Podcasts by SGExplained
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SGExplained follows Rovik, Elliot and Charmian, three regular Singaporeans trying to understand how Singapore is what it is. We explore institutions, histories, events and phenomena in Singapore and get into the details of it all. You'll see Singapore like you never have before.
Further podcasts by Rovik Robert & Elliot Tan
Podcast on the topic Gesellschaft und Kultur
All episodes
Season 5 Review from 2022-12-18T04:00:23
We can't believe we're finally here but 21 episodes later and it's time to wrap up Season 5 of SGExplained. This is a full banter episode as Charmian, Elliot and Rovik look back on their favouri...
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Peranakan Culture from 2022-12-04T04:00:26
You can't talk about Singapore without talking about the Peranakans - a sub-community with a heritage associated with being Straits-born amidst a time of heavy immigration. Elliot, a Peranakan h...
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People with Intellectual Disabilities in Singapore from 2022-11-06T04:00:39
In partnership with MINDS MYG, this episode introduces the important People with Intellectual Disabilities (PWID) community in Singapore. We...
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Singapore's Stance on Drugs from 2022-10-09T04:00:04
There has been a slew of news announcements lately on Singapore's stance on drugs, especially as some of our neighbours choose to liberalise their policies on substances such as marijuana. We ta...
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100th Episode Special: Our Shared Values from 2022-09-11T04:00:15
Thank you for being on this amazing journey with us to reach 100 episodes on SGExplained!! It's a big deal for us, and if you are a Day One listener, please let us know so that we can reach out ...
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The Singapore Zoo from 2022-08-14T04:00:05
We may have memories of the Singapore Zoo when we were children, but did you know that the overall Mandai Wildlife Group has been staying relevant through its sustainability and conservation eff...
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The MRT System from 2022-07-17T04:00:41
Getting from place to place in Singapore is convenient only because of our great public transportation, including our beloved MRT system! In this episode, the crew share laughs and develop an ap...
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Visiting Johor Bahru from 2022-06-19T04:00:47
Now that borders have reopened, Singaporeans have been flocking to Malaysia, specifically to Johor Bahru across the border. In this episode, we reflect on the relationship these two cities share...
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Planning for Death from 2022-05-22T04:00:42
We're looking at the full life cycle this season, and so it only makes sense that we look at what happens in Singapore when you die! Listen
Taxi Drivers from 2022-04-24T04:00
Who can deny that taxi drivers are Singapore's master storytellers? We get the extremely cool opportunity to talk to Uncle Ben, the father of a close friend of Rovik's, who also happens to be a ...
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Beauty Standards in Singapore from 2022-04-10T01:10:27
How far would Singaporeans go to look "beautiful"? We speak to Dr Matthew Yap of Listen
Giving Birth in Singapore from 2022-03-20T04:00
We are back with Season 5 and as always, we keep it spicy with a whole episode on giving birth in Singapore. But first, we introduce our new co-host, Charmian Tan - media personality and highly ...
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Special Episode: SingLit from 2022-02-24T09:00
This episode is brought to you by National Library Board’s One Story, which is aListen
Season 4 Review from 2021-11-17T04:51:50
Another 20 episodes down and we've reached the end of Season 4! Elliot and Rovik reflect on the journey, covering the edgier theme of the season, starting from our Channel News Asia feature on S...
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Ah Bengs & Ah Lians from 2021-11-07T01:35:48
The Australians have their bogans, the British have their chavs and here in Singapore, we have the Ah Bengs and Ah Lians. What makes up this oft caricatured subculture? We chat with content crea...
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Ghost Stories Part 2 from 2021-10-30T08:24:27
Our first Ghosts in Singapore episode all the way back in Season 1 was a hit with you so we've come back with Part 2 of the Ghost Story collection - hopefully your Halloween is enriched by Ellio...
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Heritage Food - Ingredients and Dishes from 2021-10-23T08:57:18
Pamelia Chia from Singapore Noodles comes onto our sho...
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The Prison System - Road to Rehabilitation from 2021-10-16T10:00:17
Keeping to our season's theme of focusing on the edgier sides of Singapore, we look at our prison system where those who have fallen through the cracks or gone astray have to serve their time. I...
