The Usual Place

An ongoing SMRT campaign, meant to inspire a gracious commute culture, has laid down the law on what’s acceptable, or not, on the train. Two bubble-like characters – named “Dotties” by SMRT – are accompanied by the caption, “Don’t groom in public”. One is shown clipping their toenails and the other, applying make-up. It got the internet talking about the boundaries of personal grooming in public. But after decades of public etiquette and courtesy campaigns across Singapore, why is there still a need for this conversation? And if Singapore is a first-world city, why don’t we have a handle on what’s acceptable and what isn’t in public? In this episode of the podcast, I chat with Elysia Tan, a clinical psychologist, and Shila Naidu, a trauma therapist, to work through how to behave on public transport? Highlights (click/tap above): 4:08 Why have we not learnt from decades of courtesy campaigns? 9:54 Why don’t people realise they are irritating others? 14:29 Are these behaviours a reflection of a stressed society? 18:08 How did we become a “shame-based” society? 21:59 Commuters with mental health issues 24:41 Should we confront people on the train? 28:24 No PDA, no nose picking and distance please! Host: Natasha Ann Zachariah (natashaz@sph.com.sg) Read Natasha’s articles: https://str.sg/iSXm Follow The Usual Place podcast on IG: https://str.sg/8KNT Follow Natasha on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/v6DN Filmed by: Studio+65 Edited by: Eden Soh, Amirul Karim & Natasha Liew Executive producer: Danson Cheong  Editorial producer: Elizabeth Law Follow The Usual Place Podcast and get notified for new episode drops every Thursday: Channel: https://str.sg/5nfm Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/9ijX Spotify: https://str.sg/cd2P YouTube: https://str.sg/theusualplacepodcast Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts --- 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 -- #tup #tuptrfSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over the last couple of years, several of Singapore’s well-known boys’ schools have opened their doors to girls. The latest to join the list is Montfort Junior School. In March, it was announced that the primary school will become co-ed from 2028, while Montfort Secondary School will follow suit by 2034 or earlier. As such announcements often do, it got people talking – about heritage, cultural identity, and what may be lost when single-sex schools go co-ed. In this episode, I speak with a former deputy principal at Raffles Girls’ School, an academic from the National Institute of Education, and a mother of three boys who sits on two school boards and an alumni board. With shrinking student numbers and competing demands for space, is there still a case for teaching boys and girls separately? Highlights (click/tap above): 2:20 Why do alumni get upset when their schools go co-ed? 6:59 “It didn’t feel like it was mine anymore.” 10:05 How girls flourish in the single-sex school environment 15:56 Why a school’s history is powerful 17:57 Do single-sex schools reinforce gender stereotypes? 22:00 Finding balance in the school experience 24:00 Less prepared for the real world? 27:22 “Eh bro, that’s really toxic.” 31:34 Focus on quality curriculum 33:07 Shut down single-sex schools with falling enrolment? Host: Natasha Ann Zachariah (natashaz@sph.com.sg) Read Natasha’s articles: https://str.sg/iSXm Follow The Usual Place podcast on IG: https://str.sg/8KNT Follow Natasha on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/v6DN Filmed by: Studio+65 Edited by: Eden Soh, Hadyu Rahim & Natasha Liew Executive producer: Danson Cheong  Editorial producer: Elizabeth Law Follow The Usual Place Podcast and get notified for new episode drops every Thursday: Channel: https://str.sg/5nfm Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/9ijX Spotify: https://str.sg/cd2P YouTube: https://str.sg/theusualplacepodcast Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts --- 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 -- #tup #tuptrfSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After US President Donald Trump walked back his threats to wipe Iran off the map, there’s now a two-week ceasefire in place. Hours before this kicked in, the Singapore Government announced in Parliament on April 7 support measures to help cushion the cost increases resulting from the Middle East conflict. These include disbursing $500 in CDC vouchers half a year early and a $200 increase in the Cost-of-Living Special Payment. Six weeks into this war, the question now is: Will things get better from here, or are we just having a moment of respite before the knock-on effects continue to worsen? In this podcast episode, I chat with economists Danny Quah, Li Ka Shing Professor in Economics at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, and Sheana Yue, a senior economist at global economic advisory firm Oxford Economics, about what else we should brace ourselves for. Highlights (click/tap above): 4:12 Iran war uncertainty’s impact on Singapore 10:53 Singapore’s 1973 oil crisis lessons 17:21 Better placed to handle this war? 20:12 “We have a bit of breathing space.” 