The Straits Times Podcasts

Here's how an overnight supply chain brings Kelantan’s beloved dishes to feed hungry diners in Kuala Lumpur. Synopsis: Every first Friday of the month, The Straits Times catches up with its foreign correspondents about life and trends in the countries they're based in. In this episode of Asian Insider, host Li Xueying speaks with Malaysia correspondent Hazlin Hassan as she uncovers the high-speed logistics behind the massive daily food deliveries that bring authentic tastes straight from Kelantan to the capital city every morning. Hazlin shares her discovery of what drives this booming culinary phenomenon, the distinct flavours that keep food lovers waiting before dawn and why a simple breakfast can spark a cross-country operation. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:36 Vans replaced by air travel to deliver dishes 4:30 Kelantan dishes go viral in Malaysia 8:30 Surge in demand and daily deliveries 9:54 Following the supply chain to KL 15:51 Yearning for culinary authenticity 17:08 Geographic reach and limits across the border Read Hazlin Hassan’s articles here: https://str.sg/NbFG  Read Li Xueying’s articles: https://str.sg/iqmR  Follow Li Xueying on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/ip4x   Sign up for ST’s weekly Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/sfpz  Host: Li Xueying ([email protected]) Edited by: Fa’izah Sani Executive producer: Ernest Luis Follow Asian Insider Podcast on Fridays here: Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7  Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8  Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX  YouTube: https://str.sg/rF3qR  Feedback to: [email protected] --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts --- Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX --- #STAsianInsiderSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Should you secretly record your workplace meetings, even if it’s legally allowed? A recent case, where a PR firm director was fired after secretly recording an internal meeting, has brought into focus the issue of how employees can document such meetings without putting their jobs at risk. Also, should employment contracts now spell out the rules on recording conversations? The director brought a wrongful dismissal claim to the Employment Claims Tribunal (ECT) - and it was thrown out. In this episode of The Usual Place, Natasha asks Angel Kilian, the founder & CEO of Career inFocus, and corporate lawyer Jennifer Chih from Nair, Jen and Tan whether keeping receipts of all workplace conversations is the way to go. We also look at what a “contemporaneous record” is, and when you should write one. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:25 Do employees need creative ways to protect themselves? 5:59 How to make a “contemporaneous record” 11:36 Should contracts spell out recording rules? 15:28 Employer vs employee: an unequal balance of power? 17:44 Is keeping receipts a smart habit or a career risk? 21:41 Treated unfairly? What to do instead of recording 26:53 Can you come back after trust is broken? 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/8KNT Follow Natasha on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/v6DN Follow The Usual Place podcast on IG:   / theusualplacepodcast  Follow Natasha on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/v6DN Filmed by: Studio+65 Edited by: Eden Soh & Yang Jiesan Cruz Executive producer: Danson Cheong Producers: Natasha Ann Zachariah, Elizabeth Law & Zachary Lim 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 --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts --- Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX -- #tup #tuptrSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Republican Party’s crushing defeat could reshape American politics, but Asia should not expect US politics to return to what it was before President Donald Trump, says the Blackbox Research CEO David Black.  In this conversation with The Straits Times' senior columnist Bhavan Jaipragas - recorded on Nov 4, hours after polls closed - Black explains why he sees Trump's defeat as an extraordinary act of political self-sabotage.  With Democrats projected to take control of both chambers of Congress, what comes next for President Donald Trump? Will he moderate his approach, or become even more combative? Black also discusses what this means for Asia, and how Beijing might read the election results. Highlights (click/tap above):  3:48 Republican midterm loss is the worst result since 1974  7:21 Why voters turned up in large numbers  9:32 Why Trump might ditch MAGA 11:47 Are Republicans distancing themselves from Trump?  13:03 Trump’s scapegoat: Pete Hegseth  14:40 Potential Democrat front-runners for the US presidency 20:22 Democrats “can’t do much about” tariffs  23:47 Impact of midterm results on the Iran war and US foreign policy  26:03 Would Asian diplomats and leaders change their approach towards the US?  28:05 China’s response to the US midterm election results Read ST’s Opinion section: https://str.sg/w7sH Host: Bhavan Jaipragas ([email protected])  Produced and edited by: Teo Tong Kai Executive producers: Danson Cheong & Lynda Hong Follow In Your Opinion Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops: Channel: https://str.sg/w7Qt Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wukb Spotify: https://str.sg/w7sV YouTube: https://str.sg/GjMT Feedback to: [email protected] --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7  Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts  --- Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX --- #inyouropinionSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

