The Straits Times Podcasts

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.

A well-written job description helps employers and jobseekers find the right fit. Synopsis: Every second Monday of the month, The Straits Times helps you put your career on the right footing from the outset. The job search is never easy, with limited time and lots of ground to cover. This means it is important to be able to suss out, with confidence, the likelihood a job opportunity is the right one to put your chips into, starting from understanding what job advertisements are saying. Host Tay Hong Yi speaks with a seasoned headhunter who has helped plenty of clients through this process over nearly 20 years. His guest is Ms Agnes Yee, executive director for interim solutions and legal practice at Kerry Consulting. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:27 What does the way a job opening is described say about employers? 6:58 Why a less specific description may not always be a bad thing 15:20 Why is meeting all stated job requirements not always enough? 22:51 What to make of “quirky” job descriptions? Read Tay Hong Yi's articles: https://str.sg/w6cz Get business/career tips in ST's HeadSTart newsletter: https://str.sg/headstart-nl Produced by: Tay Hong Yi ([email protected]), Ernest Luis, and Teo Tong Kai Edited by: Hadyu Rahim Follow Career Talk Podcast 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 The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX --- #moneycareerSee 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.

We chat with Mayank Chhaya, Chicago-based veteran chronicler of the Indian diaspora, on Kamala Harris’s appeal and chances in the upcoming Nov 5 US presidential election. Synopsis: Join The Straits Times' senior columnist Ravi Velloor, as he distils his experience from four decades of covering the continent. In this episode, Ravi speaks with the veteran journalist, author and broadcaster Mayank Chhaya, a former staffer with India Post in California and India Abroad, New York, on the rise in US politics of Americans with Indian heritage, including presidential hopeful Kamala Harris and Nikki Haley, who challenged Donald Trump for the Republican nomination. They discuss Ms Harris’s racial identity, her chances of victory, and whether America is heading toward being a post-race society. Mr Chhaya also comments on prominent Indian-Americans in the business field, including the heads of Microsoft, Google, IBM and YouTube, and why Indians seem to be doing so well in many facets of American life. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:30 Black, or Indian? ‘Harris has blended well’ 6:50 Trump’s ‘just a bit younger’ than Kamala’s father 8:40 Could America see a ‘whitelash’? 10:40 A lengthening list: Usha Vance, Nikki Haley, Ro Khanna… 13:00 Judiciary, tech to pharma, “Indian Americans are everywhere” 16:00 Secret sauce behind Indian-Americans’ success 17:50 The Modi effect 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.

How effective are your skincare products? Synopsis: Every first Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you. We all want to look as young and as healthy as possible, and one way to do so is to have healthy skin. But, as we age, our skin becomes thinner, less elastic and more dry and sensitive. There’s also a difference between Asian and Caucasian skin, but most dermatological research has focused on Caucasian populations. How can we then delay the skin ageing process? To find out more, ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo speaks to an expert on ageing skin - Professor Rachel Watson - who had spent 30 years in the United Kingdom studying what exactly changes in the skin as we age and how the environment accelerates skin ageing. She has come to Singapore to study Asian skin, and has just started a new research project looking at Asian skin ageing and the possible interventions that can be used to improve skin health and prevent skin diseases. Prof Watson is the executive director of the Skin Research Institute of Singapore and the A*STAR Skin Research Labs. Highlights (click/tap above): 2:04 Difference between Asian and Caucasian skin 6:48 Prof Watson’s new four-year study on ageing in Asian skin. 17:38 Ingredients to look out for in your skincare products 22:29 Protect the health of all your skin, and not just the skin on your face 31:20 The myth of collagen drinks Produced by: Joyce Teo ([email protected]), Amirul Karim and Eden Soh Edited by: Eden Soh Follow Health Check Podcast here every month and rate us: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaN Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWRX Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaQ SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: [email protected] Read Joyce Teo's stories: https://str.sg/JbxN --- Discover more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 The Usual Place: https://str.sg/wEr7u 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 #healthcheckSee 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. Despite the 38-year age gap between former actor Edmund Chen, 62, and his Gen Z daughter Yixin, the bond between father and daughter is warm and playful as Sumiko Tan finds out in this episode of Sumiko At 60. 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.

