What we are listening to: Great podcasts, music and more!

When do you listen to podcasts? Some people like to walk and listen; others lie in bed and listen when they can’t sleep. Others are in denial about their eyesight (no names mentioned) and prefer to listen to podcasts rather than buy reading glasses! Whatever your reason, here are a couple of recommendations from the team.

Begin Again with Davina McCall (episode: Richard E Grant)

I’ve been a fan of Richard E Grant ever since the film Withnail and I, so I was really looking forward to this one. I wasn’t expecting such raw and open honest communication on some very personal subjects – like the fact that he was almost shot by his alcoholic dad. And how he blamed himself for the breakdown of his parents’ marriage. I’m not sure if the chemistry between Richard and Davina was just right or if she was just excellent at facilitating him in unravelling his life stories. But overall I found Richard’s half glass full approach to life very uplifting. (And his immense love and grief for his late wife brought a tear or two to my eyes.) I have a newfound respect for the man – I absolutely adore him!

Harsharan Kaur

Operation Seal Bay

I’m not much of a podcast guy – not because I don’t like them, but because there’s always an amazing new album being released by an amazing band, and that’s where my listening interests lie.

But I couldn’t go past the premise of BBC podcast Operation Seal Bay. It’s a retelling of real-life events of 1983, when the inhabitants of a small Welsh fishing village start noticing suspicious characters popping up in their area – one walking on a coastal trail, though clearly not decked out in walking gear; another asking for Lobster Thermidor in a local pub (where a steak-and-ale pie would be a more likely order) and leaving an unusually large tip.

It wouldn’t be spoiling the plot to tell you that the shady new arrivals are involved in a massive international drug smuggling operation, because the podcast makes that pretty clear from the start.

It’s my only gripe: there’s a lot of foreshadowing, and it does take away some of the element of mystery. It’s still a great story though. There’s even a strange hatch on an abandoned beach, a bit like in Lost – and when locals stumble upon it, they open it and find a ladder leading down to…

The creators of this podcast might like to spoil a surprise, but I’m not going to.

Shamus Sillar

Do The Job – Melanie Ralph

Looking for a career change, or need some job guidance? Check out this podcast hosted by veteran journalist Melanie Ralph. From the intrigue of “The Crime Writer” to the tech prowess of “The Cyber Queen”, and the daring exploits of “The Subsea Specialist”, each episode touches on the often unspoken aspects of professions, like required personality traits – and money! I loved “The Philanthropist”, describing extreme sportsman Callum Eade’s charity swims around the world, which have raised thousands of dollars for cancer research, a cause close to his heart. If you’re seeking career inspiration (or perhaps you have a teen contemplating their career choices), or you simply enjoy peeking into other people’s lives, this podcast is a must-listen for all!

Georgina Hockley

The High Performance Podcast

I’ve always been intrigued by highly successful people, whether it’s in business, sport, arts or food. So when Spotify suggested this podcast, I decided to give it a try.

The hosts are TV broadcaster Jake Humphrey and author Professor Damian Hughes, who chat with guests about the key to their success and what valuable lessons we can learn to improve our own lives.

The first episode I listened to features Gordon Ramsay as you’ve never heard him before – reflective, humble and almost modest! But it was the second episode, with Lionesses’ football manager Sarina Wiegman, that had me hooked. It’s an intimate and powerful conversation about her professional and personal life, and what drives her to be an inspirational coach and leader while maintaining her key values of respect, growth and clarity.

Kate Woodbury

Death, Sex & Money – with Anna Sale

From the renowned WNYC Studios’ Death, Sex & Money podcast with Anna Sale, I really enjoyed the episode revisiting Ellen Burstyn at 81, which aired on 21 September. Ellen’s a multi-awardwinning American actress with a career spanning over 60 years and is still working today. In this interview, she spills the beans on surviving Hollywood as a beautiful, talented woman over many decades, before and after the ”me-too” era.

She also talks openly about love, loss, politics around abortion rights and the changing roles of women in society. And there’s a follow-up episode with her as she now celebrates her 90th birthday! Super interesting listen.

