Life Weekend Picks

Life Weekend Picks Ep 133: Best Chinese and Taiwanese food takeaway choices this weekend

8:03 mins

Synopsis: Every Thursday, The Straits Times recommends lifestyle and food picks for the coming weekend in Singapore.

In this week's episode, senior food correspondent Wong Ah Yoke recommends his favourite take-away dishes from Birds Of A Feather restaurant, and Taiwanese eatery 8 Degrees. (0:25)

Music correspondent Eddino Abdul Hadi talks about performances to look out for at the Esplanade’s annual Red Dot August concert series. (3:00)

Film correspondent John Lui reviews Jungle Cruise, starring Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt. (5:40)

Produced by: ST Life desk & ST Video team

Edited by: ST Video team & Penelope Lee

Subscribe to Life Weekend Picks Podcast for new episodes every Thursday and rate us:

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Life Weekend Picks Podcast: https://str.sg/JWa2

#PopVultures Podcast: https://str.sg/JWad

Bookmark This! Podcast: https://str.sg/JWas

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Bookmark This! Ep 23: Walking with Jhumpa Lahiri, Andre Aciman and Natsuko Imamura

16:27 mins

Synopsis: A monthly literary podcast by The Straits Times featuring titles in the headlines and sizzling reads.

In the latest episode, The Straits Times journalists Olivia Ho and Toh Wen Li look at three meditative new books about walking in cities and the passage of time:

Homo Irrealis by Andre Aciman (0:48)

Whereabouts by Jhumpa Lahiri (4:56)

The Woman In The Purple Skirt by Natsuko Imamura (11:34)

Produced by: Olivia Ho, Toh Wen Li and Fa’izah Sani

Edited by: Hadyu Rahim and Penelope Lee

Subscribe to Bookmark This! Podcast series and rate us on your favourite audio apps:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWas

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Read Olivia Ho's stories: https://str.sg/JbhW

Follow Olivia Ho on Instagram: @ohomatopoeia

Contact Olivia Ho: [email protected]

Read Toh Wen Li's stories: https://str.sg/Jbhm

Contact Toh Wen Li: [email protected]

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Asian Insider Podcast: https://str.sg/JWa7

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ST Sports Talk Podcast: https://str.sg/JWRE

Life Weekend Picks Podcast: https://str.sg/JWa2

#PopVultures Podcast: https://str.sg/JWad

Lunch With Sumiko Podcast: https://str.sg/J6hQ

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Life Weekend Picks Ep 132: Daycation a quick escape minus the overnight stay

8:37 mins

Synopsis: Every Thursday, The Straits Times recommends lifestyle and food picks for the coming weekend in Singapore.

In this week's episode, travel correspondent Clara Lock talks about the rising trend of daycations, while film correspondent John Lui reviews the female-focused thriller - Gunpowder Milkshake.

Food correspondent Eunice Quek shares more about Masterchef Singapore contestants who have ventured into the F&B industry, following the reality show.

Produced by: ST Life desk & ST Video team

Edited by: ST Video team & Penelope Lee

Subscribe to Life Weekend Picks Podcast for new episodes every Thursday and rate us:

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Discover more ST podcast series:

Green Pulse Podcast: https://str.sg/JWaf

Health Check Podcast: https://str.sg/JWaN

ST Sports Talk Podcast: https://str.sg/JWRE

Life Weekend Picks Podcast: https://str.sg/JWa2

#PopVultures Podcast: https://str.sg/JWad

Bookmark This! Podcast: https://str.sg/JWas

Lunch With Sumiko Podcast: https://str.sg/J6hQ

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Life Weekend Picks Ep 131: Delight in Sichuan flavours at Sichuan Alley

7:50 mins

Synopsis: Every Thursday, The Straits Times recommends lifestyle and food picks for the coming weekend in Singapore. 

