

The Straits Times Podcasts
The Straits Times
Synopsis: 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.
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 22, 2024 • 24min
S1E1: 10,000 miles in Trump country
Navigating the US election scene - from Trump's rise to economic worries and the shifting tides of masculinity in politics. Synopsis: The Straits Times’ assistant foreign editor Clement Tan catches up with US bureau chief Bhagyashree Garekar to share her insights into the US presidential elections on Nov 5, 2024. Clement Tan speaks with Bhagyashree Garekar, ST’s US bureau chief, about her experiences covering the US elections. They discuss the changes in American society, the rise of Trump, and the impact of inflation concerns on voter sentiment. In this episode, Bhagya shares memorable encounters from her travels across the US, highlighting the political landscape and the growing diversity in the population. The conversation also touches on the psychological aspects of masculinity in politics and the uncertainty surrounding the upcoming election results. Highlights (click/tap above): 2:51 Memorable encounters on the campaign trail 8:23 Changes in infrastructure and American society 12:33 The rise of Trump and white nationalism 16:41 Masculinity and political identity 18:57 Economic concerns and election predictions Follow Clement Tan on X: https://str.sg/uErS Read Clement Tan's articles: https://str.sg/Ep62 Register for Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/stnewsletters Host: Clement Tan (clemtan@sph.com.sg) & Bhagyashree Garekar (bhagya@sph.com.sg) Produced and edited by: Fa’izah Sani Executive producer: Lynda Hong Follow Asian Insider on Fridays here: Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7 Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8 Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- 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.

Oct 20, 2024 • 32min
S2E4: Beyond diversity, inclusion buzzwords: How to be more inclusive at work
Observing with empathy, asking the right questions and listening will go a long way to charting out how to give meaningful support. Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a headstart in your personal finance and career with The Straits Times. Diversity, equity and inclusion are aspirational ideals that have permeated conversations of work life and good employment. Yet, there is still room for improvement when it comes to putting these aspirations into practice, if a survey on diversity issues commissioned by The Straits Times and release in August is anything to go by. In this episode, ST journalist Tay Hong Yi finds out how employers and employees both have their part to play in making workplaces more inclusive in meaningful ways without patronising those who benefit. His guests are: Ms Winifred Ling, a couples therapist and relationship coach who has lived with an invisible disability for close to two decades Ms Hsu Yi Peng, a young leader who helmed an initiative to provide students with diverse needs internship opportunities at her company, HSBC, on top of her day job as a product specialist. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:46 How did the idea of diversity, equity and inclusion come to the guests’ attention? 5:01 What was the learning curve like for Yi Peng when she took on the initiative? 9:20 Should employers or employees lead the charge to promote inclusion? 13:20 How did HSBC devise the support moves for students in the initiative? 19:12 How to balance between providing accommodations and seeing individuals for who they are beyond their traits? Read the feature by Rosalind Ang discussed on the podcast: https://str.sg/x4oC Read Tay Hong Yi's articles: https://str.sg/w6cz Follow Tay Hong Yi on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/AAxy Host: Tay Hong Yi (hytay@sph.com.sg) Produced & edited by: Amirul Karim Executive producers: Ernest Luis, Lynda Hong & Joanna Seow Follow Headstart On Record Podcast channel here: Channel: https://str.sg/wB2m Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wuN3 Spotify: https://str.sg/wBr9 Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Get business/career tips in ST's Headstart newsletter: https://str.sg/headstart-nl --- Follow more podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- 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 #headstartSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 19, 2024 • 20min
S2E4: After the 'Paris Agreement' for nature was adopted in 2022, what's next at COP16 biodiversity meet?
