BFM :: The Bigger Picture

According to author and philanthropy advisor Jenny Santi, humans are wired to give to those in need, as it activates the same pleasure centers of the brain that are stimulated by food, sex and drugs. Jenny’s new book “The Giving Way to Happiness: Stories and Science Behind the Life-Changing Power of Giving” expounds on this finding as well as how some of the world’s most generous philanthropists are giving away their money.

Dr Quinton Morris is not only a musician but a motivational speaker, music educator and film actor.  He is touring the world not only talking to young people about music and running masterclasses, but is in the process of making a documentary about this travel to spread the gospel of music in education. His film ‘Breakthrough’ deals with an 18th-century black classical music composer--Joseph Bologne, also known as Chevalier de Saint-Georges--a contemporary of Mozart.

Performances by the Singapore Dance Theatre, under the rubric, ‘Ballet Illuminations’, is now part of a regular annual offering on klpac’s and penangpac’s stages. In the interview the artistic director will tell what dances will be performed but underscore the contributions of the late dancer-and-choreographer, Singaporean Choo San Goh, to the world’s stage.

The eighth annual World Autism Awareness Day is April 2nd, 2016 but some countries also observe autism awareness for the whole month. Find out what it's like to live with a developmental disability and where you can find support, intervention and treatment with Consultant Developmental Paediatrician, Dr Rajini Sarvananthan.

To learn more about autism, check out ANDI Initiative. Part Two of the show presents a parent’s perspective on caring for a child with autism.

Training for Warriors is a US-based physical strength and mental development programme developed from the strength and conditioning programmes used by top combat athletes. We speak to the man behind Malaysia’s first TFW dojo, and what inspired his mission to introduce the programme to the country.

Calling himself “The First Piper”, Ross O’Connell Jennings is on a mission to play his musical instrument in every country in the world. He tells us not only the Why, but also stories that he has collected on his journey, including the responses of animals to the sound of the bagpipe.  Malaysia is his 46th country on his tour.

A couple of rainy days ago, the artist Latiff Mohidin made time to share with us his thoughts on why he creates--both in his paintings and his sculptures. He gives insights into his concerns and provides some ways into understanding his art, how he creates  although he prefers that his art be not mediated either by the artist himself or critics. He is holding his first solo sculpture-exhibition, curated by TK Sabapathy a renowned art historian from the National University of Singapore.

To hear more about Latiff Mohidin's work, listen to the podcast here of our previous interview with TK Sabapathy.

On March 21th, a six-person jury awarded Hulk Hogan, the stage name of retired professional wrestler Terry Bollea, $140 million in civil damages for a sex tape that gossip website Gawker published in 2012. In doing so, the jury believed that Hulk Hogan’s privacy was violated as the tape was made and distributed without his permission. How far can public interest encroach into privacy rights? Lawyer Foong Cheng Leong explains how such a case would play out in a Malaysian court.

The classically trained singer has for a while made Kuala Lumpur her base; and while here, she has hooked up with the likes of other expat musicians and making music together. They tell why KL is an attractive place to be to create new music.

Your tongue helps with tasting, swallowing, chewing and talking. Many of us have probably been told that the tongue is the strongest muscle in the body. Nonetheless, the tongue is prone to several diseases that could interfere with its functions. Consultant ENT Specialist Dr Lim Wye Keat has the details.