Podcast · News

The Usual Place

by The Straits Times · English · News

Synopsis: Join host and correspondent Natasha Ann Zachariah every Thursday, as she unpacks the latest current affairs with guests. Podcaster: Natasha Ann Zachariah Executive producer: Danson Cheong A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media

New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 43 min
Latest: 8 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

8 Oct 2026 · 39 min

S1E114: Will LTA’s proposed changes fix the COE system?

Will COE prices for cars fall if there is just one COE category for cars, with a tiered surcharge or rebate depending on the vehicle’s open market value? These are some changes that the Land Transport Authority (LTA) proposed on Oct 8, as part of a review of the COE system. This comes as the gap between Category A and B premiums has narrowed, making the distinction between mass-market and higher-end cars less clear. In this episode of The Usual Place, Natasha speaks to ST’s senior transport correspondent Lee Nian Tjoe and NUS associate professor Timothy Wong, who researches…

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

S1 · E113 · 1 Oct 2026 · 54 min
S1E113: Ex-RI teacher and sociologist unpack Singapore’s primary school race
Parents have long complained that the education system in Singapore is too stressful for children. To address their concerns, the Ministry of Education has made policy changes over the years, including scrapping PSLE T-scores and removing weighted assessments and examinations at certain levels. But have these measures worked? A recent survey by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) showed that parents are more stressed than 10 years ago, and they are spending more on tuition and enrichment classes. The Straits Times also reported that some property agents now explicitly market themselves as…
S1 · E112 · 24 Sep 2026 · 48 min
S1E112: Something bigger will have to happen before people take AI safety seriously: AI safety researcher
Will AI eventually be able to kill us, or are AI doomsayers being alarmist? Recently, employees at AI frontier companies like Anthropic and OpenAI have voiced serious concerns - and made doomsday predictions - about the technology getting out of control. What made people pay attention: Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon publicly quit the AI giant in September, writing on X that “the people building AI earnestly believe that it could kill us all by the end of the decade”. His warning comes after the high-profile OpenAI-Hugging Face incident: OpenAI models broke out of an isolated…
S1 · E111 · 17 Sep 2026 · 38 min
S1E111: True Fitness closure: Why most members will get $0 back
If you’re a customer with a pre-paid package with a business and it closes, will you ever get your money back? True Fitness and True Yoga customers and employees were left in the lurch last week after the businesses shuttered. Many have unused memberships, packages and services, and members have reported losses of more than $609,000. And it’s not just gyms. Prepayment packages are common at nail salons, spas, interior design and renovation firms, and bridal studios. When these businesses close, what happens to consumers’ money, and are there ways consumers can be better…
S1 · E110 · 11 Sep 2026 · 51 min
S1E110: Singapore ministerial pay debate: Paying top talent competitive salaries is in the ‘soul of the PAP’
Will the increase in ministerial salaries cost the People’s Action Party (PAP) votes at the next General Election? On Sept 8, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced that political office-holders will get a one-off pay increase of up to 9 per cent. This will take effect from Oct 15 - an entry-level grade MR4 minister getting the full adjustment will see his annual pay rise from $1.1 million to $1.2 million. The changes to salaries come after the Government accepted the recommendations of a committee convened to review political salaries. One of its recommendations is that the MR4…
S1 · E109 · 3 Sep 2026 · 51 min
S1E109: Lifting of wait out period for private home owners could flood HDB market with cash-rich buyers
If you own a private condominium unit and are looking to downgrade, or a family considering buying a BTO flat, the two recent housing policy changes would have brought some relief. In July, the 15-month wait-out period for private residential property owners who want to buy a non-subsidised HDB resale flat was lifted. In his National Day Rally speech, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced that the income ceiling for BTO flats and new executive condominiums will be raised, and more ballot chances for first-timers with children. How will these moves affect housing prices, and will there be…
S1 · E108 · 24 Aug 2026 · 46 min
S1E108: Can cash, childcare leave and BTO priority get Singaporeans to have kids? | National Day Rally 2026
If you’ve been thinking about having kids, last night’s National Day Rally might have given you something to rally about. Parents - and those who are considering having children - were the focus of PM Wong’s address on August 23. In a nutshell, parents will get more help: more childcare leave and financial support, along with lower pre-school fees and more ballot chances when buying their first BTO flat. But will this move the needle on our Total Fertility Rate, which now stands at 0.87? Natasha asks Senior Parliamentary Secretary Goh Hanyan from the Ministry of Culture,…