Can mid-lifers breathe new life into stale careers with social media? Synopsis: Every first Monday of the month, listen to the Work Talk podcast to help you work smarter, think deeper and get ahead in your work life. Will a leap into social media rain new work opportunities for a stale middle-age career? Will being on TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and more show the boss that mid-lifers are still in tune with technology and on-trend? Join me and my special co-host, senior transport correspondent Lee Nian Tjoe in this episode of Work Talk. We will explore the potential of social media for mature careers that need a second wind. Our guests are Mr Walter Lim, founder of marketing agency Cooler Insights, and Ms Jessly Chew, an associate director at recruitment agency Michael Page. Together, we will delve into the possibilities, pitfalls and planning for mid-lifers who are curious about putting out their first TikTok or YouTube video, Instagram or LinkedIn post. Listen and get started! Highlights (click/tap above): 2:50 What a strong social media presence does for job seekers. 5:45 Enhancing the perception of being tech-savvy and adaptable. 9:45 The importance of authenticity and pitfalls of oversharing. 11:44 Leveraging different platforms to showcase skills and interests. 14:08 Tips for a content strategy, and the importance of planning and interaction on social media. Produced by: Krist Boo ([email protected]), Ernest Luis and Amirul Karim Edited by: Amirul Karim Follow ST's Your Money & Career Podcast channel here: Channel: https://str.sg/wB2m Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wuN3 Spotify: https://str.sg/wBr9 SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: [email protected] Read Krist Boo's articles: https://str.sg/wB2P Follow Krist Boo on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/shcB Read Lee Nian Tjoe’s articles: https://str.sg/wt8G Follow Lee Nian Tjoe on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/iqkJ Get business/career tips in ST's HeadSTart newsletter: https://str.sg/headstart-nl --- 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 --- #moneycareerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the quest for renewable hydropower, indiscriminate dam building in the basin of the Mekong is changing the landscape and negatively impacting local communities and ecosystems. 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. Unilateral and indiscriminate dam building has been taking place in the quest for hydropower and control over water in the basin of the Mekong river - the lifeblood of mainland Southeast Asia. But local communities most impacted by the changing face of the river system struggle to be heard amid elite-driven, urban-based decision-making and an engineering mindset, critics say. Only one in ten of over 600 dams have been notified to the Mekong River Commission, following the 1995 Mekong Agreement among Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. The Agreement was supposed to focus on sustainable development and management and tries to balance needs and rights. Two other countries where the Mekong river flows - China and Myanmar - are not bound to notify the Commission as they are only dialogue partners. On this episode of Green Pulse, host Nirmal Ghosh speaks to Senior Fellow and co-lead of the Mekong Dam Monitor at the Stimson Center Brian Eyler and Thailand-based Campaigns Director for Thailand and Myanmar of International Rivers Pianporn (Pai) Deetes. Highlights of conversation (click/tap above): 02:31 Sounding the alarm with more dams coming up 03:55 Dams in China’s part of the Mekong river are doing the most damage 06:43 How Laos attracted huge amounts of foreign investment with its “Battery of Southeast Asia” programme 12:04 In Thailand, why build more dams when there has been an oversupply of electricity 15:54 Significant environmental impacts on Vietnam and Cambodia from the Funan Techo canal, whose development would also violate the Mekong agreement 19:20 No accountability for damaging consequences Produced by: Nirmal Ghosh ([email protected]) and Fa'izah Sani Edited by: Fa’izah Sani Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and rate us: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: [email protected] Read ST's Climate Change microsite: https://www.straitstimes.com/climate-change --- 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 --- #greenpulseSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is it catchy lyrics, a snappy beat, or is there something else that captures the Singaporean heart? Synopsis: The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah explores contemporary societal choices and youth perspectives. Why do some songs, basking under the golden glow of nostalgia, come back year after year, and why do others fade from the public consciousness once their time has passed? In this new episode of The Usual Place podcast, host Natasha Ann Zachariah takes her show onto the streets of Singapore, to ask members of the public what their favourite National Day theme song is, and what makes these songs so special. 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 Edited by producers: Teo Tong Kai and Eden Soh Executive producers: Ernest Luis and Lynda Hong Filmed by: Amirul Karim and Hana Chen 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.