Unlocking new sources of financing for nature, ending harmful subsidies and benefit sharing among issues to be discussed Synopsis: Every first and third Sunday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. It has been two years since the Global Biodiversity Framework was adopted, and almost 200 countries are set to gather in Cali, Colombia, from Oct 21 to Nov 1 to discuss the way forward. The framework, touted as the biodiversity equivalent of the Paris Agreement that aims to help the world avert catastrophic climate change, wants to help slow, even reverse, nature’s decline. The framework outlines four goals that the world hopes to achieve by 2050, including protecting and restoring nature and closing the biodiversity finance gap. The framework also outlines 22 targets, to be achieved by 2030, to help the world achieve the longer-term goals. Targets include the one to restore 30 per cent of all degraded ecosystems by 2030, and to protect and restore 30 per cent of the world’s lands and seas by that same timeline. At COP16, countries are expected to come up with an action plan to translate these goals and targets into concrete action. But what are some hot topics, and how will countries navigate this? To find out more, hosts Audrey Tan and David Fogarty chat with Mr Will McGoldrick, Asia-Pacific managing director for The Nature Conservancy. Highlights of conversation (click/tap above): 2:29 Why is COP16 important? 4:48 What does The Nature Conservancy – one of the world’s largest environmental non-profit organisations that is tracking negotiations – expect to see at COP16? 6:40 Protecting nature does not come cheap. What are negotiations looking like on the finance front? 9:46 How do we start to phase out subsidies that harm nature? 14:30 Benefit sharing is expected to be another topic of discussions at COP16. What is it and why is it important? 17:12 How are South-east Asian countries approaching nature conservation? Follow Audrey Tan on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/848W Read her articles: https://str.sg/JLM2 Follow David Fogarty on X: https://str.sg/JLM6 Read his articles: https://str.sg/JLMu Hosts: Audrey Tan (audreyt@sph.com.sg) & David Fogarty (dfogarty@sph.com.sg) Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim Executive producer: Ernest Luis Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- 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 --- #greenpulseSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 17, 2024 • 24min
S2E2: How will Singapore fare under a Harris or Trump 2.0 US administration?
US trade policy and US-China competition concerns are high on the minds of South-east Asia observers. Synopsis: The Straits Times' global contributor Nirmal Ghosh shines a light on Asian perspectives of global and Asian issues with expert guests. Hardening strategic competition with China will remain front and centre of the foreign policy focus of the next US Administration in Washington DC. But while Asian countries have a mixed response to this superpower competition, most seek to stay on the right side of the United States and off the wrong side of China. Ahead of the US presidential elections on Nov 5, South-east Asia would foresee more continuity under a Kamala Harris Administration, with the Indo Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF, launched in 2022 by the Joe Biden Administration) continuing - while a second Donald Trump regime’s approach would be more bilateral, with Washington’s relations with individual countries shaped by factors such as trade deficits. Within the broader context of US-China competition though, South-east Asian countries would be looking for more clarity from Washington on distinctions between trade and investment and economic issues, and national security concerns, as host Nirmal Ghosh finds out in this episode. His guests are: Dr Satu Limaye, director of the East West Centre in Washington DC, creator of the Asia Matters for America initiative, and founding editor of the Asia Pacific Bulletin. Singapore-based APAC Advisors CEO Steven Okun served in the Clinton administration and is a veteran of numerous Democratic presidential campaigns. Highlights (click/tap above): 4:57 Directionally, the US-China relationship is going to be more tense… regardless of who wins on Nov 5 9:12 More fundamental understanding of the fragmented multi-polar and deconstructing international order 13:14 South-east Asia has been masterful at internationalising the search for autonomy; what could happen if there were to be a Trump 2.0 Administration? 16:02 How will Singapore fare? Why it will be very difficult for businesses and investors to do business or to invest if what's allowed today is not allowed tomorrow - for national security concerns 21:48 US-Asia relations: Why the threads of continuity are likely to overcome the threads of discontinuity Follow Nirmal Ghosh on X: https://str.sg/JD7r Read Nirmal Ghosh's articles: https://str.sg/JbxG Register for Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/stnewsletters Host: Nirmal Ghosh (nirmal@sph.com.sg) Produced and edited by: Fa’izah Sani Executive producer: Ernest Luis Follow Asian Insider on Fridays here: Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7 Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8 Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- 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.

