The Straits Times Podcasts

140 episodes listed below

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Singapore questions, explained through daily life.

The gist

The Straits Times Podcasts is a multi-series channel built around Singapore’s civic questions and personal decisions. Episodes move from choir communities and school identity to property demand, health insurance, psychologist registration, climate adaptation, and regional economic shocks.

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About The Straits Times Podcasts

The Straits Times Podcasts is a broad Singapore audio channel with a newsroom spine and a conversational surface. It covers big public questions, then pulls them back to decisions people can actually recognize. A social issue can become a school question. A war can become an energy bill. A health policy change can become a choice about insurance, doctors, and out-of-pocket risk. Recent episodes show the channel’s range clearly. The Usual Place examines what happens when familiar boys’ schools begin admitting girls, setting alumni feeling and school heritage beside policy, curriculum, and family perspectives. Another episode weighs the Iran war through Singapore’s exposure to rising costs, fuel prices, support measures, diplomacy, and the unstable flow of global updates. Health Check brings a steadier explainer mode. It looks at IP rider changes, private healthcare costs, panel doctors, overcharging concerns, and the limits patients face when trying to compare medical prices. It also tackles psychologist qualifications in Singapore, including the coming registration of clinical, educational, counselling, forensic, and clinical neuropsychology fields under Allied Health Law. Green Pulse gives the environmental strand a Southeast Asian frame, linking heat, electricity prices, El Nino, air-conditioning dependence, and Singapore’s national adaptation planning. In Your Opinion uses demography to rethink real estate, connecting low fertility, smaller families, family support, million-dollar HDBs, condos, and future demand. Head Start On Record brings in a softer human-behaviour lane, as Aarika Lee describes Sing Song Social Club and the surprise of hundreds of people singing together without auditions. The result is not one narrow current-affairs show. It is a shelf of related public conversations, each with its own pace, but all rooted in how Singapore changes and how people adjust. The strongest episodes make policy feel close to the body: heat in a flat, a hospital bill, a child’s school, a parent seeking help, a household watching prices rise. It is useful for listeners who want local context without losing sight of wider Asian and global pressures.

Made for: For listeners who follow Singapore current affairs, public policy, health, education, climate, and household economics. It suits people who prefer accessible conversations with specialists, practitioners, and lived examples.

What sets it apart: Its strength is range under one newsroom banner: civic debate, practical health guidance, environmental adaptation, property analysis, and community stories sit side by side. The Singapore lens stays specific even when the subject is global.

In their own words

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.

Singapore social issueshealth insurance and medical costspsychologist qualificationsschool identity and co-ed transitionsclimate adaptation and heatproperty demand and fertilitygeopolitics and economic falloutcommunity and belonging

Talks about

Best episodes of The Straits Times Podcasts

Short reviews from the PlayNext desk, based on the episodes we processed.

New IP rider rules just kicked in. Are you actually better or worse off?Apr 2, 2026

A grounded review of how cheaper riders may shift what policyholders pay and how private care is managed.

The April 1 changes to private health insurance riders bring a familiar policy trade-off back into focus: lower-cost IP riders, but with higher deductibles and co-payments.

No shortage of opportunities in Asia post-Iran crisis: Expert view

A war briefing that turns Asia's prices, stocks and supply chains into something investors can actually use.

Asian Insider frames the Iran war as a practical Asia story, with Ravi Velour pressing Tillan Vikramasinghe on what a second month of fighting could mean for pump prices, airline ticket prices, cooking gas and the stocks already taking a beating.

Is your psychologist actually qualified? How to check in Singapore

A practical guide to choosing a psychologist, and why the register matters.

Health Check settles into a practical, high-stakes question: when someone is struggling, where should they begin, and how can they tell a counsellor from a psychologist, a clinical psychologist, or an educational psychologist?

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Episodes

  1. 1

    From Greenland to deep sea mining: Is geopolitics killing climate action?

