The Straits Times Podcasts

A Game Of Two Halves Ep 31: Mental toughness matters for Liverpool in EPL and Shanti Pereira ahead of 2019 SEA Games  8:09 mins Synopsis: A Game of Two Halves is The Straits Times' weekly sports podcast that is out every Tuesday. Nicole Chia hosts assistant sports editor Rohit Brijnath in this episode as they talk about why potential champions always dig deep and display mental toughness in the final stages. Have Liverpool shown that so far as the pressure increases on them as leaders at the top of the English Premier League?  With just a few games left, is it tougher for the chasing Manchester City in second spot? They also discuss the mental toughness of a stronger and faster Shanti Pereira. After her injury woes last year, she has bounced back to rewrite her own 100m national athletics record in her first official 100m race of the year at the Asian Athletics Championships in Doha. She clocked 11.58 seconds in the heats to rank eighth overall and qualify for the semi-finals. The record is pending ratification by Singapore Athletics. With the 2019 South-east Asia Games looming at the end of the year, Shanti's 11.58sec effort currently ranks her top in the women's 100m in the region this year, with Kristina Knott of the Philippines posting 11.64sec last month and Malaysian Zaidatul Husniah Zulkifli clocking 11.65sec in February. Even for a world-class tennis player like Rafael Nadal, mental toughness matters more than ever as he ages and heads into the clay court season with the French Open held in late May and early June. Produced by: Nicole Chia Edited by: Adam Azlee Subscribe, like and rate A Game of Two Halves:   On Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2PwZCYU   On iTunes: http://str.sg/o8MK On Google podcasts: http://str.sg/oXeS On website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join The Watch Ep 2: Predicting the first big death in Game Of Thrones' final season 28 spoiler-loaded minutes The second episode of Season 8 may have been low on action and high on quips but it gave us a lot to chew on – namely who won't make it beyond episode three. And there are a lot of candidates for who will be left on the battlefield.  Host Jonathan Roberts is joined by ST's Olivia Ho, Melissa Heng, Hairianto Diman and S Sakthivel. Do you agree with the choices? Who do you think will be the first major character to die? And is Daenerys becoming less stable the more her reign over The Seven Kingdoms looks less likely to happen? That's as much as we'll say here. You'll have to listen to get the spoilers. The final season of Game Of Thrones premieres in Singapore on HBO (Starhub TV Ch 601/ Singtel TV Ch 420) and can be streamed on HBO GO app. Valar morghulis. Share your take on Game Of Thrones season 8 at podcast@sph.com.sg Produced by: Jonathan Roberts Discover more ST Podcasts on: Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2PwZCYU iTunes: https://apple.co/2Lu4rPP Google podcasts: http://str.sg/googlestbt Website: http://str.sg/stpodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Money Hacks Ep 40: Top myths to dispel for HDB flat sellers and buyers in today's market 9:09 mins Synopsis: In this podcast series every Monday, The Straits Times and The Business Times break down actionable financial tips. Editor's note: Property information correct when published on April 22, 2019 We host sisters Rhonda (front row on right) and Race Wong (front row on left) - who are co-founders of Ohmyhome. Ohmyhome is an online one-stop shop with a 30% market share, that is aiming to make housing transactions in Singapore simple, fast and affordable. They help us dispel the top myths and misconceptions for HDB flat sellers and buyers in today's market. You can download HDB's app too. 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.

A Game Of Two Halves Ep 30: Tiger Woods' great comeback at 43; Can badminton do more to be a truly global sport? 16:42 mins Synopsis: A Game of Two Halves is The Straits Times' weekly sports podcast that is out every Tuesday. Host David Lee hosts assistant sports editor Rohit Brijnath (left above) in this episode.  After a 11-year wait, Tiger Woods has won a golf major again, claiming victory in the Masters at Augusta National over the weekend, winning his 15th career major. His last triumph had been the 2008 US Open. What is the impact of this victory and can he win three more to match Jack Nicklaus' record of 18? In the second half of the podcast, what were the highlights from the star-studded Singapore Badminton Open and what can be done for the sport to become truly global? Produced by: David Lee Edited by: Adam Azlee Subscribe, like and rate A Game of Two Halves:On Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2PwZCYUOn iTunes: http://str.sg/o8MK On Google podcasts: http://str.sg/oXeS On website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sgSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join The Watch Ep 1: Game Of Thrones final season begins with flirting with dragons, reunions and Genya 28 spoiler-loaded minutes Game Of Throne's final season has begun and we are not holding back on spoilers. Host Jonathan Roberts is joined by ST's Olivia Ho, Melissa Heng, Jan Lee, Hairianto Diman and S Sakthivel. The team discusses the highs points, the spoilers, the dragons, the reunions and the potential shipping (as the kids say). All that and even more theories for what is to come. Have we seen the seeds of 'The Mad Queen' finally germinating? That's as much as we'll say here. You'll have to listen to get the spoilers. The final season of Game Of Thrones premieres in Singapore on HBO (Starhub TV Ch 601/ Singtel TV Ch 420) and can be streamed on HBO GO app. Valar morghulis. Share your take on Game Of Thrones season 8 at podcast@sph.com.sg Produced by: Jonathan Roberts Discover more ST Podcasts on: Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2PwZCYU iTunes: https://apple.co/2Lu4rPP Google podcasts: http://str.sg/googlestbt Website: http://str.sg/stpodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pop Vultures (Season 1: Ep 6) April 12: Star Awards special! Favourite Channel 8 dramas and their legacy for Singapore TV viewers 30:53 mins Synopsis: A podcast by The Straits Times that examines all the ins and outs of pop culture, be it Asian entertainment or Hollywood. Singapore television's biggest event - the Star Awards - is having its 25th anniversary this year. Take a trip down memory lane as Pop Vultures Jan Lee and Yeo Sam Jo share their favourite local drama moments, iconic theme songs and ridiculous tropes and plot lines. What is the legacy and value of local dramas for Singaporeans? How much did it teach Singaporeans about change as a nation? In an age of Netflix, Youtube and HBO - are local dramas still relevant? Join the Pop Vultures as they cover moments like catching poker cards in the sky, to running down Orchard Road in a bikini! Here's what they cover: Most memorable shows and favourite shows they have watched: The Unbeatables (双天至尊), Golden Pillow (金枕头), Love Me, Love Me Not (真爱无敌), Wok Of Life (福满人间), Stand By Me (家人有约), A Place To Call Home (薯条汉堡青春痘), Darling In-Law (我的岳母是巫婆) Massive productions that once featured almost all local actors: Return Of The Condor Heroes (神雕侠侣), long form drama Holland Village (荷兰村), The Hotel (大酒店)  Most memorable television moments: The Champion's (任我遨游) bikini on Orchard Road scene, The Price Of Peace (和平的代价) traumatic rape scene, Ivy Lee (李锦梅) in Angel's Dream (真相)  Ridiculous tropes, plot lines and ways to die in local dramas: The Unbeatables, The Reunion (顶天立地) Iconic local drama theme songs such as Mavis Hee's 城里的月光, Power Station's 我吃得起苦.  Legacy of local dramas and how it recorded Singapore's rapid change as a nation: Pagers, payphones, old buses and taxis Period dramas set in Singapore and how it made history accessible: The Price of Peace introducing war hero Lim Bo Seng, Singapore as a regional entertainment hub and promoting Chinese culture and language (17:00) The old and new crop of local actors, classic Star Award fashion and moments and the relevance and quality of local dramas going forward Produced by: Jan Lee, Yeo Sam Jo and Ernest Luis 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.

