Shows / The Straits Times Podcasts
The Straits Times Podcasts
Synopsis: Almost every weekday, our ALL-IN-ONE channel showcases discussions on Singapore youth perspectives and social issues, geopolitics through an Asian lens, health, climate change, personal finance and career.
Follow our shows on your favourite audio apps Apple Podcasts, Spotify or even ST's app, which has a dedicated podcast player section.
Produced by podcast editor Ernest Luis & The Straits Times, SPH Media.
Episodes
The Straits Times PodcastsS2E94: Is Hong Kong really over? Warning China about a deal with Trump
Or has US economist Stephen Roach changed his mind about Hong Kong’s survival and identity? Synopsis: Every month, The Straits Times gets its US Bureau…
The Straits Times PodcastsS1E116: $30,000 in 6 hours: Top live streamers can make this much in a single live selling session
Would you eat 2kg of durian in one go to sell a batch of the fruit? How about yapping for eight hours straight to hit your sales numbers? Live-streaming is…
The Straits Times PodcastsS1E96: He spent 16 years at McDonald’s, now he’s growing a Chinese tea brand | Chagee APAC CMO Eugene Lee
After 16 years at McDonald's, Chagee APAC CMO shares how Chinese companies operate differently in the global arena Synopsis: Conversations and interviews that…
The Straits Times PodcastsS3E4: Is the ASEAN chairmanship that powerful? Can Singapore push the green agenda?
Can Singapore balance economic survival & climate action as ASEAN chair in 2027? As Singapore prepares to take over the ASEAN chairmanship in 2027, the region…
The Straits Times PodcastsS2E56: The world is on fire but hey I have matcha: How little treats are helping us deal with uncertainty
Labubus, blind boxes, bubble tea. Why do we keep buying things we don’t need? In this episode, Kai Wen and Sue-Ann discuss why people buy trendy but…
The Straits Times PodcastsS2E93: Can Sabah and Sarawak decide Malaysia's next election?
East Malaysia’s assertiveness and fiscal demands are growing. This is reshaping its federal relationship with Putrajaya. Synopsis: Every fourth Friday of…
The Straits Times PodcastsS2E92: Iran vs US: Is the war about to get much worse?
Amid fears that the war on Iran could worsen after the US mid-term polls, a question: Is Tehran overplaying its hand? Synopsis: The Straits Times’ senior…
The Straits Times PodcastsS1E115: Can Singapore take Indonesia to the International Court of Justice over the haze?
Singapore’s Transboundary Haze Pollution Act (THPA) has been criticised for being toothless, but is that criticism fair? And if the anti-haze law is not…
The Straits Times PodcastsS1E95: It’s not about greed: Behavioural scientist Serene Koh explains the psychology of falling for scams
A behavioural scientist unpacks the dark psychology of why smart people fall for the Nanning pyramid scheme Synopsis: Conversations and interviews that give…
The Straits Times PodcastsS3E3: What if Singapore had a nuclear reactor, where’d it be?
They offer more safety features and generate less nuclear waste, says a nuclear expert. Singapore announced in May 2026 that it will be embarking on the first…
The Straits Times PodcastsS2E55: Study hard, work hard, retire then die: Do Singaporeans spend our lives living someone else's dream?
Good grades, good jobs, applying for a BTO, getting married. Isn’t that every Singaporean’s dream? In this episode, Julian Low, co-founder of…
The Straits Times PodcastsS2E91: Why Indonesians are falling back in love with cinemas and the analogue life
In an increasingly digital world, why are young Indonesians drawn to activities that bring them offline and together? Synopsis: Every first Friday of the…
The Straits Times PodcastsS1E115: This man can order TikTok and Facebook to take posts down - Singapore's online safety commissioner
In the first two months after the Online Safety Commission (OSC) started operations, the agency handled more than 500 reports of online harms. Doxing and…
The Straits Times PodcastsS1E94: Households without wealth can get ‘completely disabled’ by disruption, job loss: IPS’ Mathew Mathews
IPS' Mathew Mathews unpacks why a high salary can't protect you like a wealth buffer can. Synopsis: Conversations and interviews that give you something to…
The Straits Times PodcastsS3E2: Haze and a Godzilla El Nino: How is Singapore preparing?
Singapore is also testing out solutions to tackle heat without air-conditioning. After three years of clear skies, the haze is back in Singapore. One…
The Straits Times PodcastsS2E54: 'Spotify can just take it down': A Gen Z collector on why his peers are going analogue, buying CDs
Wired earphones and film cameras: Is retro tech back, or another performative trend? In this episode, we look at how retro analogue items such as wired…
The Straits Times PodcastsS2E90: Beyond Trump-Xi summit: Why Japan and India are wary
Trump's stroking of Xi and talk of a G-2 with China is vexing Asian middle powers Japan and India. Synopsis: Every second Friday of the month, The Straits…
The Straits Times PodcastsS1E114: Will LTA’s proposed changes fix the COE system?