IPS research fellow Melvin Tay discusses the changing nature of religion in Singapore. More Singapore residents report having no religious affiliation, rising from one in five in 2020 to one in four in 2025, according to the Department of Statistics’ latest General Household Survey 2025.  But a separate report by US-based think tank Pew Research found that almost nine in 10 Singapore adults surveyed still believe in God or unseen beings, higher than other South-east Asian countries such as Cambodia and Thailand.  Is this growth in non-affiliation a cause for concern for Singapore, one of the most religiously diverse countries in the world? And what does religion do for us today? In this episode, host Zachary Lim speaks with Dr Melvin Tay, a research fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies, to examine the changing religious landscape in Singapore. They also discuss whether religious institutions are losing relevance, and the implications of alternative spiritual practices gaining traction among young people. Highlights (click/tap above):  1:40 Changes in perception of religion over time 5:59  Shift away from institutionalised religion 10:41 Changing modality of engaging with faith 16:05 Singapore’s fast pace of life on religious affiliation 18:37 Young residents on needing tangible benefits from religious experiences  20:32 The global push towards secularisation  26:28 Is Singapore’s religious diversity in jeopardy? 29:46 Emergence of alternative divination and spiritual avenues in Singapore 37:42 Morality, healing, and community beyond institutionalised religions 47:00 Is increasing non-affiliation to religion a cause for concern?  Read ST’s Opinion section: https://str.sg/w7sH Host: Zachary Lim ([email protected])  Produced and edited by: Teo Tong Kai Editorial producer: Elizabeth Law Executive producers: Danson Cheong, Lynda Hong Follow In Your Opinion Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops: Channel: https://str.sg/w7Qt Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wukb Spotify: https://str.sg/w7sV YouTube: https://str.sg/GjMT Feedback to: [email protected] --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7  Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts  --- Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX --- #inyouropinionSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Environment correspondents Ang Qing and Shabana Begum examine Singapore’s Beverage Container Return Scheme, from hard-to-find machines and failed refunds to the 10-cent deposit. They explore why contaminated blue bins are falling short, what sorting facilities reveal, the burdens on small retailers, possible inclusion of glass bottles, and whether controversial collection side hustles help recycling.

Emelia Tan, SGX’s director of capital market development, makes investing basics less intimidating. She explores ETFs, REITs, Singapore Savings Bonds and T-bills, compares Singapore and US stocks, and discusses diversification, dividends and compounding. She also shares what to consider when building a portfolio and why investing differs from trading.

Natalie Pang, a National University of Singapore professor researching digital well-being and online harms, explores parenting in a screen-filled world. Why do screens matter so much to children? She shares what gaming with her teenage son revealed, why screen time is about purpose rather than hours, how parents’ phone habits shape family life, and why ending a game can trigger big emotions.

