The Usual Place

RDU has the second-highest number of opposition candidates.  Synopsis: The Usual Place now moves to a half-hour daily livestream at noon from April 24 till May 1 - a day before Cooling-off Day - with Singapore's general election on May 3. Host and ST correspondent Natasha Ann Zachariah invites candidates, analysts and hunts for new perspectives on issues that matter to young people.  Red...

Three seasoned political observers analyse and offer talking points. Synopsis: The Usual Place now moves to a half-hour daily livestream at noon from April 24 till May 1 - a day before Cooling-off Day - with Singapore's general election on May 3. Host and ST correspondent Natasha Ann Zachariah invites candidates, analysts and hunts for new perspectives on issues that matter to young people. ...

PAP’s new candidates on cost of living and groupthink Synopsis: The Usual Place now moves to a half-hour daily livestream at noon from April 24 till May 1 - a day before Cooling-off Day - with Singapore's general election on May 3. On the couch today are: Mr Shawn Loh, 38, part of the party’s Jalan Besar GRC team; Mr Foo Cexiang, 40, from the Tanjong Pagar GRC slate; and Ms Hazlina Abd...

As the election campaign heats up with a week left to Polling Day on May 3, how is this General Election shaping up?  Synopsis: The Usual Place now moves to a half-hour daily livestream at noon from April 24 till May 1 - a day before Cooling-off Day - with Singapore's general election on May 3. Host of the Political Prude podcast Joel Lim and Assistant Professor Elvin Ong from the NUS Departm...

Three WP candidates, including party vice-chairman Faisal Manap, drop by The Usual Place. Synopsis: The Usual Place now moves to a half-hour daily livestream at noon from April 24 till May 1 - a day before Cooling-off Day - with Singapore's general election on May 3. Apart from Mr Faisal Manap, 50, also joining Natasha Ann Zachariah for the second live episode of The Usual Place are: Dr Ong Lue Pi...

These new faces are from three GRC teams. Synopsis: The Usual Place now moves to a half-hour daily livestream at noon from April 24 till May 1 - a day before Cooling-off Day - with Singapore's general election on May 3. Host and ST correspondent Natasha Ann Zachariah invites candidates, analysts and hunts for new perspectives on issues that matter to young people.  But first up, on the living...

They touch on why young voters should speak up now at this stage in their lives. Synopsis: The Usual Place host and ST correspondent Natasha Ann Zachariah hunts for new perspectives on issues that matter to young people.  In the lead-up to Singapore's next general election that will be held on May 3, 2025, Natasha looks at how MPs, and others involved, are preparing themselves. Progress Singa...

He says a serious-minded person can come into the Singapore political system and make a difference. Synopsis: The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah hunts for new perspectives on issues that matter to young people.  In the lead-up to Singapore's next general election that will be held on May 3, 2025, Natasha looks at how MPs, and others involved, are preparing themselves. Minister for Law...

It has been a week filled with days and dates to remember. Synopsis: The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah hunts for new perspectives on issues that matter to young people.  In the lead-up to Singapore's next general election that will be held on May 3, 2025, Natasha looks at how MPs, and others involved, are preparing themselves. Parliament was dissolved on April 15. Nomination day is o...

He first stood for election with WP's contesting Marine Parade GRC team in 2020. Synopsis: The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah hunts for new perspectives on issues that matter to young people.  In the lead-up to Singapore's next general election that will be held on May 3, 2025, Natasha looks at how MPs, and others involved, are preparing themselves. Lawyer Fadli Fawzi, 44, first stood...

She cherishes her MacPherson memories and reflects on her rough start to politics. Synopsis: The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah hunts for new perspectives on issues that matter to young people. In the lead-up to the expected general election that must be held by November 2025, Natasha looks at how MPs, and others involved, are preparing themselves. MacPherson MP Tin Pei Ling was PAP’...

She was elected during the 2020 general election. Synopsis: The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah hunts for new perspectives on issues that matter to young people.  In the lead-up to the expected general election that must be held by November 2025, Natasha looks at how MPs, and others involved, are preparing themselves. In this episode, Ms Mariam Jaafar, who is a managing director and se...

