Tell You First
- Épisodes
- 92
- Parution
- hebdomadaire
- Dernier épisode
- 10 Nov 2026
À propos du podcast
Hosted by the dynamic duo behind Ministry of Funny and Yah Lah But... - Haresh Tilani & Terence Chia - "Tell You First" is an edutainment podcast that aims to dive into a fascinating array of topics you never knew you needed to know.
And the fun doesn't stop there—sometimes, we bring in special guests to join the laughter! Tune in for a one-of-a-kind blend of comedy and knowledge, and uncover a world of captivating insights that will leave you both enlightened and entertained.
Produced by Ministry of Funny, and brought to you by Mediacorp
The views and opinions shared during this podcast series are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of Mediacorp Pte. Ltd. or its group of companies.
Épisodes 92
Why Singapore’s Famous Daredevil Monk Went to Jail
From abseiling down a 45-storey building to standing in a thousand kilograms of ice, Venerable Shi Ming Yi became a household name through Ren Ci’s charity shows, raising millions for the sick and elderly. When …
Notes de l’épisode
From abseiling down a 45-storey building to standing in a thousand kilograms of ice, Venerable Shi Ming Yi became a household name through Ren Ci’s charity shows, raising millions for the sick and elderly. When the National Kidney Foundation scandal broke, revelations about its leadership triggered widespread public outrage. But when Shi Ming Yi, the head of Ren Ci, was investigated, convicted and jailed, the reaction was noticeably more muted. Some members of the public pointed to his contributions to the sick and poor. Others had to reckon with revelations about questionable loans, luxury purchases and his personal relationships with a close aide. Why did this scandal land differently? We go back to the charity shows that made Shi Ming Yi a household name, examine what came out in court, and explore why the public can find it so difficult to separate a person's good deeds from their worst decisions.
Tell You First is an original podcast produced by Mediacorp and Ministry of Funny (@ministryoffunny).
Credits:
Hosted and Produced by Terence Chia (@tchia) and Haresh Tilani (@hareshtilani)
Sound Engineering - Tristen Yeak (@yeakstreet)
Production Manager - Z’en Peck (@peck.takes.photos)
Commissioning Editor - Danny KoordiIf you're a fan of our work, you can follow the podcast on the meLISTEN app, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.
Podcast artwork by Denise Nicole Yap, you can reach her on Instagram @deniseardenise
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
That Time the Singapore Government Played Matchmaker: The Controversial Graduate Mothers Scheme
What if the government had an opinion on who you should marry? In 1980s Singapore, the state became increasingly concerned about a falling birth rate and the educational profile of parents. One response was the …
Notes de l’épisode
What if the government had an opinion on who you should marry? In 1980s Singapore, the state became increasingly concerned about a falling birth rate and the educational profile of parents. One response was the Graduate Mothers Scheme, which encouraged university-educated women to have more children while the government tried to get educated Singaporeans to meet and marry. We trace the ideas behind the Graduate Mothers Scheme, how Singapore tried to put them into practice, and why the policy became such a political headache.
Tell You First is an original podcast produced by Mediacorp and Ministry of Funny (@ministryoffunny).
Credits:
Hosted and Produced by Terence Chia (@tchia) and Haresh Tilani (@hareshtilani)
Sound Engineering - Tristen Yeak (@yeakstreet)
Production Manager - Z’en Peck (@peck.takes.photos)
Commissioning Editor - Danny KoordiIf you're a fan of our work, you can follow the podcast on the meLISTEN app, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts. You can also watch selected video episodes of the podcast on YouTube through the Mediacorp Entertainment channel. Also, catch Tell You First Shorts on Mediacorp's socials.
Podcast artwork by Denise Nicole Yap, you can reach her on Instagram @deniseardenise
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Chapitres (3)
The Water War Singapore Fought Without Firing a Shot
Singapore may have no oil, gas or natural resources to speak of, but there was one resource it could not afford to lose: water. For decades, much of Singapore's water supply came from Malaysia, making something …
Notes de l’épisode
Singapore may have no oil, gas or natural resources to speak of, but there was one resource it could not afford to lose: water. For decades, much of Singapore's water supply came from Malaysia, making something as basic as turning on the tap part of a much bigger geopolitical relationship. Water became a source of political tension, with old agreements, threats and negotiations carrying consequences far beyond what came out of the faucet. We trace how Singapore turned one of its greatest vulnerabilities into one of its greatest strategic successes, from the water agreements with Malaysia to NEWater and the push for water independence.
Tell You First is an original podcast produced by Mediacorp and Ministry of Funny (@ministryoffunny).
Credits:
Hosted and Produced by Terence Chia (@tchia) and Haresh Tilani (@hareshtilani)
Sound Engineering - Tristen Yeak (@yeakstreet)
Production Manager - Z’en Peck (@peck.takes.photos)
Commissioning Editor - Danny KoordiIf you're a fan of our work, you can follow the podcast on the meLISTEN app, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts. You can also watch selected video episodes of the podcast on YouTube through the Mediacorp Entertainment channel.