S1 · E107 · 20 Aug 2026 · 43 min
S1E107: What the Maju Forest and Gillman Barracks debate showed about policy making and consultation
What kind of involvement do Singaporeans want in policymaking? The Maju Forest-Gillman Barracks issue has seen Singaporeans making their voices heard, offering counter-proposals, and demanding more transparency from the Government. This isn’t the first time Singaporeans have made their views known - remember issues including the Dear You bilingual policy debate, the SimplyGo roll out, and the scrapped NTUC Income-Allianz deal. Are we in a new era of civic participation, and does the way the Government engages Singaporeans need to change? Also, would too much consultation hamper…
S1 · E106 · 13 Aug 2026 · 39 min
S1E106: Will the new National Library Board campaign get more people to read books?
Would you read regularly if you were paid to do so? The National Library Board (NLB) is hoping that people will develop a consistent reading habit by giving readers virtual coins that can eventually be exchanged for cash. They need to spend at least 15 minutes on the activity each day. But why does the library have to incentivise us to read for fun? What do we lose when we no longer read, especially if we’re choosing to doomscroll instead? In this episode of The Usual Place, I speak with: Associate Professor Loh Chin Ee from the National Institute of Education, who researches…
S1 · E105 · 6 Aug 2026 · 43 min
S1E105: 2 out of 3 suicide deaths are men, a psychiatrist explains why
Millennials are the generation that changed the conversation around mental health. They normalised mental health talk, encouraged self-care and made going to therapy less taboo. So what caused the 50 per cent jump in suicide deaths among adults in their 30s in 2024? Recently released data from the annual report on registration of births and deaths by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority showed there were 441 suicide deaths in Singapore in 2024. Suicide among adults aged between 30 and 39 increased from 66 cases in 2023 to 99 in 2024. In this episode, Natasha speaks with Dr Jared Ng, a…
S1 · E104 · 30 Jul 2026 · 44 min
S1E104: JB-Singapore RTS Link: Singaporeans will spend $1bn more in JB
Will the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link sound the death knell for smaller, home-grown businesses when it opens in a few months? A new study, which was released on July 16, highlighted how Singaporeans are slated to spend $1.05 billion more across the Causeway in 2027. But visitors from the other side aren’t expected to send as much business our way. JB visitors are projected to spend about $756 million more. The Singapore Business Federation (SBF), the Restaurant Association of Singapore and the Singapore Retailers Association jointly commissioned the study to…
S1 · E103 · 23 Jul 2026 · 49 min
S1E103: Faishal Ibrahim’s exit: Are the PAP’s moral standards turning people away from politics?
It has been quite a week in Singapore politics, with adjustments to the Cabinet line-up and the surprise resignation of Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Faishal Ibrahim. In this episode, Natasha takes a deep dive into the implications of blooding younger politicians such as Jasmin Lau into the Cabinet and junior ministerial roles now, and if the PAP’s high moral standards will cost them future talent. Singapore Management University law professor Eugene Tan and independent political observer Dr Felix Tan weigh in on the diversity of the new Cabinet and why politics is not…
S1 · E102 · 16 Jul 2026 · 41 min
S1E102: 1 in 3 employers are hiring contract workers. Are contract jobs the new norm for Singapore grads?
Should young job seekers start their careers with contract roles? With stiff competition for full-time roles, a tight job market and employers being more selective about new permanent hires, perhaps contract roles shouldn’t be off the table. In Singapore, such roles have become more common over the past few years. What can young people do to build their careers? Also, is contract work truly the ‘lesser cousin’ of permanent work? In this episode, I speak with: • Francois Lancon, the regional president of Asia Pacific and Middle East for ManpowerGroup, a global expert on…
S1 · E101 · 9 Jul 2026 · 46 min
S1E101: Singapore lawyers are facing bullying and burnout, why hasn’t anything changed in 30 years?
Are Singapore’s lawyers doing ok? The Legal Profession Sustainability Study, which was released on June 23, suggests that lawyers were leaving the profession because of toxic bosses, inflexible court timelines, punishing deadlines and the constant need to be available 24/7. These are just some of the grievances aired in the study, which had 31 in-depth interviews with former judges, legal academics and lawyers from diverse types of firms. There was also a survey done with 855 practising and former lawyers. What is the cost of becoming a lawyer in Singapore, and is it worth it any more?…
S1 · E100 · 30 Jun 2026 · 26 min
S1E100: Were unhappy WP veterans behind the challenge to Pritam Singh?
Workers’ Party chief Pritam Singh fobbed off talk that he would face a challenge to his position at the party’s proceedings on June 28. The results from the party’s internal meetings showed that most party members are still very much behind him. What does this mean for the WP, and has the party turned the page on the saga involving Raeesah Khan? In this episode, I chat with Tham Yuen-C, senior political correspondent at The Straits Times who has covered WP for about a decade, and Dr Teo Kay Key, a senior research fellow at IPS Social Lab at the Institute of Policy Studies,…
