About That. (with Marga Ortigas)

An insightful and wide-ranging conversation with Epigram Award winning author of "The Accidental Malay", Karina Robles Bahrin, on everything from creating while running a business to 'Own Voices' narratives, writing in a second language, and being multi-racial in Asia. You won't want to miss this one!

After decades of working with one of the largest global news companies in the world, Guatemala-born journalist, Harris Whitbeck, boldly tells his own story in a new memoir. 

He speaks to me from his home about death squads, dictators, and growing up gay in Latin America in the late 20th century. We also explore what its like to work in warzones, how using gadgets affects a story's impact on storytellers, and what he's learned about handling creative blocks.

Disclaimer: Some colourful content, which is not meant as an endorsement of narcotics or psychedelics.

The Brontes, The Moriartys, and also The Serings. But besides their individual achievements as authors and writers, sisters Tweet & Tara Sering together penned the hit show "K-Love" for VIU, Asia's leading streaming service. It instantly became a hit with viewers. 

With the success of their first -- joint -- screenwriting endeavour, Tweet & Tara join me to talk about the joys and challenges of working with a sibling, the many different ways creative projects come to be, and believing in the power of dreams.

This is the first episode of a new season spotlighting STORYTELLERS.

Catch up with Gen-Xers Marga (the journalist), Karla (the chef), & Tanya (the film producer), a year after they were first "community quarantined" in pandemic-stricken Manila. The city has been under the longest and most militarised 'lockdown' in the world.

Our hosts talk coping, keeping busy, and staying hopeful - as they say farewell to Karla who is off on a new adventure.

How do we move past an increasingly polarised world to create a common identity? Or are we doomed to always draw lines between US...and THEM?

Back on the podcast is special guest Nik de Ynchausti.

Music: Homestead, by Kai Engel

Boomers, Gen-Xers, Gen Y, Millennials, Gen Z...each generation had its share of challenges, but it can be argued that none more so than today's children. Health crises, wars, violence, environmental catastrophes, and above all global warming - they're in line to inherit a world with an expiry date.

On this episode, we speak to Bhanu Bhatnagar from Save the Children International. Why aren't the Grown-Ups doing more for the world's children?

It's the 21st century and women in positions of power are still a rarity in many places. Even the country feted as the most powerful in the world has yet to see a female president. We talk gender and politics with a female (minority) senator from an Asian country overrun with macho, populist leaders and strongmen.

SPECIAL GUEST: Philippine senator Risa Hontiveros

News clips from : Euronews, ABS-CBN, Vice

Music by Scott Holmes

The ins and outs of the Southeast Asian meth trade. Who are the key players? What's politics got to do with it? And how successful is the so-called "war on drugs"?

We speak with journalist Patrick Winn, author of "Hello Shadowlands: Inside the Meth Fiefdoms, Rebel Hideouts and Bomb-Scarred Party Towns of Southeast Asia."

Visit us on: www.patreon.com/aboutthatthepodcast

Twitter: @margaortigas

A former journalist from a country that no longer exists talks to us about oppressive regimes, freedom of the press, and the changing face of democracy.

.

Neven Andjelic left his native Sarajevo when the communist republic of Yugoslavia was splintering. He sought asylum in the UK and is now a leading lecturer on International Relations and Human Rights. I catch him in Croatia.

Newsclip from Radio Free Europe

Music: "Paper Lanterns in the Dusk" by springtide

With special guest, Nik de Ynchausti.

Why are autocrats & the far right rewriting the past? How powerful a tool is social media in this exercise? In the democratized world of information, are we seeing the demise of "objective facts"? And yes, we talk about the Marcoses and their creative view of Philippine history.

EPISODE MUSIC: "Over Midnight" by Lobo Loco.