Home-grown jazz saxophone player Sean Hong Wei is the 15th guest in this music channel.

Synopsis (headphones recommended): The Straits Times invites music acts to its podcast studio.

In the 15th episode of Music Lab, ST’s music correspondent Eddino Abdul Hadi hosts Singaporean jazz saxophone player Sean Hong Wei.

The 25-year-old marked a milestone when his debut album The New Jersey Sessions - a collaboration with his mentor and home-grown jazz maestro Jeremy Monteiro - reached the Top 20 of the chart of American publication JazzWeek in July, 2024. The chart ranks releases based on airplay reports submitted by radio stations.

The album had earlier gone to No. 1 on the overall chart and jazz chart on iTunes Singapore within two days of its release on Jan 1.

The former banking and finance student is currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in music at The New School, New York. He also plays regular shows in the city’s vibrant jazz scene, where he meets and learns from seasoned veterans. 

He shares his experiences of touring in Asia, including recent performances in Shanghai, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. 

Sean discusses his plans to return to Singapore after completing his studies to contribute to the local jazz scene.

Highlights (click/tap above):

0:57 On his album charting in the US jazz charts 

4:13 On how his Singaporean background is not a barrier in the close-knit New York jazz scene

7:55 His experiences of touring, including recent gigs in Shanghai, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur.

15:25 Getting into the saxophone, and jazz music, in secondary school

18:15 Dropping out of banking and finance studies and switching to music

25:56 Paying $1 for his saxophone, which is now worth $8,000

28:10 His future plans to help the local jazz scene grow

Watch Sean Hong Wei's rendition of Body And Soul, a 1930 jazz standard composed by American songwriter Johnny Green: https://str.sg/nArc

Discover home-grown artiste Sean Hong Wei at:

Spotify: https://str.sg/An5E

Instagram: https://str.sg/yZVP

Read Eddino Hadi's articles: https://str.sg/wFVa

Host: Eddino Abdul Hadi ([email protected])

Produced by: Eden Soh, Hadyu Rahim & Amirul Karim

Recorded by: ST Podcast Team & Studio+65

Edited by: Amirul Karim

Executive producer: Ernest Luis

Discover previous artistes' live performances featured on Music Lab Podcast:

Channel: https://str.sg/7m92

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/w9TB

Spotify: https://str.sg/w9T6

Feedback to: [email protected]

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How can Singapore business leaders become special?

Synopsis: The Straits Times speaks with the new dean of Insead Asia Campus, Professor Sameer Hasija, on executive education and Singapore business leaders.

The new dean of Insead Asia recounts the following meme in an era where workers do not stay put in one organisation for long anymore.

The chief financial officer asks: "Should we be investing in training our people? What if they leave?"

The chief executive answers: "Imagine we don't invest in them and they stay."

In this exclusive, Prof Hasija tells host Krist Boo how going to a business school differs from going to a career coach. He points out why businesses should invest in workers and why business leaders must throw out the 'elitist' in themselves, in today's multi-generational and fragmented workplaces.

He also talks about Singapore's strategy to put more Singaporeans into global leadership positions. Do Singaporeans lack ambition?

Highlights (click/tap):

2:05 What does executive education do for me?

7:46 Why pay for employee development when they don't stay?

9:17 Why are there so few Singaporean global business leaders?

11:47 Do Singaporeans lack ambition, or is it cultural? Are there 'invisible ceilings' in global companies?

16:35 Has performative leadership overtaken values and integrity?

19:02 What could make Singapore's business leaders special in today's polarised world?

Read Krist Boo's articles: https://str.sg/wB2P

Follow Krist Boo on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/shcB

Host: Krist Boo ([email protected])

Produced & edited by: Amirul Karim

Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong

Feedback to: [email protected]

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A university professor says his students are not keen on owning a car, while a motor industry expert says that they would, if cars were affordable. 

Synopsis: Every third Tuesday of the month, The Straits Times offers expert insights on new vehicles or transportation trends.

In this episode, COE Watch host Lee Nian Tjoe invites Associate Professor Raymond Ong from the National University of Singapore, who wrote an opinion piece published in The Straits Times in August which said that the current price of certificate of entitlement (COE) needed to register a mass-market car is more affordable to households in Singapore today than it was in 2013. His other guest is motor trader-turned-consultant Say Kwee Neng.

