Stay ConnectedSynopsis: 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.
Pop Vultures (Season 1: Ep 5) March 15: How China's crackdown on period dramas has hit TV show Yanxi Palace
22:31 mins
Synopsis: A podcast by The Straits Times that examines all the ins and outs of pop culture, be it Asian entertainment or Hollywood.
The Story of Yanxi Palace may have been a huge global hit, but China has now banned such shows from being aired, claiming they distort history and promote decadence and backstabbing, among other things.
How much do dramas like Yanxi and Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace stick to fact, and how much is fantasy? Should the crackdown on such shows end, or will they, like the Step Empress Hoifa-Nara, be banished to the cold palace forever?
Pop Vultures spill the (Chinese) tea!
Here's what they cover:
- How big The Story of Yanxi Palace was, and how the state is cracking down on it (0.57)
- Reasons why palace period dramas have been banned by the Chinese government (2:25)
- Ramifications of the crackdown - reduced production of period pieces (4:20)
- How true to history are these dramas? E.g Qianlong's (乾隆皇帝) Step-Empress Hoifa-Nara (继皇后) and her downfall (4:55)
- Ridiculous portrayal of medical treatments (fertility soups?) and science (blood-mixing as paternity tests 滴血认亲) in palace intrigue dramas (6:49)
- Real-life events that seem too dramatic to be true (Empress Dowager Cixi 慈禧太后 VS Concubine Zhen 珍妃) (9:52)
- Palace intrigue dramas' attention to detail in fashion and accessories such as a pearl-encrusted cape (云肩) that Noble Consort Gao wears, and why such details are close to history (12:20)
- Why are there so many dramas about the Qing Dynasty (清朝)? (15:03)
- Our thoughts on the censorship and increasingly tight ban on period dramas and why it's a bad move (17:03)
Produced by: Jan Lee, Yeo Sam Jo and Ernest Luis
Edited by: Yeo Sam Jo
Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg
janlee@sph.com.sg
yeosamjo@sph.com.sg
Spotify: http://str.sg/otU9
Apple Podcasts: http://str.sg/oyLi
Google Podcasts: http://str.sg/oyLw
Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Life Picks Ep 28: What to do in S'pore March 28 to April 4: Odette & Alt pizza (food); Rubber Girl On The Loose (play)
11:29 mins
Synopsis: Every Thursday, The Straits Times highlights the best films, concerts, restaurants and arts events you can catch in Singapore over the coming weeks.
This week, Melissa Sim hosts colleague Olivia Ho, who recommends Rubber Girl On The Loose, a play co-produced by Cake as part of The Esplanade's The Studios series, as well as Eunice Quek, who talks about fine dining French restaurant Odette, which was recently ranked No. 1 on Asia's 50 Best Restaurants 2019 list.
She also recommends new flavours at Alt Pizza, which stands out because of its sourdough crust.
Produced by: Melissa Sim and Ernest Luis
Edited by: Adam Azlee
Subscribe, like and rate Life Picks on: Spotify: http://str.sg/oeGc iTunes: http://str.sg/oeXg Google podcasts: http://str.sg/o8Gx Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sgSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
A Game Of Two Halves Ep 29: Senior and young Lions roaring again; Spygate in the Singapore Premier League
Time: 13m 59s
Synopsis: A Game of Two Halves is The Straits Times' weekly sports podcast that is out every Tuesday.
In an all-local episode of the podcast, ST sports correspondent Sazali Abdul Aziz and assistant sports editor Rohit Brijnath talk about Singapore football rediscovering its mojo, with the senior national team and Under-22 side punching above their weight by holding higher-ranked opponents during the international break.
Sazali and Rohit also discuss the "Spygate" saga that took place in the Singapore Premier League. Geylang International wrote a complaint to the Football Association of Singapore alleging two teams spied on their training sessions before games - and why such tactics should be frowned upon, even if a rule was not broken.
Produced by: Sazali Abdul Aziz and Ernest Luis
Edited by: Adam Azlee
Subscribe, like and rate A Game of Two Halves: On Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2PwZCYU On iTunes: http://str.sg/o8MKSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Money Hacks Ep 38: Make compound interest your best financial friend if you're in your 30s
10:23 mins
Synopsis: Every Monday, The Straits Times and The Business Times break down financial tips so you can take action after listening to our podcast episodes.
