What a long weekend full of kerfuffles! The Ministry of Communications and Information removed its Hari Raya ad after it faced criticism for its supposed stereotyping of Malay families. Is it really stereotyping though? Also, Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong’s Hari Raya post was deemed by many to be “tone-deaf” as it featured him taking a picture with a scarecrow dressed in traditional Malay garb. He later clarified that some people had “misinterpreted the post as portraying Malays/Muslims...
May 06, 2022•56 min•Ep. 294
In a stunning reversal, a High Court Judge publicly released the names of 6 trainee lawyers who had been caught cheating in the Bar exam. Is the punishment commensurate with the crime? Also, a former Grab driver accused of attempted rape of his intoxicated 19-year-old passenger in 2018 was acquitted. Contrary to what you might expect from the circumstantial evidence, a large number of online commentators agreed with the judge’s decision. We discuss what led to this verdict and why. Our sponsor, ...
May 01, 2022•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 293
According to a recent IPS working paper, a majority of workers prefer to continue flexible work arrangements going forward, even as Singapore lifts its COVID restrictions. What will employers need to look out for in these results? Elsewhere, Netflix announced its first decline in subscribers, and at the same time also revealed that they will be launching an ad-supported tier of subscription. What does that mean for today’s paying customers? WIll we all be required to Netflix and chill over ads? ...
Apr 26, 2022•58 min•Ep. 292
A recent video featuring a Singaporean man, Jonathan Neo, singing a Christian worship song in the middle of a flight has gone viral, with critics and detractors calling for tolerance from the other side. What do we make of both sides’ arguments? Closer to home, an ugly spat between a clinic assistant and an irate customer spilled onto social media when CCTV footage showed the mother throwing items in the clinic, and the assistant responding by kicking a stroller. Who was in the wrong? Find us he...
Apr 21, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 291
In line with Singapore’s nightlife industry opening up, we go through an opinion piece about the F&B industry’s woes in increasing productivity amidst a manpower crunch. Are AI kitchens and robot servers the way forward? Also, we discuss the viral image of a grandmother helping her grandson urinate into a bottle in the open at Tiong Bahru Plaza’s food court. Do we have a right to be outraged? Find us here! Our YLB Subreddit for detailed show notes and mindblowing discussions YLB's TikTok fea...
Apr 19, 2022•59 min•Ep. 290
We discuss the bombshell announcement that caught everyone by surprise, right before the long weekend: Lawrence Wong has been anointed the leader of the 4G leadership in the Government. Was it really a surprise though? How are the other candidates reacting to the news? Elsewhere, Elon Musk’s flirtations with Twitter came to a head when he announced an audacious bid to acquire the public company for $43 billion USD. What 4D chess game is Musk playing? And more importantly, why? Find us here! Our ...
Apr 16, 2022•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 289
Another viral CCTV video showing a collision between an errant cyclist and an unsuspecting pedestrian has once again renewed calls for greater regulation of cyclists. Is there a deeper reason why we haven’t nipped the problem of dangerous cyclists in the bud? Also, investigations of PAP’s ex-candidate Ivan Lim have been completed, and it appears that he’s been cleared of any wrongdoing. Still, what will this mean for his potential candidacy as a Member of Parliament? Surfshark Get Surfshark VPN ...
Apr 14, 2022•59 min•Ep. 288
In a dialogue with The Wall Street Journal editorial board in early April, PM Lee warned that the US should not define the war in Ukraine as a battle between democracies and autocracies, as that would immediately place China on the defensive. This was just one of many truth bombs he dropped; what other interesting nuggets of knowledge did he share? Closer to home, Malaysian influencer and Penthouse cover model Pui Yi had to apologize for wearing the traditional Vietnamese dress, the ao dai, in a...
Apr 12, 2022•41 min•Ep. 287
According to a study conducted by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) and CNA, Singaporeans have become more open to having a non-Chinese prime minister or president. Having just appeared in the topically-relevant CNA documentary “Regardless of Race”, we break down the study’s findings and figure out what it means for our future. In the United States, a Minnesota-based eBay seller was discovered to have life-sized LKY wax figures for sale, at a cool $15,900 USD each. We speculate who might act...
Apr 04, 2022•57 min•Ep. 286
It was a real pleasure this week to have Dr Janil Puthucheary, Chairman of OnePeople.sg and Senior Minister of State at MCI, swing by the YLB studio for a chat. We speak to him about his experience helming the CNA documentary, “Regardless of Race” (which we also appeared in), the secret MP’s football team, and even discuss whether Will Smith should be punished! Find us here! Our YLB Subreddit for detailed show notes and mindblowing discussions YLB's TikTok us dancing. 'nuff said Our YLB YouTube ...