Highlights (click/tap above):

6:15 The reality at the showrooms, where the age of car buyers has changed from 10 years ago 

12:05 Car-leasing firms for private hire have changed the game in the demand for COEs

26:20 The danger of the sense of defeatism in youths when cost of a car has reached far beyond their means

35:00 COE and car taxes in deterring ownership "have past a use-by date"

42:00 How much to pay under a distance-based road pricing system or a satellite-based system?

Read Assoc Prof Ong's article for ST: https://str.sg/yKAg

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

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

Read more COE articles: https://str.sg/iGKC

Produced by: Lee Nian Tjoe ([email protected]), Ernest Luis and Teo Tong Kai

Edited by: Teo Tong Kai

Follow COE Watch 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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Can there be respect? 

Synopsis: The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah hunts for new perspectives on issues of the day.

Education Minister Chan Chun Seng recently announced at the Ministry of Education Schools Work Plan Seminar, how parents should communicate with teachers from now on. He said teachers are not required to share their personal phone numbers, and do not need to respond to work-related messages after school hours.

Instead, they should use official channels like their e-mail and office number when contacting parents, and respond to work-related messages after school hours only in the event of emergencies, he added.

These guidelines aim to help schools and parents work together more “positively, constructively and respectfully” while also establishing boundaries so that teachers can have “protected time” of their own. 

In this episode, Mr Chan dropped by The Usual Place to chat with host Natasha and her special co-host Jaime Ho, who is also the editor of The Straits Times.

Why is this culture the way it is for now? Or is it just down to a seemingly larger issue of over-parenting or parents being unable to go with the flow in general?

Highlights (click/tap above):

4:55 Is there a culture of over-parenting? Avoiding a 'crutch' mentality

9:50 Mr Chan on whether MOE should "over-protect, over-structure or remove all untidiness from life" for children in general

12:50 Social media impact today: The pressure of being compared, how children and also parents feel it in different ways

13:50 The 'spirit' of the new rule: why it matters, and how the culture could evolve

17:25 On the culture of bypassing the system to "get their own way"; on the case example of orientation for parents - not children - at one school

22:37 Mr Chan on why teachers in Singapore are not here to "service us"

32:40 Looking at flexibility for teachers too, while maintaining the "ethos of teaching", in a "code of conduct"; respecting teachers, their "private time" to "recharge"

36:10 Mr Chan's memories of teachers who inspired him

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

Host: Natasha Zachariah ([email protected])

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

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

Filmed by: ST Video

Edited by producers: Teo Tong Kai, Eden Soh, Jamie Koh and Rubeen Raj

Executive producers: Ernest Luis and 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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The seasoned Singapore diplomat is bullish on India and Asean but says the US should not be underestimated.

Synopsis: Every third and fourth Friday of the month, The Straits Times' global contributor Nirmal Ghosh shines a light on Asian perspectives of global and Asian issues with expert guests.

Veteran Singapore diplomat Kishore Mahbubani, never shy about sharing his views, is bullish on India and Asean, believes China will not invade Taiwan unless the island declares independence - and warns that no one should underestimate America. 

In this episode, Mr Mahbubani says Europe should also revise its notions of being a global economic powerhouse, and the United Kingdom needs to give up its seat on the UN Security Council so India can take it.

Asean has been successful as a regional organisation in preventing Brexit-style breakaways as well as wars in the region - and by 2030 its combined economy will be bigger than Japan’s, Mr Mahbubani contends. 

Pressure on China will grow regardless of who occupies the White House after America’s presidential election. In terms of tactics, Kamala Harris would be predictable, but Donald Trump would not. 

Mr Mahbubani, currently a Distinguished Fellow at the Asia Research Institute of the National University of Singapore, is among other things former Singapore Ambassador to the UN, former Permanent Secretary at Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and founding Dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. He has just published a new book titled Living The Asian Century: An Undiplomatic Memoir." 