Aggregate Asset Management is a fund management house that focuses exclusively on equities, also known as stocks. The company was first launched in Singapore in December 2012, and was the first local fund house to adopt a zero-management-fee model, charging only a performance fee.
We chat with co-founders and executive directors Wong Seak Eng, Kevin Tok and Eric Kong about how you can retire earlier with a bigger retirement income by the age of 60 if if you plan as early as your 20s.
For example, if your portfolio returns in equities or stocks are 10% a year, the Rule of 72 calculator - which means how many years it takes you to double your money - shows that 72 divided by 10, equals doubling your portfolio's value in seven years.
So if you invest $1 at the age of 30, it can become $2 when you're 37, $4 by 44, and $16 by the age of 58.
On paper, they explain that you have many seven-year cycles to go even if you're in your 30s, to maximise the power of compound interest.
Are you also aware of transaction costs, brokerage or custodian fees? Do know they can also eat into your stock investment profits.
Produced by: Ernest Luis and Christopher Lim
Edited by: Adam Azlee
Like, subscribe and rate our Money Hacks podcast on: Spotify: http://str.sg/oeGN iTunes: http://str.sg/oeXe Google podcasts: http://str.sg/oeGd Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Do note: Any financial or investment information in this podcast is for use in Singapore only and is intended to be for your general information. Any particular investment or decision should only be made after consulting with a fully qualified financial adviser.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jordan Peele is back after his near-perfect debut of Get Out.
And this time he's doubling down in that Us is a horror film about doppelgangers. And occasional rabbits.
Jonathan Roberts and Cheow Sue-Ann discuss the horror movie (spoiler zone at the 9.30 mark), marvel at the acting of Lupita Nyong'o and wonder just how many YouTube video essays this will spawn.
They also have some recommendations for those not going out..
Produced by: Jonathan Roberts
Subscribe, like and rate Double Feature on
iTunes: str.sg/oeXh
Google Podcast: str.sg/oXeZ
or Spotify: str.sg/oeGx
Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts
Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Life Picks Ep 27 Season 2 (March 21): Feasting along Keong Saik Road and previewing the Pet Shop Boys' concert
6:50 mins
Synopsis: Every Thursday, The Straits Times highlights the best films, concerts, restaurants and arts events you can catch in Singapore over the coming weeks.
This week, Melissa Sim hosts colleague Tan Hsueh Yun, who recommends a host of good eats along Keong Saik Road. It used to be a seedy red-light district but is now filled with hip bars and restaurants.
Also, Boon Chan chats with us about the upcoming Pet Shop Boys concert. The British duo will hold their concert in Singapore on March 26.
Produced by: Melissa Sim and Ernest Luis
Edited by: Adam Azlee
Subscribe, like and rate Life Picks on: Spotify: http://str.sg/oeGc iTunes: http://str.sg/oeXg Google podcasts: http://str.sg/o8Gx Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sgSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
A Game of Two Halves Ep 28: G.O.A.T Messi and Singapore's marathon record-setter Soh Rui Yong
11:51 mins
Synopsis: A Game of Two Halves is The Straits Times' weekly sports podcast that is out every Tuesday.
This week, Sazali Abdul Aziz and Wang Meng Meng pay tribute to Lionel Messi after the Barcelona man's stupendous hat-trick against Real Betis in the Spanish La Liga. They discuss whether it is the Argentinian superstar, or a certain Portuguese peacock, who is truly the "G.O.A.T" (Greatest of All Time).
In the second half of this episode, the ST sports correspondents also talk about national marathoner Soh Rui Yong breaking the 24-year-old national record in Seoul over the weekend, as well as new-fangled sports like breakdancing, kitesurfing, skateboarding and sport climbing, that will feature at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Produced by: Sazali Abdul Aziz and Ernest Luis
Edited by: Adam Azlee
Subscribe, like and rate A Game of Two Halves: On Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2PwZCYU On iTunes: http://str.sg/o8MKSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Health Check Ep 7: Should you limit your child's screen time?
8:04 mins
Synopsis: In this fortnightly podcast series on Wednesdays, The Straits Times guides you to healthier living and debunks the myths with expert guests.
The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health said in January 2019, that it would not recommend any age-appropriate time limits because there is not enough evidence that screen time harms a child's health at any age. Instead, it recommends that families negotiate screen time limits with their children based on their needs.
