Talkback

Recently, you’d heard of two kids breaking into an MRT train’s back cabin, wreaking chaos once they got in – the illegal act filmed and put online for all to see. So… Pre-teens prying open train cabin door; why did nobody stop them? Would you have? Daniel Martin discusses further with Dr Carol Balhetchet, Clinical Psychologist, Certified Hypnotherapist and Director of...

Tailgating or road hogging – which is worse? In light of recent chain collisions in Singapore, Daniel Martin speaks with Thanaraj Ramakrishnan, Director of road accident reconstructionist and safety advocacy firm, TR Consultants. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singapore’s core inflation held firm at 1.4 per cent in May. But, the road ahead might not be too smooth… With stronger pressures to come in the months ahead, is the worst yet to come? Daniel Martin discusses further with Selena Ling, Chief Economist and Head of OCBC Group Research. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Teochew screenings of the Chinese hit Dear You have sold out, with up to 50 more screenings now being sought. But in an age when streaming platforms already offer content in countless languages, why has this struck such a chord? Daniel Martin speaks with Dr Luke Lu, Assistant Professor of Linguistics and Multilingual Studies at Nanyang Technological University. See omnystudio.com/listener for priv...

Singapore workers are less engaged than their regional peers, according to Singapore Workplace Report 2026. It found that only 14 per cent of employees here are engaged at work, with younger workers faring even worse. If this goes on, are we going to lose out to our Asian counterparts? Daniel Martin discusses with Kanika Singh, Regional Director, Gallup. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inf...

In the second episode of the '#TalkBack: World Cup Watch 2026' series, Daniel Martin speaks with Gustavo Civetta, Business Development Director, GJC Law (Team Argentina) and Dr Annabelle Chow, Clinical Psychologist, Annabelle Psychology (Team Australia). They discuss how the respective teams they support have fared so far, among other newsworthy moments. See omnystudio.com/listener for privac...

78% of households say they recycle, but contamination and overflowing blue bins remain persistent concerns. How do we get people to recycle more, and recycle right? Daniel Martin speaks with Chan Mun Wei, Founder and Principal Consultant, SustainableSG.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Container shipping rates have nearly doubled since the war on Iran began, while fuel costs have surged 55 per cent. How much of these higher costs will businesses absorb, how much will be passed on to consumers, and what can Singapore businesses and households do to adapt? Daniel Martin speaks with Dr Goh Shao Hung, Adjunct Senior Lecturer at NUS and Supply Chain Consultant. See omnystudio.co...

A former Changi chalet site is being transformed into a co-living resort, raising questions about the future of chalets in Singapore. Are they still relevant in an era of staycations and changing leisure habits? Daniel Martin speaks with Dr Harvey Neo, Professorial Research Fellow at the Lee Kuan Yew Centre for Innovative Cities, and Director of the Master in Urban Science, Policy and Plannin...

More than 96 per cent of vehicles in Singapore have already been fitted with the ERP 2.0 on-board unit, and the latest trial is now testing everything from new road signs to parking payments and checkpoint tolls. Are you ready for ERP 2.0? Daniel Martin speaks with Associate Professor Walter Theseira from the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) School of Business. See omnystudio.com/lis...

In the first episode of the '#TalkBack: World Cup Watch 2026' series, Daniel Martin takes a look at the biggest shocks, biggest shoots, and biggest problems that emerged (streaming problems, things that happened on-site) from World Cup 2026 so far. He's joined by Grace Shin, Presenter, CNA and Tris Xavier, Associate Director, Yuen Law LLC. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Soon, you’ll be able to post letters and small packets directly from their residential blocks, instead of a post office or a postbox… But except for e-commerce homesellers, do Singaporeans even post snail mail or parcels out anymore? Daniel Martin discusses further with Dr Sugoutam Ghosh, Head of Graduate Diploma in Logistics and Supply Chain Management Programme, SUSS School of...

Singapore is stepping up efforts against illegal gambling ahead of World Cup 2026. But, there’s a new form of wagering attracting attention overseas: prediction markets. Could illegal ‘prediction market gambling’ ruin World Cup 2026? Daniel Martin discusses with Assistant Professor Feng Yifan from the Department of Analytics and Operations at NUS Business School. See omnystu...

