Why our expert guest speaker draws parallels with the chaotic Cultural Revolution in China in 1966.

Synopsis: The Straits Times’ senior columnist Ravi Velloor distils 40 years of experience covering the Asian continent, with expert guests.

In this episode - recorded on March 4 - Ravi speaks with Wang Xiangwei, the eminent Hongkong-based China scholar and former editor-in-chief of South China Morning Post. Mr Wang, who currently teaches at Hongkong Baptist University, offers a Chinese perspective on the vast changes being brought to the United States by President Donald Trump. 

He draws parallels with the chaotic Cultural Revolution ordered by foundational Chinese leader Mao Zedong in 1966, and discusses what strategic openings this could present China. 

Highlights (click/tap above):

1:30 Comparisons with Mao’s chaotic Cultural Revolution

5:30 ‘The enemies are within’

9:00 Trump popular despite chaos unleashed

14:40 China too needs to drain the bureaucratic swamp

17:50 China gains as Trump undoes Biden policies

20:30 Putin won’t burn China bridges to please Trump

22:40 US-China confrontation will continue until there’s a winner

Host: Ravi Velloor ([email protected])

Read Ravi's columns: https://str.sg/3xRP

Follow Ravi on X: https://twitter.com/RaviVelloor

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

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 

Feedback to: [email protected]

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Are we talking enough about health checks and the possibility of cancer for young adults?

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

When she was about 35 years old, stay-at-home mother Hannah Seow discovered she had breast cancer after a self-examination. Her diagnosis came about two years after her youngest child, Caleb, died.

For Samuel Ng, a month-long on-and-off fever was a sign that there was a deeper issue. In January 2024, after a blood test, he got the dreaded call. His report was “unfavourable”.

Soon after, he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. While dealing with cancer, he was laid off from his job.

In this episode, Natasha chats with Hannah, now 37, and Samuel, 35, about how it feels to get cancer as young adults, their mindsets through their journeys, and if they want to be known as cancer survivors.

According to the Singapore Cancer Registry Annual Report 2022, while cancer remains largely a disease of older age, more young people are being diagnosed with cancer.

Between 2008 and 2012, the age groups with the most rapid increases in the age-specific incidence of cancer were all under 50 years old - with those aged between 30 and 39 registering the largest differences.

This trend is also reflected globally, with Global Burden of Diseases data showing an increasing trend of cancer among younger age groups, with a 79 per cent increase in “early onset” – under 50 years old – cancer globally between 1990 and 2019.

To celebrate the lives of those who have battled cancer and those still fighting against the disease, the Singapore Cancer Society has organised Relay For Life (RFL) once again. The annual overnight event from March 8-9 comprises a 100km physical relay event at the National Stadium, as well as a virtual challenge component.

While registration for the physical relay has closed, donations to RFL remain open until March 23, 2025. Donate at www.scsrelayforlife.sg.

Highlights (click/tap above):

1:32 How did Hannah and Samuel find out they had cancer?

10:39 What was it like telling people about their diagnoses?

15:35 How both of them stayed positive throughout

27:46 Should Samuel disclose his cancer diagnosis to a potential employer?

33:57 Do Hannah and Samuel want to leave their cancer story out of their identities?

Follow Singapore Cancer Society: https://www.instagram.com/sgcancersociety/?hl=en

Host: Natasha Ann Zachariah

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: Teo Tong Kai & Eden Soh

Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong

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

Channel: https://str.sg/5nfm

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Spotify: https://str.sg/cd2P

YouTube: https://str.sg/wEr7u

Feedback to: [email protected]

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Combating loneliness with a mindfulness trainer.

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

Loneliness – that social pain of not feeling connected, is widespread. Inadequate social connections or social isolation is also a growing problem today.

Social isolation and loneliness have significant, yet often overlooked, consequences for our health and longevity. The health risks are comparable to smoking daily, excessive drinking and obesity, said the World Health Organisation. 

Social isolation and loneliness are also associated with anxiety, depression, suicide, dementia, and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke, said WHO. 

Why do we feel lonely? Can we stop feeling lonely? What can we do about it? In this episode, ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo finds out why we feel lonely and gets tips on how the young and old can combat loneliness from a mindfulness trainer.

She is Adjunct Associate Professor Angie Chew, the founder and chief executive of the Brahm Centre, a mental health charity dedicated to promoting happier and healthier living.

Highlights (click/tap above)

1:18  Why do we feel lonely?

3:45 Letting go of judgement to free our minds

5:55 Feeling lonely in the corporate world?

7:10 Combating loneliness in old age

8:39 What can parents do to help their children cope with loneliness?

