Inside Story

Anarticle by The Atlantic has highlighted how parent-child relationships have transformed from old school independence-driven parenting to a more modern, bond-focused dynamic. So we asked our listeners how close they are to their parents, how this shaped their adulthood, and when the right time is to be more independent.

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Greece introduced a new employment law that establishes a six-day working week to boost economic growth, at a time when many other countries are increasingly seeing positive results from experiments with four-day working week. We ask our listeners to share their thoughts on Malaysia's current five-day working week and to imagine their ideal structure of the workweek.

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We all have a tough time breaking bad habits, whether that's smoking, doomscrolling or shopping. Some people opt to go all in, and quit cold turkey, but others prefer baby steps. So we talk about these two approaches, and ask our listeners, which side of the fence they are on when it comes to this.

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Should we be taking the fun way, or the hard way in our path to learning something new? Co-founder of OpenAI, Andrej Karpathy thinks the latter. He argues that the "shortification of learning" made popular by short form videos on social media, packaged as a way to learn while being entertained, is a "trap." Instead, he advocates that if one were serious about learning, they should seek out heavier academic content; think textbooks, manuals, documents and research papers. We dissect his argument, and whether there's merit to it, and also ask our listeners whether learning should be easy.

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Society often idolizes the concept of early success, made all the more prominent by high-profile figures like Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg or Elon Musk. However, an article by The Atlantic proposes that blossoming later in life can be equally, if not more impactful. We explore this idea, and ask our listeners about their own late-blooming experiences, and the skills that they discovered in adulthood.

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The World Health Organisation has revealed that one third of adults are not doing enough physical activity. So we get into it with our listeners, and ask them how much exercise they do, and if not, what prevents them from exercising.

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With Paramount Global pulling the plug on MTV News and it's 20-year archive, netizens are starting to worry about the internet disappearing. In fact, a study by Pew Research Centre says 38% of webpages from 2013 are have already disappeared from the web. With that, we asked listeners about how they preserve their most precious memories to withstand the test of time.

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That's exactly what an article in The Cut addressed. In short, the author asked whether they were better off forgetting things, and went on to talk about the existential differences between forgetting and remembering. This, of course, got us wondering: Which side of the fence do our listeners fall on? Is ignorance really bliss, or are there merits to having acute memory?

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In the world of penguins, pebbling is when one penguin gives a pebble to express its desire to mate and build a nest. In the human world, pebbling is when we share social media posts with our loved ones as a form of kinship or affection. So we asked our listeners if they pebble and how they share affection online.

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An article by economist Professor Geoffrey Williams about the people not choosing to pursue higher education due to it not providing them with a good return of investment has got us wondering: Is a university education worth investing in these days? We get into it with our guest Nina Adlan Disney. Then later, we hear thoughts from our listeners.

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A new survey conducted by The Credit Counselling and Management Agency has revealed that shopping addiction is one of the main reasons that young people in Malaysia are in debt. So we ask our listeners if they have a shopping problem, and then later, we speak to AKPK themselves on their findings.

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Do you know how much your MPs receive in their monthly pensions? A new special report from Malaysiakini sheds light on the substantial sums MPs earn and how their pension schemes differ from those of regular civil servants. We speak with Aidila Razak and Ooi Choon Nam from Kini News Lab about the process behind analyzing the data and developing the story.

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Are you someone that loves the hustle and bustle of a crowd, or the vibrant noises of a city coming alive? Or are you someone who prefers to live in quiet solitude, fully embracing the sound of silence? An article about the class dynamics of quietness recently went viral on X and so tonight, we brought up the question to our listeners: Do you prefer living in silence or with noise?

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Following Denmark's recall of several spicy ramen noodles from Samyang, claiming that the capsaicin levels in them could "poison consumers", we thought the time was right to talk about spice tolerance and heat. So in this episode, we hear tales of enjoyment, woe... and borderline masochism, when it comes to how much spice we (and our listeners!) like in our food.

