In a world where we’re constantly told to study harder, work longer hours, and earn more money, do we still have time to play? Is play just for children, or is it important no matter how old you are? We dive into a playful conversation with consultant clinical psychologist Paul Jambunathan about the benefits of play on mental health, and how to play more.

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Everyone can experience loneliness at any age - for older adults, it’s been said that they are often at higher risk of experiencing loneliness and social isolation. On this episode of Healthy Ageing, we dive into how loneliness could affect older adults’ physical and mental health, and what we can do as a community to better support the older adults we know. To do that, my guest is licensed counsellor Heeran Kaur.

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We’ve heard about “superbugs” - bacteria that are resistant to multiple types of antibiotics that were previously effective in treating infections. It is estimated that superbugs will kill about 10 million people each year, because of multi-drug resistance. But have you heard of something even deadlier than bacteria, yet could save us? These are bacteriophages, or phages, which target and destroy bacteria, including antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Dr Tobi Nagel, Founder and President, Phages for Global Health, tells us more about how phages could help us in this fight against antibiotic resistance, and what efforts are needed to ensure that phage therapy is accessible to low- and middle-income countries.

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Recently, the Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh said that Malaysia is looking to increase the number of sports psychologists to prepare athletes for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles. What role do sports psychologists play in supporting the mental health of elite athletes, while promoting their performance? And with only seven in-house sports psychologists in the National Sports Institute (ISN), what will it take to train more professionals to meet the needs of our national athletes? We speak to senior psychology lecturer Alexius Cheang, who is the former head of the Sports Psychology Centre in ISN.

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On this month’s Ask A Doctor, we are addressing questions about weight loss, including how much to lose, how to go about it, and how do you know whether you really need to lose weight? Joining us to answer the questions are Professor Dr Rohana Abdul Ghani, Consultant Endocrinologist, Universiti Teknologi Mara & President, Malaysian Obesity Society, and Dr Arvin Raj, Consultant Sports Medicine Physician.

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The reports about medical insurance premiums rising between 40 to 70 percent next year has gotten many Malaysians incensed and worried about whether they can still afford medical insurance. What could this mean for Malaysians’ access to healthcare? How will this also impact public healthcare services? We speak to Dr Nirmala Bhoo Pathy, Professor of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya to find out.

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If Senator Robert F. Kennedy Jr becomes the United States’ Secretary of Health and Human Services, America will have a health leader who is a science and public health skeptic. This possible scenario is a glimpse into how political priorities and decisions can have interesting - and potentially nightmarish - implications on public health policies and decisions, with consequences on healthcare funding, the control of infectious diseases, and preventative care. We take a broader look at how politics intersect with health, and what is the right balance to strike when it comes to politicking and policymaking.

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When she was growing up, Insyira never thought her vision problems were a disability. But when she was 17, she was told that her impairment precluded her from being able to apply for a driver’s license. She was shattered, as it dashed her dream of being able to drive and support her visually-impaired parents and younger siblings. From having to shoulder adult responsibilities at a young age, to facing discriminatory attitudes by employers, Insyira has been dealt multiple challenges as a person with a hidden disability. She shares her story on Because Feelings Matter.

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As we march towards the end of 2024 and you reflect on the past year, how much do you have to be grateful for? On this episode of Counsellor’s Corner, we explore the importance of gratitude and how we can learn to appreciate the small - and big - things in our lives, with licensed & registered counsellor Anujah Pulanthiran.

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We often associate memory as a function of the brain, but what if other cells in our body also have that ability to remember and learn? On this episode of Brain Waves, neurogeneticist Dr Azlina Ahmad Annuar joins us to explain how memories form in different cells and what scientists have been discovering.

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