The hosts of Yah Lah But reveal what drives their mission to create content that’s “damn smart, damn funny, yet damn relatable”

What is the work you believe you are here to do?

With Yah Lah But, we set out to have honest conversations about tough topics — looking at as many perspectives as possible, no matter how unpopular — and doing it with a lot of laughter along the way.

I know it’s a cliché to say “we need more conversations”, but far more people say it than actually try. That’s why so much online discourse feels one-sided. These days, it almost feels taboo to even explore uncomfortable opinions.

But we’ve learned that putting your honest thoughts out there — and having them challenged — is what helps you clarify or crystallise what you actually believe.

Of course, being objective about things you care deeply about is hard. And harder still to hear someone you disagree with. But what keeps us going is seeing how people connect with what we’re doing, even when we don’t get it perfectly right.

Our goal is to encourage people to empathise with other perspectives, so we called our podcast “Yah Lah But”. If our ramblings about current affairs and local gossip make even one person feel slightly less alone, all those hours of talking into a microphone weren’t completely pointless. At its core, our work encourages people to think critically, speak honestly, and laugh through even the most difficult conversations.

What principle guides the way you lead, even when it’s hard?

A big principle we live by is not doing to others what we wouldn’t want done to us. It sounds simple, but it’s hard to uphold consistently, especially when breaking it has no consequence. That’s why having people around you who share that principle is so important. They keep you grounded when your conviction starts to slip.

This mindset shapes how we work with others: We never ask someone to do something we wouldn’t at least try ourselves. Even if we’re not the best at it, we want our team to know we’re never above the work.

Perhaps the most important lesson is being honest — when you don’t know something, change your mind, or mess up. There’s pressure these days to be “authentically perfect”. When hosting unscripted conversations, three to four hours a week, any facade quickly crumbles. Once we dropped the act, people started tuning in.

We’ve seen firsthand how people connect far better through sincerity. The new form of “street cred” is built not by perfection but by pure, unadulterated vulnerability.

We also believe in hiring good people and getting out of their way, resisting the urge to meddle like an overbearing PSLE parent. The best ideas rarely come from the loudest person in the room. 

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What is the biggest misconception people have about the work that you do?

A common misconception about our podcast is that it’s easy, because all we’re doing is talking. People assume that if you can speak, you can host a podcast. And if you’re reacting to the news, it must mean you don’t even have to create content from scratch. Others think podcasts are just “radio, but less professional.”

This completely overlooks the skill, structure, and storytelling that go into what we do. We’ve spent over a decade creating content in almost every format — short-form videos, TV shows, web series, live events — and all that experience shapes how we approach our podcast.

Knowing how to craft a compelling narrative, disagree respectfully, balance humour and insight, and engage listeners across different viewpoints are learned skills, not things that come naturally at all.

And as surprising as it might sound, engineering principles taught us that creativity can also benefit from structure. Breaking down a complex idea, figuring out the emotional arc of a topic, finding the right moment to pause or push — there’s a method behind it all.

The beauty of the medium isn’t in polish, it’s in the intimacy of feeling like you’re part of a real conversation between friends over a cup of kopi. So yes, it may sound like we’re just chatting — but it’s backed by years of work, iteration, and intention. We’re constantly learning and constantly tweaking our approach.

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If you could be remembered for one thing through the work you do, what would it be?

We’d love to be remembered for creating content that’s damn smart, damn funny, yet damn relatable. There are plenty of brilliant people out there who package their intelligence in a way that feels inaccessible. And there are plenty of hilarious people who rely on slapstick or surface-level comedy that doesn’t really say anything.

We’d love for our work to strike a balance: to make people laugh while making them think — to tackle complex, even intellectual topics effortlessly and digestibly. That’s the sweet spot.

We want to be remembered as people who encouraged others to pause, just for a second, and entertain a dangerous idea in their heads. That’s been a hallmark of everything we’ve done, whether on YouTube, TV shows, or podcasts.

Pranks on the strait-laced streets of Singapore? Check! A rom-com about falling in love with a terrorist? Check! Giving a platform for alternative viewpoints about the country’s political future? Check!

Beyond that, we want to be remembered as people who pushed boundaries, not just for the sake of controversy, but to do whatever little we can to highlight the media’s potential in Singapore. So much talent here gets stifled by bureaucracy, fear, or a mindset that we’re too small to matter globally. We want to challenge that.

And ideally, we want our work to resonate with Singaporeans and beyond — not by watering it down, but by finding that universal thread in local stories.

When you look at the state of the world today, what gives you hope?

The fact that a resonant idea can spread faster and broader than ever gives us hope. Decades ago, even with a great product or message, you needed huge budgets, insider access, and time to reach the masses. Now, if a powerful piece of content, a sharp insight, or a simple story connects, it can travel far with zero marketing spend.

That’s powerful. Yes, the world is chaotic, and doomscrolling makes it easy to feel like everything’s broken. But the upside is that the tools to create and share are more accessible than ever. Sure, attention is harder to earn. There’s more noise than ever.

But we’ve seen firsthand that it spreads if something hits a nerve. So, if we keep chipping away at challenging problems, there’s a good chance we’ll hit on something that clicks.

The hard part is finding that spark. But once it’s found? It’s like fuel to a fire, with the potential to spread and shift culture a little.