Georgina Hockley

Huberman Lab

Dr Andrew Huberman is a professor of neurobiology and ophthalmology at Stanford School  of Medicine and his mission is to offer free science education through his highly rated podcasts.

Each episode of Huberman Lab sees him deep-dive into a complex scientific topic with a long-form and meticulously researched podcast, which can last as long as four hours. Topics are related to neuroscience, brain function and human behaviour – sounds heavy yet he has a natural ability to dissect these concepts resulting in compelling, engaging and informative listening.

Huberman ends each episode with some actionable takeaways or “protocols” to help improve our daily lives. I have incorporated several of his mantras such as getting early morning sun on my face to help regulate circadian rhythms and improve sleep as well as some effective breathing techniques to manage stress and tricky situations.

Kate Woodbury

The Diary of a CEO Episode 247, The No. 1 Sex Expert: How To Have Great Sex

We all know the song: “Let’s talk about sex, baby!” – it was a huge hit for Salt-N-Pepa in the year 2000. And it’s exactly what Tracy Cox talks about with Steven Butler on this podcast episode.

I found their conversation entertaining and informative, and I love the giggles that host Steven has when he mentions he is asking a question “for a friend”!

This podcast should be listened to by both men and women, especially for those who have been married for a while; it could help to get the spark back and spice things up a bit. Enjoy!

Susan Knudsen-Pickles

The Universe Guru by Mina Irfan

Mina Irfan’s free YouTube videos are a great beginning step for people, especially women, who are interested in uplevelling their lives. Covering topics from femininity and masculinity in dating to manifesting wealth, health and abundance, she introduces counterintuitive ideas in easy-to-understand breakdowns to help you take charge of life and leave the victim mentality behind. Her channel is for anyone who is interested in mindset work in personal development.

Yimin Huang

Sweet Bobby

This gripping six-part true crime podcast series is about a sophisticated catfisher and a victim’s pursuit of justice. Kirat Assi is a successful radio presenter in London. Over a period of ten years, she is drawn into an unbelievable web of deception and coercive control.

The story begins when she meets attractive cardiologist Bobby on Facebook and eventually she falls hard in love, losing her thirties (and much more) to a fictional relationship. The twist in the story left me gasping, when the identity of the catfisher is revealed. I was left with two big questions. Why? And how can the catfisher just walk away without facing punishment?

Georgina Hockley

Victoria’s Thoughts

An insightful and empowering podcast by Victoria De Vall, this is a place where women can learn to heal from harmful societal conditioning and find their way back to their authentic selves. While there are many selfgrowth podcasts out there today, I am blown away by Victoria’s courageous vulnerability. I’ve learnt a lot from her fresh and nuanced takes on topics like relationship trauma, sexualisation, celibacy and sisterhood, which she explores while using her own personal journey for clarity and illumination.

Yimin Huang

You Can Heal Your Life | Louise Hay

Louise Hay’s groundbreaking work in 1984 has proven to be as valuable today as the time it was first published. I’ve read many books on self-help, and I find this to be the most understandable, with advice that’s easy to implement. Hay points out the connection between mental and physical health, such as in the case of body image issues that stem from having low self-worth. One actionable takeaway from the book is to repeat positive self-talk every day – and make it a habit.

Even if you start out sceptical, like I did, it’s worth trying the practices suggested in the book, such as mirror work and affirmations, and experience the effects of them over time. I can be quite impatient about results, but I find that being consistent has helped greatly. Also, the book has made me realise the importance of focusing on self-compassion before self-improvement.

Yimin Huang

The Clot Thickens – Dr Malcolm Kendrick Audible

Heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. This book is for anyone interested in heart disease for whatever reason: you have it, a family member or loved one has it, or you simply want to avoid getting it.

But you have to be at least open to the idea that mainstream medicine has got it completely wrong. It turns out that cholesterol may not be the cause of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. Dr Kendrick presents convincing scientific evidence for an alternative explanation – the thrombogenic hypothesis – along with practical and straightforward advice for avoiding atherosclerotic plaque build-up and staying heart-healthy.