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What defines a good life, and how can we plans our finances to support our personal and family goals? In this show, we explore the findings of the HSBC 2023 Quality of Life report, and learn about how to diversify investments for financial security. We speak to Linda Yip and Elaine Daly for expert insights and personal stories about navigating life's challenges and staying financially prepared for the future.

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Singapore has big plans to lure Malaysian tourists in, with attractions and experiences aimed to please nature lovers. So this got us thinking about tourism in general, and how Malaysia fares when it comes to attracting people to the country. So we speak to director of Check-in Asia, about exactly this. And then, we hear from our listeners about the best places they've visited.

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'Sadfishing' a relatively new term, coined by journalist Rebecca Reid in 2019, to describe a phenomenon in which a celebrity would market a product by posting something on their social media platforms that generates emotional responses from their followers. The term has since evolved outside of celebrity circles, to describe “the tendency of social media users to publish exaggerations of their emotional states to generate sympathy”. So we first look into what this behaviour entails, and how best to respond to it, with a licensed counsellor. Then, we ask our listeners about their openness to people sharing their emotions online.

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You might not know this, but back in the day, we had nature studies in Malaysian primary schools, which aimed to provide students with a basic understanding of their natural environment. An articlein Macaranga titled “Nurturing A Nature Revival” written by Surin Suksuwan, details this period in time and urges the reintroduction of this syllabus in our current education system. So we talk to Surin about where he's coming from, and how the learning of nature would push better environmental awareness among students. Then, we opened the floor to our listeners to ask them what shaped their worldview about the environment.

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It's that time again, where we contemplate the notion of heading towards becoming an ageing nation. Malaysia is expected to be an aged nation by 2043, and policymakers have been talking quite a lot about how the nation should be preparing for it. So we explore what that preparation and investment would look like, with our guest. And then later, we ask our listeners about how they see themselves in 20 years and if growing older is something they're looking forward to.

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The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry recently announced it's mission to introduce a lemon law and amend existing consumer protection laws related to defective vehicles in March next year. We speak about the best practices in it's implementation with Dr Ong Tze Chin.

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National TVET Council member, Howard Lee thinks TVET should get more media attention. He mentioned that shows like The Bear can really inspire people to explore different career paths. So tonight, we heard also heard stories from our listeners about the movies and shows that inspired their career choices.

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If you've been online lately, you might have seen the countless images and videos that have been shared on the situation in Palestine. Recently, it's been amped up by a series of attacks on Rafah, meant to be a safe zone for Palestinian families. So first, we speak to a Palestinian student living in Malaysia, about how she's coping and how people can help. And then, Benjamin Loh joins us to discuss the the role that social media activism has played in driving engagement and bringing in awareness.

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For some, the path least taken is the one that is most ideal, even if it means you live in your car to save a few bucks. We speak to Mushamir Mustapha, who has chosen to do exactly that. Then, we discuss with our listeners about the most extreme thing they have done to save money.

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MalaysiaKini recently published an article called "Our Muhibbah Story" where they included various tales of diverse friendships. So we thought we'd discuss this notion of growing up in our cultural hotpot, and the connections we make beyond creed and colour.

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An article in The Guardianbrought up the human compulsion to review, from five-star systems to 10-point ratings and how each number holds an intrinsic weight that that just makes sense. Certainly, reviews play a big role in where we choose to eat, what movies to watch and which hotels to stay at on our trips. So we opened up the question to listeners, on whether they rely on reviews, and if they leave reviews themselves.

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The results of the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) exams are out today, and this got us thinking about the notion of exams and what it means to do well in them. While SPM may be a pivotal moment for students, they are but just one way of measuring success and intelligence. So we ask our listeners what they were like in schools when it comes to exams, and dissect the ways in which we approach and gauge different kinds of intelligence.

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The concept of activism burnout received spotlight recently, in an op-ed piece written by Bersih's executive director, Ooi Kok Hin, so we thought we would have a discussion on why the people who are fighting to make the country a better place, struggle in the process. So first, we play some clips of Kok Hin's interviewwith Dashran Yohan from The Bigger Picture. Then, we hear from activist on the ground about their own experience with burnout and how they deal with it. Then, a psychologist shares their insight.

