The Usual Place

If combining the words “kiss cam”, “Coldplay”, “Astronomer” and “affair” means nothing to you, you have managed to be blissfully unaware of the internet’s weekend meltdown over a very public spectacle.

Synopsis: Join Natasha Ann Zachariah at The Usual Place as she unpacks the latest current affairs with guests.

Here’s the TL;DR recap: A couple, who were in a tight embrace, created a buzz among concertgoers – and later, the world – when they pulled a duck/hide move after they were featured on the kiss cam at a Coldplay concert in Boston.

Their reaction was so suspicious that the band’s frontman Chris Martin quipped: “Either they are having an affair or they’re just very shy.”

It turned out that Martin was right, and the cheating pair were colleagues at US tech firm Astronomer.

Internet sleuths uncovered their names and job titles – he’s Andy Byron the now-former chief executive at the company; she’s Kristin Cabot, Astronomer’s chief people officer – as well as information about their other relationships.

People also found out who Mr Byron’s wife was, with some even sending her messages about what they thought of her husband.

Beyond the illicit affair being publicly exposed, the incident led to much introspection about what happens when private moments become public, and leadership credibility.

Also, what is our obsession with public shaming?

To answer those questions on this episode of The Usual Place podcast, I spoke with:

• Stephanie Phua, founder of marketing and branding collective Duo Studio and co-founder of The Trampoline Club, a platform which pushes for compassion, understanding and mutual respect in conversations;

• Pan Huiyan, a millennial leadership coach; and

• Dr Sunny Johar, managing director for South-east Asia at digital experience agency KRDS.

Highlights (click/tap above):

1:48 Initial thoughts about Coldplay-gate - would the moment have gone viral if the couple did not overreact?

13:07 What this incident tells us about filming and sharing content about strangers

19:41 Would anyone have cared if it weren’t the CEO and the head of HR?

22:46 Will a private mistake affect a person’s work ethics?

33:14 Post-viral moment, can the couple recover professionally?

Host: Natasha Ann Zachariah ([email protected])

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

Follow Natasha on her IG account and DM her your thoughts on this topic: https://www.instagram.com/theusualplacepodcast

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

Filmed by: Studio+65

Edited by: Teo Tong Kai, Eden Soh & Natasha Liew

Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong

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

Channel: https://str.sg/5nfm

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/9ijX

Spotify: https://str.sg/cd2P

YouTube: https://str.sg/theusualplacepodcast

Feedback to: [email protected]

SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg

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Kpods, a street term for drug-laced e-vaporisers, has been much-talked about this week. 

Synopsis: Join Natasha Ann Zachariah at The Usual Place as she unpacks the latest current affairs with guests.

Videos of vape users taken by the public have been surfacing online – in particular, of younger people – turning into “zombies” and behaving erratically after using etomidate-laced vapes.

An anaesthetic used in hospitals during medical procedures, etomidate is classified as a poison, which can only be used by licensed medical professionals. 

In this episode of The Usual Place podcast, I spoke with my colleague and crime reporter Nadine Chua; Yio Chu Kang SMC MP Yip Hon Weng, who has raised multiple questions in Parliament on vaping over the past few years; and executive director of youth mental health charity Impart, Narasimman Tivasiha Mani, who has encountered teens using Kpods.

Highlights (click/tap above):

5:37 You don’t need to tell sellers your age, you just need money, notes Mr Narasimman

6:37 Vape sellers market the devices to look trendy or innocuous

14:01 “If he continues down this path, it’s like he’s gone anyway.”: Ms Chua on how a mother shared about her struggle with her son who is hooked on Kpods

14:54 The roles – and limitations – of different government agencies such as the Central Narcotics Bureau and Health Sciences Authority

27:36 What could happen in the long run if we fail to act on Kpods today?