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 Chief to analyse the hottest political and geopolitical talking points. In this episode, US Bureau Chief Bhagyashree Garekar chats with Dr Stephen Roach, a prominent economist with expertise on Asia.  He spent three decades at global investment bank Morgan Stanley, serving as the firm's chief economist and later as chairman of Morgan Stanley Asia. He is currently a Senior Fellow at Yale Law School's Paul Tsai China Center. In this wide-ranging conversation, he says the “unfriendly takeover” by mainland Chinese has changed the character of Hong Kong dramatically. This has left the market-based city - once idolised by iconic American economist Milton Friedman - in tatters, he adds. While that might drive his critics crazy, the idea that his remarks are rooted in any bias against Hong Kong is “absolutely ludicrous,” he insists. Roach also has a word of caution for China’s President Xi Jinping, who made a state visit to Washington for a summit with US President Donald Trump in September 2026. The concept currently favoured by both the US and China to define their relationship - constructive, strategic stability - is also a bit of a mirage, he says. “There's nothing strategic about it, the best I think the Chinese can hope for would be stability,” he adds. Roach is not among those anticipating a turning of the page with the Nov 3 midterm elections, even if the Democrats seize a majority in the Congress. Roach also takes an axe to Trump’s frequent assertions of America being the “hottest economy”. “He calls it an “exaggeration” that also reflects the poor state of growth elsewhere in the world. But a Great Depression-scale collapse is not in the cards, according to him. “I don't think we're gonna have a replay of the 1930s-styled bank-driven collapse,” he says. Highlights (click/tap above): 00:50 "Hong Kong is over?": Stephen Roach clarifies the controversial headline in a Financial Times column in 2024 6:40 What’s not going right between the US and China? 7:40 Why Trump’s “shallow thinking” on AI hurts 10:28 His warning to China about a deal with Trump 14:00 Will a strong Democratic show in the Nov 3 midterm elections constrain Trump? 18:10 Is Trump’s claim of a "golden age” for America true? 24:20 As the 100th anniversary of the Great Depression nears, could there be a repeat? 30:00 Will US dollar primacy be seriously challenged? 33:00 When he sees China coming out of the slowdown 38:20 Lastly, on India: Will its economy continue to over-promise and under-deliver? Read Bhagyashree Garekar’s articles: https://str.sg/whNo  Bhagyashree Garekar’s LinkedIn: https://str.sg/gD6E  Sign up for ST’s weekly Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/sfpz  Host: Bhagyashree Garekar ([email protected])  Produced and edited by: Fa’izah Sani Executive producer: Ernest Luis Follow Asian Insider Podcast on Fridays here: Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7  Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8  Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX  YouTube: https://str.sg/rF3qR  Feedback to: [email protected]  --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7  Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts  --- Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB  Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX  --- #STAsianInsiderSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 booming, and for some, it looks like an easy gig with easy money. But seasoned live-sellers say the market is saturated and only the top sellers get high commissions. In this episode of The Usual Place, Natasha chats with social media personality Xiaxue (@xiaxue) and fellow live-streamer Yin Peiying (@officially.poopa) about the reality of selling on platforms like TikTok or Shopee. We talk about banned words, “violations” that can hurt your viewership numbers, and why not every live-seller makes it big. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:45 Most extreme thing Peiying has done on a livestream 3:49 Why did live streaming get so big? 7:14 Why merchants give huge discounts 11:15 Can you sell anything in a live stream? 13:55 No idea if I’m a good live streamer: Xiaxue 26:04 $20k-$30k commission possible, but outlier 34:33 Why live streamers are treated differently from influencers 41:18 Does live streaming encourage drama? 45:26 Uneven rules on who gets flagged: Xiaxue 48:50 The words that you can’t say on a stream 51:10 Is the “limited stock” warning always true? 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/8KNT Follow Natasha on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/v6DN Follow The Usual Place podcast on IG:   / theusualplacepodcast  Follow Natasha on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/v6DN Filmed by: Studio+65 Edited by: Eden Soh & Yang Jiesan Cruz Executive producer: Danson Cheong Producers: Natasha Ann Zachariah, Elizabeth Law & Zachary Lim 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 --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts --- Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX -- #tup #tuptrSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After 16 years at McDonald's, Chagee APAC CMO shares how Chinese companies operate differently in the global arena Synopsis: Conversations and interviews that give you something to think about. Each Wednesday, In Your Opinion speaks to thinkers, leaders, and the people shaping our lives and the issues of the day. What does it take to turn a Chinese tea chain into a global brand? And what can China's new generation of consumer companies learn from the likes of McDonald's and Starbucks? Eugene Lee has seen both sides of the divide. After 16 years at McDonald's, where he rose to become international chief marketing officer, he joined Shanghai-headquartered Chagee as its Asia-Pacific chief marketing officer in 2025. In this conversation with The Straits Times’ senior columnist Tan Dawn Wei, Lee describes the culture shock of moving from an 86-year-old American multinational to a fast-moving young Chinese company, where ideas can become reality within days. He explains how Chagee uses automation, standardisation and lessons borrowed from competitors to expand rapidly, and why building emotional connections with consumers matters as much as selling a good product. He also addresses Chagee’s falling market valuation, slowing sales and the risk of becoming another passing fad in the food and beverage industry. Beyond tea, the conversation explores China's remarkable transformation from the world's factory into a creator of increasingly ambitious - and desirable - global brands. Highlights (click/tap above):  2:40 A culture shock from McDonald’s to Chagee 5:12 The Chinese lack of fear of failure 15:01 Becoming “the Starbucks of tea” 18:26 The secret behind scaling a business quickly 23:14 How Chagee localises for different markets 28:19 Is Chagee expanding faster than consumer demand can keep up? 31:15 Taking lessons from other successful Chinese F&B brands  34:05 Will Chagee be yet another F&B fad? 39:57 The influx of Chinese retail brands to Singapore and the anxiety it brings  42:50 How China is building global brands Read ST’s Opinion section: https://str.sg/w7sH Host: Tan Dawn Wei ([email protected]) Produced and edited by: Teo Tong Kai Executive producers: Danson Cheong & Lynda Hong Follow In Your Opinion Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops: Channel: https://str.sg/w7Qt Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wukb Spotify: https://str.sg/w7sV YouTube: https://str.sg/GjMT Feedback to: [email protected] --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7  Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts  --- Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX --- #inyouropinionSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.