Podcast artwork by Denise Nicole Yap, you can reach her on Instagram @deniseardenise
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Great Singapore Workout: From Cringe Campaign to a Guinness World Record
Before TikTok dances and viral fitness challenges, Singapore was Making Workouts Great Again. The Great Singapore Workout campaign encouraged everyone to don bright yellow T-shirts to perform 15 moves in …
Notes de l’épisode
Before TikTok dances and viral fitness challenges, Singapore was Making Workouts Great Again. The Great Singapore Workout campaign encouraged everyone to don bright yellow T-shirts to perform 15 moves in synchrony to a relentlessly catchy song and an exercise video that cost S$500,000 to make. However, behind the harmless fun was a targeted public health campaign to get the populace off their couches. To launch it, Singapore’s Prime Minister Goh, clad in a pink T-shirt, led a combined workout of more than 26,000 people at the Padang in an attempt to break a world record. We look back at how this unforgettable movement came to be, why so many millennials still know the moves today, and what it says about the Singaporean psyche.
Tell You First is an original podcast produced by Mediacorp and Ministry of Funny (@ministryoffunny).
Credits:
Hosted and Produced by Terence Chia (@tchia) and Haresh Tilani (@hareshtilani)
Sound Engineering - Tristen Yeak (@yeakstreet)
Production Manager - Z’en Peck (@peck.takes.photos)
Commissioning Editor - Danny KoordiIf you're a fan of our work, you can follow the podcast on the meLISTEN app, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts. You can also watch selected video episodes of the podcast on YouTube through the Mediacorp Entertainment channel. Also, catch Tell You First Shorts on Mediacorp's socials.
Podcast artwork by Denise Nicole Yap, you can reach her on Instagram @deniseardenise
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How The Noose Got Away with 10 Years of Mocking Singapore
The Noose was Singapore’s first and only parody show that poked fun at public office holders, accents, condo names and even why noodle stalls only serve five fishballs. But not everything was fair game. In this …
Notes de l’épisode
The Noose was Singapore’s first and only parody show that poked fun at public office holders, accents, condo names and even why noodle stalls only serve five fishballs. But not everything was fair game. In this episode, creator and head writer Prem Anand takes us behind the scenes of Singapore’s most iconic satire show. He walks us through submitting every script to the censors, standing their ground on jokes they wanted to keep and getting nominated for an International Emmy, which took the team to the awards ceremony in New York. He also reveals that the show never received a complaint from anyone in government, and explains why he thinks satire can still work today without making fun of accents.
Tell You First is an original podcast produced by Mediacorp and Ministry of Funny (@ministryoffunny).
Credits:
Hosted and Produced by Terence Chia (@tchia) and Haresh Tilani (@hareshtilani)
Guest - Prem Anand
Sound Engineering - Tristen Yeak (@yeakstreet)
Production Manager - Z’en Peck (@peck.takes.photos)
Commissioning Editor - Danny KoordiIf you're a fan of our work, you can follow the podcast on the meLISTEN app, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts. You can also watch selected video episodes of the podcast on YouTube through the Mediacorp Entertainment channel.
Podcast artwork by Denise Nicole Yap, you can reach her on Instagram @deniseardenise
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How China Wine Precipitated One of Singapore’s Biggest Scandals
What happens when a Singapore megachurch decides to push its beloved pastor's wife to become an international pop star? In the 2000s, City Harvest Church backed Sun Ho's "Crossover Project", an ambitious …
Notes de l’épisode
What happens when a Singapore megachurch decides to push its beloved pastor's wife to become an international pop star? In the 2000s, City Harvest Church backed Sun Ho's "Crossover Project", an ambitious endeavour that sent her across Asia to perform Mandopop, then subsequently to the US, where she worked with the biggest names in music, like David Foster and Diane Warren. Then came the capstone of the project, the China Wine music video with Wyclef Jean, which lives in infamy to this day. However, behind the backlash was a much bigger story: prosecutors alleged that $24 million from the church's building fund was funnelled into sham bond investments connected to the project, with another $26 million allegedly used to cover the tracks. We trace how a church's mission to reach the world through pop music culminated in one of Singapore's biggest scandals.
Tell You First is an original podcast produced by Mediacorp and Ministry of Funny (@ministryoffunny).
Credits:
Hosted and Produced by Terence Chia (@tchia) and Haresh Tilani (@hareshtilani)
Sound Engineering - Tristen Yeak (@yeakstreet)
Production Manager - Z’en Peck (@peck.takes.photos)
Commissioning Editor - Danny KoordiIf you're a fan of our work, you can follow the podcast on the meLISTEN app, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts. You can also watch selected video episodes of the podcast on YouTube through the Mediacorp Entertainment channel. Also, catch Tell You First Shorts on Mediacorp's socials.
Podcast artwork by Denise Nicole Yap, you can reach her on Instagram @deniseardenise
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The AWARE Saga: How We Didn't Shut Up and Sit Down (w Jasmine Ng)
Everyone who lived through the 2009 AWARE Saga remembered it, but nobody wanted to talk about it. Not the 3,000 people who queued four hours to vote at Suntec. Not the bank that publicly disowned its own VP …
Notes de l’épisode
Everyone who lived through the 2009 AWARE Saga remembered it, but nobody wanted to talk about it. Not the 3,000 people who queued four hours to vote at Suntec. Not the bank that publicly disowned its own VP. Not the "feminist mentor" who compared homosexuality to bestiality on live TV. It took filmmaker Jasmine Ng and journalist Kelly Leow two years, 50 interviews, and a lot of "no's" to finally get people to open up. Their efforts resulted in Saga, Singapore's first long-form narrative podcast. Jasmine joins us to talk about the six weeks that gripped the nation, and why it took over a decade for anyone to properly tell the story.
Tell You First is an original podcast produced by Mediacorp and Ministry of Funny (@ministryoffunny).
