The liberalisation of the SG energy market that began in 2018 was supposed to herald a bright new future for consumers. However, 3 electricity retailers have suddenly thrown in the towel in the past week, leaving their customers back at square one. Was there anything that could have been done differently? And NOC is back in the news again, with a fresh set of allegations by staff and ex-staff, this time with screenshots and evidence neatly categorized in a dedicated blogpost. We discuss what sur...
Oct 21, 2021•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 228
Recently, streaming platform Netflix came under a firestorm of criticism from the LGBTQ+ community both outside the company and internally, with transgender Netflix staff planning a walkout on 20th October. All this was caused by the launch of Dave Chapelle’s final standup comedy special on their platform, which contained “transphobic” content, and the CEO’s defense of the material in spite of the backlash. Why is everyone closely watching this controversy, and why would it matter to someone in ...
Oct 19, 2021•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 227
Recently, with the announcement of VTLs with 11 different countries, SGeans have been flocking to travel agents and airline offices to plan their year-end trips. But as Haresh personally discovers, the VTL isn’t as attractive a prospect as it looks on paper. In the NBA, Brooklyn Nets superstar Kyrie Irving has been banned from playing or training with his team as long as he remains unvaccinated. Is he being a “voice for the voiceless”, or just a selfish diva? Find us here! Our #YLB Subreddit for...
Oct 16, 2021•58 min•Ep. 226
Content creator Jaze Phua recently exploded on TikTok, gaining 1.5 million followers in a month, largely based on his Squid Game videos. We discuss how TikTok differs from other platforms he’s been on, and where he sees the future of entertainment and social media. And of course, we talk about the current issue of the toxic culture among Singapore YouTubers - why and how did we come to this? Find us here! Our #YLB Subreddit for show notes Our YouTube channel to see our FACES! Find Jaze Phua here...
Oct 14, 2021•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 225
A study by a social enterprise, Happiness Initiative, uncovered that several socio-demographic factors such as household income and sexual orientation had a disproportionately large impact on Singapore residents’ happiness. Also, YouTube channel Night Owl Cinematics, after facing a tsunami of online criticism for the way its co-founder, Sylvia Chan, verbally abused her employees, is now doubling down in its latest PR statement and denying the allegations. Is that a good or bad PR move? Find us h...
Oct 12, 2021•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 224
This week, we come face to face with the outspoken and controversial Singapore athlete and SEA Games gold medalist, Soh Rui Yong. Never one to mince words, he reveals what he thinks about comments that he’s arrogant, the origins of his competitive drive, and also explains why he’s offering 700 packets of chicken rice as a prize for his 2.4km Challenge. Find us here! Our #YLB Subreddit for show notes Our YouTube channel to see our FACES! Find Soh Rui Yong here: Facebook account Instagram account ...
Oct 09, 2021•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 223
Recently, an ex-employee of Facebook, Frances Haugen, testified at a US Senate hearing about how there is no accountability within Facebook’s leadership with regards to the harm caused to users of the social media platform. Is Facebook really as evil as it sounds? Also, users found that “Ask Jamie”, the AI chatbot service that answers FAQs on most SG government services websites, will dole out safe sex advice whenever asked about positive COVID-19 tests. The Ministry of Health has since taken do...
Oct 07, 2021•59 min•Ep. 222
Recently in Parliament, Minister Shanmugam pressed opposition MP Raeesah Khan to divulge more details about a claim she had made about the police’s poor management of a case of sexual assault. Khan refused, reasoning that she needed to maintain confidentiality. Who’s right or wrong? Also, a community of wild chickens has appeared in Dover Close, dividing residents’ opinions about wildlife in their estate. What will be the fate of these free-range chickens? Find us here! Our #YLB Subreddit for sh...
Oct 05, 2021•59 min•Ep. 221
The Active Mobility Advisory Panel, tasked by the SG government with reviewing rules for on-road cycling, has concluded that bicycle registration and licensing of cyclists are not recommended. Why was this done in spite of the increasing number of incidents between motorists and cyclists? Also, a social worker has singled out the Mediacorp talk show ‘Hear U Out’ as “immoral” for exposing their guests’ private family disputes. We discuss whether it’s really “immoral” as he claims. Find us here! O...
Oct 02, 2021•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 220
Singapore’s annual Population in Brief report revealed that total population fell 4.1% to 5.45 million as a result of COVID-19. We discuss the numbers and why it’s alarming for SG’s future. Also, runner Soh Rui Yong is in the news again, but this time for launching a crowdfunding campaign to raise $180,000 to pay for damages and legal fees in his defamation suit vs. fellow runner Ashley Liew. Why are people so incensed by this? Find us here! Our #YLB Subreddit for show notes Our YouTube channel ...