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Sikhism in Singapore from 2021-10-09T14:34:45
Sikhs are known as a minority within a minority in Singapore, and yet they have an outsized influence on our identity in Singapore. Join us as we chat with Listen
Holland Village - Charm of the Town from 2021-09-29T09:48:59
Katong is to Elliot what Holland Village is to Rovik - a comfortable yet exciting neighbourhood where there are lifestyle options and great food. Join us for our next neighbourhood deep dive as ...
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The Merlion - From Logo to National Symbol from 2021-09-23T00:28:44
Singaporeans have a mixed set of feelings when it comes to the Merlion - on one hand, it is an increasingly globally recognised icon and a major tourist attraction, and on the other hand, it is ...
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Skate Culture from 2021-09-14T10:48:51
Here's another fringe culture you don't really think about when you consider Singapore but Skate Culture has endured its own challenges to find its place in our cultural tapestry. Hear Elliot re...
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The Financial Hub Story from 2021-09-03T13:40:42
What's going on at Marina Bay Financial Centre and why is Singapore home to so many "Finance Bros and Brodettes"? In this episode, we're excited to have Listen
Yishun, The Fabled North from 2021-08-28T07:33:59
What's going on in Yishun? As part of our neighbourhood exploration series, SGExplained takes a deeper look at why Yishun has gotten a reputation as the place where "weird things happen" in Sing...
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Nasi Lemak - Parcel Delight from 2021-08-19T10:05:44
You can identify the iconic Nasi Lemak, both by its aromatic coconut scent as well as its unique pyramid-shaped banana leaf packaging. Just coconut rice, sambal chilli and ikan bilis in a ...
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The Theatre Scene from 2021-08-12T07:25:49
Plays, musicals and immersive theatre can all be powerful ways to engage audiences, tell stories and change narratives, and in Singapore, we've strived to build such cultural capital through our...
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Operation Tiderace & The Japanese Surrender from 2021-08-04T11:10:13
World War 2 was a dark chapter in Singapore's history and so when the Japanese eventually surrendered, spirits were high amongst the residents. But did you know that there was a probability that...
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SPCA & Animal Welfare from 2021-07-24T01:35:46
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is Singapore's first registered animal welfare organisation and an insti...
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The Foster System from 2021-07-15T07:05
Did you know that there's a community of foster parents in Singapore who contribute as a labour of love to provide safe and nurturing homes for vulnerable children? Frankly, Elliot and Rovik wer...
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Wet Markets from 2021-07-09T01:04:17
You'll see Singapore like you never have before. Also, SUBSCRIBE to our Substack to get bonus content right in your email - Listen
Snakes of Singapore from 2021-07-02T08:44:14
Biodiversity is important to any country, and in Singapore, we need to talk about our snakes. We're not talking about those folks who gossip behind our backs - this is about the reptiles that ar...
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Durian - Scourge or Specialty? from 2021-06-23T14:54:21
You'll see Singapore like you never have before. Also, SUBSCRIBE to our Substack to get bonus content right in your email - Listen
The Chewing Gum Ban from 2021-06-15T09:42:12
Singapore is known internationally for a couple of things and the Chewing Gum ban is high on the list. In this short episode, Elliot and Rovik follow the rather hilarious journey of how chewing ...
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Prostitution from 2021-06-09T09:43:29
Clean, green, and safe don't seem to match with the presence of a prostitution scene in Singapore but you'll be surprised to find out that prostitution has been around in Singapore since its ear...
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Special Episode: Secret Societies from 2021-05-26T06:40:46
We're known as a crime-free country but have you heard about the history of Secret Societies in Singapore, one of the lesser-known phenomenon of our country's dark underbelly. Hear stories and f...
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Season 3 Review from 2021-03-14T08:27:31
Once again, for both our loyal listeners as well as those looking to navigate the season, join Elliot and Rovik as they reminisce on all 20 episodes for this season. We pick our favorite episode...
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The Tattoo Scene - Fringe or Mainstream? from 2021-03-08T02:23:50
We always enjoy the episodes where we look at the "fringe" of Singapore culture, but are tattoos too mainstream here to even be fringe anymore? We chat with Tattoo Artist Beverly Ann Koh ( Listen
Tangs - Cornerstone of Orchard Road from 2021-02-28T03:27:15
If you've shopped in Singapore, you've probably been to Tangs - but did you know that the mall was one of the first retail shopping outlets in Orchard? Back when the area near Tangs was mostly c...
