The Straits Times Podcasts

Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong becomes Singapore’s fourth prime minister on May 15, 2024, when he succeeds current PM Lee Hsien Loong.  Synopsis: The Straits Times’ Natasha Ann Zachariah explores contemporary societal choices and youth perspectives and digs deeper into issues of the day. The upcoming leadership transition - when Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong becomes Singapore’s fourth prime minister on May 15 - has ignited discussions about where Singapore goes from here.In particular, what issues are youths most concerned about before they go to the ballot box in the next General Election? In this episode of The Usual Place, Natasha hosts three guests: Joel Lim, 31, host of Political Prude: The Podcast Gautham Vijayan Kumaran, 26, a final-year student at the National University of Singapore Carissa Cheow, 28, the chief strategy officer for a tech firm and a career counsellor From expectations of DPM Wong when he takes over as prime minister, to their thoughts of how the impending general election will play out, these three guests candidly share their views and shed some insight on what youths might want to see from their future political leaders. Highlights (Click/tap above): 4:18 Qualities youth are looking for in Singapore's next PM 12:19 What youth are looking for when the next election comes around 19:31 Is there a dichotomy between traditional bread-and-butter concerns and wider, all-encompassing issues such as climate change and civil liberties? 21:58: Are younger voters harder to convince? 31:51: How will scandals of politicians in 2023 factor into the next election? 34:28: Will social media be the dominant platform among voters at the next GE? Host: Natasha Zachariah (natashaz@sph.com.sg) Edited by producers: Teo Tong Kai and Eden Soh Executive producers: Ernest Luis and Lynda Hong Filmed by: Joel Chng and Marc Justin De Souza, ST Video 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  ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Read Natasha Zachariah's articles: https://str.sg/iSXm Follow Natasha on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/v6DN --- Discover more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 The Usual Place: https://str.sg/wEr7u In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m Hard Tackle: https://str.sg/JWRE #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX --- ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Special edition series: True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2 Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa --- 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.

It is one of the most famous Chinese period dramas ever, but where are the members of its main cast now? Synopsis: How Did We Get Here is a new scripted series under the #PopVultures banner, where host Jan Lee will deep dive into a celebrity, a band or the cast of a movie or film that made an impact on Asian entertainment and how they got to where they are now. There is a good argument to be made that the most famous Chinese drama ever aired is the Qing dynasty period royal romance My Fair Princess, best known for its first two seasons aired in 1998 and 1999. The story is about a case of mistaken identity. An orphaned street urchin named Xiaoyanzi accidentally becomes a princess in place of her friend, the Qing emperor Qianlong’s illegitimate daughter Ziwei.  The series broke viewership records, became extremely popular across Asia and was an unprecedented hit that turned its main cast members into household names - Vicki Zhao, Ruby Lin, Alec Su, Zhou Jie, Fan Bingbing and Julian Chen. Now, 26 years since the drama first aired - a lot has happened to the main cast. Two have been effectively cancelled by the Chinese government, one has apparently become a successful farmer, one is widely disliked by Chinese netizens and one quite literally got "burnt".  #PopVultures host Jan Lee discusses How Did We Get Here. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:20 Introduction about My Fair Princess 4:11 How the series got cast and its impact on Asian entertainment 11:57 What happened to Julian Chen? 14:16 What happened to Alec Su? 17:16 Is there a feud between Ruby Lin and Zhou Jie? 28:03 The cancellation of Fan Bingbing 35:12 The many troubles of Vicki Zhao and her eventual downfall Produced by: Jan Lee (janlee@sph.com.sg) Amirul Karim Edited by: Amirul Karim Follow #PopVultures Podcast here every month:  Channel: https://str.sg/JWad Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaA Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaP  Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Follow Jan Lee on Instagram: https://str.sg/Jbxc Read Jan Lee's articles: https://str.sg/Jbxp --- Discover more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7  The Usual Place: https://str.sg/wEr7u COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m Hard Tackle: https://str.sg/JWRE #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX --- ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Special edition series: True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2 Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa --- 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 #PV #HDWGHSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Asia is on the cusp of a summer of life-threatening dengue fever.  