In 1965, Singapore separated from Malaysia, shattering the hope of a shared postcolonial future. The new country needed as many friends as it could get. The man who led the effort to secure Singapore’s place on the global stage was S. Rajaratnam, our first Foreign Minister. Today, we speak to Irene Ng, author of The Lion’s Roar, which is the second…

Singapore’s short film industry is a small but vibrant one. With limited budgets, filmmakers aim to spotlight events and issues that rarely surface in more mainstream platforms. One such filmmaker is Leon Cheo, who has directed short films that focus on Singapore’s history. Today, we speak to Leon about his films Two is Enough (about the Stop at Tw…

Most of us are familiar with famous intelligence agencies such as the American CIA, the British MI6 and Israel’s Mossad. But did you know Singapore has its own spy agency known as the Security and Intelligence Division (SID)? Its first chief was Tay Seow Huah, who helped build Singapore’s early intelligence capabilities during the height of the Col…

The Singapore Heritage Fest this year celebrates our nation's rich built heritage. One of the most striking examples of this are the public housing estates which dominate Singapore’s urban landscape. How did we remake the island’s colonial era urban spaces into Singapore’s earliest HDB estates? How did rehousing Singaporeans change our lifestyles a…

When we study and discuss history in Singapore, we usually focus on the social and political history of this country. However, the people’s relationship with this island’s natural environment also tells a rich story of its own. Today, we speak to Associate Professor Timothy Barnard from the National University of Singapore about his new edited book…

When we think about the history of Indians in British Malaya, their work in the rubber estates usually comes to mind first. But Indians also helped construct, operate and maintain the Malayan Railways that stretched across the peninsula and connected Singapore as well. Along with the tracks came numerous Hindu temples and shrines that shaped Malaya…

When we think about Southeast Asia during the Cold War, we usually think just about Indochina and the Vietnam War. But British counterinsurgency strategies and engagement with nationalist elites in Malaya and Singapore also influenced America’s anti-communist policies in the region. Today, we speak to Associate Professor Ngoei Wen-Qing from the Sin…

Issues in the Economic profession, Universal Basic Income and the cost of not investing in social welfare policies, AI & Economics, Alternative Corporate Structures Unlearning Economics is a content creator and academic economist from the UK who has long been critical of the economics profession and how economics is used in public policy. Unlearnin…

Being a science content creator, travelling to Antarctica, environmental challenges that Singapore faces, Invasive species in Singapore Biogirl MJ, is the Co-founder and Host of the educational science channel Just Keep Thinking, which spreads knowledge about science and wildlife to children and adults alike. Just Keep Thinking TikTok Youtube Shown…

Before he was President of Singapore, Yusof Ishak was the Yang di-Pertuan Negara which directly translates to “He Who is Made Lord”. Singaporeans generally know little about this role, other than it was the predecessor of the current presidency and a symbol of self-government. But in fact, the British, Federation of Malaya, and Singapore leaders al…

NTUC FairPrice is such a household icon in Singapore that it’s more famous than the union movement itself. But how did NTUC come to operate a supermarket chain in the first place? Today, we speak to Sue-Ann Chia, co-editor of a new book titled “The Price of Being Fair” which chronicles FairPrice’s 50 years in business. We discuss FairPrice’s beginn…

In 1996, an Ang Moh arrived in Toa Payoh to start a new life. He loved Singapore’s idiosyncrasies so much that he decided to turn his humorous observations of everyday life here into a series of books. Today, we speak to Neil Humphreys, author of Notes From An Even Smaller Island (2001) and numerous other titles, about his take on 1990s Singapore, …

Long before Pink Dot and the repeal of Section 377A, Singapore had a colourful Queer history of recreation, repression, and resistance during the 20th century. Today, we speak to Roy Tan, a veteran activist and archivist who founded the Singapore LGBT Encyclopedia Wiki. We discuss the history of activism, AIDS, gay bars, entrapment operations, medi…

Looking at Singapore’s football scene today, it is hard to imagine that we once enjoyed a golden age in football. But we did enjoy that golden age. The man often credited for nurturing it is Choo Seng Quee. Also known as Uncle Choo, he coached the Singapore national team to victory at the iconic 1977 Malaysia Cup final. Today, we speak to Reynold P…

The physical shopping mall is increasingly seen as out of date with the rise of online shopping. However, shopping malls were once considered major symbols of Singapore’s rapid modernisation. They became homes to youth culture, video arcades and even artistic protest. Today, we speak to Assistant Professor Liew Kai Khiun from Hong Kong Metropolitan…

Concerns about loneliness, Comparison and happiness, Mindful digital use, How to rest well, Eudymonia Dr. Jean Liu is a consultant at Insights Bridge. She is a former professor of Yale-NUS College and consultant for the World Health Organization, with a background in psychology, tech, health, and the arts. She specializes in data-driven insights, u…

