Category: socialservice.sg Podcast (2021/22)

“Grief doesn't have an expiry date”: Normalising conversations around the end of life, death, and dying with dignity (Both Sides, Now’s “Kata-Kata Kita”)

“Grief doesn’t have an expiry date”: Normalising conversations around the end of life, death, and dying with dignity (Both Sides, Now’s “Kata-Kata Kita”)

Posted on by guanyinmiao

Since 2013, “Both Sides, Now” has sought to normalise end-of-life conversations, by creating artistic projects and engaging Singaporeans at public locations such as hospitals, town centres, senior homes and HDB void decks. Last year, in 2021, the project researched and engaged the Malay community, culminating in the “Kata-Kata Kita” variety show. And behind this endeavour was a multi-disciplinary team of creatives and researchers, three of whom are with us today. With artistic director Kok Heng Leun, lead artist Adib Kosnan, and research team member Siti Hazirah Bte Mohamad, we chat about the genesis of “Both Sides, Now”, the experience of staging the “Kata-Kata Kita” variety show, and the project’s upcoming public engagement programme in Bedok this year.

Sitting by the fire.place: Positioning an AI therapist chatbot in a broader constellation of mental health and wellness support

Sitting by the fire.place: Positioning an AI therapist chatbot in a broader constellation of mental health and wellness support

Posted on by guanyinmiao

With Norvin Chan, founder of the AI therapist chatbot fire.place where folks can vent their feelings, we learn about how users can interact with the chatbot, tech development process, and how his growing-up experience has informed his work. We conclude with a discussion of positioning fire.place in a broader constellation of mental health and wellness support, from professional help to community initiatives.

The potential and challenges of social media civic discussions in Singapore (with assistant professor Walid Jumblatt Bin Abdullah)

The potential and challenges of social media civic discussions in Singapore (with assistant professor Walid Jumblatt Bin Abdullah)

Posted on by guanyinmiao

Today, we have assistant professor Walid Jumblatt Bin Abdullah from the School of Social Sciences in Nanyang Technological University, whose research focuses on religion and politics with a special focus on Singapore and Malaysia. On his Instagram page, he hosts “Teh Tarik With Walid” (TTWW), a series of live chats with prominent socio-political figures about their work and current affairs. In this episode, we ask him about his motivations for starting this series as well as the prospects of such a format in furthering civic engagement on social media.

“Beneath the rug”: Documenting the lived experiences of the poor/marginalised/disadvantaged through Singaporean social service perspectives (with editor Lewin Low)

“Beneath the rug”: Documenting the lived experiences of the poor/marginalised/disadvantaged through Singaporean social service perspectives (with editor Lewin Low)

Posted on by guanyinmiao

“Beneath the Rug” is a Singaporean book compilation of 30 stories, written by 30 different individuals in the social service sector. Their honest sharing on the poor/marginalised/disadvantaged in Singapore was surprising, and in this episode with editor Lewin Low we discuss the project’s journey, the writers, and the plans of his social enterprise Solve n+1. 

"Scaled, citizen-led, and publicness": Improving qualitative research through citizen social science in Singapore and beyond (with researchers Amirah Amirrudin, Dr. Nicholas Harrigan, and Dr. Ijlal Naqvi)

“Scaled, citizen-led, and publicness”: Improving qualitative research through citizen social science in Singapore and beyond (with researchers Amirah Amirrudin, Dr. Nicholas Harrigan, and Dr. Ijlal Naqvi)

Posted on by guanyinmiao

In November last year, the publication titled “Scaled, citizen-led, and public qualitative research: A framework for citizen social science” explored improvements to qualitative research and suggested methods for the conduct of citizen social science. Drawing from two cases – one involving state and civil society organisations and public policy students, and another centred on low-waged migrant workers and the system processing their salary and injury disputes – we dive into the open-access publication with its three author-researchers.