CNA Special
A curated selection of audio stories from across the CNA newsroom. 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.
Episodes
Bangkok’s Loneliest Gorilla: Final destination (Part 3)
A celebrity-backed campaign to free Bua Noi from her zoo in Bangkok has drawn global attention but the path forward is far from clear. In this final episode, CNA Correspondent Jack Board examines a difficult question: will freeing a long-captive gorilla offer her a better life, or will it expose her to new risks to her survival?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Bangkok’s Loneliest Gorilla: Global wildlife trafficking (Part 2)
In this episode, CNA Correspondent Jack Board traces the global wildlife trafficking networks that move endangered animals across borders, often with little oversight. From Central Africa to enclosures in Asia and the Middle East, he examines the high profits and enduring demand driving the trade.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Bangkok’s Loneliest Gorilla: A mall for a home (Part 1)
High above Bangkok, Thailand, a gorilla has spent nearly 40 years enclosed in zoo on roof of a shopping mall. Once a popular attraction, Bua Noi now lives a life peppered by the occasional tourist visit. CNA Correspondent Jack Board explores a decades-long battle over whether the primate should be left in her concrete home or set free back to the wild.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inform
Kwa Geok Choo: Shelter in the storm of separation
Singapore’s split from Malaysia is often told as a political story of a short-lived union. But in the background was another, quieter partnership - between Singapore’s founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew and his wife, Kwa Geok Choo. What role did the famously private Mdm Kwa play? In this special standalone episode, we hear her for the first time in her own words, through recently rel
The Albatross File (Part 2): How the separation happened
Singapore’s sudden independence on Aug 9,1965 shocked the nation - but Dr Goh Keng Swee’s “Albatross File” shows the split had been taking shape for months. Newly released oral history interviews with key figures, including Singapore’s first Prime Minister Mr Lee Kuan Yew, give an intimate look on what unfolded behind the scenes. Producers Peh Yuxin and Clarisse Goh s
The Albatross File (Part 1): Why Singapore's merger with Malaysia failed
When Singapore joined the Federation of Malaysia in 1963, hopes were high. But a secret file kept by then-Finance Minister Dr Goh Keng Swee, code-named the “Albatross”, reveals a far more fragile union. CNA producers Peh Yuxin and Clarisse Goh sit down with Janadas Devan, senior adviser at the Ministry of Digital Development and Information to unpack the historical reasons, politi
Age of Anxiety: What’s driving the youth mental health crisis in Singapore? (Part 1)
It was the call that all parents dread – news that his 17-year-old son took his life. Five years on, “Sean” still grapples with the reasons why. The reality is that one in three young people in Singapore experience significant mental health challenges. What’s driving these numbers? Crispina Robert goes in search of answers and speaks to people living through their own darkn
Age of Anxiety: A hyper-connected but lonely generation (Part 2)
When Sneha left the hospital after her suicide attempt, she returned to a reality she loathed. But that proved to be a critical turning point and set her on the road to recovery. With the national infrastructure ramping up to help young people cope with their mental health challenges, other deeper shifts in their personal lives deserve attention too. But who holds the key to tackling these? In par
A Gambler's Bluff: The Downfall (Episode 4)
Xander traces Chia’s final moments before his arrest, uncovering the ridiculous amounts he was betting. As Chia’s debts grow and cheques bounce, the consequences catch up. Was he ever in control? Directed by Ken MinehanWritten by Juliana SeahProduced by Savitha Arumugam and Toh SherminSound Design: GrydExecutive Producers: Audrey Anthoney and Jeevan NathanCommissioning Editor: Sh
A Gambler's Bluff: High-Stakes Love (Episode 3)
Xander finds out more about the women in Chia’s life: true love or part of his scheme? As his fraud and bets escalate, he’s trapped in a cycle of deception. How much longer can he play this game? Directed by Ken MinehanWritten by Juliana SeahProduced by Savitha Arumugam and Toh SherminSound Design: GrydExecutive Producers: Audrey Anthoney and Jeevan NathanCommissioning Editor: Sh
