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! ___ Intro Music: From Pixabay; Outro Music: Nielizas from Pixabay ..read more

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 ..read more

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 Si ..read more

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 inte ..read more

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 ___ Intro Music: From Pixabay; Outro Music: Nielizas from Pixabay; Sources: Singapore Zoo - Infopedia About Singapore Zoo Mandai Rejuvenation Project ..read more

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! ___ Intro Music: Wataboi from Pixabay; Outro Music: Nielizas from Pixabay; Sources: Wikipedia SGTrains.com HistorySG ..read more

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 ___ 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 ..read more

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! Zach Leung, Associate Director at PFPA, comes onto our show to shine some light on what happens after we pass on, especially to our assets and our loved ones. In this episode, you will: Learn about the difference between "estate", "trust", and "will", especially in a Singapore context Hear about the different ways your estate can be broken up if you do not plan ahead Get advice on how to overcome some of the common stigmas your loved ones may have about estate p ..read more

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 night-shift taxi driver about his storied life on the roads. In this episode, you will: Learn about how many taxi and private hire drivers there are actually in Singapore Hear Uncle Ben's take on the necessary ingredients to be a good taxi driver (and it doesn't include a large bladder) Feel for some of the stories shared, whether it's hilarious encounters or his unfortunate mishaps We also bumble up ..read more

The Orang Laut are thought to be one of the first inhabitants of the islands that now make up Singapore, but why do so few people know about them? We chat with Firdaus Sani, founder of Orang Laut SG which is a community sustaining the stories of this lineage, to get the real scoop. In this episode, you can look forward to:  Learning about how the Orang Laut were politically significant in pre-colonial times  Hearing directly from Firdaus about how life was like on Pulau Semakau, the island where most of the Orang Laut lived  Understanding what is at stake for the Orang Laut com ..read more