From 1 July 2026, eligible delivery riders will get 30 minutes of free parking at selected CapitaLand malls. But beyond parking charges, what other obstacles are affecting their earnings and productivity? And what more can be done to make deliveries smoother and faster? Daniel Martin speaks with Andy Ang, Executive Secretary of the National Delivery Champions Association (NDCA).  See omnystud...

They do more than just drive. From keeping to schedules and helping passengers to navigating busy roads, bus captains play a vital frontline role. But beyond pay, what will it take to attract more Singaporeans into the profession? Daniel Martin speaks with Yeo Wan Ling, Member of Parliament for Punggol GRC, Executive Secretary of the National Transport Workers' Union, and Assistant Secretary-Gener...

Singapore could be in for hotter, drier weather in the months ahead. The Meteorological Service Singapore says El Niño conditions are expected to develop between June and July, raising the risk of transboundary haze across Singapore and the surrounding region. Daniel Martin speaks with Professor Steve Yim, Director of the Centre for Climate Change and Environmental Health at Nanyang Technol...

PMDs were banned from footpaths back in 2019 over safety concerns, but they’re still showing up on our roads... A man was seen riding and doing a "Superman" pose on a personal mobility device along Keppel Road on Saturday (23 May) at a speed faster than other vehicles on the road. Daniel Martin speaks with Bobby Lai, Head of Business Development, Mobot. See omnystudio.com/listener for privac...

Packed trains during the morning rush are part of daily life for many Singaporeans. But what if travelling earlier meant travelling for free? A recent trial on the North East Line and Sengkang-Punggol LRT offered free off-peak rides before 7.30am or between 9am and 9.45am, with peak-hour crowding falling by 9 per cent. Daniel Martin speaks with transport analyst Terence Fan, Assistant Professor of...

Singapore’s birth rate fell to a record low of 0.87 last year, and policymakers are now looking more closely at the pressures of raising children, including what Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Indranee Rajah, described as Singapore’s education “arms race.” From tuition and CCAs to the fear of falling behind, how do we reduce the education arms race in Singap...

From Singapore to Paris and New York, the launch of the AP x Swatch Royal Pop watches sparked huge queues, overnight campouts and even crowd-control incidents around the world. Marketing aside, if product launches cause chaos – should brands take responsibility? Daniel Martin discusses further with marketing expert Associate Professor Victor Kwan, Deputy Director, SUSS Academy. See omny...

A shoplifter was recently caught and jailed after being identified by facial recognition at a Sheng Siong supermarket in Punggol Central. But how accurate is this technology? Could AI mistakenly think you’ve shoplifted? Daniel Martin speaks with Yeow Ling Yun, a lecturer from Ngee Ann Polytechnic’s School of Infocomm Technology. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Crisis Conversations continues as we look at how the war on Iran could start affecting healthcare — from rising medicine costs and possible drug delays to shortages of medical supplies such as PPE, syringes and catheters. Daniel Martin speaks with Associate Professor Cynthia Chen from the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, NUS. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A man used AI to create a fake nude image of a woman and hid cameras at her workplace. And in another case, a man was jailed for filming four men in a shipyard toilet. These happened in offices and restrooms – spaces we use every day. Should you be checking for hidden cameras? Daniel Martin speaks with Ivan Tan, Cybersecurity Expert from Asia Top Investigation. See omnystudio.com/listener fo...

The doubling of the minimum occupation period to 10 years, the removal of the Deferred Payment Scheme, and an increased quota and priority period for first-timers were recently announced by Minister for National Development Chee Hong Tat as part of measures to help first-time home buyers secure an EC unit. Daniel Martin speaks with Eugene Lim, Key Executive Officer, ERA Singapore. See omnystudio.c...

A live performance on your bus ride, a welcome surprise or an unwanted disruption? After a New Zealand singer-songwriter, went viral for performing on a public bus, the debate is growing over what counts as busking and where the line should be drawn in shared spaces. Daniel Martin discuss with Jonathan Goh, Chairman of the Buskers’ Association Singapore. See omnystudio.com/listener for priva...