In this week's episode, food editor Tan Hsueh Yun recommends Sichuan dishes to check out at Sichuan Alley at Telok Ayer. (0:33)

Journalist Toh Wen Li shares more about the festival organised by Bhaskar's Academy of Arts, which spotlights the works of multi-ethnic arts groups. (3:06) 

Journalist Jan Lee reviews the second season of K-drama Hospital Playlist, now available on Netflix (4:31)

Produced by: ST Life desk & ST Video team

Edited by: ST Video team & Penelope Lee

Subscribe to Life Weekend Picks Podcast for new episodes every Thursday and rate us:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWa2 

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Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/JuYZ 

Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts 

Feedback to: [email protected] 

Discover The Straits Times Videos: https://str.sg/JPrc 

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Discover more ST podcast series:

Asian Insider Podcast: https://str.sg/JWa7 

Green Pulse Podcast: https://str.sg/JWaf 

Health Check Podcast: https://str.sg/JWaN 

ST Sports Talk Podcast: https://str.sg/JWRE

#PopVultures Podcast: https://str.sg/JWad 

Bookmark This! Podcast: https://str.sg/JWas 

Lunch With Sumiko Podcast: https://str.sg/J6hQ 

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#PopVultures Ep 50: Britney Spears' conservatorship and Sam Jo leaves - 50th episode bonanza!

46:11 mins

Synopsis: The Straits Times examines the ins and outs of pop culture in the Asian entertainment and Hollywood scene. 

In this landmark 50th episode of #PopVultures, co-host Yeo Sam Jo bids goodbye to the podcast as he moves onto greener pastures.

But before that, Jan Lee and Sam Jo talk about Britney Spears' explosive statement about her conservatorship and the humiliation and exploitation she endured under it. 

They then move onto doing some navel-gazing, talking about how they started the podcast, their favourite episodes, discuss about their complicated feelings on Taylor Swift and JJ Lin and their thoughts at completing 50 episodes.

Plus, Sam Jo prepares a surprise farewell gift on the air!

Here's what they talk about:

Britney Spears' conservatorship (2:18)

How #PopVultures came to be (11:10)

Their favourite episodes and moments (15:47)

Detour into Angelina Jolie's rekindled romance (19:20)

Takeaways from their 50 episodes of podcasting (22:36)

Sam Jo and Jan discuss celebrities on their dislike list Taylor Swift and JJ Lin (26:41)

Final thoughts and thank-yous (34:39)

Sam Jo's surprise farewell gift! (38:20)

Produced by: Jan Lee ([email protected]), Yeo Sam Jo ([email protected]) & Penelope Lee

Edited by: Penelope Lee & Hadyu Rahim

Subscribe to #PopVultures Podcast series and rate us on your favourite audio apps:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWad

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaA

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Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaP 

Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to: [email protected]

Follow Jan Lee on Instagram: https://str.sg/Jbxc

Read Jan Lee's stories: https://str.sg/Jbxp

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Discover more ST podcast series:

Green Pulse Podcast: https://str.sg/JWaf

Health Check Podcast: https://str.sg/JWaN

ST Sports Talk Podcast: https://str.sg/JWRE

Life Weekend Picks Podcast: https://str.sg/JWa2

#PopVultures Podcast: https://str.sg/JWad

Bookmark This! Podcast: https://str.sg/JWas

Lunch With Sumiko Podcast: https://str.sg/J6hQ

Discover BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL

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Life Weekend Picks Ep 130: Long-delayed Fast & Furious movie worth waiting for?

4:48 mins

Synopsis: Every Thursday, The Straits Times recommends lifestyle and food picks for the coming weekend in Singapore. 

In this week's episode, film correspondent John Lui reviews the long-awaited Fast & Furious 9, which is out in cinemas on Thursday (June 24) after being delayed by a year due to the pandemic.

With dining-in services allowed to resume, food correspondent Eunice Quek recounts her experience at the Mirazur pop-up at the members-only Mandala Club here. Boasting three Michelin stars in France, Mirazur is considered to be the best restaurant in the world.

Produced by: ST Life desk & ST Video team

Edited by: ST Video team & Hadyu Rahim

Subscribe to Life Weekend Picks Podcast for new episodes every Thursday and rate us on your favourite audio apps:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWa2 

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa6 

Spotify: https://str.sg/JWau 

Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/JuYZ 

Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts 

Feedback to: [email protected] 

Discover The Straits Times Videos: https://str.sg/JPrc 

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Discover more ST podcast series:

Asian Insider Podcast: https://str.sg/JWa7 

Green Pulse Podcast: https://str.sg/JWaf 

Health Check Podcast: https://str.sg/JWaN 

ST Sports Talk Podcast: https://str.sg/JWRE

#PopVultures Podcast: https://str.sg/JWad 

Bookmark This! Podcast: https://str.sg/JWas 

Lunch With Sumiko Podcast: https://str.sg/J6hQ 

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#PopVultures Ep 49: Naomi Osaka and celebrities' media dilemma

37:42 mins

Synopsis: The Straits Times examines the ins and outs of pop culture in the Asian entertainment and Hollywood scene. 

