The opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics has outraged conservatives around the world, with an apparent depiction of da Vinci’s “Last Supper” painting featuring drag queens. The organisers have clarified that the performance wasn’t actually based on da Vinci’s painting, but religious groups and far right commentators are still calling for a boycott. Is the outrage warranted? Closer to home, politician Lim Tean recently posted a rant about an NDP poster featuring a 10-year-old child, and li...
Jul 31, 2024•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 557
Get ready for an unfiltered conversation as Ho Kwon Ping, Founder and Executive Chairman of Banyan Group, drops by the YLB studio. He's here to unveil his latest book, Behind The Banyan , and share hard-hitting lessons from his 30-year "badass" entrepreneurial journey. We dig into the dark side of meritocracy, why he thinks young people are “sleepwalking through life”, and whether he blames Lee Kuan Yew for his stint behind bars. Nominate a Senior over 60 for Folklory! We’ll be recording 60 Folk...
Jul 29, 2024•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 556
Grab officially ended its pursuit of a buyout of Trans-Cab after Singapore's competition watchdog announced that it believed the deal would result in "a substantial lessening of competition" in the local ride hailing scene. Was this turn of events a win for consumers? Elsewhere, Raffles Institution has drawn flak after a photo of a student dressed as a delivery rider for Racial Harmony Day made its rounds on the internet. Was it a malicious action on the student’s part? What made the costume par...
Jul 26, 2024•56 min•Ep. 555
Allianz’s plans to buy a majority stake in Singapore’s Income Insurance have sparked concerns among some Singaporeans, with prominent figures like Tommy Koh and the ex-CEO of NTUC Income speaking up against the sale. Will this move really affect Singaporean’s insurance policies, or are we missing the forest for the trees? Elsewhere, the captain of the Japanese women’s gymnastics team, Shoko Miyata, withdrew from the Olympic Games after admitting to smoking and drinking alcohol, in violation of h...
Jul 24, 2024•55 min•Ep. 554
The tumultuous US presidential election took another strange turn this weekend, as incumbent US president Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the race and his endorsement of VP Kamala Harris to take his place. What led to his sudden reversal, and realistically, does Harris stand a chance against Trump? Elsewhere, the familiar blue and white slippers that are often worn in Singaporean homes were spotted for sale at $1,645 in a Saudi Arabia store. What are we missing here? Was this a prank, or...
Jul 22, 2024•59 min•Ep. 553
Earlier this year, Sean Bai, a born and bred Singaporean, was appointed the Chief of Staff (Football) at Burnley Football Club. How exactly did a born and bred Singaporean find his way into the senior management of a prestigious English football club? Sean talks about his journey from the diplomatic service to the Champions League, why Singapore needs a robust sporting culture, and what young people need to do immediately to succeed in football. Our New Podcast, TELL YOU FIRST Check out our new ...
Jul 18, 2024•1 hr 26 min•Ep. 552
This past weekend, footage of the shocking assassination attempt on former US President Donald Trump sent shockwaves around the world. Some have declared it as a major turning point in the presidential election that tilts the race heavily in Trump’s favour. We dissect the reasons why. Closer to home, Malaysian authorities have officially advised parents against giving exotic names to their children; citing names like “bodoh” (Malay for stupid), “harimau” (tiger), and even “skibidi” (Gen Z slang)...
Jul 16, 2024•52 min•Ep. 551
Singapore’s Olympics swim team came under intense scrutiny when veteran Quah Ting Wen was unexpectedly replaced in the women’s 4x100m medley relay team by another swimmer, Gan Ching Hwee. Quah has since gone public with her side of the story, and ignited a debate about the fairness of the selection process. Some have labelled her as “entitled” for her actions, but is there more to this story than meets the eye? Elsewhere, Barcelona residents are resorting to squirting water at tourists to protes...
Jul 10, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 550
A Tampines resident urged authorities to remove a "warplane" design that was painted onto the side of a block, citing that it was “terribly distasteful" and in "bad and poor taste". However, MP Baey Yam Keng decided against doing so, and justified why in a Facebook post. Was he right in rejecting the call to remove the design? Elsewhere, a Singaporean couple travelling round the world with their 4-year-old child tried to take him on a hike to Mount Everest's base camp in May, but abandoned their...
Jul 08, 2024•1 hr•Ep. 549
Former Singapore diplomat Bilahari Kausikan stops by the YLB studio to share his candid views about the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, and to discuss how the struggle between the global superpowers will ultimately affect us in Southeast Asia. Also, he answers the big question on everyone’s minds: are we headed towards World War 3? What will a second Trump term mean for the rest of the world? While all this sounds really grim, he also tells us why he believes he’s bringing a message of ho...