Furthermore, his writing style is gripping, personal and witty – complemented by a narrator who does a superb job of bringing out the humour along with the deep science. I’m on to my second listening.

Verne Maree

It Gets Better by Lindsay Adkinson | Apple Podcast

Before Lindsay Adkinson came to the life she knows now – in a healthy marriage with a loving husband and dogs – she was sexually assaulted at a young age and endured multiple toxic friendships. Having put in the work to change her life for the better, she now teaches others to do the same. Adkinson’s podcast touches on tangible ways to say goodbye to our limiting beliefs, how we can elevate our friendships and bring in more wealth to improve our lifestyle and mental health. She remains empathetic while encouraging selfaccountability – testament to a resilient woman who inspires through example.

Yimin Huang

You Can Heal Your Life | Spotify

If you’re looking for motivation, inspiration or insights on Valentine’s Day, this podcast is dedicated to your inner work. Learn from some of the world’s most prominent teachers in spirituality, health, wellness and more, such as the late Louise Hay, Gabrielle Bernstein and Dr Joe Dispenza. From meditation on forgiveness and improving self-worth to gratitude and overcoming fears, this podcast touches on all the key areas and aims to give you the tools to better navigate everyday challenges.

Yimin Huang

X Minutes of Poetry

If you’re a serious literature lover, have a keen curiosity about local poetry or simply a few minutes to spare on your daily commute, you may want to check out X Minutes of Poetry. The podcast offers short, relaxing recitations of Singapore literature that feel meditative. It has also expanded to include occasional nonlocal poetry and prose to cater to the diverse preferences of listeners.

I listen to episodes when I want to enjoy a brief respite from daily life, and also to improve my own writing. It’s also an efficient way to be introduced to local literature without having to go through trial and error to find what you like!

My personal favourites are “Two Stories from Ministry of Moral Panic” by Amanda Lee Koe and “Lamentations” by Amanda Chong.

Yimin Huang

The Check In | Acast

British Airways have done some interesting marketing efforts in the past: for example, dancing “The Strictly” at Heathrow Airport in 2015 to promote Strictly Come Dancing; and fundraising for Flying Start in 2017 and 2018 with airline safety videos featuring an ensemble of British film and television thespians.

This year, they launched The Check In, the BA Official Podcast. The monthly episodes are hosted by BA staff working in different areas of the business and locations. There have been three episodes thus far, each with vastly different topics.

I enjoyed the episode in May, when astronauts Charlie Duke, Dr Sian Proctor and Susan Kilran appeared as guests to mark the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 16 landing. They spoke about highlights of their professional careers and the similarities between space travel and aviation.

Patricea Chow

Shameless Spotify | Apple Podcasts

My sister recommended this podcast to me and it’s one of my favourites for learning about pop culture moments.

I really enjoy hearing about in-depth scandals that I was too young to remember at the time; for example, the episodes called the Nanny Diaries that touch on the scandals of Jude Law and Ben Affleck and their affairs with their nannies.

Also interesting are the episodes on Fleetwood Mac and the conflict between Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham; the podcast goes into the depth of specific songs and the stories behind them.

Due to the nature of the content, this would only be suitable for teens or older.

Michaela Bisset

Something Rhymes with Purple

This is a fascinating journey through the English language exploring idioms, expressions and the history of words. Lexicographer Susie Dent partners with Gyles Brandreth to explore a different topic each time. A recent episode covered the vocabulary pertaining to roads and travel; did you know that “pavement” comes from the Latin pavimentum meaning trodden-down floor? At the end of each podcast, Susie introduces a trio of her favourite words. This episode’s words hit a chord for me during the latest COVID restrictions: “hodophile”, meaning lover of journeys, “gadwaddick”, to go on a jaunt, and “trouvaille”, something lovely found by chance!

Kate Woodbury

The Guardian’s Today in Focus | Spotify

This podcast has a lot of themes that interest me and I put it on after I’ve dropped off the girls at school to catch up on the news that shapes the world. Each episode goes behind the headlines to provide a deeper understanding of the news. An interesting subject covered recently was the Korean debt crisis that inspired Squid Game’s dark dystopia. It looked at how the Netflix series put the focus on increasing personal debt in South Korea. Give this a go – there are some great topics for everyone!