Synopsis: Every fourth Friday of the month, The Straits Times' global contributor Nirmal Ghosh shines a light on Asian perspectives of global and Asian issues with expert guests. Dengue fever case numbers have gone up across the global tropics. This includes Singapore, a model in many respects for health surveillance and epidemic control, and mosquito control. In the first quarter of 2024, Singapore recorded more than double the number of cases than in the same period in 2023.  Meanwhile across the world, Latin America and the Caribbean have been warned to prepare for their worst dengue season ever.  The long war against dengue must contend with many factors including climate, weather, and human behaviour. Even without an outbreak or epidemic, dengue may circulate silently among populations.  No single solution is perfect. Dengue vaccines have been developed, but there are four strains of the virus, and the vaccines have different degrees of efficacy.  The key to effective dengue control is health surveillance and a good laboratory system - and in Singapore’s case especially, collaboration with neighbouring countries. Vaccinating populations could help complement other dengue and mosquito control measures. Globally, we discuss how countries must build urban infrastructure to be less mosquito-friendly.  Nirmal Ghosh hosts his guests who are also global dengue gurus: Dr. Duane Gubler, Emeritus Professor and founding director of the Emerging Infectious Diseases Signature Research Programme at Duke-NUS Medical School Dr. Ooi Eng Eong is a Professor in the Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases at Duke-NUS Medical School Highlights (click/tap above):  2:31 Dengue vaccine - the solution for Singapore?  8:06 Important lessons from Sars and Covid-19 16:03 Why a single vaccination cannot prevent dengue entirely  17:52 Contrarian view: Global warming is not the main cause of dengue fever  20:00 Better living standards can help control mosquito-borne diseases 23:19 Should new cities consider mosquito-related issues in building plans? Produced by: Nirmal Ghosh (nirmal@sph.com.sg) and Fa’izah Sani Edited by: Fa’izah Sani Follow Asian Insider with Nirmal Ghosh every fourth Friday of the month here: Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7 Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8 Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg 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 --- Discover more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7  The Usual Place: https://str.sg/wEr7u  In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt  COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE  Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7  Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN  Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf  Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m  Hard Tackle: https://str.sg/JWRE  #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad  Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX  --- ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts  ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa  --- Special edition series: True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T  The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2  Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn  Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB  Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa  --- 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.

The head of the EV-electric shares some of the learnings from Singapore’s electrification journey. Synopsis: The Straits Times offers expert insights if you are in the market for a new vehicle or are tracking transportation trends. The pace of EV charger deployment at HDB carparks in 2024 will likely be slower than in the previous year - at least initially - before things pick up speed again. According to EV-Electric's chief executive, Mr Derek Tan, the target is to have another 700 or so chargers ready by 2024 and another 700 by the end of 2025.  The head of the company set up by the Land Transport Authority to coordinate the roll-out of Singapore’s public EV charging network said that the data shows that the bulk of the charging at the housing estates happen at night. As EVs become more popular, will we see users fighting over who gets to use the chargers when they return home from work? Highlights (click/tap above): 5:50 The expected slowing down in the rate of charger deployment in 2024 and how every HDB carpark is different   12:05 The struggle between taking up a parking space for charging versus the needs of those who do not drive an EV 15:00 Data shows that 60 per cent of charging happens overnight 17:30 Ideas to encourage better charging etiquette - from fines to imposing a minimum spend 30:00 The one technological development that will turbocharge the deployment of chargers.  