Tell You First

Singapore once crowned beauty queens with national pride. Then came Ris Low, whose reign stirred controversy, conversation, and a cultural shift. From mental health to media pressure, this episode examines how her experience exposed the cracks in the pageant system and left the industry forever changed.

Tell You First is an original podcast produced by Mediacorp and Ministry of Funny (@ministryoffunny).

Credits:

Hosted and Produced by Terence Chia (@tchia) and Haresh Tilani (@hareshtilani) 
Sound Engineering - Tristen Yeak (@yeakstreet)
Commissioning Editor - Danny Koordi

If you're a fan of our work, you can follow the podcast on the meLISTEN app, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.

Podcast artwork by Denise Nicole Yap, you can reach her on Instagram @deniseardenise

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It may be smaller than a football field, but Pedra Branca has been the subject of colonial confusion, a fierce legal battle, and tense standoffs at sea. In this episode, we unpack how one lonely granite island became the focus of a decades-long sovereignty dispute between Singapore and Malaysia.

Tell You First is an original podcast produced by Mediacorp and Ministry of Funny (@ministryoffunny).

Credits:

Hosted and Produced by Terence Chia (@tchia) and Haresh Tilani (@hareshtilani)
Sound Engineering - Tristen Yeak (@yeakstreet)
Commissioning Editor - Danny Koordi

If you're a fan of our work, you can follow the podcast on the meLISTEN app, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.

Podcast artwork by Denise Nicole Yap, you can reach her on Instagram @deniseardenise

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Back in the ’90s, speaking Singlish in the media wasn’t the norm, but this track broke all the records and the rules. We sit down with musician and Mediacorp Class 95 radio DJ Rai Kannu to revisit the hilarious lyrics, the story behind its creation, and how "Why U So Like Dat?" helped kickstart a wave of Singlish-inspired comedy.

Tell You First is an original podcast produced by Mediacorp and Ministry of Funny (@ministryoffunny).

Credits:

Hosted and Produced by Terence Chia (@tchia) and Haresh Tilani (@hareshtilani)
Guest - Rai Kannu (@rai.kannu)
Sound Engineering - Tristen Yeak (@yeakstreet)
Commissioning Editor - Danny Koordi

If you're a fan of our work, you can follow the podcast on the meLISTEN app, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.

You can also watch this episode first on the meLISTEN app, or on YouTube one week later through the Mediacorp Entertainment channel.

Podcast artwork by Denise Nicole Yap, you can reach her on Instagram @deniseardenise

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does a Studio Ghibli forest, James Cameron’s Avatar and the SuperTrees of Gardens By The Bay have in common? We trace the fantastical inspirations behind the Supertree Grove, from ancient cedar forests to futuristic designs that won global awards. 

Tell You First is an original podcast produced by Mediacorp and Ministry of Funny (@ministryoffunny).

Credits:

Hosted and Produced by Terence Chia (@tchia) and Haresh Tilani (@hareshtilani)
Sound Engineering - Tristen Yeak (@yeakstreet)
Commissioning Editor - Danny Koordi

If you would like to listen to more, you can follow the podcast on the Melisten App, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.

Podcast artwork by Denise Nicole Yap, you can reach her on Instagram @deniseardenise

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1994, former Solicitor-General Francis Seow published "To Catch A Tartar", a memoir that sparked widespread debate. In this episode, we explore the story behind one of Singapore’s most banned books: why it was written, what it says about the political climate of the time, and why it still gets people talking today.

Tell You First is an original podcast produced by Mediacorp and Ministry of Funny (@ministryoffunny).

Credits:

Hosted and Produced by Terence Chia (@tchia) and Haresh Tilani (@hareshtilani)
Sound Engineering - Tristen Yeak (@yeakstreet)
Commissioning Editor - Danny Koordi

If you're a fan of our work, you can follow the podcast on the meLISTEN app, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.

Podcast artwork by Denise Nicole Yap, you can reach her on Instagram @deniseardenise

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On 25th May 1961, a devastating fire wiped out an entire kampong, leaving 15,000 homeless—but was it just a tragic accident or a hidden turning point for Singapore? Discover how the Bukit Ho Swee fire sparked a housing revolution, birthed the HDB, and transformed the nation overnight. From conspiracy theories to political miracles, this is the untold story of the fire that changed Singapore forever!

Tell You First is an original podcast produced by Mediacorp and Ministry of Funny (@ministryoffunny).