23:30 Do we need more handouts? 29:21 Is Singapore headed for a recession? 32:01 Stagflation a worry for all countries 35:55 Should we throw out the old diplomacy rulebook? 43:39 The worst-case Iran war scenario Host: Natasha Ann Zachariah (natashaz@sph.com.sg) Read Natasha’s articles: https://str.sg/iSXm Follow The Usual Place podcast on IG: https://str.sg/8KNT Follow Natasha on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/v6DN Filmed by: Studio+65 Edited by: Eden Soh, Amirul Karim & Natasha Liew Executive producer: Danson Cheong  Editorial producer: Elizabeth Law Follow The Usual Place Podcast and get notified for new episode drops every Thursday: Channel: https://str.sg/5nfm Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/9ijX Spotify: https://str.sg/cd2P YouTube: https://str.sg/theusualplacepodcast Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts --- 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 -- #tup #tuptrfSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you have private medical insurance, April 1 would have been on your radar. Private health insurers have put out new Integrated Shield Plan (IP) riders, which comply with requirements by the Ministry of Health (MOH) that were announced in November 2025.  This move was aimed at curbing rising insurance premiums and private healthcare costs. The major effect on policyholders? They will now be required to fork out more in deductibles and co-payments. The upside is that new IP riders are more affordable than the previous ones. What does this move spell for private insurers, doctors and policyholders? In this episode of The Usual Place, I speak with Mr Eddy Cheong, CEO at insurance advisory Havend; and Mr Yip Hon Weng, Yio Chu Kang SMC MP and the deputy chairperson for the government parliamentary committee on health. Highlights (click/tap above): 4:18 Changes to IP riders and plans 8:01 What led to the ‘buffet syndrome’? 12:56 Doctors charging indiscriminately? 14:03 Paying more for your rider than the base plan 18:04 Delaying medical checks? 24:06 How medical inflation got to 16.9%? 26:00 Do you need to ‘insurance-max’? 30:36 Fewer insurers, fewer problems? Host: Natasha Ann Zachariah (natashaz@sph.com.sg) Read Natasha’s articles: https://str.sg/iSXm Follow The Usual Place podcast on IG: https://str.sg/8KNT Follow Natasha on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/v6DN Filmed by: Studio+65 Edited by: Eden Soh & Hadyu Rahim Executive producer: Danson Cheong  Editorial producer: Elizabeth Law Follow The Usual Place Podcast and get notified for new episode drops every Thursday: Channel: https://str.sg/5nfm Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/9ijX Spotify: https://str.sg/cd2P YouTube: https://str.sg/theusualplacepodcast Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts --- 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 -- #tup #tuptrSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Will lucky draws, monetary rewards or ‘sticks’ work when it comes to getting Singapore residents to recycle? A new recycling initiative called the Beverage Container Return Scheme (BCRS) launches on April 1, but with household recycling rate in 2024 fell to a record low of 11 per cent, will this move the needle? Mr Heng Li Seng, founder and director of social enterprise Green Nudge, and Associate Professor Victor Seah, director of the Behavioural Insights Centre of Excellence at the Singapore University of Social Sciences, drop by The Usual Place to help sort out our recycling woes. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:29 Will the BCRS work? 5:41 Is a 10-cents refund a good enough sweetener? 7:11 ‘Sticks’ to change behaviour 10:49 Transparency of recycling process 16:14 Tiong Bahru residents have had enough of blue bins 18:29 Shaming others into recycling? 