Read ST's coverage on the invisible vaping crisis: https://str.sg/JpFev

Read Nadine Chua's articles: https://str.sg/3z8M3

Host: Natasha Ann Zachariah ([email protected])

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

Follow Natasha on her IG account and DM her your thoughts on this topic: https://www.instagram.com/theusualplacepodcast

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

Filmed by: Studio+65

Edited by: Teo Tong Kai, Eden Soh & Natasha Liew

Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong

Helplines: Mental well-being

• National helpline: 1771 (24 hours) / 6669-1771 (via WhatsApp)

• Samaritans of Singapore: 1-767 (24 hours) / 9151-1767 (24 hours CareText via WhatsApp)

• Singapore Association for Mental Health: 1800-283-7019

• Silver Ribbon Singapore: 6386-1928

• Chat, Centre of Excellence for Youth Mental Health: 6493-6500/1

• Women’s Helpline (Aware): 1800-777-5555 (weekdays, 10am to 6pm)

• The Seniors Helpline: 1800-555-5555 (weekdays, 9am to 5pm)

Counselling

• Touchline (Counselling): 1800-377-2252

• Touch Care Line (for caregivers): 6804-6555

• Counselling and Care Centre: 6536-6366

• We Care Community Services: 3165-8017

• Shan You Counselling Centre: 6741-9293

• Clarity Singapore: 6757-7990

Online resources

• mindline.sg/fsmh

• eC2.sg

• tinklefriend.sg

• chat.mentalhealth.sg

• carey.carecorner.org.sg (for those aged 13 to 25)

• limitless.sg/talk (for those aged 12 to 25)

• shanyou.org.sg

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

Channel: https://str.sg/5nfm

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/9ijX

Spotify: https://str.sg/cd2P

YouTube: https://str.sg/theusualplacepodcast

Feedback to: [email protected]

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Synopsis: Join Natasha Ann Zachariah at The Usual Place as she unpacks the latest current affairs with guests.

Two months after its dismal showing at the 2025 General Election, Progress Singapore Party (PSP) has shaken up its leadership team.

On July 5, it announced that its founder and chairman Tan Cheng Bock, and vice-chair Hazel Poa had stepped down from their roles in the central executive committee (CEC), the party’s highest decision-making body. Party treasurer S. Nallakaruppan also relinquished his position.

All three will remain members of the party. Dr Tan has been designated party adviser. Ms Poa was a Non-Constituency MP (NCMP) in the last term of Parliament, along with party chief Leong Mun Wai.

At a press conference at the party’s headquarters in Bukit Timah Shopping Centre on July 5, Mr Leong announced a renewal plan, and introduced three new members who were co-opted into the CEC.

The first is Ms Stephanie Tan, a full-time homemaker and former lawyer, who was the PSP candidate for Pioneer SMC.

The other two are Mr Sani Ismail, an in-house legal counsel who contested West Coast-Jurong West GRC, and Mr Lawrence Pek, a former secretary-general of the Singapore Manufacturing Federation, who contested Chua Chu Kang GRC.

Ms Tan joins me in this podcast to talk about being part of PSP’s refreshed leadership team, the insights she gleaned from walking the ground as a first-time candidate, and the challenges of a political party without a presence in Parliament.

The Usual Place podcast is livestreamed at noon on YouTube on Thursdays. Subscribe to the YouTube channel to catch the podcast when it airs on July 10.

Highlights (click/tap above):

2:54 Taking feedback from voters during the election

6:08 How PSP will aim to change public perception going forward

13:08 With no presence in Parliament, how will PSP stand out online?

17:10 Rejigging the game plan after being hit hard from the GE2025 results

24:16 “It’s about your heart to serve.” - Lessons Ms Tan learnt from Dr Tan Cheng Bock about longevity in politics

29:37 What is one thing Ms Tan would change if she were to become an MP?

34:15 Her take on young, middle-income couples who face financial barriers when having children

Host: Natasha Ann Zachariah ([email protected])

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

Follow Natasha on her IG account and DM her your thoughts on this topic: https://www.instagram.com/theusualplacepodcast

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

Filmed by: Studio+65

Edited by: Teo Tong Kai, Eden Soh & Natasha Liew

Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong

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

Channel: https://str.sg/5nfm

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/9ijX

Spotify: https://str.sg/cd2P

YouTube: https://str.sg/theusualplacepodcast

Feedback to: [email protected]

SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg

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Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

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How should schools, educators and students adapt accordingly?