Susan Knudsen-Pickles

Podcast Profile: Sarah-Mae Thomas, The Legal Eagle Podcast

What’s your podcast about?

The Legal Eagle Podcast is all about conversations and discussions with local and overseas experts about new ideas and developments in law. It gives listeners a different perspective and a broader directive on legal matters related to family law.

What inspired you to start it?

I’ve always enjoyed arts and performance and I wanted a new avenue to channel both my creativity and passion for family law. Podcasting was a different avenue to explore, and I was blessed to receive advice from seasoned podcasters who provided guidance with the entire set-up process. It’s been a great avenue for me to present important and interesting conversations for our listeners.

What do you hope listeners will take away from your episodes?

I hope listeners grasp legal concepts in the simplest way possible and have a better understanding of family law through the chats I have with other lawyers, as well as other specialised experts across other topics such as career and finance.

Can you give us a sneak peek into upcoming episodes?

We’re very excited to have launched a new podcast series called “Barrister to Barista” for the new year. Here, former lawyers share their stories of how they went from the legal industry to the F&B industry! Tune in for a new episode every first Tuesday of the month.

Subscribe via Spotify, Apple Podcasts and other major platforms, and find out more at thelegaleaglepodcast.com.

Podcast Profile: Mary Barrett, A Cup of Tea with Mary B

How did your podcast come about?

I am addicted to podcasts and have listened to thousands of hours over the years! I’ve also been lucky to have attracted – both in my personal and professional life – so many “ordinary” people achieving extraordinary things that I wanted to share their stories. I wanted to hear about their self-belief, resilience and courage in making the changes they wanted in their lives, often starting from a dark and challenging place. Plus, I wanted to share to a wider audience my personal insights, learnings and motivational tips as a Master Mind Coach.

What’s the best part of being a podcast host?

I’m in my element when interviewing people! I love discovering what makes people do what they do and how they do it. As a very curious person, it’s easy for me to ask probing questions, and I’m a great active listener. People fascinate me!

What do you hope listeners take away from your podcasts?

Hope, courage, and inspiration! I specifically invite guests who have decided to step out of the norm and do something different, in almost every case to help others. Whether it’s around sustainability, interior design or immigration, the core message is individuals following their passion and finding ways to make it their livelihood. Listeners say that these true-life stories help them see that following dreams is accessible to everyone, not just the rich and famous.

What’s your day job?

I’ve been coaching for over three decades and feel grateful to be living my purpose by enabling others to “be the best version of themselves”. I’m an Australian Board NLP Master Trainer and Clinical Hypnotherapist; I work with the subconscious mind to make transformational and sustainable changes.

Find Mary’s podcast at marybarrett.global/podcast and the usual platforms

The Mikhaila Peterson Podcast

This podcast covers talks with thought leaders, influencers and industry changers. Whether it’s wisdom from business entrepreneurs, daring nuanced conversations with socio-political commentators, or insights from spiritual teachers, it has something for everyone who loves to broaden their perspectives about the world.

Yimin Huang

Just One Thing | Michael Mosley

Like most people, I’m always looking for ways to improve my health, but forever short on time. So when I came across TV presenter Michael Mosley’s new podcast series, Just One Thing, I tuned in.

Each episode runs for just 15 minutes and involves Michael investigating one thing that you could be doing to improve your health and wellbeing. From cold showers to squats and eating more fermented food, Michael delves into the science and delivers some surprisingly good tips – tips that are easy to incorporate into your daily routine. One episode is called “Standing On One Leg”; sounds easy enough, right? Now close your eyes and try it! I’m a few weeks into practicing this and while I’m still a bit wobbly, there’s certainly some improvement! Available on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.