    ·27m
  2. 2

    Why your electricity bill is going up when our fuel reserves are full

    ·35m
  3. 3

    How can Singapore beat the heat and high electricity prices without aircon?

    ·28m
  4. 4

    Should I buy silver?

    ·25m
  5. 5

    India's $70 billion spiritual market fueled by bhajan clubbing

    ·18m
  6. 6

    New IP rider rules just kicked in. Are you actually better or worse off?

    ·32m
  7. 7

    Does a degree still guarantee a good full-time job?

    ·33m
  8. 8

    Is there a silver lining for China as war rages in the Middle East?

    ·26m
  9. 9

    How can recycling be sexy?

    ·31m
  10. 10

    Trading cards: Childhood hobby, investment asset or a gateway to gambling?

    ·38m
  11. 11

    Iran’s war machine can only last a few more weeks: Expert

    ·31m
  12. 12

    Should the Government fund condo repairs?

    ·39m
  13. 13

    Higher energy prices, war in Middle East: A boost for renewables?

    ·23m
  14. 14

    Quah Ting Wen on her infinite mindset and when she’ll stop competing

    ·42m
  15. 15

    Why Grab-type firms are the way for SE Asia to thrive in AI era

    ·22m
  16. 16

    What does the war in Iran change for Singapore?

    ·34m
  17. 17

    Gen AI won't take your job away. Here's why

    ·27m
  18. 18

    Putrajaya 30 years on: The capital that never quite replaced Kuala Lumpur

    ·22m
  19. 19

    Traffic deaths hit a 10-year high: What's happening on our roads?

    ·49m
  20. 20

    Why is S’pore even considering nuclear energy?

    ·29m
  21. 21

    Do I have too much insurance?

    ·32m
  22. 22

    Malaysia’s education gamble: UEC option and lowering school age

    ·34m
  23. 23

    Is owning a car in Singapore now out of reach?

    ·35m
  24. 24

    Who says Singapore is hot, boring and expensive?

    ·44m
  25. 25

    Top 3 things in Budget 2026 for young people

    ·30m
  26. 26

    ‘We’re conditioned to think globally from Day 1’

    ·36m
  27. 27

    30 by 30 no more: What is S’pore’s plan for local food production?

    ·24m
  28. 28

    Budget 2026: Will AI lead to more inequality?

    ·50m
  29. 29

    Strategic calculations behind India's trade deals flurry

    ·32m
  30. 30

    Budget 2026: Why is Singapore betting big on AI?

    ·39m
  31. 31

    Is it safe to exercise with joint pain? An orthopaedic surgeon explains

    ·26m
  32. 32

    Hong Kong’s tolerance for shortcuts has turned deadly

    ·20m
  33. 33

    She became a plumber, he chose the woodworking life. What drew them to blue-collared work?

    ·38m
  34. 34

    Dr Becky, millennial parent whisperer, has thoughts on screentime and modern parenting

    ·16m
  35. 35

    Have we hit the panic button over the Iran war?

    ·47m
  36. 36

    Investing in stocks or stuff?

    ·29m
  37. 37

    Has Trump ‘ruptured’ the global order? What can Singapore do?

    ·48m
  38. 38

    Forced to kowtow 30 times before entering home: Why some men stay in abusive marriages

    ·40m
  39. 39

    China's fossil fuel addiction exposes a strategic vulnerability

    ·22m
  40. 40

    Are central kitchen meals coming to every Singapore school?

    ·42m
  41. 41

    Should we just give up on cultivated meat?

    ·28m
  42. 42

    Being kinder to yourself during job changes

    ·21m
  43. 43

    Trump’s Venezuela strike: the good, bad & the ugly

    ·33m
  44. 44

    Should Workers’ Party chief Pritam Singh remain as Leader of the Opposition?

    ·49m
  45. 45

    Education vs. AI - Can schools balance ChatGPT and character-building?

