Hush Podcast

A recent survey by a local matchmaking agency showed that Singaporean women were the least likely to date a guy who is shorter than them and earn less. Azura, Hazelle and Germaine discuss these survey findings, explore other relationship deal breakers and share their personal relationship experiences - past and present. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Hush, hosts Germaine, and Hazelle discuss boob sizes, their representation in societal standards, and its pros and cons. They also share some tips on how to correctly measure your boob size and where to get the right bras. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Germaine, Azura and Hazelle wrap up 2020 in this final episode of Hush podcast. In this episode, they shared their honest reflections on the podcast and some of their own personal progress: in relationships, career and self. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Can women be breadwinners? There is an assumption that women who earn more than their partners will not have one job but three: doing their actual work, taking the bigger load of the household chores and caregiving, as well as managing their partner’s easily damaged ego. In this episode Hazelle, Germaine and Azura discuss how they feel about earning more than their boyfriends and husband, and share their thoughts on women being the main breadwinners in relationships. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Traditional” masculine traits which can sometimes link to aggression and misogyny is no stranger to us women. But did you know that anybody could be perpetrators of this harmful trait? In this episode, Germaine, Hazelle and Azura discuss this issue and reflect on this cultural phenomenon that not only affects women, but men themselves and society as a whole. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Understandably, there is a lot of curiosity and the lack of knowledge behind what happens on the wedding night - for experienced and inexperienced couples alike. As seen on Netflix's Bridgerton, understanding of cultural expectations in marriages is an important aspect of a relationship. In this episode, Azura, Germaine, Hazelle and our invited guest share their thoughts on chastity, the mechanics behind baby-making and the media portrayal of its affairs. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some of us chase after monetary success; some see prizes of recognition as success; and others see success as a journey. But what does success really mean? Germaine, Hazelle and Azura discuss what it means to them. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Women in many industries in Singapore have suffered some form of sex-based harassment in the workplace. This includes sexual harassment, sexist remarks, and other forms of behaviour that demean or humiliate them on the basis of their sex. In this episode, Azura, Hazelle and Germaine discuss this issue and share some of their experiences with workplace sexual harassment. Content warning: This episode contains recounts of sexual harassment. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many women experience abnormal vaginal bleeding or spotting between periods sometime in their lives. In this episode, Azura, Germaine and Hazelle discuss abnormal menstruation, uterine bleeding, and spotting that are common yet less talked about. For more updates on Hush follow us on https://www.instagram.com/itsclarity.co/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Navigating Parents’ Expectations of Your Career Choices “Be a doctor or a lawyer,” they said. Growing up in Singapore, a tightly-regulated, structured city, many have been conditioned to make certain career choices based on our parents' rigid expectations of success. Oftentimes, those choices were carried out at the expense of one’s happiness. The pursuit of passion takes courage. So how can one break free from external factors that stop one from living vicariously? In this episode Germaine, Azura, Hazelle and our invited guest - model turned singer-songwriter, Iman Fandi, tell us more about their career choices, their parents’ expectations and how they get to where they are today. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Navigating Parents’ Expectations of Your Career Choices “Be a doctor or a lawyer,” they said. Growing up in Singapore, a tightly-regulated, structured city, many have been conditioned to make certain career choices based on our parents' rigid expectations of success. Oftentimes, those choices were carried out at the expense of one’s happiness. The pursuit of passion takes courage. So how can one break free from external factors that stop one from living vicariously? In this episode Germaine, Azura, Hazelle and our invited guest - model turned singer-songwriter, Iman Fandi, tell us more about their career choices, their parents’ expectations and how they get to where they are today. This is part 2 of this episode, listen to part 1 here: https://spoti.fi/3vBlneS See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Toxic relationships don't just apply to romantic partnerships. Friendships, familial and professional relationships can all turn out to be abusive or damaging as well. In this episode, Azura, Germaine and Hazelle discuss indicators of a toxic relationship and share what you can do if you experience them. