In Your Opinion

Swiping for love used to be the way for millennials to find a connection, but there seems to be growing dating app disillusionment among the young. Synopsis: The Straits Times’ Natasha Ann Zachariah explores contemporary societal choices and youth perspectives. Bernice Fong, Dhareeni Shanmugam and John Lim are three under-30s who have had different experiences with dating apps over the years.John, who runs a content agency, finds that with everyone having many options, he feels “like a piece of meat” - an experience the 28-year-old finds can be dehumanising. Meanwhile Bernice has sworn off dating apps. The 28-year-old brand and marketing manager felt jaded and tired from swiping through but not quite finding the match she wanted.Dhareeni, a 26-year-old account executive for a public relations agency, shares why she swiped right on her boyfriend, and why she was drawn to his “niche preference” for fish.Host Natasha wants to find out why there’s no love lost between young people and dating apps. Highlights (click/tap above): 2:16 Are younger people ditching dating apps? 7:52 Making dating intentions clear 16:20 Getting dating app fatigue 27:54 Have young adults lost the art of conversation? 38:38 Is it more difficult for young people to date these days? Follow Natasha on her IG account and DM her your thoughts on this topic: https://str.sg/8Wav Host: Natasha Zachariah (natashaz@sph.com.sg) Edited by producers: Teo Tong Kai, Eden Soh and Zachary Lim 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.

Singapore’s most well-known OnlyFans creator Titus Low is slowly moving on from the platform that has brought him fame, money and drama. Lots of it. Synopsis: The Straits Times’ Natasha Ann Zachariah explores contemporary societal choices and youth perspectives and digs deeper into issues of the day. Sitting down with The Usual Place’s host Natasha Ann Zachariah, Titus opens up about asking to work with his family’s business and pursuing his childhood dream of becoming a real estate agent. He shares the lessons learnt and the fallout from baring all online. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:10 What is Titus up to these days?9.00 His post-pandemic popularity has dipped, no thanks to today's economic situation14.26 Dealing with mental health issues23.30 Why he has become more cautious about sharing his life online Follow Natasha on her IG account and DM her your thoughts on this topic: https://str.sg/8Wav Host: Natasha Zachariah (natashaz@sph.com.sg) Edited by producers: Eden Soh and Teo Tong Kai 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.

This generation, it appears in a survey result too, is not afraid to spend immediately for happiness or instant gratification, but they do so within their means. Synopsis: Every second Monday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests. It used to be that avocado toast was the symbol of millennial extravagance, infamous for dashing that generation’s chance of ever owning property - at least, according to Tim Gurner.  The Australian real estate millionaire in 2017 said that millennials should stop spending $19 for avocado toast if they ever want to own homes. Over half a decade since the rise of the avocado millennial, Gen Z - those born 1997 to 2012 - have outstripped them in splurging. And mostly, for pleasure.  Just in Singapore, we’re seeing 20-somethings fork out $10,000 for holidays and almost just as much to catch Taylor Swift overseas. But a recent IPS study found that the young are still spending within their means.  Still, are they putting aside enough funds for a rainy day in the future?  In this episode, ST assistant podcast editor Lynda Hong and co-host and STNow reporter Carmen Sin speak with their two guests to find out if youths are caught in a financial jam between spending and saving the fruits of their labour.  Having saved his first $100,000 at age 28, He Ruiming, now 35 and co-founder of personal finance blog The Woke Salaryman, urges disciplined financial perspectives for Gen Z.  Joining the discussion is Daisy Anne Mitchell, 26, who is British but has lived and studied in schools in Singapore since she was five. She has worked two full-time jobs after graduating from school, but made a U-turn to freelancing and working as an influencer now - where she has gotten flak online for being candid about her cashflow.  Highlights (click/tap above): 2:15 Eating broccoli and chicken for three years? Freelancing as a career - Ruiming and Daisy share their habits on saving, earning and spending 9:30 Managing financial prudence even when renting 16:38 Taking private hire transport like Grab or taxis to work: Is that prudent all the time? 21:26 Why Daisy thinks that the recent Covid era has reduced the value of money for Gen Zers 28:12 Daisy on her working life since she was 15, and discusses how an influencer career has worked for her 33:59 Ruiming and Daisy on gaining financial freedom  Produced by: Carmen Sin (carmensin@sph.com.sg), Lynda Hong (lyndahong@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis & Hadyu Rahim Edited by: Hadyu Rahim  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 ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Read ST's Opinion section: https://str.sg/w7sH --- 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 --- #inyouropinionSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.