Credits:

Hosted and Produced by Terence Chia (@tchia) and Haresh Tilani (@hareshtilani)
Sound Engineering - Tristen Yeak (@yeakstreet)
Commissioning Editor - Danny Koordi

If you're a fan of our work, you can follow the podcast on the meLISTEN app, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.

Podcast artwork by Denise Nicole Yap, you can reach her on Instagram @deniseardenise

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we discover how ancient Feng Shui principles shape Singapore’s modern skyline - from Marina Bay Sands’ asymmetrical curves to Suntec City’s wealth-retaining "hand-shaped" towers. We learn why the Singapore Flyer spins clockwise for luck, how Boat Quay’s peculiar shape attracts prosperity, and the urban legend of the "dragon vein" beneath Singapore’s surface. And what did the ever-pragmatic Lee Kuan Yew think about the cultural influence of Feng Shui in Singapore?

Tell You First is an original podcast produced by Mediacorp and Ministry of Funny (@ministryoffunny).

Credits:

Hosted and Produced by Terence Chia (@tchia) and Haresh Tilani (@hareshtilani)
Sound Engineering - Tristen Yeak (@yeakstreet)
Commissioning Editor - Danny Koordi

If you would like to listen to more, you can follow the podcast on the Melisten App, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts. You can also watch selected video episodes of the podcast on YouTube at the Mediacorp Entertainment channel.

Podcast artwork by Denise Nicole Yap, you can reach her on Instagram @deniseardenise

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Thank you for supporting and listening to this first season of Tell You First. If you've enjoyed the podcast, please leave a comment to let us know which episodes you liked the most, the most interesting thing you’ve learnt from us, or what topics we should cover in the future. We hope to share more with you again soon!

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We’ve all seen the headlines and history books, but what was daily life really like in Singapore during the Japanese Occupation? In this episode, we take you beyond the dates and events to reveal the gritty reality faced by ordinary people under Japanese rule. How did they make ends meet under a harsh regime? What hidden struggles did they endure? Were people treated differently depending on their race? We dive into the scars and lasting lessons this period left on a generation of Singaporeans. Join us on this journey into one of the darkest yet most defining chapters in Singapore’s history.

Credits:

Hosted and Produced by Terence Chia (@tchia) and Haresh Tilani (@hareshtilani)

Sound Engineering - Tristen Yeak (@yeakstreet)

Project Manager - Dominique Lee

Commissioning Editor - Danny Koordi

If you would like to listen to more, you can follow the podcast on the Melisten App, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.

Podcast artwork by Denise Nicole Yap, you can reach her on Instagram @deniseardenise

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This festive season, as you gather to toss Yusheng high in the air, have you ever wondered: where did this beloved CNY dish really come from? In this episode, we dive into the tangled, messy origins of Lo Hei/Yusheng—a delicacy that sparks both unbridled joy and fierce debate among Singaporeans and Malaysians. Join us as we trace the history behind each symbolic ingredient, and get a taste of the bold, Gen Z twists that are shaking up this age-old tradition. Get ready to see Yusheng in a whole new light!

Credits:

Hosted and Produced by Terence Chia (@tchia) and Haresh Tilani (@hareshtilani)

Sound Engineering - Tristen Yeak (@yeakstreet)

Project Manager - Dominique Lee

Commissioning Editor - Danny Koordi

If you would like to listen to more, you can follow the podcast on the Melisten App, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.

Podcast artwork by Denise Nicole Yap, you can reach her on Instagram @deniseardenise

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Everyone celebrates Chinese New Year, but how many truly understand the ancient Lunar Calendar that shapes its traditions? In this episode, we uncover the fascinating origins of the Lunar Calendar and try to answer why people still follow it today — aligning weddings, business deals, and even travel plans with its auspicious dates. Why does this thousands-year-old system still hold such sway in our modern life? Join us on this deep dive into the secrets of this UNESCO-recognized cultural treasure and the influence it has in billions of lives worldwide.

Credits:

Hosted and Produced by Terence Chia (@tchia) and Haresh Tilani (@hareshtilani)

Sound Engineering - Tristen Yeak (@yeakstreet)

Project Manager - Dominique Lee

Commissioning Editor - Danny Koordi

If you would like to listen to more, you can follow the podcast on the Melisten App, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.

Podcast artwork by Denise Nicole Yap, you can reach her on Instagram @deniseardenise

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.