Real Blue Zone

Is Singlish an embarassing habit or our greatest national treasure? In this episode, Annette and Dewy unpack the most chaotic, beautiful, and controversial thing about how Singaporeans speak — Singlish. From code-switching in school to ordering kopi like a pro, we dive into what makes Singlish feel so uniquely us — and how it brings together people from different races, cultures, and backgrounds t...

What’s your core void deck memory? A wedding? A wake? That one time you skipped school and bought snacks from the mama shop? In this episode, we talk about the realest communal space in Singapore — the void deck. From casual hangs to family milestones, we break down how this concrete corner under our flats has quietly shaped how we live, grieve, celebrate, and connect — across all races, cultures,...

How does where we live shape who we are — and who we grow up with? In this episode, Annette and Jeevan dive into the invisible design of Singapore’s heartlands: from the Ethnic Integration Policy to carefully planned HDB blocks, parks, and public transport. They explore how urban planning isn’t just about buildings — it’s about the daily moments that quietly bring people from different walks of li...

In Singapore, food brings us together — but could it also be what’s quietly putting us at risk? Annette and Jeevan dive into the sweet (and not-so-sweet) realities of our eating habits, looking at how different cultures in Singapore enjoy sugar — from Chinese desserts to Indian staples — and how that affects our health over time. They reflect on the real impact diabetes has had in their own famili...

Everyone knows it’s illegal. So why are so many people still vaping in Singapore — especially Gen Zs? In this episode of Real Blue Zone, hosts Annette Lee and Zaki dive into the weird double life of vaping in a country known for its strict laws. From the secret codes of vape sellers to the emotional reasons people pick up the habit, we unpack it all — with a lot of laughter, and a whole lot of fac...

If everyone in your circle agrees with you… maybe it’s not a circle. It’s a bubble. In this episode, we’re getting real about friendship diversity — and why differences matter more than most of us realise. Annette and Zaki talk about what it means to have people in your life who aren’t just like you — in race, beliefs, personality, or politics. It’s not always comfortable. But it might be exactly...

If we’re going to live longer, will we actually have enough to live on? In this Episode of Real Blue Zone, Annette Lee sits down with Gen Z and ex-financial consultant Ian Jeevan to unpack what saving for the future really looks like — emotionally, practically, and socially — for young people in Singapore. From CPF anxiety and delayed adulthood to feeling behind on investments, they explore the fe...

Are Gen Zs genuinely overwhelmed, or are we just being overly sensitive? In this episode of Real Blue Zone, hosts Annette Lee and Dewy Choo delve into the mental health challenges faced by Gen Zs in Singapore. From burnout and boundary-setting to social media addiction and the pressures of hustle culture, we explore the complexities of growing up in a hyper-connected world. . Whether you're fe...

Living with your parents is free... but at what cost? In this premiere episode of Real Blue Zone, hosts Annette Lee and Dewy Choo explore one of the biggest adulting dilemmas in Singapore: whether to move out or stay home — and what that decision really means for our mental health, freedom, and relationships. In a country where space is limited and multigenerational homes are the norm, young adult...