We take the pulse of the planet for 2025 with our key themes on climate, nature and nuclear. 

Synopsis: Every first and third Tuesday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change.

New year, new format, where we spice things up with a deeper look at the challenges and opportunities in the environmental sector, controversies and differing points of view.

In this episode, hosts Audrey Tan and David Fogarty dive into three key themes for 2025: Climate, nature and nuclear. 

They examine key questions, including: After the hottest years on record in 2023 and 2024, what will 2025 bring? Will the worsening extreme weather jolt governments into action? Or will it be another year of missed opportunities?

Will the resurgent interest in nuclear really take off? Or will the realities of high costs and long construction timelines cool interest?

Is this the year for nature conservation – on land and the oceans – to finally get a big boost in funding? Or are we leaving things too late given the ceaseless destruction of forests, overfishing and the pollution of air, rivers and seas?

Audrey is more hopeful, David is more cautious. But both agree: We really have to talk much more about climate change and nature despite all the other gloomy news out there. It really is a matter of survival. 

So take a listen as we tell it like it is – the good, the hopeful and not so good. 

Highlights of conversation (click/tap above):

0:05 Should we continue with Green Pulse in 2025. If so, why?

1:52 David's thoughts on nuclear?

7:45 Why will nature protection be a big topic for SE Asia in 2025?

13:19 New wave of hope for the oceans: Rising interest in blue finance plus major UN oceans conference in June. 

16:37 The forecast is hot and getting hotter – and yet the world seems unable to really cope with the climate crisis. Is it all doom and gloom? 

21:06 Power to the people: More climate finance could finally bring to life the Asean power grid. 

Follow Audrey Tan on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/848W

Read her articles: https://str.sg/JLM2

Follow David Fogarty on X: https://str.sg/JLM6

Read his articles: https://str.sg/JLMu

Hosts: Audrey Tan ([email protected]) & David Fogarty ([email protected])

Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim

Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong

Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY

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A young start-up founder talks about quitting his job to take the path less trodden, and discuss with DBS the ingredients for success.

Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a headstart in your personal finance and career with The Straits Times.

Gen Zs are embracing the entrepreneurial life. Instead of working for someone, they want to start their own companies, sometimes fresh out of school. 

There are also more entrepreneurial programmes for them even in secondary schools. Online platforms also let them start businesses online and have a wider audience for their products and services. 

But what exactly is involved in starting a start-up? Is it something only for the rich kids or is it within reach of everyone?

In this episode, ST business correspondent Sue-Ann Tan looks at how people can start their own business even in their 20s, and what’s involved in the process. 

Her guests are Accredify founder Quah Zheng Wei, who started his business aged 27, and DBS Head of Corporate and SME Banking Koh Kar Siong. 

Highlights (click/tap above):

1:52 The steps to starting a start-up

5:33 Quitting his banking job to venture out on his own

8:39 Entrepreneurs as young as 12 

14:40 How to get funding 

21:16 What defines a successful start-up and what’s the survival rate?

24:28 What are your ingredients for success?

28:05 Will starting my own business make me rich? 

Read Sue-Ann Tan's articles: https://str.sg/mvSa

Follow Sue-Ann Tan on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/A86X

Host: Sue-Ann Tan ([email protected])

Produced & edited by: Amirul Karim

Executive producers: Ernest Luis, Lynda Hong & Joanna Seow

Follow Headstart On Record Podcast channel here:

Channel: https://str.sg/wB2m

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wuN3

Spotify: https://str.sg/wBr9

Feedback to: [email protected]

Get business/career tips in ST's Headstart newsletter: https://str.sg/headstart-nl

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What are some of President Trump’s likely policy priorities after he takes office for a second time? Will he do exactly as he threatened?

Synopsis: The Straits Times’ assistant foreign editor Clement Tan catches up with US bureau chief Bhagyashree Garekar to talk about President Donald Trump’s possible policy priorities in his second term.

In this episode, they discuss the cabinet appointees President Trump has already announced, his China policy and the war of words that has already erupted between Trump’s “bro-in-chief” Elon Musk and Trump’s MAGA base supporters. 

Highlights (click/tap above):

0:38 Trump's inauguration and immediate priorities

6:09 Internal conflicts within the Republican Party

12:32 Trump's approach to China

24:26 The future of TikTok in US and Trump's influence

Follow Clement Tan on X: https://str.sg/uErS

Read Clement Tan's articles: https://str.sg/Ep62 

Register for Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/stnewsletters

Host: Clement Tan ([email protected]) & Bhagyashree Garekar ([email protected]) 

Produced and edited by: Fa’izah Sani

Executive producer: Ernest Luis

Follow Asian Insider Podcast on Fridays here:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8

Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX

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Finding meaning and purpose in life.