Oct 16, 2024 • 39min
S1E13: Confronting suicide: The conversations we need
The conversation in this episode dives into suicide prevention, stigma, and the changes needed to get to Zero-Suicide. Synopsis: The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah hunts for new perspectives on issues that matter to young people. In Singapore, suicide remains the leading cause of death for young people aged between 10 and 29. A 160-page white paper report called Project Hayat (meaning ‘life’ in Malay) was launched in conjunction with World Suicide Prevention Day on Sept 10 by advocacy group SG Mental Health Matters. Project Hayat outlines a national suicide prevention strategy for Singapore, and laid out its own research findings and 23 recommendations for addressing the gaps in suicide prevention here.In this episode, host Natasha Ann Zachariah finds out how we could talk more openly about suicide matters among young people, and what more can be done to address the gaps in support. Her guests on the show are the project’s co-lead Dr Rayner Tan, 35, who is from the National University of Singapore’s Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health. Shantini Sathiyanesan, 38, calls herself a “wounded healer” for her journey through suicidality, and also for having experienced the grief of losing someone to suicide. Highlights (click/tap above): 2:55 Has Project Hayat’s data studies shown unique barriers specific to minorities in society? 5:30 How to tell if someone has suicidal thoughts; passive and active suicide ideation; what is psychache (psychological pain)? 9:25 Shantini shares her own lived experience of suicidality - having suicidal thoughts, ideation, and losing someone to suicide - despite living a highly functioning life 13:58 What is the suicide question and why is it important to ask it? Paradox of saying “I don’t want to be a burden” 20:10 Importance of Project Hayat’s suicide prevention strategies; what can we do better when someone comes to us for help? 31:23 Dr Rayner Tan on Project Hayat’s bold ‘zero suicides’ target for Singapore; on SOS (Samaritans of Singapore) helplines and the experience it offers The Project Hayat White Paper is available here: www.sgmentalhealthmatters.com MENTAL WELL-BEING Institute of Mental Health’s Mental Health Helpline: 6389-2222 (24 hours) Samaritans of Singapore: 1-767 (24 hours) / 9151-1767 (24 hours CareText via WhatsApp) Singapore Association for Mental Health: 1800-283-7019 Silver Ribbon Singapore: 6386-1928 Tinkle Friend: 1800-274-4788 Chat, Centre of Excellence for Youth Mental Health: 6493-6500/1 Women’s Helpline (Aware): 1800-777-5555 (weekdays, 10am to 6pm) COUNSELLING Touchline (Counselling): 1800-377-2252 Touch Care Line (for caregivers): 6804-6555 Care Corner Counselling Centre: 6353-1180 Counselling and Care Centre: 6536-6366 We Care Community Services: 3165-8017 ONLINE RESOURCES https://moht.com.sg/mindline-sg/ https://fycs.org/ec2-sg/ https://www.tinklefriend.sg/ https://www.imh.com.sg/chat/Pages/default.aspx https://carey.carecorner.org.sg/ (for those aged 13 to 25) https://www.limitless.sg/talk (for those aged 12 to 25) Follow Natasha on her IG account and DM her your thoughts on this topic: https://str.sg/8WavHost: Natasha Zachariah (natashaz@sph.com.sg)Read Natasha's articles: https://str.sg/iSXmFollow Natasha on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/v6DN Filmed by: Studio+65 Edited by ST Podcast producers: Eden Soh & Teo Tong Kai Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong Follow The Usual Place Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops: Channel: https://str.sg/5nfm Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/9ijX Spotify: https://str.sg/cd2P YouTube: https://str.sg/wEr7u Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- 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 #tuptr #healthcheck See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 13, 2024 • 31min
S1E47: Tan See Leng: How tough talks resulted in job seeker support
The SkillsFuture JobSeeker Support aims to help the retrenched tide over financially, while between jobs, after tough talks with unions, employers and the Government. Synopsis: Every month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests. As the global economy changes more rapidly and unpredictably, workers may face more risk from job loss despite best efforts. Yet, going out of a job can pose a hit to household finances. In an era of rising cost of living, lower- and middle-income workers are more likely to jump on the first job offer without considering their aptitudes. To give these workers more time to find the ‘right’ job for them, the SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support scheme will be launched in April 2025, with financial support structured to spur an active job search without incentivising prolonged unemployment. The scheme, estimated to cost the Government $200 million every year, comes as a result of tough talks among employers, unions and the Government. In this episode, ST assistant podcast editor Lynda Hong and journalist Tay Hong Yi host Manpower minister Tan See Leng to learn how the scheme has taken shape behind the scenes. Highlights (click/tap above): 5:38 On the Government relooking its position on financial support for those who have lost jobs 11:11 On the scheme’s gestation: What took place behind the scenes 17:51 What are the safeguards in place for the scheme and why? 21:48 Eligibility criteria: Too complex to understand for job seekers? 25:36 Will the scheme help workers at higher risk? 28:58 How does this scheme reflect the 4G leadership’s approach to policymaking? Read ST's Opinion section: https://str.sg/w7sH Read Tay Hong Yi’s articles: https://str.sg/dSAE Hosts: Lynda Hong (lyndahong@sph.com.sg) and Tay Hong Yi (hytay@sph.com.sg) Produced and edited by: Studio+65 and Hadyu Rahim Executive producer: Ernest Luis 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 Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- 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.

