The Straits Times Podcasts

Money Hacks Ep 45: How to choose insurance in your 20s 8:44 mins Synopsis: In this podcast series every Monday, The Straits Times and The Business Times break down actionable financial tips. This episode is brought to you by OCBC Bank. It is aimed at insurance, a product which the young in their 20s need, but sometimes find it hard to figure out what they should get first. Money Hacks' Chris Lim hosts 29-year-old Navin Sregantan, a journalist at The Business Times and Mr Kelvin Goh, OCBC Bank’s Head of Investments and Wealth Advisory. In a Jan-Feb 2019 Frank by OCBC survey of 866 students and young working adults aged 16-29, only slightly more than half were aware of different insurance products, and less than half considered themselves knowledgeable about insurance. Are there still myths or misconceptions about insurance? 1:10 mins - Banks actually do provide some insurance plans, and how to use self-service banking tools like OCBC Life Goals to plan and identify gaps and protection needs. 2:27 mins - Can buying an insurance plan through a bank help you earn higher interest? 3:35 mins - How much and what kind of coverage should people in their 20s have?  4:08 mins - Why you should add riders to insurance plans. 4:28 mins - What is the second coverage plan you need next, especially if you're working in your 20s? 5:14 mins - If you plan to get married, are life insurance plans crucial? Get more Frank by OCBC articles for the young here. 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.

Life Picks Ep 35: What to do in Singapore May 30-June 13: Sifa shows (arts); brunch buffets (food); Deon's album launch (gigs) 7:32 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 Anjali Raguraman, who talks about Singapore singer-songwriter Deon who launches his third album at The Esplanade on June 1. Wong Ah Yoke shares his experience at two new brunch spots, while Akshita Nanda recommends two events which are part of the Singapore International Festival of Arts: A Dream Under The Southern Bough: Reverie, which runs from May 31 to June 2, and the Festival Closing Concert at the Botanic Gardens on June 2 (8pm). 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 35: Dream Team 94' players Lim Tong Hai and Lee Man Hon look ahead to the Spurs-Liverpool Champions League final 13:25 mins Synopsis: A Game of Two Halves is The Straits Times' weekly sports podcast that is out every Tuesday. Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur meet on Sunday morning (Singapore time) in one of the most intriguing Champions League finals in recent times. Former national footballers Lim Tong Hai and Lee Man Hon - Reds and Spurs die-hards respectively - join ST sports correspondent Sazali Abdul Aziz to preview the epic clash, discussing which was the most memorable game in their teams' runs to the final, the key men in Madrid, whether Harry Kane should start for Spurs, and why the London side's woeful record of one win in 14 past meetings with Liverpool, ought to be chucked out the window. 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  iTunes: http://str.sg/o8MK Google podcasts: http://str.sg/oXeS Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Game Of Two Halves Ep 34: Toronto Raptors' fairytale run to the NBA finals; Potential new Lions' head honcho 10:51 mins Synopsis: A Game of Two Halves is The Straits Times' weekly sports podcast that is out every Tuesday. Sports correspondents Sazali Abdul Aziz and David Lee salute the underdogs who punched above their weight over the weekend - Toronto Raptors reached the NBA finals for the first time in their 24-year history, while 112-year-old Italian Serie A club Atalanta will make their first appearance in the group stage of next season's Champions League. The two also discuss the imminent appointment of the new Lion tamer - rumoured to be Japanese coach Tatsuma Yoshida - to helm the men's national football team. This will come ahead of the June international break with friendly matches against Solomon Islands and Myanmar, as well as other recent developments in local football. Produced by: Sazali Abdul Aziz and David Lee Edited by: Adam Azlee Subscribe, like and rate A Game of Two Halves on: Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2PwZCYU  iTunes: http://str.sg/o8MK Google podcasts: http://str.sg/oXeS Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Money Hacks Ep 44: Financial adulting 101 and controlling monthly credit card debt 11:52 mins Synopsis: In this podcast series every Monday, The Straits Times and The Business Times break down actionable financial tips. This episode is brought to you by OCBC Bank. It is aimed at those in their 20s and are starting to work, and how can set themselves up financially to avoid common mistakes and focus on their careers.  Money Hacks' Chris Lim hosts 20-year-old Vanessa Lim, a temp at The Business Times, and Mr Kelvin Goh, OCBC Bank’s Head of Investments and Wealth Advisory. In a Frank by OCBC survey of 866 students and young working adults aged 16-29, done earlier this year, only two-thirds managed to stick to a budget - or even have an expense budget - and two out of five struggled to stick to their saving plans. How to get started after listening to this episode: 1:00 mins - Should you have two bank accounts - one for paying bills and one for saving? 2:04 mins - Mr Goh advises on the first step - how to automate transfers to savings every month. 4:00 mins - Should you stick with only one bank account like the OCBC 360? 5:37 mins - Paying cash for everything means you miss out on credit card perks. How do you avoid drowning in credit card debt when you are starting out in your career? Should you set a credit limit on your card? 7:50 mins - Credit cards should not be used as a back door to overspending beyond your means, but the right accounts mean that interest tiers can grow with you when you are ready for larger financial commitments. 8:20 mins - Can old-school diaries, Excel spreadsheets or even online tools like OCBC's Money In$ights help you budget and track spending and saving more effectively? Get more Frank by OCBC articles for the young here. 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.