Credits:
Hosted and Produced by Terence Chia (@tchia) and Haresh Tilani (@hareshtilani)
Guest - Jasmine Nga (@ngkinkiajasmine)
Sound Engineering - Tristen Yeak (@yeakstreet)
Production Manager - Z’en Peck (@peck.takes.photos)
Commissioning Editor - Danny KoordiIf you're a fan of our work, you can follow the podcast on the meLISTEN app, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts. You can also watch selected video episodes of the podcast on YouTube through the Mediacorp Entertainment channel.
Podcast artwork by Denise Nicole Yap, you can reach her on Instagram @deniseardenise
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Nicoll Highway Collapse: How Four Deaths Rewrote Singapore's Construction Rules
On 20 April 2004, 100 metres of Nicoll Highway suddenly collapsed into a 30-metre-deep hole, killing four people and injuring three. The disaster exposed serious failures in the design and construction of the …
Notes de l’épisode
On 20 April 2004, 100 metres of Nicoll Highway suddenly collapsed into a 30-metre-deep hole, killing four people and injuring three. The disaster exposed serious failures in the design and construction of the Circle Line, and also changed how Singapore approaches construction safety. We trace what went wrong, from flawed calculations and buckling steel supports to warnings that were raised before the collapse, and how four deaths eventually led to new rules governing deep excavations across Singapore.
Tell You First is an original podcast produced by Mediacorp and Ministry of Funny (@ministryoffunny).
Credits:
Hosted and Produced by Terence Chia (@tchia) and Haresh Tilani (@hareshtilani)
Sound Engineering - Tristen Yeak (@yeakstreet)
Production Manager - Z’en Peck (@peck.takes.photos)
Commissioning Editor - Danny KoordiIf you're a fan of our work, you can follow the podcast on the meLISTEN app, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts. You can also watch selected video episodes of the podcast on YouTube through the Mediacorp Entertainment channel. Also, catch Tell You First Shorts on Mediacorp's socials.
Podcast artwork by Denise Nicole Yap, you can reach her on Instagram @deniseardenise
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Coffee Shop That’s Hiding Singapore’s Biggest Sex Forum
Sam's Alfresco Coffee Shop sounds like somewhere you'd order a flat white. But it's actually the innocent-looking front door to the Sammyboy forum, sharing commercial sex reviews, explicit erotica, and lewd …
Notes de l’épisode
Sam's Alfresco Coffee Shop sounds like somewhere you'd order a flat white. But it's actually the innocent-looking front door to the Sammyboy forum, sharing commercial sex reviews, explicit erotica, and lewd photos. Click one link deeper, and you’ll enter the “Asian Commercial Sex Scene” forum, Sammyboy’s sex-focused arm with almost 250,000 members. It was allegedly founded in 1997 by a Singaporean man known only as Samuel Leong, whose real identity has never been confirmed. We trace how a list of brothel recommendations on Sammyboy curdled into a cesspool of hidden camera footage, incest-themed erotica, and an escort business run entirely off the forum's advice, before spilling over into a real-life wife-sharing ring.
Tell You First is an original podcast produced by Mediacorp and Ministry of Funny (@ministryoffunny).
Credits:
Hosted and Produced by Terence Chia (@tchia) and Haresh Tilani (@hareshtilani)
Sound Engineering - Tristen Yeak (@yeakstreet)
Production Manager - Z’en Peck (@peck.takes.photos)
Commissioning Editor - Danny KoordiIf you're a fan of our work, you can follow the podcast on the meLISTEN app, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts. You can also watch selected video episodes of the podcast on YouTube through the Mediacorp Entertainment channel. Also, catch Tell You First Shorts on Mediacorp's socials.
Podcast artwork by Denise Nicole Yap, you can reach her on Instagram @deniseardenise
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Beyoncé Concert Malaysia Didn't Want You to See
In the 2000s, Malaysia became known for a very different kind of concert run. The Pussycat Dolls' outfits led to a fine against their organisers, Gwen Stefani changed costumes for every song just to stay …
Notes de l’épisode
In the 2000s, Malaysia became known for a very different kind of concert run. The Pussycat Dolls' outfits led to a fine against their organisers, Gwen Stefani changed costumes for every song just to stay covered up, Avril Lavigne was warned over her punk image despite barely showing skin, and Beyoncé cancelled her show rather than follow the guidelines. So what exactly were artists allowed to do on stage? As a radio DJ with her finger on the pulse of the region's pop scene, Sonia Chew joins us to unpack the strange history of concert censorship in Malaysia.
Tell You First is an original podcast produced by Mediacorp and Ministry of Funny (@ministryoffunny).
Credits:
Hosted and Produced by Terence Chia (@tchia) and Haresh Tilani (@hareshtilani)
Guest - Sonia Chew (@soniachew)
Sound Engineering - Tristen Yeak (@yeakstreet)
Production Manager - Z’en Peck (@peck.takes.photos)
Commissioning Editor - Danny KoordiIf you're a fan of our work, you can follow the podcast on the meLISTEN app, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts. You can also watch selected video episodes of the podcast on YouTube through the Mediacorp Entertainment channel. Also, catch Tell You First Shorts on Mediacorp's socials.