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.

Two youth volunteers - adults with full-time jobs - explain what motivates them to spark change in the community.  Synopsis: Every second Monday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests. Youth Corps Singapore, which is under the National Youth Council, turns 10 in 2024. It is a division under the council that champions youth volunteerism to ignite positive change in society through community service. In this episode, ST podcast assistant editor Lynda Hong speaks with two volunteer leaders Afzal Hadi and Valerie Kwa, to find out about their experience with Youth Corps Singapore.  Afzal is currently the Welfare Lead in the Engagement Taskforce Cluster and is a member of the Ambassadors Team cluster, while Valerie is Publicity Team Lead within the Mental Health Cluster. The two young working adults - Afzal is in business development while Valerie is in social service - also offer tips on how to pick a cluster to volunteer with. Clusters can be thought of a “specialisation” - youth-led, youth-run interest groups within Youth Corps. They include: Children, Youth and Family, Eldercare, Special Needs, Beyond Singapore, Mental Health and Sustainability. This podcast is brought to you by National Youth Council: https://str.sg/wFbf Highlights (click/tap above): 1:30 Life-changing experiences from volunteering - Afzal's U-turn from business school to study social work instead, and Valerie advocating for mental health  5:50 How youths can pick their preferred cause from Youth Corps’ 12 clusters - specialisation areas 7:40 Discovering leadership style through volunteerism 11:04 Afzal and Valerie on Youth Corps allowing interested youths to try out in a small way, before deciding which cluster to volunteer in 12:30 How much time Afzal and Valerie spends on volunteering?  14:40 Despite working full-time jobs, hear why Afzal and Valerie are still volunteering *Youth Corps will also organise a 10th Anniversary Carnival at *Scape Playspace in Somerset on July 6, 2024. *Interested youths can also participate in the Do Good Fest, which will be held from May to July, providing over 3,000 opportunities to learn about volunteerism. More on: Youth Corps Singapore’s Instagram page: https://str.sg/eYAZ Youth Corps Singapore’s Website: https://str.sg/bx2p Youth Corps Singapore’s Telegram group for volunteering opportunities: https://str.sg/AtWZ Produced by: Lynda Hong (lyndahong@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis & Hadyu Rahim  Edited by: Hadyu Rahim & Amirul Karim 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 ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Read ST's Opinion section: https://str.sg/w7sH --- 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 --- #inyouropinionSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our guests discuss if parenthood is an expectation or choice. Synopsis: The Straits Times’ Natasha Ann Zachariah explores contemporary societal choices and youth perspectives and digs deeper into issues of the day. In Singapore, where preliminary estimates indicate its Total Fertility Rate hit a record low of 0.97 in 2023, some are opting to remain child-free. In the first episode of our new podcast series, The Usual Place’s host Natasha Ann Zachariah brings together two guests who hold opposing views on being parents. Joan Chong, 35, never wants kids. She never yearned for them before she got married, and flat out told her partner when they started dating, that she did not want to be a parent. Meanwhile, Dainial Lim is a passionate voice in favour of embracing the joys of parenthood. To him, having children is a natural path in life after getting married, and it would have been a relationship dealbreaker for him if his wife was not for it. They sit down with Natasha to dissect their personal choices in a candid and unfiltered conversation. What unfolds is a discussion about their choices and dissecting the misconceptions that come with it. Highlights (click/tap above): 3:56 Is it still taboo to say you want to be childfree 6:48 Do women still bear the burden of raising children? 9:44 Joan’s realities of being childfree 14:31 The scary part about having children 17:16 How kids changed Dainial’s life 23:05 Does Joan feel left out for not receiving government incentives? 25:17 Are Singaporean parents entitled? 