Kate Woodbury

Brené with Simon Sinek on Developing an Infinite Mindset

A friend pinged this podcast to me with the words “must listen”. So I went for my run, ready to open my mind with Brené and Simon, two powerhouse influencers and authors. The podcast really made me contemplate. I found myself rewinding and repeating parts of it, to help it sink in. Simon simplified how those with an infinite mindset think and behave, and Brené in her usual style gave us the geeky version minus the sci-fi language. I found myself reflecting on what was said for days after; I’ve even listened to it again. A great podcast for questioning your own belief system and its limitations.

Dee Khanduja

Free Your Self From Pain | Katie Byron with Russell Brand

Spiritual teacher and author Katie Byron joins Russell Brand on episode 78 of his Under the Skin podcast to weave spirituality and philosophy with practical tips. If you want to learn about your negative cycle of thoughts, or work through resentment or triggers, this podcast sets a great foundation to start doing “The Work” on yourself.

Dee Khanduja

Postcards From Midlife with Trish and Lorraine

Trish Halpin and Lorraine Candy are ex-glossy London magazine editors (InStyle UK and Elle respectively) who are continuing to entertain the masses through their decidedly upbeat, fresh, real and insightful podcast. Between them, they have six children, two dogs, one cat and two husbands, and they’re dealing with all the issues that come with being midlife women. Tune in and listen to them gas about everything from moody teenagers to menopausal hot flushes to the minds of men. Just the tonic we need while we’re missing our girl gangs and a bit of a giggle more than ever.

Jo Upcraft

Super Soul Sunday

I’m a big fan of Oprah Winfrey and her Super Soul Sunday podcast. These are episodes that nourish the mind, body and spirit while offering insights into living one’s best life. I love how Oprah mixes topics and guests together. One of my fave episodes is the one with Steven Tyler, the lead singer of Aerosmith, where he talks about going full circle with his life. He discusses alcohol and drug abuse, multiple failed marriages, his guilt and relationship with his kids, and about moving back to the town where he grew up and having beautiful grandchildren. Worth downloading and following!

Susan Knudsen Pickles

Wind of Change

“Tsundoku” is a Japanese word that refers to the pile of unfinished books you have on your bedside table at home. Not everyone has a tsundoku; but I certainly do! I’m no better with TV shows. I’ll start a series and be completely enjoying it, only to get distracted by other things. The last Netflix series I actually finished was Making a Murderer. That was in 2016.

A month or so ago, I thought I’d try a podcast – to see if it might have more “stickability” for me. That podcast was Wind of Change. I was sucked in by the show’s awesome premise: could the chartbusting 1980s power ballad “Wind of Change”, by German rock band Scorpions, actually have been written by the CIA as propaganda aimed at destabilising the Soviet Union and bringing down the Iron Curtain?

All the elements were there for me to lap this up: music, history, espionage, pop culture. And, if you have a passing interest in any of those things, I absolutely recommend you give this a go. Unfortunately, old habits die hard. I’ve had this one paused at the 14th-minute mark of Episode 4 for three weeks. I’m sure I’ll finish it … one day.

Shamus Sillar

Table Manners | Jessy and Lennie Ware

Jessy Ware is an English performing artist with a young family. She and her mum cohost a podcast where they ask a guest around for dinner (now virtual), and they chat about everything from sourdough to sex, their favourite cocktails to their most embarrassing moments. I don’t know half the people they have on the show – mainly British actors, musicians, chefs, activists and relatively unknown people, but most have done interesting things.

Jessy and her mum have a great conversational relationship and are very open about what they enjoy, their families, food they’ve cooked and what they’re missing doing this year. You feel like you’ve been at the table with them after each show. Oh, and you’ll be surprised which guests say they have good table manners – or not!

Danielle Rossetti

The Shift: On Life after 40 | Sam Baker

The Shift is the brainchild of UK journalist and author Sam Baker (former editor-in-chief of Red magazine). It launched this autumn along with her book of the same name, which is currently being touted as a “menopause memoir”, but in a good way! The podcast is decidedly less biologically based, but it does address a demographic that gets largely ignored: females over 40.