36:20 Why there should be parity in terms of the total cost of owning and using an EV with an internal combustion engine option. Produced by: Lee Nian Tjoe (niantjoel@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis and Teo Tong Kai Edited by: Teo Tong Kai Follow COE Watch Podcast here: Channel: https://str.sg/iTtE Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/iqW2 Spotify: https://str.sg/iqgB SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Read Lee Nian Tjoe's articles: https://str.sg/wt8G Follow Lee Nian Tjoe on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/iqkJ Read more COE articles: https://str.sg/iGKC --- Discover more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 The Usual Place: https://str.sg/wEr7u In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m Hard Tackle: https://str.sg/JWRE #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX --- ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Special edition series: True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2 Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa --- 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 #coewatchSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why mudflats are vital for dwindling numbers of birds that stop over seasonally. Synopsis (headphones recommended): In this new 4-part environment podcast series for 2024 - Green Trails - The Straits Times hits the ground with experts in spaces that are critical to the interlinked crises the planet faces: climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss. The next episode drops in June. For this inaugural episode, our team heads to Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, the local haven for birds that travel across the world to refuel at. Nature Society (Singapore) - one of the island's oldest non-governmental organisations - convinced the government to preserve Sungei Buloh as a wetland reserve by showing officials the diversity of birds that depend on the spot. ST journalist Ang Qing takes a walk with representatives from the society - Veronica Foo and Tan Gim Cheong. They talk about the lesser-known Mandai Mangrove and Mudflat, which is key to supporting the thousands of migratory shorebirds that stop over in Singapore between August and March, and why it should also receive full protection from the law. Highlights (click/tap above): 2:30 Why is Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve so special? 7:01 Have there been fewer shorebirds at the reserve? 11:15 What kind of man-made features threaten migratory birds? 18:00 Why a lesser known mudflat needs to get stronger legal protection Read an earlier article on migratory birds: https://str.sg/JtYUU Discover the Nature Society (Singapore) Bird Group: https://str.sg/wNzGa Read also: Green Trails Podcast: Experience Singapore’s spaces through sound - https://str.sg/qcCm Listen to other Green Trails episodes:  Ep 2: Visit to East Coast: How reclamation will shape up against rising sea levels - https://str.sg/mRG8 Ep 3: Visit to Windsor Nature Park: Can insects in SG's backyard be foraged https://omny.fm/shows/green-pulse-1/visit-to-windsor-nature-park-how-big-of-a-role-can Host: Ang Qing (aqing@sph.com.sg) Trail producers: Lynda Hong, Hadyu Rahim, Teo Tong Kai, Amirul Karim, Eden Soh Edited by: Hadyu Rahim Executive Producers: Ernest Luis (ernest@sph.com.sg) & Audrey Tan (audreyt@sph.com.sg) 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 Podcasts website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts The Usual Place Podcast 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 --- #greenpulse #greentrailsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Carbon credit ratings can bring much needed transparency and accountability to the market – but is it enough to overcome years of mistrust? 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. Depending on who you speak to, carbon credits hold great promise as a tool to achieve deep cuts in carbon emissions to fight climate change. Or they are a scam that fails to deliver what they promise.  A major problem around the carbon credit market is trust and transparency – do carbon offset projects achieve what they pledge? How can we be sure? And will local communities benefit? Ultimately, carbon credits should be treated like any other financial asset – they should be held up to scrutiny. And that means they should be rated for their quality and integrity, just like bonds.  And increasingly that is what is happening. Several companies now offer ratings services for carbon credits to help buyers make better choices and meet due diligence requirements. But will this be enough to answer critics’ concerns about the carbon market? To learn more about this, we speak to Mr Duncan van Bergen, co-founder of Calyx Global, a carbon credit ratings company based in Singapore.   Highlights of conversation (click/tap above): 1:38 What are the main concerns about carbon credits? 4:04 How is trust being restored to the carbon credit market? 6:13 What does a high-quality carbon credit look like? 10:47 Your firm rates credits from projects from highest (A-rating) to lowest (E-rating). What percentage are at the highest rating and what types of projects are these? 14:40 What is the main worry about forestry projects? 20:54 What are the non-carbon benefits of carbon projects and why are they important? Produced by: David Fogarty (dfogarty@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis, Fa'izah Sani & Amirul Karim Edited by: Hadyu Rahim Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and rate us: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Follow David Fogarty on X: https://str.sg/JLM6 Read his articles: https://str.sg/JLMu --- Discover more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 The Usual Place: https://str.sg/wEr7u In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m Hard Tackle: https://str.sg/JWRE #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX --- ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Special edition series: True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2 Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa --- 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.

