Creating something can be a deeply satisfying endeavour - and as a bonus, it also helps pass the time - so we talk about making art and picking up a new craft, in this episode of Try This At Home.

With much of the world currently dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting need to mostly stay at home because of it, it is a sombre time for most of us - yet, there has been a marked increase in memes, jokes, spoofs, and satire on the subject. We look at why and how humour has become such a big part of coping with the pandemic.  

If you’re a pet owner, then some of the news reports of animals testing positive for COVID-19 might have had you worried about the risks human to animal or animal to human transmission. We take a look at the current research and whether there is a need to be concerned. 

Keep the midday blues at bay by joining us for an hour-long musical trip.

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Gaussian Curve - Impossible Island

Chip Wickham - Blue to Red

Pink Floyd - Us And Them

The Beatles - Sun King

Fleetwood Mac - Albatross

Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes - Sunset

Wings - Blue Bird

Jamie XX - Sleep Sound

Neil Young - Harvest Moon

Stuck at home with nothing to do because of the Movement Control Order? Worry not, because we're here to keep the boredom at bay. Every day, we present our special curated list of arts, culture, and entertainment that you can experience right from your own home. Today, we dive into the wizarding world of Harry Potter as the first book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone is made available for all in audiobook form. Then, find out how you can watch The Nutcracker performed by Bolshoi Ballet for free, online.

The COVID-19 pandemic has placed great demands on the leadership of countries coping with the outbreak – both from the national perspective and that of the health authority. We’ve seen such varying responses from leaders like US President Donald Trump, UK’s PM Boris Johnson, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, China’s President Xi Jinping and of course, our own PM Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin who assumed the position right in the midst of the outbreak in our country. How will the right leadership steer a country through the course of this pandemic? We check in with the CEO of the Galen Centre for Health & Social Policy, Azrul Mohd Khalib.

In our country's (and the world's) current crisis, many employers are starting to worry about the future of their businesses, and many employees are worrying about job security. We take a look at the WOBB  annual Work Culture Malaysia Report, and how to attract the best talent to survive a post COVID-19 world.

How is the retail cosmetics and grooming products industry faring during the MCO? Like everyone else, not great. One such player, Hair Depot has 20 retail outlets mostly in shopping malls, all of which have to remain closed during the Movement Control Order. With business taking significant damage over the last few weeks, Jeff Yong, Group CEO of Hair Depot shares how he has now resorted to online consultation and has created new roles for his employees.

One sector that has taken a massive hit due to COVID-19 is the Events industry. By definition, events entail mass gatherings of people, which has become a sort of taboo in recent weeks. And because of that, it’s going to be a while before it goes back to “business as usual” for everyone involved in creating and organizing events. To further expand on this, we got in touch with Bryan Chin, Founder of Masses & 8gency, a digital agency that works with multiple fashion brands for events and digital campaigns. Bryan shares his thoughts on the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Movement Control Order on the events sector. 

Dr. Oh Ei Sun, Senior Fellow at the Singapore Institute of International Affairs gives us his views on the recent appointments, resignations and also dismissals of key positions in government linked agencies. He says that the moves are unsurprising as this was also the case when Pakatan Harapan came into power in 2018 and that despite the health and economic crisis we are facing, more such moves are to be expected.