Shows / Yah Lah But
Yah Lah But
A thrice weekly podcast on conversations Singaporeans are having but not saying out loud – politics, culture, identity. Haresh Tilani and Terence Chia consider every side, never quite agree, and never play it safe. Honest, informed, always worth arguing about. Subscribe so you don’t miss new episodes.
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Episodes
- Yah Lah But
#768: Secrets to Overcoming Self-Doubt & Turning Your Passion Into a Career
Ruth Saw, an adult professional trainer, reflects on her personal journey of confidence and growth, and how lived experience shaped her approach to learning…
- Yah Lah But
#767: Pritam vs Indranee as Parliament Deems Him Unfit as LO & Bayfront MRT Stops Dancers
Tensions were rife as Parliament backed a motion expressing regret over Pritam Singh’s conduct, deeming him unfit to continue as Leader of the Opposition…
- Yah Lah But
#766: PAP’s Jasmin Lau Refutes TraceTogether "Fiasco" & S’porean Challenged by Warner Bros
MOS Jasmin Lau and WP MP Kenneth Tiong spar in Parliament over an amendment that will allow public sector data to be shared with trusted external partners…
- Yah Lah But
#765: Pritam Singh’s LO Role Under Fire from Indranee & Hwa Chong Denies Punishing Students
Leader of the House, Indranee Rajah, files a motion to consider Pritam Singh’s suitability as Leader of the Opposition, while Hwa Chong addresses claims…
- Yah Lah But
#764: Is Singapore Really Multicultural? A Youth Leader’s Unfiltered Take
Amalina Nasir, a youth leader and advocate for interfaith work in Singapore, shares her work bridging young Singaporeans with global communities. Drawing on…
- Yah Lah But
#763: Backlash for NMP Dr Haresh’s PAP Shirt & Uproar at Hwa Chong’s New Canteen Food
A photo of an Incoming NMP, Dr Haresh Singaraju, wearing a PAP shirt sparks renewed debate over the scheme’s neutrality. Elsewhere, “cookhouse-style” meals at…
- Yah Lah But
#762: S’pore “Concerned” by USA’s Capture of Venezuelan President & 9 New NMPs Announced
The Singapore MFA expresses “grave concern” over US intervention in Venezuela, but what does it mean for regular citizens like us? Elsewhere, the new batch of…
- Yah Lah But
#761: PM Wong’s Message for 2026 vs Opposition Parties & Backlash for STOMP Article on Yong Tau Foo
PM Wong delivered his New Year’s message, highlighting Singapore’s 4.8% economic growth over 2025, while also calling for a refreshed strategy going into 2026…
- Yah Lah But
#760: Footballers vs Ministers, How S'pore Looks from Abroad & What We Learnt While in the UK
After an epic trip to the UK in early December, we reflect on the whole experience, discussing football & sporting culture in the UK vs Singapore, class and…
- Yah Lah But
#759: S’porean Architect on How Feng Shui Made Him World-Famous & Why COVID Saved Him | Dear Modern
Recorded onsite in London, we speak with Cliff Tan, architect and creator of Dear Modern, on how a “very Singaporean” path led him to global fame. Cliff breaks…
- Yah Lah But
#758: S'porean in Premier League Football On What We Need to Succeed Overseas | Sean Bai, Burnley FC
Recorded onsite at Burnley FC, we speak with Sean Bai, Chief of Staff of Football about Singapore’s AFC Asian Cup qualification, belief under pressure, and…
- Yah Lah But
#757: Best Foreign Interference, Most “Umbrage” News Story & More - The Inaugural SINKIE AWARDS!