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is it normal to be afraid of pregnancy? From pregnancy phobias to the cost of children and building careers - Azura, Hazelle and Germaine discuss their fears of pregnancy with our invited guest, 987 Radio DJ, Natasha Faisal. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In recent years, men have stepped up to contribute more to the care of children and the household, but women, unfortunately, continue to hold most of the responsibility for making sure things get done. In this episode, Azura and Hazelle discuss women’s invisible labour: The mental load. They share with us who does the household chores in their homes, and who plans when things should get done. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How many times have you blamed your parents for “sabotaging” your relationships even when the actions were of your own? Whether it’s a form of mirroring the love you’ve gotten from your parents or filling a love gap that you’ve never received, you’re not completely wrong. Apparently, how you give and receive love in a relationship is greatly influenced and shaped by your parents. Some researchers suggest that our first experience with love and emotions is with our parents, and those early years set the bar for what we want out of love or relationships later in our lives. In this episode, Azura, Germaine, Hazelle and our invited guest, Narelle Kheng, discuss these complicated relationships we have with our parents, peers and romantic partners. They’ll share some funny love stories, including the good, the bad and the ugly and how they think their upbringing plays a part in it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever asked yourself: when did women start shaving or when did it become a beauty standard? In this episode, Azura, Hazelle and Germaine share their thoughts on women's relationship with body hair. They’ll share a bit of history of when it all started, and discuss pros and cons on shaving, waxing, laser and going au natural. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In mid-May of 2021, Singapore’s government announced its return to Phase 2 Heightened Alert (P2HA), and introduced new COVID19 Safe Management Measures (SMM), forcing many of us to go back to working from home to reduce community transmission. Our Hush Podcast hosts Azura, Germaine and Hazelle, who are also colleagues at work, were additionally told to minimise contact among each other making it impossible for them to meet and putting a hold on our plans for a season 3. But work from home or not, we’re still bringing the girls back - via online this time - in this 3 part #WFH special to catch up and talk about things they do and think about during this P2HA. In this first part of our #WFH special, the Hush girls confess to some of the out of the ordinary things they do while stuck at home, and talk about the things they do to relieve stress: from exercising, journaling, to spending way more time than they usually do online shopping. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The pandemic has made e-commerce and online shopping the new normal - we buy everything online: from groceries to clothes, to even products that we would otherwise feel embarrassed to buy in stores. While it makes sense for us to shop online as we are discouraged to leave our homes, somehow we find ourselves feeling embarrassed whenever a new parcel comes at the door, and hide our purchases from our parents, siblings or spouses. Why do we do that and why do we feel that way? In this second part of our #WFH special, Hazelle, Azura and Germaine discuss shopping habits since the pandemic and talk about all the silly things that we do to conceal this new normal. P.s We hid a Zalora-HUSH Secret promo code* in this ep! *Terms and conditions apply, please check via Zalora.sg or the Zalora app for more information. Correction: Please note that the example mentioned at 36:20 is inaccurate. T&Cs for the promo code applies. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The pandemic has taken a significant toll on our mental health. More people in Singapore across different age groups are reportedly seeking help for mental health issues. While some of us are happy with the work from home arrangement, others are faced with deteriorating emotional health due to the loss of access to out-of-home activities, and being stuck at home in unconducive environments like poor family relationships and/or abusive parents. In this final part of Hush Podcast’s #WFH special, Azura, Hazelle and Germaine discuss how working from home has impacted our mental health both negatively and positively, and they also share with the listeners some of the things they can do to reduce stress and keep their mental health in check. P.s. We have a Zalora-HUSH Secret promo code* in this ep! *Terms and conditions apply, please check via Zalora.sg or the Zalora app for more information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Britney’s documentary has prompted a re-evaluation of media coverage of celebrities, especially young women, who were hounded and scrutinised