Jul 04, 2024•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 548
We usually talk about the news, but did not expect to BE the news, which is what happened this week! Our Yah Lah BUT episode with Leong Mun Wai was referenced during this week’s parliamentary sitting by the Speaker of Parliament, Seah Kian Peng. What exactly was Mr Leong’s “act of contempt” on our podcast, and what did we think of the entire fiasco? Elsewhere, the “Friends of the PAP” group of influencers who were unveiled at a PAP event have come under scrutiny. Is there anything inherently wro...
Jul 03, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 547
Recently, Protect Singapore released a scorecard grading politicians based on their LGBTQ stance. Some were disappointed that this occurred right before Pink Dot, but we argue why it might be a good thing. Elsewhere, NUS announced that its students can take Wednesday afternoons off for out-of-class activities starting this August, ostensibly to aid their mental well-being. We question whether this move was really necessary. (00:00) Intro (10:19) Politicians Graded on LGBTQ Stance (29:11) NUS Stu...
Jul 01, 2024•52 min•Ep. 546
In this Haresh-less episode, we end the patriarchy with guest host Caitanya Tan @caitofalltraits, as we deep dive into the recent debate about why more women in Singapore are choosing to remain single. We also discuss her thoughts about a viral Reddit thread about the Singapore podcast scene, and why some locals think our accent is “cringe”. (00:00) A message from Octa (01:39) Intro (16:58) Why Singapore Women Stay Single (44:31) Singaporean Accent In a Video Game (50:38) Singaporean Accent is C...
Jun 24, 2024•1 hr 35 min•Ep. 545
In light of Haresh’s absence, we have comedian Jacky onboard as this week’s guest host! We talk about last weekend’s big news: the oil spill caused by an allision between two vessels that stained coastlines at East Coast Park, Labrador Nature Reserve, Keppel Bay, the Southern Islands and Sentosa. We discuss the media frenzy around the issue, and whether more could have been done to contain the spill. Aside from that, we also talk about creativity in Singapore schools, as MOE revealed that Singap...
Jun 20, 2024•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 544
2 years after our last SOLD OUT live show, we’re finally back with another YLB LIVE recording! 40 YLB listeners spent Saturday night with us at Monk’s Brew Club, as we discussed the thorny issue of whether BTOs lead to more divorces in Singapore. In a slight departure from our usual format, we had other interactive segments like “Most Not Shiok Comments” and an audience Q&A. For those who missed out this time, we promise that there’ll be more live shows, so make sure to follow our socials to...
Jun 14, 2024•51 min•Ep. 543
This week, Singapore Airlines announced that it would compensate passengers who suffered “minor injuries” in the SQ321 turbulence incident US$10K each. We discuss whether this is a generous offer. Elsewhere, a Circles.Life video ad, which depicted a teenager being caught watching porn by his mother, drew brickbats from online commenters. What was so bad about it, and is there really such a thing as bad PR? (00:00) A message from Folklory (01:09) Intro (04:47) Singapore Airlines Offers US$10K to ...
Jun 12, 2024•55 min•Ep. 542
A Department of Statistics report recently found that more women remaining single is one of the contributing factors for Singapore’s baby drought. However, the ST article headline covering this report was slammed for seemingly laying the blame squarely on women. We discuss why the headline didn’t paint an accurate picture of the situation. Elsewhere, a Singaporean kid brought a handmade poster to the Singapore-South Korea football match at the Sports Hub, only to be told that his poster was not ...
Jun 10, 2024•57 min•Ep. 541
This week, an 18-year-old involved in a motorcycle chase that killed a Land Transport Authority (LTA) officer tried to absolve himself of blame in his first court appearance. His comments sparked outrage online, with many online commenters questioning why he was not charged for causing the death of the officer. We do a layman dissection of the legal situation. Elsewhere, some Singaporean students have decided against going to the US for their university studies, stating that they feared how pro-...
Jun 07, 2024•50 min•Ep. 540
Earlier this week, Science Centre Singapore cancelled a ticketed event organised to discuss the differences between sex and gender, after an outcry from some members of the public. Could Science Centre have done anything differently to make this event palatable? Elsewhere, a Crystal Jade promo where diners could get free char siew for reciting a Cantonese insult drew flak for being “demeaning” to children. Is this another case of the “wokeness movement” making life very burdensome? (00:00) Intro...
Jun 05, 2024•58 min•Ep. 539
This past weekend, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made a surprise appearance at the Shangri-La Dialogue, where he called on Asian countries to join an upcoming Swiss-led peace summit to discuss the terms needed to end the war. While he was applauded by many and even hailed for his “leadership” by Minister of Defence Ng Eng Hen, online commenters criticised the move to host him here. Why the mixed reception? Meanwhile, a new Raffles statue at Fort Canning ignited debate about attitudes to...