Synopsis: Join Natasha Ann Zachariah every Thursday, as she unpacks the latest current affairs with guests.

In June, three students at the Nanyang Technological University received zero marks for an assignment after they were found to have used generative artificial intelligence tools, or Gen AI, in their work.

They were penalised for academic misconduct as the assignments contained non-existent academic references and statistics or broken web links, the university said.

The case drew wider attention after one of the students posted about it on online forum Reddit, sparking debate about the impact of AI on academic integrity.

All six universities here generally allow students to use Gen AI to varying degrees, depending on the module or coursework. Students are required to declare when and how they use such tools to maintain academic integrity.

With Gen AI creeping into everyday life and gaining popularity among students, when is it wrong or right to turn to AI for help with your studies? 

Given its likely prevalence in schoolwork, how should schools, educators and students adapt for the future? 

In this episode of The Usual Place Podcast, my three guests - Singapore Management University’s Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education Michelle Lee, final-year university student Zildjian Garcia and The Straits Times education correspondent Elisha Tushara, who is a former teacher - weighed in on the debate around AI tools for schoolwork and the future of learning.

Highlights (click/tap above):

1:37 Was the initial punishment the three students received warranted?

5:36 How rampant is the use of Gen AI tools among faculty members and students?

7:54 Do educators have a love-hate relationship with Gen AI tools?

17:05 Why Elisha and Michelle are worried about their children losing resilience in learning

19:55 Zildjian points out that AI tool users “always forget” that they might not be accurate

22:13 Are Gen AI tools just a new way students are gaming the system to get their certificates?

27:02 Should AI literacy be made a compulsory module for Institutes of Higher Learning?

Host: Natasha Ann Zachariah ([email protected])

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

Follow Natasha on her IG account and DM her your thoughts on this topic: https://www.instagram.com/theusualplacepodcast

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

Filmed by: Studio+65

Edited by: Teo Tong Kai, Eden Soh & Natasha Liew

Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong

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

Channel: https://str.sg/5nfm

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/9ijX

Spotify: https://str.sg/cd2P

YouTube: https://str.sg/theusualplacepodcast

Feedback to: [email protected]

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Follow more ST podcast channels:

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Some see them as dating opportunities, while for others, it's a chance to learn more about themselves.

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

Becoming a runner has always lingered in Natasha's mind, especially now that it’s a 'thing' with young people. She sees others joining run clubs and signing up for marathons and triathlons, and even flying overseas to run in events or various locations.

In this episode, she invites two runners to help her understand why they do it, and what keeps them coming back for more.

Meliani Lee is a budding enthusiast who just decided one day to buy a nice pair of running shoes, while being deskbound in her job as a client lifecycle management specialist. She started long-distance running in 2023, and last year, completed one full marathon and three half-marathons.

Arthur Tong is the founder and head coach of Elevate Performance Coaching. As an Ironman-certified coach, his philosophy isn’t just about crossing finish lines, but about creating meaningful, lasting transformation.

Highlights (click/tap above):

5:22 Advantages of running: Can you start at any age?

9:26 Is running the new 'dating trend'? Importance of community too, to support running newbies

14:19 How do you get better or faster at running in marathons?

16:08 When do you know you are ready?

18:00 What they learn about themselves when it comes to running

23:07 Helping people discover their own 'whys' in discovering running

27:47 Calling couch potatoes: How to get out of the door and show up?

Host: Natasha Ann Zachariah ([email protected])

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

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

Filmed by ST Video: Joel Chng and T Kumar

Edited by ST Podcast producers: Teo Tong Kai, Eden Soh, Natasha Liew & Rebekah Chia

ST Podcasts’ executive producer: Ernest Luis

Follow The Usual Place Podcast 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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Can we be real when it comes to celebrating professional milestones and branding ourselves?

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

A recent viral post on LinkedIn has cast the spotlight on how some users have pushed content about their jobs and professional endeavours into something more self-serving and performative.

