Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean revealed in Parliament that Lee Hsien Yang and his wife Lee Suet Fern are under investigation by the police for lying under oath during disciplinary proceedings against Mrs Lee over her handling of Lee Kuan Yew’s will. What prompted this new twist in the Oxley Road saga? Elsewhere, Singapore Airlines announced a trial of paper serviceware on selected medium- and long-haul flights, triggering snarky comments and criticism. Why did this seemingly environmentally-frien...
Mar 03, 2023•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 377
This week in Parliament, Opposition MP Pritam Singh advocated for an English test as part of the application process for citizenship or PR in Singapore. This led to a rebuttal by Josephine Teo, who expressed “surprise” at his suggestion. We discuss the merits and downsides of the suggestion on YLB, and *spoiler alert* it got dicey. Elsewhere, Brazilian model Adriana Lima was named as FIFA’s first Global Fan Ambassador, but some criticised the appointment as “tone deaf” in light of the upcoming F...
Mar 01, 2023•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 376
In the last few days, petrochemicals giant Dow Inc. and SportSG were caught flat-footed by an investigative piece by Reuters which uncovered that a sneaker recycling program they had jointly spearheaded was not actually recycling the donated shoes; the sneakers ended up in flea markets in Indonesia instead. Why is this such a big deal, that Reuters would put so much time and effort into the story? Elsewhere, the gruesome murder and dismemberment of Hong Kong socialite Abby Choi has shocked the w...
Feb 27, 2023•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 375
Two boys aged 15 and 16 were detained under the Internal Security Act after their online revealed their extensive self-radicalisation. This follows the case of an 18-year-old who was also recently detained for wanting to set up a caliphate on Coney Island. Why is this happening to Singaporean youths? Elsewhere, Yakult and Vitagen are getting into a culture war, with Vitagen firing shots at Yakult’s ‘D’ Nutri-Grade rating with their recent advertisements. Why are people getting riled up by Vitage...
Feb 22, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 374
Critics slammed Puffin, the British publisher of Roald Dahl’s books for removing colourful language and rewriting lines from beloved works such as Charlie And The Chocolate Factory and Matilda, all in the name of inclusivity and progress. Are the critics right? Closer to home, Grab has started offering riders an option to request a “Quiet Ride” on their app, which would entail drivers needing to keep quiet for the duration of the ride. Why was this necessary? Find us here! YLB Subreddit YLB TikT...
Feb 20, 2023•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 373
This week, DPM Lawrence Wong delivered Budget 2023, having promised that it would be his “Valentine's Day present” to help Singaporeans cope with inflation. What stood out most to Reggie, boss of personal finance network The Financial Coconut (TFC)? Was this the most left-leaning budget ever delivered? Is Singapore declaring war on the rich? How should the average Singaporean feel about the goodies announced during this budget? And why did everyone want to go to Taiwan and eat Saizeriya after th...
Feb 17, 2023•1 hr 33 min•Ep. 372
Minister Lawrence Wong delivered his love letter to Singaporeans, the Budget 2023 on Valentines’ Day. We make sense of all the announcements, and discuss whether the enhanced baby bonus will finally solve Singapore’s declining birth rate issues. Elsewhere, the civil service announced that it will start using ChatGPT for research and speechwriting. Is this a step in the right direction, given the fears that people have about AI taking over our jobs? Find us here! YLB Subreddit YLB TikTok YLB IG Y...
Feb 15, 2023•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 371
Recently, MP Tin Pei Ling announced that she would be joining Grab Singapore as its director of public affairs and policy. Concerns about conflict of interest were raised online, and the story even gained traction and made headlines internationally. At the end of last week, Grab announced that her role would be changed to one of corporate development, and the MP and the PAP both also released press statements addressing the issue. Is there real cause for concern here, or was it much ado about no...
Feb 13, 2023•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 370
The past 2 days of Parliament featured a heated debate about public housing, with PSP’s Leong Mun Wai putting forth 2 radical proposals that were ultimately rejected. Do any of his ideas have merit? In the same Parliamentary sessions, plans to celebrate LKY’s 100th birth anniversary were revealed, but is there a better way to commemorate the occasion? Find us here! YLB Subreddit YLB TikTok YLB IG YLB YouTube Just Try Only , our new weekly newsletter Folklory Get 20% off your Folklory with promo ...
Feb 09, 2023•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 369
After surviving the pandemic, Malaysian stand-up comedian Dr Jason Leong finally makes it to the YLB studio in person! We talk about the new Malaysian government, Tin Pei Ling x Grab, and why he still unabashedly loves Singapore. And oh, he’s got a new Netflix special coming soon as well. Find us here! YLB Subreddit YLB TikTok YLB IG YLB YouTube Just Try Only , our new weekly newsletter One Shiok Thing The Undertaker Goes Sneaker Shopping With Complex Inventing Anna | Official Trailer | Netflix ...