Hengdian, in Zhejiang province, is booming as the location set for two-thirds of China’s period dramas. Synopsis: Every first Friday of the month, The Straits Times chats with ST’s global correspondents about life as it goes on, amid the screaming headlines and bubbling crises. They come with stars in their eyes, hoping to become the next Fan Bingbing or Jackson Yee. In Hengdian, they put their names down and hope to be picked - to deliver a line, to stand next to an actor, or even just to be a face in the crowd in one scene. Hengdian is touted as China’s Hollywood, and with good reason - it was here that high-budget dramas and films such as Story of Yanxi Palace and Curse of the Golden Flower were shot. But it has gained renewed attention in recent years, as Chinese audiences get hooked on micro-dramas - low-budget productions shot in vertical format to be viewed on smartphones. In this episode, ST’s foreign editor Li Xueying chats with correspondent Goh Yan Han on the dreams that Hengdian represents to Chinese youths. Highlights (click/tap above): 2:17 Different dynasties, same dream 4:51 Crazy plots in two minutes 6:23 Lower barriers to entry 11:01 Youths’ determination and drive Read more here: https://str.sg/oxfqs Read Li Xueying’s articles: https://str.sg/iqmR Follow Li Xueying on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/ip4x Read Goh Yan Han's articles: https://str.sg/kgq4 Read ST's Letters From The Bureau: https://str.sg/3xRd Register for Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/stnewsletters Produced by: Li Xueying ([email protected]) and Fa’izah Sani Edited by: Fa’izah Sani Follow Letter From The Bureau Podcast every first 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.

From the evolution of MRT lines to buses, wider cycling paths and committing to being “car-lite”, our veteran transport reporter tells all. Synopsis: The Straits Times offers expert insights if you are in the market for a new vehicle or are tracking transportation trends. In the second part of the conversation, COE Watch host Lee Nian Tjoe hosts long-time senior transport correspondent at The Straits Times - Christopher Tan - to talk about how he got into journalism, and what has been driving him all these years. Highlights (click/tap above): 2:00 On how Chris Tan once found out how much it cost to build the Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway 5:30 Chris recalls when he first raised the idea of the bus contracting model way before it was started, to help raise service levels 7:00 Debates on building a new MRT line: Why the Rail Financing Framework is good for the overall network 9:00 “Build ‘em and they will come”; positive knock-on effects 14:00 Why it is fair for Singaporeans to expect more from the public transport system 17:37 Christopher Tan retiring from full-time work end-July 2024; his plans Listen to Pt 1 of Lee Nian Tjoe's conversation with Chris Tan here: https://str.sg/3EEQd Read Lee Nian Tjoe's articles: https://str.sg/wt8G Follow Lee Nian Tjoe on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/iqkJ Read Christopher Tan's articles: https://str.sg/ohcVq Read more COE articles: https://str.sg/iGKC Produced by: Lee Nian Tjoe ([email protected]), Ernest Luis, Hana Chen and Teo Tong Kai Edited by: Fa’izah Sani Follow COE Watch Podcast here: 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.

Hear why this policy is in jeopardy on several levels, including the risk of being outmanoeuvred and encircled by China in its near east. Synopsis: Every 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. It may have been called a “forgotten” war - but the civil war in Myanmar triggered by the military’s February 2021 coup d’etat, has grave implications for India’s national security, and plans for connectivity to South-east Asia. Also, as it remains to be seen where the cards eventually fall, it has also heightened New Delhi’s concerns over potential encirclement by China. India’s immediate concern is spillover of the conflict into its own volatile north-east, where the state of Manipur - which borders Myanmar - has been witnessing ethnic violence. More broadly, the crisis also threatens India’s Act East policy, and raises concerns in New Delhi as China extends its influence in Myanmar and also in Bangladesh. Though Bangladesh’s current Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is pro-India, the country’s army is supplied mostly with Chinese weapons, and there is latent resentment against India. But India’s options are limited, as guest experts Dr Aparna Pande and Dr Avinash Paliwal tell Asian Insider host Nirmal Ghosh. Dr Paliwal lectures in diplomacy and public policy at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London, and has just published his book - India's Near East. Dr Pande is a research fellow at the Hudson Institute in Washington, DC and has written books on Indian foreign policy. Highlights (click/tap above): 3:50 India's big investment in building connectivity through Myanmar 4:51 China's interests in Myanmar's civil and military domains concern