within the bubble of 00s celebrity culture. In this episode, Hazelle, Azura and Germaine take a deeper look into how women were portrayed in the public eye back then - in Hollywood, as well as in Singapore, and reflect upon it. --- Follow us on Instagram for more updates on Hush: https://www.instagram.com/itsclarity.co/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do soulmates really exist? We can debate all day on which camp you’re in, but whether you belong with the people who believe in finding their destined half (their one, true soulmate) or the people who believe in slow progress in relationships, we can all agree that love is complicated. In this episode, Hazelle, Azura and Germaine discuss love, devotion and all of its complications. They’ll discuss modern romance, interracial relationships, and much more with our invited guest, local singer-songwriter and Universal Music Singapore's latest signee, Yao (https://www.instagram.com/yaogotwav) Link to QUIZ here! https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20190211-the-dark-side-of-believing-in-true-love --- Follow us on Instagram for more updates on Hush: https://www.instagram.com/itsclarity.co/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Relationships can be complicated when in-laws enter the picture, and somehow, it seems that women struggle a lot more than men in this aspect. No doubt, there’s a whole lot of anxiety and walking on eggshells to make things work, especially at the early stages of your relationship with your future in-laws. In this episode of Hush, Hazelle, Azura and Germaine discuss why some of us are afraid but mostly awkward, when facing our in-laws - particularly mothers-in-law; read and discuss some of the stories that you have sent in; and share some advice on how to deal with them. --- Follow us on Instagram for more updates on Hush: https://www.instagram.com/itsclarity.co/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our emotional state usually determines the way we behave, and men and women relate to their emotions in different ways. When upset, women are more likely to directly express their feelings and seek support from friends and family, while men may hide their emotions or withdraw, often feeling that they need to be self-reliant. It doesn’t help that these behaviours are reinforced in the stereotypes and are often portrayed in popular culture. In this episode, Hazelle, Azura, Germaine and our invited guest, Yung Raja, discuss if women are really more emotionally expressive than men; and debunk myths about men and their emotions. --- Follow us on Instagram for more updates on Hush: https://www.instagram.com/itsclarity.co/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When it comes to what we wear - women just can’t seem to win. Our clothing choices are constantly held under the microscope. We have been told to cover up, but also to “not be a prude”. But how much skin is too much skin? How much of a woman's leg is acceptable to see in public? It’s time to recognise that our clothing is not the problem. In this episode, Hazelle, Azura, Germaine and guest Jasmine Sokko discuss the unnecessary policing of women’s clothes, and fashion as an identity. They share with us personal stories from when they were judged for what they wear and their opinions on the topic. Listen to Jasmine's new EP - https://open.spotify.com/track/2jG2FfL0zHPCCM5fwNcAGO?si=7a725ba7ba5445ef --- Follow us on Instagram for more updates on Hush: https://www.instagram.com/itsclarity.co/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A woman is born with a finite number of eggs that continuously depletes over her lifetime. Women tend to be most fertile in their twenties or early thirties, after which the quality of their eggs decreases. This also means that the possibility of having children - if we want them - becomes harder - but maybe it doesn’t have to be. In this episode of Hush Podcast, Hazelle, Azura and Germaine talk about fertility, social egg freezing and how all of these affect family, life and career. Useful links: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/in-focus-social-egg-freezing-women-2137286 https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/women/peoples-action-party-women-youth-paper-egg-freezing-273222 https://www.channelnewsasia.com/watch/budget-2021-debate-cheng-li-hui-allowing-voluntary-egg-freezing-1926846 https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/dilemma-of-social-egg-freezing-for-women-in-singapore-0 https://www.msf.gov.sg/media-room/Pages/Social-egg-freezing.aspx --- Follow us on Instagram for more updates on Hush: https://www.instagram.com/itsclarity.co/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stigma and embarrassment often see many of us suffer in silence for common and treatable conditions. There are probably more people than you think who suffer from those ‘embarrassing’ health issues that you might have like overly frequent urination, vaginal discharge, and bladder, bowel or period problems. We’re just too paiseh to talk about it. In this episode, Hazelle, Azura, Germaine and our invited guest Fiza O, discuss common awkward and potentially embarrassing health issues that we kept secret way too long. --- Follow