31:25 If anyone’s on the fence about having children, what would Joan and Dainial tell them? DM Natasha your thoughts on this topic at her IG: https://str.sg/8Wav Watch the video version of this episode: https://str.sg/nZDz Produced by: Natasha Zachariah (natashaz@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis, Lynda Hong and Studio+65 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 Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts 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: 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 #tup #tuptrSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With Singapore’s resident total fertility rate dropping below 1 for the first time - hitting a historic low at 0.97 last year in 2023 - we discuss how the birth rate can be boosted. Synopsis: Every second Monday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests. For many years in Singapore, we have not had enough babies to replace ourselves, with the Total Fertility rate, or TFR, remaining below the replacement rate of 2.1.  Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Indranee Rajah - who assists in oversight of the National Population and Talent Division in the PMO - said in Parliament on Feb 28, that preliminary estimates indicate a resident TFR of 0.97 in 2023, posing twin demographic challenges for Singapore alongside an ageing population. In this episode, ST podcast assistant editor Lynda Hong hosts Ms Indranee to find out how workplaces here can become more family-friendly, and debates what an “excellent parent” should ideally mean in this day and age.   Two young parents - unmarried to each other - are also in the studio to ask Ms Indranee about how Singapore's workplaces can be made friendly for parents juggling child-rearing responsibilities.  Mr Daniel Lim, a 31-year-old research analyst, is a father of three. Ms Deniece Grace Foo, 37, runs Emerge Arts and Media Academy, a performing arts school for children. She has two young children.  They also share their personal challenges and joys in raising a family.  Highlights (click/tap above): 1:40 The government-paid paternity leave has just been doubled to four weeks on a voluntary basis; Minister Indranee on how the take-up rate is at just over 50% for now 2:33 Deniece asks the Minister: What can be done to support manpower challenges faced by SMEs? 7:38 Minister Indranee addresses the fear of a lack of mobility in one's career due to flexible work arrangement requests, and why Singapore employers who are hesitant to adopt such practices, should see it as a competitive advantage in hiring 9:20 Daniel’s experience as a "young parent employee", on "wanting to succeed at home and at work", and Deniece’s experience as an young employer helping "young parent employees" 23:24 Daniel asks the Minister: Would there ever be a form of grandparents childcare leave, especially if they will be the new "young working seniors" in future? Can Singapore be branded as one of the most "family-friendly nations" globally? 31:20 Minister Indranee on a line in her Parliament speech, on how “pressures to be an excellent parent” is one of the concerns to having children; 35:10 Daniel and Deniece on juggling pressures to be "excellent" young parents Produced by: Lynda Hong (lyndahong@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis, Hadyu Rahim & Amirul Karim Edited by: Hadyu Rahim & Amirul Karim Follow In Your Opinion Podcast here and rate us: Channel: https://str.sg/w7Qt Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wukb Spotify: https://str.sg/w7sV SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Read ST's Opinion section: https://str.sg/w7sH Read ST's Budget 2024 coverage: https://www.straitstimes.com/tags/budget-2024 --- Discover more ST podcast channels: 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! #inyouropinionSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two young hawkers chat about the profession in this era of high inflation - how to maintain profitability while still serving that affordable meal.  Synopsis: Every second Monday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests. The cost of living has gotten more expensive in the last two years. Inflation measured by a basket of consumer goods was 4.8 per cent higher in 2023 than 2022, more than in 2021 when the price increase was at 2.3 per cent. For young hawkers who also have their families to care for, maintaining a profit margin while resisting raising prices, can be challenging.  Cost differences between running a stall in private coffee shops vis a vis hawker centres managed by NEA, could make a stark difference in profitability, according to two hawkers. In this episode,ST podcast assistant editor Lynda Hong speaks with Jeevan Ananthan, 32, who sells Li Na noodles - bak chor mee - in three stalls in coffee shops with a central kitchen. Also in the studio is Cornelius Tan, 38, vice-chairman of the Chinatown Complex Hawker association. He is also a second-generation hawker of Chai Wee Cuttlefish stall in a hawker centre managed by the NEA.   