Singapore is a city renowned for its reputation as a stern, conservative environment. But history reveals a more colourful past, where queer people carved out spaces for their own voices despite overwhelming discrimination. Today, we speak to Isaac Tng, who has curated a walking tour exploring Singapore’s LGBT past, and discuss the significance of …

Why do Singaporeans move overseas? Are enough Singaporeans exciting? Could Singapore ever build a Google? Is Singapore boring? Melody is a weab who used to live in Japan. She's now doing her masters doing a double masters program at Kyoto University (MBA) and Cornell University (Masters in Hospitality Management). Melody's Links: Website Old Episod…

Raffles Institution celebrates its 200th anniversary in 2023. The school is more than an institution, weaving itself into Singapore’s history through the decades. Nowhere is this documented better than in The Rafflesian, which has been the official school magazine since 1886, and many other student publications. Today, we speak to Theophilus Kwek a…

Gaps of treating Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) in Singapore, Issues faced by ADHDers, Strengths of ADHDers, ADHD awareness programmes in Singapore Moonlake Lee is the Founder and Executive Director of Unlocking ADHD. An ADHDer diagnosed at the age of 50 a year after her daughter was diagnosed, Moonlake is passionate about empowering…

Generations of Singapore students will remember going on learning journeys to the Kranji War Memorial. But few of us know why it's in Kranji in the first place or how its design came about. Today, we speak to Athanasios Tsakonas, an Australian architect, who has researched the history of Kranji War Memorial’s construction and its perception by vari…

Drugs to slow aging, factors of aging and morbidity, arguments for promoting reverse-aging treatments, eye health and age-related disease. Benjamin’s Introduction: I’m Benjamin Wu, an Aussie PhD student studying ageing biology and regenerative medicine at UNSW Sydney, and am a clinical optometrist interested in age-related eye disease. I became pro…

A monologue about chronic disease. There were no guests on today's episode. Join the BTHpod Telegram channel now for the latest updates and to interact with other listeners. Follow But Then How? on our social media: Twitter - @BTHPodcastSG Instagram - @bthpodsg TikTok - @bthpodcast Shownotes: Hit by stroke in their 30s, more young people in Singapo…

Types of scams (especially towards women), how to prevent yourself from being scammed. Sarah is not the best girl, not the worst girl. She's an average girl. A mean girl. She will strike you down with a sword or suplex you into the ground, but that's up to you. Sarah’s Links: Blog Twitter Article about her recent wrestling match Join the BTHpod Tel…

Large numbers of Chinese men arrived in colonial Singapore to do domestic work in European households. They often worked under the supervision of white women who managed the households while their husbands took care of official business. Other Chinese men joined the local sex trade, servicing male European clients. Today, we speak to Aydin Quach, a…

From the 1950s to the 1970s, no Chinese community in Southeast Asia was more vigilant in identifying and rooting out suspected communists, and committed to mobilising against the People's Republic of China as the Philippine Chinese. Today, we speak to Assistant Professor Chien-Wen Kung from the National University of Singapore, about his new book, …

Building opposition pre-electoral alliances significantly enhances the chances of opposition victory against dominant incumbent autocrats. But opposition parties, including in Singapore, frequently find it difficult to make the costly compromises necessary for inter-party cooperation. When and how do opposition parties build pre-electoral alliances…

Venerable Hong Choon may not be a familiar name to many younger Singaporeans. But the former President of the Singapore Buddhist Federation played an important role in diplomacy between Singapore and the People’s Republic of China in the 1980s. Today, we speak to Assistant Professor Jack Chia from the National University of Singapore, on Venerable …

Singapore’s pioneer generation of political leaders, known as the Old Guard, are well known in our history. However, the civil servants who oversaw the implementation of policies and projects during that era have largely been forgotten. In fact, eight individuals were so influential they were known as the eight immortals: George Bogaars, Andrew Che…

A conversation discussing Lawrence Wong, the next leader of Singapore's PAP as selected by the party's senior membership. Han is one of four nannies for a 10-year-old one-eyed Maltese named Jelly. He derives all joy and meaning from the entertainment media he consumes. Join the BTHpod Telegram channel now for the latest updates and to interact with…

Types of History, Using tiktok to share about history, Each generation’s proud and shameful moments Dhev is pursuing a Master of Arts in History at the National University of Singapore (NUS). He publishes a newsletter, the Historyogi Post, a newsletter on history and politics in Singapore for researchers, history buffs and the general public. He al…

OB Markers in different countries, Who Wants to Be Singapore’s Prime Minister (No One)?, Life after Donald Trump Jon moved to Asia after spending a decade in San Francisco, studying business. He makes video essays on write on Asian finance, economics, and history, notably on semiconductors and high technology. He has a “Real Job” but somehow doesn’…

Semiconductors, Jon’s impression of Singaporeans Jon moved to Asia after spending a decade in San Francisco, studying business. He makes video essays on write on Asian finance, economics, and history, notably on semiconductors and high technology. He has a “Real Job” but somehow doesn’t have a “real desk” at home. Jon’s Links: Asianometry Newslette…