Synopsis: Every first Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you.

In this New Year’s day episode, ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo talks to Adj Assoc Prof Angie Chew about the importance of spirituality in our lives. They also discuss how to harness this source of strength to improve our mental health and find meaning, purpose, and happiness in life. 

Prof Chew is the Founder, CEO and Mindfulness Principal of Brahm Centre, a mental health charity dedicated to promoting happier and healthier living.

This podcast is part of the No Health Without Mental Health series. It is a special year-long series that The Straits Times started in October 2024 to normalise conversations about mental health so that people can get timely support. The December package on combating holiday blues was released on Dec 16. 

Highlights (click/tap above)

2:24 What is spirituality?

6:08 Coping with irrational fears and jealousy

10:23 Creating a distance between you and your thoughts

14:57 Parents predicting that their children won’t do well in school

18:25 What if spirituality becomes a source of stress for you?

22:32 It’s time to forgive someone

Check out ST's new series, No health without mental health: https://str.sg/mentalhealthmatters

Read Joyce Teo's stories: https://str.sg/JbxN

Host: Joyce Teo ([email protected])

Produced and edited by: Amirul Karim

Executive producers: Ernest Luis and Lynda Hong

Follow Health Check Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWaN

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWRX

Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaQ

Feedback to: [email protected]

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Political stalemate is diminishing Thailand’s international stature and economy

Synopsis: The Straits Times' global contributor Nirmal Ghosh shines a light on Asian perspectives of global and Asian issues with expert guests.

Thailand, once seen as a rising middle power, is now stuck in political and economic stagnation that are affecting its international standing. Its years of political turmoil had caused its economy to underperform, with GDP growing by 1.9 per cent in 2023. 

While economists expect around GDP growth at 2.7 per cent in 2024 and 2.9 per cent in 2025 - the growth is inadequate to satisfy demands and expectations. 

Thailand is currently under the relatively new Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the 38-year-old daughter of former PM Thaksin Shinawatra. But its “old guard” institutions have not allowed the country to progress politically, which are controlling political outcomes through agencies like the constitutional court, the election commission, the anti-corruption commission and the Senate, says Professor Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a senior fellow of the Institute of Security and International Studies at Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Political Science. 

Meanwhile, Thailand's international standing has diminished - though the country’s size and geographic location mean it remains a key player in the region. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) is also divided on contentious issues such as the ongoing civil war in Myanmar. 

While former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin has been appointed an informal advisor to next year’s Asean chair, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, expectations are low. 

The former premier, as well as Prime Minister Anwar himself, are from an older generation - but Asean needs a younger generation to lead it forward, says Professor Thitinan, who is currently a visiting professor as well at the London School of Economics, in this episode with host Nirmal Ghosh. 

Highlights (click/tap above): 

6:02 How the military coup in May 2014 'sank' Thailand

10:29 Thailand lost out on tech revolutions like AI

15:07 Why Asean is currently at its weakest

19:22 How Thailand can play a regional role in the Myanmar crisis, and curb transnational crimes like scams

21:39 Msia PM Anwar picks Thaksin Shinawatra as informal Asean adviser

Host: Nirmal Ghosh ([email protected])

Produced and edited by: Fa’izah Sani

Executive producer: Lynda Hong

Follow Asian Insider on Fridays here:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8

Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX

Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to: [email protected]

Follow Nirmal Ghosh on X: https://str.sg/JD7r

Read Nirmal Ghosh's articles: https://str.sg/JbxG

Register for Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/stnewsletters

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As we inch closer to a new year, will you be putting “losing weight” on your list of resolutions - for the nth time? 

Synopsis: The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah hunts for new perspectives on issues that matter to young people.

Dropping the pounds is a classic New Year’s resolution for many people, but sticking to it often proves challenging. 

Natasha wanted to find out what trips up our weight loss goals, so she turned to the experts, who have seen success stories and epic fails.

On this episode of The Usual Place, she is joined by Mira Azman (@miraacurl), Senior Exercise Experience Coach at Virgin Active Singapore, and Jerome Simon (@jxmonxstar), Senior Club General Manager at Fitness First Singapore. 

The new year usually brings them new clients - it’s a ‘New Year, New Me’ vibe, they both concur - but people have been known to drop out within weeks of signing up.

Mira and Jerome highlight that people often come in with unrealistic expectations.