Highlights (click/tap above): 

1:54 Three geopolitical geniuses - Lee Kuan Yew, Goh Keng Swee, and S. Rajaratnam 

5:32 South-east Asia has an enormous agency; Asean will be bigger than Japan by 2030

8:46 "I am extremely bullish about the prospects of India," says Kishore Mahbubani

11:11 Chinese and Indian inventors are responsible for 20% of all US patents

15:04 Wars are draining

16:59 Near-universal consensus in Washington DC that the US has about 10 years to stop China from becoming No.1 

18:44 You can’t predict what Donald Trump is going to do 

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: Studio+65 and 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

Feedback to: [email protected]

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Salaries need to be structured more flexibly to reflect broader aspirations.

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

Views on pay issues vary widely among young workers depending on their professional and life goals.

This was borne out in a survey of 1,000 young people commissioned by The Straits Times, carried out in May by market research firm Kantar and released in August.

In this episode, ST journalist Tay Hong Yi digs deeper into the implications of the results and underlying beliefs that give rise to different attitudes.

His guests are Dr Fermin Diez, a researcher on compensation issues with over 30 years of corporate experience, and young professional Jonathan Ng, who juggles being a business development manager with robotics company Otsaw while studying for a degree in marketing at the Singapore University of Social Sciences.

Highlights (click/tap above):

2:38 How has working and studying at the same time influenced Jonathan’s views on salary?

4:10 How have career norms shifted?

8:33 Are companies keeping up with these shifting norms in how pay is designed?

12:43 Why does satisfaction with one’s salary and work-life balance decline with age?

15:29 Disclosing salary details 

22:14 How can employers deal with inter-generational differences on how pay is perceived?

Read the feature by Prisca Ang discussed on the podcast: https://str.sg/9aLR

Read Tay Hong Yi's articles: https://str.sg/w6cz

Follow Tay Hong Yi on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/AAxy

Host: Tay Hong Yi ([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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All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

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In the bid to make alternative protein palatable to the consumer, South-east Asian cuisine offers some advantages. 

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

Home to glitzy bars and Michelin star restaurants, Singapore is a foodie paradise. It is a reputation that extends well beyond the dinner plate – and it is not just diners who are noticing. 

The country’s research into ways of feeding the world in ways that are more beneficial for the climate and nature is also attracting global attention. 

On Sept 5, the Bezos Earth Fund launched Asia’s first Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein at the National University of Singapore, with a $39 million commitment from the Bezos Earth Fund. The fund was started by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos as a philanthropic commitment to address the climate crisis.

What does this centre hope to do, and how will it help with Asia’s protein pivot? Green Pulse co-hosts Audrey Tan and David Fogarty get the lowdown from Dr Andy Jarvis, director of future of food at the Bezos Earth Fund.

Highlights (click/tap above):

1:57 The link between food production, climate change and nature loss

4:27 Is producing alternative protein really more climate-friendly than regular animal-based protein? 

5:34 What is the gap in alternative protein R&D identified by the Bezos Earth Fund?

9:23 What is the role of philanthropy in the great protein pivot toward sustainable source?

12:28 The focus for Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein in the National University of Singapore 

14:27 What is one advantage that South-east Asian cuisine has over others, in terms of the move to sustainable protein? 

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

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Revered as soldiers, the Gurkhas are Nepalis who are recruited into the British Army, the Singapore Police, the Indian Army, and recently, even the Russian army. 

Synopsis: Join The Straits Times' senior columnist Ravi Velloor, as he distils his experience from four decades of covering the Asian continent.

In this episode, Ravi speaks with one of the most highly decorated officers of the Indian Army, retired Lt. Gen. Shokin Chauhan, on the future of Gurkhas, the famous warriors from the hill tribes of central Nepal. Gurkhas, who form the largest ethnic component of the Indian Army, have also lately been in the news after it was reported that some of them died fighting for Russia in the Ukraine War. 

A celebrated scholar-soldier and a retired second generation Gurkha Rifles officer of the Indian Army, Lt. Gen. Chauhan and Ravi discuss recent changes to India’s military recruitment policies that led Nepal to ban Gurkha recruitment by New Delhi, whether Nepal’s Maoist government will permit Nepalese soldiers to continue participating in UN peacekeeping operations, and the relevance of foot-soldiers in the era of robotics in warfare.

