The Straits Times Podcasts

Pop Vultures (Season 1: Ep 3) March 7: Arashi, J-pop and its influence on Asian entertainment 30:08 mins Synopsis: A podcast by The Straits Times that examines all the ins and outs of pop culture, be it Asian entertainment or Hollywood. Find out how J-pop first influenced Asian music. J-pop boyband Arashi announced in January that they will be going on an indefinite hiatus at the end of 2020. The 20-year-old boyband's announcement became worldwide trending news even in an era where J-pop has faded in popularity globally. In this podcast, Pop Vultures Jan Lee and Yeo Sam Jo invite a special guest - fellow ST journalist and J-pop fan Cheryl Teh - to talk about Arashi, their impending hiatus and the enduring influence of Japanese boybands and J-pop (Ayumi Hamasaki! Namie Amuro! Utada Hikaru! Shonentai!) on the entire Asian music industry. Here's what they cover: - Introduction on Arashi and Hana Yori Dango (2.50) - Arashi's announcement on their 2020 hiatus (4:00) - Arashi's Hawaii debut and their rise to become national idols (5:13) - The Johnny and Associates boyband model, its history and its rules (9:18) - Japan's strong physical album sales and how that has influenced the J-pop industry (11:55) - The invention of the Asian boyband, Shonentai and Little Tigers （小虎队） (14:00) - The idea of the bishonen or the pretty boy (14:45) - Why the Japanese music industry matured early and how different J-pop artists influenced Asian music (18:15) - Pop Vultures' favourite Japanese songs (24:40) Jan's picks: Arashi's Love (2013) album, Utada Hikaru's Hanataba Wo Kimi Ni, Yonezu Kenshi's Lemon  Cheryl's picks: BTS' Jungkook's cover of Lemon, Saruganseki's Shiroi Kumo No You Ni, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu's Ponponpon, Koji Wada's Butterfly which was Digimon's theme song Join us as we surf the J-wave! Produced by: Jan Lee, Yeo Sam Jo and Ernest Luis Edited by: Adam Azlee 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.

A Game Of Two Halves: Hailing football's one-club men and fencing's Singaporean starlet Amita Berthier Time: 14:22 mins Synopsis: A Game of Two Halves is The Straits Times' sports podcast that is out every Tuesday. Liverpool lost their place at the top of the English Premier League after a goalless draw with Everton over the weekend, but it is not the Merseyside Derby, or even Manchester United's drama-filled 3-2 win over Southampton that caught ST assistant sports editor Rohit Brijnath's attention. Instead, he tells host Sazali Abdul Aziz why he found another occasion special instead. It was when almost 60,000 supporters rose to their feet at London Stadium in celebration of West Ham United legend Billy Bonds, as the East Stand was renamed in the icon’s honour ahead of their weekend game with Newcastle. Sazali and Rohit also talk about Roger Federer's 100th ATP title win, yet another feather in the cap of promising Singaporean fencer Amita Berthier, and inspiring stories from the HSBC Women's World Championship that took place at the Sentosa Golf Club last weekend. The two also discuss why - to borrow a quote from Mark Twain - reports of Albirex Niigata's demise in the Singapore Premier League this season, might be greatly exaggerated. Produced by: Sazali Abdul Aziz and Ernest Luis 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.

In a packed episode we have a Oscars hangover, a quick romp through Mary Queen Of Scots and then the anti-rom-com rom-com, Isn't It Romantic. The Netflix film stars Rebel Wilson, Adam Devine, Liam Hemsworth and Priyanka Chopra. Will Jonathan Roberts and the rom-com phobic Joanne Soh find room in their stone encased hearts for such a film? Listen to find out...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Health Check Ep 6: Can soursop or ketogenic diets be used to treat and control cancer? 11:20 mins Synopsis: In this fortnightly podcast series on Wednesdays, The Straits Times guides you to healthier living and debunks the myths with expert guests. Dr Wong Seng Weng - medical director and consultant medical oncologist at The Cancer Centre - answers the following questions about alternative therapies to treat cancer. Can soursop be used to treat cancer? Also, is there potential harm from taking large quantities of soursop or soursop extracts that are made from the fruit, leaves, roots or bark? Dr Wong explains how some of the substances found in soursop can cross over from the bloodstream into the brain and cause nerve damage. How about using a ketogenic or keto diet to control cancer? A keto diet is essentially a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet. This is certainly not the normal diet here, as a typical diet in the Asian community consists of nearly 60 per cent carbohydrates. Dr Wong advises us if this keto diet is a viable alternative therapy to treat cancer. 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.

