Risk-off strategies like holding cash and seeking safe havens like gold are rising in importance as conflict in the Ukraine ratchets higher in temperature. Jack Kouzi, Director for Strategy, VFS Group, expands on the issues. Image Credit: Pixabay.com

We get you out of bed, to your first cup of coffee or to your first destination of your day with thought-provoking discussions on ideas, people and events shaping all our lives.

2:01 - Are inflation expectations self-fulfilling?

8:32 - Who really benefits from work from home?

15:50 - International stories

22:28 - Local stories

Image credit: Pixabay.com

Whatever foreign talents can do, Malaysians can do too. If not, even better. That's the sentiment of Dato' Sri Vijay Eswaran, the owner of a rebirthed Petaling Jaya City Football Club with their #YaKiniLokal campaign - where ahead of the upcoming Super League, PJCFC made it a point to employ a 100% local footballers & coaching staff. The only team in the top-tier of the Malaysian league without foreign players - DSVE joins us on the program as he shares his vision and mission to bring back the glory days of local football. 

From classic tragedies to melancholy stories, there's just something about a book that can move you to tears, or evoke Big Feelings. In this episode, we discuss the craft behind writing a book that tugs at the emotions, and the pleasures of being a reader of these books, even when the experience can be difficult. And then in Footnotes, what makes the film adaptations of these books work, and when do they fall flat?

The European Union (EU) has agreed in a historic first, to jointly finance the purchase and deliveries of weapons to help Ukraine fend off the Russian invasion, following an emergency special session. We speak to ambassadors from France and Germany about this.

Image source: Seneline, Shutterstock

The Anti-Sexual Harassment Bill 2021, which has been in the works since 1990, went through its second reading yesterday. First, we hear from the Joint Action Group for Gender Equality on the current iteration of the bill. Then, we discuss the importance of making stakeholders a key part of the process when working on bills like these.

Image source: Yakobchuk Viacheslav, Shutterstock

We're back with our updates from the Dewan Rakyat, and the first day of session includes a variety of topics: The MPs discussed the ongoing floods in the East Coast, the regulation of carbon trading activities between Sabah State Government and foreign companies, the country's ranking decline in the Corruption Perceptions Index and issues surrounding the RFID technology.

Image source: Abdul Aziz B Mohamed, Shutterstock

One person living with a rare disease may feel unseen and unheard, among the minority. But collectively, the voices from the community of people with rare diseases are significant, and can make a difference. In December 2021, the first-ever UN Resolution on “Addressing the Challenges of Persons Living with a Rare Disease and their Families” was adopted, giving visibility to the rare disease community on the global policy landscape. This Rare Disease Day, we hear from two young people on how their rare condition affects their lives, presents challenges to growing up, and what kind of actions they would like to see from society to support them. In the second part of this special feature, Jaden Lim tells us about being diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency and a tumour on his pituitary gland.

Image credit: Yap Sook Yee

American born Malaysian dubbed a controversial designer Anuar Faizal, discusses his foray into fashion from accounting - and his role as National Director of Miss Charm Malaysia.

Image Credit: Anuar Faizal Official Facebook Page

In a crowded field of 16 Islamic Banks, how does one of the smallest standalone banks make waves? Arsalaan Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer of Al Rajhi Bank Malaysia tell us their strategy for growth via digital banking and are they open to an M&A? Image Credit: Al Rajhi Bank Malaysia