It’s the first-ever SINKIE AWARDS! This is the inaugural version of our own Yah Lah But Year-end Awards, and it’s unlike any Singaporean award show you’ve ever…
- Yah Lah But
#756: SEA Games Athletes Slammed by SNOC for Poor Performance & Backlash for SG Mermaid Influencer
Singapore won 52 gold medals at the SEA Games, but during a review, Mark Chay, Secretary General of SNOC, criticised football and badminton performances…
- Yah Lah But
#755: Bertha Henson on Support for PM Wong, What Pritam Said on the Assembly & Her New Book
Bertha Henson returns to talk to us about her reflections on GE2025, how the senior and new ministers have been faring, as well as her latest book: “How To Be…
- Yah Lah But
#754: What the Bondi Beach Shooting Means for S’pore & Backlash for $2 Coffee at Bras Basah Stall
A shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach prompted global scrutiny and increased police patrols in Singapore, alongside statements condemning hate-based violence…
- Yah Lah But
#753: Mediacorp Pulls Pritam Interview Over Contempt & Wedding Venue Slams Influencer for Request
Mediacorp removed a CNA interview with Pritam Singh after concerns it could amount to contempt of court, with both parties issuing apologies. Separately, a…
- Yah Lah But
#752: Head Coach Gavin Lee on The One Moment He Cried in HK & What Football Means to S'poreans
Gavin Lee, the newly instated Singapore national team head coach, returns to YLB to discuss his appointment, the experience clinching a spot at the Asian Cup…
- Yah Lah But
#751: HDB Resident Satisfaction Drops in 13 Areas & Backlash Against Stanchart Marathon
HDB’s latest survey shows resident satisfaction falling in 13 of 17 areas, including cleanliness, noise and privacy. Elsewhere, the Standard Chartered Marathon…
- Yah Lah But
#750: Are Chinese Singaporean Men “Ugly”? Viral Sketch Sparks Heated Debate | Yah Lah But Live!
We recorded our first-ever live podcast recording outside of Singapore! With a small intimate crowd in the heart of London! We talk about a recent viral debate…
- Yah Lah But
#749: Pritam Singh Loses Appeal Against Conviction & MRT Delay Sparks Calls for Better Comms
The High Court upheld Pritam Singh’s conviction for lying to a parliamentary committee, prompting public and political responses. Separately, an East-West Line…
- Yah Lah But
#748: 3 in 5 Employers Planning Hiring Freeze in 2026 & Dad Slams CCTV of Son Allegedly Stealing
A new SNEF survey shows nearly three in five employers planning a 2026 hiring freeze and slower wage growth. Separately, a Haji Lane shop posted CCTV footage…
- Yah Lah But
#747: Trump Envoy Credits USA for Singapore “Miracle” & Sports Hub Rebranded as “The Kallang”
Anjani Sinha , the Trump-appointed US ambassador to SG, ruffled feathers when he said that the US has helped with the Singapore “miracle”. Elsewhere, the…
- Yah Lah But
#746: SG Workers Want Free Lunches, Cheap Transport & Metal Nets Installed to Block Pickleball
New workforce surveys show Singapore employees prioritising flexiwork, free lunches and subsidised commutes for returning to the office, but is it…
- Yah Lah But
#745: Backlash for PM Wong’s Comments on China-Japan Tension & Tiong Bahru Flats Fail HIP Vote
PM Wong’s comments on China–Japan tensions sparked waves of reaction from Chinese netizens. Meanwhile, two Tiong Bahru blocks narrowly missed qualifying for…
- Yah Lah But
#744: Should Gavin Lee Be The Next Football Head Coach & Miss Mexico Booed After Miss Universe Win
Now that Singapore’s football team has qualified for the AFC, the big question is whether Gavin Lee should become the Lions’ next permanent head coach…
- Yah Lah But
#743: Minister David Neo Apologizes for “Idiot” Remark & PM Wong’s Toolkit For Wealth Inequality
Jacky Ng joins us to unpack the news around Acting MCCY Minister David Neo, who apologised after getting backlash for calling Hong Kong fans and football…
- Yah Lah But
#742 - Viral School Canteen Vendor Closes Stall & Andie Chen's $100m Target for His F&B Company
Andie Chen joins us to unpack the recent news of a popular school canteen vendor announces closure after receiving complaints from parents and the public on…
- Yah Lah But
#741 ft. IPS Researcher - Why Religion is Rising in SG & Can AI Replace God? | Dr Mathew Mathews