Feb 07, 2023•1 hr 43 min•Ep. 368
A few days ago, Youtube star MrBeast released a video that featured him paying for 1,000 cataract surgeries to help blind people see again. The video has gone viral and has been warmly received, but there are people calling him the “antichrist” for doing this. Why the divide? Closer to home, a court case in Singapore has garnered international attention because of its strange premise; a man sues a woman for friendzoning him. Is there any merit to this unprecedented legal action? Find us here! YL...
Feb 02, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 367
Conservative commentator Matt Walsh ignited debate when he responded to an innocent tweet praising Jewel Changi Airport by attributing its beauty to Singapore’s harsh punishments against drug trafficking and petty crimes. Both conservatives and liberals in America have had a lot to say about his hot take, but what about us in Singapore? Closer to home, an employer was caught on camera tussling with and hitting her domestic helper, but she claims she was only reacting to seeing her child get hit ...
Jan 30, 2023•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 366
It’s the return of our regular guest co-host, Andie Chen! While Terence is away, we chat about the surge of car-sharing companies in Singapore since COVID. Even though their growth is tapering off, more people are using their services. And with car prices reaching all-time highs, it seems like boom time for them. But a recent string of accidents and growing complaints from customers are casting a shadow. Elsewhere, migrant workers at Tuas Dormitory were treated to a pole dancing show for CNY 202...
Jan 25, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 365
Last week, a 17-year-old girl went viral when she called out commenters who mocked her for fawning over a “luxury” Charles & Keith bag which she received as a gift. Not only have people praised her for her response, but international news media picked up the story, and now multiple brands are piling in to offer her free food and products. And oh, she went from 400 to over 170,000 followers on TikTok. We try to make sense of these whirlwind few days for this teenager, and why it might not all...
Jan 16, 2023•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 364
The director of Singapore’s first ever creature feature Circle Line, JD Chua, stops by to tell us why he’s optimistic about the local film industry, professes his love for destroying things, and even makes us cry! Listen to the end to hear the tearjerker! Shoutout to listeners Acrobatic Egg, Kosher Jellyfish, Paul and Musky Elon! Find us here! YLB Subreddit YLB TikTok YLB IG YLB YouTube Just Try Only , our new weekly newsletter Folklory If you’re looking for a meaningful gift, we’d love to help ...
Jan 13, 2023•1 hr 47 min•Ep. 363
SPH Media shockingly revealed that an internal review found that staff had inflated circulation numbers of their publications during a period from 2020 to 2022. Why is this revelation a big deal, even for those of us who don’t read The Straits Times anymore? Elsewhere, pizzeria Chooby Pizza posted a nasty exchange with an unreasonable customer on their social media channels. The customer subsequently accused them of racism in their response to him, so who’s really in the wrong here? Find us here...
Jan 11, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 362
A report by the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health at the National University of Singapore (NUS) found that more than half of local children do not hit the recommended one hour of moderate to vigorous exercise per day. This happened in spite of Singapore’s safe parks, playgrounds and sports facilities, so what’s going on? Across the Causeway, Jay Chou angered Malaysian football fans due to his concert coinciding with the AFF Championship and resulting in 21,000 seats being closed off at Bukit...
Jan 09, 2023•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 361
Ultimate Fighting Championship President Dana White was caught on camera striking his wife in a club on New Year’s Eve. What are (if any) the repercussions for a rich, highly-visible sports executive caught in the act of domestic violence? Closer to home, a family discovered that their new HDB home was the site of a gruesome discovery a couple of years ago: skeletal remains of the ex-occupant which had been left there for 9 years. How would you react to such a discovery? Find us here! YLB Subred...
Jan 06, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 360
Hope you had a new year! After China recently eased Covid restrictions internally, many residents eagerly booked trips overseas. However, multiple countries, including the US and Japan, rushed to impose restrictions on these travellers, provoking an angry response from the Chinese government. Is this a lingering paranoia about Covid-19, or just plain xenophobia? Closer to home, the repeal of Section 377A has prompted questions about whether gay teachers should be allowed to speak to their studen...
Jan 04, 2023•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 359
Part 2 of our countdown of the most searched terms in Singapore for 2022! The #1 term is a puzzling one! To avoid spoilers, don’t check out the links in the description before listening to the podcast. Check out Part 1 for the complete roundup, and have a new year! Find us here! YLB Subreddit YLB TikTok YLB IG YLB YouTube Just Try Only , our new weekly newsletter Folklory Get 25% off any Folklory order with the promo code “HOHOHO25” at Folklory.com ! Valid till midnight on 31 Dec 2022 :) Trendin...
