The Straits Times Podcasts

Each follow on the audio apps below and a rating really helps us! Happy listening! Synopsis: A brand new feature is within The Straits Times app, which you can download from the Apple app store or the Google Play store. For those of you who already have it, the latest version update now has a dedicated Podcast Section, where you can listen to our latest incoming show episodes and check out back episodes too. You can also choose to follow our podcast RSS feeds, or the shows on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. If you have a smart home speaker like the Google Home or Nest device, or your Android phone, just say: “Hey Google, play me (name of any of the shows below) or The Straits Times Podcasts.” Get The Straits Times app from The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX Produced & edited by: Ernest Luis (ernest@sph.com.sg) & Teo Tong Kai Follow ST Podcasts: Channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wukK Spotify: https://str.sg/wukH SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg --- 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 #stpodcasttrSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A staple of Singapore's training ecosystem, these programmes can pay off for the right trainee.Synopsis: Every second Monday of the month, the new Career Talk podcast by The Straits Times helps you take charge of your own career and make your ambition pay off. In Singapore’s economy now, workers now have to learn more in less time. Catering to this need are Workforce Singapore's (WSG) Career Conversion Programmes, particularly in the technology sector. In this episode, host Tay Hong Yi speaks with his guests on talent trends in tech and preparing for a career shift to the sector.His guests are: Ms Gillian Woo, director for creative and professional services at Workforce Singapore Mr Benjamin Tan, chief executive of Red Alpha Cybersecurity, a cybersecurity talent development company Highlights (click/tap above): 1:34 What are WSG's Career Conversion Programmes? 4:25 How does being placed and trained in the tech sector work? 12:50 How do career conversion programmes differ from other training schemes and who is suited for these? 21:54 Can WSG's Career Conversion Programmes substitute tertiary educational qualifications or industry certifications? Produced by: Tay Hong Yi (hytay@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis and Teo Tong Kai Edited by: Teo Tong Kai Follow Career Talk Podcast here: Channel: https://str.sg/wB2m Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wuN3 Spotify: https://str.sg/wBr9 SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Read Tay Hong Yi's articles: https://str.sg/w6cz Get business/career tips in ST's HeadSTart newsletter: https://str.sg/headstart-nl --- 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! #moneycareerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many are ostracised by families and live in slums, but a younger generation is coming to their aid. Synopsis: Every first Friday of the month, The Straits Times chats with ST’s correspondents in the Asia-Pacific, the US and Europe, about life as it goes on, amid the screaming headlines and bubbling crises.  In this 25th episode, ST’s new foreign editor Li Xueying takes over the hosting duties from our previous show presenter Bhagyashree Garekar, who will be the incoming US bureau chief for ST in Washington. Xueying chats with ST’s Philippines correspondent Mara Cepeda about the country’s ‘Golden Gays’. They are a community of elderly people of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and other sexualities (LGBTQ+) in their 60s to 80s, who have been living together and doing pageant shows to help make ends meet. They also belong to the non-profit organisation, The Home for the Golden Gays, established in 2002 by the late Aids activist and politician Justo Justo to provide permanent shelter for ageing LGBTQ+ members. But when Mr Justo died in 2012, his family evicted the Golden Gays, who affectionately call themselves ‘lolas’ or grandmothers. Nine of them ended up living in a cramped, two-bedroom apartment in the slums of Pasay City, also near Manila, while the rest rented rooms with the same squalid living conditions. Highlights (click/tap above): 2:55 What it was like to visit the Golden Gays’ rented house in the slums of Pasay City, Philippines 4:55 The unique challenges that they face (as opposed to other needy elderly Filipinos?); social safety net for such demographics 7:45 Shifts in attitudes towards the LGBTQ+ community; how pop culture is driving the change 12:13 Concerns that this new heightened profile of the drag queens could lead to a backlash from more conservative elements in society? Read more here: https://str.sg/icBd Produced by: Li Xueying (xueying@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis and Fa’izah Sani Edited by: Fa’izah Sani Follow Letter From The Bureau Podcast every first Friday of the month here: Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7 Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8 Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Read Li Xueying’s articles: https://str.sg/iqmR  Follow Li Xueying on X: https://str.sg/ip4x Read Mara Cepeda's articles: https://str.sg/icBm