Dhev and I discuss the change in Safe Management Measures that kick in on 29th March 2022. Singapore Government COVID-19 Revised Safe Management Measures The Historyogi Podcast The Historyogi Newsletter

About true crime podcasts, Apple's M1 Chip, Violence against women, How we would commit murder Teddy Teo lives in the Aljunied area in Singapore near the Kallang River, where a couple of bodies have been disposed of in recent times. In her regular life, she has a full-time job that she enjoys very, very much. Almost as much as eating chunky peanut …

The podcast space in Singapore, podcast production for the academic sphere, Assumptions about social policies and meritocracy, the state of Gen-Zs Social service episodes The Nine Days #GE2020 The minimum wage, the Progressive Wage Model, and low-wage labour in Singapore “Mind the chasm”: The pandemic’s devastatingly uneven impact and the insecurit…

The political story of Singapore’s industrialisation is well-known, including the role of Jurong Industrial Estate and Dr Goh Keng Swee. However, the stories of the Singaporeans who worked in these factories have rarely been discussed in detail until now. Today, we speak to Dr Loh Kah Seng, co-author of the book Theatres of Memory: Industrial Herit…

Hindutva, the predominant form of Hindu nationalism in India, has emerged as a powerful and polarising force. Hindutva aims to ultimately transform India from a secular republic into a Hindu state. Since the election of Narendra Modi in 2014, followers of Hindutva have become bolder in targeting minorities and critics with intimidation and violence…

A series of racist incidents took place in Singapore last year, raising questions about how we should tackle such issues more decisively. Opinions are split on whether there should be more dialogue or whether culprits should face stiffer legal penalties. Today, we speak to Nazhath Faheema, Founder and President of hash.peace, a social harmony advoc…

Mindfulness of our emotion and trauma, Habits to improve our mental well-being, Seeking professional help in therapy, Stressors for men and women in particular Fiona Fussi is an international model, actress and influencer who is also the creator of @latenightthoughtsclub. She is an advocate of mental health and giving back, and enjoys fitness, fash…

About A Millennial Mess , Meeting a (dating app) date’s friends, Taking people on the app for granted, Long term psychological effects, The dilemma of being authentic early, Self-awareness “A Millennial Mess” is a podcast hosted weekly by Jade Kerr and Deniece Foo. They first met while playing music together and to this day still teach music and da…

Types of lessons at Sandbox, Lessons from the stunt industry in Singapore, Action styles in movies Sandbox Training Ground is a center in central Singapore that teaches Fight Choreography, Wire-works, and also a site for people to practice other disciplines like parkour, tricking, gymnastics in a fun and safe way. Sandbox Training Ground: Instagram…

In September this year, the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia announced the AUKUS security pact, which includes an agreement to provide Australia with nuclear-powered submarines. This development has been both welcomed and criticised by countries in the Indo-Pacific region. Today, we speak to Dr Euan Graham, Senior Fellow for Asia Pac…

Generational divides in technology use, Vulnerability to scams, Deliberation whilst using devices. Dr. Natalie Pang is Senior Lecturer, Undergraduate Director and Deputy Head of the Communications and New Media Department at the National University of Singapore. Her research lies at the intersection of technology and society, and her research proje…

Slight generational differences, How our podcast started, Our process in our respective podcasts Too young to be boomers. Too old to be young punks. 2 middle aged buggers with generic names, Ivan & Charles try to make sense of this crazy world. CLICK HERE FOR PART 2. Join our Telegram channel now for the latest updates and to interact with other li…

Unfair standards placed on women about sexual 'purity', The Social Purity Movement, The importance of reaching out for help after facing trauma Join our Telegram channel now for the latest updates and to interact with other listeners. Follow us on our social media: Twitter - @BTHPodcastSG Instagram - @bthpodsg TikTok - @bthpodcast Shownotes: The So…

Responsibility of getting checked for STIs, Taboo about female and male sexuality, One’s self presentation vs one’s sexual activity, Some data about sex in Singapore. Miss Taco is a friend from university. Join our Telegram channel now for the latest updates and to interact with other listeners. Follow us on our social media: Twitter - @BTHPodcastS…

The rise of an increasingly affluent and assertive China is dramatically changing our strategic environment. As a Chinese majority country, Singapore’s ties with China have special significance. Today, we speak to Sense Hofstede, a PhD candidate in Comparative Asian Studies at the National University of Singapore, on the complex history of the loca…

Getting a HPV vaccine, the pains of getting an IUD into one’s cervix, Researching online about birth control This is part 1 of a mini-series about sexual health and sexual taboo. Follow us on our social media: Twitter Instagram TikTok

Hossan Leong is a consummate performer and director whose skills include singing, dancing, acting, piano playing, and stand-up comedy. He is actively involved in theatre, television, film and radio. In 2020, Hossan conceptualized, produced and directed the world’s first virtual interactive play, The Curious Case of the Missing Peranakan Treasure, s…