12:00 Loneliness in young adults

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

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Feedback to: [email protected]

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In a divided world, environmental treaties are still worth fighting for.

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.

President Donald Trump has pulled the US out of the Paris Agreement for the second time, prompting other countries to ponder about their involvement in the multilateral climate treaty. At the same time, other environmental agreements are running into speed bumps. Talks at the UN plastics treaty in December 2024 fell through; while the COP16 biodiversity conference, postponed in November 2024, reached a deal when talks resumed in February 2025. 

In such an increasingly polarised world, are global environment treaties under threat? Do they still matter and how can they be strengthened as the impacts of climate change, nature loss and pollution worsen? 

Green Pulse podcast hosts Audrey Tan and David Fogarty discuss why treaties still matter, some of the key problems they face and offer some solutions. 

Have a listen and let us know your thoughts!

Highlights of conversation (click/tap above):

1:54 Significance of environmental treaties in effecting change

5:52 Using climate data to measure success of international meets

9:23 The need for consensus to strengthen international environment treaties

18:06 Multilateral treaties can't be abandoned, but forming small groups with like-minded nations could alleviate climate problem

22:46 Bright spots amid the gloom - regulations for business driving positive change. 

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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CDC vouchers are welcome, but young people also want more housing, jobs and childcare help.

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

Budget 2025 has come and gone - the time we Singaporeans look for some free money and vouchers. 

This year, a big theme was around helping to alleviate the cost of living especially with inflation in the last few years. 

But exactly how much did the Budget have for us young people in our 20s and 30s,  and what are the remaining problems that are untackled? 

In this episode, ST business correspondent Sue-Ann Tan looks at what the Budget gave and what young people might want from it in the future. 

Her guests are young financial literacy expert from DBS Shawn Lee, and investment strategy managing director Vasu Menon from OCBC. 

Highlights (click/tap above):

1:39 What were the top three Budget goodies for us?

6:15 Help for young parents and families

8:58 Feeling the cost of living pinch

12:21 No housing measures this Budget?

18:31 Help for young people looking for jobs?

25:10 What would you tell PM Wong given the chance? 

27:44 Giving your Budget 2026 wishlist

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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The relationship may not necessarily be purely competitive only.

Synopsis: Every fourth Friday of the month, The Straits Times will now analyse the hottest political and trending talking points, alternating between its Malaysia and China bureaus.

For February, host and deputy foreign editor Albert Wai and assistant foreign editor Chang May Choon connect with colleagues - Magdalene Fung based in Hong Kong, and Joyce Lim in Shenzhen.

They wonder if Shenzhen has indeed eclipsed Hong Kong today, and look at how the two cities’ roles have evolved in recent years.

Once a rural backwater that looked up to its richer, savvier neighbour across the border, Shenzhen underwent rapid development in the past four decades and flipped the power dynamics.

But within the Greater Bay Area (GBA), the reality is that both cities will need each other in order to have sustainable growth going forward.

The GBA refers to the region comprising the semi-autonomous cities of Hong Kong and Macau, and nine cities in Guangdong, including Shenzhen and Guangzhou.

Highlights (click/tap above):

1:50 Past history: When Hong Kong was less developed and Shenzhen was just a village

3:40 Light show comparisons: The Shenzhen light show, launched in 2018, and Hong Kong’s Symphony of Lights - a tourist staple since 2004

5:35 Does Shenzhen represent the future, in terms of the tech edge? 

8:35 Hong Kong is still the big brother that is the largest source of investment for Shenzhen

11:35 Why would one cross the border, to visit either city?

13:42 Understanding the Greater Bay Area concept

Read more: https://str.sg/9Snd

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

Hosts: Albert Wai ([email protected]) & Chang May Choon ([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 

Feedback to: [email protected] 

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The Aljunied GRC MP chats about his first term as an elected MP and being from an opposition party.

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

Also, in the lead-up to the expected general election that must be held by November 2025, Natasha looks at how MPs, and others involved, are preparing themselves.

In this episode, Mr Giam, who is an Aljunied GRC MP looking after the Bedok Reservoir-Punggol division, chats with Natasha about his journey to becoming a WP member, the challenges of being in an opposition party, and how his first term as an elected MP has been.

The episode was filmed on Feb 14.

Highlights (click/tap above):

2:10 “Sports is very much like politics in many ways.”

7:50 The most difficult speech Mr Giam made in Parliament

14:57 Is there a myth of opposition parties that he would like to debunk?

22:00 Will screening candidates deter people from stepping forward

29:43 What Mr Giam thinks will be different in the upcoming GE

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: Teo Tong Kai & Eden Soh

Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong

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

On Feb 18, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong delivered the Budget 2025 that has been called a “Budget for all Singaporeans”.