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An Outlook on Ageing from 2021-02-18T11:40:23
Ageing is a scary topic but it has shaped much of Singapore's landscape in the last few decades. We're privileged to have an advocate and opinion leader, Dr Farhan Alami, come into the virtual s...
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Prata - The Future is Bright from 2021-02-11T09:37:11
Picking back up on our food series, we look at the fabled past of Roti Prata, the dish that was gifted to us by the Indian immigrants back in the day. Find out what goes into preparing the dish,...
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Singtel & Our Early Telecom Days from 2021-02-04T15:06:54
If you're reading this, you're probably doing so on the internet and maybe even on your phone. The fact that we have access to telecom and mobile services in Singapore has a lot to owe to Singte...
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Speak Good English Movement - Antagonist or Companion to Singlish? from 2021-01-30T10:18:59
In a spiritual sequel to our Singlish episode, we look at Listen
POSB - The Community Bank from 2021-01-21T08:25:21
What's the Post Office part of the POSB? Why is it in every neighborhood? And perhaps most importantly, is the Postmaster General really the Chief Mailman of Singapore? We answer all these quest...
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Islam in Singapore from 2021-01-14T08:49:58
When it comes to unique facts about Singapore, many people don't realise that the Constitution provides for the protection of Malay and Muslim culture and affairs. We unpack how that has shaped ...
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The Women's Charter from 2021-01-07T06:26:59
With the government's announcement that a review on women’s issues in Singapore will be conducted to look more closely at how gender equality can be more deeply ingrained in Singapore society, w...
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Choping, Boon or Bane? from 2020-12-24T05:43:03
In our holiday episode for 2020, we keep it light and fun with an episode on Choping. Perhaps one of Singapore's more debated idiosyncracies, is choping efficient, or is it just a selfish act? W...
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Campus Sexual Misconduct from 2020-12-16T10:18:26
We've heard of the spree of sexual misconduct and harassment cases in the news and the question must be asked, what does this say about who we are as a Singaporean society, and why are we having...
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Zouk - Cultural Institution and Club from 2020-12-11T02:34:31
You've probably passed through the hallowed halls of Zouk at some point - it's a cultural institution of Singapore and a big reason why Singapore became known as a vibrant city for people to liv...
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The National Library from 2020-12-05T10:40:42
We've all had our own personal stories with the Singapore library system before and I'm sure we can all attest it's one of the best of Singapore's public resources. Join us as we dive into the e...
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The Cocktail Scene (more than just the Singapore Sling) from 2020-11-26T10:08:20
Within 30 years, Singapore has gone from a location that was mostly just known for the Singapore Sling to one of the world's iconic cocktail capitals. We talk to Listen
Katong, Peranakan Escape from 2020-11-13T08:08:56
If you want to find old Peranakan houses or have some tasty kueh, you've probably made your way to Katong. Elliot himself is a proud homeboy of the area. But did you know that Katong pre-land re...
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Kopi & Kopitiams from 2020-11-05T10:00:19
What a privilege we had to chat with Mr. Lim Eng Lam from Nanyang Old Coffee about the meaning ...
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Merchants of Singapore from 2020-10-30T08:27:57
They're all over Singapore - Ann Siang Hill, Fraser Street, Aljunied among others. Who were these people and why are there so important to the Singapore story? We take a look at the ...
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The Life of Maria Hertogh (and the riots that ensued) from 2020-10-24T16:36:15
If you've done Social Studies in Singapore, you've likely heard about Maria Hertogh. She was a lightning rod character for religious tensions in Singapore between the Catholic/ Christian communi...
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Singapore Botanic Gardens from 2020-10-16T03:04:12
One of three UNESCO World Heritage Sites that is a garden and Singapore's sole representative on the list, the Singapore Botanic Gardens is simultaneo...
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Intro to Mental Health from 2020-10-08T00:51
World Mental Health Day is on 10 October but we've wanted to do this episode for a long time now. This is an introductory episode to the structure and statistics of how mental health is approach...