Bookmark This! Ep 7: Singaporean Lee Jing-Jing's historical novel How We Disappeared; New York novelist Siri Hustvedt's Memories Of The Future 19:35 mins Synopsis: A new monthly podcast by The Straits Times, where we talk about titles in the headlines and sizzling reads. This month, we look at women and memory in two new books. New York novelist Siri Hustvedt's Memories Of The Future is about a woman named S.H. who moves to New York. Is it a memoir? Is it something else? There is also Singaporean Lee Jing-Jing's devastating historical novel How We Disappeared, about "comfort women" in World War II-era Singapore. Produced by: Olivia Ho and Toh Wen Li Edited by: Adam Azlee Discover more Bookmark This! podcasts and rate us on:Spotify: http://str.sg/oeGgApple Podcasts: http://str.sg/oeXNGoogle Podcasts: http://str.sg/oeLG Playlist: https://str.sg/JZnGFeedback 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.

Join The Watch: Preview - Game Of Thrones' final season premiering April 15 | Our best, worst and wildest GoT theories 33 Valyrian minutes Synopsis: Winter is here. The final season of Game Of Thrones starts  9am, April 15 (Singapore time) and The Straits Times will be providing a post-broadcast breakdown of each of the six final episodes every Monday. Host Jonathan Roberts is joined by various emissaries from the different kingdoms of ST: Olivia Ho, Melissa Heng, Jan Lee, Hairianto Diman and S Sakthivel. In this episode, the team discuss its best and worst moments from Seasons 1-7, and at the 17-minute mark, unleash their wildest theories for this series. Prepare to have your mind blown. The eighth and final season of Game Of Thrones premieres in Singapore on HBO (Starhub TV Ch 601/ Singtel TV Ch 420) and can be streamed on HBO GO app. Valar morghulis. What are your own wildest Game Of Thrones theories? Email us below. Produced by: Jonathan Roberts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Discover more ST Podcasts on: Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2PwZCYU iTunes: https://apple.co/2Lu4rPP Google podcasts: http://str.sg/googlestbt Website: http://str.sg/stpodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Health Check Ep 8: Can munching on half a plate of mushrooms a week slow mental decline? 9:46 mins Synopsis: In this fortnightly podcast series on Wednesdays, The Straits Times guides you to healthier living and debunks the myths with expert guests. ST correspondent Joyce Teo and podcasting head Ernest Luis host two experts from the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine at the National University of Singapore to discuss the results of the six-year study they had conducted on more than 600 Singaporeans aged 60 and above, to see the relation between consuming mushrooms and mental decline. The study's principal investigator, Assistant Professor Feng Lei, who is from NUS' Department of Psychological Medicine, and Dr Irwin Cheah - a senior research fellow at the NUS Department of Biochemistry - are asked the following questions: 1. Can consuming more than two portions (300g or half a plate) of mushrooms each week, reduce the risk of having mild cognitive impairment? 2. It can help with Alzheimer's, but how about Parkinson's disease?  3. The study focused on six types of mushrooms commonly eaten in Singapore. How about others like portobello?  Mushrooms contain high levels of a compound known as ergothioneine. The compound acts as an antioxidant and an anti-inflammatory agent, and can protect brain cells from damage. 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.

Did we watch the right movie? Despite the mountains of praise for Shazam!, Jonathan Roberts doesn't feel the spark. Meanwhile, Cheow Sue-Ann goes for the much cosier Thai rom-com Friend Zone starring Naphat Siangsomboon and Pimchanok Luevisadpaibu. (Apologies to all Thai speakers for the attempted pronunciation). 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.