BiblioAsia Podcast

National Library, Singapore
  • 4.7 (3)
  • History

The BiblioAsia Podcast explores Singapore stories: some unfamiliar, others forgotten, all fascinating. Does Singapore have a stone age? What’s happened to the murals at the old Paya Lebar airport? Who were some local tennis greats? Find out in this original podcast by the National Library Singapore.

  1. 1d ago

    Serikaya: Family of Kaya-based Confections

    What is commonly referred to as "kaya" belongs to a wider Malay repertoire of egg-based coconut confections known as serikaya. Award-winning writer and food historian Khir Johari tells the origins and meaning of serikaya, its common misconceptions and the different food he can concoct from the classic combination of eggs, sugar and coconut milk. Khir Johari is an educator and food historian. In his book The Food of Singapore Malays (2021), he explores the gastronomy and cultural history of Singapore Malays. The book won Singapore’s Book of the Year 2022, Gourmand World Food Culture Award’s Best of the Best Book 2023, and its prestigious Best of the Last 25 Years. Following the success of his book, he founded “Dialogues by Khir Johari”, a platform for exploring Nusantara’s gastronomy through events and online discussions. What Khir Talked About02:40 – Meaning of serikaya04:05 – Origins of serikaya and the Portuguese connection11:44 – Misconceptions about serikaya13:07 – Earliest literary references to serikaya15:39 – Importance of historical research in food studies19:13 – How common serikaya was in the past21:25 – Regional variations of serikaya24:55 – Different serikaya dishes in the “From Book to Cook” video27:33 – Kueh salat vs kueh putri salat29:23 – Agar-agar serikaya innovation31:24 – Evolution of serikaya over time35:15 – Early commercial kaya and tin labels40:02 – What makes a good kaya Transcript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-serikaya-family-of-kaya-based-confectionsWatch Khir make serikaya: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/video-kaya Subscribe to BiblioAsia for more stories about Singapore. This episode of BiblioAsia Podcast was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by Nookcha Films. The background music “Di Tanjong Katong” was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Khir for coming on the show. Produced by the National Library Singapore, the BiblioAsia Podcast tells stories about Singapore history.

  2. Aug 11

    A Layered Stewed Sweetness: Jackfruit Payasam Made Local

    Cookbook author and former restaurateur Dhershini Winodan tells us how she has adapted jackfruit payasam, a common Malayalee dessert, by using local elements like gula melaka. She also talks about growing up in the Telecoms quarters in Yio Chu Kang and how the Malayalee community in Singapore has changed over time. Dhershini Govin Winodan is a former restaurateur who started Chat Masala along Upper East Coast Road. Her latest book, My Long Table: Recipes & Memories (2023), contains over 130 recipes from Indian classics to popular international dishes, and the stories behind them. She has written articles for magazines like Her World, and appeared on radio and TV shows, including the episode “Indian Upma with a Twist” on the YouTube series Woking with Sunshine. What Dhershini Talked About02:41 – Why jackfruit payasam is unusual03:20 – What is payasam made of04:12 – Using coconut milk in payasam04:27 –Jackfruit payasam in Kerala08:38 – Malayali cuisine in Singapore vs Kerala09:19 – Malayali weddings in Singapore12:08 – Malayali festivals beyond Onam15:24 – Managing jackfruit19:27 – The legend of payasam and Lord Krishna21:32 – Types of jackfruit for cooking22:21 – How using the bronze urli pot makes a difference24:03 – Ingredients that make her jackfruit payasam special27:14 – How Dhershini learnt to cook29:02 – Why she came up with the name for her restaurant Chat Masala31:40 – About her book My Long Table36:53 – How Malayali food is different from other Indian regional cuisines38:26 – What Malayali food means to Dhershini Transcript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-a-layered-stewed-sweetness-jackfruit-payasam-made-localWatch Dhershini make jackfruit payasam: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/video-jackfruit-payasam Subscribe to BiblioAsia for more stories about Singapore. This episode of BiblioAsia Podcast was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by Nookcha Films. The background music “Di Tanjong Katong” was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Dhershini for coming on the show. Produced by the National Library Singapore, the BiblioAsia Podcast tells stories about Singapore history.

  3. Aug 4

    The Crisped, the Baked, the Spiralled: Curry Puffs and Their History

    Award-winning writer Christopher Tan talks how the Indian samosa led to the curry puffs we know today, as well as the different types of curry puffs – baked, spiralled, made with mutton fat and fillings like otak-otak and taro. Christopher Tan is a food writer, culinary instructor and photographer. His articles, columns, recipes and photographs have appeared in many publications, including Singapore’s Sunday Times and Straits Times, The Peak magazine, and America’s Saveur magazine. He has authored and co-authored many cookbooks, most recently Nerdbaker 2: Tales from the Yeast Indies (2024). What Christopher Talked About01:56 – What a curry puff is02:24 – Types A, B, C curry puffs05:35 – How Christopher became fascinated with curry puffs12:06 – Curry puff vs samosa vs Cornish pasty16:17 – Portuguese empanadas and Southeast Asian connections21:46 – The earliest curry puff recipe in Singapore29:10 – Why modern curry puffs rarely use pork31:14 – The three curry puffs made for From Book to Cook33:20 – Traditional fats used in layered pastry40:39 – Why spiral curry puffs stay crispy44:21 – Christopher’s research process for developing recipes47:51 – How the curry puff scene has changed since the 1920s53:58 – Curry puffs are… Transcript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-the-crisped-the-baked-the-spiralled-curry-puffs-and-their-historyWatch Christopher make the curry puffs: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/video-curry-puffs Subscribe to BiblioAsia for more stories about Singapore. This episode of BiblioAsia Podcast was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by Nookcha Films. The background music “Di Tanjong Katong” was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Christopher for coming on the show. Produced by the National Library Singapore, the BiblioAsia Podcast tells stories about Singapore history.

