Just days into 2026, global headlines have been dominated by the USā capture of Venezuelaās then-president, NicolĆ”s Maduro. As Singapore said it is āgravely concernedā by the situation, the episode has raised uneasy questions closer to home. In an era of intensifying great-power rivalry, are small states like Singapore more vulnerable than we think?
(00:50) Dzarās holiday
(05:27) USā intervention in Venezuela
(10:00) Responses from other countries
(15:26) Malays as providing āwindows for the Chineseā?
(23:30) Changing attitudes among Gen Z
What better way to wrap up the year than with something sweet? In this episode, we sit down with Darren, co-founder of Sugar Mama Lah, the halal tiramisu brand that went from a home-based hustle to a full-fledged storefront. Darren opens up about the āthick skinā mindset behind his success, from live streaming to unconventional marketing, and drops a surprising truth: many kunafa desserts in Singapore use colouring that isnāt halal-certified.
(02:05) What is assorted tiramisu?
(04:50) Home-based to storefront
(11:35) Challenges of being halal-certified
(20:45) Importance of live streaming
(22:55) Meaning behind Sugar Mama Lah
A viral TikTok shows LTA and Traffic Police cracking down on a car meet at Decathlon Kallang, and while many cheered the enforcement, others say itās exactly why Singaporeās car culture is dying. Compared to places like Japan, where modified cars are celebrated, Singapore feels far more conservative. But as the city pushes towards a car-lite future, is this scene inevitably fading away? And is that really a bad thing?
(05:25) Terrorist threat at St Joseph Church
(09:35) UN (Anti-Terrorism Measures) Regulations?
(13:30) Singaporeās dying car culture
(25:00) Car-lite society
(27:55) Najib Razak fails in bid for home arrest
A devastating tragedy struck Bondi Beach in Sydney when two gunmen killed at least 15 people during a Jewish celebration. While many netizens expressed sympathy and grief, the aftermath quickly spiralled into controversy. From antisemitic and Islamophobic rhetoric to claims of a āfalse flagā attack, the tragedy has been swept into a fierce online information war.
(00:55) Darrenās Bar Exams
(04:25) Bondi Beach Shooting
(08:25) Start of āInformation Warsā
(14:00) Hero of Bondi Beach
(17:10) Japanās relationship with China
(21:12) Predictions for 2026
Everyoneās travelling this year-end, especially to Japan, where the yen has plunged to about Ā„120 for S$1. But while Singaporeans are chasing cheap flights and exchange rates, PM Wong is on the move for a different reason. His recent trip to South Africa and the announcement of Singaporeās 1st East African embassy in Ethiopia may seem unexpected but they hint at something bigger: Singapore is quietly deepening its footprint and ties across Africa.
(0:33) Welcome back Darren!
(07:34) Travelling during the holidays
(10:57) PM Wongās working trips
(16:30) Are Africans the next generation of content creators?
(19:05) Future trips
When influencer Simonboy launched the Forever Megan Charity in honour of his late daughter, some called it heartfelt while others called it clout. And leading the charge was the OG uncancellable content creator herself, Xiaxue. Her takedown earned her a cease and desist letter, and sheās firing back. In this case, do you think Xiaxue has a point, or do you feel sympathy for Simonboy?
(01:25) Feud between Xiaxue and Simonboy
(07:20) Opening a charity in Malaysia?
(13:13) POFMA on MalaysiaNow
(16:53) Future of censorship in Singapore
(21:45) Intruder at Wicked premiere
The job market is changing rapidly, and jobseekers are facing challenges like finding stability, balancing personal commitments, and adapting to AI. At Plan B, our hosts share insights from both employers and jobseekers on their shifting expectations. With programmes mentioned in this yearās National Day Rally like GRIT and SkillsFuture available, we explore how jobseekers can get ahead as they navigate their careers. For more related information, visit: go.gov.sg/2025ndr-planb
(01:00) Uncertainty of todayās job market
(07:38) What are GRaduate Industry Traineeships (GRIT)?
(12:30) Taking stock of your career
(20:15) Using A.I. for a leg up in the workplace
This week, headlines swirled around Ong Beng Seng keeping his PR status, a move thatās raised plenty of eyebrows. In a country where one's PR status can be revoked for criminal convictions, ICAās decision to issue only a warning has sparked questions about Singaporeās āclean and fairā legal image.
(03:05) Possible Kyrgyzstan trip in 2026
(10:35) Under-the-table payment for Hajj?
(13:00) Māsian man bribed Sgās traffic police
(19:08) Ong Beng Sengās PR status
(23:35) Court of Public Opinion
(28:19) Ringgit strengthened
Weāve all seen the shocking videos of youths staggering like zombies, hooked on vapes laced with etomidate. As Singapore clamps down on vaping, we speak with ProfĀ AnanthamĀ Devanand, Senior Consultant at SGHās Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, on why vapesĀ can beĀ areĀ dangerous even without etomidate - and share the real-life cases heās treated.
(02:20) WhatĀ are the harmsĀ of etomidate?
(05:25)Ā Is there such thing as secondhandĀ vaping?
(07:10) Real cases of vaping harm
(11:00) Signs your child might be vaping
(16:00) Doctorās take on currentĀ penalties
Videos of Pritam Singh going from court to Parliament, and taking photos with the public in between, have gone viral, and online reactions show his public image is still holding strong. But letās be real: heās playing the political game. With his conviction now under appeal, we ask: Should Pritam keep fighting, or is this the point to step back and be the Leader of the Opposition in peace?
(05:20) Pritam Singhās convinction appeal
(10:25) Optics of Pritam
(17:58) Mandatory caning for scammers
(21:52) ACS vs The Straits Times
(24:55) Chick-fil-A coming to Singapore?!