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Bumble’s founder Whitney Wolfe Herd recently spoken about the future of online dating, hinting at how digital AI-powered personas would be the one setting up our dates. Basically, we'll have AI to do the job of filtering out our dates. So this got us wondering about the modern dating landscape, and so we open up the floor for our listeners to chip in their own experiences.

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Building off a nerdy discussion we had about apostrophes, we decided to ask listeners to rate their own standard of English, and whether they prefer speaking proper English, or if they're comfortable throwing all the rules of grammar out the window.

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A deadly attack on a police station in Johor, followed by a breach of the Istana Negara, an attempt to steal arms at a Penang police station and a death threat towards Seputeh MP Teresa Kok has unsettled the nation. In the absence of information, the masses and the media quickly fall for assumptions. Tonight, we first dive into the undercurrents of violence and terrorism in Malaysia with Munira Mustaffa. Then, we speak to Benjamin Loh on the role of the media in reporting violence.

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We've been having a lot of conversations about trees lately, following the incident on May 7th, where a tree fell on the Jalan Sultan Ismail road in Kuala Lumpur, killing a man and injuring one more. Calls to hire more arborists have been made following this incident. So we thought we'd speak to one, about how arborists contribute to a safer environment. Later, we discuss the notion of including trees when urban planning.

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It's Teachers' Day today, so we're marking it with a show in tribute to them. We ask our listeners: What role have teachers played in your life, and who's your favourite teacher?

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If you're having sleeping problems, you'd be surprised to know that you're not the only one. At least according to a survey done by Malaysian mattress company, Sonno, in which it was revealed that a significant number of people suffer from bad sleep quality. So we revisit a previous conversation that Bigger Picture had, on how to sleep better. And then we hear from our listeners, on whether they have been getting their beauty sleep and if they have tips to share.

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GSC recently came out to unveil new restructuring plans to several of their major outlets, so it got us thinking about the ever-changing landscape of movie-going, especially with the streaming era upon us. Along with our listeners, we discuss the appeal of the cinema experience, what's shifted over time and what factors influence our decision to venture out for the big screen experience.

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Industrial Court chairman, Augustine Anthony, recently urged companies to avoid conducting interviews away from the office. This naturally got us looking back at the job interviews we've gone through in our lives, and how crazy some of them were. So tonight, we wanted to hear from our listeners: From the interviews that left you feeling great, to the ones that left you scratching your heads: What’s your most memorable job interview?

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A new social trend is capturing the Chinese youth, reflecting a desire to follow the path of least resistance in life. "Light living", or, "light people" are characterised by an indifference to everything that happens to them. It's been linked to the trend of lying flat which also originated on Chinese social media. We speak to Dr Anasuya on this phenomena, and what it says about finding meaning in life.

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Apple CEO, Tim Cook, shared a video of a variety of objects including musical instruments, art supplies, typewriters, paint cans, sculptures, books and an arcade game machine.. All being crushed by a hydraulic press and replaced by an iPad Pro. This got all kinds of reactions online about the war between low-tech and high-tech - so of course, we had to ask our listeners whether low-tech is still a part of their lives, or if there is low-tech that they miss.

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A recent report from talent agency Randstadt found that more than half of Malaysians are eager to quit their jobs if their working hours increased. Notably, this is 17% higher than the global average. So tonight, we dive into the hot topic of flexible work arrangements. First, we hear from Morning Run's interview with Deepa George, Managing Consultant at MYHRC Services, before we ask listeners: how much flexibility do you have in your working arrangements?

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STEM Educator, Kenneth Chai recently went viral on X for sharing how he had knowlingly let his child forget his assignment at home to teach him a lesson about consequences. This prompted a heated debate which got the whole online world invested. So we opened up the conversation with our listeners: Should we allow our children to make mistakes to learn from them, or is there more to consider?

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The Malaysian Research Institute of Ageing has highlighted the potential of viewing older people as assets, instead of liabilities, in light of research that reveals up to 60% of Malaysian elderly population still actively contribute to society. We dive into this suggestion with Dr Molly Cheah Bee Li, the President of the Gerontological Association of Malaysia to how we can go about appreciating our elders.

