Talkback

Last night was the Pai Ti Kong celebrations, also known as the Jade Emperor's Birthday, a major event for the Hokkien Chinese community in Malaysia, especially in Penang. This occasion is marked by grand offerings, prayer ceremonies and the extensive use of fireworks and firecrackers. But not everyone is a fan of these explosive festivities. We explore.

Image Credit: shutterstock.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Karla Sofía Gascón, a trans actress known for the controversial film Emilia Perez (nominated for 13 Oscars, including Best Actress for Gascón), has recently faced backlash over her past racist and Islamophobic social media posts, now deleted. With these issues resurfacing, it raises the question: Should people be held accountable for their past statements, and can people change?

Image Credit: shutterstock.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump is back in the White House. For some, his presidency represents a much-needed continuation of his bold policies and America-first approach; for others, it’s a looming specter of division and uncertainty. We explore the complex emotions and polarizing reactions to Trump 2.0—from what excites his supporters, what concerns his critics, and what lies ahead.

Image Credit: shutterstock.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chinese New Year is just around the corner. It's a time for families to reunite, but also when generational tension can reach its peak from uncomfortable questions and disagreements, to, of course, the ever-present expectation to "respect your elders." So, we figured it’s the perfect time to dive into the big question: Should respect be given automatically, or is it something that should be earned?

Image Credit: shutterstock.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Does your appearance impact your chances of getting hired? Some employers expect a photo on resumes, while others say it’s unnecessary. In a job market where first impressions matter, does your look give you an edge or is it all about skills? We asked our listeners how much appearance plays a role in hiring and workplace success.

Image Credit: shutterstock.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

TasteAtlas has released a list of the 100 worst foods from around the world. With placings of foods like Cookie Salad from the US at 100th place and the Philippines’s Balut at 48th place, we’re reminded of the food we absolutely loathe! So we ask our listeners what the worst thing they ate was.

Image Credit: Shutterstock

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A man on Facebook is offering a service for men to appear "heroic" in front of their partners. For RM100, he lets them beat him up after he pretends to disturb their partners at a public place. This got us thinking about the idea of masculinity so we delve into this with our listeners, asking them how they think about masculinity, and whether the ideas they were raised with has evolved as they grow up.

Image Credit: shutterstock.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Research by UK's High Pay Centre found that chief executives in FTSE 100 companies will have made more money by midday than the average worker in a year. So we broached this topic with our listeners and ask them: Should there be a cap on how much bosses earn? And, do you believe in pay transparency?

Image Credit: shutterstock.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

18-year-old Gukesh Dommaraju bagged the title of world’s youngest chess champion at the World Chess Championship in Singapore, sharing that his victory was made possible due to his parents’ sacrifices. Gukesh's father quit his job as a surgeon to accompany him to games, while his mother worked to support them financially. This got us thinking about what it means to be a parent and sacrifice for your child, so we ask our listeners: How much of a parent’s life and time should be dedicated to their child? Is your child’s potential and aspiration more important than your own?

Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We kick off the first Talkback of 2025 by talking about resolutions! Some argue there is a pointlessness to new year's resolutions while others are excited by the promise of a fresh start. So we ask listeners, what are their resolutions for 2025? And, how do they plan for the year ahead?

Image Credit: Boontoom Sae-Kor, Shutterstock

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.