Dec 30, 2022•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 358
It’s almost becomes an annual tradition: the YLB end-of-year countdown of the most searched terms in Singapore for the year! We’re doing it in 2 parts this time, and in today’s ep, we cover #6-#10. To avoid spoilers, don’t check out the links in the description before listening to the podcast! This is Part 1, look out for Part 2 soon! Find us here! YLB Subreddit YLB TikTok YLB IG YLB YouTube Just Try Only , our new weekly newsletter Folklory Get 25% off any Folklory order with the promo code “HO...
Dec 28, 2022•58 min•Ep. 357
HDB announced that it will investigate and take action against homeowners who flout the Minimum Occupation Period rule for their BTO flats. This comes after some supposedly “vacant” BTO units were listed for sale on an online property site. Why the big hoo-hah over a practice that anecdotally has been happening for a while now? Elsewhere, FIFA will investigate how the restaurateur and influencer known as Salt Bae got access to the pitch after the World Cup final, and forced his way into the cele...
Dec 23, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 356
We continue our discussion and look back to the formative period in Yah Lah But’s history - the first 5 episodes! Find us here! YLB Subreddit YLB TikTok YLB IG YLB YouTube Just Try Only , our new weekly newsletter Folklory If you’re looking for a meaningful Christmas gift, we’d love to help you create a personal podcast for a loved one. Get started at Folklory.com ! And here are the full answers from Terence and Haresh to the question: "Who made 2022 great for You?"...
Dec 19, 2022•47 min•Ep. 355
Even with Haresh away getting married, the YLB goodness doesn’t stop! Today, in the spirit of end of year festivities, we look back at and react to our early episodes of YLB. What were we talking about almost 350 episodes ago? How has our podcast evolved over time? Do we still think the same way about things? This is part 1 of 2 of the discussion, so stay tuned for the second episode soon! Find us here! YLB Subreddit YLB TikTok YLB IG Just Try Only , our new weekly newsletter Folklory If you’re ...
Dec 14, 2022•54 min•Ep. 354
2nd special guest host in a week! Haresh is still away getting married, so this time, Andie Chen steps in to guest host! We talk about why he’s appearing in back-to-back productions set in the MRT (TV series Third Rail and movie Circle Line), and also discuss why he thinks it’s a great time to be learning about crypto and NFTs. We also analyse why rich Taiwanese people are moving their assets to Singapore, and we discuss the curious case of the upskirter who got caught allegedly filming a “man i...
Dec 08, 2022•1 hr 54 min•Ep. 353
In this special episode on the week of Haresh’s wedding, comedian Rishi Budhrani steps in to guest host! We talk about life after hosting NDP, his Esquire cover, and why he recently suffered from bleeding nipples. Regarding this episode’s topics, we discuss the recent research report that revealed uni grads’ median pay to be twice that of ITE grads; what does that say about Singapore society? Rishi also shares his thoughts about a mother who forbids her child from eating birthday cake in nursery...
Dec 05, 2022•1 hr 44 min•Ep. 352
In parliament, DPM Lawrence Wong revealed that Temasek will launch an internal review into its FTX investment, and also characterised the loss as “disappointing”. Was that statement enough to ease the public pressure on the state investment firm? Elsewhere, Will Smith appeared on Trevor Noah’s Daily Show program to promote his new movie, and also addressed his Oscars slap incident. Why is online opinion divided about this interview? Find us here! YLB Subreddit YLB TikTok YLB IG YLB YouTube Just ...
Dec 03, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 351
At this week’s parliamentary debate on the repeal of Section 377A, the Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh lifted the party whip to allow Workers' Party MPs to vote freely on their conscience regarding the touchy subject. Reception to this action of his was mixed, with some calling it weak leadership, while others saying this is what democracy looks like. Who’s right? Elsewhere, Balenciaga has apologized for a series of bizarre campaign ads that featured images of children alongside “bondage b...
Nov 30, 2022•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 350
Chinese citizens are taking to the streets in major cities across the country, in an unprecedented protest against the government’s Covid-zero policy and prolonged lockdowns. We discuss the significance of these protests, and what might happen next. Closer to home, Minister Shanmugam deadlifted a new personal best of 125kg at a community fitness event. Was this just a soft flex, or will it really inspire more people towards hitting their fitness goals? Find us here! YLB Subreddit YLB TikTok YLB ...
Nov 28, 2022•51 min•Ep. 349
An OCBC report revealed that young Singaporeans want to retire “in style”, which translates to $6K in expenses a month. We dissect the results and other surprising statistics about Singaporeans’ relationship with money. Elsewhere, Haidilao got flak after offering a performance-based discount based on one’s PSLE 2022 results. Was it really wrong of them to offer this incentive to families celebrating their child’s results? Find us here! YLB Subreddit YLB TikTok YLB IG YLB YouTube Folklory If you’...
Nov 25, 2022•56 min•Ep. 348
