SGExplained

In a spiritual sequel to our Singlish episode, we look at The Speak Good English Movement, the national campaign to get people in Singapore to speak "standard English". But the campaign has not been without controversy - it was initially seen as a campaign against a core part of the Singapore identity, Singlish. We talk to Melissa Low, Committee Member on the Movement, who shares candidly how the Movement has evolved to embrace Singapore's multi-faceted identity while still continuing to encourage those in the country to strive to be understood and connect with one another. In this episode, we look at the beginning of the movement, some of the themes and programs it has explored as well as the controversies it has ridden to get to today. Will the movement still have relevance with the rise of Gen-Z speak and internet English - we talk about that too, all in this episode!

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What's the Post Office part of the POSB? Why is it in every neighborhood? And perhaps most importantly, is the Postmaster General really the Chief Mailman of Singapore? We answer all these questions and more in this lighthearted look at the institution of community banking in Singapore and where our habit of saving earnestly came from! Do let us know what topics you'd like to hear about next!

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When it comes to unique facts about Singapore, many people don't realise that the Constitution provides for the protection of Malay and Muslim culture and affairs. We unpack how that has shaped Singapore life, covering the history of Islam in Singapore, the key institutions including MUIS, madrasahs and the Syariah Court, and finally, we look at the sticky issues of extremism and religion in politics. It's a jam-packed episode with lots of new knowledge and we were grateful to have Imran Shah, one of Rovik's oldest friends and a practising Muslim, as a guest to provide his personal views and perspectives. Let us know your thoughts and be sure to support us through the Anchor link below or on our socials!

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With the government's announcement that a review on women’s issues in Singapore will be conducted to look more closely at how gender equality can be more deeply ingrained in Singapore society, we thought to explore the evolution of gender issues in Singapore. The Women's Charter provides a central lens for such an exploration, tracing its origins to pre-independent Singapore and being the platform for debates such as whether men should be entitled to maintenance after divorce or whether NS should extend to women. 

Join Margaret Thomas, President of AWARE, as she banters with Rovik on some of these sticky issues, and provide your own take by commenting on our FB Page or our Instagram. What else needs to be done for gender issues in Singapore?

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In our holiday episode for 2020, we keep it light and fun with an episode on Choping. Perhaps one of Singapore's more debated idiosyncracies, is choping efficient, or is it just a selfish act? We look at the psychology and impact of choping, and compare ourselves to the beach towel reservation culture in Europe. Find out our take on whether this is a good or bad part of our Singaporean identity!

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We've heard of the spree of sexual misconduct and harassment cases in the news and the question must be asked, what does this say about who we are as a Singaporean society, and why are we having such a difficult time talking about this topic? Elliot and Rovik try their best, within their constraints, to have a conversation around the cases that have occurred, the broader statistics around sexual harassment and misconduct on campuses, and why it is important for us to look at policy, legislation, community, and culture in addressing the harm that is happening to our young people. If you have a view or response to what we have shared, please do reach out or comment on our socials as this is our effort to contribute to the much-needed conversation.

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You've probably passed through the hallowed halls of Zouk at some point - it's a cultural institution of Singapore and a big reason why Singapore became known as a vibrant city for people to live in. In this episode, we record in an actual studio (after long last) with Andrew Ing, former Marketing Manager at Zouk, and Rennie Gomes, owner of Yellow Box Studios and a long-time patron of Zouk in its inception. Hear the story of Zouk's evolution, why it made an impact in Singapore and the world, how it overcame the dark chapter of its infamous drug bust, and the discussion on what the future holds with a new Zouk in tow.

Major thanks to Yellow Box Studios for their space and service, and Aaron Ing for being our spontaneous sound engineer!

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We've all had our own personal stories with the Singapore library system before and I'm sure we can all attest it's one of the best of Singapore's public resources. Join us as we dive into the evolution of the library system including the digitalization of the library, the story of how it survived the Japanese Occupation (hint: there are some returning characters), and even a funny story of how books were passed between libraries in a HUMAN CHAIN!! This episode is our tribute to one of the reasons why we can do our episodes without much difficulty - the progressive and accessible National Library.

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Within 30 years, Singapore has gone from a location that was mostly just known for the Singapore Sling to one of the world's iconic cocktail capitals. We talk to Din Hassan and Naz Arjuna, stalwarts of the cocktail scene in Singapore on their journeys in the industry. Hear how veteran Din went from barback in the early days of the scene to now one of Singapore's most well-known mixologists. Or connect with Naz's candid insights on what it takes to build a career in the sector here in Singapore! We fill in the gaps from what you can't find online on how the cocktail scene has evolved and what makes it uniquely Singaporean! Shoutouts within to Vivian Pei, Ryan Clift, Matthew Bax, Ken Loon, Indra Kantono, Michael Callahan,  Singapore Tourism Board.

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If you want to find old Peranakan houses or have some tasty kueh, you've probably made your way to Katong. Elliot himself is a proud homeboy of the area. But did you know that Katong pre-land reclamation was home to one of Singapore's better-known kampongs that made its living from the sea? Or maybe you're interested to find out why there's a Chinese Swimming Club that was exclusively for Chinese-access only? Elliot and I dig into what makes Katong so special, both in the past and the present. Tune in to find out about places like:

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Finally, we're taking a short break but do reach out to us on our socials. DM us on Twitter @rovikthedreamer and @32chances or on our Instagram and Facebook!