Plan B
A Singaporean current affairs podcast analyzing local news, social controversies, and politics through panel discussions and interviews.
The flagship show of the Plan B Media network, this podcast acts as a Singaporean social barometer. It alternates between two formats: a panel of hosts (often including Dzar Ismail, Darren Mak, and Raman) debating current news, and a two-on-one interview format. The latter often features individuals at the heart of a recent viral story or public controversy, connecting their personal experience to broader societal issues.
“It blends different formats (panel vs. interview) and hosts, allowing it to tackle both broad news analysis and specific human-interest stories under one banner. The tone is conversational and often challenges official narratives.”
Who hosts this show
Plan B is the flagship podcast from Singapore's Plan B Media, a digital outlet focused on local and regional current affairs. The show features a rotating cast of hosts, notably Dzar Ismail and Darren Mak, and shifts between multi-host panel discussions and guest interviews. It tackles topics often at the center of public debate in Singapore, from politics to social trends.
Credentials & credits
- Dzar Ismail: Co-founder of OKLETSGO, Ex-Radio Broadcaster/DJ (Ria 89.7FM), Ex-Educator
- Darren Mak: Writer & Podcaster at Plan B Media
Other ventures
- OKLETSGO (Dzar Ismail)
- Non-Judgmental Ummah (Dzar Ismail)
- Usrah Podcast (Plan B Media)
- MIM Podcast (Plan B Media)
- DARRENSHOW (Plan B Media)
What kind of podcast
When new episodes drop
- 01PLAN B #859: Behind The Glamour: The brutal reality of the legal sectorJun 26, 2026 · 36 min
- 02PLAN B #858: Singapore’s Bureaucracy vs Art: Can Creativity Survive?Jun 20, 2026 · 22 min
- 03DARRENSHOW #16: Gen Z at Work: Entitled or Simply Underpaid?Jun 18, 2026 · 26 min
- 04PLAN B #857: Are Run Clubs the New Social Media Status Symbol?Jun 16, 2026 · 25 min
- 05MIM #31: World Cup Tahun ini Paling S*al??Jun 15, 2026 · 27 min
- 06PLAN B #856: Are We Witnessing a New Form of Racism?Jun 12, 2026 · 23 min
- 07PLAN B #855: Is Performing the Azan in Secular Spaces Wrong?Jun 5, 2026 · 24 min
- 08DARRENSHOW #15: AI Is No Longer The Future, It Is Already Taking OverJun 4, 2026 · 25 min
Notable episodes
- 01PLAN B #858: Singapore’s Bureaucracy vs Art: Can Creativity Survive?
Features an interview with the artist behind a viral power-washing incident, exploring themes of public art, censorship, and regulation in Singapore.
- 02PLAN B #859: Behind The Glamour: The brutal reality of the legal sector
A panel discussion analyzing the high attrition rate and toxic work culture within Singapore's legal profession, a topic of significant public interest.
- 03PLAN B #856: Are We Witnessing a New Form of Racism?
Tackles the sensitive issue of modern racism by discussing divisive online narratives and anti-Indian sentiment targeting Singapore.
What you'll be asked on this show
Two hosts typically tag-team the interview. They often begin by summarizing the public story or controversy surrounding the guest, then use confirmatory questions like 'Is my interpretation accurate?' to ensure they understand the guest's perspective. The hosts are skilled at connecting a guest's specific, personal experience to broader Singaporean societal issues, such as bureaucracy or the value of art. They probe for factual specifics ('Who took action?') while also exploring the guest's mindset and future plans.
The show's format dictates its style. Panel episodes are conversational and analytical, with hosts debating topics like politics or workplace culture. Interview episodes, often co-hosted, focus on a single guest, usually a newsmaker. The channel, Plan B Media, also produces distinct shows like the solo-commentary 'DARRENSHOW' and the Malay-language 'MIM Podcast', making it a multi-show network.
Questions the host keeps coming back to
9 cataloguedIf you're going on this show as a guest, expect some version of each of these. Each note explains when the host reaches for it.
controversy
2- Q.01
“Is there space in Singapore for this kind of creativity?”
