Gender stereotypes and toxic masculinity may point to body image issues in men. Synopsis: Every second Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests. Outdated stereotypes of what a man should be like continue to exist today, with a new generation of social media influencers like Andrew Tate and Adin Ross producing content that posits to teach men how to be men. But does it make someone any less of a man if they decide to speak up ...
Jul 08, 2025•39 min•Season 1Ep. 56
Listen to our news commentary podcasts on the go every week. Podcasts have become part of the global media landscape these days. The audio-on-demand format allows many listeners to often do other chores or hobbies, while hearing the shows in the background over headphones or bluetooth speakers Almost every weekday, check out our discussions on Singapore current affairs and social issues, geopolitics through an Asian lens, health, climate change, personal finance and career. Follow our shows on y...
Jun 19, 2025•3 min•Season 1Ep. 1
Four cat deaths recently have re-ignited calls for tougher enforcement against animal abusers. Synopsis: Every second Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests. Just before the crack of dawn in early May, the mutilated carcass of a community cat was discovered on a road in Yishun. In the days that followed, three more cats were reported to have been seriously injured or found dead in housing estates around Singapore, stoking f...
Jun 10, 2025•39 min•Season 1Ep. 55
A recent ST-Milieu survey has found some striking similarities Gen Zs and their parents have, in the way they view their life priorities and challenges. Synopsis: Every second Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests. In this episode, we’ll revisit the old stereotype that the younger generation has it all too good, that they’ve gone soft and are not resilient enough to withstand hardships or even hard work. Young adults on th...
May 13, 2025•42 min•Season 1Ep. 54
Success used to mean good grades, and then landing a good job. But is this changing? Synopsis: Every month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests. In this special edition of In Your Opinion - filmed in front of a live audience - two youths share their experiences in starting up a business, and whether school grades would determine success at the workplace. About 100 people attended two recordings at indie cinema The Projector at Golden Mile Tower...
Apr 23, 2025•31 min•Season 1Ep. 53
How younger social workers and social service entrepreneurs are exploring the use of music in the eldercare space. Synopsis: Every second Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at social issues of the day with guests. In this special edition of In Your Opinion - filmed in front of a live audience at The Foundry - a social service entrepreneur and social worker share how music can transform the eldercare space. Be it for their loved ones or as part of their advocacy, youths c...
Mar 11, 2025•31 min•Season 1Ep. 52
Why are some Singapore companies willing to bear the expense to implement pet-care leave as a form of benefit? Synopsis: Every second Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests. While fewer people are keen on having children, more are becoming pet owners, based on statistics from the Animal and Veterinary Service and an Euromonitor International report. But what happens if you have a full-time job and your pet is sick? Instead ...
Feb 11, 2025•21 min•Season 1Ep. 51
Can stereotypes of male pre-school teachers be reduced to ease more men into the profession that is seeing shortage in Singapore? Synopsis: Every month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests. There is less than one man for every 10 early childhood educators in Singapore - surprising given that the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) estimates the need for another 1,500 more educators to support the sector’s expansion in the coming yea...
Jan 21, 2025•27 min•Season 1Ep. 50
It is safer to live near a nuclear power plant than to ride a plane, says an expert. Do we have a Not In My Backyard (Nimby) syndrome? Synopsis: Every second Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests. Nuclear energy: Why not? That is the response from an expert on why Singapore is exploring it. The radioactive release from the Fukushima meltdown in 2011 did not kill anyone, but thousands of workers at coal mines die every year...
Dec 10, 2024•35 min•Season 1Ep. 49
How Singapore intends to settle noise disputes more effectively. Synopsis: Every month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests. Settling noise disputes will be easier with mandatory mediation as the Community Disputes Management Framework (CDMF) is enhanced, under the Community Disputes Resolution (Amendment) Bill. Involved with how the framework can be enhanced is grassroots leader Raymond Poh. In this episode, Lynda Hong and co-host Christie Chi...