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The Labour Day March that happened earlier this week highlighted a number of concerns people have, primarily underemployment, which leads us to the wonder about people who take on more than one job. So we first hear from folks who wear more than one hat, and then later on, we hear from our listeners about their experiences.

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The term 'eldest daughter syndrome' has been going viral on Tiktok for some time now - basically describing the notion that eldest daughters have unique responsibilities and pressures that shape their adulthood. So we get into this, but also widen it to talk about family dynamics, and the way our birth order can end up shaping us. Lots of funny and bittersweet family stories await!

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The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission has reminded parents to make sure their children below the age of 13 do not own any social media. Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil explained that the commission found it was not appropriate for children under this age to have accounts. Now this brings up the question of how parents should actually think about managing their children's exposure to the internet.

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An American professor made headlines recently when he was invited to speak at University Malaya, in his talk titled “Will Malaysia Become an Active Middle Power” but was heavily criticised after he purportedly claimed that Malaysia had pushed for a “second Holocaust against the Jewish people”. This brought to light conversations around academic freedom. So we hear from academics as well as students about this, and then ask our listeners whether they think universities should be a space for difficult conversations.

Voices we heard from:

1. Dr Munirah Alatas, Independent Scholar & Deputy Chair of the Malaysian Academic Movement (GERAK)

2. Dr Zaid Omar, Associate Professor from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and Former Director of Students at the Ministry of Higher Education

3. Abqari Annuar, President of Suarasiswa UM

4. Raja Arif Raja Afifuddin, Speaker of Kesatuan Mahasiswa UKM

5. Brendon Gan, Assistant Coordinator of Demokrat UKM

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Tonight, we're talking about the lessons that we gain from reading, especially as children. This is following the statement by Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil, who said children need to be exposed to the culture of reading, especially books showcasing the diversity of races and religions in this country. So we talk about how books build our psyche and empathy, with Jason Pandya-Wood. Then, we hear from our listeners about their experience reading in their early years, and their favourite books.

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With the announcement of EPF's restructuring scheme comes the introduction of Account 3, or what EPF dubs the 'Flexible' account. We speak to a financial advisor about what we potentially gain and lose from this scheme, then hear from our listeners on whether they're looking forward to it.

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Recently, there have been calls from the Consumers Association of Penang to do away with 24-hour eateries in the name of public health. They cited obesity, diabetes, oral health as the effct of 24-hour availability of sugary snacks and drinks. Are 24-hour eateries, or is the issue more complex, involving broader lifestyle factors? Tonight, two debaters go toe-to-toe, or rather, head-to-head to discuss this very proposition.

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An article from National Geographic has pointed out how "urgency culture" — where people feel the need to respond to everything and everyone — might lead to burnout. So we discuss with our listeners whether they belong in this category, be it in their work or personal lives.

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With the Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli affirming that the government is moving ahead with a gradual targeted subsidy approach for petrol, we discuss how this is going to affect the rakyat, and hear from listeners too.

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Was 9/11 an inside job? Is there a shadow government controlling the world? Are birds real? We speak to Dr Ricky Green from the CONSPIRACY_FX Lab at the University of Kent, on the psychological underpinnings of conspiracies and the consequences of believing them.

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Headlines of bullying cases in schools have been a constant, and the effect does not end when one graduates school, but carries on until one is an adult. So we explore the idea of bullying, both in school and adulthood and why it happens.

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Amidst the ongoing genocide of Palestinians in Gaza by Israeli forces, we sought to understand and reflect on the narratives surrounding this human rights issue. We speak to Sholto Byrnes for his observations on the Middle East, as well as the attitudes of the Global North on the narratives and beliefs that are taking hold in the region, and the complex realities behind the issue.

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Online shopping seems to be all the rage now, what with the deals and promotions people are able to get with them. It's not all sunshine for everyone though, as an article from MalayMail highlighted concerns from Aidilfitri bazaar sellers, who shared stories of plummeting sales as people are finding it easier to buy items online. So we discuss why online shopping is such a popular choice, and why for some, shopping for products is better when you do it in person.