This week, the #PopVultures Jan Lee and Yeo Sam Jo talk about A-list tennis player Naomi Osaka and her declining to speak to the media and attend press conferences during the French Open, citing mental health concerns, which set off a firestorm of reactions. She was fined for refusing her press obligations and eventually pulled out of the competition.

She is hardly the only star to have had media woes - celebrities in both Hollywood and Asia have had contentious relationships with the press. From fellow tennis player Novak Djokovic to supermodel Naomi Campbell to Hong Kong's one-time bad boy Nicholas Tse, celebrities have clashed with the media over the years.  Certain A-listers like Beyonce also famously do not give interviews, while others have been rude, hostile or uninterested during arranged interviews.

This gives rise to the question - do celebrities have an obligation to the media and do they need the media? As fans but also journalists, Jan and Sam Jo give their in-depth thoughts.

Here's what they cover

The Naomi Osaka controversy, the resulting fallout and reactions (2:36)

Other examples of celebrities, like Novak Djokovic, Britney Spears and Naomi Campbell, warring with the media (7.45)

The Asian celebrity ecosystem and how celebrities have clashed with the media there (11:04)

Do celebrities have an obligation to the media? (15:11) 

Monique refusing to do promote the film Precious at Cannes Film Festival (18:24)

Celebrities being hostile to the media during interviews (20:16)

Overall thoughts (26:31)

Produced by: Jan Lee ([email protected]), Yeo Sam Jo ([email protected]) & Penelope Lee

Edited by: Penelope Lee

Subscribe to #PopVultures Podcast series and rate us on your favourite audio apps:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWad

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaA

Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/Ju47 

Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaP 

Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to: [email protected]

Follow Jan Lee on Instagram: https://str.sg/Jbxc

Read Jan Lee's stories: https://str.sg/Jbxp

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Discover more ST podcast series:

Asian Insider Podcast: https://str.sg/JWa7

Green Pulse Podcast: https://str.sg/JWaf

Health Check Podcast: https://str.sg/JWaN

ST Sports Talk Podcast: https://str.sg/JWRE

Life Weekend Picks Podcast: https://str.sg/JWa2

Bookmark This! Podcast: https://str.sg/JWas

Lunch With Sumiko Podcast: https://str.sg/J6hQ

Discover BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL

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Life Weekend Picks Ep 129: Sea monster bromance in Pixar's latest movie Luca 

10:09 mins

Synopsis: Every Thursday, The Straits Times recommends lifestyle and food picks for the coming weekend in Singapore. 

In this week's episode, film correspondent John Lui reviews new Pixar movie Luca, coming out on Disney+ on Friday (June 18).

Food editor Tan Hsueh Yun talks about how dining-in business Pun Im has managed to preserve its refined Thai food dishes in tar pau boxes.

Journalist Toh Wen Li shares more on a new exhibition by Singapore's oldest living pioneer artist Lim Tze Peng. 

Produced by: ST Life desk & ST Video team

Edited by: ST Video team & Hadyu Rahim

Subscribe to Life Weekend Picks Podcast for new episodes every Thursday and rate us on your favourite audio apps:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWa2 

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa6 

Spotify: https://str.sg/JWau 

Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/JuYZ 

Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts 

Feedback to: [email protected] 

Discover The Straits Times Videos: https://str.sg/JPrc 

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Discover more ST podcast series:

Asian Insider Podcast: https://str.sg/JWa7 

Green Pulse Podcast: https://str.sg/JWaf 

Health Check Podcast: https://str.sg/JWaN 

ST Sports Talk Podcast: https://str.sg/JWRE

#PopVultures Podcast: https://str.sg/JWad 

Bookmark This! Podcast: https://str.sg/JWas 

Lunch With Sumiko Podcast: https://str.sg/J6hQ 

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#PopVultures Ep 48: The Jay Chou podcast pop quiz and deep dive

36:18 mins

Synopsis: The Straits Times examines the ins and outs of pop culture in the Asian entertainment and Hollywood scene. 

