Episodes

  • Season 5 Review
    Dec 18 2022

    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 favourite episodes of the season and discuss some of the fresher elements in the show, including our new co-host Mian. We also look forward to what the series' future could look like and when we will be returning. Tune in now, and send in your feedback to let us know your thoughts as well!

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    Intro Music: From Pixabay; Outro Music: Nielizas from Pixabay;

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    31 mins
  • Peranakan Culture
    Dec 4 2022

    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 himself, shares his stories of growing up with some exposure to the culture and how he stays in touch with it. In this episode, you can look forward to:

    • Learning about the first Peranakans and how their ancestors came to Singapore (note: there are some traces of slavery as well)
    • Exploring the various aspects of Peranakan culture including food, arts and marriage customs
    • Adding to your list of Peranakan restaurants to check out in Singapore

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    Intro Music: From Pixabay; Outro Music: Nielizas from Pixabay;

    Sources:

    • Peranakan (Straits Chinese) community
    • Wikipedia
    • GREAT PERANAKANS
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    47 mins
  • People with Intellectual Disabilities in Singapore
    Nov 6 2022

    In partnership with MINDS MYG, this episode introduces the important People with Intellectual Disabilities (PWID) community in Singapore. We hear from Jessica (not her real name), a caregiver and volunteer about her experience directly, and as you can imagine from previous SGExplained episodes, this gets inspirational very quickly. In this episode, you can look forward to: 

    • Getting a more specific definition of what Intellectual Disabilities entail 
    • Debunk myths about PWIDs e.g. whether autism and intellectual disability are the same 
    • Learn about how caregivers can also practice self-care as they support PWIDs 

    You can volunteer by signing up on the MINDS MYG homepage here. 

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     Intro Music: From Pixabay; Outro Music: Nielizas from Pixabay; 

    Images used in Cover Image and Marketing Collateral are provided courtesy of MINDS MYG. 

    Sources: 

    • Developmental Disabilities – Myths vs. Facts 
    • What is Intellectual Disability?
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    47 mins
  • Singapore's Stance on Drugs
    Oct 9 2022

    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 take a look at why Singapore has been insistent on its position on drugs and how we have enacted laws to dissuade offenders. In this episode, you can look forward to:

    • Learning more about Singapore's Opium and Heroin epidemics and how we clamped down against them
    • Getting familiar with the Misuse of Drugs Act
    • Discovering preventative campaigns, including some controversial ones, that have helped to keep Singapore drug-free

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    Intro Music: From Pixabay; Outro Music: Nielizas from Pixabay;

    Sources:

    • 10 Things You May Not Know About the Misuse of Drugs in Singapore Law
    • Singapore’s Drug Laws: Possession, Consumption and Trafficking
    • History of SANA
    • Sale of Drugs Act 1914
    • Singapore’s War on Drugs: A Historical Overview
    • Malay/Muslim community leaders call on community to fight drug scourge
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    45 mins
  • 100th Episode Special: Our Shared Values
    Sep 11 2022

    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 to you and invite you to our show for a chat! For this episode, we go back to the origins of why the show was even started: to explore the Singapore identity and what defines us. Foundational to this is Our Shared Values, a series of five values that have played an outsized role in defining a lot of our institutions. In this episode, we:

    • Trace the origins of the shared values and interrogate their intentions
    • Unpack each of the values and ponder their relevance to today's society
    • Compare the series of values with current polling and sentiments on what makes us Singaporean

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    Intro Music: From Pixabay; Outro Music: Nielizas from Pixabay;

    Sources:

    • HistorySG
    • IPSOS
    • MCCY
    • "Shared Values" & their role in Singapore’s evolving ideological framework
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    53 mins
  • The Singapore Zoo
    Aug 14 2022

    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 efforts? Join us this episode as we:

    • Explore the history of the Zoo, including some of its unfortunate accidents
    • Trace the various unique exhibits in the main zoo
    • Forecast some of the key upcoming developments in the Zoo that we can enjoy

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    Intro Music: From Pixabay; Outro Music: Nielizas from Pixabay;

    Sources:

    • Singapore Zoo - Infopedia
    • About Singapore Zoo
    • Mandai Rejuvenation Project
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    33 mins
  • The MRT System
    Jul 17 2022

    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 appreciation for our subway system, with tons of factoids in between. Look forward to:

    • Tracing the story of the subway-that-almost-never-was 
    • Learning about some of our MRT's mascots, including Captain SMRT
    • Getting excited for new MRT stations that may open up in your neighbourhood!

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    Intro Music: Wataboi from Pixabay; Outro Music: Nielizas from Pixabay;

    Sources:

    1. Wikipedia
    2. SGTrains.com
    3. HistorySG
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    41 mins
  • Visiting Johor Bahru
    Jun 19 2022

    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! Look forward to:

    • Learning how many people cross the border each day
    • Unpacking the economic features of the Singapore-Johor Bahru relationship
    • Adding to your list of places to visit in Singapore

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    Intro Music: Wataboi from Pixabay; Outro Music: Nielizas from Pixabay;

    Sources:

    • Relations between Singapore and Malaysia continue to thrive
    • Commentary: The former Malaysian workers in Singapore caught in limbo in Johor
    • 'I don't want to commute anymore': Some Malaysian workers settle in Singapore even as land border reopens
    • Major projects in Iskandar Malaysia
    • Malaysia's relations with Singapore
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    42 mins