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Our performance in the South East Asian (SEA) Games and Asian Games has been the subject of discussion lately, as Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh talking about how she's trying to increase accessibility to sports facilities, and that medals are an oversimplification of our sports development. We talk about how we measure our sports development, and how to encourage sports as a culture in Malaysia.

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The end of Ramadhan means it's time for Muslims around the world to celebrate, and an integral part of that celebration involves food. So in Malaysia, we have the classic main dishes: Rendang, ketupat and lemang. And when it comes to desserts, treats like Almond London and semperit come to mind. So we explore the origins and significance of these food, with Nadge Ariffin. Then, we speak to Marina Mustafa about the culture of preparing Raya dishes at home.

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A conglomeration of civil groups and a media outlet have launched the #MZB365 campaign to foster national reconciliation. This is amid recent religious tensions following on the KK Mart controversy. We speak to a rep from the campaign, and later, we discuss the culture of forgiveness, and what it actually means when translated into actionable measures.

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Tonight, we're bringing you a festive Hari Raya show about the nuances and intricacies behind the culture of Baju Melayu. Together with Kerol Izwan, we cover the differences between today’s mass-produced Baju Melayu and its more traditional counterparts, what to lookout for when purchasing a Baju Melayu, as well as the modern expressions of this iconic attire.

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Last month, home minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail shared that he was agreeable to the idea of regulating streaming platforms like Netflix, following a concern from a PAS MP of platforms that broadcasted Islamophobic content, and shows protraying LGBTQ relationships. There's been some pushback from creators and creatives in the industry, so we get into what it would mean for streaming platforms to be regulated, especially in the digital world, and how it would stifle creative expression.

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Bouncing off an article from the Telegraph (but frankly, also the hundreds of other articles that have been written) deeming Gen Z the most selfish generation to work with, we ask listeners what they think about this, and what their experiences have been when it comes to either working with, or being, Gen Z in offices!

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Entrepreneur and influencer Dato Aliff Shukri Kamarzaman is under fire for posting a teaser clip of his latest Aidilfitri song, Love Raya; which many have deemed inappropriate. The video depicted him with 8 male dancers in costumes, gyrating and preening at the camera. Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil has requested MCMC to take action, and called for content creators to create "appropriate content for all ages." We get into the question of accountability when it comes to consuming online content, and whether the onus is on the creator, the government or the self.

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Yesterday was April Fools, a day where pranksters prey on both suspecting and unsuspecting victims. This year, we witnessed both the "death" of musician Namewee, and the "tyranny" of the Editor-In-Chief of media and news company, CILISOS. We ask our listeners whether they love or hate pranks, and share some of the most iconic pranks we remember throughout the years.

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Despite the government's efforts to promote STEM education among students, are dwindling PISA scores and waning student interest signs that our approach needs to be re-evaluated? Tonight, we speak with Kenneth Chai about the myriad challenges that Malaysia encounters in advocating for a STEM future and how we can re-think our approach for the new age. Plus, we invite our listeners to look back on their own experiences in STEM, and whether they enjoyed it or not.

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Tonight, we're bringing coffee to your airwaves, as we dive into everything there is to know about coffee. We first speak to Dr Eric Olmedo, on his adventures in coffee culture and how coffee is a cup of emotion encapsulated by rituals and flavour. On the business side of things, we speak to Kenneth Ong, about how the coffee industry navigates changing trends and consumer preferences to stay competitive and innovative.

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It's the very first episode of our new debate series, in which two debaters get into a topic, live on air. We're kicking of the show with the topic: Are boycotts an effective tool for people to influence political or social change? For this, we'll be hearing from two debaters, Muhyuddin Ahsan and Lee Yan Cheng. This show is in collaboration with Malaysian Institute For Debate and Public Speaking. You can find them on their website, Instagram, Facebook and X.