Sep 30, 2021•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 219
As quickly as we embarked on a COVID-endemic strategy, Singapore has tightened restrictions on social gatherings once again. It’s not the first time we’ve clamped down to reduce the spread, but why is there so much more frustration this time? In other news, the co-founder of indie bookstore BooksActually, a longstanding bastion of Singapore literature, was accused by several female ex-employees of misconduct in a bombshell exposé published by Rice Media over the weekend. Was the SingLit communit...
Sep 27, 2021•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 218
And we thought our jobs were tough! This week, we speak to Paul Laurence, a Singaporean who clears unexploded RPGs, landmines and IEDs in war-torn countries for a living. After a long career in the SAF, Paul has worked as a deminer in places such as Afghanistan, South Sudan, Iraq, Somalia and Papau New Guinea. We read about him in an eye-opening feature in Rice Media, and really wanted to know: what does he now think about the stuff we complain about in Singapore? Find us here! Our #YLB Subreddi...
Sep 25, 2021•55 min•Ep. 217
This week, Workers’ Party MP Jamus Lim wades into the argument on whether SG should continue its mask mandate in a FB post, triggering a fierce debate online. We also spoke to MMA fighter Victoria Lee, the teenage sensation who burst onto the scene in 2021 with 2 consecutive victories in ONE Championship. With heavy expectations weighing on the 17-year-old’s shoulders as Angela Lee and Christian Lee’s younger sister, we discuss the pressures of juggling school work and fighting, and what a norma...
Sep 22, 2021•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 216
At the end of the year, a Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) General, Tan Chee Wee, will be appointed chief executive of the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA). We debate whether a high-ranking military officer really has the competence and knowledge to oversee SG’s pre-school sector. Also, an enrichment centre behind a PR campaign involving clowns loitering around outside primary schools has apologised for the panic caused. What gives? Love from our sponsor - MANSCAPED This episode is brought ...
Sep 20, 2021•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 215
Since the bombshell news about the closure of Yale-NUS, we’ve not heard directly from actual students about how they’re coping with the loss. So we connected with Ethel Pang, a final-year student at Yale-NUS, to find out what she and her peers have been doing since learning of the school’s imminent closure. Also, she shares her views about Minister Chan Chun Sing’s explanation in parliament about the issue, and gives a glimpse of what Yale-NUS students and faculty are planning for their next ste...
Sep 17, 2021•1 hr 36 min•Ep. 214
At the recent livestreamed parliamentary debate, a hot mic caught part of a private conversation between several MPs, in which Minister Vivian Balakrishnan had allegedly labelled opposition politician Leong Mun Wai “illiterate”. The minister has since written a FB post revealing that he has apologized to Leong for his remarks, so why are SGeans online making a ruckus about this? Also, we discuss the new copyright laws that will grant rights to photos taken to the photographers by default, rather...
Sep 15, 2021•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 213
A recent feature by CNA highlights a trend of more young, single Singaporeans moving out from their parents’ homes to live in their own rental spaces. We discuss if this is a good idea, how COVID has changed things, and delve into our own experiences for answers. Also, athlete Soh Rui Yong has supposedly angered commando soldiers with his open challenge to run 2.4km in under 7 minutes. But is this spat just a further extension of this viral marketing stunt? Love from our sponsor! This episode is...
Sep 13, 2021•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 212
We talk about the recent calls for Singapore’s Paralympians to be awarded the same sweet $1,000,000 reward that Olympians receive for winning gold. Also, Simu Liu and Shang-Chi might get cancelled in China for something he said in an interview 4 years ago. Is the anger justified? Find us here! Our #YLB Subreddit for show notes Our YouTube channel to see our FACES! Paralympic gold only worth 20% of Olympic gold? Yip Pin Xiu has 5 Paralympic gold medals, but her total award is equivalent to 1 Olym...
Sep 11, 2021•1 hr•Ep. 211
From conspiracy theorists group-buying ivermectin, to even PM Lee’s wife Ho Ching herself publicly questioning MOH’s decision to stop announcing the number of unlinked cases, it seems like everyone has differing opinions on Singapore’s COVID strategy. Are Singaporeans ready to live with COVID? Also, a series of bad online reviews of restaurant Mentai-Ya leads the business owner to uncover a smear campaign that implicates one of his competitors. Find us here! Our #YLB Subreddit for show notes Our...
Sep 09, 2021•54 min•Ep. 210
In response to the recent spike in COVID cases, the Ministry of Health advised that all individuals should limit themselves to one social gathering a day, while social gatherings and interactions at workplaces will not be allowed from 8th September. What does this mean for Singapore’s plan to become COVID-endemic and to open up further? Also, a study of data by a UK mattress provider places Singapore as the “most fatigued” country in the world. Are we truly the most tired nation on the planet? L...