Podcast artwork by Denise Nicole Yap, you can reach her on Instagram @deniseardenise
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How a 28-Year-Old In Singapore Killed Britain’s Oldest Merchant Bank
Barings Bank was founded in 1762 and was Britain's oldest merchant bank, trusted even by Queen Elizabeth herself. But in 1995, a 28-year-old trader in Singapore brought the whole 233-year-old institution to its …
Notes de l’épisode
Barings Bank was founded in 1762 and was Britain's oldest merchant bank, trusted even by Queen Elizabeth herself. But in 1995, a 28-year-old trader in Singapore brought the whole 233-year-old institution to its knees via a mysterious account numbered 88888, buried deep inside the bank's paperwork. Nick Leeson’s actions triggered a global manhunt, and brought forth a sweeping wave of regulatory changes in Singapore’s financial system. We trace how the rogue trader hid billions in losses from the financial and regulatory institutions that were supposed to spot the warning signs.
Tell You First is an original podcast produced by Mediacorp and Ministry of Funny (@ministryoffunny).
Credits:
Hosted and Produced by Terence Chia (@tchia) and Haresh Tilani (@hareshtilani)
Sound Engineering - Tristen Yeak (@yeakstreet)
Production Manager - Z’en Peck (@peck.takes.photos)
Commissioning Editor - Danny Koordi
If you're a fan of our work, you can follow the podcast on the meLISTEN app, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts. You can also watch selected video episodes of the podcast on YouTube through the Mediacorp Entertainment channel. Also, catch Tell You First Shorts on Mediacorp's socials.
Podcast artwork by Denise Nicole Yap, you can reach her on Instagram @deniseardenise
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
That Time Indonesia Bombed Singapore, And How Lee Kuan Yew Brought Peace Back
On 10 March 1965, two Indonesian Marine Commandos walked into MacDonald House and planted a bomb that killed three people and injured 33 others. But MacDonald House wasn't even their original target. What …
Notes de l’épisode
On 10 March 1965, two Indonesian Marine Commandos walked into MacDonald House and planted a bomb that killed three people and injured 33 others. But MacDonald House wasn't even their original target. What followed was a dramatic manhunt, a controversial trial, and an execution that nearly pushed Singapore and Indonesia back into conflict. We trace how it took eight years, and a Prime Minister scattering flowers over the graves of the men he'd ordered hanged, to bring the two countries back from the brink.
Tell You First is an original podcast produced by Mediacorp and Ministry of Funny (@ministryoffunny).
Credits:
Hosted and Produced by Terence Chia (@tchia) and Haresh Tilani (@hareshtilani)
Sound Engineering - Tristen Yeak (@yeakstreet)
Production Manager - Z’en Peck (@peck.takes.photos)
Commissioning Editor - Danny KoordiIf you're a fan of our work, you can follow the podcast on the meLISTEN app, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts. You can also watch selected video episodes of the podcast on YouTube through the Mediacorp Entertainment channel. Also, catch Tell You First Shorts on Mediacorp's socials.
Podcast artwork by Denise Nicole Yap, you can reach her on Instagram @deniseardenise
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The OG Singapore Idol Finally Reveals Why Singapore Idol Ended (w Dick Lee)
Singapore Idol premiered in 2004 to a reported 1.2 million viewers, skyrocketing a local talent show into a national obsession. Dick Lee, sidelined into a desk job, found the show reigniting something he'd …
Notes de l’épisode
Singapore Idol premiered in 2004 to a reported 1.2 million viewers, skyrocketing a local talent show into a national obsession. Dick Lee, sidelined into a desk job, found the show reigniting something he'd lost. He judged all three seasons, and watched Singaporeans become fiercely split over their favourite contestants. He also takes us behind the auditions, the infamous judging moments and the finale that saw 1.1 million votes cast. As one of the few Singaporean artists to break out of the Singapore market, he shares what it actually takes to become a Singapore Idol, and why there was never a Season 4.
Tell You First is an original podcast produced by Mediacorp and Ministry of Funny (@ministryoffunny).
Credits:
Hosted and Produced by Terence Chia (@tchia) and Haresh Tilani (@hareshtilani)
Guest - Dick Lee (@dickleeparadise)
Sound Engineering - Tristen Yeak (@yeakstreet)
Production Manager - Z’en Peck (@peck.takes.photos)
Commissioning Editor - Danny KoordiIf you're a fan of our work, you can follow the podcast on the meLISTEN app, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts. You can also watch selected video episodes of the podcast on YouTube through the Mediacorp Entertainment channel. Also, catch Tell You First Shorts on Mediacorp's socials.
Podcast artwork by Denise Nicole Yap, you can reach her on Instagram @deniseardenise
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Why Nobody Knows The USB ThumbDrive Was Invented in Singapore
Today, the USB thumbdrive is one of those bits of tech we use without a second thought. But before 2000, the best way to store digital files was a floppy disk holding 1.44 MB, barely one song. Then Trek 2000 …
Notes de l’épisode
Today, the USB thumbdrive is one of those bits of tech we use without a second thought. But before 2000, the best way to store digital files was a floppy disk holding 1.44 MB, barely one song. Then Trek 2000 International walked into a German trade fair with one cardboard sign reading “The World’s Smallest Drive,” an 8 MB device the size of a thumb. Buyers swarmed the booth within hours. That tiny invention would cement Singapore’s place in tech history, but also trigger a global fight over who invented it, leading to billions of dollars in lawsuits that no court could fully settle.
Tell You First is an original podcast produced by Mediacorp and Ministry of Funny (@ministryoffunny).