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The Influencer Scene from 2020-10-01T09:27:29
Welcome back to Season 3 of SGExplained! We're so pumped to be back on this and we started off with a bang, bringing on Althea Lim from Gushcloud to talk about the Influencer Scene in Singapore. No...
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Season 2 Review from 2020-08-03T06:02:51
This one is for the loyal listeners. Join Elliot and Rovik as they reminisce on all 20 episodes for this season and share some of the never heard before discussions behind the episodes. We also ...
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Esports - Singapore's Unsung Hero from 2020-07-27T05:14:55
We have to look beyond Joseph Schooling to bring back the Gold medals for Singapore, and we may have found hope in Esports! Naturally not as well known as the traditional sports, given tha...
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The Truth about Raffles from 2020-07-20T08:46:40
Join stand-in guest host Ben Wong and Rovik as they unearth the true story of Sir Stamford Raffles, the supposed founder of Modern-day Singapor...
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The Poetry Scene from 2020-07-06T08:41:37
With special guest Ajay Govinda, Slam Poetry Enthusiast, we explore the understated world of Singapore Poetry. From understanding our P...
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The Laju Incident from 2020-06-22T05:56:19
The Laju incident is like right out of a Bond novel, only that our own hero SR Nathan is the suave personality navigating international diplomacy, terrorism and hostage negotiations all before h...
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Farming the Singaporean Way from 2020-06-16T16:18:42
Bet you didn't know that Singapore has a long-held farming heritage! Not only that, we're about to double down on farming the Singaporean way, with the 30 by 30 initiative to secure Singapore's foo...
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The Singapore Gig Economy from 2020-06-03T05:00
Join Rovik and Audrey Lim, local freelancer and multi-hyphenate, as they explore the fuzzy space of freelance work, gig economics and self...
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Hawker Culture from 2020-06-01T10:39:10
Let's be real - what's more Singaporean than our hawker centers? Who runs them, how did they start and what's the future looking like with the young hawker-preneurs waiting to take over the reins? ...
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Singapore Airlines from 2020-05-22T01:29:46
Our national carrier has been in the news before, but this time, the reasons aren't great. We look back at why Singapore Airlines is so intertwined with our national identity, revisiting its fou...
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McDonald's Hello Kitty Craze from 2020-05-14T12:41:12
McDonald's has reopened and the Circuit Breaker just got a bit more manageable. In fact, McDonald's and Singapore has had a very interesting relationship from the beginning. One of t...
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2013 Little India Riots from 2020-04-27T02:47:42
As a modern cosmopolitan city, Singapore tries its best to avoid riots. Yet in 2013, out of nowhere and sparked by an unfortunate accident, a street in Little India erupts into flames as migrant...
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Contemporary Singaporean Movies from 2020-04-10T05:00
The Circuit Breaker has hit Singapore during this COVID-19 crisis and we're all likely stuck at home figuring out what to do. Luckily we've compiled some of Singapore's best movies released in t...
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SARS 2003 Epidemic from 2020-03-29T17:16:19
If you're listening to this in 2020, you're likely just like us - overwhelmed by the COVID-19 Pandemic. You've also probably heard that it's not our first rodeo. Rather than try to explain a phe...
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Singapore Underwater from 2019-10-01T03:10:44
With climate change at the forefront of our minds, its pertinent that we ask ourselves what the future of Singapore looks like environmentally? Are we likely to be submerged by rising sea levels an...
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Chicken Rice Wars from 2019-09-16T23:01:08
How could a dish that looks so simple become one of Singapore's national dishes? Does Hainanese chicken rice even come from Hainan? And why can you get both a $2.50 and $27 version within the same ...
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Art in Singapore from 2019-09-01T02:00
Does Art have a future in Singapore? Together with Deborah Lim from Chan+Hori Contemporary, a leading gallery at Gilman Barracks, we explore Singapore's art scene and try to understand what makes u...
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Talking about Racism from 2019-08-22T02:59:45
Asking if Singaporeans are racist seems like a line not many are willing to cross. But maybe that's not the right question. When race is a salient topic in the country, racism is bound to be presen...