Oct 6, 2024 • 34min
S2E3: Should we play with FIRE?
We don’t all have to live frugally and retire by 40 years old, but we need to be financially disciplined so we can retire meaningfully. Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a headstart in your personal finance and career with The Straits Times. FIRE in this context, stands for financial independence, retire early - a movement that points to the desire to retire earlier than the usual age range of 65 to 70, through a regime of aggressive investing, saving and frugality during one’s working years. In this episode, ST business correspondent Sue-Ann Tan investigates if Fire is for everyone, and if there are other ways to sustainably achieve financial freedom and retire at leisure. Her guests are Mr He Ruiming, 35, who as co-founder of the Woke Salaryman, talks about how he initially wanted to retire at the age of 32, and DBS financial literacy expert Lorna Tan, who feels that retiring meaningfully is more important to her. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:42 What are the different types of Fire? 3:14 Ruiming’s journey to achieve Fire by the age of 32 9:40 If I’m 25 now, what should I do to retire at 40? 12:56 What Ruiming wished he knew when he was younger 16:45 Lorna’s alternative to Fire, which is 'Firm' - financial independence, retiring meaningfully 21:46 Trends like loud budgeting which support more financial discipline 27:29 Using excel spreadsheets to track finances and goals Read Sue-Ann Tan's articles: https://str.sg/mvSa Follow Sue-Ann Tan on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/A86X Host: Sue-Ann Tan (suetan@sph.com.sg) Produced & edited by: Amirul Karim Executive producers: Ernest Luis, Lynda Hong & Joanna Seow Follow Headstart On Record Podcast channel here: Channel: https://str.sg/wB2m Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wuN3 Spotify: https://str.sg/wBr9 Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Get business/career tips in ST's Headstart newsletter: https://str.sg/headstart-nl --- Follow more podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- 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 #headstartSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 5, 2024 • 18min
S2E3: A relook at nuclear energy's role in the net-zero goal
Powering up: The world is warming up to nuclear energy as nations scramble for zero-carbon electricity. Synopsis: Every first and third Sunday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. For years, nuclear energy has been reviled as an energy source over safety, cost and the time taken to build the power plants. But with the world’s growing need for clean electricity to fuel everything from electric vehicles, heating and cooling to giant data centres, nuclear energy is getting its time in the sun again. Some countries, such as the United States, Japan and France, have committed to tripling nuclear energy capacity by 2050, while others, like Singapore, have said it is not ruling out its use. China is also making big investments in nuclear energy. Compared to generators powered by fossil fuels, nuclear reactors do not produce any planet-warming emissions. But will this be the silver bullet to getting the world to net-zero? What else is needed in the world’s decarbonisation journey? Our guest is Mr Chris Bradley, Director of McKinsey Global Institute and Senior Partner of McKinsey & Company. The institute is the consultancy’s research arm. Chris co-wrote a recent report looking at the global decarbonisation challenge and found that we are only about 10 per cent of the way on the low-emissions journey. Highlights (click/tap above): 2:07 What is accounting for the resurgence in interest in nuclear energy? 7:36 What are some outstanding issues hindering nuclear energy deployment? 10:18 What are the other challenges to the world’s path to net-zero? 12:18 What are the challenges for Asia’s decarbonisation journey? 15:56 How can South-east Asia speed up its energy transition? Follow Audrey Tan on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/848W Read her articles: https://str.sg/JLM2 Follow David Fogarty on X: https://str.sg/JLM6 Read his articles: https://str.sg/JLMu Hosts: Audrey Tan (audreyt@sph.com.sg) & David Fogarty (dfogarty@sph.com.sg) Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim Executive producer: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- 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 --- #greenpulseSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 3, 2024 • 20min
S2E1: Is Cantonese dying out in Hong Kong?