Apr 01, 2022•1 hr 32 min•Ep. 285
The slap that was heard around the world! By now, everyone has heard or has aired an opinion about whether Will Smith slapping comedian Chris Rock at this year’s Oscars ceremony is justifiable. We discuss why it’s not a straightforward answer. In SG, chaos ensued at Swatch stores due to the large crowds that queued to buy the Omega x Swatch moonswatch collaboration. Why the crazy hype for this non-limited release? Find us here! Our YLB Subreddit for detailed show notes and mindblowing discussion...
Mar 30, 2022•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 284
Late on Sunday night, the government issued a POFMA direction correction to Wake Up Singapore regarding the alleged story of a miscarriage that occured under KKH’s watch. What is the general sentiment towards Wake Up Singapore now that the truth is out? Also, an opinion piece on Mothership about wedding ang bao market rates triggered fierce debates online; $370 for a dinner at Capella Hotel? Can we replace ang baos with gifts? We discuss these questions and more. SURFSHARK Get Surfshark VPN at h...
Mar 28, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 283
On Thursday, PM Lee announced the easing of COVID restrictions in Singapore, most notably the limit on group sizes and the mask mandate outdoors. We discuss some of these measures and how people are feeling about them. Elsewhere, the restaurant group Tung Lok shamed one of its customers on social media after he ordered and refused to pay for his dish, an Irish duck; the customer allegedly disputed the exact origins of the duck. What the duck? We discuss why this might not have been the best PR a...
Mar 25, 2022•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 282
Lia Thomas, a transgender collegiate athlete from the US, sparked fierce debates this past week when she competed in and won several women’s events at a NCAA swimming competition. Many called this a moment of change for the sport, while others were appealing for the NCAA to disallow transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports entirely. How can one talk about this dicey issue without getting cancelled? Also, in response to McDonald’s pulling out of Russia in protest of their invasion of...
Mar 22, 2022•58 min•Ep. 281
The Kim-Kanye-Pete controversy took a dark turn when Kanye West used a racial slur to attack Trevor Noah, which led to the suspension of his IG account. Wait, what Kim-Kanye-Pete controversy; why are we even talking about this celebrity feud? Is it really newsworthy or is there something deeper to discuss? Closer to home, otters went on a killing spree in Yio Chu Kang and decimated a private pond of its population of 8 koi and 50 goldfish. Coupled with recent sightings of otters in town, will th...
Mar 17, 2022•58 min•Ep. 280
In the run up to the Johor state elections last weekend, Malaysian politicians went back and forth about whether Singapore would have been more or less developed if it was under Umno’s rule. Why was Singapore dragged into this debate between political rivals? Elsewhere, at her second round match at the tennis tournament, the Indian Wells Masters, Naomi Osaka was reduced to tears by a fan shouting “Naomi, you suck!” Severely rattled, she ended up losing the match, and raised the question: how els...
Mar 14, 2022•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 279
As we move beyond the pandemic, can the no-MC-needed sick leave policy that many employers have been practising still continue into the future? Also, the UK government sanctions Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich for his close ties to the Kremlin, but is this fair for the fans of the club? Support our Folklory journey towards 100 customers in 100 days! We'll help you turn your favourite memories into personal podcasts! The Folklore Issue #1 Folklory on Instagram (coming soon) Find us here! Our YLB S...
Mar 11, 2022•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 278
Against the overwhelming trend of corporations pulling out of or cutting business ties with Russia, Uniqlo doubled down on its decision to keep its almost-50 stores open in the country. The CEO even justified the decision by stating that clothing is a basic human need. Does their explanation have any merit? Closer to home, a pair of dog owners refused to cancel their Gojek booking after the driver rejected them because of their pets. He filmed their heated interaction, which has since gone viral...
Mar 09, 2022•57 min•Ep. 277
Last Friday, Minister Josephine Teo defended the government’s stance of financially supporting SPH Media Trust to the tune of $900 million over 5 years. She explained the government’s stance and answered questions posed by Pritam Singh and Leong Mun Wai. What underlies the concern about SPH Media Trust’s funding and business models? Also in parliament, MP Shawn Huang nearly came to tears when recounting the success of a cybersecurity pilot program, and raised eyebrows when he gave a shoutout to ...
Mar 07, 2022•52 min•Ep. 276
In parliament, Minister Shanmugam commented on the courts’ recent judgement in the constitutional challenge to Section 377A, and reinforced that the government will not proactively enforce the law. Is this a step in the right direction? In the same parliamentary sitting, MP for West Coast GRC Ang Wei Neng put forth a “radical idea” of setting expiry dates on degrees conferred by local universities. After receiving a massive backlash online, he clarified that his idea was merely “food for thought...
Mar 04, 2022•53 min•Ep. 275
In this episode, we speak to local creative Dew Francis of “Just Saying” fame, and discover what it takes to produce and star on Singapore’s most beloved online talk show. Known for being “raw” and “authentic” in everything he does, Dew also reveals how COVID changed him for good, including how it motivated him to get in the best shape of his life. Oh, we also have a deep philosophical debate about why he loves Singapore Social but hates Single’s Inferno! Find us here! Our YLB Subreddit for deta...