How much is too much when sharing details of your life online? Synopsis: The Straits Times’ Natasha Ann Zachariah explores contemporary societal choices and youth perspectives and digs deeper into issues of the day.Why do people feel so comfortable sharing intimate details of their lives online?The Usual Place’s host Natasha Ann Zachariah sits down with TikTokers Candice Gallagher and Shaun Elias Chua, and Twitch streamer Jacey Vong, to find out why they started sharing personal details of their lives online.When everything now becomes free game, is there a line that crosses into oversharing and how do they deal with negative comments? Highlights (click/tap above): 4:33: Why do the three of them put out so much of their lives on social media? 16:36: Is it weird that virtual strangers know small details about their lives? 23:15: Dealing with haters - why not just quit instead? 33:20: Being cancelled - the risk of sharing their opinions DM Natasha your thoughts on this topic at her IG: https://str.sg/8Wav Candice Gallagher on TikTok: https://str.sg/KVvw Shaun Elias Chua on TikTok: https://str.sg/AeCK Jacey Vong on Twitch: https://str.sg/752E Produced by: Natasha Zachariah (natashaz@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis, Lynda Hong, Teo Tong Kai, Eden Soh, Joel Chng and Marc Justin De Souza Edited by: Teo Tong Kai & Eden Soh 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  ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Read Natasha Zachariah's articles: https://str.sg/iSXm Follow Natasha on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/v6DN --- Discover more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 The Usual Place: https://str.sg/wEr7u In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m Hard Tackle: https://str.sg/JWRE #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX --- ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Special edition series: True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2 Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa --- 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.

Consider other markets and the wider US tech sector.  Synopsis: Every third Monday of the month, hosts Lee Su Shyan and Ven Sreenivasan - both senior columnists at The Straits Times - offer you an extra edge in managing your hard-earned money. In this episode, Mr Adam Reynolds, Asia-Pacific CEO of Saxo, discusses the large exposure many investors have to the US tech stocks. What are the implications for them if the stocks face headwinds and how can they diversify? Highlights (click/tap above):  2:12 Headwinds that the Magnificent 7 are currently facing   3:42 Should you be diversifying away from Big US tech and how you can diversify by looking at other markets?   6:12 What about the wider US tech sector, apart from the Magnificent 7?  7:15: Implications of investing in tech sectors with the growth of AI   11:00 How investors can be positioned for the rest of the year  Produced by: Lee Su Shyan (sushyan@sph.com.sg), Ven Sreenivasan (ven@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis and Teo Tong Kai Edited by: Teo Tong Kai Follow ST's Your Money & Career Podcast channel here: Channel: https://str.sg/wB2m Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wuN3 Spotify: https://str.sg/wBr9 SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Read Ven Sreenivasan's articles: https://str.sg/wuQe Read Lee Su Shyan's articles: https://str.sg/wuQs Follow Lee Su Shyan on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/bZqN Get business/career tips in ST's HeadSTart newsletter: https://str.sg/headstart-nl --- Discover more ST podcast channels: The Usual Place: https://str.sg/5nfm  COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts --- Special edition series: True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2 Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa --- Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts! Do note: All analyses, opinions, recommendations and other information in this podcast are for your general information only. You should not rely on them in making any decision. Please consult a fully qualified financial adviser or professional expert for independent advice and verification. To the fullest extent permitted by law, SPH Media shall not be liable for any loss arising from the use of or reliance on any analyses, opinions, recommendations and other information in this podcast. SPH Media accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever that may result or arise from the products, services or information of any third parties. #moneycareerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

