As we near the end of the year, it’s a busy time for family get-togethers, especially as children are on school break and adults are taking time off work. Whether you’re having dinner together with the extended family or going on a break with your partner (with or without children), it’s almost inevitable for some of us that there will be some minor disagreements. So how do we avoid them or at least prevent them from blowing up into major arguments? Here to guide us through that is licensed and registered counsellor Esther Chu. 

Image Credit: Shutterstock

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We explore how Western Christianity and colonialism have shaped the political and religious landscape of Palestine, and how Palestinians have responded through traditions of ecumenism, solidarity, and resistance. Paul Catafago joins us to talk about the spirit of religious tolerance in Palestinian society, the historic roles of Christian intellectuals and leaders alongside their Muslim counterparts, the abandonment of Palestinian Christians by Western churches through Christian Zionism, and how these dynamics have deepened cooperation across faiths in the struggle for sovereignty.

Image Credit: Shutterstock

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Partly inspired by Pluribus and its philosophical questions, but mostly by the shared experience of living in Malaysia, tonight’s episode attempts to understand whether humans are - at our psychological base - more inclined towards an individualistic way of life, or in the compromise required to live collectively. Is there something inherently ‘Western’ or ‘Asian’ in this way of thinking? Can we change? Eugene Tee joins us to try to unpack it all. 

Image Credit: Shutterstock

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Famously known for his “peculiar” way of cooking, chemist and one of the co-founders of molecular gastronomy, Hervé This, joins us to give us a peek into this world and why he thinks this is the future of food. From gels and emulsions to using pure chemical compounds to make food, is this food for everyone? How has he - and can we all - reimagine food through chemistry?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re often stumped by why children act and behave the way they do. Why do they ask so many questions? Why do they throw tantrums? And why are they so hooked on screens? In conjunction with World Children’s Day on 20 November, we speak to a play therapist, Chris Ng, to explore what it is like to see the world through a child’s eyes and how these traits help children, be children. We also invited 10-year-old Elysha Le to turn the tables and teach us - adults - about how kids think.

Image Credit: Shutterstock

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Whether it’s a wedding, a night out, or just your kitchen floor, dancing has a way of pulling us out of our heads and into our bodies. But why do some still hold themselves back? We get into the benefits of learning dance with professional Latin Dance trainers Aisha and Sam Sopiee.

Image Credit: Pexels

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We take a close look at the role of journalism and media in shaping public understanding today, from the pressures of a 24-hour news cycle to the choices editors and reporters make in deciding what counts as news. We also discuss Somnath Batabyal’s book Making News in India, which examines the inner workings of one of the country’s largest news corporations, offering insights into how stories are produced, framed, and circulated in a rapidly changing media landscape.

Image Credit: Pexels

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 47th ASEAN Summit kicked off recently in Kuala Lumpur drawing heads of state and government into three days of high-stakes diplomacy. While the summit happens behind closed doors, its outcome ripples far beyond the meeting rooms. In this episode, we unpack the real purpose of the ASEAN Summit, its history, relevance and why it should matter to all of us.

Image Credit: Shutterstock

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is digital sovereignty, and why are so many countries fighting to reclaim it?

We dive into that question with Dr Rachel Gong, Deputy Director of Research, Khazanah Research Institute. We’ll be looking at how Malaysia and other nations are exploring digital sovereignty, and how these efforts to protect data and critical technologies within national borders could affect the way we use the Internet.

Image Credit: Shutterstock

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What really happens to the human body when we leave Earth’s atmosphere? From the way our blood carries oxygen to how our brains adapt in microgravity, space pushes human physiology to its limits. We speak to Professor Damian Bailey, an expert in extreme physiology, about what science tells us so far and what it might mean for the future of space travel.

Image Credit: Shutterstock

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.