Like one of Jerome’s clients who wanted the physique that actor Chris Hemsworth had when he was playing Thor within two months. (Spoiler alert: The Thor-wannabe went AWOL after two months). Or Mira’s client who wanted to lose 10kg in a month, despite barely having any exercise experience.

That’s why both trainers say that accountability, whether by working out with a coach or finding a supportive community, can keep one on track. 

Watch this week’s episode of The Usual Place to find out what else these trainers had to say about TikTok trends, unsustainable diet fads and how to shift your mindset to get fit in 2025.

Highlights (click/tap above):

1:18 “New Year, New Me” vibes

5:48 How a Thor-wannabe went AWOL

11:58 Can you achieve your goals with your TikTok fam?

30:51 Facing social sabotage - “Are you sure you can do it?”

Host: Natasha Zachariah ([email protected])

Follow Natasha on her IG account and DM her your thoughts on this topic: https://str.sg/8Wav

Follow Natasha on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/v6DN

Read Natasha's articles: https://str.sg/iSXm

Filmed by: Studio+65

Edited by ST Podcast producers: Eden Soh & Teo Tong Kai

Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong

Follow The Usual Place Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:

Channel: https://str.sg/5nfm

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/9ijX

Spotify: https://str.sg/cd2P

YouTube: https://str.sg/wEr7u

Feedback to: [email protected]

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All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

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Developing countries are in a vicious debt cycle with little relief in sight, undermining social progress.

Synopsis: The Straits Times' global contributor Nirmal Ghosh shines a light on Asian perspectives of global and Asian issues with expert guests.

Some 3.3 billion people live in countries that spend more on interest payments in their debt, than on either education or health. In 2023, a record 54 developing countries allocated 10 per cent or more of government revenue just to pay off interest on their debt - reducing funds available to provide basic services from schools to hospitals, for their populations. 

Public debt thus becomes a human rights crisis, as well as an environmental crisis as most debt is denominated in foreign currencies. Countries then often have to export their way out of debt - which in many cases, such as in that of Laos, means exploiting their natural resources. 

The crisis is worsened by the fact that for many developing countries, it is more costly to borrow than for rich countries - because their credit ratings are worse. For example, the average African country may be paying almost 10 per cent while the United States and Germany may be paying less than 3 per cent, because the latter have higher credit ratings. 

In Laos' case, there is a geopolitical dimension as well; about 50 per cent of Laos's external debt is owed to China.

There is wide consensus that this is a full blown crisis, but the solutions to it are hard to implement. Part of the reason is many creditors are private lenders. Yet solutions are critical if developing countries are to be able to dig themselves out from under the mountain of debt they are burdened with. 

In this episode of Asian Insider, Olivia De Schutter, professor of law and UN Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights, and Keith Barney, Associate Professor at the Australian National University's Crawford School of Public Policy, share with host Nirmal Ghosh insights into the fundamentally unjust situation many developing countries are trapped in. 

Highlights (click/tap above): 

1:52 Global debt: From $51 trillion in 2010 to $97 trillion in 2023

4:01 The Pact for the Future acknowledges the issue, but much public debt is owned by private creditors

5:53 Why Laos debt crisis is also an environmental crisis; China's role in this

10:04 Since the debt is in foreign currencies, countries must export to repay it

13:59 China offers debt deferrals, not relief, just delaying the issue

16:01 Debt burden is driving the international community to consider debt-for-nature or debt-for-climate swaps

Follow Nirmal Ghosh on X: https://str.sg/JD7r

Read Nirmal Ghosh's articles: https://str.sg/JbxG

Register for Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/stnewsletters

Host: Nirmal Ghosh ([email protected])

Produced and edited by: Fa’izah Sani

Executive producer: Ernest Luis

Follow Asian Insider on Fridays here:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8

Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX

Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to: [email protected]

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Is modern dating painful and how can those who want to find love in 2025 find love intentionally?

Synopsis: The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah hunts for new perspectives on issues that matter to young people.

On this episode of The Usual Place, host Natasha Ann Zachariah dissected the dating game with Andrea Tan, a certified sex, love and relationship coach and founder of Athena Rising Coaching & Consulting and Chia Wei Goh, founder of CGull, a dating consultancy for men.

According to results from a Bumble survey that was released mid-Nov 2024, people here are still keen to date – four in five Singaporean singles interviewed are looking to find a long-term partner in 2025. (Bumble is a women-first dating and social networking app that was founded in 2014.)

But what are some of the issues that get in the way of finding love?

From treating dates as job interviews to having many deal-breakers, both Andrea and Chia Wei dove into the insights they gleaned from working with their clients.