us on Instagram for more updates on Hush: https://www.instagram.com/itsclarity.co/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s no wonder why some say a breakup can be worse than bereavement. When someone leaves you because of death, they are gone forever, whereas, with an ex, they’re still alive when they leave. This makes it harder for those who have seen the end of their relationship grieve the loss as they are able to see and watch in pain as their exes move on without them. But for some, a break-up isn’t necessarily the end of a relationship. Those who choose to remain as friends still spend time and grow old together. Time heals all wounds, they’ll probably say. Which do you relate to? In this episode Hazelle, Germaine, Azura and our guest, singer-songwriter Marcus Lee, discuss reasons why you can or cannot stay friends with your ex; share their experience healing from breakups and answer why trust between partners is the most important aspect of a relationship. Listen to Marcus's IDWBTW: (Eng) Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/track/62nSMJi40NybEgeRjuGwps?si=613b09a126be426a (Eng) YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VhUJWew5DQ (Official MV) YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oobwYHPK7oQ --- Follow us on Instagram for more updates on Hush: https://www.instagram.com/itsclarity.co/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The problem with the term "work-life" balance suggests that we can have careers, a romantic relationship, even babies, and a clean house if we just prioritise and work harder at "balancing" our lives. And, if we are good at this, we might even get some "me-time" to spend on ourselves. But we all know that this is further from the truth. 3 In this episode, Hazelle, Azura, Germaine and our invited guest, Sangeeta, get real about juggling the success of their craft and personal life. They’ll discuss the realities of hustling, what they had to give up in order to pursue their dreams, and if it is really worth it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More young women are choosing career, freedom and independence over starting a family, and when or if they choose to get married, many are choosing to remain childless or have children at a later age. Yet a portion among them still feel guilty about their decision and at some point feel the need to conform to social norms, especially in Singapore, where women are still often highly judged by how they perform as a mother or wife despite their career success. In this episode, Hazelle, Azura, Germaine and our invited guest, Rachel, discuss the dilemma: Family or career, and is it possible to have both? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is your reaction to when you hear stories about marriage proposals? Do you react with “How romantic!” or do you immediately think that it’s unnecessary? To some, marriage proposals are a timeless and essential gesture as well as a necessary step on the road to marriage. However, others have called it outdated, superfluous and overly performative. In this episode of Hush, Hazelle, Germaine and Azura discuss marriage proposals, look into when it all started and read some of your thoughts and opinions on the topic to find out if it still has a place in society today. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last year sucks, but 2022 will be better In this last episode of season 3 of Hush Podcast, we look back at all the great and not so great things that have happened to us personally - from break ups to road accidents, award nominations to work troubles. We also look at some of the things that went well and not so well for Singaporean women as reported by the media and discuss what can be done for 2022 to be better. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Male birth control pills are set for human trials! What exactly does this mean for men and women? In Singapore, birth control is still a taboo topic as it involves discussions of a person’s sexual lifestyle. However in this episode, the Hush girls - Hazelle, Azura and Germaine explore the bigger question: Should men and women have equal responsibilities when it comes to birth control? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There is so much happening around the world today: wars, pandemics, stock market crash and “The Great Resignation”. It’s not common to see social media updates of people hopping onto a new job and doing something completely different in this pandemic. It seems like everyone is taking the leap of faith and embracing change. In this episode, the Hush girls will discuss their views on risk-taking, embracing new changes and stagnation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Moving out in your 20s and 30s is becoming more common in Singapore due to lockdowns and WFH arrangements. More young millennials are citing personal growth and independence as their biggest takeaways from this experience. Hush listeners and viewers are familiar that Azura has gotten married but is currently staying with her parents, Hazelle rented an apartment of her own, and Germaine is still staying with her parents. In today’s episode, we are talking about adulting, moving out and living alone where the Hush girls share their thoughts and tackle the big question: Does moving out really provide more personal growth and independence? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Breaking up with someone you love hurts, unfortunately, some things are just not meant to be. Relationships with our romantic partners are hard work but the most important relationship you need in life is the one you have with yourself. In this episode of Hush, Hazelle, Azura, and Germaine, together with our special guest Kelly Mi Li (most of you would know her from the Netflix series ‘Bling Empire’) discuss coming out of a bad relationship and the healing process after. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many of us in our 20s and 30s are often bounded by our parents’ traditional and cultural ways of upbringing and expectations. Over the years, things they said or done may have caused disagreements, fights, sometimes even emotional trauma. In this episode of Hush podcast, Hazelle, Azura, Germaine, together with our guest Carrie, share more about their relationships with their parents, childhood trauma, the healing process and ways to improve the relationships with their parents. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After two years, nightlife activities are back in Singapore! Yay or nay? How are the girls feeling about it? Have they been heading out to party? Or would they rather stay home and wind down? In this episode of Hush podcast, we get the girls to discuss more about the party and clubbing phase they have gone through in the past and how their lifestyle has changed since the restrictions came in place. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dating apps have made it so convenient for those looking for love, but it is also the perfect place for romance scammers to prey on innocent people. In this episode of Hush podcast, Hazelle, Azura and Germaine caught up with the latest love scam news and share with us how we could spot red flags and what we can do if we fall in love with a con artist. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Falling out of friendships can be awkward and heartbreaking for some. But according to experts, it’s only natural for acquaintances and even close friends to fall by the wayside as time goes on. In this episode, Azura, Hazelle and Germaine share with us why it is ok to drop out of friendships or let it fade out. They share how their ‘past’ friends shaped them and why cutting them off was their best decisions at that time and it’s nothing to feel guilty about. Watch this podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ruroapRq2kw See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elective egg freezing will soon be allowed in Singapore for women aged 21 to 35 years old, starting in 2023. As we celebrate this new milestone, there have also been critics of the new policy. While it is impossible to determine the success rate of the policy, we want to highlight one important message: Taking care of our own bodies. In this episode of Hush podcast, Hazelle, Azura, and Germaine meet with Minister of State, Ms. Sun Xue Ling to speak about her experiences and thoughts on fertility health and pregnancy in her thirties. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On 24 Jun 2022, the US Supreme Court voted to overturn Roe v Wade, a constitutional law that recognises a women’s right to abortion in the states. The news is shocking and upsetting since women’s rights have come a long way today. In this episode of Hush, Hazelle, Azura, and Germaine share their thoughts and discuss more on the stigmas of abortions and women’s rights. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do we believe that people deserve second chances? What if you had done something wrong in the past but the incident resurface and showed that you were not a very nice person? In this episode of Hush, Hazelle, Azura, and Germaine discuss the possibility of people changing over the years. Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/e27wBqyN_Ac See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever considered emigrating out of Singapore? According to research done in 2016, 42% of young Singaporeans want to emigrate. Personally, we have seen friends who are looking to work overseas or move away for a few years. In this episode of Hush, we get the girls to discuss if they would stay in Singapore forever. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So you’ve hit it off with someone and things are going pretty smooth. But how do you ensure that you’re both on the same page? Do you put labels on your relationship, and if so, what and why? In this episode of Hush, we’re laying out the base for all the complicated romance situations you’ve ended up in. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While death is not something that many Singaporeans fear, we definitely do seem to fear talking about it. The stigma which surrounds death deters us from having casual conversations about the doom and gloom. In today’s episode, we discuss death in all its glory and highlight the importance of having die-logues with the people around us when we are still fit and healthy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.