Credits:
Hosted and Produced by Terence Chia (@tchia) and Haresh Tilani (@hareshtilani)
Sound Engineering - Tristen Yeak (@yeakstreet)
Production Manager - Z’en Peck (@peck.takes.photos)
Commissioning Editor - Danny KoordiIf you're a fan of our work, you can follow the podcast on the meLISTEN app, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts. You can also watch selected video episodes of the podcast on YouTube through the Mediacorp Entertainment channel. Also, catch Tell You First Shorts on Mediacorp's socials.
Podcast artwork by Denise Nicole Yap, you can reach her on Instagram @deniseardenise
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Chapitres (2)
Should Only Singaporeans Write National Day Songs? (w Ben Kheng)
Singer-songwriter Benjamin Kheng knows exactly how hard it is to write a song for an entire country, he did it himself with 2024's Not Alone. But long before him, the identities of the people behind some of …
Notes de l’épisode
Singer-songwriter Benjamin Kheng knows exactly how hard it is to write a song for an entire country, he did it himself with 2024's Not Alone. But long before him, the identities of the people behind some of Singapore's most beloved anthems were kept secret for almost twenty years. In this episode, Ben Kheng joins us to trace the evolution of National Day songs, and reveal what it was like turning a one-word prompt into a song that millions of people could call their own.
Tell You First is an original podcast produced by Mediacorp and Ministry of Funny (@ministryoffunny).
Credits:
Hosted and Produced by Terence Chia (@tchia) and Haresh Tilani (@hareshtilani)
Guest - Benjamin Kheng (@benjaminkheng)
Sound Engineering - Tristen Yeak (@yeakstreet)
Production Manager - Z’en Peck (@peck.takes.photos)
Commissioning Editor - Danny KoordiIf you're a fan of our work, you can follow the podcast on the meLISTEN app, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts. You can also watch selected video episodes of the podcast on YouTube through the Mediacorp Entertainment channel. Also, catch Tell You First Shorts on Mediacorp's socials.
Podcast artwork by Denise Nicole Yap, you can reach her on Instagram @deniseardenise
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Singaporean Artist Who Had to Sue to Prove She Was Original
A Luxembourg art student copied Singaporean fashion photographer Zhang Jingna's photograph by flipping it, changing the colours, adding earrings and a sword, before calling it his own. His painting won a …
Notes de l’épisode
A Luxembourg art student copied Singaporean fashion photographer Zhang Jingna's photograph by flipping it, changing the colours, adding earrings and a sword, before calling it his own. His painting won a government backed prize and was presented to Luxembourg's princess. While fighting the case, Zhang had to face racist and sexist comments, and a court even ruled that Zhang's photograph lacked originality, before an appeal reversed it two years later. We trace how close the plan came to working, and what it took to stop it.
Tell You First is an original podcast produced by Mediacorp and Ministry of Funny (@ministryoffunny).
Credits:
Hosted and Produced by Terence Chia (@tchia) and Haresh Tilani (@hareshtilani)
Sound Engineering - Tristen Yeak (@yeakstreet)
Production Manager - Z’en Peck (@peck.takes.photos)
Commissioning Editor - Danny KoordiIf you're a fan of our work, you can follow the podcast on the meLISTEN app, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts. You can also watch selected video episodes of the podcast on YouTube through the Mediacorp Entertainment channel. Also, catch Tell You First Shorts on Mediacorp's socials.
Podcast artwork by Denise Nicole Yap, you can reach her on Instagram @deniseardenise
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Nude Sports Games That Shocked Malaysia and Singapore
In 2014, fifteen people, mostly Malaysian and Singaporean, spent a day painting body art on each other, running relay races, and doing kettlebell exercises by a campfire, all while completely nude on a secluded …
Notes de l’épisode
In 2014, fifteen people, mostly Malaysian and Singaporean, spent a day painting body art on each other, running relay races, and doing kettlebell exercises by a campfire, all while completely nude on a secluded Penang beach. When footage of this event surfaced online, it sparked a national backlash, with Interpol called in to help, and a years-long legal showdown. We trace how a beach retreat amongst friends led to the harshest penalties for public nudity in Malaysian history, and what the controversy reveals about personal freedom and public decency in the region.
Tell You First is an original podcast produced by Mediacorp and Ministry of Funny (@ministryoffunny).
Credits:
Hosted and Produced by Terence Chia (@tchia) and Haresh Tilani (@hareshtilani)
Sound Engineering - Tristen Yeak (@yeakstreet)
Production Manager - Z’en Peck (@peck.takes.photos)
Commissioning Editor - Danny KoordiIf you're a fan of our work, you can follow the podcast on the meLISTEN app, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts. You can also watch selected video episodes of the podcast on YouTube through the Mediacorp Entertainment channel. Also, catch Tell You First Shorts on Mediacorp's socials.
Podcast artwork by Denise Nicole Yap, you can reach her on Instagram @deniseardenise
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Chapitres (2)
Was Modern Singapore Built on Drug Money?
For 120 years, the British colonial government was Singapore's largest licensed drug dealer. Opium was processed on a hill in Pasir Panjang, that is known today as Opium Hill. By the time the system was …
Notes de l’épisode
For 120 years, the British colonial government was Singapore's largest licensed drug dealer. Opium was processed on a hill in Pasir Panjang, that is known today as Opium Hill. By the time the system was dismantled, opium profits had ballooned to an astronomical $55 million, and was funding a significant part of Singapore’s colonial budget. In this episode, we explore how a state heavily funded by licensed addiction came to have one of the toughest anti-drug stances in the world.