Will COE prices for cars fall if there is just one COE category for cars, with a tiered surcharge or rebate depending on the vehicle’s open market value?…
The Straits Times PodcastsS1E93: ADHD is not an attention deficit problem: clinical psychologist Ong Mian Li
Classic ADHD stereotypes, like physical hyperactivity, can cause many to be overlooked and turn to maladaptive coping. Synopsis: Conversations and interviews…
The Straits Times PodcastsS3E1: Singaporeans arguing over land use is good, but ugly extremes must be avoided
Conservationists must make their pro-nature arguments to the mainstream, says ST’s Bhavan Jaipagras. Synopsis: Every Tuesday, we discuss how…
The Straits Times PodcastsS2E53: How much cash is 'enough' and how to invest the rest? An investment expert breaks it down
Invest but keep enough liquidity to help you sleep at night. In this episode, we look into the concept of liquidity. Everyone tells us to invest, but how much…
The Straits Times PodcastsS1E113: Ex-RI teacher and sociologist unpack Singapore’s primary school race
Parents have long complained that the education system in Singapore is too stressful for children. To address their concerns, the Ministry of Education has…
The Straits Times PodcastsS2E89: US and China are trying to make nice, says Singapore diplomat
Trump and Xi are nudging the bilateral relationship from confrontation to stability, says Chan Heng Chee. Synopsis: Every month, The Straits Times gets its US…
The Straits Times PodcastsS2E52: They decide your pay, promotion and performance: Should your boss be on your socials?
What are the repercussions of adding your boss and colleagues on social media? In this episode, Kai Wen and Sue-Ann discuss the nuances of adding your…
The Straits Times PodcastsS2E88: Could UMNO and PAS reshape Malaysia's next election?
There’s a potential Malay political realignment. Here’s what it means for regional stability and Malaysia’s governance. Synopsis: Every…
The Straits Times PodcastsS1E112: Something bigger will have to happen before people take AI safety seriously: AI safety researcher
Will AI eventually be able to kill us, or are AI doomsayers being alarmist? Recently, employees at AI frontier companies like Anthropic and OpenAI have voiced…
The Straits Times PodcastsS1E92: Singapore writer Gwee Li Sui talks Culture Pass credits and what it’ll take to get people to read
Why do Singaporean kids write about winter? Gwee Li Sui on AI, Singlish & why culture cannot be rushed. Synopsis: Conversations and interviews that give you…
The Straits Times PodcastsS2E51: High anxiety, spiking cortisol: it's tough making friends as an adult, is it worth the trouble?
Our friend circles shrink as we get older. How do we deal with it? In this episode, therapist Cao Zhikai shares how we can deal with losing friends as we enter…
The Straits Times PodcastsS2E87: Can BRICS challenge the US-led world order?
Donald Trump need not be. BRICS is nowhere near creating an alternative to the US-led world order, says our expert. Synopsis: Every third Friday of the month…
The Straits Times PodcastsS1E111: True Fitness closure: Why most members will get $0 back
If you’re a customer with a pre-paid package with a business and it closes, will you ever get your money back? True Fitness and True Yoga customers and…
The Straits Times PodcastsS1E91: $1b venture capitalist Hian Goh on how Singapore can grow a firm like Apple
It takes a bold mindset to imagine innovations like Creative’s sound card and the iPhone, says a venture capitalist. Synopsis: Conversations and…
The Straits Times PodcastsS2E50: Why travelling with friends can lead to meltdowns and broken friendships
Is travelling with friends worth the risk when all hell breaks loose? From disagreements over budget to one person wanting to “travelmax” while…
The Straits Times PodcastsS1E110: Singapore ministerial pay debate: Paying top talent competitive salaries is in the ‘soul of the PAP’
Will the increase in ministerial salaries cost the People’s Action Party (PAP) votes at the next General Election? On Sept 8, Prime Minister Lawrence…
The Straits Times PodcastsS2E86: Nine-year-olds on drugs: Has the world abandoned Myanmar?
An unending conflict and shrinking aid leave Myanmar’s refugees and displaced in increasingly dire circumstances. Synopsis: Every second Friday of the…
The Straits Times PodcastsS1E90: A non-profit chief on why caregivers refuse the rest they need and end up hitting a wall
As Singapore ages, the number of family caregivers is rising, making caregiver respite a key focus. Synopsis: Conversations and interviews that give you…
The Straits Times PodcastsS2E49: Singapore stocks have just had their best run in years, are you missing out?
The US market is exciting, but it can also be dangerous for young investors. The US market has been on a tear, but it is also littered with pitfalls for…
The Straits Times PodcastsS1E152: How old are you biologically, and what are you doing about it?
Discover the science of aging and learn about the latest geroscience research aimed at shifting the focus from mere lifespan to healthspan. Synopsis: Once a…
The Straits Times PodcastsS2E85: Leaving Taiwan after four years: What our correspondent learnt
Taiwan correspondent Yip Wai Yee reflects on her four-year journey in this special farewell episode. Synopsis: Every first Friday of the month, The Straits…
The Straits Times PodcastsS1E109: Lifting of wait out period for private home owners could flood HDB market with cash-rich buyers
If you own a private condominium unit and are looking to downgrade, or a family considering buying a BTO flat, the two recent housing policy changes would have…
The Straits Times PodcastsS1E89: My son has autism, he changed how I think about success and significance | MP Denise Phua
Denise Phua raised an autistic son and spent decades championing greater inclusion. Synopsis: Conversations and interviews that give you something to think…
The Straits Times PodcastsS2E84: Is Anwar Ibrahim’s coalition reaching breaking point before GE16?