A Gambler's Bluff: A Dragon Rises (Episode 2)
Xander uncovers how Chia Teck Leng began his scheme, using APB’s name for loans, stealing funds, and silencing doubters. As he gains trust, foreign banks fuel his fraud. How far will he go to hide it? Directed by Ken MinehanWritten by Juliana SeahProduced by Savitha Arumugam and Toh SherminSound Design: GrydExecutive Producers: Audrey Anthoney and Jeevan NathanCommissioning Editor: Sha
A Gambler's Bluff: Double Down (Episode 1)
Podcast host Xander investigates Chia Teck Leng’s 20-year-old case, uncovering the truth behind the man and his first taste of gambling. Was Chia a skilled player, or just a man chasing a losing hand? Directed by Ken MinehanWritten by Juliana SeahProduced by Savitha Arumugam and Toh SherminSound Design: GrydExecutive Producers: Audrey Anthoney and Jeevan NathanCommissioning Editor: Sha
The Waves That Changed Us: Rising from the Asian tsunami (Part 2)
From the ashes of the devastation wrought by the 2004 Boxing Day Asian tsunami, emerges a precious chance for peace, change and growth. In the second of a special two-part CNA podcast, survivors talk about overcoming trauma, and how future generations are being prepared for the next natural disaster. This podcast is adapted from the CNA documentary “The Waves that Changed Us”.See omnys
The Waves That Changed Us: Asian tsunami 20 years on (Part 1)
The devastating Boxing Day tsunami of 2004 swallowed entire communities. Twenty years on, survivors share how the enduring grief lingers on in their lives. In the first of a special two-part CNA podcast, we tell the stories of those whose lives are forever changed. This podcast is adapted from the CNA documentary “The Waves that Changed Us”.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy infor
Red Wall: Inside China’s lockdown (Part 2)
Getting confined was a shared experience in China during the COVID-19 pandemic. At one point, as many as 300 million people across 70 cities were in some form of a lockdown under the government’s strict zero-COVID policy. But imagine being trapped in a place you can’t leave. In the second of a two-part special, CNA correspondent Wei Du hears the heartbreaking stories of two people who found that t
Red Wall: Inside China’s lockdown (Part 1)
"There were only two things on my mind, to find food and to not go crazy.” For millions of residents in China, the mandatory lockdown in mid-2022 still lingers like a recurring nightmare. In the first of a two-part special, CNA correspondent Wei Du traces the steps of people whose lives were upended by China’s zero-COVID policy and who are still grappling with the sudden end of it.See omnystudio.c
Serial Swindler: The beginning ... and the end?
In the second of a two-part special, Singaporean swindler Jerald Low tells his version of the story from behind bars and the interview raises the question: Can you believe every word he says? Singapore’s first criminal forensic psychologist weighs in and gives us a peek into the mind of a serial swindler. For its insightful look into criminal psychology, this narrative podcast won Gold for Crime &
Serial Swindler: The man with many faces
In the first of a two-part special, the Serial Swindler dives into the crimes of 27-year-old Jerald Low, arguably Singapore's most prolific serial scammer. To some of his victims, he’s a shrewd investor who is always on the lookout for the next business opportunity. To others, he’s searching for the love of his life. Who is the real Jerald Low? And how does he convince so many people to believe hi
The mental health struggles of elite athletes
Physical injuries are par for the course for any professional athlete. Yet, behind their blood, sweat and tears to achieve sporting success, another foe lurks – an insidious adversary existing in their minds. In this special CNA podcast, national swimmer Quah Ting Wen and mixed martial arts fighter Angela Lee-Pucci share why it took them so long to talk openly about their mental health struggles a
Child abuse: When parents attack their own
The horrific case of a 5-year-old boy who was scalded and abused to death at the hands of his parents has led some people to ask - how can anyone be so cruel to their own child. Forensic psychiatrist Dr Jaydip Sarkar who assessed the boy’s mother and Cindy Ng-Tay, director of Melrose Home, give some answers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
