Welcome to the 4th podcast episode of this side series, the Podcast Spotlight. In this episode, we talk with freelance writer and local podcaster, Davelle Lee, as she introduces the following 2 podcasts:

Podcast 1: Reply All

Reply All is a tech-themed podcast from Gimlet Media. It is presented by co-hosts Alex Goldman and PJ Vogt, and presents a journalistic look into the wacky and weird world of internet culture. Episodes include an in-house phising experiment, tracing phantom phone calls, and an ad for the worst day of your life.

Generally speaking, the shows are very well-produced, well-researched, and all around entertaining. And with the co-host format, the topics are presented in a relatively candid manner. Listen to this if you love casual shows and internet culture.

Podcast 2: On the Media

On the Media (OTM) is an hour-long weekly radio program, hosted by Bob Garfield and Brooke Gladstone, covering journalism, technology, and First Amendment issues. It is produced by WNYC in New York City.

As defined by co-host Garfield, On the Media covers "...anything that reaches a large audience—either electronically or otherwise.... Plus, throw into that anything that covers First Amendment issues; anything that has to do with freedom of speech, privacy, is also in our portfolio."[3] The show explores how the media are changing, and their effects on America and the world. Many stories are centered on events of the previous week and how they were covered in the news. These often consist of interviews with reporters about the dilemmas they face in covering controversial issues.

If you liked this episode, please do a big favor by sharing it amongst your friends or by subscribing to the Economical Rice Podcast on iTunes, Soundcloud, or Stitcher. All the links and details to the shows discussed in this episode will be available in the show notes on the website www.economicalricepodcast.com

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In part 2 of this special feature on Olivia Lum and Hyflux, we cover the incredible fall of one of Singapore’s most cherished entrepreneurs. While most of the attention is focused on the poorly performing Tuaspring plant, there is actually a deeper issue. One that concerns the fabled founder Olivia Lum, and her incessant need to save the world through water. This is a story about a water treatment company for sure, but its main theme is about ambition. A timeless tale for a modern setting, and one that whose fallout is only just beginning.

Head over to www.economicalricepodcast.com for all the links to resource materials and music used for this episode.

For more content, you can follow the Economical Rice Podcast at the following links below:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/economicalricepodcast

Twitter: www.twitter.com/econricepodcast

Instagram: www.instagram.com/economicalricepodcast

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Welcome to the third podcast episode of this side series, the Podcast Spotlight. In this episode, we talk with budding filmmaker and local podcaster, Josiah Singh, as he introduces the following 2 podcasts:

Podcast 1: WTF with Marc Maron [Paul Thomas Anderson]

WTF with Marc Maron is a straightforward interview show where comedian Marc Maron invites a guest on each week. Being well-connected within the hollywood/L.A. scene, Maron is able to bring star names to his show, including the likes of Jay Leno, Jennifer Lawrence, and even former U.S. president Barack Obama.

Notably, the shows are pretty lengthy, with most clocking in at over an hour, but Maron does delve into the deeper parts of his guests' history or career. In this episode with film-maker Paul Thomas Anderson for instance, much discussion revolves around Anderson's upbringing and his influences, and also the creative process behind his movies.

Lastly, this show is very much casual and unscripted, so listeners can expect personal, intimate conversations unlike those aired on major talk shows. Listen to this if you love the casual interview format, or learning more about your favorite celebrities.

Podcast 2: Sword and Scale [Ep50 - The Jonestown massacre]

Sword and Scale is a narrative-driven true-crime podcast presented by host Mike Boudet. It is a show that purports to reveal "that the worst monsters are real", and cases are often discussed and dissected in gruesome, raw detail.

One notable feature of this podcast is that Mike Boudet's experience with audio engineering really shines through. And his stories are often interlaced with numerous real-life interviews, court trials, or police interrogations, couched in incredible mixing using ambient sounds, music, and foley effects to bring these cases to life. It is in every regard, a very immersive experience, and in most instances an uncomfortable one. Listen to this at your own risk.

If you liked this episode, please do a big favor by sharing it amongst your friends or by subscribing to the Economical Rice Podcast on iTunes, Soundcloud, or Stitcher. All the links and details to the shows discussed in this episode will be available in the show notes on the website www.economicalricepodcast.com

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While Olivia Lum and Hyflux have been in the news for all the wrong reasons lately, how much do you know about the entrepreneurial journey that started it all? In part one of this special 2 part feature, we will be covering the incredible rise of one of Singapore’s most famous success stories. From rags-to-riches to dodgy decisions, from entrepreneuring to empire-building, this is one story you wouldn’t want to miss.

P.S. Thanks to Steffi Tan for making a cameo appearance in this episode.

P.P.S. The Economical Rice Podcast has hit 30 episodes! There's been many changes since the beginning, and I would love your thoughts and suggestions on the show's current direction.

Head over to www.economicalricepodcast.com for all the links to resource materials and music used for this episode.

For more content, you can follow the Economical Rice Podcast at the following links below:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/economicalricepodcast

Twitter: www.twitter.com/econricepodcast

Instagram: www.instagram.com/economicalricepodcast

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Welcome to the second podcast episode of this side series, the Podcast Spotlight. In this episode, we talk with graphic designer and longtime army friend of mine, Assyaraf Johari, as he introduces the following 2 podcasts:

Podcast 1: Freakonomics [In praise of maintenance]

The Freakonomics podcast is a show which discusses socioeconomic issues for a general audience. The show is spun-off from the wildly popular book of the same name released in 2005. Journalist Stephen Dubner, one of the co-authors of that book, hosts the show, while the other co-author, economist Steven Levitt, is a a regular guest.