Tell You First is an original podcast produced by Mediacorp and Ministry of Funny (@ministryoffunny).
Credits:
Hosted and Produced by Terence Chia (@tchia) and Haresh Tilani (@hareshtilani)
Sound Engineering - Tristen Yeak (@yeakstreet)
Production Manager - Z’en Peck (@peck.takes.photos)
Commissioning Editor - Danny KoordiIf you're a fan of our work, you can follow the podcast on the meLISTEN app, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts. You can also watch selected video episodes of the podcast on YouTube through the Mediacorp Entertainment channel. Also, catch Tell You First Shorts on Mediacorp's socials.
Podcast artwork by Denise Nicole Yap, you can reach her on Instagram @deniseardenise
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The NParks Brompton Scandal: Why Singapore Lost Its Mind Over 26 Bicycles
Twenty-six Brompton bicycles, a $57,200 government purchase, and a tender that drew just one bid. Sounds suspicious? HardwareZone users thought so. By tracing Facebook friend lists, company records, and …
Notes de l’épisode
Twenty-six Brompton bicycles, a $57,200 government purchase, and a tender that drew just one bid. Sounds suspicious? HardwareZone users thought so. By tracing Facebook friend lists, company records, and regulatory filings, they uncovered a relationship that was the start of a national scandal. We follow the online investigation that forced audits, attracted CPIB attention, and turned a regular procurement exercise into a public scandal.
Tell You First is an original podcast produced by Mediacorp and Ministry of Funny (@ministryoffunny).
Credits:
Hosted and Produced by Terence Chia (@tchia) and Haresh Tilani (@hareshtilani)
Sound Engineering - Tristen Yeak (@yeakstreet)
Production Manager - Z’en Peck (@peck.takes.photos)
Commissioning Editor - Danny KoordiIf you're a fan of our work, you can follow the podcast on the meLISTEN app, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts. You can also watch selected video episodes of the podcast on YouTube through the Mediacorp Entertainment channel. Also, catch Tell You First Shorts on Mediacorp's socials.
Podcast artwork by Denise Nicole Yap, you can reach her on Instagram @deniseardenise
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Surprising Story of Annabel Chong: The Girl Who Rejected The Singapore Dream
Her name was a punchline in Singapore. A warning to others. She went from Singapore’s gifted education fast track to global infamy as a record-breaking porn star. But behind the 1995 headlines that stunned the …
Notes de l’épisode
Her name was a punchline in Singapore. A warning to others. She went from Singapore’s gifted education fast track to global infamy as a record-breaking porn star. But behind the 1995 headlines that stunned the world lies the story of Grace Quek. A gifted scholar whose life was derailed by a horrific act of violence in London. This episode traces her turbulent journey, uncovering each shocking life choice and how she continued to defy expectations at every turn.
Tell You First is an original podcast produced by Mediacorp and Ministry of Funny (@ministryoffunny).
Credits:
Hosted and Produced by Terence Chia (@tchia) and Haresh Tilani (@hareshtilani)
Sound Engineering - Tristen Yeak (@yeakstreet)
Production Manager - Z’en Peck (@peck.takes.photos)
Commissioning Editor - Danny KoordiIf you're a fan of our work, you can follow the podcast on the meLISTEN app, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts. You can also watch selected video episodes of the podcast on YouTube through the Mediacorp Entertainment channel. Also, catch Tell You First Shorts on Mediacorp's socials.
Podcast artwork by Denise Nicole Yap, you can reach her on Instagram @deniseardenise
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Why the Strait of Malacca Keeps China Awake at Night
In 2003, Chinese President Hu Jintao coined a phrase that still shapes Beijing's strategic thinking: the Malacca Dilemma. Most of China's imported oil passes through the Strait of Malacca, a chokepoint so …
Notes de l’épisode
In 2003, Chinese President Hu Jintao coined a phrase that still shapes Beijing's strategic thinking: the Malacca Dilemma. Most of China's imported oil passes through the Strait of Malacca, a chokepoint so important that it helps determine the maximum size of many of the world's largest ships, a standard known as Malaccamax.
Decades of pipelines, rail links, and new ports have failed to reduce that dependence. In this episode, we trace how Singapore transformed a narrow, piracy-plagued strait into the backbone of global trade, from the ancient empires that controlled it by force to a modern city-state that controls it through law, infrastructure, and carefully maintained neutrality.Tell You First is an original podcast produced by Mediacorp and Ministry of Funny (@ministryoffunny).
Credits:
Hosted and Produced by Terence Chia (@tchia) and Haresh Tilani (@hareshtilani)
Sound Engineering - Tristen Yeak (@yeakstreet)
Production Manager - Z’en Peck (@peck.takes.photos)
Commissioning Editor - Danny Koordi
If you're a fan of our work, you can follow the podcast on the meLISTEN app, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts. You can also watch selected video episodes of the podcast on YouTube through the Mediacorp Entertainment channel. Also, catch Tell You First Shorts on Mediacorp's socials.