Double Feature looks at Star Wars taking on the trolls, Disney's latest exercise in animation-to-human conversion Aladdin and Zac Efron remembering he's a good actor. At the 1.58 mark, Jonathan Roberts and The New Paper's Joanne Soh discuss Will Smith's Arabian Nights Bollywood-tinged longer-than-the-original extravaganza. But who is the film's saving grace? At 12.25, we review Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile, the true-life tale of serial killer Ted Bundy. An extraordinary story because Bundy proved so charming that he had female fans at his trial. This film also marks Zac Efron's return to acting. He's been in film's before this but it seems now he's actually remembered he can act. Share your take  at podcast@sph.com.sg Produced by: Jonathan Roberts Discover more Double Feature on: Spotify: str.sg/oeGx iTunes: str.sg/oeXh Google podcasts: str.sg/oXeZ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pop Vultures Ep 8: Stars & social media stupidity - the Ian Fang-CarrieWong and Tosh Zhang sagas 26:09 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 past few weeks have been tumultuous in local entertainment - with the leaks of private and explicit chats between Mediacorp stars Ian Fang and Carrie Wong and the brief tenure of Tosh Zhang as Pink Dot ambassador, who stepped down after his previous homophobic tweets surfaced. Both of these scandals played out on social media - but who played the game the best? Who played it the worst? And at the end of the day - who was the biggest winner? (You'll never guess!) Join the Pop Vultures as they discuss how celebrities navigate social media, using the Ian Fang-Carrie Wong and the Tosh Zhang sagas, as case studies. Here's what they cover: 1. A brief recap of the Ian Fang-Carrie Wong drama and the Tosh Zhang debacle. 2. Celebrities and their right to privacy 3. The nature of social media and its immediacy getting the best of stars - how Boris Lin's replies made everyone look worse. 4. The permanence of social media and what Tosh Zhang did wrong and how it reverberated throughout the LGBTQ community. 5. How Rebecca Lim and Lawrence Wong played the social media game. 6. Final thoughts on the public perception of these stars and their future going forward. 7. The Pop Vultures Awards: Who was the MVP? Who won big? Who lost big? Produced by: Jan Lee and Yeo Sam Jo Edited by: Yeo Sam Jo Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg janlee@sph.com.sgyeosamjo@sph.com.sg Spotify: http://str.sg/otU9 Apple Podcasts: http://str.sg/oyLi Google Podcasts: http://str.sg/oyLw Website: http://str.sg/stpodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Life Picks Ep 34: What to do in Singapore May 23-June 6 - Burger And Lobster (food); Hallyupopfest (gigs) 6:01 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 Eunice Quek, who had the chance to try the newly opened Burger And Lobster at Jewel Changi Airport, and Desiree Loh, who is reporting on the K-pop festival HallyuPopFest on May 25 and 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 33: Singapore taekwondo in governance mess; Rafael Nadal's Roland Garros promise 7:43 mins Synopsis: A Game of Two Halves is The Straits Times' weekly sports podcast that is out every Tuesday. Sports correspondent David Lee hosts his colleague Nicole Chia in this episode as they discuss Rafael Nadal's road to Roland Garros this year as the favourite to win his 12th French Open title. Fresh off his Rome Masters triumph, what makes Nadal such a beast on clay? In the second half of the episode, they look at the controversy surrounding the Singapore Taekwondo Federation and what it means for Singapore taekwondo. And why Ikhsan Fandi scoring in Europe, such a big deal?  Produced by: David Lee and Nicole Chia Edited by: Adam Azlee Subscribe, like and rate A Game of Two Halves on: Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2PwZCYU  iTunes: http://str.sg/o8MK Google podcasts: http://str.sg/oXeS Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Health Check Ep 11: How to use the Fast method to recognise a stroke and react quickly 9:11 mins Synopsis: In this fortnightly podcast series on Wednesdays, The Straits Times guides you to healthier living and debunks the myths with expert guests. Our guest for this episode is Dr Shekhawat Ravindra Singh (pictured left), an associate consultant at the Department of Neurology at the National Neuroscience Institute. He tells us how to recognise a stroke, also known as a brain attack, as well as how to prevent one. He answers the following questions: Why do people still turn up late for treatment of suspected strokes? (0:57) What are the symptoms? What are the dos and don'ts? (1:10) What treatment can you expect at the emergency department after? (3:10) Can strokes be prevented? Smoking is a major factor for young victims aged 25 onwards (4:50) Rare causes of strokes (5:40) For family members or even strangers who run into potential stroke victims, learn the Fast test. F stands for Face: Smile and see if one side of the face droops. A stands for Arms: Raise both arms. Does one armdrop down? S stands for Speech: Say a short phrase and check for slurred or strange speech. T stands for Time: If the answer to any of these is yes, call 995 in Singapore right away and seek emergency help. Do share this podcast via the channels below with your friends and loved ones. 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  Thank you for your support! ST & BT Podcasts picked up a silver medal for Best Digital Project to engage younger and/or millennial audiences at 2019 Asian Digital Media Awards by Wan-Ifra:  https://str.sg/Jw5T  Watch a video of Podcasts on the rise in Singapore: https://youtu.be/aGJ4cbch6eQSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.