by The Straits Times
<p>Synopsis: Every second Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests.</p> <p>Podcaster: Lynda Hong and ST journalists</p> <p>Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim</p> <p>Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong</p> <p>A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media.</p>
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🇺🇲
Publishing Since
4/12/2022
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March 11, 2025
<p>How younger social workers and social service entrepreneurs are exploring the use of music in the eldercare space. </p> <p>Synopsis: Every second Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at social issues of the day with guests.</p> <p>In this special edition of In Your Opinion - filmed in front of a live audience at The Foundry - a social service entrepreneur and social worker share how music can transform the eldercare space.</p> <p>Be it for their loved ones or as part of their advocacy, youths can now find more avenues to reach out to seniors, using the powerful tool in music. </p> <p>When it comes to engaging the elderly, music can reinvigorate and empower them - all while closing the gap between different generations. </p> <p>Studies have shown that music can amplify connections between the brain’s auditory and emotional regions, encouraging memory encoding and recall. </p> <p>In this episode, ST assistant podcast editor Lynda Hong and her co-host - STNow reporter Christie Chiu - speak with two guests who are harnessing the power of music to transform eldercare in Singapore. </p> <p>The two guests are: SanCare Asia founder Johnson Soh, who uses music-based technologies and services to help dementia patients; and Fei Yue Community Services programme executive Amanda Soon, who taps on music to get seniors more involved in their communities.</p> <p>Having studied in the UK and worked in the film industry there before returning to Singapore, Amanda now uses her creative skills to empower seniors and youths. At Fei Yue, she uses music to pilot various programmes and workshops with youth volunteers, youths and seniors.</p> <p>After working in the music industry for almost 30 years, Johnson founded SanCare Asia in 2016. The first elder-care service in Asia to offer person-centered reminiscence music programmes came about when Johnson's father developed dementia. </p> <p>"I actually used my dad as a guinea pig," he said, adding that he put together a playlist of songs which would resonate with him, songs which he grew up with during his formative years.</p> <p>"And yeah, it worked wonders, you know, to see him light up, to see him in a different mood just gave me the impetus to start the company." <br><br>Over the years, Johnson has used reminiscence music to develop various programs as well. With his extensive research and deep music expertise, Johnson developed many programmes including Strike A Note©, a proprietary personalised music playlist programme for seniors. He also launched Return To The Tea Dance©, a silent disco-inspired music and movement programme, which became a finalist at the 2020 Asia Pacific Eldercare Innovation Awards.</p> <p>Highlights (click/tap above):</p> <p>6:41 How Fei Yue creates community for seniors by reviving lost dreams</p> <p>7:20 How Fei Yue youth volunteers bring energy and ideas to do community work with seniors</p> <p>9:03 Bridging inter-generational gaps through SanCare Asia’s person-centred care, creating a personalised music playlist for each senior</p> <p>12:06 When music can also elicit adverse reactions; a delicate task for youth volunteers with seniors</p> <p>15:50 Return to the Tea Dance, a silent disco programme for dementia seniors</p> <p>22:41 Youth volunteers, social services and social enterprises empowering each other</p> <p>25:20 How the Crdl can help the less-functioning dementia seniors</p> <p>Find out more about: </p> <p>SanCare Asia: <a href="https://str.sg/kEvE">https://str.sg/kEvE</a></p> <p>Fei Yue Community Services: <a href="https://str.sg/sAxH">https://str.sg/sAxH</a></p> <p>Listen to the other filmed live podcast at The Foundry:</p> <p>Saving our old buildings from obscurity: What can young people do? - <a href="https://str.sg/FKRb">https://str.sg/FKRb</a></p> <p>Read