India deeply 13:00 All of India's neighbours are its first layer of security 20:18 An asymmetric connectivity benefitting India, but not for Bangladesh 21:49 Understanding India's regional geopolitics through domestic political lens 25:36 India's challenge is broadly with all of its neighbours 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 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 veteran transport reporter tells us what can be done to bring down COE prices and how to buy a new car. Synopsis: The Straits Times offers expert insights if you are in the market for a new vehicle or are tracking transportation trends. In the first of a two-part conversation, COE Watch host Lee Nian Tjoe speaks with Christopher Tan, senior transport correspondent at The Straits Times, to get a grip of the current COE system. He also shares his journey as a veteran reporter, having been with SPH since 1983. This was four years before Singapore had its first MRT Line, and before the Land Transport Authority was established. He also offers tips on how to shop for a car and recounts some of his most memorable drives, having tested more than 3,000 cars and counting. Highlights (click/tap above): 3:00 Why newsmakers are often wary of Christopher Tan from The Straits Times 6:00 Recounting his “embarrassing” first car review 12:00 How electric vehicle adoption will peak around the world 16:10 What flying a helicopter is like 26:00 Reviewing a car fairly for the reader, not the car company 27:55 The impact of high COE prices on drivers and non-drivers alike Listen to Pt 2 of Lee Nian Tjoe's conversation with Chris Tan here: https://str.sg/9y73 Produced by: Lee Nian Tjoe ([email protected]), Ernest Luis, Hana Chen and Teo Tong Kai Edited by: Fa’izah Sani Follow COE Watch Podcast here: Channel: https://str.sg/iTtE Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/iqW2 Spotify: https://str.sg/iqgB SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: [email protected] Read Lee Nian Tjoe's articles: https://str.sg/wt8G Follow Lee Nian Tjoe on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/iqkJ Read Christopher Tan's articles: https://str.sg/ohcVq Read more COE articles: https://str.sg/iGKC --- 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 #coewatchSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hear home-grown singer-songwriter Hongjoin's intimate live studio take of the title track from his sophomore album released recently, Komorebi. 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 Hongjoin talk about his musical journey in the full podcast here: https://str.sg/cTrZ Discover home-grown artiste Hongjoin at: YouTube: https://str.sg/o9mTN Spotify: https://str.sg/pQwe Instagram: https://str.sg/apXW Produced by: Eddino Abdul Hadi ([email protected]), Ernest Luis, Eden Soh, Hadyu Rahim & Amirul Karim Recorded by: ST Podcast Team & Studio+65 Mixed by: Amirul Karim Follow Music Lab Podcast here every month: Channel: https://str.sg/w9TX Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/w9TB Spotify: https://str.sg/w9T6 SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: [email protected] Read Eddino Hadi's articles: https://str.sg/wFVa --- Discover more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 The Usual Place: https://str.sg/wEr7u 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 #musiclabSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hear how Spotify's Radar programme has helped expose home-grown singer-songwriter Hongjoin. Synopsis (headphones recommended): Each month, The Straits Times invites music acts to its podcast studio. In the 13th episode of Music Lab, ST’s music correspondent Eddino Abdul Hadi hosts Singaporean singer-songwriter Hongjoin. The 22-year-old, whose music encompasses genres ranging from R&B and indie-pop, is based in Boston, United States, and is trying to make his mark in the US music scene while studying there. He has regular shows in various US cities and has been highlighted by Spotify as a Radar artist, a program that highlights rising talents from around the world. He recently returned to Singapore to do two concerts - a solo headlining show at the Esplanade in June, and as the opening act for US singer-songwriter Ricky Montgomery’s show at the Pasir Panjang Power Station in May. Like many singers from his generation, he is active on TikTok and Instagram, which has helped him build up an audience in regional countries such as Indonesia and the Philippines. In this episode, he also sings a live rendition of the title track from his sophomore album released recently, Komorebi. Highlights (click/tap above): 0:55 How he ended up as a musician in the US 8:11 His solo show in Singapore was sold out 13:38 On tapping into his Japanese roots for his new album 15:50 How the pandemic led to his decision to take music seriously 22:08 On how TikTok and Instagram helped him find an audience in Indonesia and the Philippines 23:32 Taking a break from school to focus on music full-time 25:42 His plans to return to Singapore and contribute to the music scene