Read ST's Letters From The Bureau: https://str.sg/3xRd Register for Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/stnewsletters --- 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/i4Y3  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! #STAsianInsiderSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why non-native species like the golden-backed weaver and monk parakeet need to be dealt with before they spread elsewhere. Synopsis (headphones recommended): In our first audio trail of Singapore’s nature spaces, The Straits Times explores the ins and outs of creatures in these places with those who know them well. Listen to birdsong at the Kranji Marshes with the president and vice-president of freshly hatched conservation group Bird Society of Singapore Keita Sin and Movin Nyanasengeran who take ST journalist Ang Qing around one of the largest freshwater marshes here. During a two-hour walk, they experience a morning at the remote park, which is home to more than 170 birds in north-western Singapore. They banter on all things bird-related, from ‘parrot politics’ to the mounting threat of invasive bird species to Singapore and South-east Asia. This comes as the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services reported in September that more than 3,500 harmful invasive species have cost the global economy at least US$423 billion (S$576 billion) a year. And the annual expense has quadrupled every decade since the 1970s. You can also read our accompanying ST podcast article to see pictures of the various bird species mentioned (link below).  Highlights (click/tap above): 1:49 The tale of the golden-backed weaver and what it means for Singapore 6:47 Parrot pet problems and ‘politics’ 8:55 What you need to know about Kranji Marshes 9:25 The origins and ambitions of Bird Society of Singapore 15:55 Debunking common myths about birds To see the various bird species named in this podcast, read our podcast article: https://str.sg/ichq Produced by: Ang Qing (aqing@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis, Hadyu Rahim, Teo Tong Kai & Paxton Pang Edited by: Hadyu Rahim Discover The Bird Society of Singapore: https://str.sg/ichc Follow Green Pulse Podcast channel here and rate us: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Follow Ang Qing on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/ichp Read her articles: https://str.sg/i5gT --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcasts website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- 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 Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts! #greenpulse #greentrailsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Find out what these 'circles' of resilience are. Synopsis: Every first and third Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you. Peer support groups are a regular gathering of persons with lived experiences of mental health conditions. They have come together to support one another, and the mental health support they offer is what you can only get from someone who has been where you are.  To learn more about peer support groups and the help they offer, ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo hosts two participants from a monthly peer support group at a local mental health charity Resilience Collective (RC). They are Min, a 25-year-old aspiring nurse and counsellor, and Teo Guoxiang, a 35-year-old assistant manager with the Programmes Team at RC, whom Min addresses as GX. Hear about their personal stories, what it takes to join a peer support group and how joining such a group - which RC calls Circles of Resilience - has helped them. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:05 What is  a 'Resilience Collective'?; Why Min joined a peer support group 9:29 The agreement you have to sign upon becoming a member of a peer support group 12:17 How GX joined Resilience Collection (RC) and eventually became a staff member 16:54 How the peer support group helped Min and GX 20:36 Things to be aware of before joining a peer support group; the difference it has made HelplinesMENTAL WELL-BEING•  Institute of Mental Health’s Mental Health Helpline: 6389-2222 (24 hours)•  Samaritans of Singapore: 1-767 (24 hours) / 9151-1767 (24 hours CareText via WhatsApp)•  Singapore Association for Mental Health: 1800-283-7019•  Silver Ribbon Singapore: 6386-1928•  Tinkle Friend: 1800-274-4788•  Chat, Centre of Excellence for Youth Mental Health: 6493-6500/1•  Women’s Helpline (Aware): 1800-777-5555 (weekdays, 10am to 6pm) COUNSELLING•  TOUCHline (Counselling): 1800-377-2252•  TOUCH Care Line (for caregivers): 6804-6555•  Care Corner Counselling Centre: 6353-1180•  Counselling and Care Centre: 6536-6366 ONLINE RESOURCES•  moht.com.sg/mindline-sg•  eC2.sg•  tinklefriend.sg•  chat.mentalhealth.sg•  carey.carecorner.org.sg (for those aged 13 to 25)•  limitless.sg/talk (for those aged 12 to 25) Produced by: Joyce Teo (joyceteo@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis and Eden Soh Edited by: Eden Soh Follow Health Check Podcast here and rate us: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaN Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWRX Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaQ SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Read