  4. Jul 28

    Putting Together a Family Recipe of Abacus Seeds

    When chef, filmmaker and writer Sarah Huang Benjamin wanted to make Hakka abacus seeds for Chinese New Year, her relatives were of little help. The exact recipe was something the older generation had not passed on. Armed with her childhood memories of helping to make the dish, Sarah spent hours doing research and conducting countless experiments before she came up with something she was happy with. Sarah Huang Benjamin is a chef, content creator, filmmaker and writer. She won the inaugural Asian Food Channel’s “Food Hero” competition in 2014, and later hosted, wrote and produced multiple shows on the Asian Food Network. She creates videos for her YouTube channel, which has gathered over a million views. What Sarah Talked About02:31 – What abacus seeds are03:23 – Whether abacus seeds are only for Chinese New Year03:46 – Why Sarah chose abacus seeds to demonstrate in the video for From Book to Cook04:56 – Learning how to make the dish09:27 – The difficulty of finding authentic abacus seed recipes10:03 – Researching recipes through cookbooks and family knowledge12:00 – Using fish sauce in her recipe13:42 – The size and history of the Hakka community in Singapore18:29 – Where to find abacus seeds in Singapore19:32 – Why homemade abacus seeds taste different21:21 – Sarah’s mixed Hakka and Peranakan heritage22:53 – Plans for Sarah’s future cookbook27:33 – What Sarah is working on now30:58 – Family recipe is… Transcript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-putting-together-a-family-recipe-of-abacus-seedsWatch Sarah make abacus seeds: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/video-hakka-abacus-seeds Subscribe to BiblioAsia for more stories about Singapore. This episode of BiblioAsia Podcast was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by Nookcha Films. The background music “Di Tanjong Katong” was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Sarah for coming on the show. Produced by the National Library Singapore, the BiblioAsia Podcast tells stories about Singapore history.

  5. Jul 23

    The Untold Negotiations Behind Singapore's Independence in 1965

    For decades, the conventional wisdom was that Singapore was “kicked out” of Malaysia. However, newly released documents in Dr Goh Keng Swee's Albatross file reveal a more complex history. In this episode, Janadas Devan, the coordinator for the Albatross File project, tells us more about the secret negotiations by Singapore’s leaders to separate from Malaysia, even as many of them still hoped to preserve a looser federation. Janadas Devan is Senior Advisor (Government Communications) of Ministry of Digital Development and Information and the Prime Minister’s Office, and Director of the Institute of Policy Studies. A former journalist, he was educated at the National University of Singapore and Cornell University in the United States. What Janadas Talked About00:00 – Introduction to the Albatross File book and exhibition04:41 – Why Singapore joined Malaysia in 196308:18 – Agreement between Lee Kuan Yew and Tunku to keep out of Malaysian politics10:25 – UMNO’s performance in Singapore general elections 12:09 – PAP’s participation in Malaysia general elections and politics15:05 – What Janadas remembers of the rallies in Malaysia16:42 – Last straw that led to separation24:46 – Goh Keng Swee’s proposal to separate25:25 – Why Lee Kuan Yew was disliked by Malaysian politicians28:54 – Why the British opposed a looser federation31:02 – Why negotiations on separation were kept secret31:50 – Opposition within Singapore leadership to the idea of looser federation34:43 – Why the narrative of Singapore being “kicked out” of Malaysia was dominant37:52 – What the Albatross file reveals about separation41:47 – Importance of archives in other countries and Lee Kuan Yew’s memoirs43:00 – Whether a looser federation would have worked44:13 – Whether Goh Keng Swee had a vision for independent Singapore47:07 – How the book and exhibition came about52:25 – Which document in the Albatross file surprised Janadas57:03 – How to begin reading the book57:45 – Possible second edition1:00:47 – The books Janadas is working on Transcript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-the-untold-negotiations-behind-singapore-s-independence-in-1965/Read the related BiblioAsia article: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-22-issue-1-apr-jun-2026-the-architect-of-separation/ Subscribe to BiblioAsia for more stories about Singapore. This episode of BiblioAsia Podcast was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by Red Ink Media. The background music “Di Tanjong Katong” was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Janadas for coming on the show. Produced by the National Library Singapore, the BiblioAsia Podcast tells stories about Singapore history.