here Listen to Hongjoin’s live performance of Komorebi here: https://str.sg/ejzw Discover home-grown artiste Hongjoin at: YouTube: https://str.sg/o9mTN Spotify: https://str.sg/pQwe Instagram: https://str.sg/apXW Produced by: Eddino Abdul Hadi ([email protected]), Ernest Luis, Eden Soh, Hadyu Rahim & Amirul Karim Recorded by: ST Podcast Team & Studio+65 Edited by: Hadyu Rahim Follow Music Lab Podcast here every month: Channel: https://str.sg/w9TX Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/w9TB Spotify: https://str.sg/w9T6 SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: [email protected] Read Eddino Hadi's articles: https://str.sg/wFVa --- Discover more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 The Usual Place: https://str.sg/wEr7u 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 #musiclabSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As more carbon dioxide accumulates in the atmosphere, the urgency is growing for safe and sustainable methods to remove this main greenhouse gas from the air to limit the impact of climate change. 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. CO2 is the main greenhouse gas in the atmosphere. We can’t see it, we can’t smell it but we can definitely feel its growing impacts as the planet heats up with devastating consequences. And every year, it keeps accumulating. Human activity is producing about 40 billion tonnes of CO2 a year. That’s mainly from burning fossil fuels and deforestation. To fight climate change, we not only need to slash CO2 emissions, we would also need to remove billions of tonnes that our human activities had earlier emitted into the atmosphere. And that means dramatically scaling up carbon dioxide removal technologies. We’ll never reach the Paris Agreement’s climate targets by 2050 unless we remove at least four times more CO2 from the atmosphere every year than we do at present. That’s the conclusion of a major study on carbon dioxide removal released in June 2024. So what exactly is carbon dioxide removal, or CDR? And what is needed to really get investment pumping? In this episode, ST's climate change editor David Fogarty hosts one of the lead authors of the report, Gregory Nemet, a Professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s La Follette School of Public Affairs in the United States. Greg studies the process of technological change and the ways in which public policy can affect it. Highlights of conversation (click/tap above): 1:44 How does carbon dioxide removal (CDR) help in the fight against climate change? 3:12 The difference between CDR and carbon capture and storage (CCS) 4:58 Main findings from the recently published global report on CDR 7:58 Examples of the different types of CDR 11:43 What are the costs? 19:55 What are the environmental risks from CDR? How to ensure scaled-up methods can be sustainable? Produced by: David Fogarty ([email protected]), Ernest Luis & Hadyu Rahim Edited by: Hadyu Rahim Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and rate us: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: [email protected] Follow David Fogarty on X: https://str.sg/JLM6 Read his articles: https://str.sg/JLMu --- 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 --- #greenpulseSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry wants to take action to get people to return to brick-and-mortar stores. 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. The Japanese are sentimental about bookstores, viewing them as precious communal spaces that do more than just sell books. And yet, fewer and fewer are going to these stores, in line with global trends. What is more surprising is how the Japanese government has decided to seize the problem by its horns, with the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry setting up a taskforce to look into the matter, even as the bookshops themselves are striving to find fresh ways to appeal to customers. In this episode, ST’s foreign editor Li Xueying chats with Japan Correspondent Walter Sim on why the Japanese government has decided to be so interventionist. Highlights (click/tap above):1:59 One in two Japanese read “less than one book” every six months 3:26 Why the Japanese are sentimental about bookshops 6:15 A “psychic” bookseller in Osaka 10:06 Laments at shuttered shops but it’s too late 12:15 Taking action 17:12 Walter’s favourite bookshops in Japan Read Walter Sim’s article here: https://str.sg/AWsW Produced by: Li Xueying ([email protected]) and Fa’izah Sani Edited by: Fa’izah Sani Follow Letter From The Bureau Podcast every first Friday of the month here: Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7 Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8 Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: [email protected] Read Li Xueying’s articles: https://str.sg/iqmR Follow Li Xueying on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/ip4x Read Walter Sim's articles: https://str.sg/wHY2 Read ST's Letters From The Bureau: https://str.sg/3xRd 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.