Each week, guests including Marian Keyes, Sara Collins and Jo Whiley join Sam to create a new narrative on subjects such as body confidence, mental health, career reinvention and why they’re not sticking to the stereotypes of women in midlife. Far from offering doom, gloom and daunting stories about what’s ahead, it’s frank, funny, fresh and insightful – and, dare I say it, it makes you feel kind of cool about “growing up”.

Jo Upcraft

The Michelle Obama Podcast (Spotify)

I love this series of relaxed, intimate interviews Michelle does with husband Barack and her friends and family. She discusses topics around family, community, Black Lives Matter, women’s health, marriage and even menopause! Yes, she wanted to throw Barack out of the window at one stage, and yes, she got irrationally cranky going through menopause, but she is unapologetic about it. Totally honest, thoughtful and funny conversations with a woman you would like to get to know better!

Danielle Rossetti

Raising Daughters with Tim Jordan, MD

I always try to absorb information on how to be a better parent and how to raise good, levelheaded little individuals. This podcast provides information, awareness, practical tools and inspiration to parents and other adults who work with elementary, middle and high school girls. It’s worth a listen and there are a few gold nuggets to pick up along the way.

Susan Knudsen-Pickles

The Left Right Game

So, I am a self-confessed audiobook addict. Podcasts normally frustrate me! Recently, a friend told me you could also get stories in the Podcast app. Who would have known? And that’s how I found The Left Right Game. And now I’m addicted and wait with bated breath for Mondays when the next one is released!

The story is told in two different time frames (the past and the present). In the present, we listen to a young man, Tom, who is recovering from a severe accident, but at the same time trying to find an old friend who has apparently disappeared. The past is based on audio diaries that have mysteriously appeared in his inbox of journalist, Alice Sharman, his friend who has vanished. The game that Alice is tracking is possibly paranormal, possibly staged, but possibly horrifyingly real. Cast members include W Earl Brown and Tessa Thompson, and the production (sponsored by Sonos) is as polished as a Hollywood blockbuster. I can’t get enough!

Kel Flanders

Sidenote

Have you ever wondered about the science behind Tiger King, vaccines, or even which phone to buy? The Sidenote podcast, from the minds behind the ASAPScience YouTube channel, tackles all this and more. Complicated scientific concepts are broken down into digestible studies and anecdotes to keep you engaged the whole time.

Natasha Lee

Kidnuz

If you want to get your kids interested in news, this is a great resource. The five-minute podcast of daily, age-appropriate news is voiced by an American living right here in Singapore. The podcast covers everything including current events, politics, sports, science, entertainment and more. Their mission is to engage  the next generation  with  news that will inform without fear and educate without opinion. It’s made for an American audience and is popular in US schools. With the time zone difference, we get news that’s a day “old”, but no matter. My kids and I listen to it at breakfast to start the day off right. I think I enjoy it as much as they do! There’s a quiz about the news at the end to make sure the kids pay attention, which my kids actually love.

Melinda Murphy

Audio Book

10 Reasons Why Singing Is Freedom | Corinne Gibbons

This muchneeded reminder to help us “find our voice” invites the listener to use the healing power of music in their own journey. The author talks about how serendipity has been part of her journey, in marrying her life’s purpose with her passion for music. Her new song “I believe” is also included in the book. An uplifting and cheery listen (singingisfreedom.com).

Dee Khanduja

Music

We preview new songs by Singaporean-based artists; you can catch both of these on YouTube and Spotify.

Haven, “Easy Girl Easy Boy”

18-year-old Singaporean singer-songwriter Haven shares her soulful vocals on TikTok and Instagram, and has amassed over 230,000 followers – and her latest single “Easy Girl Easy Boy” doesn’t disappoint. The entrepreneurial singer is witnessing a rapid rise to fame, and is even launching a new fashion brand, Obsess, to prove she’s not just a pretty voice!

Caspar featuring Ines Lavigne, “Looking For You”

These two Singapore-based students – Caspar was born here but has Balinese and German roots; Ines is a student at Temasek Polytechnic – have released new single “Looking For You”, exploring feelings of separation, searching for happiness and finding someone new and better. It’s a catchy pop song with raw emotions.

Dee Khanduja

Looking for things to do in Singapore? See our What’s On section.