Podcast artwork by Denise Nicole Yap, you can reach her on Instagram @deniseardeniseSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sarong Party Girls: “Ang Moh Better?” A History of the Stereotype
From British colonial parties to bestselling books and internet scandals, few Singaporean stereotypes have had the staying power of the "Sarong Party Girl". Originally used to mock local women who dated Western …
Notes de l’épisode
From British colonial parties to bestselling books and internet scandals, few Singaporean stereotypes have had the staying power of the "Sarong Party Girl". Originally used to mock local women who dated Western men, the term became shorthand for a much larger debate about race, class, sex, and what it meant to be modern in Singapore. Joining us is Xiaxue, one of Singapore's most controversial and influential internet personalities, who spent years being labelled an SPG herself. She was criticised for her appearance, relationships, opinions, and willingness to say things many others would not. Together, we trace the surprising history of the SPG, from its colonial origins to its place in Singaporean pop culture, and ask why the label still refuses to die.
Tell You First is an original podcast produced by Mediacorp and Ministry of Funny (@ministryoffunny).Credits:
Hosted and Produced by Terence Chia (@tchia) and Haresh Tilani (@hareshtilani)
Guest - Wendy Cheng (@xiaxue)
Sound Engineering - Tristen Yeak (@yeakstreet)
Production Manager - Z’en Peck (@peck.takes.photos)
Commissioning Editor - Danny Koordi
If you're a fan of our work, you can follow the podcast on the meLISTEN app, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts. You can also watch selected video episodes of the podcast on YouTube through the Mediacorp Entertainment channel. Also, catch Tell You First Shorts on Mediacorp's socials.
Podcast artwork by Denise Nicole Yap, you can reach her on Instagram @deniseardeniseSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Year Singapore Football Became A Joke
In 1992, Singapore was relegated to Division 2 of the Malaysian football, and publicly humiliated. The Kallang Roar was fading as fans stopped showing up, and the once-dominant team looked finished. Then came …
Notes de l’épisode
In 1992, Singapore was relegated to Division 2 of the Malaysian football, and publicly humiliated. The Kallang Roar was fading as fans stopped showing up, and the once-dominant team looked finished. Then came brutal training sessions, shock resignations, a match-fixing scandal, and an eight month season that could have collapsed at any moment. Instead, 1994 ended up being the year that saved Singaporean football.
In this episode, 987FM DJ and lifelong football fan Joakim Gomez joins us to trace the story of how the “Dream Team” clawed their way from rock bottom back to the top of Malaysian football, and cemented themselves as Singaporean football legends.Tell You First is an original podcast produced by Mediacorp and Ministry of Funny (@ministryoffunny).
Credits:
Hosted and Produced by Terence Chia (@tchia) and Haresh Tilani (@hareshtilani)
Guest - Joakim Gomez (@joakimgomez)
Sound Engineering - Tristen Yeak (@yeakstreet)
Commissioning Editor - Danny KoordiIf you would like to listen to more, you can follow the podcast on the Melisten App, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.
Podcast artwork by Denise Nicole Yap, you can reach her on Instagram @deniseardenise
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Chapitres (8)
How Bugis Street Became One of Singapore’s Biggest Tourist Attractions
You might know Bugis Street today as a tourist hotspot selling anything and everything, from souvenirs to clothes and jewelry. But before all that, Bugis Street was known for its midnight drag shows, gang …
Notes de l’épisode
You might know Bugis Street today as a tourist hotspot selling anything and everything, from souvenirs to clothes and jewelry. But before all that, Bugis Street was known for its midnight drag shows, gang activity, and a notorious dance that involved sticking flaming torches up certain holes. This episode traces how Bugis Street became Singapore’s most popular tourist attraction, why authorities tolerated it for decades, and how it has since been wiped off the map both literally and figuratively.
Tell You First is an original podcast produced by Mediacorp and Ministry of Funny (@ministryoffunny).
Credits:
Hosted and Produced by Terence Chia (@tchia) and Haresh Tilani (@hareshtilani)
Sound Engineering - Tristen Yeak (@yeakstreet)
Commissioning Editor - Danny KoordiIf you would like to listen to more, you can follow the podcast on the Melisten App, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.
Podcast artwork by Denise Nicole Yap, you can reach her on Instagram @deniseardenise
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Hawker Culture: From Illegal to UNESCO Recognition
Singapore’s food story did not begin in air-conditioned malls. It began beside open drains, on pushcarts, and in smoky back alleys where migrant workers needed cheap meals fast. In this episode, we’re joined by …
Notes de l’épisode
Singapore’s food story did not begin in air-conditioned malls. It began beside open drains, on pushcarts, and in smoky back alleys where migrant workers needed cheap meals fast. In this episode, we’re joined by food critic, street food crusader, and Makansutra founder Kf Seetoh, to trace how street hawkers were once labelled a public nuisance, then forcibly resettled into concrete centres, before being awarded Michelin stars and even recognised by UNESCO. We unpack how survival food became national identity, and why the people cooking it are still struggling to survive.
Tell You First is an original podcast produced by Mediacorp and Ministry of Funny (@ministryoffunny).
Credits:
Hosted and Produced by Terence Chia (@tchia) and Haresh Tilani (@hareshtilani)
Guest - Kf Seetoh (@kfseetoh)
Sound Engineering - Tristen Yeak (@yeakstreet)
Commissioning Editor - Danny KoordiIf you would like to listen to more, you can follow the podcast on the Melisten App, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Samsui Women: The Original Girlbosses Who Built Singapore
They carried bricks, cleared rubble and helped build modern Singapore, yet most people barely know anything about them. Samsui women arrived on our shores as poor immigrants and worked brutal jobs in …
Notes de l’épisode
They carried bricks, cleared rubble and helped build modern Singapore, yet most people barely know anything about them. Samsui women arrived on our shores as poor immigrants and worked brutal jobs in construction until the 80s, while living on the margins of the city they helped construct. In this episode, Lynn Wong, founder of Bridging Generations, joins us to trace the history of Samsui women, why they chose this life, and how an entire generation of builders will fade from public memory unless we preserve and pass down their stories.