In their long-awaited deep dive on Jay Chou, the #PopVultures Jan Lee and Yeo Sam Jo invite Vanessa Liu to come on and talk about the reigning Mandopop king.

Aside from being their friend and colleague, Vanessa is a superfan of the Taiwanese A-lister who once threw a Jay Chou-themed party complete with Love Confession balloons. Together, the trio live out their Fantasy and explore their Simple Love for Jay Chou, his musical legacy and some of his best songs.

They also trace Jay Chou's colourful backstory - from his childhood to how he got discovered - and look back on his fulfilling creative partnerships with Taiwanese host Jacky Wu and lyricist Vincent Fang, as well as his romantic history with pop princess Jolin Tsai and now-wife Hannah Quinlivan.

Finally, Sam Jo pits Jan against Vanessa in a trivia game of all things Jay Chou. Feel free to play along if you're a fan, and stay tuned till the end to find out who loses and has to take on the notoriously difficult rap from Jay's song Nunchucks.

Here's a quick look at what they cover:

How did Jay Chou become Jay Chou? (3:02)

The many phases of Jay Chou's music career (8:25)

Our favourite Jay Chou songs (11:01)

Jay Chou's professional and personal relationships (15:38)

Jay Chou's legacy (25:04)

Trivia time! (25:49)

Listen - Vanessa Liu covers his songs in medley: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10157918212533251&id=578148250

Produced by: Jan Lee ([email protected]), Yeo Sam Jo ([email protected]) & Vanessa Liu ([email protected])

Edited by: Adam Azlee

Subscribe to #PopVultures Podcast series and rate us on your favourite audio apps:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWad

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaA

Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/Ju47 

Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaP 

Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to: [email protected]

Follow Jan Lee on Instagram: https://str.sg/Jbxc

Read Jan Lee's stories: https://str.sg/Jbxp

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Discover more ST podcast series:

Asian Insider Podcast: https://str.sg/JWa7

Green Pulse Podcast: https://str.sg/JWaf

Health Check Podcast: https://str.sg/JWaN

ST Sports Talk Podcast: https://str.sg/JWRE

Life Weekend Picks Podcast: https://str.sg/JWa2

Bookmark This! Podcast: https://str.sg/JWas

Lunch With Sumiko Podcast: https://str.sg/J6hQ

Discover BT Podcasts: http://bt.sg/podcasts

Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!

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Life Weekend Picks Ep 128: Olivia Rodrigo's rising stardom 

13:02 mins

Synopsis: Every Thursday, The Straits Times recommends lifestyle and food picks for the coming weekend in Singapore. 

In this week's Life Weekend Picks, music correspondent Eddino Abdul Hadi talks about the rising stardom of teenage pop sensation Olivia Rodrigo, whose singles have been topping the charts.

Film correspondent John Lui looks ahead of the second season of Black Summer, which drops on Netflix on June 17.

Senior food correspondent Wong Ah Yoke shares the best meals to tar pau from the Coconut Club, as well as Chef Sham which sells vinegar trotters, fish maw pig stomach chicken.

Produced by: ST Life desk & ST Video team

Edited by: ST Video team & Penelope Lee

Subscribe to Life Weekend Picks Podcast for new episodes every Thursday and rate us on your favourite audio apps:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWa2 

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa6 

Spotify: https://str.sg/JWau 

Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/JuYZ 

Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts 

Feedback to: [email protected] 

Discover The Straits Times Videos: https://str.sg/JPrc 

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Discover more ST podcast series:

Asian Insider Podcast: https://str.sg/JWa7 

Green Pulse Podcast: https://str.sg/JWaf 

Health Check Podcast: https://str.sg/JWaN 

ST Sports Talk Podcast: https://str.sg/JWRE

#PopVultures Podcast: https://str.sg/JWad 

Bookmark This! Podcast: https://str.sg/JWas 

Lunch With Sumiko Podcast: https://str.sg/J6hQ 

Discover BT Podcasts:  http://bt.sg/podcasts 

Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!

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