However, the college did recommend that children refrain from using digital devices in the hour before bedtime because of evidence that they can harm sleep. (1:20)
Dr Ong Say How, a senior consultant and chief of the department of developmental psychiatry at the Institute of Mental Health, said problems arise when screen time displaces physical activity and face-to-face social interaction as well as affects sleep and school performance.
Should you as a parent, be concerned when excessive screen time for your child displaces face-to-face social engagement and physical activity? (1:37)
Should a child below 18 months of age should not be exposed to any screen time at all, even if they are watching educational videos on mobile phones. (2:45)
Key recommendations on screen time from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health:
Families can ask these four key questions as a guide:
1. Is screen time in your household controlled?
2. Does screen use interfere with what your family wants to do?
3. Does screen use interfere with sleep?
4. Are you able to control snacking during screen time?
Key recommendations on screen time from the American Academy of Pediatrics:
1. For children younger than 18 months, avoid the use of screen media other than video-chatting.
2. Parents of children aged 18 to 24 months who want to introduce digital media should choose high-quality programming and watch it with their children to help them understand what they are seeing.
3. For those aged two to five, limit screen use to one hour a day of high-quality programmes. Parents should watch the programmes with children to help them understand what they are seeing and apply it to the world around them. (3:40)
Video games: Is that considered good or bad screen time? (5:00)
Produced by: Joyce Teo and Ernest Luis
Edited by: Adam Azlee
Follow more Health Check podcasts and rate us on:
Spotify: http://str.sg/oeGY
Apple Podcasts: http://str.sg/oeXP
Google Podcasts: http://str.sg/oeLN
Playlist: https://str.sg/Jw7R
Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts
Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Money Hacks Ep 37: How you can fund your retirement systematically with equities or stocks
10:19 mins
Synopsis: Every Monday, The Straits Times and The Business Times break down financial tips so you can take action after listening to our podcast episodes.
Aggregate Asset Management is a fund management house that focuses exclusively on equities, also known as stocks. The company was first launched in Singapore in December 2012, and was the first local fund house to adopt a zero-management-fee model, charging only a performance fee.
We chat with co-founders and executive directors Wong Seak Eng, Kevin Tok and Eric Kong about why equities are a great tool to fund your retirement.
Find out why merely having a stock portfolio isn't enough, if it's messy like rojak.
The three directors also explain the Rule of 72 calculator, which essentially means how many years it takes you to double your money. For example, if your portfolio returns are 10% a year, 72 divided by 10 means you will double your portfolio's value in seven years.
If your returns are 1%, it will mean you only double your money in 72 years.
Explore the power of compound interest in making your assets work harder for you.
Produced by: Ernest Luis and Christopher Lim
Edited by: Adam Azlee
Like, subscribe and rate our Money Hacks podcast on: Spotify: http://str.sg/oeGN iTunes: http://str.sg/oeXe Google podcasts: http://str.sg/oeGd Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Do note: Any financial or investment information in this podcast is for use in Singapore only and is intended to be for your general information. Any particular investment or decision should only be made after consulting with a fully qualified financial adviser.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Pop Vultures (Season 1: Ep 4) March 15: Is it over for the career of scandal-hit Seungri and the legacy of Michael Jackson?
18:28 mins
Synopsis: A podcast by The Straits Times that examines all the ins and outs of pop culture, be it Asian entertainment or Hollywood.
K-pop idol Seungri of boyband Big Bang has quit showbiz amid snowballing allegations that of bribery and illegal sex videos.
Meanwhile, in Hollywood, many are re-examining their understanding of the late superstar Michael Jackson and his legacy following the documentary Leaving Neverland which resurfaces the rumours of Jackson's alleged paedophilia and sexual assault on children.
This week, Pop Vultures' hosts Jan Lee and Yeo Sam Jo tackle both celebrity scandals - giving a brief rundown of what has transpired, whether stars or their enduring legacies can bounce back and be restored to fame following such scandals and whether it is possible for fans to separate the work of an artist from their personal lives.
Is it possible to still love and listen to Jackson's Smooth Criminal? In the event that Big Bang comes back as a five-person group, should they be supported?
Find out what Jan and Sam Jo think.
Produced by: Jan Lee, Yeo Sam Jo and Ernest Luis
Edited by: Yeo Sam Jo
Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg
janlee@sph.com.sg
yeosamjo@sph.com.sg
Spotify: http://str.sg/otU9
Apple Podcasts: http://str.sg/oyLi
Google Podcasts: http://str.sg/oyLw
Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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