Life Picks Ep 24 (March 1) - Boy band Blue in Singapore and theatre production Still Life 6:44 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, we chat about the English boy band Blue, performing in Singapore on March 2, as well as theatre production Still Life by Checkpoint Theatre. The show runs from Feb 28 to March 10. 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: Dissecting 'keeper Kepa's crazy defiance Time: 13:44 mins Synopsis: A Game of Two Halves is The Straits Times' weekly sports podcast that is out every Tuesday. Manchester City won the League Cup on Sunday, but all the headlines revolved around Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga's incredible refusal to be substituted at the end of extra time. ST's Sazali Abdul Aziz and Wang Meng Meng discuss if it was a case of simple miscommunication - as Blues coach Maurizio Sarri and his shot-stopper later claimed - or blatant mutiny. Another big match in England over the weekend saw Premier League leaders Liverpool scrape a point against a Manchester United team that appeared to have half its first XI on crutches. Why has Juergen Klopp's previously irresistible side sputtered, and is Mo Salah's form against the Top Six a cause for concern? Sazali and Wang also discuss basketball, triathlon, athletics and the mixed martial arts action that took place in Singapore over the weekend, as well as the new local domestic football season, which kicked off last weekend with Albirex Niigata amazingly not winning the silverware that was on offer. The White Swans had won 13 of the previous 15 trophies on offer since 2015, but are much-changed from last year's squad that made a clean sweep and won the Singapore Premier League without suffering a defeat. Does this mean their fortunes could take a turn for the worse this year? Produced by: Sazali Abdul Aziz, Wang Meng Meng 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/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.

Oscar is here and for the 91st Academy Awards, Jonathan Roberts and Joanne Soh discuss The Favourite, starring Oscar-nominees, Olivia Colman, Rachel Weisz and Emma Stone. Then at the 8.20 mark, they discuss some of the could-win and should-wins of the top Oscar categories. Will their predictions come true? Find out hereSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Lee hosts his ST sports colleague Sazali Abdul Aziz in this episode.   Where does Benjamin Davis' future lie after the Fulham Under-18 midfielder was labelled a defaulter by Mindef for failing to return to Singapore to report for National Service? Why is Chelsea's dead man walking Maurizio Sarri refusing to give young striker Callum Hudson-Odoi a chance to shine despite a clear lack of cutting edge in their 2-0 FA Cup defeat by Manchester United? Is Pep Guardiola getting it right at Manchester City with Phil Foden scoring twice in their 4-1 win over Newport?   Which English team is bucking the trend and blooding youngsters? Hint: They are coming to Singapore in July.   Produced by: David Lee, Sazali Abdul Aziz and 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.

Business Times Singapore Budget 2019 Roundtable 47:46 mins Synopsis: This year's Budget saw Singapore double down on its economic restructuring push, against the backdrop of a weakening economy, with growth hit by global trade worries.  On the business front, Singapore unveiled new and extended schemes to help firms and workers, alongside tighter restrictions on foreign workers. Social support was also announced, from increasing spending on healthcare for an ageing population to tax rebates for some citizens. But will these measures go far enough? Is there a need to rejig initiatives instead of staying the course set in previous years? Moderator: Genevieve Cua, wealth editor, The Business Times Roundtable panellists: Larry Sim, tax partner, KPMGSelena Ling, head of treasury research and strategy, OCBCEugene Tan, associate professor of law, Singapore Management UniversityKurt Wee, president, Association of Small and Medium Enterprises This podcast was brought to you by OCBC. Click here to watch the roundtable highlights: Click here for The Business Times' Budget 2019 coverage More ST & BT podcasts on: Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2PwZCYU iTunes: https://apple.co/2Lu4rPP Google podcasts: http://str.sg/googlestbtSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a special episode as Sazali Abdul Aziz talks with national bowler Muhammad Jaris Goh, the freshly crowned Straits Times Athlete of the Year 2019. The award capped a hat-trick of awards. The week before the ST gong, Goh was named Singapore Bowling Federation's Bowler of the Year and became one of four Singapore Sports School alumni to receive the Moo Soon Chong Outstanding Student-Athlete Award. But even with the incredible success, Goh is humble to a fault.  "It hasn't sunk in," said Goh, when he sat down with ST about an hour later. "When my name was announced, I thought, 'No way!'. After I got back to my seat, SBF president Jessie Phua even came up to me and said, 'Yes Jaris, this is real'." Produced by: Sazali Abdul Aziz, 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.