The show is mostly narrative-driven, with host Dubner introducing a question before exploring different ways to answer that question. It is not so much about graphs and theorems, but rather about how investigating how economics play out in real life. Listen to this if you love high production infotainment podcasts. This is one of the best around.

Podcast 2: Tides of History [5 | The Military Revolution, 1350 - 1650]

Tides of History is a narrative-driven history podcast presented by academic and former journalist, PhD Patrick Wyman. The show is in partnership with Wondery, a podcast stable from the United States.

Notably, the podcast looks at two periods in depth, the end of the Roman Empire between 300 and 600 and the rise of the modern world between 1350 and 1650. It explores various facets of life such as society, the state, trade, and how they came to be. Listen to this if you are a history buff or if you are generally curious about the foundations of society.

If you liked this episode, please do a big favor by sharing it amongst your friends or by subscribing to the Economical Rice Podcast on iTunes, Soundcloud, or Stitcher. All the links and details to the shows discussed in this episode will be available in the show notes on the website www.economicalricepodcast.com

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A few months ago, Suntory announced that they were discontinuing their extremely popular Hibiki 17 yr whiskey line. Considering that their aged Hibiki whiskeys are in high demand and have won a string of accolades including Gold Awards at the International Spirits Challenge or the title of World’s Best Blended Whiskey at the World Whiskies Award, this move seems incredibly odd. In today’s episode, we look into the reasons behind this decision, as well as how a certain financial product, known as futures contracts, could have helped to mitigate it.

This episode will cover the following topics:

- The constraints that whiskey producers face

- What circumstances led to Suntory’s decision

- Why Suntory faces a whiskey shortage today

- The brief mechanics of a futures contract

- How futures contracts can benefit whiskey producers

- The main hurdle preventing a Hibiki futures market

- How Suntory eventually faced their time-related problems

Head over to www.economicalricepodcast.com for all the links to resource materials and music used for this episode.

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Welcome to the inaugural podcast episode of this side series, the Podcast Spotlight. In this episode, we talk with Jon Wang of the LongKangKitties Podcast as he introduces the following 2 podcasts:

Podcast 1: The Dick Show [Ep103 - Dick on Maddox Lost]

The Dick Show is a talk show featuring the main host Dick Masterson and his many varied guests. The topics vary and the community is heavily involved in the show, especially through segments such as 'things that make you rage', or through fan-made music. Listen to this if you love the unscripted talk show format or if you're not looking for anything too serious.

DO NOTE HOWEVER, that the topics and language are unfiltered and that this may not be suitable for listening at work, except perhaps at a very low volume. You have been warned.

Podcast 2: Some Scuffs [Nobody cares about shark repellent and underwater guns]

Some Scuffs is a narrative-driven podcast produced by Singapore's Davelle Lee that aims to deal with her own experiences with anxiety. The show regularly includes lessons on psychology, and touches on topics from texting to 'yogaphobia' to issues of personality. Listen to this if you're interested in a well-produced, narrative-style podcast, or if you're interested in how psychological theory plays out in real life.

On top of this, she also has a series called 'nobody cares', in which she discusses obscure topics with her brother Ethan Lee, while her other brother, Lee Zhe Ren, is the show's sound guy. It really is a family affair.

If you liked this episode, please do a big favor by sharing it amongst your friends or by subscribing to the Economical Rice Podcast on iTunes, Soundcloud, or Stitcher. All the links and details to the shows discussed in this episode will be available in the show notes on the website www.economicalricepodcast.com

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This is a short unedited take on the current state of affairs at the Economical Rice podcast, the plans for new content coming up, as well as the directions that it will be taking going forward. If you're interested, head over to www.economicalricepodcast.com for the full transcript as well as all the links to the shows mentioned.

Thanks to the listeners who've stuck around so far, there will be much to look forward to in the future.

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As excitement from the 2018 World Cup died down, the Ben Davis footballing saga breathed to life. The 17 year old had just signed a 2 year professional contract with Fulham Football Club, but the Ministry of Defense were not willing to grant him the national service deferment needed to fulfill it. This puts Davis in a proverbial catch-22 situation. And either path he takes will bear costly consequences.

Davis' story has shone a light onto Mindef's strict deferment criteria. Edwin Yeo of the Singapore Kindness Movement wrote a viral article that criticized this and the "transactional mentality" that it served. Hopefully however, given the difficulty of Davis' situation, more can see the larger impact that Singapore's NS obligations has on young individuals.

Davis' story is only surfacing due to the prominence of the English Premier League and the popularity of football, but what about the countless other ambitious young individuals? Might we have more entrepreneurs, coding wizards, or sporting stars if we didn't have national service? Might we have greater innovation, ambition, or ingenuity?

While the pragmatic will always say that military defense is a necessity for a country as small as Singapore, it is nevertheless still worthwhile to discuss. 

What do you think about the Ben Davis saga and NS in general? Your thoughts and comments will be very much appreciated.

For the full list of sources, please visit the website at www.economicalricepodcast.com

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In the latest episode of the Economical Rice Podcast, Danny puts on his cowboy hat to look at the recent o’Bike deposits scandal. From bad PR to poor leadership to a lack of accountability, this episode will examine how everyone - o’Bike, the LTA, the public - is responsible for this mess.

For more content, you can follow the Economical Rice Podcast at the following links below:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/economicalricepodcast

Twitter: www.twitter.com/econricepodcast

Instagram: www.instagram.com/economicalricepodcast

Music:

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly theme - Enio Morricone

The Lonely Shepherd (Kill Bill Soundtrack) Gheorghe Zamfir

Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down) - Nancy Sinatra

Ennio Morricone - The Ecstasy of Gold (L'estasi dell'oro) from The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

Image Credits: The Business Times

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