21:39 Recycling is not as simple as before 24:29 Can recycling be sexy? 28:39 No silver bullet to get people to recycle Host: Natasha Ann Zachariah (natashaz@sph.com.sg) Read Natasha’s articles: https://str.sg/iSXm Follow The Usual Place podcast on IG: https://str.sg/8KNT Follow Natasha on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/v6DN Filmed by: Studio+65 Edited by: Eden Soh Executive producer: Danson Cheong  Editorial producer: Elizabeth Law Follow The Usual Place Podcast and get notified for new episode drops every Thursday: Channel: https://str.sg/5nfm Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/9ijX Spotify: https://str.sg/cd2P YouTube: https://str.sg/theusualplacepodcast Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts --- 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 -- #tup #tuptrSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More than 1,000 private residential developments in Singapore are hitting their 30s, and some are starting to show signs of wear and tear. But if residents have not been prudent in saving for these big-ticket items such as upgrading lifts and fixing spalling concrete, should the Government step in to help? Mr Andrew Lioe, president of the Association of Strata Managers, and Mr Daniel Chen, a lawyer and partner at Lee & Lee, with a practice focused on Management Corporation Strata Title (MCST) disputes, weigh in on the challenges with managing sinking funds and the tension among different types of owners. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:44 How are sinking funds for condos managed? 4:44 Sinking fund kitty management woes 6:48 Why do owners want to delay adding to the sinking fund? 10:30 Why can’t MCSTs force owners to pay? 14:27 “The en bloc situation is not that common.” 15:24 The owner-occupied vs investor-owned mindset 18:33 What changes to the law could fix this problem? 22:36 Are problems caused by a selfish few? 26:00 The tension in mixed developments 29:45 Should the Govt step in to bail out condos? 33:50 Red flags when buying resale condos Host: Natasha Ann Zachariah (natashaz@sph.com.sg) Read Natasha’s articles: https://str.sg/iSXm Follow The Usual Place podcast on IG: https://str.sg/8KNT Follow Natasha on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/v6DN Filmed by: Studio+65 Edited by: Eden Soh Executive producer: Danson Cheong  Editorial producer: Elizabeth Law Follow The Usual Place Podcast and get notified for new episode drops every Thursday: Channel: https://str.sg/5nfm Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/9ijX Spotify: https://str.sg/cd2P YouTube: https://str.sg/theusualplacepodcast Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts --- 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 -- #tup #tuptrSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The way the Iran war began has reinforced the growing feeling that the rules-based international order, which Singapore stands by and bases its foreign policy on, is under serious strain. But could Singapore’s measured and consistent response actually be an asset in these volatile times? In this podcast episode, Mr Mohamed Imran Mohamed Taib, founding director of Dialogue Centre, a non-profit consultancy focused on cultural and racial diversity and inclusion, and Straits Times deputy opinion editor Bhavan Jaipragas, discuss what’s at stake for Singapore’s foreign policy. On the home front, there are concerns about how binary thinking can alienate or fracture communities here, when people choose to villainise those who disagree with them. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:30 What does the Iran war mean for S’pore? 4:15 S’pore’s consistent position is our strength: Imran 8:58 What’s stopping bigger powers from taking liberties with S’pore? 11:30 No appetite for this war in Iran 16:17 Don’t see others with different povs as “villains” 19:05 The Novita Lam controversy: “She didn’t read the room.” 24:18 It’s dangerous when people feel helpless: Imran 27:39 Get off social media, talk face-to-face 32:30 Why Parliament debates aren’t for elites consumption Filmed by: Studio+65 Edited by: Teo Tong Kai, Eden Soh and Chen Junyi Executive producer: Danson Cheong  Editorial producer: Elizabeth Law Follow The Usual Place Podcast and get notified for new episode drops every Thursday: Channel: https://str.sg/5nfm Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/9ijX Spotify: https://str.sg/cd2P YouTube: https://str.sg/theusualplacepodcast Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts --- 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 -- #tup #tuptrSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A recent report card of our behaviour on the road has shown that we’ve become worse motorists.Traffic deaths have hit a 10-year high, the number of people injured in accidents has risen from 2024, and speeding violations jumped by 25.9% in a year. These figures were detailed in the annual road traffic statistics for 2025 by the Traffic Police, which were reported on Feb 26. We have smart cars, tons of traffic cameras and strict laws to regulate good behaviour on the road, but why have the statistics become worse? Are we just bad road users or are there other factors involved? In this episode of The Usual Place, I speak with Ms Bozy Lu, a lawyer and partner at Han & Lu Law Chambers LLP, specialising in road accident claims and community law, and Mr Jason Lim, chairman of the Riding Safety Association of Singapore, a motorcyclist interest group. He also co-owns Roads.sg, a platform that, at its heart, advocates for road safety. Highlights (click/tap above): 2:16 Why are our roads like that? 5:16 Our devices are making us distracted 7:06 “Please make this guy famous.” 