Nov 26, 2024•16 min•Season 1Ep. 48
The SkillsFuture JobSeeker Support aims to help the retrenched tide over financially, while between jobs, after tough talks with unions, employers and the Government. Synopsis: Every month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests. As the global economy changes more rapidly and unpredictably, workers may face more risk from job loss despite best efforts. Yet, going out of a job can pose a hit to household finances. In an era of rising cost of living...
Oct 13, 2024•31 min•Season 1Ep. 47
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 member...
Sep 08, 2024•36 min•Season 1Ep. 46
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 recor...
Aug 11, 2024•19 min•Season 1Ep. 45
The tension between drivers and motorcyclists in Singapore is longstanding, ugly and increasingly a fatality risk - but what lies at the root of this strained relationship? Synopsis: Every second Monday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests. Traffic accidents claimed the lives of 54 people within the first four months of 2024. Motorcyclists and pillion riders accounted for more than half those deaths - a trend that continues from th...
Jul 07, 2024•40 min•Season 1Ep. 44
Children can invoke feelings of joy, gratitude and fulfilment, but also thoughts of fatigue, financial stress, and lack of personal time? Synopsis: Every second Monday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests. For the first time ever, the resident total fertility rate (TFR) dropped below 1, hitting 0.97 in 2023. Singapore's replacement TFR rate meanwhile stands at 2.1 - the level of fertility at which the population replaces itself fro...
Jun 09, 2024•29 min•Season 1Ep. 43
Swiping for love used to be the way for millennials to find a connection, but there seems to be growing dating app disillusionment among the young. Synopsis: The Straits Times’ Natasha Ann Zachariah explores contemporary societal choices and youth perspectives. Bernice Fong, Dhareeni Shanmugam and John Lim are three under-30s who have had different experiences with dating apps over the years. John, who runs a content agency, finds that with everyone having many options, he feels “like a piece of...
Jun 05, 2024•42 min•Season 1Ep. 5
Singapore’s most well-known OnlyFans creator Titus Low is slowly moving on from the platform that has brought him fame, money and drama. Lots of it. Synopsis: The Straits Times’ Natasha Ann Zachariah explores contemporary societal choices and youth perspectives and digs deeper into issues of the day. Sitting down with The Usual Place’s host Natasha Ann Zachariah, Titus opens up about asking to work with his family’s business and pursuing his childhood dream of becoming a real estate agent. He sh...
May 15, 2024•26 min•Season 1Ep. 4
This generation, it appears in a survey result too, is not afraid to spend immediately for happiness or instant gratification, but they do so within their means. Synopsis: Every second Monday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests. It used to be that avocado toast was the symbol of millennial extravagance, infamous for dashing that generation’s chance of ever owning property - at least, according to Tim Gurner. The Australian real es...
May 12, 2024•40 min•Season 1Ep. 42
Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong becomes Singapore’s fourth prime minister on May 15, 2024, when he succeeds current PM Lee Hsien Loong. Synopsis: The Straits Times’ Natasha Ann Zachariah explores contemporary societal choices and youth perspectives and digs deeper into issues of the day. The upcoming leadership transition - when Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong becomes Singapore’s fourth prime minister on May 15 - has ignited discussions about where Singapore goes from here. In particular...
May 02, 2024•47 min•Season 1Ep. 3
How much is too much when sharing details of your life online? Synopsis: The Straits Times’ Natasha Ann Zachariah explores contemporary societal choices and youth perspectives and digs deeper into issues of the day. Why do people feel so comfortable sharing intimate details of their lives online? The Usual Place’s host Natasha Ann Zachariah sits down with TikTokers Candice Gallagher and Shaun Elias Chua, and Twitch streamer Jacey Vong, to find out why they started sharing personal details of the...
Apr 18, 2024•43 min•Season 1Ep. 2
Two youth volunteers - adults with full-time jobs - explain what motivates them to spark change in the community. Synopsis: Every second Monday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests. Youth Corps Singapore, which is under the National Youth Council, turns 10 in 2024. It is a division under the council that champions youth volunteerism to ignite positive change in society through community service. In this episode, ST podcast assistan...