Joyce Teo's stories: https://str.sg/JbxN --- 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! #healthcheckSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A conversation with a veteran Canadian commentator and author on Sikh separatism. Synopsis: Join The Straits Times' associate editor and senior Asia columnist Ravi Velloor, as he distills his experience from four decades of covering the continent. In this podcast, which comes after the bombshell accusation thrown by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that Indian agents were likely involved in the June murder of a Canadian advocating Sikh separatism in India, he discusses the issues involved with Terry Milewski, a veteran Canadian journalist who has covered Sikh militancy and the separatist issue for four decades.  Highlights (click/tap above): 3:40 Who killed Hardeep Nijjar? 7:00 Looking for the ‘smoking gun’; How the Sikh community has reacted 17:20 Where’s the ‘Khalistan’ movement today 22:00 Canada’s ‘deadliest terrorist attack" 30:54 Trudeau’s high-stakes; 'Canada’s Indo Pacific policy is sunk' Produced by: Ravi Velloor (velloor@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis, Teo Tong Kai and Fa’izah Sani Edited by: Fa’izah Sani Follow Speaking Of Asia Podcast every second Friday of the month on our Asian Insider Podcast channel here: Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7 Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8 Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Ravi Velloor's columns: https://str.sg/3xRP Ravi Velloor on X: https://twitter.com/RaviVelloor Register for Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/stnewsletters --- 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/i4Y3  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! #STAsianInsiderSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Can sustainable aviation fuel help airlines rein in growing greenhouse gas emissions? Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. Most of us enjoy flying, especially for that much-needed holiday break. But most of us also know that flying produces lots of greenhouse gas emissions and that taking plane trips can be the single biggest component of our carbon footprint each year.  Plane and engine manufacturers have been pretty good at achieving efficiency gains over the years. But international aviation is growing quickly. Without strong action, emissions from the sector will double or even triple by 2050. One immediate solution being offered is sustainable aviation fuel or SAF for short. But how green is it? In this episode, ST's climate editor David Fogarty chats with Mr Sami Jauhiainen, regional vice-president for renewable aviation at Neste, a Finnish refining company. It has recently expanded its operations in Singapore and is now a major producer of SAF.  Highlights (click/tap above): 1:11 What is sustainable aviation fuel and how is it made? 4:14 Does Neste use any food crops to produce the fuel? 9:07 Current global demand for SAF 11:59 Environmental benefits and emissions reductions from using SAF 18:07 The current cost of SAF? How will the costs fall?  Produced by: David Fogarty (dfogarty@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis, Hadyu Rahim & Paxton Pang Edited by:  Hadyu Rahim Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and rate us: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/J6EV  Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Follow David Fogarty on X: https://str.sg/JLM6 Read his articles: https://str.sg/JLMu --- 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 (new): 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! #greenpulseSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

No matter how hard you work, there seems no end? Is this how millennials really feel? Synopsis: Every first Monday of the month, listen to the Work Talk podcast to help you work smarter, think deeper and get ahead in your work life. “When we were young, we were told that if you study hard, you are going to do very well in life. But after we have done that, we realised that actually, there's no end to this tunnel. We just have to keep going and going.”  That was Assistant Professor Chong Sin Hui, an organisational psychologist who teaches at the Nanyang Technological University. In this episode, we discuss the findings of an exclusive survey conducted by Milieu Insight for The Straits Times. It covered 4,800 millennial respondents over six South-east Asian countries in the month of August, and revealed the perspectives, aspirations and challenges facing this new generation of leaders aged 27 to 42.  ST's senior correspondent Krist Boo hosts Prof Chong and two of her peers: Mr Darryn Lim, 35, a communications leader at tech firm SAP and Mr Safafisalam Bohari Jaon, 27, a sustainability consultant at Eden Strategy Institute. Highlights (click/tap): 1:07 No matter how hard we try, it never seems to end 4:20 Stuck between the new world and old standards  8:35 Are millennial men having it harder? 