The 47th ASEAN Summit gave us plenty of unforgettable moments, and weāve ranked them from least to most memorable. But hereās the thing, Trump seems to pop up in almost every highlight, from dancing with Anwar to letting PMX ride in the Beast. Makes you wonder: was this summit a masterclass in bootlicking Trump?
(01:40) Our listicle of best moments from the ASEAN Summit
(08:40) Nominating Trump for Nobel Peace Prize
(12:30) Timor Leste in ASEAN
(16:55) Funny ASEAN Summit moments
(23:15) Trump āalmost gotā into prison
(27:12) RTMās mistakes
As the Deepavali weekend winds down, the news cycle may be quiet but Singapore still has one major headline. The 3 women behind the pro-Palestine walk, Amirah Asrori, Annamalai Kolika, and Sobikun Nahar, have been acquitted. While many celebrate them as heroes of local activism, lawyer Rahman argues the real hero is the judge. Still, with the AGC appealing the decision, this case may be far from over.
(01:10) Is the holiday mood kicking in?
(03:47) Keeping up with international news
(06:00) Acquittal of the 3 activists behind Pro-Palestine walk
(14:22) Bad optics for Singapore
(18:10) Favourite Indian foods
The Israel-Hamas hostage exchange marks the biggest breakthrough in the ceasefire yet, and Trumpās taking the credit with his 20-point peace plan. But in Singapore, netizens donāt seem to care. Some are even calling out the mediaās double standards: Israelis are āhostages,ā Palestinians are ādetainees.ā So, the big question is: does Trumpās plan actually bring peace, or is it all just wayang?
(00:35) Singaporeās response to Trumpās 20-point peace plan
(05:05) What exactly is this peace plan?
(08:15) Indonesian President Prabowoās āhot micā incident
(11:05) How Israelās attack on Qatar led to this ceasefire
(11:45) Predictions for the future
Parliament got heated this week, and just like in GE2025, the Malay-Muslim community found itself in the crossfire. Shanmugam delivered a lengthy speech referencing Noor Deros and his meeting with Workers Partyās Malay-Muslim candidates, warning of the dangers of identity politics and the mixing of race and religion. But with little reaction online, do Singaporeans even care?
(01:10) Watching Parliament for 3 hours?!
(03:15) Why bring up the Noor Deros issue again?
(05:35) Malay-Muslim community during GE2025
(10:37) Identity politics in Singapore
(12:32) Conclusion of Parliament session
This yearās F1 Singapore Grand Prix wasnāt just about the races, it came with its share of controversies. From crowds stranded after the MRT ends its service to the Petronas CEOās champagne celebration thatās stirred debate online among Malaysians, questioning if itās appropriate for a Muslim to join in. Itās got us wondering, is conservatism on the rise?
(2:00) Problems with F1
(4:15) Petronas CEOās champagne showers
(10:15) Conservatism in Singapore vs Malaysia
(12:10) Previous controversies with foreign artists
The Ministry of Educationās recent move to adopt central kitchen models in school canteens has stirred fears among vendors worried about their livelihoods. But Rayner from Hearty Green Vegetables - famous for introducing Japanās school bento culture to Singapore - sees things differently. Despite admitting that daily revenue can dip to just $100ā200, he revealed his āsecretsā for staying relevant and motivated in a changing landscape.
(01:25) Say hi to Rayner from Hearty Green Vegetales!
(04:30) What is āclean food?ā
(10:45) MOMās switch to central kitchen model
(14:45) Raynerās exit plan
(18:00) Balancing passion and practicality in careers
UK, Canada, Portugal have recognised Palestine. But what about Singapore? In Parliament this week, Foreign Minister Balakrishnan finally set out our position ā and it comes with strings attached. But hereās the real question: even if Singapore does recognise Palestine, will it matter at all, when international law is already being trampled on everywhere?
(02:10) Whatās happening in Parliament?
(09:30) Will the recognition of Palestine change anything?
(12:00) Palestine shouldnāt be a Malay-Muslim issue
(15:25) The global order faces chaos
Conservative podcaster Charlie Kirkās assassination highlights how political discourse in the US has turned increasingly intolerant. Could Singapore face a similar future? Unlikely ā not because weāre more accepting of extremism but because our laws swiftly curb such speech. Still, as the world grows darker, one question remains: what future are we heading toward?
(00:30) Charlie Kirkās assassination
(02:50) Different forms of radicalisation
(07:54) āFree speechā in Singapore
(11:05) Worldās response to Kirkās death
(13:23) Future of the world
(16:05) Our Surabaya trip
Singaporeās Parliament has just opened with President Tharman pushing a bold āWe Firstā agenda. But what does this mean for a society already known for its competitive edge?
On this episode, we question whether systems like PSLE and university admissions clash with the spirit of collective progress, to debating viral flashpoints like the GoJek driver blasting music. We dive deep into the tensions between locals and migrants, the struggles of service workers trying to keep their dignity, and what it all says about where Singapore is headed.
[0:40] Opening of 15th Parliament with a "Expats need to respect singaporean culture before living here" mindset
[7:50] Gojek driver blasting music
[9:58] Understanding Singaporean culture
[13:06] Struggles of service industry workers
Recently, Singapore grabbed international headlines ā but not for the right reasons. What began as the cancellation of American comedian Sammy Obeidās show quickly escalated into a messy clash with the Singapore government, culminating in a POFMA order. Was Obeid simply chasing attention, or did the government make things worse by doubling down and fanning the flames?
(02:57) Heartwarming efforts to search for 11-year-old boy
(09:15) Indonesian riots
(13:15) Southeast Asians sending food and aid via Grab
(16:22) Anti-Chinese sentiment in Indonesia?
(21:21) Sammy Obeid saga