Natasha wanted to find out if dating stereotypes of ideal partners that surface on social media – “man in finance, trust fund, 6’5”, blue eyes” or “trad wife”, for example – hurt or help one’s chances at making a great impression. 

Meanwhile, Chia Wei suggested that both genders take on a niche hobby such as yoga for men or muay thai for women, to open more opportunities to meet a partner of the opposite sex. 

Andrea, who is also Bumble’s relationship expert, said that to press ahead in the dating game, one needs a cheerleader support group to provide positive affirmations.

Highlights (click/tap above):

6:59 Should you lower your standards in dating?

11:46 Looking for KPIs in dating

15:16 Men are in a more vulnerable position than women

29:42 Is it game over in the dating game for those over 40?

32:51 Where to start if you’re a first-time dater

35:00 Are men bad at conversations?

Connect with these coaches on social media:

Chia Wei: https://www.instagram.com/cgullwing/

Andrea Tan: https://www.instagram.com/theathenarising/

Host: Natasha Zachariah ([email protected])

Follow Natasha on her IG account and DM her your thoughts on this topic: https://str.sg/8Wav

Follow Natasha on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/v6DN

Read Natasha's articles: https://str.sg/iSXm

Read Elizabeth Law’s articles: https://str.sg/wL8c

Filmed by: Studio+65
 
Edited by ST Podcast producers: Teo Tong Kai, Eden Soh and Elsa Goh

Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong

Follow The Usual Place Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:

Channel: https://str.sg/5nfm

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/9ijX

Spotify: https://str.sg/cd2P

YouTube: https://str.sg/wEr7u

Feedback to: [email protected]

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“Money not enough” - not even raising fares can fix current school bus woes.

Synopsis: Every 3rd Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times examines not just vehicle prices but wider transport issues and trends connected to public and private transport.

School bus fares are constantly rising, and yet operators are saying that ferrying pupils to schools is a loss-making venture with little way out. Mr Darry Lim, 44, who grew his father’s bus company from eight to 38 buses, says that the troubles facing the industry are only worsening as a sizeable number of local drivers are leaving the trade every year. 

Darry is the director of Hui Leong, a private transport company and serves as the transport officer of the Singapore School Transport Association which represents mainly self-employed school bus drivers.

Highlights (click/tap above): 

2:21 More drivers than buses are needed

4:11 Shrinking local driver population also means a cut in foreign drivers because of the allowable foreign worker quota, worsening the situation

7:05 A driver’s typical working day start at 5.30am to pick up the first pupil

15:40 The international school student chips in

19:15 “I might be dead before I can pay off the bus!”

Read Lee Nian Tjoe's articles: https://str.sg/wt8G

Follow Lee Nian Tjoe on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/iqkJ

Read more Transport articles: https://str.sg/KHyM

Host: Lee Nian Tjoe ([email protected])

Produced & edited by: Amirul Karim

Executive producers: Ernest Luis and Lynda Hong

Follow Wheel Insights Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:

Channel: https://str.sg/iTtE

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/iqW2

Spotify: https://str.sg/iqgB

Feedback to: [email protected]

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Rich lodes of valuable metals lie on the seafloor. Will a global rush to mine them be allowed – and will doing so damage the world’s oceans?

Synopsis: Every first and third Tuesday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change.

Scattered across the sea bed are trillions of potato-sized lumps brimming with lucrative metals vital to making electric vehicle batteries, wind turbines, smartphones and much more. This is sparking a “blue rush”, as some countries and companies are eager to cash-in on them. 

Yet the mining of polymetallic nodules remains banned and there are growing concerns that scooping them off the sea floor risks disrupting one of the most important, but still poorly understood, parts of the planet. In this episode, hosts Audrey Tan and David Fogarty speak with The Pew Charitable Trusts’ project director of ocean governance Julian Jackson on the risks. 

Highlights of conversation (click/tap above):

2:12 Three different types of deep sea mining

6:42 Environmental impacts of deep sea mining 

12:21 Why countries are pushing for deep sea mining 

14:58 Implication of Micronesian country Nauru announcing intention to start sea bed mining. 

17:02 Is deep sea mining necessary? 

Follow Audrey Tan on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/848W

Read her articles: https://str.sg/JLM2

Follow David Fogarty on X: https://str.sg/JLM6

Read his articles: https://str.sg/JLMu

Hosts: Audrey Tan ([email protected]) & David Fogarty ([email protected])

Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim

Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong

Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY

Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag

Feedback to: [email protected]

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