They also talk about how the government subsidy waives the 0.5 per cent transaction fee that stallholders will have to pay for each digital transaction – those made via QR code payments under the Singapore Quick Response Code (SGQR) platform. The new subsidy window, under the Hawkers Go Digital initiative to spur more merchants to digitalise, continues until Dec 31, 2024 – the second time it has been extended. It was initially extended to the end of 2023 to support stallholders during the Covid-19 pandemic. Highlights (click/tap above): 7:34 “Let hawkers increase prices without guilt”? How rentals in hawker centres managed by NEA are charged differently from private coffee shops and food courts 13:20 Juggling manpower costs: Hiring Singaporeans and Permanent Residents (PRs) 15:19 Is there "greed" when it comes to rent in private coffee shops and food courts?  16:13 Why the SGQR unified payment code method has helped many hawkers survive lately 17:30 Jeevan's and Cornelius' journey from the corporate world to the hawker profession; did their university degrees help in current hawker profession? 24:32 Overseas ventures: How will the Lina Noodles empire strike out next?26:01 Advice for young and aspiring hawkers or “hawkerpreneurs” Produced by: Lynda Hong (lyndahong@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis and Hadyu Rahim Edited by: Hadyu Rahim Follow In Your Opinion Podcast here and rate us: Channel: https://str.sg/w7Qt Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wukb Spotify: https://str.sg/w7sV SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Read ST's Opinion section: https://str.sg/w7sH --- Discover more ST podcast channels: 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! #inyouropinionSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This Budget 2024 special analysis examines how measures announced would benefit Singaporean youth, from education, to housing, childcare and inflation.  Synopsis: Titled “Building our Shared Future Together”, Budget 2024 was delivered by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong in Parliament on Feb 16, 2024.  The plan for revenue and expenditure of the Singapore government was laid out to address immediate challenges like cost-of-living pressures while investing in longer-term goals of strong economic growth, better jobs and a culture of lifelong learning. We examine how Budget 2024's measures announced would benefit Singaporean youth, from education, to housing, childcare and inflation.  In this special episode, ST assistant podcast editor Lynda Hong hosts two guests: Ms Cherlyn Ng, 35, a video producer who has two young children. Ms Ng is also a young union leader with Creative Media Publishing Union, which is affiliated to NTUC.  Mr Jod Gill is global employer services partner at Deloitte Singapore. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:46 Should the SkillsFuture Level-Up Programme, which gives $4,000 to a Singaporean worker aged 40 and above, also in future, include workers in their 30s? 4:38 Cherlyn on how the new SkillsFuture Level-Up programme might in future, help young mothers restart their careers for example; Jod on the impact on younger workers 7:40 Thoughts on the financial support from the (Open Market) Voucher under the Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme for young couples waiting for Build-To-Order (BTO) homes. 9:08 Would new subsidies for pre-schools be enough to push Ms Ng to consider having a third child? Pre-school subsidy indicative of inflation pressures on younger families? 11:25 Cherlyn on renewed support for cost-of-living measures like CDC vouchers and U-save rebates; Jod on how personal tax rebates can help cushion higher cost of living 15:40 Reacting to how ITE graduates will get S$5,000 when enrolling for a diploma, and a S$10,000 CPF top-up when attaining it Read ST's Budget 2024 coverage: https://str.sg/6kzj Produced by: Lynda Hong (lyndahong@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis, Hadyu Rahim & Amirul Karim Edited by: Hadyu Rahim Follow In Your Opinion Podcast here and rate us: Channel: https://str.sg/w7Qt Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wukb Spotify: https://str.sg/w7sV SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Read ST's Opinion section: https://str.sg/w7sH --- Discover more ST podcast channels: 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! #inyouropinionSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.