Highlights (click/tap above):

2:00 Why Gurkha troops are special

08:50 Special height provisions for Gurkhas in British, Indian armies

11:15 Why Gurkhas go abroad to fight; Gurkhas in Russia

14:40 How India’s new recruitment policy hits Gurkhas 

18:00 Could India’s Gurkha Regiment be disbanded?

22:50 Nepal and UN peace-keeping operations

25:00 Future of Gurkhas and infantry in the age of robotics

Produced by: Ravi Velloor ([email protected]) and Fa’izah Sani

Edited by: Fa’izah Sani

Follow Speaking Of Asia Podcast every second Friday of the month 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]

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

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

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

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Discover more ST podcast channels:

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

The Usual Place: https://str.sg/wEr7u 

In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt 

COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE 

Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 

Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN 

Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf 

Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m 

Hard Tackle: https://str.sg/JWRE 

#PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad 

Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX 

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

ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa 

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Special edition series:

True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T

The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2 

Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn 

Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB 

Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa 

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Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX 

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Does living a meaningful, purpose-filled life trump materialistic goals and climbing the corporate ladder these days?

Synopsis: The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah hunts for new perspectives on issues of the day, and finds out about what young people are talking about.

Talk about the new definition of success has been fronted this year by Singapore’s new prime minister Lawrence Wong, who has called for wider definitions of success.

But can it be done? In this episode, Natasha asks her three guests how possible it is to run on passion, and in redefining success, what does failure look like now? Also, what is one thing that young people need to do if they want to redefine what success looks like to them.

Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth and Trade and Industry Alvin Tan, founder and executive director of Access Singapore Clarence Ching, and co-founder of River Valley Irregulars Sheila Manokaran speak about how they see the Singaporean dream moving beyond the 5Cs.

The question - or is it an existential crisis? - that millennials and Gen Zs grapple with is about how they can make an impact that counts, even in a 9-to-5 job. 

Highlights (click/tap above):

1:49 Why is it necessary for us to redefine success now?

9:52 The stumbling blocks on the paths to success

18:35 Can chasing passions put food on the table?

24:54 ”What is the government doing to ensure I have a job?”

33:20 What does failure look like in this new definition of success?

40:25 What we need for a mindset shift

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

Host: Natasha Zachariah ([email protected])

Read Natasha's related story: https://str.sg/Mieu

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

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

Edited by producers: Teo Tong Kai and Eden Soh

Executive producers: Ernest Luis and 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

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Two Singaporeans share their experiences working for Red Bull racing.

Synopsis: The Straits Times tackles the talking points in sport every second Wednesday of the month. 

The 2024 Singapore Grand Prix returns on Sept 22 when fans here witness exhilarating action over 62 laps of the 4.94-kilometre Marina Bay Street Circuit. And while the title race between Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen and McLaren’s Lando Norris heats up on track, The Straits Times’ Hard Tackle revs up for the race weekend by learning more about what happens behind the scenes at a F1 team. 

In this episode, sports reporter Deepanraj Ganesan is joined by Singaporeans Charis Chua and Heng Yi-Hsin, students from Nanyang Technological University who look back on their 2½-month stint with Red Bull Racing and look ahead to the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix.  

Highlights (click/tap above):

5:30 Finding out about winning the internship challenge to work for Red Bull Racing  

7:45 What Yi-Hsin and Chua did during their stints with RB 

11:25 Why Formula 1 is more than just about fast cars and the famous drivers 

13:30 The standout moments from the internship with RB 

18:30 Looking ahead to 2024 Singapore Grand Prix

Read: https://str.sg/LtoJ

Follow Deepanraj Ganesan on X: https://str.sg/wtra

Read his articles: https://str.sg/ip4G

Catch visual snippets of the podcast from ST's sports Instagram page: https://str.sg/vn2F

Produced by: Deepanraj Ganesan ([email protected]) and Amirul Karim

Edited by: Amirul Karim 

Follow Hard Tackle every month here and get notified for new episode drops:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWRE

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

Spotify: https://str.sg/JW6N

Feedback to: [email protected]

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

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