ST’s Opinion section:<a href="https://str.sg/w7sH"> https://str.sg/w7sH</a></p> <p>Read Christie Chiu’s articles: <a href="https://str.sg/3ESxU">https://str.sg/3ESxU</a></p> <p>Hosts: Lynda Hong (<a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a>) and Christie Chiu (<a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a>)</p> <p>Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim</p> <p>Executive producer: Ernest Luis</p> <p>Follow In Your Opinion Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:</p> <p>Channel:<a href="https://str.sg/w7Qt"> https://str.sg/w7Qt</a></p> <p>Apple Podcasts:<a href="https://str.sg/wukb"> https://str.sg/wukb</a></p> <p>Spotify:<a href="https://str.sg/w7sV"> https://str.sg/w7sV</a></p> <p>Feedback to: <a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a></p> <p>---</p> <p>Follow more ST podcast channels:</p> <p>All-in-one ST Podcasts channel:<a href="https://str.sg/wvz7"> https://str.sg/wvz7</a></p> <p>ST Podcast website:<a href="http://str.sg/stpodcasts"> http://str.sg/stpodcasts</a></p> <p>ST Podcasts YouTube:<a href="https://str.sg/4Vwsa"> https://str.sg/4Vwsa</a></p> <p>---</p> <p>Get The Straits Times’ app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:</p> <p>The App Store:<a href="https://str.sg/icyB"> https://str.sg/icyB</a></p> <p>Google Play:<a href="https://str.sg/icyX"> https://str.sg/icyX</a></p> <p>---</p> <p>#inyouropinion</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>
February 11, 2025
<p dir="ltr">Why are some Singapore companies willing to bear the expense to implement pet-care leave as a form of benefit?</p> <p dir="ltr">Synopsis: Every month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests.</p> <p>While fewer people are keen on having children, more are becoming pet owners, based on statistics from the Animal and Veterinary Service and an Euromonitor International report.</p> <p>But what happens if you have a full-time job and your pet is sick? </p> <p>Instead of requiring their employees to take urgent leave, some firms in Singapore have begun rolling out pet care leave, for "pawrents" who need to take their furkids to the vet.</p> <p>Only a small number of firms have started implementing it, but the response from employees has so far been overwhelmingly positive. </p> <p>In this episode, ST assistant podcast editor Lynda Hong and her co-host - journalist Aqil Hamzah - ask their two guests whether having a separate leave category the caring of pets is ultimately a good thing, and whether it’d affect the morale of those without pets. </p> <p>The two guests are: Emilyn Ang, founder of public relations and marketing agency Brave Communications, which provides three days of “pawrental” leave a year; and Diane Lee, a senior HR business partner for South-east Asia at recruitment firm Robert Walters.</p> <p>Highlights (click/tap above):</p> <p>01:34 Considerations behind implementing pet care leave</p> <p>06:45 Advantages of having pet care leave</p> <p>09:12 Why employees with no pets shouldn’t feel resentment</p> <p>14:30 Leave days as an expense, and how firms can balance out the cost</p> <p>17:30 Are more Singapore firms ready to roll out pet care leave </p> <p>Read ST's Opinion section:<a href="https://str.sg/w7sH"> https://str.sg/w7sH</a></p> <p>Read Aqil Hamzah’s articles: <a href="https://str.sg/Cc85">https://str.sg/Cc85</a></p> <p>Hosts: Lynda Hong (<a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a>) and Aqil Hamzah</p> <p dir="ltr">Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim</p> <p dir="ltr">Executive producer: Ernest Luis</p> <p dir="ltr">Follow In Your Opinion Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:</p> <p dir="ltr">Channel:<a href="https://str.sg/w7Qt"> https://str.sg/w7Qt</a></p> <p dir="ltr">Apple Podcasts:<a href="https://str.sg/wukb"> https://str.sg/wukb</a></p> <p dir="ltr">Spotify:<a href="https://str.sg/w7sV"> https://str.sg/w7sV</a></p> <p dir="ltr">Feedback to: <a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a></p> <p dir="ltr">---</p> <p dir="ltr">Follow more ST podcast channels:</p> <p dir="ltr">All-in-one ST Podcasts channel:<a href="https://str.sg/wvz7"> https://str.sg/wvz7</a></p> <p dir="ltr">ST Podcast website:<a href="http://str.sg/stpodcasts"> http://str.sg/stpodcasts</a></p> <p dir="ltr">ST Podcasts YouTube:<a href="https://str.sg/4Vwsa"> https://str.sg/4Vwsa</a></p> <p dir="ltr">---</p> <p dir="ltr">Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:</p> <p dir="ltr">The App Store:<a href="https://str.sg/icyB"> https://str.sg/icyB</a></p> <p dir="ltr">Google Play:<a href="https://str.sg/icyX"> https://str.sg/icyX</a></p> <p dir="ltr">---</p> <p dir="ltr">#inyouropinion</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>