Tell You First is an original podcast produced by Mediacorp and Ministry of Funny (@ministryoffunny).
Credits:
Hosted and Produced by Terence Chia (@tchia) and Haresh Tilani (@hareshtilani)
Guest - Lynn Wong (@_bridginggenerations_)
Sound Engineering - Tristen Yeak (@yeakstreet)
Commissioning Editor - Danny KoordiIf you would like to listen to more, you can follow the podcast on the Melisten App, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.
Podcast artwork by Denise Nicole Yap, you can reach her on Instagram @deniseardenise
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How Singapore Turned the Sea into Prime Real Estate
Singapore’s land reclamation story is not a smooth tale of engineering triumph. It began with failed seawalls, ten year delays and costs that multiplied sixfold, before evolving into a strategy that has …
Notes de l’épisode
Singapore’s land reclamation story is not a smooth tale of engineering triumph. It began with failed seawalls, ten year delays and costs that multiplied sixfold, before evolving into a strategy that has reshaped the landscape. In this episode, we trace how Singapore has spent the past two centuries pushing the coastline outwards, and why the same methods are now hampered by rising costs, environmental damage and political limits.
Tell You First is an original podcast produced by Mediacorp and Ministry of Funny (@ministryoffunny).
Credits:
Hosted and Produced by Terence Chia (@tchia) and Haresh Tilani (@hareshtilani)
Sound Engineering - Tristen Yeak (@yeakstreet)
Commissioning Editor - Danny KoordiIf you would like to listen to more, you can follow the podcast on the Melisten App, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.
Podcast artwork by Denise Nicole Yap, you can reach her on Instagram @deniseardenise
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
When the British Blew Up One of Singapore's Oldest Relics
At the mouth of the Singapore River once stood a massive inscribed stone that may have been the oldest written record ever found here. No one could decipher its inscriptions, but its historical significance was …
Notes de l’épisode
At the mouth of the Singapore River once stood a massive inscribed stone that may have been the oldest written record ever found here. No one could decipher its inscriptions, but its historical significance was never in doubt. This episode tells the baffling story of how the colonial British administration blew up the fabled Singapore Stone in 1843 to make way for a fort. We cover how that single decision erased 500 years of our early history, but also contributed to the aura of one of Southeast Asia’s greatest archaeological mysteries.
Tell You First is an original podcast produced by Mediacorp and Ministry of Funny (@ministryoffunny).
Credits:
Hosted and Produced by Terence Chia (@tchia) and Haresh Tilani (@hareshtilani)
Sound Engineering - Tristen Yeak (@yeakstreet)
Commissioning Editor - Danny KoordiIf you would like to listen to more, you can follow the podcast on the Melisten App, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.
Podcast artwork by Denise Nicole Yap, you can reach her on Instagram @deniseardenise
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Golden Age of YouTube in Singapore and Why It Disappeared
There was a moment when YouTube felt like the most exciting place in Singapore. YouTube channels creating slapstick listicles became media conglomerates overnight, cross-genre collaborations were everywhere …
Notes de l’épisode
There was a moment when YouTube felt like the most exciting place in Singapore. YouTube channels creating slapstick listicles became media conglomerates overnight, cross-genre collaborations were everywhere, and videos on the Trending tab were the talk of the town.
So why did this ecosystem crash and burn as quickly as it came to prominence? In this episode, OG YouTuber Noah Yap joins us to revisit that short-lived golden age of YouTube, unpack how it inspired (and excluded) a generation of Singaporean creators, and why the same magic would be impossible to recreate today.
Tell You First is an original podcast produced by Mediacorp and Ministry of Funny (@ministryoffunny).
Credits:Hosted and Produced by Terence Chia (@tchia) and Haresh Tilani (@hareshtilani)
Guest - Noah Yap (@onlynoah)
Sound Engineering - Tristen Yeak (@yeakstreet)
Commissioning Editor - Danny Koordi
If you would like to listen to more, you can follow the podcast on the Melisten App, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
That Time When A Singapore Airlines Plane Was Hijacked
On a quiet Tuesday night in 1991, the routine Singapore Airlines shuttle flight SQ117 from Kuala Lumpur to Changi Airport turned into a nine-hour hostage nightmare. As hijackers flung crew out of the plane …
Notes de l’épisode
On a quiet Tuesday night in 1991, the routine Singapore Airlines shuttle flight SQ117 from Kuala Lumpur to Changi Airport turned into a nine-hour hostage nightmare. As hijackers flung crew out of the plane, issued ultimatums and set fires in the cockpit, authorities in Singapore made a call that would cement its place in counterterrorism operations history. In this thrilling episode, we walk through the events leading up to when elite SAF commandos stormed SQ117, ending the crisis in just 30 seconds without losing a single hostage. We also highlight some of the lesser known civilian heroes of the story who were instrumental in the safe and sudden end to the crisis.
Tell You First is an original podcast produced by Mediacorp and Ministry of Funny (@ministryoffunny).
Credits:
Hosted and Produced by Terence Chia (@tchia) and Haresh Tilani (@hareshtilani)
Sound Engineering - Tristen Yeak (@yeakstreet)
Commissioning Editor - Danny KoordiIf you would like to listen to more, you can follow the podcast on the Melisten App, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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