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Headlines have been awash with the KK Mart controvesy, with the latest being that a branch in Bidor, Perak, was targeted by a failed Molotov cocktail, even as charges have also been levied against KK Mart's founder, and director respectively. As the news continues highlighting this issue, we play some clips from Khairy Jamaluddin and Shahril Hamdan's Keluar Sekejap episode, and ask our listeners how to de-escalate tensions, and discuss how we can build bridges in a multicultural society.

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Malaysia holds a significant position as a transnational hub for various networks, including those with extremist ideologies. Against the backdrop of distressing events like the ongoing Gaza conflict, concerns about radicalization loom large. Tonight, we are joined by Aizat Shamsuddin, who sheds light on the intricate processes of radicalization, and the challenges that remain in rehabiliting radicals towards a better future..

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A pink-and-white luggage bag filled with over RM500,000 in cash was found by a security guard at a parking lot in Damansara Mall. He handed it in to the police, but that got us thinking: Would we do the same? If you found a bag with half a million ringgit in it, would you take it for yourself, or hand it in? We opened it up to listeners, and unsurprisingly got very interesting answers, before our guest, Dr Anasuya Jegathevi Jegathesan joined us to further unpack this ethical and moral quandary.

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Arguing with one another may not pleasant, but it remains an inevitable part of life. We might not see eye to eye on some matters, but it's important to stay respectful and lay your perspectives in a constructive way. Tonight, we hear from our listeners about how to approach arguments with respect, empathy and willingness to understand the other side of the coin.

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With the current controversy of KK Mart selling inappropriate socks, two individuals were doxxed following uproar and discontent from certain communities. We hear from human rights lawyer, Latheefa Koya on where the gaps are in our enforcement of doxxing threats, and what we can do to protect ourselves from such threats. Then, we ask our listeners whether doxxing is acceptable, and whether the fear of being doxxed stops them from voicing out their opinions online.

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Four years ago, the world went quiet in the face of the global pandemic COVID-19. Malaysia announed its first lockdown on the 18th of March. We reflect back on how the pandemic has changed us, for good of for bad.

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In August 2023, a team of 11 researchers from USM began surveying a 1,200-year-old Buddhist stupa at Bukit Choras in the Bujang Valley of northwest Kedah, which has uncovered new evidence of the region's role as a thriving multicultral trading hub. We speak to Nasha Rodziadi Khaw, who is leading research efforts into the Bukit Choras archeological site in the Bujang Valley of Kedah, and what these sites show about our ancient past.

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The dating landscape has seen significant changes, with shifting gender dynamics, technology and social media playing an increasingly important role in how we form and maintain romantic relationships. So first, we speak to Dr Martha Tara Lee on what modern dating encompasses, and how it differs from traditional dating. Then, we hear from our listeners about the biggest lessons they've learned about love.

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Malaysia has received a formal invitation to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games. The invitations comes after the Australian state of Victoria cancelled its hosting plans due to soaring costs. We looked back at an episode on Bar None where Daryl spoke with Haresh Deol on the question of whether Malaysia should host the games and the key considerations that must be taken into account.

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We take a trip down memory lane tonight by going all the way back to the 1990s, exploring key events and how it's shaped the country as it is now. So first we explore this subject with Hafiz Noor Shams, author of The End of The Ninety Nineties. Then later, we hear from our listeners about how they remember this period.

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According to a survey by non-profit neuroscience research organisation Sapien Labs, Malaysia is the 5th happiest country in the world. We spoke to Dr Lim Hooi Shan to understand whether this is reflective of our mental health trends in the country and the variables we use to determine individual happiness. Our listeners also chip in with their thoughts on whether we are considered happy, as a nation.

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The international world order has historically been dominated by Western nations, but recent years have witnessed a significant shift as non-Western powers, particularly those in the Global South, have gained prominence. Such discussions have been increasingly prominent at international conferences such as the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi. We interview Julia Roknifard, on the dialogues that have taken place at the conference and the importance of multilateralism as a platform for Global South nations.