Asks to frame a specific incident within a larger national cultural debate.
- Q.02
“Who took action to wash it away?”
Seeks to establish the facts and identify key actors in a contentious event.
mindset
2- Q.01
“Is my interpretation of what you've done accurate?”
Used by the host to summarize the guest's story and confirm understanding before proceeding.
- Q.02
“Did it resonate with you that other artists have faced similar issues?”
Connects the guest's personal struggle to a wider pattern of similar events.
personal
2- Q.01
“Would you consider yourself an artist?”
Probes the guest's self-identity in relation to their work.
- Q.02
“How old are you?”
Used to gauge the guest's generational perspective and awareness of historical context.
future
1- Q.01
“Who do you think should spearhead a better approval process?”
Moves the conversation towards solutions and systemic change.
process
1- Q.01
“Are you in touch with the Arts Council?”
A practical follow-up to explore if the guest is using existing official channels.
advice
1- Q.01
“What would you say to people who think art is useless?”
A closing question designed to elicit the guest's core philosophy or message.
Signature segments
- · Focus on Singapore-centric controversies
- · Alternating between panel and interview formats
- · Connecting individual stories to national issues
- · Host sign-off by name (panel episodes)
Topics covered repeatedly
Who gets booked here
Guests are often everyday people, artists, or niche creators who have recently become the center of a public controversy or viral news story in Singapore.
- Marcuson PLAN B #858: Singapore’s Bureaucracy vs Art: Can Creativity Survive?
- Izuanon PLAN B #857: Are Run Clubs the New Social Media Status Symbol?
- Nor Syazwan Abdul Majidon PLAN B #855: Is Performing the Azan in Secular Spaces Wrong?
Where to find this show
Audience & reach
Based on evidence, the show uses product placement (e.g., Vida Salty Lychee). Sponsorships are likely aimed at a Singaporean audience interested in current affairs and local culture.
Subscriber and view counts are pulled live from YouTube and re-verified on a 30-day cycle. Listener estimates for the RSS feed aren't published here unless they're host-verified.
Pitch this show
People also ask
- What is Plan B?
- Plan B is a Singaporean current affairs podcast. It is the flagship show of Plan B Media, a network that also produces other podcasts like the Usrah Podcast and MIM Podcast.
- What is the format of the show?
- The format varies. Some episodes are panel discussions with multiple hosts analyzing news, while others are long-form interviews with guests who are often at the center of a recent news story.
- Who are the main hosts?
- The podcast features a rotating group, but key hosts include Dzar Ismail (an ex-radio DJ and co-founder of the popular OKLETSGO podcast) and Darren Mak (a writer and podcaster).
- Is this related to the Plan B Media advertising company?
- No. The podcast is produced by Plan B Media Pte Ltd, an online editorial and podcast company, not the similarly named out-of-home advertising firm.
- Is the podcast still running?
- Yes, the Plan B Media channel releases new episodes from its various shows multiple times a week.
- Where can I listen to the podcast?
- Episodes are available on the Plan B Media YouTube channel.
Built from the show's public RSS feed, YouTube, the host's own websites, and the cited sources below. Computed and AI-extracted fields are labelled. Facts only — no private info, no fabrication, no transcripts republished.
Sources & how this page was built
This page is AI-assisted, grounded in the public sources cited below, and host-verifiable. We publish facts only; we do not republish transcripts. If anything here is wrong, the host can claim and correct the page above.Model: gemini-2.5-pro · high confidence
- [01]Plan B | News and Media Information in Singaporeplanb.sg
- [02]Plan B - YouTubeyoutube.com
- [03]Dzar Ismail - Content360 Singapore 2026conferences.marketing-interactive.com
- [04]The End Of An Era, The Birth Of A Brave New Future – Darren Mak - Plan Bplanb.sg
- [05]Interview with Plan B - Lawrence Wong YouTubeyoutube.com
- [06]OKLETSGO's Dzar Ismail on Radio DJs vs. podcasters & cancel culture | #YLB 201youtube.com
- [07]Podcast hosts say sorry for misogynistic content - The Straits Timesstraitstimes.com
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