This week, the CEO of TikTok, Shou Zi Chew, testified before US lawmakers, putting himself in the line of fire over the platform’s content moderation, data security, and links to the Chinese government. How did this Singaporean born and bred fare on the world stage? Closer to home, there was a big online hooha when a user on TikTok highlighted that a can of Coke has a better Nutri-Grade rating than a can of Milo. Is it true that Coke is healthier than Milo? Find us here! YLB Subreddit YLB TikTok...
Mar 24, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 384
This week in Parliament, Minister Edwin Tong answered questions about the Dow/SportsSG shoe recycling fiasco that was brought to light by a recent Reuters investigative report. Are the current measures against greenwashing in Singapore able to prevent incidents like that from happening again? Elsewhere, a stall vendor at the Geylang Serai Ramadan Bazaar revealed that his rent rose from $10K to $18K in recent years, leading food critic KF Seetoh to label it the “world’s most expensive pasar malam...
Mar 22, 2023•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 383
A government survey revealed that more than 70% of Singapore residents felt that their overall quality of life was the same or better in post-pandemic 2023, compared with 2019 before COVID-19. With inflation, layoffs and a war going on, is this survey an accurate reflection of sentiment on the ground? Elsewhere, Samsung’s Galaxy S23 Ultra phone has come under scrutiny for its AI-driven image enhancement technology which allows it to zoom in and capture detailed pictures of the moon. Why are peop...
Mar 20, 2023•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 382
Researchers from the Institute of Policy Studies revealed that they surveyed over 800 food establishments across Singapore to study whether food prices have increased in hawker centres, kopitiams and food courts. While the results between different regions of Singapore have sparked debate, the survey also angered some people. Why so? Elsewhere, Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh made history by being the first Asian woman to win the Academy Award for best actress for her performance in “Everything ...
Mar 15, 2023•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 381
Last weekend, the seismic collapse of Silicon Valley Bank threatened to spread as a “contagion” through the US financial system and send it into a tailspin. We break down what happened, and why the biggest bank collapse since 2008 is giving us feelings of déjå vu. Closer to home, Paralympian Sophie Soon was caught in a social media firestorm when she posted a video shaming Rocky Master’s staff for denying her indoor entry into their Hougang cafe with her guide dog. While we agree that Sophie Soo...
Mar 13, 2023•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 380
Two days ago, DPM Lawrence Wong released the COVID-19 White Paper as Singapore’s report card on how it handled the pandemic. Was this report just a case of “ownself check ownself”, or was it actually more objective? Also, a new species of cockroach was discovered in Singapore, and it’s officially been named after a Pokemon. Is this Singaporean cockroach someone we can be proud of? Find us here! YLB Subreddit YLB TikTok YLB IG YLB YouTube Folklory If you’re looking for a meaningful gift, we’d lov...
Mar 10, 2023•56 min•Ep. 379
Minister of Education Chan Chun Sing recently announced major changes to A-Level exam scoring for Junior College students in Singapore; for example, the Project Work module will become a Pass/Fail subject. While these changes are meant to benefit students by partially relieving their exam stress, some have said it could have the reverse effect. How so? Elsewhere, certain residents have complained about the bold red facade of a new Tampines BTO block lobby, likening it to a red-light district or ...
Mar 08, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 378
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