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It's International Women's Day, and we're marking it by speaking to activists who have been furthering the rights of women in Malaysia. First, Judith Loh-Koh, who is the chairman of the White Ribbon Campaign, as well as former honourary secretary and former president of AWAM, speaks about her decades-long work and activism in women's rights. And then we speak with Dr. Easwary Hari Ramulu about what SAWO Sabah does.

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Whether you're married, engaged, or just starting to get serious, money is an important conversation to bring up in any relationship. Tonight, we look back at an episode of Ringgit & Sense, where Annie Hor talks us through how communication can help couples achieve financial compatibility. We also ask listeners: How do you talk about money in your relationship?

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International Women's Day is around the corner, and so tonight, we're shining the spotlight on women in the arts. Join us as we hear from two remarkable artists: Pamela Tan, a versatile multidisciplinary artist, and Jasmine Suraya, an accomplished actress, as they share insights into their work within their respective fields.

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The recent station takeover of the TRX MRT station by Samsung had us wondering about the impact of advertisements in our daily lives. After all, they appear everywhere we go: on our devices, on our roads, in our books and magazines. But the effects of this saturation are everywhere too, for both brands, and their audiences. People get more easily fatigued (or apathetic), brands have to fight for every scrap of attention in a crowded landscape... so what does it take for ads to work, and to achieve cultural resonance? We discuss it with our guest, Alvin Teoh, and then open it up to listeners to weigh in.

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A recent survey conducted by Business Financing, an independent website in the UK, has ranked KLIA as the 8th worst airport in Asia. This is an opinion we've seen from both local and international travellers, who have criticised KLIA's airport design, particularly the long queues, extensive walks between terminals and inadequate facilities. So we open up the floor to our listeners to share what they perceive to be the best and worst airport they've been to.

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Online scams have been a hot topic lately, with accounts of scammers finding new ways to target victims; Duping people by using personal information, manipulating them by romancing you (shown in stories of love scams).The government is ramping up efforts and new policies to protect the public and the folks at Kini News Lab have joined efforts to educate the public on online scams with their new game.So we speak to Aidila Razak, the project coordinator of the game, on how they developed it. Later, we speak to a psychologist about how scammers manipulate and find people's vulnerabilities.

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Kota Damansara ADUN Muhammad Izuan Ahmad Kasim has suggested the use of influencers in publicising government programmes among the younger generation. This brings on the question of how the government can communicate better with the public, especially with younger citizens. We talk about disseminating information better, especially in this online age, with Cheska Tatiana.

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It's been at the cornerstone of every conversation about the economy for a year (and more) now - the decline of the ringgit against the dollar. So in this show, we try to clarify what exactly is going on here, and get into some suggested solutions. And of course, because there've been many attempts to play the blame game about who is ultimately responsible for this, we discuss the political ramifications of this as well.

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There've been many documentaries and articles about the 'lying flat' and 'let it rot' phenomenon in China, in which the younger generation is rejecting long working hours and the constant hustle, and opting instead to live within their means and not strive for more. There are many economic and structural problems behind this issue, but it also seems to be representing a larger cultural shift. And that had us considering how we think about ambition, and the ways that it can shift over time, and through generations. So we explored that, and asked listeners a simple question: are you ambitious? We also hear clips from China’s Slacker Youths: Why They Went From 'Lying Flat' To 'Let It Rot' and Why Youth Unemployment Is Surging In China.

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For some, work lunches are an opportunity to network and connect with your fellow colleagues, but tor others, the work lunch offers a respite from the pressures of the office; That's why some have voiced out their dislike of being invited to one. We speak to Sim Ling Ku, HR influencer, about this trend, and whether being social at work is a thing of the past. Then, we ask our listeners where they stand on work lunches and social events in the workplace.

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Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil has announced that the long awaited Malaysian Media Council bill is expected to be tabled in Parliament, this coming June. This is coming on the same week that the government launched the updated version of the media ethics code, which received strong pushback from media activist groups for concerns that it would curb media freedom. So first, we discuss the significance of this bill being tabled, and the discussions that led up to it. Then, we speak to independent journalist Zan Azlee, on how these reforms would impact journalism.