Some are holding fast to their mother tongue, even with migration overseas, and are coming up with creative ways to spread the learning and use of Cantonese. Synopsis: The Straits Times chats with ST’s global correspondents about life as it goes on, amid the screaming headlines and bubbling crises. Want to pick up Cantonese? Some Hong Kongers - from a software engineer to a playgroup teacher based in Britain - have created new ways of learning the Chinese dialect such as through apps, videos and social media accounts. This surge in a grassroots effort is coming at a time when many Hong Kongers are feeling unmoored by the political turbulence of the past decade. As more migrate to non-Cantonese speaking societies, they are holding fast to their identity and language in a foreign environment. There are also growing fears that Cantonese in Hong Kong and Guangdong is a dying language with people abandoning it for English or Mandarin. In this episode, ST’s foreign editor Li Xueying speaks with Hong Kong correspondent Magdalene Fung on how true such concerns are, and her assessment of these new Cantonese-language tools. Highlights (click/tap above): 2:00 Why Hong Kongers are championing the use of Cantonese 5:20 How these new tools are different from traditional methods 9:50 A living and constantly changing language 13:00 The situation in Guangdong Read Magdalene Fung’s article here: https://str.sg/AfVW Read Li Xueying’s articles: https://str.sg/iqmR Follow Li Xueying on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/ip4x Register for Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/stnewsletters Host: Li Xueying (xueying@sph.com.sg) Produced and edited by: Fa’izah Sani Executive producer: Ernest Luis Follow Asian Insider on Fridays here: Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7 Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8 Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- 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.

Oct 2, 2024 • 32min
S1E12: Rooting for our mother tongues in Singapore
Your mother tongue can also be your super power - that’s what our three guests on The Usual Place tell us. Synopsis: The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah hunts for new perspectives on issues that matter to young people. In this episode, Zhang Xi Ying, a content producer at HeyKaki, C Aishwarya, a branding and promotions executive from Tamil Murasu and Rabiatul Adawiya Binhan, deputy audience and growth editor from Berita Harian, share their views on what it takes to be bilingual. Beyond acquiring another language, your mother tongue helps shape some sense of your identity, and preserve culture and connections with your roots. For one, it’s no longer passe to be fluent in your mother tongue, say Xi Ying and Aishwarya. But sometimes, the struggle to pick it up can be real, adds Rabiatul, who is trying to get her two children to learn Malay. Learning our mother tongues came up at the National Day Rally (NDR) in August 2024. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, said in his Mandarin speech, that he understood that the Chinese community is “very concerned” about the standard of Mandarin in Singapore. In an effort to spur on students who are strong in their mother tongue, Mr Wong announced that those who do well in these languages at primary school will be able to study it at a higher level from Secondary 1.Highlights (click/tap above): 5:59 Why learning your mother tongue brings you closer to culture 10:48 Clinging to their culture when they can’t speak their mother tongue 13:42 Mixing English and mother tongue languages to appeal 21:23 Hating on your mother tongue 27:26 Connecting with your mother tongue starts at home Check out the full vodcast here: https://str.sg/sfG2 Follow our guests on HeyKaki, Orang Muda Gitew and இன்னொரு day இன்னொரு slay Follow Natasha on her IG account and DM her your thoughts on this topic: https://str.sg/8WavHost: Natasha Zachariah (natashaz@sph.com.sg)Read Natasha's articles: https://str.sg/iSXmFollow Natasha on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/v6DN Filmed by: Studio+65 Edited by ST Podcast producers: Eden Soh & Teo Tong Kai Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong Follow The Usual Place Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops: Channel: https://str.sg/5nfm Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/9ijX Spotify: https://str.sg/cd2P YouTube: https://str.sg/wEr7u Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- 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.