10:39 Do drivers see speed limits as a suggestion? 13:43 “My passenger is chasing me like there’s no tomorrow.” 18:54 Why skills and decision-making key to bikers’ safety 26:46 Firmer legal action needed against jaywalkers? 32:15 What kind of driver or pedestrian are we on the road? 36:48 Are we an entitled bunch on the road? 38:42 Think of another person’s point of view: Bozy 43:57 What needs to change to fix our road culture? 46:00 Why road safety is everyone’s problem Filmed by: Studio+65 Edited by: Teo Tong Kai, Eden Soh and Chen Junyi Executive producer: Danson Cheong  Editorial producer: Elizabeth Law Follow The Usual Place Podcast and get notified for new episode drops every Thursday: Channel: https://str.sg/5nfm Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/9ijX Spotify: https://str.sg/cd2P YouTube: https://str.sg/theusualplacepodcast Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts --- 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 -- #tup #tuptrSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Will the recent changes to the preferential additional registration fee (PARF) rebate and the current COE prices turn away car buyers? Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced in his Budget speech on Feb 12 that the PARF rebate will be lowered by 45 percentage points. The maximum rebate a car owner can expect to receive will be halved from $60,000 to $30,000. If you're looking to buy a car, should you go for a new car, a second-hand ICE vehicle, or just give up that dream altogether? In this episode of The Usual Place, ST’s senior transport correspondent Lee Nian Tjoe and veteran automotive consultant Say Kwee Neng share their thoughts. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:21 What is the significance of the PARF?  4:21 Is the PARF rebate reduction a “stick” to get buyers to choose EVs?  8:56 A stealthy wealth tax?  14:53 The implications of older EVs on the road 19:11 The iPhone vs older EVs comparison  24:11 What’s happens to the used car market now? 27:06 Most cost-efficient option now 30:36 Are your dreams of owning a car over? Filmed by: Studio+65 Edited by: Teo Tong Kai, Eden Soh and Chen Junyi Executive producer: Danson Cheong  Editorial producer: Elizabeth Law Follow The Usual Place Podcast and get notified for new episode drops every Thursday: Channel: https://str.sg/5nfm Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/9ijX Spotify: https://str.sg/cd2P YouTube: https://str.sg/theusualplacepodcast Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts --- 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 -- #tup #tuptr #stwi  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The conversation over the key announcement from Budget 2026 continues. On Feb 12, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong unveiled a record $154.7 billion Budget, how the Government is doubling down on its AI push. For Singaporeans worried about the cost of living, there was household relief in the form of payouts and CDC vouchers. In this episode of the podcast, Second Minister for Finance Indranee Rajah discusses the reason for the big AI push and how the Government planning to deal with the downsides of AI like job losses and its environmental impact? Also joining the conversation are Singapore Management University’s Assistant Professor of Political Science Nathan Peng and the SGTech co-chair of AI, Cloud, and Data Chapter Mr Gunasekharan Chellappan. Highlights (click/tap above): 2:22 Will CDC vouchers be a permanent fixture of the Budget? 5:34 Could Budget 2026 have helped lower income families more? 10:05 “Some people don’t feel like their lives have gotten 2.5 times better.” 12:58 Why do people perceive they aren’t doing well? 18:27 Don’t look at AI as new technology: Guna 21:25 ‘E-nannying’ should stop: Nathan 25:00 Anxiety over being made redundant by AI 30:20 Healthy concern vs unwarranted anxiety? 35:25 Losing the human connection over AI 40:17 Will there be more regulation with stronger AI push? 42:24 Mitigating the negative environmental effects of AI 45:42 How to pick which AI course to take Filmed by: Studio+65 Edited by: Teo Tong Kai, Eden Soh and Chen Junyi Executive producer: Danson Cheong  Editorial producer: Elizabeth Law Follow The Usual Place Podcast and get notified for new episode drops every Thursday: Channel: https://str.sg/5nfm Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/9ijX Spotify: https://str.sg/cd2P YouTube: https://str.sg/theusualplacepodcast Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts --- 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 -- #tup #tuptrSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.