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Bestselling author Robin Sharma dives into his upcoming book, The Wealth Money Can't Buy and how changing our age-old perception of wealth is the key to achieving a state of happiness and satisfaction in life. Then, inspired by his journey, we ask you: What's the best advice you've ever gotten that helped you grow and become your best self?

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Last Valentine's Day, Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tsin doubled-down on his call for Malaysian-Chinese population to get married and have babies to counter declining birth rates within the community - but we don't think it's that simple. We speak to Dr. Anasuya on the many factors that lead different people to choose a child-free life, while our listeners chime in with their takes on raising a child in our modern world.

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Department of Statistics Malaysia has reported that most Malaysians in Singapore and Brunei are part of the semi-skilled and skilled workforce. Joelle Pang joins us to talk about what makes Malaysian feel compelled to make the decision to seek jobs abroad. Then, our listeners chime in with their own experiences and opinions about working far from home.

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If you've been around X lately, you might have seen a postgoing viral, of a ranking of 175 malls in the Greater Klang Valley, from best to worst malls. So we discuss what makes a mall top of the list, and what makes them 'dead' to people. Our listeners also chime in with their favourite and least favourite malls.

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Recently, there have been calls from a number of leaders (from the Agong and other Malay rulers, to the Prime Minister), for a cooling down on political polemic - and it isn't the first time that this has been said. Yet, the problem persists, as politicians across the spectrum continue to say, do, and post incendiary things. So what are some potential solutions here? And how does it affect us all when the political climate is toxic? We examine this with our guest Wong Chin Huat, a founding member Project Stability and Accountability for Malaysia and Professor of Political Science at Sunway University.

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A not-so-scientific survey by Insider Monkey has recently ranked Malaysia as the second-friendliest country in Asia. We speak to Nigel Wong, president of the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents about what being friendly really means and if Malaysians are really all smiles - and then we open up our phone lines to ask listeners that very same question!

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Emmanuel Samarathisa, journalist and founder of The Malaysianist steps into the studio to talk about the many issues that he's uncovered as an independent journalist. We talk about the interplay between money and power that underscore some recent headlines: Taib Mahmud, the LTAT (Armed Forces Fund Board), Puspakom and Robert Tan, the eponymous 'Casio King'.

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We commemorate this year's World Radio Day by talking about whether radio's brilliant century is reaching its end, or whether it's heading for radical transformation. James Cridland joins us to talk about the challenges and possibilities of this medium, and later, we speak to Kean Wong about his experiences in the radio industry.

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Building on our conversations this week about family roles and the highs and lows of festive gatherings, we're delving deeper into the anxieties some families experience during reunions. We talk to David Hong, family therapist and founder of the Andolfi Family Therapy Centre. He offers his insights on respect as a two-way street, how unresolved issues can ripple down and affect future generations and how reunions of the potential for healing and strengthening of bonds.

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With Chinese New Year just around the corner, we revisit an interview from 2020 about the myths and traditions involved with the festival, and then open up our phone lines to talk about festive periods as a whole! From food and family, to traffic and noise, we talk about both our favourite, and least favourite, elements of festive celebrations in Malaysia.

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Klang has been declared a royal city, and following right after that news, an analogy of Klang being akin to Columbia has cropped up online, after a recent case of robbery went viral. This goes hand in hand with the perception that Klang is host to the highest crime rate in Malaysia (despite both Gombak and PJ pipping it to the post). So in this episode, we discuss what it means for Klang to have these two very contrasting reputations, and ask Klangites to tell us their favourite spots! We also revisit other conversations we've had on the station about Klang, including Datuk Stewart Labrooy, Chairman of the AREA Group of Companies on his love for the city, and Cha Ly Koh, CEO and Founder of Urbanmetry about the importance of building up infrastructure in Klang to elevate the community.

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Datuk Dr Ooi Kee Beng, executive director of the Penang Institute and author of "Signal in the Noise" has spent three decades studying Malaysia, nation-building, and political philosophy. We embark on a wide-ranging conversation with him on his observations of Malaysian history, politics, culture, and where the country and it's people are headed.

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