Jun 03, 2024•57 min•Ep. 538
This week, PM Wong waded into the case of the migrant worker who was fired for his involvement in a loan shark harassment case, when he wrote a letter to ICA and MOM about the issue. However, the appeal didn’t work, and the migrant worker, Mr Sharif, was forced to leave Singapore this morning. What was the entire fiasco really about? Elsewhere, passengers and crew of Singapore Airlines have come forward with gripes about SIA’s new safety measures after last week’s turbulence incident. Why are pe...
May 31, 2024•55 min•Ep. 537
A recent study by the Singapore Department of Statistics found that hawker food prices rose by 6.1% in 2023, the highest increase since 2008. The study also provoked the ire of KF Seetoh and other online commenters; why were people upset about it? Elsewhere, NTU student activists were up in arms about ExxonMobil’s involvement in a new lab initiative on their campus. Is this just another manifestation of the “wokeness” movement or do they have a point here? (00:00) A message from Folklory (02:08)...
May 28, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 536
One passenger died and many others were badly injured after a Singapore Airlines flight from London to Singapore encountered severe turbulence, forcing the jet to divert to Bangkok. The terrifying incident has left many questions for observers; we discuss what we thought about SIA’s response. Elsewhere, an unofficial portrait of Kate Middleton commissioned by Tatler Magazine has drawn ridicule, with some even commenting that it was disrespectful to the Princess. Are people simply not understandi...
May 24, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 535
In an unprecedented move, the prosecutor's office of the International Criminal Court has requested arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his defence chief and three Hamas leaders for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. What does this mean for the Israel-Hamas conflict? Closer to home, a South Korean DJ who incorporates Buddhist mantras into his sets while wearing a monk's robe, is facing calls to have his upcoming show in Singapore cancelled. Should the auth...
May 21, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 534
This week, Singapore witnessed the historic handover of the PM role from Lee Hsien Loong to Lawrence Wong, which happened on a balmy Wednesday evening at the Istana grounds. What was unique, interesting, and strange about this once-in-a-generation swearing-in ceremony? Elsewhere, an advertisement peddling a “Masterclass in Leadership” featuring Tan Chuan-Jin received flak online, to the point the ad was removed. Is the criticism fair? Why should anyone begrudge him making an honest living? (00:0...
May 17, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 533
NCMP Leong Mun Wai of the Progress Singapore Party stops by the YLB studio to tell us why he chose to return to Singapore after 18 years, why we should avoid voting with our feet,, and reveals his message to critics of his behaviour in Parliament. (00:00) Intro (02:00) Interest in Politics (07:12) Why Come Back to Singapore (10:43) The Direction of Singapore (13:09) How Society Should Be (17:30) Balancing Idealism and Pragmatism (24:08) Singapore's Precarious Position (30:24) SkillsFuture (36:54...
May 14, 2024•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 532
MOH is allegedly looking into tightening rules on MCs after receiving feedback about doctors issuing them improperly. What does this mean for employees who are genuinely sick? Elsewhere, it appears that surge pricing has come to concerts in Singapore, specifically for the Hamilton musical, and Laufey’s upcoming concert. Is this going to be a new paradigm for concert-going as we know it; and we debate whether this is a bad thing. Find us here! Our website YLB Subreddit YLB TikTok YLB IG YLB YouTu...
May 13, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 531
In anticipation of Lawrence Wong taking over as PM next week, he sat down for a wide-ranging interview with The Economist magazine. What did we learn about the PM-designate and his leadership style in this piece? Elsewhere, Singaporeans lamented the loss of yet another local icon; this time, it’s Thambi Magazine Store at Holland Village. Are we hypocrites for reminiscing about the store and calling for it to be saved, but not supporting the business while it was still around? Find us here! Our w...
May 10, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 530
This week in Parliament, MPs debated about road safety in Singapore after the recent accident in Tampines that killed two people. While penalties under the Road Traffic Act have been deemed to be adequate vis-a-vis other countries, why are people calling for increasing them? Elsewhere, massage chair brand OSIM’s Mother’s Day ad was criticised for fat shaming and for promoting domestic violence. Was it really that bad or was it just a case of wokeism? Find us here! Our website YLB Subreddit YLB T...
May 08, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 529
In Lawrence Wong’s speech at Samaritans of Singapore’s gala dinner, he suggested that Singapore will consider additional safeguards around excessive screen time and social media usage for children in order to protect their mental health. Is this considered government overreach? Elsewhere, actor Hossan Leong complained on social media about how a foreign musical last-minute cancellation of a show made the news, while a local production that faced a similar situation did not get the same coverage....
May 06, 2024•58 min•Ep. 528