    ·37m
  46. 46

    OCD (Pt 2): 4-day treatment and the Bergen approach

    ·26m
  47. 47

    Asia's drone wars: Who's buying Predators and Reapers?

    ·22m
  48. 48

    New year, new job? What’s in store for job seekers in 2026?

    ·38m
  49. 49

    OCD Part 1: The hidden reality and a new way out

    ·14m
  50. 50

    “Not entirely on the road to hell”: Will the world get real on climate action in 2026?

    ·26m
  51. 51

    The one design feature that makes Taiwan ‘ugly’

    ·16m
  52. 52

    From Zara Qairina to Harimau Malaya: A gripping 2025 for Malaysia

    ·38m
  53. 53

    Why the US dollar is so sticky

    ·28m
  54. 54

    SEA Games 2025: Athletes Kerstin Ong and Amanda Lim on chasing their sporting dreams despite struggles

    ·53m
  55. 55

    Paying more for green travel: Are levies and carbon taxes enough?

    ·36m
  56. 56

    Why Greta Thunberg’s shock protests in Venice can backfire

    ·32m
  57. 57

    Her own business helped her discover a new career

    ·21m
  58. 58

    Why are Singaporeans still falling prey to scams? An expert explains

    ·34m
  59. 59

    Can Singapore ever stop being a 'Fine City'? The psychology of etiquette on public transport

    ·40m
  60. 60

    Inside the secret Albatross file on Singapore’s Separation from Malaysia

    ·42m
  61. 61

    US in decline; Trump's 'Donroe Doctrine' is worrying Asia

    ·23m
  62. 62

    Why are buyers willing to pay $900,000 for 3-room HDB resale flats?

    ·40m
  63. 63

    Helping children understand and manage their emotions

    ·29m
  64. 64

    Unpopular Opinion: Some gifts are clutter and real Christmas trees are overrated

    ·25m
  65. 65

    Should you buy gold now?

    ·27m
  66. 66

    Taiwan’s message to China: We are not alone

    ·26m
  67. 67

    Primary 1 registrations: Should kids be automatically assigned to schools?

    ·45m
  68. 68

    How to read Trump right and why he and Xi get along

    ·28m
  69. 69

    Jasmin Lau and Goh Hanyan on life after GE2025 and their work as first-time politicians

    ·43m
  70. 70

    Parking.SG, the summons auntie is coming!

    ·23m
  71. 71

    COP30: How it will affect lives, jobs and politics in Singapore, SE Asia

    ·29m
  72. 72

    Budgeting for three holidays in 2026

    ·30m
  73. 73

    Inside the mind of Sanae Takaichi, Japan’s first woman PM

    ·43m
  74. 74

    How can we get Singapore consumers to buy locally farmed produce?

    ·37m
  75. 75

    Are teachers in Singapore multi-tasking too much?

    ·42m
  76. 76

    The two rules that Parisians broke in the hot summer of 2025

    ·17m
  77. 77

    What’s with the fixation over brand-name schools?

    ·34m
  78. 78

    Boys with nine hours of sleep are less likely to grow fat

    ·23m
  79. 79

    Can the insurance industry keep up with climate change in SE Asia?

    ·31m
  80. 80

    Will AI steal your lunch? What Singapore workers need to know

    ·35m
  81. 81

    Megan Khung abuse case: How can we fix the system that failed her?

    ·46m
  82. 82

    How a viral song made Singaporean singer Regina Song famous

    ·32m
  83. 83

    Regina Song - Before i leave & Midsummer mansion (Live)

    ·9m
  84. 84

    Will Trump and Xi simply defer the showdown?

    ·26m
  85. 85

    The ex-vaper who had to ‘wash’ his lungs multiple times: Here's his story

    ·31m
  86. 86

    Will Malaysia roll the red carpet for Trump at the Asean Summit?