12:27 Not aspiring to be like our preceding Gen X leaders  13:37 Being the bridge in the four-generational workforce 14:38 "We define our own success" Read more: https://str.sg/ic4e Produced by: Krist Boo (kristb@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis and Teo Tong Kai Edited by: Teo Tong Kai Follow ST's Your Money & Career Podcast channel here: Channel: https://str.sg/wB2m Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wuN3 Spotify: https://str.sg/wBr9 SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Read Krist Boo's Work Talk columns: https://str.sg/wB2P Get business/career tips in ST's HeadSTart newsletter: https://str.sg/headstart-nl --- 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 (new): 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! #moneycareerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hear why he decided to step up, and what the scene needs to do to measure up to others in the region. Synopsis: Every fourth Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times dives into a sports topic and tackles the hard questions with its guests on Hard Tackle. A 4-1 loss to Malaysia at the national level, a 7-0 thumping at the hands of their Malaysian counterparts at the SEA Games. These are just two of the bad results involving Singapore’s football teams in recent times. A new man will attempt to steer Singapore football out of its slump after Bernard Tan was sworn in as president of the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) recently, taking over from the late Lim Kia Tong. ST Sports reporter Deepanraj Ganesan is joined by Mr Tan who talked about the need for more funding, why football matters and what changes local football fans can look forward to.  Highlights (click/tap above): 6:10 Bernard Tan’s vision as FAS President   10:28 Mr Tan on why football deserves extra funding compared to other National Sports Associations 15:34 On why FAS has been unable to get the funding from backers  21:08 Addressing criticism that has come the FAS’ way 32:30 What fans can expect when it comes to the future of the Singapore Premier League  Read more: https://str.sg/iq9S Produced by: Deepanraj Ganesan (gdeepan@sph.com.sg) & Amirul Karim  Edited by: Amirul Karim Follow ST Sports Talk every month: Channel: https://str.sg/JWRE Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWRa Spotify: https://str.sg/JW6N Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/JX88  SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Follow Deepanraj Ganesan on X: https://str.sg/wtra Read his articles: https://str.sg/ip4G --- 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 (new): 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! #sportstalkSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A lack of paying gigs in the past decade despite the odd high-profile appearance has not deterred him from being a full-time musician. Synopsis: Each month, The Straits Times invites music acts to its podcast studio to perform a live version of an original composition and chat with us. In this episode of Music Lab, ST's music correspondent Eddino Abdul Hadi hosts home-grown singer and songwriter Sezairi. The singer first made his name when he won the third and last season of reality television show Singapore Idol in 2009. With his velvety voice and smooth R&B tunes, the singer has since seen his popularity expand into the region in recent years. In 2022, he made history as the first local musician to have a song clock more than 100 million streams on Spotify with the emotive ballad It’s You. He recently released his fourth album, Self Soothing, featuring songs driven by the pursuit of inner peace and emotional stability. Sezairi also sings a live and full intimate acoustic version of Daylight, a song from Self Soothing (link below to the separate clip). Highlights (click/tap above): 2:24 On the album title and how music had a soothing effect on him as a child; having anxiety about his identity as a singer and songwriter 7:55 At 17, deciding he was done with academics and wanted to study music, earning the ire of his father; being kicked out of Lasalle College of the Arts 14:10 Lying about being television host-singer Najip Ali’s cousin at the Singapore Idol auditions; having nerves as a performer till only recently 21:51 Musical culture, support for local artistes in Indonesia, being a hit over there, bringing best practices to SG, redefining the meaning of a "musical KPI" 24:48 On encouragement from his wife Syaza Qistina Tan: "Babe, if we go hungry, we'll go hungry together" 27:29 Being one of the singers of NDP 2021 theme song The Road Ahead and performing to an empty audience Listen to Sezairi's live performance here: https://str.sg/iq9Y Discover Singaporean artiste Sezairi at: YouTube: https://str.sg/iq9G Spotify: https://str.sg/iq9N Instagram: https://str.sg/iq9x Produced by: Eddino Abdul Hadi (dinohadi@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis, Hadyu Rahim, and Eden Soh Edited by: Hadyu Rahim Follow Music Lab Podcast episodes here every month: Channel: https://str.sg/w9TX Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/w9TB Spotify: https://str.sg/w9T6 SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Read Eddino Hadi's stories: https://str.sg/wFVa Music Lab theme: Eden Soh (composer/arranger-guitar), Ernest Luis (guitar)  --- 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 (new): 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! #musiclabSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.