S1 · E99 · 25 Jun 2026 · 44 min
S1E99: Dear You debate: Is it time to relook rules on Chinese dialects?
The Chinese film Dear You, shot almost entirely in Teochew, is not only a box office hit - it has ignited intense debate among Chinese Singaporeans. From film-makers to politicians, many people have weighed in on the authorities’ decision to limit screenings of the Teochew version, and instead have a wider general release for the Mandarin-dubbed version. The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) said that this move supports the bilingual policy which aims to promote Mandarin as the main language among Chinese Singaporeans. But the strict policing of dialects, when other foreign…
S1 · E98 · 18 Jun 2026 · 29 min
S1E98: Lure of traffic drives millions of Chinese content creators to target Singapore
Independent content creators in China are making online posts disparaging Singapore, its politicians and minorities. The latter, in particular, has made the authorities here concerned enough to block access to 14 online posts earlier in June, which targeted the Indian community and contained inflammatory narratives about Singapore’s cultural diversity. If the content isn’t state-sanctioned, what’s driving Chinese content creators to make such posts , and why did it find an audience here? In this episode, I chat with: Benjamin Ang, the head of the Centre of Excellence for…
S1 · E97 · 4 Jun 2026 · 48 min
S1E97: Is modern dating in Singapore broken?
A recent Straits Times survey of 1,000 unmarried people explained why the dating scene is so bleak: it’s hard to meet new people, dating can be expensive and there are unrealistic expectations of love and relationships. In this episode, Natasha chats with: • Liu Zhiqun, co-founder of Kopi Date, a dating platform that curates one-on-one coffee dates, and • Dr Kenneth Tan, an assistant professor of psychology at Singapore Management University, who studies relationships from end-to-end - that is from singlehood to why relationships end. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:53 Has…
S1 · E97 · 28 May 2026 · 43 min
S1E97: Hands-on dads look great because the bar is low: Singapore father on unfair parenting expectations
Do fathers in Singapore get a bad reputation for being hands-off? Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Indranee Rajah, who chairs the new Marriage and Parenthood Reset Workgroup, drew some flak for speaking about career “detours” as something that should be normalised for mothers - with little mention of a fathers’ role in the parenting journey. Why do we frame the parenting experience as mainly a woman’s role? In this episode of the podcast, I put that question to two fathers: new stay-at-home dad Jeggan Rajendram and Kevin Goh, the Group Head of engagement…
S1 · E96 · 21 May 2026 · 33 min
S1E96: Singapore forensic psychologist explains why voyeurs and molesters commit crimes
Will a new bystander campaign by the police get more people to speak up for victims for molest and voyeurism? In this episode of The Usual Place, I chat with Ms Lim Shoon Yin, the executive director of Singapore women’s rights group Aware, about what holds bystanders back and what they can do. Also on the podcast is Dr Julia Lam, a forensic psychologist, who assesses people who have committed offences like sexual crimes. She studies impulse control disorder and behavioural addiction, among other areas. She explains why perpetrators cross the line and act on urges, despite knowing…
S1 · E95 · 14 May 2026 · 34 min
S1E95: Is caning an appropriate way to discipline school bullies?
By 2027, every school will have to follow standard disciplinary measures such as detention and conduct grade adjustment for different types of misbehaviour. But the measure that divided parents, teachers and parliamentarians was that bullies can get up to three strokes of the cane. Caning in schools is not new, so why were so many people upset that school bullies will be caned? In this episode of The Usual Place, I speak with ST education correspondent and former secondary school teacher Elisha Tushara, and chief executive officer of the Singapore Children’s Society Ang Boon Min, about…
S1 · E94 · 7 May 2026 · 55 min
S1E94: Sky high condo prices: are sales being funded by parents' retirement savings?
Never mind that it’s way out west - Tengah’s first private condominium development sold out almost all its units over its launch weekend at the end of April. At an average price of $2,120 per sq ft and a location that’s under the Outside Central Region (OCR) classification, the affordable suburban condominium is starting to feel more expensive. But despite all our complaints about high property prices and the uncertain global outlook, these sales show that Singaporeans are still willing to fork out serious money for new, unsubsidised private residential properties. Is this…
S1 · E93 · 30 Apr 2026 · 55 min
S1E93: Are people not having children because of PSLE stress and the education arms race?
