Riding the wave of ever-expanding access to smart services and devices, podcasts have surged in popularity. Audio content has struck a chord with many listeners, offering an immersive experience. In 2022, We Are Social, a leading social media marketing company, observed a significant trend. Internet users devoted 12.7% more of their time to listening to podcasts, the largest increase across various forms of media and devices. To put this in context, the time spent on social media platforms only saw a modest uptick of just 2%. Whether you seek an escape from the daily hustle during a leisurely walk or a more intimate connection through compelling storytelling, podcasts deliver. They can elevate your mundane commute on the MRT, while also imparting valuable life skills and personal development strategies. With their broad appeal and ability to cater to diverse tastes, it’s undeniable that podcasts are here to stay.
Our NUS community has also been producing podcasts on various issues. We’ve handpicked a list of NUS-grown podcasts for you to listen to, while beating those mid-semester blues. Give them a listen and we promise they won’t disappoint.
1) Conversations on the Move
Produced by: NUS Peer Student Supporters (PSS)
No. of Episodes: 17
Duration of episodes: 10-20 mins
Conversations On The Move is hosted by NUS Peer Student Supporters (PSS), a group of students who are trained to offer a listening ear and support ears who are navigating difficult times. We covered the PSS program in a recent article and you can find out more here. This endearing podcast features the PSS themselves as they discuss various challenges that students face during their university lives and the impact on students’ mental health. From finding the “right one” to using social media, this podcast covers a wide range of topics.
Listening to this podcast feels like a warm conversation with a friend about life. We particularly resonated with the episode called “Fri(end)ship”, which explores the topic of ending friendships. The PSS hosts reflect on how even long-lasting and happy friendships sometimes have to end as both individuals grow and move from one stage of life to another. We’ve all been there and done that. If you are looking for a wholesome podcast which talks to you and not at you, Conversations On The Move is the one for you!
You can listen to Conversations on the Move here!
Image source: https://www.exudeinc.com/blog/5d-approach-to-health/.
2) Heart to Health Talk
Produced by: Public Health Club
No. of Episodes: 28
Duration of Episodes: 20-30 minutes
Heart to Health Talk is a special initiative under the NUS Public Health Club. The podcast is a health advocacy platform, aiming to engage youth in conversation on health-related topics and raise awareness on health issues. The podcast is hosted by NUS students and often features experts who share their insights. The club releases a series of episodes every semester.
Health information and terminology can be hard to access for those of us who are not in the field. What Heart to Health does a good job of is breaking down concepts and presenting them in a digestible manner. The stories and personal anecdotes make the experience more relatable. Amongst our favourites is the episode on the importance of posture, “Straighten Yourself Out: The Value of Good Posture” (even the titles sound so good!). This episode, amongst many others, touches on how small changes in our daily habits can lead to long lasting health benefits. If you are looking for an easy-going health-related podcast with fruitful conversations, Heart to Health is the way to go!
You can listen to Heart to Health Talk here!
3) Home On The Dot
Produced by: Associate Professor Chris McMorran, Department of Japanese Studies
No. of Episodes: 29
Duration of Episodes: 20-40 minutes
Home. A word that evokes complex, contradictory emotions in all of us. “People can feel homesick for it or run away from it. You may be permanently exiled from your homeland, or you may lose your life defending it. That’s powerful stuff,” explains Prof. McMorran, in the pilot episode of Home on the Dot. This podcast explores the various meanings of home in Singapore, the little red dot, through the experiences of NUS students. Home on the Dot dissects diverse themes on the issue of home from migration to on-campus residence.
This podcast is, simply put, an auditory delight. The narratives are powerful and told from the perspectives of Prof. McMorran’s students in a captivating way. What stands out about this podcast is the attention paid to the storyline and the accompanying audio effects. From the hustle and bustle of Singaporean hawker centres to casual chatter, the background audios bring the stories to life and make the listening experience even more enjoyable. Home on the Dot should be on your playlist on days you feel sorrowfully joyous thinking about home.
You can listen to Home on the Dot here!
4) Kiasunomics
Produced by: NUS Business School
No. of Episodes: 21
Duration of episodes: 10-15 mins
Why do we make the economic decisions that we do? Why is the gig economy growing in Singapore? Are schools affecting housing prices and consequently, the neighbourhoods we choose to stay in? Is there a correlation between playing golf and female representation on directorial boards? These are the kinds of questions that Kiasunomics – hosted by NUS Business School faculty, Professor Sumit Agarwal – seeks to answer.
We find this podcast to be fun and bite-sized. The intriguing topics keep listeners engaged and Prof Sumit explains academic concepts and research findings in a clear and concise manner. Some episodes feature guests who add to the topic being discussed. One of our personal favourites is the episode called “Train on weekdays, and bus on weekends”, where Prof Sumit presents findings from a study which collected data from EZ link cards to understand how Singaporeans choose their preferred mode of public transport. We highly recommend Kiasunomics for light but insightful conversations on the daily lives of Singaporeans.
You can listen to Kiasunomics here!
5) South Asia Chat
Produced by: NUS Institute of South Asian Studies (iSAS)
No. of Episodes: 214
Duration of Episodes: 20-40 minutes
This one is for our global affairs geeks. This weekly podcast has been running for a long time (look at the number of episodes!). The South Asia Chat tracks developments in South Asia bringing together research analysts, policy makers, and academics to share their insights on pressing issues. Recent podcast episodes have explored a wide range of topics, from the high stakes G20 summit to discussions on climate resilience and foreign policy intricacies.
If you enjoy staying informed about South Asia’s ever-evolving landscape, this podcast must be on your Spotify favourites. Ideas are presented in a succinct capsule format, and presenters get straight to the point while also offering different points of view. Whether it’s a daily commute to work or lectures, this podcast is an ideal way to stay up to date with the latest happenings in the region. Tune in today!
You can listen to South Asia Chat here!
6) WHOSAY?
Produced by: Office of Student Affairs (OSA)
No. of Episodes: 2
Duration of Episodes: 30-40 minutes
WHOSAY? is the latest podcast in town, produced with the support of the NUS Office of Student Affairs. In the words of WHOSAY? hosts and NUS students, Annie Ng and Wayne Low, this fun podcast is “for students, by students”. With an emphasis on bringing the student perspective to the table, WHOSAY listeners can expect podcast episodes on topics covering aspects of student life.
The latest episode of the podcast discussed the contentious topic of co-curricular activities (CCAs) in NUS: how many should you pick? Which CCAs should you pick? How do you balance CCAs and academics? A student guest shared his experience of coming up with a strategy for choosing CCAs. His professor then reminded him to “flow like water,” in other words – don’t be too calculative when it comes to choosing CCAs. We second that opinion wholeheartedly!
You can listen to WHOSAY here!
And that brings us to the end of our podcast recommendations. Are there any podcasts you recommend? Let us know in the comments below. Happy listening!