  6. Jun 25

    A Tang Dynasty City in Singapore: Flying Swordsmen, Terracotta Warriors and Pagodas

    A film studio and theme park in Jurong opened to grand fanfare in 1992. Named Tang Dynasty City, it was modelled after the ancient city of Chang’an. Despite its underground terracotta warriors and other attractions, it struggled to draw visitors, as Senior Librarian Lim Tin Seng tells us. Lim Tin Seng is a senior librarian with the National Library Singapore. He is the co-editor of of Roots: Tracing Family Histories (2013), Harmony and Development: ASEAN-China Relations (2009) and China’s New Social Policy (2010). He writes regularly for BiblioAsia. What Tin Seng Talked About00:00 – Introduction02:09 – About Tang Dynasty City03:54 – Who came up with the idea of Tang Dynasty City05:25 – Why Chang’an was picked as the city to replicate06:54 – The difficulty of getting construction materials08:34 – Movies and shows shot at Tang Dynasty City10:40 – Food options at Tang Dynasty City12:38 – Popularity of the theme park14:38 – Underground terracotta warriors15:54 – How Tang Dynasty City tried to attract more visitors19:10 – What Tin Seng enjoys about archival research20:30 – Curiocity project, on story maps23:03 – The research significance of Tin Seng’s favourite BiblioAsia article he has written26:09 – How Tin Seng’s article on Sarong Island broke new ground Transcript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-a-tang-dynasty-city-in-singapore-flying-swordsmen-terracotta-warriors-and-pagodasRead the article: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-22-issue-2-jul-sep-2026-an-ancient-chinese-city-in-jurong-/ Subscribe to BiblioAsia for more stories about Singapore. This episode of BiblioAsia Podcast was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by Red Ink Media. The background music “Di Tanjong Katong” was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Tin Seng for coming on the show. Produced by the National Library Singapore, the BiblioAsia Podcast tells stories about Singapore history.

  7. Apr 9

    The Italian Merchant and Lexicographer Who Once Owned Pulau Bukom

    Giovanni Gaggino came to Singapore around 1874 and lived here for more than 40 years. During that time, he set up a successful business providing supplies to vessels passing through Singapore, he wrote an Italian-Malay dictionary and once owned the Pulau Bukom. Writer Alex Foo tells us about the life of Gaggino and his legacy. Formerly a literary arts librarian at the National Library Board, Alex Foo has written for the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Orientations and ArtsEquator. Singapore history. What Alex Talked About02:32 – About Giovanni Gaggino03:57 – Why Gaggino came to Singapore in 187404:48 – The small Italian community in 19th-century Singapore05:39 – What a ship chandlery is07:18 – Acquiring and Monetising Pulau Bukom08:21 – Gaggino’s other business ventures across Asia09:18 – Writing a dictionary for trade14:13 – Gaggino’s death and unfulfilled legacy17:17 – How the story of Gaggino was reconstructed22:16 – Libraries are… Transcript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-italian-merchant-lexicographer-who-once-owned-pulau-bukom/ Subscribe to BiblioAsia for more stories about Singapore. This episode of BiblioAsia Podcast was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by Nookcha Films. The background music “Di Tanjong Katong” was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Alex for coming on the show. Produced by the National Library Singapore, the BiblioAsia Podcast tells stories about Singapore history.

  8. Mar 5

    Changing Times: Time Zone Changes in Singapore since 1905

    Singapore's time zone has been changed at least seven times since 1905, including during the Japanese Occupation when it was synchronised to Tokyo time. Arts librarian Kenneth Tay explains the historical context for the time zone changes, the origins of the Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) system, and ways to measure time, including a rare atomic clock in a local laboratory. Kenneth Tay is a librarian with the Arts and General Reference team at the National Library Singapore. He is interested in the histories of global systems such as the internet, logistics and time zones, and where Singapore figures in them. What Kenneth Talked About03:02 – How Kenneth became interested in time zones05:09 – Why Singapore changed its time zone in 198206:43 – Why Singapore followed Malaysia’s time change08:13 – Singapore’s experiment with daylight saving time11:35 – Public reaction to Tokyo time during Japanese occupation14:05 – Re-colonising time after the war15:02 – What the Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) is23:42 – The time zone change in 190526:29 – Difference between UTC and GMT31:39 – Atomic clocks in the world35:23 – Whether time is arbitrary or political38:51 – How research changed Kenneth’s notion of time46:22 – Time history is… Transcript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-changing-times-time-zone-changes-in-singapore-since-1905/ Subscribe to BiblioAsia for more stories about Singapore. This episode of BiblioAsia Podcast was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by Nookcha Films. The background music “Di Tanjong Katong” was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Kenneth for coming on the show. Produced by the National Library Singapore, the BiblioAsia Podcast tells stories about Singapore history.

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About

The BiblioAsia Podcast explores Singapore stories: some unfamiliar, others forgotten, all fascinating. Does Singapore have a stone age? What’s happened to the murals at the old Paya Lebar airport? Who were some local tennis greats? Find out in this original podcast by the National Library Singapore.

Information

  • Creator
    National Library, Singapore
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    52
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 National Library, Singapore
  • Show Website
    BiblioAsia Podcast

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