Apr 07, 2024•22 min•Season 1Ep. 41
Our guests discuss if parenthood is an expectation or choice. Synopsis: The Straits Times’ Natasha Ann Zachariah explores contemporary societal choices and youth perspectives and digs deeper into issues of the day. In Singapore, where preliminary estimates indicate its Total Fertility Rate hit a record low of 0.97 in 2023, some are opting to remain child-free. In the first episode of our new podcast series, The Usual Place’s host Natasha Ann Zachariah brings together two guests who hold opposing...
Apr 04, 2024•36 min•Season 1Ep. 1
With Singapore’s resident total fertility rate dropping below 1 for the first time - hitting a historic low at 0.97 last year in 2023 - we discuss how the birth rate can be boosted. Synopsis: Every second Monday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests. For many years in Singapore, we have not had enough babies to replace ourselves, with the Total Fertility rate, or TFR, remaining below the replacement rate of 2.1. Minister in the Prim...
Mar 23, 2024•48 min•Season 1Ep. 40
Two young hawkers chat about the profession in this era of high inflation - how to maintain profitability while still serving that affordable meal. 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 cost of living has gotten more expensive in the last two years. Inflation measured by a basket of consumer goods was 4.8 per cent higher in 2023 than 2022, more than in 2021 when the price increase was at 2.3 per ce...
Feb 25, 2024•31 min•Season 1Ep. 39
This Budget 2024 special analysis examines how measures announced would benefit Singaporean youth, from education, to housing, childcare and inflation. Synopsis: Titled “Building our Shared Future Together”, Budget 2024 was delivered by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong in Parliament on Feb 16, 2024. The plan for revenue and expenditure of the Singapore government was laid out to address immediate challenges like cost-of-living pressures while investing in longer-term goal...
Feb 16, 2024•19 min•Season 1Ep. 38
Empathy for the generation divide and user behaviour patterns may need to be studied more as Singapore digitalises itself rapidly. Synopsis: Every second and fourth Monday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at social issues of the day with guests. The hard deadline for full transition from an older card-based ticketing system to the account-based SimplyGo public transport payment system by June 1, 2024 eventually went away. This is after public outcry over SimplyGo’s inability to ...
Feb 11, 2024•26 min•Season 1Ep. 37
How can community spaces co-exist with competing demands while fostering spontaneous and free play? Synopsis: Every second and fourth Monday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at social issues of the day with guests. Managing the use of void decks in Singapore is like a cagey board game – one where Sembawang Town Council played the ultimate “no ball games” card, recently barricading Block 638 Woodlands Ring Road's void deck due to noisy school kids, stirring both controversy and r...
Jan 21, 2024•30 min•Season 1Ep. 36
Why more evidence is needed to break down the cost of transitioning migrant workers away from being ferried on lorries. Synopsis: Every second and fourth Monday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at social issues of the day with guests. Migrant workers have been transported in the backs of lorries here for decades, with an ongoing debate about whether the practice should be banned. Yet, despite the platitudes and petitions signed, employers and the authorities have stopped short o...
Jan 07, 2024•40 min•Season 1Ep. 35
Hear how you can donate in terms of financial assistance or even in other ways if you can set aside your time. Synopsis: Every second and fourth Monday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests. The Forward Singapore exercise began in June 2022, and over 16 months, more than 200,000 Singaporeans from all walks of life have taken part in engagement sessions on a wide range of topics. The engagement exercise ended with the Forward Singapo...
Nov 26, 2023•29 min•Season 1Ep. 34
Each follow on the audio apps below and a rating really helps us! Happy listening! Synopsis: A brand new feature is within The Straits Times app, which you can download from the Apple app store or the Google Play store. For those of you who already have it, the latest version update now has a dedicated Podcast Section, where you can listen to our latest incoming show episodes and check out back episodes too. You can also choose to follow our podcast RSS feeds, or the shows on Apple Podcasts and ...
Oct 09, 2023•2 min•Season 1Ep. 1