Synopsis: The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah hunts for new perspectives on issues that matter to young people. In the lead-up to the expected general election that must be held by November 2025, Natasha looks at how MPs, and others involved, are preparing themselves. Health Minister Ong Ye Kung talks to Natasha about resetting the rules during the pandemic, his biggest challenge at the min...

Synopsis: The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah hunts for new perspectives on issues that matter to young people. Following Budget 2025 and the Committee of Supply Debate on government spending for different ministries, Natasha and her co-host Audrey Tan, ST assistant news editor for environment coverage, discuss how Singapore is pushing ahead with climate action. She’s also the host of...

Synopsis: The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah hunts for new perspectives on issues that matter to young people. Following Budget 2025 and the Committee of Supply Debate on government spending, Natasha invites as her co-host Isabelle Liew, a ST journalist who covers the housing beat. They welcome Minister for National Development Desmond Lee on their living room couch as he says housing affo...

Synopsis: The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah hunts for new perspectives on issues that matter to young people. The Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) dropped its report on March 11 and here’s the gist: Boundaries for GRCs have been rejigged, new SMCs have been carved out, and there are now more constituencies with double-barrelled names. Now that we have a clear picture of...

Are we talking enough about health checks and the possibility of cancer for young adults? Synopsis: The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah hunts for new perspectives on issues that matter to young people. When she was about 35 years old, stay-at-home mother Hannah Seow discovered she had breast cancer after a self-examination. Her diagnosis came about two years after her youngest child, Caleb,...

The Aljunied GRC MP chats about his first term as an elected MP and being from an opposition party. Synopsis: The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah hunts for new perspectives on issues that matter to young people. Also, in the lead-up to the expected general election that must be held by November 2025, Natasha looks at how MPs, and others involved, are preparing themselves. In this episode, M...

Synopsis: The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah hunts for new perspectives on issues that matter to young people. On Feb 18, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong delivered the Budget 2025 that has been called a “Budget for all Singaporeans”. Among the goodies were SG60 vouchers, CDC vouchers, and grants for parents who choose to grow their family beyond two children. Businesses and worker...

Can young people revive Singapore’s old buildings? Synopsis: The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah hunts for new perspectives on issues that matter to young people. That was the question Natasha teased the audience with during the video podcast’s first live event. Held on Feb 12, the show was a part of ST Podcasts’ Live!, a series of six events this year to celebrate ST&rsqu...

The MP for Punggol West SMC first joined the People's Action Party as a member 25 years ago after becoming a volunteer to help with Meet-The-People sessions. Synopsis: On Thursdays, The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah hunts for new perspectives on issues that matter to young people. Also, in the lead-up to the expected general election that must be held by November 2025, Natasha looks at ho...

If you’re toying with the idea of getting a pet, the first question to ask yourself is: Are you ready for the time, financial, and emotional commitment? Synopsis: The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah hunts for new perspectives on issues that matter to young people. On this episode of The Usual Place, host Natasha Ann Zachariah found out what blindspots first-time pet owners may have an...

Now that we’re in 2025, one thing’s for sure – a General Election is on the horizon. Synopsis: Out on Thursdays, The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah hunts for new perspectives on issues that matter to young people. When exactly? That’s anyone’s guess. But political parties are already up and about, ramping up efforts to touch base with voters. And, judging by t...

Synopsis: The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah hunts for new perspectives on issues that matter to young people. Saudi Arabia, China’s Lijiang and Yunnan, and… Central Asia? Could these be the next big holiday destinations for 2025? This week on The Usual Place, Straits Times Life travel journalist Sarah Stanley and co-founder of The Travel Intern Hendric Tay share why they thin...

As we inch closer to a new year, will you be putting “losing weight” on your list of resolutions - for the nth time?  Synopsis: The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah hunts for new perspectives on issues that matter to young people. Dropping the pounds is a classic New Year’s resolution for many people, but sticking to it often proves challenging.  Natasha wanted to...