January 21, 2025
<p dir="ltr">Can stereotypes of male pre-school teachers be reduced to ease more men into the profession that is seeing shortage in Singapore?</p> <p dir="ltr">Synopsis: Every month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests.</p> <p dir="ltr">There is less than one man for every 10 early childhood educators in Singapore - surprising given that the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) estimates the need for another 1,500 more educators to support the sector’s expansion in the coming years. </p> <p dir="ltr">As male pre-school teachers conventionally face more scrutiny, could MSF’s new set of guidelines spelling out appropriate boundaries help ease tensions? </p> <p dir="ltr">The new set of guidelines for primary caregivers include expression affection, bathing practices and exposure to nudity. </p> <p dir="ltr">Amid a spate of abuse cases at various pre-schools in Singapore being reported in 2024, these guidelines could help pre-school teachers and parents set their mind at ease, especially when it comes to male pre-school teachers, said guests in this episode. </p> <p dir="ltr">The two guests are: Sajit Sesikumar, 30, a senior English pre-school teacher, who shares his six-year experience at MindChamps Preschool; and Yeo Shufang, 42, a mother of four kids, with her youngest attending preschool at age 4.</p> <p dir="ltr">In this episode, ST assistant podcast editor Lynda Hong and her co-host - STNow reporter Christie Chiu - ask their two guests whether setting guidelines can ease the tensions male pre-school teachers have to navigate at work, and encourage more to the early childhood education profession. </p> <p dir="ltr">Highlights (click/tap above):</p> <p dir="ltr">6:50 How pre-schoolers can learn better from a diversity of teachers</p> <p dir="ltr">11:24 How MSF’s healthy family guidelines can ease the work of pre-school teachers </p> <p dir="ltr">13:25 How Sajid deals with physical affection from students </p> <p dir="ltr">16:37 How Shufang teaches her children about personal boundaries</p> <p dir="ltr">21:28 Is Singapore ready to normalise male preschool teachers and how can stereotypes be reduced?</p> <p dir="ltr">Read ST's Opinion section:<a href="https://str.sg/w7sH"> https://str.sg/w7sH</a></p> <p dir="ltr">Read Christie Chiu’s articles:<a href="https://str.sg/3ESxU"> </a><a href="https://str.sg/LfQG">https://str.sg/LfQG</a> </p> <p dir="ltr">Hosts: Lynda Hong ([email protected]) and Christie Chiu </p> <p dir="ltr">Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim</p> <p dir="ltr">Executive producer: Ernest Luis</p> <p dir="ltr">Follow In Your Opinion Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:</p> <p dir="ltr">Channel:<a href="https://str.sg/w7Qt"> https://str.sg/w7Qt</a></p> <p dir="ltr">Apple Podcasts:<a href="https://str.sg/wukb"> https://str.sg/wukb</a></p> <p dir="ltr">Spotify:<a href="https://str.sg/w7sV"> https://str.sg/w7sV</a></p> <p dir="ltr">Feedback to: <a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a></p> <p dir="ltr">---</p> <p dir="ltr">Follow more ST podcast channels:</p> <p dir="ltr">All-in-one ST Podcasts channel:<a href="https://str.sg/wvz7"> https://str.sg/wvz7</a></p> <p dir="ltr">ST Podcast website:<a href="http://str.sg/stpodcasts"> http://str.sg/stpodcasts</a></p> <p dir="ltr">ST Podcasts YouTube:<a href="https://str.sg/4Vwsa"> https://str.sg/4Vwsa</a></p> <p dir="ltr">---</p> <p dir="ltr">Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:</p> <p dir="ltr">The App Store:<a href="https://str.sg/icyB"> https://str.sg/icyB</a></p> <p dir="ltr">Google Play:<a href="https://str.sg/icyX"> https://str.sg/icyX</a></p> <p dir="ltr">---</p> <p dir="ltr">#inyouropinion</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>
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