Dr Mathew Mathews joins us to unpack Singapore’s latest race and religion survey by IPS, from national identity trends to why many still rank religious and…
- Yah Lah But
#740 ft. Broadway Beng - How Government Grants Hurt Theatre & How to Fix the Arts Scene in SG
Sebastian Tan, aka Broadway Beng, deep dives into his life as a performer - from the hard start to his career, going on 13-month tour around the UK as a lead…
- Yah Lah But
#739: Ong Beng Seng Keeps PR Status Despite Conviction & Indian Tourist Has Meltdown in McDonalds
After being fined $30,000 for abetting obstruction of justice, property tycoon Ong Beng Seng has kept his Singapore PR status - receiving only a warning from…
- Yah Lah But
#738: Edwin Tong Slams Pritam Singh’s Remark on CNA & Backlash for Bill Gates’ Climate Memo
Minister of Law Edwin Tong took issue with Pritam Singh’s “court of public opinion” remark during a recent episode of the The Assembly by CNA. Elsewhere, Bill…
- Yah Lah But
#737: WP’s Andre Low on What His Telegram Leak Taught Him About Online Safety
Workers’ Party NCMP Andre Low joins us to discuss his first months in Parliament, the Online Safety Bill debate, and how the opposition approaches trust and…
- Yah Lah But
#736: 38 Oxley Rd to Become National Monument & Pritam vs Indranee on Noor Deros “Gatecrash”
NHB officially recommended that 38 Oxley Road, Lee Kuan Yew’s former home, be gazetted as a national monument, which sparked a rebuke by Lee Hsien Yang…
- Yah Lah But
#735: ACS Alumni Angered by Association to Scam Syndicate & Cash Rewards for Catching Rats
After news broke that an alleged scam syndicate in Cambodia involved a former ACS (Independent) student, the ACS Old Boys’ Association (OBA) issued a letter…
- Yah Lah But
#734: Backlash for Twelve Cupcakes’ Abrupt Closure & SM Lee Urges Immigrants Not To Flaunt Wealth
Popular bakery chain Twelve Cupcakes suddenly shuttered on 29 Oct 2025, leaving 80 employees jobless overnight and the food workers’ union fuming. Elsewhere…
- Yah Lah But
#733 ft. K Shanmugam: The Debate Around His Ministerial Statement on Race & Religion in Politics
Minister for Home Affairs, Mr K Shanmugam, joins us to unpack his recent ministerial statement on race and religion in Parliament, as well as the subsequent…
- Yah Lah But
#732: PM Wong Felt Pain Dropping People For GE & Chendol Stall Owner Fires Back at TikTok Critic
In a recent interview, PM Lawrence Wong told the Financial Times that the hardest part of leadership is managing people, and that dropping long-time colleagues…
- Yah Lah But
#731: Lapses Found in Megan Khung’s Tragic Case of Abuse & Marine Parade’s $1m Bus Service Ends
A government review has found multiple lapses across agencies in the tragic case of four-year-old Megan Khung, who died after prolonged abuse. Elsewhere…
- Yah Lah But
#730: 3 Women Acquitted of Pro-Palestinian Walk to Istana & SCC Votes Against Renaming “Men’s Bar”
Three women who organised a walk to the Istana in support of the Palestinian cause have surprisingly been acquitted after a year-long case. Elsewhere, the…
- Yah Lah But
#729 ft. Ex-NMP: We Shouldn’t Run for Elections! The Problem with The Scheme | Anthea Ong
Former Nominated MP and social changemaker Anthea Ong discusses the NMP scheme - what it was meant to be, why it’s misunderstood, and how it can evolve. We…
- Yah Lah But
#728: Shanmugam vs Pritam in Parliament & Fullerton Pulls Out of “Friends of Israel” Gala
Things got fiery in Parliament as Minister Shanmugam urged opposition parties to “clearly and immediately” reject identity politics - what followed was a long…
- Yah Lah But
#727: Less Than 1/3 of Bus Captains are S’poreans & Thousands Sign Pickleball Petition
During a recent doorstop interview, Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow mentioned that less than one third of bus captains are Singaporeans, and how it’s a…
- Yah Lah But
#726: Ng Chee Meng Asks For “Empathy” After Income Insurance Rebuked & Shanmugam Praises Trump
NTUC chief Ng Chee Meng says empathy must play a bigger role, after Income Insurance was publicly rebuked by the SG courts for its “wholly unreasonable”…
- Yah Lah But
#725 ft. National Coach of SG Football - What’s Broken & Why There’s Hope for the Lions