Just a couple of weeks ago, Ms Janney Hujic shared about what she claimed was a “chance encounter” with former DBS CEO Piyush Gupta in a cafe in Bali, where she praised his “quiet conviction” and how he had shared wise words for her upcoming all-women’s expedition in Mongolia.

The whole thing turned out to be a fake interaction. But it sparked a conversation about humble bragging, toxic positivity or exaggerating professional interactions in the quest to stand out on LinkedIn.

In this episode of The Usual Place, Ms Crystal Lim-Lange - co-founder of Forest Wolf, a leadership consultancy that specialises in leadership transformation and personal growth - dropped by to talk about how we can be real when it comes to celebrating professional milestones and branding ourselves.

Our conversation also turned to the importance of career visibility, how this incident highlights about the temptation to appear connected or successful, and how to avoid being performative.

Highlights (click/tap above):

2:12 Many reasons why people show up differently on social media

4:05 The casual racism behind the viral LinkedIn post, and why we need to be conscious of what we say

8:16 Career visibility is important, but when does it become self-serving or a humblebrag?

13:59 Crystal’s checklist for her LinkedIn posts: Is it educational, entertaining or inspirational?

20:20 What does building career visibility entail?

30:39 Record and share insights from your work, avoid being performative to sell yourself

36:07 How do we recover from a professional gaffe?

Ms Lim-Lange’s Comfort and Growth podcast is available on:

Spotify: https://str.sg/bTzR

YouTube: https://str.sg/9Bhh

Host: Natasha Ann Zachariah ([email protected])

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

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

Filmed by ST Video: Joel Chng and T Kumar

Edited by ST Podcast producers: Teo Tong Kai, Eden Soh and Natasha Liew

ST Podcasts’ executive producer: Ernest Luis

Follow The Usual Place Podcast 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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Follow more ST podcast channels:

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

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

The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

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For those running businesses in the food and beverage (F&B) scene, 2024 hit a record that wasn’t quite comforting.

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

The F&B industry saw 3,047 closures – an almost-20-year record high. 

In spite of rising rental rates and food costs, many still want to give the F&B business a shot, as demonstrated by over 3,790 new eateries being opened in the same period last year. 

In an industry that is increasingly tougher to run, young business owners taking over their family business also have a challenge of future-proofing their business. 

To find out more about what’s it like to take over their family businesses, I speak with Mr Ernest Ting, 34, director at Swee Choon Tim Sum Restaurant, and Ms Maria Didih, 37, head of operations at Hjh Maimunah. 

For Ernest, a third-generation owner of a handmade dim sum business that was opened by his grandparents in 1962, that means taking a fresh approach to menu offerings and expanding the business.

Maria, a second-generation owner who runs the restaurant that makes kampung-style Malay dishes, sauces, and pastes business with her sisters, said that it’s about “being creative and keeping up with the times”, instead of solely banking on an established name.

As Ernest puts it: “It’s not the easiest to do. I think it’s getting even harder. I always tell new people who want to start F&B to ‘think twice’.” 

Highlights (click/tap above):

1:34 What these next-generation of F&B owners think about the high number of business closures

4:36 “Singaporeans really know how to eat, so our food better be of decent quality,” says Ernest

5:21 Social media may misrepresent the life – and stresses – of an F&B owner

8:22 Why did Maria and Ernest agree to join the family business?

11:27 Reservations about joining a business with strong legacy and reputation

16:03 How to get the older generation of owners and staff excited about their creative ideas

21:10 “We’re all custodians of Singapore’s food heritage,” says Ernest

34:30 A “compulsory thing”: Maria on how social media changed the way they do business

36:00 What if the next generation doesn’t want to take over the business?

Host: Natasha Zachariah ([email protected])

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

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

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

Filmed by: Studio+65 

ST Podcast producers: Teo Tong Kai & Eden Soh

Executive producer: Ernest Luis

Follow The Usual Place Podcast 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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Follow more ST podcast channels:

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

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

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

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The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

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The votes are in, the general election is over, and a new Parliament is taking shape.

