Tell You First

Many may know about Singapore's difficult period during the Japanese Occupation, but how much do you know about the Sook Ching Massacre? And about how close Lee Kuan Yew was to being captured? Join us as we delve into this forgotten chapter, where a single act of courage from a humble rickshaw puller saved Lee Kuan Yew, and altered Singapore’s destiny forever.

 

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.

Did you get a ticket for any of Taylor Swift’s six Singapore concerts in 2024? While we normally focus on historical trivia and nostalgia here on Tell You First, we’re confident that Tay Tay’s record-breaking run in Singapore will be remembered and talked about for years to come. We relive the mania of that week in March with 987 DJ Ann Nicole and look at Swift’s impact on the economy, the social activities organised around the concerts, and the artistry of the shows themselves. Did we manage to get through the episode without using any Swift puns? Tune in and find out!

 

Credits:

 

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

Guest - Ann Nicole (@annnicoleng__)

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.

//

Thank you for tuning in to Tell You First. We will be taking a couple weeks' break to recharge and will be releasing episodes again in the new year. Until then, have a Merry Christmas and happy new year!

//

Singapore’s time doesn’t actually make sense! Officially GMT+8, our sunrise and sunset differ from other Southeast Asian cities on the same longitude. In this episode, we travel through time, to see how time itself has been set and standardised across the world. You may be surprised that the story of Singapore’s unusual time zone is less a question of science, and more a question of politics and economics! And then there’s the impact of all this on our sleep cycles…  who’s to blame for this time-bending mess?

 

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.

In 1994, Singapore went toe-to-toe with the United States… and didn’t lose. American teenager Michael Fay was apprehended for vandalising several cars and properties here, and sentenced to six strokes of the cane. Then-President Bill Clinton himself even got involved, personally reaching out to Singapore’s leaders to appeal the decision. A massive backlash from American media erupted, painting Singapore as a cruel and barbaric country, but we stood our ground. We discuss the severity of Fay’s offences, how both countries navigated the aftermath, and in the ensuing 30 years, how the event shaped the public perception of Singapore.

 

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.

You think you know your local kopi, but not like this! We go beyond the usual configurations of kopi-O, kopi-C and kopi siu dai to bring you an in-depth look into the origins of Singapore’s staple beverage. Where did it originate, and how did it become localised? We look at the art of brewing kopi, from the kind of beans used, and the giant sock filter–and how it differs greatly from western coffee at every step. After learning all this, your next sip of kopi is going to hit different!

 

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.

How well do you know your fish head curry? It isn’t Singapore’s national dish, but after this episode, you may wonder why it isn’t! With 987 DJ Gerald Koh, we discuss its preparation, variations, and how we basically attack the whole thing, eyes, cheeks and all. We trace its origins to a Sophia Road stall in colonial Singapore, and its enigmatic creator because yes, unlike many other local dishes, this one can be traced back to one guy! It’s a spicy, lip-smacking chat. 

 

Credits:

 

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

Guest - Gerald Koh (@geraldkoh987)

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.

They say we’re all the same deep inside. In this episode, we put that to the test! We look at the nature of DNA, how it’s passed down through generations, and how much the racial groups of Singapore have in common with each other, according to science. What studies have been done on Singapore’s gene pool, and what do they say about us? Follow us on this investigation that goes back tens of thousands of years, and as far as… Iceland?

 

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.

Okay, you got us. We recorded this episode before the 17 September Sumatra Squall squashed Singapore. So you already know what it’s called. But you can still learn what drives this force of nature, and what other weather systems rule our skies. Listen as Haresh sciences the heck out of our monsoons, uncovering the method behind their madness. There’s a lot more going on that just “sunny” and “rainy”!

 

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.

At its peak, Zouk was Singapore’s party central, and Mambo Jambo was its hottest ticket. Terence takes us back to the glory days at Jiak Kim Street, where every Wednesday night, the club dropped its cutting-edge cool and embraced cheesy retro goodness. Reminisce about the playlists and shameless dance moves, and learn why despite winning the hearts of Singapore’s partygoers for two decades, Mambo itself had to go quietly into the night.

 

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.

We don’t talk about Comrade Bala, because he was a cult leader in South London who convinced women he had supernatural powers, and held them captive for decades while sexually assaulting them. Yet, what many probably don't know is that this enigmatic figure was actually once a Singaporean citizen, educated here in the 1960s. In this episode we look into the formative years of a monster, what led to his eventual capture, and the dangers of radicalisation.

 

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.