Would changes to Singapore’s education system fix our low fertility rate? A new work group, comprising political office holders from various ministries, has been set up to encourage Singaporeans to marry and have children, with broader support from society. In this podcast episode, I chat with Minister of State for Education Jasmin Lau and stay-at-home mother Vivien Lim, who has three children. We discuss the “education arms race” and whether the Primary School Leaving Examination really needs to be a such high-stakes exam for 12-year-olds. With the big question looming -…
S1 · E92 · 23 Apr 2026 · 31 min
S1E92: New signs on MRT trains spark debate on how to behave on public transport in Singapore
An ongoing SMRT campaign, meant to inspire a gracious commute culture, has laid down the law on what’s acceptable, or not, on the train. Two bubble-like characters – named “Dotties” by SMRT – are accompanied by the caption, “Don’t groom in public”. One is shown clipping their toenails and the other, applying make-up. It got the internet talking about the boundaries of personal grooming in public. But after decades of public etiquette and courtesy campaigns across Singapore, why is there still a need for this conversation? And if Singapore is a…
S1 · E91 · 16 Apr 2026 · 39 min
S1E91: What happens when single-sex schools go co-ed?
Over the last couple of years, several of Singapore’s well-known boys’ schools have opened their doors to girls. The latest to join the list is Montfort Junior School. In March, it was announced that the primary school will become co-ed from 2028, while Montfort Secondary School will follow suit by 2034 or earlier. As such announcements often do, it got people talking – about heritage, cultural identity, and what may be lost when single-sex schools go co-ed. In this episode, I speak with a former deputy principal at Raffles Girls’ School, an academic from the National…
S1 · E90 · 9 Apr 2026 · 47 min
S1E90: Have we hit the panic button over the Iran war?
After US President Donald Trump walked back his threats to wipe Iran off the map, there’s now a two-week ceasefire in place. Hours before this kicked in, the Singapore Government announced in Parliament on April 7 support measures to help cushion the cost increases resulting from the Middle East conflict. These include disbursing $500 in CDC vouchers half a year early and a $200 increase in the Cost-of-Living Special Payment. Six weeks into this war, the question now is: Will things get better from here, or are we just having a moment of respite before the knock-on effects continue to…
S1 · E89 · 2 Apr 2026 · 32 min
S1E89: New IP rider rules just kicked in. Are you actually better or worse off?
If you have private medical insurance, April 1 would have been on your radar. Private health insurers have put out new Integrated Shield Plan (IP) riders, which comply with requirements by the Ministry of Health (MOH) that were announced in November 2025. This move was aimed at curbing rising insurance premiums and private healthcare costs. The major effect on policyholders? They will now be required to fork out more in deductibles and co-payments. The upside is that new IP riders are more affordable than the previous ones. What does this move spell for private insurers, doctors and…
S1 · E88 · 26 Mar 2026 · 31 min
S1E88: How can recycling be sexy?
Will lucky draws, monetary rewards or ‘sticks’ work when it comes to getting Singapore residents to recycle? A new recycling initiative called the Beverage Container Return Scheme (BCRS) launches on April 1, but with household recycling rate in 2024 fell to a record low of 11 per cent, will this move the needle? Mr Heng Li Seng, founder and director of social enterprise Green Nudge, and Associate Professor Victor Seah, director of the Behavioural Insights Centre of Excellence at the Singapore University of Social Sciences, drop by The Usual Place to help sort out our recycling…
S1 · E87 · 19 Mar 2026 · 39 min
S1E87: Should the Government fund condo repairs?
More than 1,000 private residential developments in Singapore are hitting their 30s, and some are starting to show signs of wear and tear. But if residents have not been prudent in saving for these big-ticket items such as upgrading lifts and fixing spalling concrete, should the Government step in to help? Mr Andrew Lioe, president of the Association of Strata Managers, and Mr Daniel Chen, a lawyer and partner at Lee & Lee, with a practice focused on Management Corporation Strata Title (MCST) disputes, weigh in on the challenges with managing sinking funds and the tension among different…
S1 · E86 · 12 Mar 2026 · 34 min
S1E86: What does the war in Iran change for Singapore?
The way the Iran war began has reinforced the growing feeling that the rules-based international order, which Singapore stands by and bases its foreign policy on, is under serious strain. But could Singapore’s measured and consistent response actually be an asset in these volatile times? In this podcast episode, Mr Mohamed Imran Mohamed Taib, founding director of Dialogue Centre, a non-profit consultancy focused on cultural and racial diversity and inclusion, and Straits Times deputy opinion editor Bhavan Jaipragas, discuss what’s at stake for Singapore’s foreign policy. On…

About The Usual Place

The Usual Place is a English news podcast from The Straits Times. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: The Straits Times
Language: English
Category: News
New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 43 min
Latest episode: 8 Oct 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1737734694
Rights: 2026 The Straits Times

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