IMH trial to study efficacy of personalised transcranial magnetic stimulation for depression. Synopsis: Every first Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you. Researchers from the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) and the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine at the National University of Singapore are studying a new personalised treatment for resistant depression.  It is the personalised version of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), a non-invasive treatment that uses magnetic fields to stimulate and reset the specific part of the brain that regulates mood.  A clinical trial that aims to study its efficacy is currently being conducted at IMH. It pairs TMS with the algorithm of each patient’s functional magnetic resonance imaging to identify a precise spot on the head where magnetic stimulation can be applied to achieve better outcomes. In this Health Check podcast episode, ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo speaks to two experts involved in the trial. Dr Tor Phern Chern is a Senior Consultant at the Mood & Anxiety department and Head of Neurostimulation Service, at IMH and Associate Professor Thomas Yeo is from the Centre for Sleep and Cognition at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:28 How does TMS work?  8:47 Using a tape measure to ascertain the target area  10:34 What is depression? 23:29 Using Professor Yeo's algorithm to find an individual treatment target 25:52 What is the trial about?  29:27 Envisioning a future of TMS treatments Produced by: Joyce Teo (joyceteo@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis, and Eden Soh Edited by: Eden Soh Follow Health Check Podcast here every month and rate us: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaN Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWRX Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaQ SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Read Joyce Teo's stories: https://str.sg/JbxN --- Discover more ST podcast channels: The Usual Place: https://str.sg/5nfm COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts --- Special edition series: True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2 Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa --- Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts! #healthcheckSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did Singapore let its golden boy down in any way? Synopsis: The Straits Times tackles the talking points in sport every second Wednesday of the month.  In this episode of Hard Tackle, we delve into the lessons from the recent retirement of Singaporean swimming sensation Joseph Schooling on April 2, 2024, at just 28 years of age. Join ST Sports reporter Deepanraj Ganesan and assistant sports editor Rohit Brijnath as they host two guests - Singapore Aquatics president and former national swimmer Mark Chay and two-time Olympian David Lim. They explore the implications of Schooling's decision and discuss how Singapore can draw valuable lessons from his meteoric rise to the 100m butterfly gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics and his struggle after that historic win.  Could the Singapore sports ecosystem have done more for Schooling? Is there a conversation about national service and high performance athletes and crucially, who will be Singapore swimming’s next superstar after Schooling?  We ask the hard questions, the guests respond, and now it is time for you to listen in on our debate. Highlights (click/tap above): 3:00 Rohit Brijnath on how he felt after speaking to Schooling about his retirement  12:10 Why retirement was the better option for Schooling rather than going for success at regional competitions?   14:05 Could there have been better support for Schooling? 22:30 On how Singapore can do better in drawing on the knowledge, experience and ups and downs of our successful athletes  28:40 Why we need to have a closer look at how Schooling became a success  34:00 Will stakeholders have a conversation about NS and its impact on athletes? Listen to our earlier episode with Joseph Schooling himself: https://str.sg/LFUG Read: https://str.sg/JJJQF Produced by: Deepanraj Ganesan (gdeepan@sph.com.sg) & Amirul Karim Edited by: Amirul Karim Follow Hard Tackle every month here and get notified for new episode drops: Channel: https://str.sg/JWRE Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWRa Spotify: https://str.sg/JW6N SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Follow Deepanraj Ganesan on X: https://str.sg/wtra Read his articles: https://str.sg/ip4G Catch visual snippets of the podcast from ST's sports Instagram page: https://str.sg/vn2F --- Discover more ST podcast channels: The Usual Place: https://str.sg/wEr7u COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m Hard Tackle: https://str.sg/JWRE #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts --- Special edition series: True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2 Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa --- 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 #hardtackleSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.