Songs & Stories

Songs & Stories duo Gina Yap Lai Yoong and Juwita Suwito return for a year-end bonus, sharing their thoughts about Christmas. Join them as they discover their differing traditions, introduce two homegrown songs produced specially for the season, and take some time to pause before the arrival of the new year!

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In this season finale, Juwita Suwito and Gina Yap Lai Yoong chat about what got them started on a podcast series, a brief glance at the amazing Malaysian stories and music they have shared in the past 34 episodes, and their aspiration moving forward. Leveraging on this opportunity, the girls also share their thoughts and feelings as the world opens up for living in this endemic season, and how the new norm would influence the way they step out into a whole new season of life. Are you ready for the beginning of something different? Join them to find out!

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Gina and Juwita had heard about the Bajau community – knowing them as sea nomads and super divers. But is there more to the Bajau ethnic group than is seen on the surface? Bringing the girls back to his hometown at Kalapuan island was a Bajau boy named Hardy who gave them a glimpse of life on an island and at sea.

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Three more days till Malaysia Day, Gina Yap Lai Yoong and Juwita Suwito chat about the difference between Malaysia Day and National Day, the largest roundabout in the world, and how the Ringgit currency got its name. Join them as they share more fun facts about their beloved country.

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Semporna is a diving haven but somewhere on an island out there, an ideal place awaits non-divers and young families too. Join the Gina Yap Lai Yoong and Juwita Suwito on Mataking as they recall interesting stories from coral rejuvenation to first-time diving, kayaking, a reef day initiative, island weddings (above and underwater), and a shipwreck postbox!

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What are your fondest memories of National Day? How do we creatively express our love and hope for our nation? Are we willing to go the extra mile? Join Juwita and Gina in a heartfelt chat and get a poetic treat plus a double dose of songs for a dash of that Merdeka spirit today!

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Supported by CENDANA and MyCreative Ventures under the PRISMA initiative.

How does a town get its name? What does upcycling have to do with building a sense of community? Why in the world would Gina have Mee Racun not once, but twice in a single trip? Join the girls in their Batu Pahat adventure as they bring you stories from the historic Johorean town and let Juwita daze you with the origins of Kuda Kepang Reog Ponorogo.

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Supported by CENDANA and MyCreative Ventures under the PRISMA initiative.

Stress is a strange thing. In this episode, Gina and Juwita chat about their high stress levels during the pandemic despite being self-declared homebodies. They also share their coping mechanisms along with some self-diagnosis as to whether they are suffering from cabin fever.

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Supported by CENDANA and MyCreative Ventures under the PRISMA initiative.

Did you know that there are three groups of indigenous populations in Malaysia? Ever imagined what it might be like to experience the MCOs in the kampongs, on your own land? In this episode, Gina and Juwita chat about the Orang Asli, Orang Ulu and Anak Negeri of Malaysia — collectively known as the Orang Asal. Juwita also introduces a festive Murut song while Gina shares folk stories from the Temuan tribe.

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Supported by CENDANA and MyCreative Ventures under the PRISMA initiative.

Buriek and Pua Kumbu are more than traditional cloth and craft in Sarawak, they are arts of state heritage that is a very big part of Malaysia. Today, Juwita and Gina spill the beans on these precious crafts and how you can identify a good masterpiece when you see one.

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Supported by CENDANA and MyCreative Ventures under the PRISMA initiative.