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

The last piece of the GE2025 chapter was unveiled on May 21: Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s Cabinet line-up, which had a few surprises including just one deputy prime minister (DPM) position and a bumper crop of seven newly-elected MPs taking on political office.

In this episode of The Usual Place Podcast, I unpack the post-GE2025 Cabinet line-up with Singapore Management University law don Eugene Tan and Ms Nydia Ngiow, the managing director of strategic advisory firm BowerGroupAsia.

For Prof Tan, not having a second DPM was a surprise move, and he noted that PM Wong is “breaking that particular trend”.

Going into the next term of government, Ms Ngiow said the much-talked about 4G leadership renewal is in place.

Given the publicity and talk around the new faces during the general election, she added: “We can expect that the public will definitely scrutinise this Parliament and Cabinet a bit more closely. All eyes will be on how the 4G leaders will then be helping to lead and guide the younger generations moving forward.”

Highlights (click/tap above):

7:51 Are Ministers Ong Ye Kung and Chan Chun Sing the front runners for the other DPM spot?

10:16 On moving National Development Minister Desmond Lee to the Ministry of Education

11:25 A “bigger canvas” at the Ministry of National Development: Prof Tan on Mr Chee Hong Tat’s move

17:56 What does the post of Acting Minister mean?

22:53 A bumper crop of people with “political office holder potential” sets the scene for leadership renewal: Prof Tan

29:01 On Dr Faishal Ibrahim’s appointment as Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs

31:27 Will we see labour chief Ng Chee Meng back in government at a later time?

40:55 Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s role in this Government

Host: Natasha Zachariah ([email protected])

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

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

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

Filmed by ST Video: Joel Chng, Marc Justin De Souza and Rubeen Raj

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

Executive producer: Ernest Luis

Follow The Usual Place Podcast 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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Follow more ST podcast channels:

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

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

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When it comes to hard conversations, are we quick to shame, label others or lash out? 

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

In this episode, we explore why it’s so hard to unpack difficult topics without getting angry, rude, or shutting down.

Whether it’s inconsiderate commuters, vaccine debates, or matters about race, we now have to navigate more difficult conversations. And more people seem on edge – both online and offline.

So how can we have a discussion about issues that matter without blowing up or checking out?

Natasha sits down with Ms Audrey Low, founder of leadership consultancy Designing Trust, and Ms Kuik Shiao-Yin, cultural change strategist and founder of Common Ground Civic Centre and Consultancy, to unpack Singaporeans’ seemingly short fuses, public shaming and mob justice, and explore how we can respond more constructively.

They also talk about why labelling people as “woke” or “social justice warriors” can shut down discussions even before they start.

Highlights (click/tap above):

3:14 Are Singaporeans an angry bunch?

6:50 The psyche of trolls and why people drop rude comments

10:09 What do cavalier, unkind comments say those who post them?

18:33 Why discussions about racial issues get heated?

24:50 Using labels like “woke” and “social justice warrior” can shut down conversations

37:38 How to be open to perspectives that they don’t agree with

Host: Natasha Zachariah ([email protected])

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

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

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

Filmed by: Studio+65 

ST Podcast producers: Teo Tong Kai & Eden Soh

Executive producer: Ernest Luis

Follow The Usual Place Podcast 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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Follow more ST podcast channels:

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

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

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

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Singapore's 2025 general election was held on May 3, and the ruling People's Action Party won 65.57 per cent of the national vote, a commanding swing up from its 61.24 per cent share in 2020.

The ruling party won 87 seats out of the contested 97, securing a majority in Parliament.

The opposition Workers' Party retained two GRCs in Aljunied and Sengkang, and one SMC in Hougang.

This election gave Prime Minister Lawrence Wong the clear mandate that he had sought, in his first electoral contest as head of government and leader of the PAP.

Narrated by: Ernest Luis ([email protected])

Produced & edited by: Hadyu Rahim, Teo Tong Kai & Amirul Karim

Feedback to: [email protected]

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