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Kallang Wave from 2019-08-06T03:09:33
The seemingly trivial Kallang Wave actually has mystery and history behind it and we take advantage of this National Day season to explore more about it! Apologies for the technical difficulty ear...
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Soccer in Singapore from 2019-07-23T12:57:42
Our national sport could probably do a lot better but how do we reconcile the passion of our players with the lack of growth in the sport? We bring in special guest Justin Hui from Hougang United F...
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Ghosts in Singapore from 2019-07-09T11:53:10
Get spooked early in July as we enter Season 2 in style with an episode about the ghosts and pontianaks of Singapore. What is culture without mythology, and Singapore has lots of that when it comes...
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Season 1 in Review from 2019-05-29T05:56:05
What happens when the explainers explain themselves? Rovik & Willie take a look back at the season past and some of their biggest learnings and highlights. Also in collaboration with Sudio: Get a ...
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Gifted Education Program from 2019-05-17T06:19:31
Gifted vs Non-Gifted - what's the distinction? How is this controversial legacy of the hyper-meritocratic age functioning and what are its implications on the lives of citizens? All this and more i...
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Public Order Act from 2019-04-23T08:25:54
Can you protest outside of Speaker's Corner? What does the Public Order Act actually aim to achieve? Will we get called up because we sat together and discussed the juicy material around protesting...
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Public Service Broadcast Values from 2019-03-18T15:52:39
Have you always felt like public television had been too "nice"? Where was the risque and controversy? There's a reason for that - the Public Service Broadcast values, the IMDA's tool to encouragin...
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Multi-Religious Harmony from 2019-03-16T07:54:31
Watain, a black metal band, got banned in Singapore and the debate on the role of religion in Singapore re-emerged. We took a look at one of the foundations of religious harmony in Singapore - the ...
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Rethinking Hiring from 2019-02-28T07:11:05
With special guest Martin Tan from The Majurity Trust, this week we explore hiring and recruitment in Singapore. Is it really fair and is it effective in finding the best person for the job? We tac...
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Pukul Habis (Total Annihilation) from 2019-02-20T14:27:20
You know those war stories your grandparents like to share? Most of them you won't believe, but Pukul Habis is an actual operation enacted by Malaysia and Indonesia not too far away from Singapore ...
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The Citizenship Qualification from 2019-01-13T08:38:34
What does it mean to become a Singaporean? Are there pre-requisites such as being able to pass a Singlish test? On our larger quest to understand the heart of being Singaporean, we start with the c...
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Singapore-Malaysia Border from 2018-12-22T01:25:21
If you've paid attention to the recent news, you would have noticed the commotion over Singapore and Malaysia's maritime borders! Sticking to our promise of slowing down the news, we took a step ba...
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Dating in Singapore from 2018-11-23T10:37:15
Is love lost in Singapore or is there a chance that dating is easier than it seems? We dig into the data and try to figure out what Singapore's dating scene is like - exploring everything from onli...
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Legal Gambling from 2018-11-08T01:32:42
Did you know that the government operates the major gambling operations of Singapore? Or that more than half of Singaporeans have gambled at some point in their life? We dive into the stigmatized w...
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Parliamentary Elections from 2018-10-16T14:50:56
We have a new guest co-host today: Elliot Tan from Tree Potatoes! We speak about Parliamentary Elections, how you vote, what the GRC system is and why the opposition has a hard time getting into pa...
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Section 377A from 2018-09-22T00:05:06
It seems like Section 377A has become a lightning rod for all kinds of issues of morality and inclusivity in Singapore. Yet, have we forgotten exactly what the letter of the law is and where it cam...
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Pre-Colonial Singapore from 2018-09-08T14:28:32
Pirates, Kings and Empires. Sounds Singaporean? It should be because it's all part of our history! Join us as we dig into a rarely talked about part of our country's heritage and explore the pre-co...
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Public Housing from 2018-08-09T09:55:11
Welcome to the pilot episode of SG Explained! In this episode, we discover the Public Housing environment in Singapore, tackling its interesting history (including an iconic fire), the quagmire of ...
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SGExplained (Trailer) from 2018-08-08T09:55:11
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SGExplained (Trailer) from 2018-08-08T09:55:11
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