With DAP committed to the unity government, can Anwar Ibrahim reform his coalition before the next general election? Synopsis: Every fourth Friday of the…
The Straits Times PodcastsS1E88: Sleep earlier: NUS scientist Dean Ho on the top thing people can do to live longer
An NUS scientist reversed his own biological age after stress-testing his diet, sleep and exercise in a longevity study Synopsis: Conversations and interviews…
The Straits Times PodcastsS1E108: Can cash, childcare leave and BTO priority get Singaporeans to have kids? | National Day Rally 2026
If you’ve been thinking about having kids, last night’s National Day Rally might have given you something to rally about. Parents - and those who…
The Straits Times PodcastsS1E107: What the Maju Forest and Gillman Barracks debate showed about policy making and consultation
What kind of involvement do Singaporeans want in policymaking? The Maju Forest-Gillman Barracks issue has seen Singaporeans making their voices heard, offering…
The Straits Times PodcastsS1E87: Lee Kuan Yew arrowed me to face JB Jeyaretnam: Ex-SM S Jayakumar on being in LKY’s Cabinet
The former senior minister unveils the robust Cabinet debates over three defining institutions published in a new book. Synopsis: Conversations and interviews…
The Straits Times PodcastsS2E48: Pay transparency: what to do after finding out a colleague’s salary is higher than yours
Would you reveal your salary to your colleagues? What to do if you are underpaid? In this episode, ST’s own manpower correspondent Sharon Salim talks…
The Straits Times PodcastsS2E83: China’s economy has a big problem: Who will keep buying?
What more should we know now about this country that is central to the global economy and is playing an ever greater role in geopolitics? Synopsis: Every…
The Straits Times PodcastsS1E106: Will the new National Library Board campaign get more people to read books?
Would you read regularly if you were paid to do so? The National Library Board (NLB) is hoping that people will develop a consistent reading habit by giving…
The Straits Times PodcastsS1E86: Dinesh Vasu Dash on Singapore’s dependence on migrant workers
Migrant workers - we discuss the unpaid wage saga and their role in our economy. Synopsis: Conversations and interviews that give you something to think about…
The Straits Times PodcastsS2E82: When Japan's prisons become a safety net for the elderly
Japan's ageing crisis has turned prisons into an unlikely safety net for lonely seniors. Synopsis: Every first Friday of the month, The Straits Times catches…
The Straits Times PodcastsS1E105: 2 out of 3 suicide deaths are men, a psychiatrist explains why
Millennials are the generation that changed the conversation around mental health. They normalised mental health talk, encouraged self-care and made going to…
The Straits Times PodcastsS1E85: Inside disguised retrenchments: An employment lawyer on how companies force workers out
Retrenchment payouts, mental health claims & the Workplace Fairness Act: How S’pore’s new law rewrites the rules. Synopsis: Conversations and…
The Straits Times PodcastsS2E47: Invest in stocks and ETFs because your friend says so? Why friends and finances don’t always mix
Talking to friends about money can be sensitive, here’s how to navigate it. Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a head start in your…
The Straits Times PodcastsS1E104: JB-Singapore RTS Link: Singaporeans will spend $1bn more in JB
Will the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link sound the death knell for smaller, home-grown businesses when it opens in a few months? A new…
The Straits Times PodcastsS1E5: Stay-at-home or working mum: Is there ever a right choice?
Mums discuss the trade-offs and rewards of both choices, and why there is no “right” way to be a mother. Synopsis: Join us for a five-part series…
The Straits Times PodcastsS2E81: In China, AI is ‘everything, everywhere’. Is there a dark side?
From running marathons to being personalised chefs, robots are redefining life in the future. Synopsis: Every fourth Friday of the month, The Straits Times…
The Straits Times PodcastsS1E103: Faishal Ibrahim’s exit: Are the PAP’s moral standards turning people away from politics?
It has been quite a week in Singapore politics, with adjustments to the Cabinet line-up and the surprise resignation of Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim…
The Straits Times PodcastsS1E4: Injections at home, workplace smiles: A working mum's IVF reality
Two women share their journeys through IVF, miscarriage and the long road to motherhood Synopsis: Join us for a five-part series on working motherhood from…
The Straits Times PodcastsS1E84: The surprising reason Singaporeans complain but don’t correct bad public behaviour
While strict laws enforce behaviour, building a gracious society requires mutual trust rather than constant rules. Synopsis: On Wednesdays, The Straits Times…
The Straits Times PodcastsS2E46: 7 jobs in 14 years: A comms director explains why job hopping isn't always bad
Job hopping: Career suicide or a way to learn what works for you? Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a head start in your personal…