Deep Dive

Karen Wee, Executive Director of Lions Befrienders, and Dr. Reuben Ng, a social gerontology expert, dive into the alarming rise of elderly Singaporeans living alone, which has doubled in a decade. They discuss the urgent need for community support and the dangers of isolation, linking loneliness to serious health risks. Reuben challenges ageist stereotypes, advocating for assessing capabilities over age. Together, they explore innovative solutions, from tech to tailored engagement programs, to empower seniors and improve their quality of life.

After Singapore beat Hong Kong to qualify for the Asian Cup, interim head coach Gavin Lee was handed the top job, with a mammoth task – to turn Singapore football around. He reveals how he's staking his 18-month contract on a bold strategy to strengthen the Lions. Steven Chia and Tiffany Ang speak to him about how he measures success on the football field and how challenging better national teams is part of the big plan.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When local bakery chain Twelve Cupcakes abruptly announced that they were closing and going into liquidation, about 80 employees were suddenly left jobless. Can more be done to strengthen Singapore’s employment laws without hurting our competitive edge? Steven Chia and Tiffany Ang sit down with Patrick Tay, assistant secretary-general of NTUC and Amarjit Kaur, head of employment at Withers KhattarWong on tightening safeguards when companies fail their employees.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A mother was recently sentenced to jail for faking her home address to get her child into a primary school, raising the question - just how far will parents go to secure a spot in their school of choice and how can we tighten the process? Steven Chia and Tiffany Ang unpack the pressures some parents face with Primary 1 registration with Junda Ong, founder of SG Schooling and Assistant Professor Jacqueline Ho from Singapore Management University. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singapore has revised its ambitious "30 by 30" goal, now aiming to produce 20 per cent of its fibre needs and 30 per cent of its protein requirements by 2035. But with high costs, limited land and a small farming base, how realistic are these farming targets? Steven Chia and Tiffany Ang unpack what it’ll take to build a resilient food supply chain and get Singaporeans to buy local with Professor Paul Teng from the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies and Ray Poh from Artisan Green.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With English dominating daily life in Singapore, some parents say they lack the confidence or motivation to speak and teach their mother tongue at home. So how can we help children appreciate and learn their mother tongue languages — and can we see them as more than just another school subject? Steven Chia and Tiffany Ang sit down with Dr Tan Ee Ling, owner of Shiawase Books and Hayati Abdullah from NUSA Malay Language Tuition and Enrichment Centre on this week’s episode of Deep Dive.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An independent review panel into the death of 4-year-old Megan Khung revealed multiple lapses and shortcomings across agencies. The findings cited a “lack of clear understanding and communication” among officers, child protection specialists and social workers. What must change to strengthen the child protection sector? How can society as a whole prevent another tragedy like Megan’s? Steven Chia sits down with Cindy Ng-Tay, director of Melrose Home at Children’s Aid Society and Dr Hana Alhadad, adviser at EveryChild.sg.  If you or someone you know is in an abusive relationship, contact the National Anti-Violence and Sexual Harassment Helpline at 1800-777-0000 or report it online. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A recent survey showed that teachers in Singapore work longer hours and grapple with more stress than their global peers. Besides teaching, they also plan learning journeys and school events, break up arguments and counsel students, and sometimes field after-hours messages from parents. Steven Chia speaks to former teacher Heidi Tan and Associate Professor Jason Tan from the National Institute of Education to find out what can be done to ease our educators' workloads.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ong Ye Kung, Singapore's Minister for Health, dives into the complexities of private health insurance. He explains how overly generous insurance riders have led to unnecessary tests and rising costs. Ong advocates for innovative insurance designs that promote lower premiums and responsible usage. He also highlights government plans to benchmark hospital charges to ensure fairness and reduce commercial pressures. With insights on the impact of private insurance on public healthcare, Ong provides practical advice for young Singaporeans navigating their options.

Thirteen primary and secondary schools will adopt a central kitchen model from January 2026, in a move aimed at addressing a shortage of canteen stall operators. What does this mean for students? And what parts of the traditional recess experience might get left behind? Steven Chia speaks to school canteen stall owner Rayner Tan and Ben Airey of Victus Catering.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.