Is our celebration of old buildings, or even old-school businesses, a little too late? Synopsis: The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah explores contemporary societal choices and youth perspectives.In the last few months before Peace Centre closed in 2024, people flocked to the Sophia Road mall to soak up the vibes. Golden Mile Complex in Beach Road, an architectural icon that is conserved, also came alive with new explorers along its corridors in the lead-up to its closure in 2023.I wanted to find out if these last hurrahs could have come earlier.In this episode, I had history buff Dhevarajan Devadas (@historyogisg), who produces content about Singapore’s history and heritage through a newsletter, podcast and on social media. The 33-year-old is also a public policy analyst.Meanwhile, Khair Mas’od, 26, who runs video production company Subset, did his final-year university project on Golden Mile Complex (@thiswasgmc) in 2023. Also joining us was John Siow, 38, who previously worked at the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s (URA) conservation department, managing outreach and education efforts. He and an ex-colleague teamed up to snap photos for @pintupagar.sg, an Instagram account featuring shots of buildings and various architectural forms around Singapore.We discussed why people are drawn to these old buildings in their last days and how to keep young people interested in the spaces that came before.Highlights (click/tap above) 1:40 Cool elements = a draw for young people?3:25 When did Peace Centre and Golden Mile Complex become fashionable?6:00 Does gentrification erase historical significance?17:40 Can nostalgia be manufactured?31:00 Successful ‘reboots’36:30 History and heritage not just a collection of places, names and dates 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 Edited by producers: Teo Tong Kai and Eden Soh Executive producers: Ernest Luis and Lynda Hong Filmed by: Joel Chng and Marc Justin De Souza, ST Video 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.

What are the strengths and weaknesses as of today, since the Catalist board was set up in 2007? Synopsis: Senior columnist Ven Sreenivasan offers you an extra edge in managing your hard-earned money. In this episode, Ven hosts Ong Hwee Li, the chief executive officer of SAC Capital. SAC specialises in areas like investment banking, corporate mergers and acquisitions, initial public offerings and equities research. They look at the profile of a segment of the Singapore market, Catalist. Sometimes referred to as the “junior board”, the Catalist board was set up in 2007 to cater for companies which do not meet the full earnings track record or compliance requirement for mainboard listing. Today, there are about 207 Catalist companies listed on the Singapore Exchange, whose total market cap is about S$642 billion. Catalist companies account for S$8.5 billion of this. SAC Capital is particularly known as a sponsor of companies which come to market via Catalist listings. Does Mr Ong see non-sponsor activities being a conflict for such sponsors? How can such sponsors help Catalist companies to become better, improve their reputation and standing on the SGX? Highlights (click/tap above): 1:40 Stagnant Singapore equities market? Delistings overtaking new listings, and is there a lack of communications between listed companies and the markets? 3:30 On 'hidden gem' Catalist stocks; what is the role of a Catalist sponsor? 5:16 How SAC Capital prevents breaches from happening; what happens if Catalist sponsors are removed? 7:13 Are non-sponsor activities a conflict for sponsors? 8:20 How can sponsors help Catalist companies to become better, and improve their reputation and standing on the SGX? Produced by: Ven Sreenivasan ([email protected]), Ernest Luis, and Teo Tong Kai Edited by: Teo Tong Kai Follow ST's Your Money & Career Podcast channel here: Channel: https://str.sg/wB2m Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wuN3 Spotify: https://str.sg/wBr9 SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: [email protected] Read Ven Sreenivasan's articles: https://str.sg/wuQe Get business/career tips in ST's HeadSTart newsletter: https://str.sg/headstart-nl --- 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 --- Do note: All analyses, opinions, recommendations and other information in this podcast are for your general information only. You should not rely on them in making any decision. Please consult a fully qualified financial adviser or professional expert for independent advice and verification. To the fullest extent permitted by law, SPH Media shall not be liable for any loss arising from the use of or reliance on any analyses, opinions, recommendations and other information in this podcast. SPH Media accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever that may result or arise from the products, services or information of any third parties. #moneycareerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Analysing this is our guest - Ambassador Peter Tesch, the veteran Australian diplomat and policy strategist. Synopsis: Join The Straits Times' senior columnist Ravi Velloor, as he distils his experience from four decades of covering the continent. In this episode, Ravi speaks with the eminent Australian diplomat Peter Tesch, a former ambassador to Russia and Germany for his country as well as policy strategist for the Australian defence ministry. They discuss the recent Putin visits to North Korea and Vietnam, the message he is sending to China and the region, as well as Russia’s overall approach to Asia, including India. Mr Tesch also comments on the Quad, the security dialogue that groups the US with Australia, Japan and India. Highlights (click/tap above): 4:20 Russia the disruptor 10:10 A subtle message to Xi 16:00 For China, a convenient diversion 21:20 Judo, botox, and yoga! 26:00 Latest on Quad 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.

