek for a look back on that historic moment while also assessing the Paris Games as a whole and Team Singapore’s overall performance. We also bring you the full audio from ST’s conversation with Maximilian a day after his final race. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:25 ST reporters talk about the mood on the ground at the Marseille Marina after Max won bronze 7:10 ST reporters discuss what is next for Max 15:25 Max surprised he has yet to receive negative messages 23:55 Max on why “connection” is the main takeaway from his debut Olympics Read: https://str.sg/AsCE Follow Deepanraj Ganesan on X: https://str.sg/wtra Read his articles: https://str.sg/ip4G Read Rohit Brijnath's articles: https://str.sg/wFu2 Read Kimberly Kwek's articles: https://str.sg/bWY9 Catch visual snippets of the podcast from ST's sports Instagram page: https://str.sg/vn2F Produced by: Rohit Brijnath ([email protected]), Kimberly Kwek ([email protected]) and Deepanraj Ganesan ([email protected]) Edited by: Amirul Karim Follow Hard Tackle every month here and get notified for new episode drops: Channel: https://str.sg/JWRE Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWRa Spotify: https://str.sg/JW6N Feedback to: [email protected] --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX #hardtackle #hardtackletrSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two HDB resale flats had listing prices of $2 million in May, which were debunked by the authorities for being misleading and unrealistic. Synopsis: Every second Monday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests. The authorities sat up and paid attention when a jumbo flat in Sengkang was put up for sale with an asking price of $2 million in May. Then there was a listing for a DBSS flat in Toa Payoh asking for $2 million. But with a record number of HDB transactions above $1million each - a phenomenon that started around 2012 - is a HDB resale flat with a price tag of $2 million permanently unrealistic? In this episode, ST assistant podcast editor Lynda Hong and business correspondent Sue-Ann Tan look at the percentages and context of HDB resale flats in the market with Nicholas Mak, who is now chief research officer of property search portal Mogul.sg. He has over 25 years of experience in the Singapore and regional real estate markets. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:35 Why did the agents push these $2 million HDB resale listings, which have been debunked by the authorities as unrealistic or misleading? 3:30 Avoiding ripple effects and creating the wrong impression among other sellers and buyers 9:54 What should potential buyers do? 12:05 Can the government divert demand away from the resale market and delay reaching a $2m mark there? 16:35 How do buyers discern if a HDB resale listing price is unrealistically high? Read ST's Opinion section: https://str.sg/w7sH Read Sue-Ann Tan’s articles: https://str.sg/KpUx Produced by: Lynda Hong ([email protected]), Sue-Ann Tan ([email protected]), Ernest Luis & Hadyu Rahim Edited by: Hadyu Rahim Follow In Your Opinion Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops: Channel: https://str.sg/w7Qt Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wukb Spotify: https://str.sg/w7sV Feedback to: [email protected] --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX --- #inyouropinionSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.