Gavin Lee, the interim head coach of the Singapore men’s national football team, shares his journey from giving up on playing professionally at 15 to becoming…
- Yah Lah But
#724: Is the F1 Singapore Grand Prix Good for SG & JB Drivers Slam LTA Restrictions
Has Singapore’s glittering F1 night been worth the multi-million dollar investment? We explore whether the economic returns have matched the hype. Elsewhere, a…
- Yah Lah But
#723: “No More Work” From Home for NUS Staff & Man Tries to Hit Monkey at the Zoo
NUS has rolled out a five-day mandatory return-to-office policy for all staff starting 1 Oct 2025, but a number of staff are unhappy. Elsewhere, a viral video…
- Yah Lah But
#722: SG Population Hits Record 6.11m & Students to Get Central Kitchen Meals at 13 Schools
Singapore’s population has reached a record 6.11 million, largely driven by growth in the non-resident workforce, sparking renewed debates about space, jobs…
- Yah Lah But
#721 ft. Kf Seetoh - Millionaire Hawkers & the Best Way to Save Hawker Culture
Kf Seetoh, founder of Makansutra and Singapore’s most outspoken hawker culture advocate, joins us to talk about the past, present and future of hawker food…
- Yah Lah But
#720: MP Says Now is the Best Time to Raise a Family in SG & Local “Cake Picnic” Event Slammed
MP Cassandra Lee sparked a firestorm by claiming that now is “the best time in Singapore to start & raise a family”. Elsewhere, an event organiser draws…
- Yah Lah But
#719: Backlash for Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow’s MRT Comments & AI Course for Civil Servants
Rishi Budhrani joins us to discuss comments made by Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow in Parliament about Singapore’s MRT system, which is under the…
- Yah Lah But
#718 ft. Chai Hong - How BTO Flats Affect SG Filmmakers & Making SG’s First Sci-Fi Comedy Movie
Filmmaker Cheng Chai Hong joins us to discuss his latest movie “We Can Save The World!!!”, and the power of storytelling in shaping how we see society. He…
- Yah Lah But
#717: Agoda’s Layoff Terms Sparks Outrage & Kway Chap Stall Refuses to Sell 3rd Bowl of Kway
Agoda recently laid off 50 staff in SG and triggered backlash when they alleged threatened to remove severance packages from employees who reported anything to…
- Yah Lah But
#716 ft. Goh Hanyan - Unpacking Recent Hawker Controversies & How We Can Save the Culture
Goh Hanyan answers questions relating to Socially-Conscious Enterprise Hawker Centres (SEHCs), which have been in the news lately. She draws from her role as…
- Yah Lah But
#715: Foreign Freelancers Banned in SG & SAF Bulk Order Scam Hits Small Businesses
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- Yah Lah But
#714: 14-Year Old Radicalised by Extremist and Incel Views & Gen Z’s Sober Party Trend
Singapore reported its first case of self-radicalisation involving a 14-year-old boy influenced by a mix of incel, far-right, far-left and ISIS ideologies…
- Yah Lah But
#713 ft. Janadas Devan - The Absurdity of a Singaporean Identity and the Fragility of Cohesion
Janadas Devan, Chairman of the Singapore International Foundation’s (SIF) Board of Governors, reflects on Singapore’s 60-year journey from unexpected…
- Yah Lah But
#712: Tharman’s "We First" Speech Opens Parliament & Couple Stranded on Pulau Ubin over $5 Fare
Singapore’s 15th Parliament opened with President Tharman’s call for a “we first” mindset, Speaker Seah warning MPs not to treat Parliament like TikTok, and…
- Yah Lah But
#711: Cost of Living Tops GE2025 Concerns & TikToker Sparks IKEA Halal Food Debate
The IPS post-election survey after GE2025 reveals cost of living as the top voter concern, with PAP and WP credibility scores converging and younger voters…
- Yah Lah But
#710: Stephanie Tan on Choosing PSP over PAP, Being Labelled a “Homemaker” & Making PSLE Optional
Stephanie Tan, CEC member of the Progress Singapore Party (PSP), sits down with us to discuss her journey from lawyer to civil servant to homemaker and finally…
- Yah Lah But
#709: Edwin Tong Slams US Comedian’s Censorship Claims & Italian Swimmers Caught for Shoplifting
US comedian Sammy Obeid claimed his Singapore show was cancelled due to censorship over the Gaza crisis, but IMDA says it was because of a late licence…