As we say goodbye to old buildings, spaces, and businesses in Singapore like the Golden Mile Complex and Peace Centre, how do Singaporeans feel about these places? Many young people often revisit spots that hold a special connection for them, places filled with fond memories from their childhood. How would they feel if these cherished locations were to disappear? The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah hit the streets to find out. Check out the full episode here: https://str.sg/7jJy 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 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.

Singaporeans who have been to Olympics tell us why it is so important. Synopsis: The Straits Times tackles the talking points in sport every second Wednesday of the month. Whether you are an athlete or a sports enthusiast, it is clear that the Olympics hold a special place in hearts worldwide. From historic achievements to record breaking feats, the Olympics serve up some unforgettable moments every four years. As Paris 2024 approaches, we enlisted the help of people who have been to the Olympics to tell us why the event captures the imagination the way it does. In this special episode centred around the Olympics, sports reporter Deepanraj Ganesan is joined by assistant sports editor Rohit Brijnath, former national sprinter C. Kunalan, former national shooter Lee Wung Yew, and current national swimmer Quah Ting Wen as they discuss the significance of the Games. (This episode was recorded before it was confirmed on July 8 that Ting Wen will not compete in the Paris Olympics) Highlights (click/tap above): 1:15 What did the Olympics mean growing up? 11:25 C. Kunalan’s memory of his first Olympics representing Singapore 17:33 Ting Wen on her realisation of being at her first Olympics 19:40 Why the Olympics is so inspiring for athletes 23:20 How do athletes wear the pressure of the Games given it comes around only every four years? Why parents should be a safe space for their children who pursue sports 29:30 On the mismatch of expectations of Singaporeans when it comes to the Olympics 37:26 Guests’ favourite Olympics moment Read: https://str.sg/5Wn3 Listen to other Hard Tackle episodes: Ep 17: Raising an Olympian in Singapore - https://str.sg/fUPc Produced by: Deepanraj Ganesan ([email protected]), Amirul Karim, Hadyu Rahim and Hana Chen Filmed by: Marc de Souza, Haziq Baharudin, Vikneshwaran Rao, ST Video 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 SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: [email protected] 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 --- Discover more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 The Usual Place: https://str.sg/wEr7u 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 #hardtackleSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Long internships are just one form of the many talent schemes that are accepted by employers. Synopsis: Every second Monday of the month, The Straits Times helps you put your career on the right footing from the outset. The job search is getting increasingly complex as the range of options broaden. Employers are also placing increasing focus on grooming talent in a more structured way to let them learn more and perform better. Host Tay Hong Yi speaks with his guests on the bevy of talent schemes companies have developed to fill their talent needs, including a two-year rotational internship in the case of German enterprise software giant SAP. His guests are: Ms Betul Genc, senior vice-president and head of Asean at Adecco Ms Jean Ooi, Student Training and Rotation (Star) programme manager at SAP Mr Choy Zhan Hao, a recent Star alum and business development executive at SAP Highlights (click/tap above): 1:45 Why employers create the various forms of talent schemes 4:50 Why take interns in for two-year stints? 10:20 How do firms cater to graduates and students for talent schemes? 12:56 How to balance work and studies while working as an intern for two years? 15:45 Spot the signs of a good talent scheme that is worth joining 23:20 Does it ever feel weird to be an intern for two years? Read more: https://str.sg/pJzf Produced by: Tay Hong Yi ([email protected]), Ernest Luis, and Hadyu Rahim Edited by: Hadyu Rahim Follow Career Talk Podcast here: Channel: https://str.sg/wB2m Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wuN3 Spotify: https://str.sg/wBr9 SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: [email protected] Read Tay Hong Yi's articles: https://str.sg/w6cz Get business/career tips in ST's HeadSTart newsletter: https://str.sg/headstart-nl --- 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 --- #moneycareerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.