Mar 02, 2022•1 hr 36 min•Ep. 274
In the past few days, the news cycle has been dominated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. What is going on, how are people around the world responding, and how should we in Singapore think about this? We also discuss how detrimental the ban on team sports has been for the national psyche, and dissect the MTF’s decision to postpone the resumption. Our new Sci-Fi Comedy: "Mars Poyi Sernthuttom!" Find us here! Our YLB Subreddit for detailed show notes and mindblowing discussions YLB's TikTok featuri...
Feb 28, 2022•1 hr•Ep. 273
To celebrate the launch of our MARS TV series, we have one of the stars from the show as a guest; today, actress/writer Malene Waters touches down on YLB’s “campsite”! In her first ever podcast, Malene goes deep about her obsession with Excel spreadsheets, her Twitter beef episodes, and why she’s so into serial killers! You can catch our awesome new TV series MARS POIYI SERNTHUTTOM starring Malene here: https://www.mewatch.sg/show/Mars-Poyi-Sernthuttom-206486 Find us here! Our YLB Subreddit for ...
Feb 26, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 272
On Monday, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung sent a letter to public healthcare workers to boost their morale and encourage resilience in the face of the Omicron wave. Did it have the desired effect? Elsewhere, SG influencer Chrysan Lee called out cyber bullies and other lewd commentators who made jokes about her chest being flat. Is this the most effective way to deal with cyberbullying today? Our new Sci-Fi Comedy: "Mars Poyi Sernthuttom!" Ep 265 w/ Reggie from The Financial Coconut Find us here! Ou...
Feb 24, 2022•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 271
Last Friday, Finance Minister Lawrence Wong delivered his first-ever budget proposal, with the theme “charting our new way forward together". We talk through the major points with Reggie, founder of the Financial Coconut (TFC), whose team focuses on all things-related to money. In this episode (Part 1), we’ll cover the first 2 main talking points:(1) the GST hike and (2) new taxes on the wealthy. For Part 2, head on over to the episode on TFC at the link below, where we’ll talk about (3) changes...
Feb 21, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 270
Iris Koh, the founder of anti-vaccine group, Healing the Divide, raised over S$96,000 in one week to foot her legal fees in court hearings. Are there that many anti-vaxxers in SG willing to help her by donating that much money to her? Also, one of SG’s top runners, Soh Rui Yong, was excluded from the SG contingent travelling to May’s SEA Games based on his conduct. Is this a fair outcome for Soh and for Singapore? Our new Sci-Fi Comedy: "Mars Poyi Sernthuttom!" https://www.mewatch.sg/show/Mars-P...
Feb 18, 2022•57 min•Ep. 269
Hold up! Another star of our MARS TV series enters YLB’s orbit! This time, Vikneswary Se brings her deep philosophical thoughts about love and relationships to the podcast, plus she also talks about her work as a tutor and why she’s obsessed with teaching phonetics. Oh, we also cover other child-friendly topics like clubbing, dancing and lots and lots of alcohol! You can catch our awesome new TV series MARS POIYI SERNTHUTTOM starring Vikki here: https://www.mewatch.sg/show/Mars-Poyi-Sernthuttom-...
Feb 16, 2022•1 hr 33 min•Ep. 268
On Sunday night, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs advised Singaporeans in Ukraine to leave the country as soon as possible, given the threat of an imminent Russian invasion. What exactly brought about this tense political situation that has escalated so quickly? Elsewhere, a Wall Street Journal columnist wrote about her insistence on wearing shoes into others’ homes, and this enraged a lot of readers outside of the US. Is there any merit to what she’s advocating? Our new Sci-Fi Comedy: "Mars Poyi...
Feb 14, 2022•51 min•Ep. 267
The Committee of Privileges released a bombshell report that recommended a $35,000 fine for Raeesah Khan, but more importantly, also referred WP’s Pritam Singh and Faisal Manap to the public prosecutor for further investigations into their role in the whole RK affair. What are the implications of this report for the political scene in Singapore? Elsewhere, a car rental company is under fire after screenshots of their employees making lewd comments about potential hires over email were leaked to ...
Feb 11, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 266
American-born Chinese athlete Eileen Gu was crowned the new golden girl of China athletics after she won gold at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. But why has her meteoric rise captured the attention of both Western and Chinese media as well as online commentators? Back home, a TikTok video accusing NTUC Fairprice of mislabelling the weight of a chicken product went viral, and prompted multiple PR statements from the company. Why is this issue ruffling so many feathers? Our new Sci-Fi Comedy: "M...
Feb 09, 2022•56 min•Ep. 265