Among the goodies were SG60 vouchers, CDC vouchers, and grants for parents who choose to grow their family beyond two children. Businesses and workers also received support in the form of credits, allowances and tax rebates, among other things.

In this episode of The Usual Place, Natasha sits down with three guests to dissect Budget 2025 - what it delivered on, what it means for Singaporeans, and what comes next.

Her guests are:

1. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, and Second Minister for Finance and National Development Indranee Rajah

2. Singapore University of Social Science Associate Professor and labour economist Walter Theseira

3. Singapore Business Federation (SBF) chief policy officer Musa Fazal

Joining Natasha as a co-host is Claire Huang, senior business correspondent at The Straits Times.

Were you expecting something for everyone, or did you feel more could be done? Listen to this episode and connect with Natasha after.

Highlights (click/tap above):

9:20 We should see the Budget in a larger context, says Ms Indranee

18:34 Why give out CDC vouchers instead of tackling food prices?

43:30 “This Budget has something for everyone. You just need to know where to find it.”: Ms Indranee

50:41 The matter of becoming parents - or not - is a complex one, says Ms Indranee

56:31 With spending expected to rise, what’s the plan for Singapore going forward?

1:05:46 Is this an Election Budget?

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

Produced and edited by: Teo Tong Kai and Eden Soh

Executive producer: Ernest Luis

Filmed by: Studio+65

Follow The Usual Place Podcast on Thursdays 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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Making sense of the domestic and foreign policy agenda of Trump 2.0 – and the implications of a new world order for Asia.

Synopsis: Every third Friday of the month, The Straits Times gets its US bureau chief to analyse the hottest political and trending talking points.

In this episode, The Straits Times’ senior columnist Lin Suling, US bureau chief Bhagyashree Garekar and assistant foreign editor Clement Tan discuss the first month of Donald Trump's second term, focusing on his foreign policy in Europe, in the aftermath of the Munich Security Conference and the implications of the muscular reshaping of the US federal government, led by Elon Musk.  

Highlights (click/tap above):

0:36 Trump's foreign policy and European relations

6:37 Domestic policy and government efficiency

16:23 Media relations and the Trump administration

28:50 Looking ahead: coverage and insights from Texas

Read Bhagyashree Garekar’s articles: https://str.sg/whNo 

Read Lin Suling’s articles: https://str.sg/nnEQ 

Follow Lin Suling on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/t2RX 

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

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

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

Host: Lin Suling ([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

Feedback to: [email protected]

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Can young people revive Singapore’s old buildings?

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

That was the question Natasha teased the audience with during the video podcast’s first live event. Held on Feb 12, the show was a part of ST Podcasts’ Live!, a series of six events this year to celebrate ST’s 180th-year anniversary. 

Organised by The Straits Times in partnership with the Singapore Land Authority (SLA), the event drew more than 80 people in an intimate setting at The Foundry in Prinsep Link, which was the former Elections Department building.

The two guests on the show were SLA’s chief executive Colin Low and Mr Ng Wee Liang, a real estate university student, who creates social media content on Singapore heritage, arts and culture.

As Mr Low sees it, buildings are not just physical structures. Instead, they are opportunities waiting to be unlocked, reflecting our past, present, and future, he says.

But how do we get young people to care about old buildings they may not even know?

Mr Ng, 25, says that unfamiliar buildings can become meaningful once young people form new memories in them.

But he argued they should have accessible programming and business rather than catering only to a more affluent crowd, which might limit their appeal to younger Singaporeans.

For SLA, the challenge is to find the “right formula” for each space, rather than going with the bidder offering the highest rent.

Citing spots like The Foundry, Kada in Kadayanallur Street and Dempsey Hill, Mr Low says: “There's no one cookie-cutter (spot). The way we look at things…it's about multiple offerings, different locations (and) different experiences.”

Highlights (click/tap above):

1:27 How do we get younger people to care about heritage spaces?

8:38 How would Wee Liang encourage his peers to look beyond the facade

14:38 Remembering the history of these old spaces

18:57 How does SLA find the “right formula” for the spaces it manages?

25:09 No cookie cutter experiences

More on:

SLA https://www.sla.gov.sg/

State properties for rent: https://app.sla.gov.sg/spio

Link up with SLA: https://sg.linkedin.com/company/singapore-land-authority

Follow Wee Liang on social media (@ngweeliang_)

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

Produced and edited by: ST Podcasts

Executive producers: Ernest Luis

Follow The Usual Place Podcast on Thursdays 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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