    ·24m
  87. 87

    Abangsapau - wow. & selamat, sayang (Live)

    ·7m
  88. 88

    How rapper Abangsapau’s difficult childhood shaped the songs on debut album

    ·33m
  89. 89

    Ahead of COP30, Temasek’s sustainability chief on scaling climate finance for Asia

    ·35m
  90. 90

    How platform work can support young talent

    ·24m
  91. 91

    What's PSP chief Leong Mun Wai up to now that he’s no longer in Parliament

    ·32m
  92. 92

    A restaurant that also serves BYD EVs

    ·53m
  93. 93

    Behind that 100-part bicycle: Asia’s shifting supply chains

    ·22m
  94. 94

    WFH vs WFO: Why are more companies making employees return to office?

    ·37m
  95. 95

    How iPhones, fast fashion spur the throwaway culture

    ·43m
  96. 96

    Seaweed rising: Can it fuel Asia’s blue economy?

    ·25m
  97. 97

    S2E69: Crisis creates openings: Why Asia will stand out after a post-Iran conflict

    ·27m
  98. 98

    S1E90: Have we hit the panic button over the Iran war?

    ·47m
  99. 99

    Temporary or permanent relief? The future of CDC vouchers

    This episode examines the effectiveness and future of CDC vouchers in Singapore's social policy, featuring an economist and sociologist discussing their impact on living expenses and the local economy ahead of Budget 2026.

    ·27m
  100. 100

    How to invest in 2026

    This episode discusses investment strategies for 2026, focusing on market volatility, geopolitical factors, and key economic indicators to watch.

    ·37m
  101. 101

    Is your psychologist actually qualified? How to check in Singapore

    Singapore's Ministry of Health will regulate psychologists under the Allied Health Professions Act by early 2027.

    ·34m·3 clips
  102. 102

    No shortage of opportunities in Asia post-Iran crisis: Expert view

    Ravi Velour interviews Tillan Vikramasinghe, Head of Research for Maybank Securities, on April 7 as the Iran war enters its second month.

    ·27m·2 clips
  103. 103

    Sing Song Social Club founder Aarika Lee on the magic of community

    Hidden gem

    This episode features an interview with Aarika Lee, co-founder of Sing Song Social Club, discussing the psychological need for community through her viral community choir in Singapore.

    Apr 19, 2026·38m·2 clips
  104. 104

    What happens when single-sex schools go co-ed?

    This episode explores the implications and reactions when single-sex schools in Singapore transition to co-education, featuring discussions with education experts and stakeholders.

    Apr 16, 2026·39m
  105. 105

    Fewer babies, slower boom? The future of Singapore’s real estate market

    This episode explores how Singapore's declining birth rates and demographic shifts, particularly the low TFR of 0.87, will impact the real estate market by 2050, examining factors like the 'bank of mum and dad' and future housing demand.

    Apr 14, 2026·33m·2 clips
  106. 106

    Should you buy a health insurance rider, downgrade your old rider or drop it?

    This episode discusses the new health insurance landscape, focusing on whether to buy, downgrade, or drop riders, using analogies like Coke pricing to explain medical cost complexities and government efforts for fair charging.

    Apr 13, 2026·31m·2 clips
  107. 107

    Have we hit the panic button over the Iran war?

    This episode discusses the economic and diplomatic impacts of the Iran war on Singapore, featuring insights from two economists.

    Apr 9, 2026·47m·2 clips
  108. 108

    Why your electricity bill is going up when our fuel reserves are full

    Apr 7, 2026·35m
  109. 109

    How can Singapore beat the heat and high electricity prices without aircon?

    This episode discusses how Singapore can address rising heat and electricity costs through climate adaptation strategies, including reducing reliance on air conditioning, as part of the country's upcoming National Adaptation Plan.

    Apr 6, 2026·28m·2 clips
  110. 110

    Should I buy silver?

    Apr 5, 2026·25m
  111. 111

    New IP rider rules just kicked in. Are you actually better or worse off?

