Deep Dive

Since COVID-19 hit, the people who fed a nation for decades have seen their fortunes tumble. In a world dominated with food apps, online delivery and cashless payment, going digital should be the norm but is no silver bullet. What's stopping hawkers? What's their future in a pandemic world? And will younger Singaporeans be discouraged from taking up this UNESCO-recognised craft? Lin Suling speaks to Makansutra's KF Seetoh and second-generation hawker Melvin Chew.

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Since COVID-19 hit, the people who fed a nation for decades have seen their fortunes tumble. In a world dominated with food apps, online delivery and cashless payment, going digital should be the norm but is no silver bullet. What's stopping hawkers? What's their future in a pandemic world? And will younger Singaporeans be discouraged from taking up this UNESCO-recognised craft? Lin Suling speaks to Makansutra's KF Seetoh and second-generation hawker Melvin Chew.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

During the circuit breaker last year, calls to mental healthcare hotlines shot up - Singaporeans were stressed, anxious, lonely and struggling. Who are the people on the other end of the line who answer these anguished calls for help? How do they manage burnout and the burden of caring for those who call? Lin Suling speaks to Porsche Poh, Executive Director of Silver Ribbon Singapore, and Tan Li Jen, Senior Principal Clinical Psychologist and Deputy Head of the National CARE Hotline at the Ministry of Social and Family Development.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

During the circuit breaker last year, calls to mental healthcare hotlines shot up - Singaporeans were stressed, anxious, lonely and struggling. Who are the people on the other end of the line who answer these anguished calls for help? How do they manage burnout and the burden of caring for those who call? Lin Suling speaks to Porsche Poh, Executive Director of Silver Ribbon Singapore, and Tan Li Jen, Senior Principal Clinical Psychologist and Deputy Head of the National CARE Hotline at the Ministry of Social and Family Development.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For decades, the news industry had a watertight business model until the Internet and social media swept advertising and other revenue streams away. How can news organisations keep afloat and fulfill their mission of providing credible and timely journalism? Lin Suling finds out from Elmie Nekmat, Associate Professor, and Natalie Pang, Senior Lecturer, both from the NUS Department of Communications and New Media.

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First it was the rise of ride-hailing. Then came COVID-19, wiping out tourists and reducing passenger numbers. How have taxi drivers survived the onslaught of change and continued to put food on the table for their families? Lin Suling speaks to Watson Wong and Sivalingam Subramaniam about common complaints, frustrations and being forced to adapt.

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Singapore is back to tighter restrictions after the biggest rise in community cases in nine months. Lin Suling talks to Duke-NUS professors David Matchar and Gavin Smith about variants on the loose, their effect on vaccines and how current restrictions stack up. They also explain why they think this pandemic will be a chronic problem for a while.

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