Sep 06, 2021•53 min•Ep. 209
What a strange week it’s been, with that August rain and chilly weather! Mainstream media had a field day when the world’s #1 podcaster Joe Rogan announced on IG that he contracted COVID-19. What did people have to say about the most prominent proponent of vaccine hesitancy getting the virus, and what medicine did he actually take to get better? Closer to home, the search for a missing senior citizen ended sadly in the basement car park stairwell of SingPost Centre, where his body was found 5 da...
Sep 04, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 208
This week, we had the chance to pick the brain of 1 of the 3 men behind Singapore’s #1 podcast, OKLETSGO, Dzar Ismail! He talks about the difference between being a radio DJ and a podcaster, tips for anyone looking to create their own podcast, and what to do when the President of Singapore demands an apology from you! It goes for 2 hours, so you know we went DEEP! Find us here! Our #YLB Subreddit for show notes Our YouTube channel to see our FACES! Find Dzar Ismail here! OKLETSGO Instagram , and...
Sep 01, 2021•2 hr 2 min•Ep. 207
It's our 200th episode!!! And we are discussing EPIC topics! In the National Day Rally, PM Lee asserted that it is “entirely baseless” to claim that “Chinese privilege” exists in Singapore; an assertion that eclipsed the rest of the content of his speech. What was that and all the ensuing hoo-hah about? Also, Yale-NUS shocked everyone last Friday by announcing that the school would be merged with NUS’s USP program, effectively closing the school down for good. Students and faculty mourned the de...
Aug 30, 2021•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 206
US Vice-President Kamala Harris’ first official trip overseas was to Singapore - a big deal in bilateral relations. Why did her visit ruffle so many feathers of Chinese netizens, such that they would label Singaporeans as “bootlickers”? And why did Seah Kian Peng, NTUC Fairprice CEO’s bad joke about Kamala Harris’ name upset many other people? Also, OnlyFans U-turns on its recent decision to ban sexually explicit content. What gives? Will creators ever trust OnlyFans based on these recent events...
Aug 26, 2021•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 205
Over the NDP weekend, on Facebook, Minister Shanmugam shared a Malaysia army video that was released during NDP 2021, and highlighted that the bulk of the video was in English, insinuating that it was a targeted message. This caused some angry reactions from Singaporeans online, but also left some people puzzled as to what the big deal was. Also, a doctor accused of molestation in 2017 was finally acquitted of his charges after 4 years. However, this leaves us with the question: what should happ...
Aug 23, 2021•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 204
On 19th August, the Singapore government announced Vaccinated Travel Lanes to Germany and Brunei; it will be the first time SG residents can go for quarantine-free leisure travel since we shut our borders last March. Sounds good, but why are people still upset about this? Elsewhere, the subscription site OnlyFans upsets its huge base of content creators and users by announcing that it will block sexually explicit photos and videos from October due to pressure from “banking partners and payment p...
Aug 21, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 203
Heavy, heavy topics this week, as we dissect the timeline of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan and ask: how did the country get back to this situation, 20 years after 9/11? Also, about a year after the story first broke, the sordid details of the allegations against YouTuber Dee Kosh are finally revealed, and it goes way deeper than expected. PLUS, Haresh directly addresses recent criticism of him as “inauthentic”!! Find us here! Our #YLB Subreddit for show notes Our YouTube channel to see our ...
Aug 19, 2021•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 202
Another week, another guest! This week, we talk to Radio DJ / singer-songwriter / podcast host Joshua Simon as he gets personal about his moving story of coming out to family, and shares more about his newest single, “We Are Done”, coming out this week! He also goes deep into where LGBTQ representation in Singapore is at, and why he will never forget his half hour interviewing Katy Perry. Find us here! Our #YLB Subreddit for show notes Our YouTube channel to see our FACES! Find Joshua Simon here...
Aug 17, 2021•1 hr 36 min•Ep. 201
Following allegations that one of its editors had said "viewers did not like watching darker-skinned presenters" to former BBC journalist Sharanjit Leyl , Mediacorp fired back with its own statement. But what can we make of Mediacorp’s response? Elsewhere, a Japanese softballer is going to have her gold medal replaced with a fresh one after the mayor of her hometown was photographed posing with and biting her medal. Find us here! Our #YLB Subreddit for show notes Our YouTube channel to see our F...
Aug 14, 2021•57 min•Ep. 200
We talk to Singaporean rapper sensation Yung Raja, whose most recent claim to fame was having his song “Mami” featured on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. We chart his meteoric rise in the media scene, from a teenage actor on local TV shows like “Fighting Spiders” to winning an Asian Academy Creative Award for hosting an international MTV program. And we also talk about what it means to be an “Artist” vs. a “Sellout”. Find us here! Our #YLB Subreddit for show notes Our YouTube channel to see ...
Aug 12, 2021•1 hr 50 min•Ep. 199
