Being Human

Eating disorders have traditionally been understood through research and diagnostic frameworks developed largely in Western contexts.

But how well do these frameworks account for the ways eating disorders are experienced across different cultures?

In this episode of Being Human, Dr. Chua Sook Ning speaks with clinical psychologist Dr. Amy Talbot, Director of The Talbot Centre in Sydney, about eating disorders, culture and the importance of representation in mental healthcare.

Drawing on conversations that began at the 2026 ANZAED Conference, they explore how cultural beliefs and experiences can shape our relationship with food and our bodies, and why some experiences might go unrecognised in clinical settings.

They also discuss the importance of lived experience, what meaningful representation looks like in research and treatment, and how clinicians and mental health services can become more culturally responsive to the people they work with.

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To learn more about Relate Malaysia and our work, visit www.relate.com.my

In this episode of Being Human, Dr. Chua Sook Ning speaks with Dr. Lindsay Sheehan and Santee Blakey from the Illinois Institute of Technology about Honest, Open, & Proud - a peer-led programme supporting people to make thoughtful decisions about mental health disclosure.

Drawing on Lindsay’s work in counselling, rehabilitation science, and health disparities research, alongside Santee’s experience in community engagement, advocacy, and HOP facilitation, the conversation explores how stigma works both publicly and internally.

Together, they discuss what makes HOP’s approach to disclosure distinctive, why empowered choice sits at the centre of the programme, and how conversations about openness, safety, and mental health stigma may translate across different cultural contexts, including Southeast Asia.

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To learn more about Relate Malaysia and its services, visit www.relate.com.my

Dr. Chua Sook Ning sits down with Dr. Rayner Tan to explore the Honest, Open, Proud (HOP) initiative, a peer-led programme designed to support thoughtful decisions around disclosing stigmatised experiences.

While the conversation begins with HOP in mind, it unfolds in a more personal and reflective direction.

Dr. Rayner speaks candidly about his own experiences of openness, and the tensions that can come with sharing aspects of one’s life in public or professional spaces, while Dr. Chua, in turn, reflects on moments from her own journey, offering a perspective shaped by both clinical work and lived experience.

Together, they consider what it means to disclose, when it feels right to do so, and what it can cost. The discussion touches on the risks, the responsibilities, and the broader social context in which these decisions are made, including the role of public understanding in shaping how people are received.

To find out more about HOP, visit: https://hopprogram.org

In this episode of Being Human, Dr. Chua Sook Ning speaks with Dr. Rys Farthing, a policy expert whose work examines children’s rights in digital environments.

Drawing on Rys’s research across academia and policy, including her work with the 5Rights Foundation and Fairplay, the conversation moves beyond screen-time debates to consider how technology, regulation, and power shape young people’s wellbeing.

Together, they explore what a child rights-based approach adds to mental health conversations, where protective policies can miss the mark, and what meaningful safety and empowerment for young people online might actually involve.

To learn more about Relate Malaysia's work and services, visit www.relate.com.my

In this episode of Being Human, Dr. Chua Sook Ning sits down with Dr. Gemma Sharp, clinical psychologist and founding director of the Consortium for Research in Eating Disorders, known as CoRe-ED, an international initiative that brings together researchers, clinicians, and people with lived experience.

Together, they explore the complex ways in which appearance, self-worth, and life transitions intertwine, and how these can shape mental health.

They also discuss the work of CoRe-ED, a global consortium uniting researchers, clinicians, people with lived experience, and allies, to create more inclusive and effective responses to eating disorders.

The conversation also highlights digital innovations such as chatbots and mobile apps, weighing the opportunities and risks of AI in healthcare.

To learn more about Dr. Gemma’s work with CoRe-ED, visit www.core-ed.com.au

In this episode of Being Human, Dr. Chua Sook Ning speaks with Dr. Scott Miller, founder of the International Centre for Clinical Excellence and a leading voice in behavioural health services.

They discuss the concept of deliberate practise in psychotherapy and its powerful role in improving therapeutic effectiveness. Scott shares insights from his extensive research, challenging the belief that experience alone leads to better outcomes, and explains how deliberate practise offers a structured path for clinicians to refine their skills.

To learn more about Relate Malaysia and our work visit www.relate.com.my

In this episode of Being Human, Dr. Chua Sook Ning is joined by Dr. Lou Cooper, Chair of the Australian Institute of Emotion Focused Therapy and host of the Emotion Focused Podcast.

Navigating our emotional world is rarely straightforward. Lou shares how the way we respond to feelings – whether by suppressing, managing, or exploring them – is shaped not only by our personal histories, but also by our cultural context.

The conversation highlights how easily we can bypass emotional signals, especially in cultures where emotional expression is discouraged or misunderstood.

Lou also invites us to consider what happens when we ignore or avoid our emotions: we lose access to vital information about how we’re really doing, what matters to us, and what we might need to change.

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To learn more about Relate Malaysia and its services visit www.relate.com.my

In this episode of Being Human, counsellor and author Sandy Clarke speaks with psychotherapist and author Ben Yalom about Hour of the Heart, a book co-authored with his father, Dr. Irvin Yalom – renowned existential psychotherapist and professor emeritus of psychiatry at Stanford University.

They discuss core themes from the book, including the transformative power of genuine therapist-client relationships, the nuanced role of therapist self-disclosure, and the necessity of authenticity and vulnerability in the work between therapists and their clients.

Whether you're an experienced therapist or just starting out, this illuminating conversation shines a light on the most fundamental qualities of meaningful therapy.

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To learn more about Relate Malaysia and our services visit www.relate.com.my

In this special episode of Being Human, we’re featuring a short talk by Dr. Eugene Tee, an emotions researcher, educator, and author.

Originally delivered as a TEDx presentation aimed at Gen Z, this talk explores the power of character strengths – how recognising and cultivating the qualities within us can lead to a richer, more meaningful life.

While the original context was for a younger audience, the principles of character strengths are universal, offering valuable insights for anyone looking to better understand themselves and their potential.

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To learn more about Relate Malaysia and our services, visit www.relate.com.my

In this episode of Being Human, we welcome back Dr. John Wilson, who joins licensed counsellor and mindfulness author Sandy Clarke to explore how our understanding of grief and bereavement has evolved over time.

From Freud’s early theories to the widely known – but often misunderstood – stages of grief, Dr. Wilson discusses how contemporary approaches in bereavement counselling offer more flexible, personalised ways of supporting those in mourning.

The conversation also explores the balance between personal grief and cultural expectations, addressing the challenges people face when navigating loss in a way that feels authentic while honouring tradition.

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To learn more about Relate Malaysia and our services, visit www.relate.com.my