    Natasha of The Usual Place examines Singapore’s April 1 changes to private integrated shield plan riders with Eddie Chong of Haven and MP Yip Hon Wing.

    Apr 2, 2026·32m·2 clips
  112. 112

    Does a degree still guarantee a good full-time job?

    Lin Su Ling interviews SMU President Lily Kong on 26 March 2026 about whether a degree still leads to a good full-time job, after the Graduate Employment Survey showed a roughly two-percentage-point dip in full-time employment.

    Mar 31, 2026·33m·2 clips
  113. 113

    How can recycling be sexy?

    Mar 26, 2026·31m
  114. 114

    Trading cards: Childhood hobby, investment asset or a gateway to gambling?

    Mar 24, 2026·38m
  115. 115

    Should the Government fund condo repairs?

    Mar 19, 2026·39m
  116. 116

    Higher energy prices, war in Middle East: A boost for renewables?

    Mar 16, 2026·23m
  117. 117

    Quah Ting Wen on her infinite mindset and when she’ll stop competing

    Mar 15, 2026·42m
  118. 118

    What does the war in Iran change for Singapore?

    Mar 12, 2026·34m
  119. 119

    Gen AI won't take your job away. Here's why

    Mar 10, 2026·27m
  120. 120

    Is your psychologist actually qualified? How to check in Singapore

    This episode explains how to verify if a psychologist is qualified in Singapore, covering the upcoming registration under the Allied Health Law and different types of psychologists.

    Mar 9, 2026·34m
  121. 121

    Traffic deaths hit a 10-year high: What's happening on our roads?

    Mar 5, 2026·49m
  122. 122

    Why is S’pore even considering nuclear energy?

    Mar 2, 2026·29m
  123. 123

    Do I have too much insurance?

    Mar 1, 2026·32m
  124. 124

    Is owning a car in Singapore now out of reach?

    Feb 26, 2026·35m
  125. 125

    Who says Singapore is hot, boring and expensive?

    Feb 24, 2026·44m
  126. 126

    Top 3 things in Budget 2026 for young people

    Feb 22, 2026·30m
  127. 127

    30 by 30 no more: What is S’pore’s plan for local food production?

    Feb 16, 2026·24m
  128. 128

    Budget 2026: Will AI lead to more inequality?

    Feb 16, 2026·50m
  129. 129

    Budget 2026: Why is Singapore betting big on AI?

    Feb 12, 2026·39m
  130. 130

    Temporary or permanent relief? The future of CDC vouchers

    Feb 10, 2026·27m
  131. 131

    Is it safe to exercise with joint pain? An orthopaedic surgeon explains

    This episode explores the safety of exercising with joint pain, featuring an orthopaedic surgeon who discusses musculoskeletal conditions, common misconceptions about aging and pain, and practical approaches to maintaining mobility.

    Feb 9, 2026·26m
  132. 132

    She became a plumber, he chose the woodworking life. What drew them to blue-collared work?

    Feb 5, 2026·38m
  133. 133

    Dr Becky, millennial parent whisperer, has thoughts on screentime and modern parenting

    Feb 3, 2026·16m
  134. 134

    From Greenland to deep sea mining: Is geopolitics killing climate action?

    Feb 2, 2026·27m
  135. 135

    Investing in stocks or stuff?

    Feb 1, 2026·29m
  136. 136

    Has Trump ‘ruptured’ the global order? What can Singapore do?

    Jan 29, 2026·48m
  137. 137

    Forced to kowtow 30 times before entering home: Why some men stay in abusive marriages

    Jan 27, 2026·40m
  138. 138

    Are central kitchen meals coming to every Singapore school?

    Jan 22, 2026·42m
  139. 139

    Should we just give up on cultivated meat?

    Jan 19, 2026·28m
  140. 140

    Being kinder to yourself during job changes

    Jan 18, 2026·21m