Today I Learned

We all keep things - gifts from loved ones, childhood memories, clothes we hope to wear again someday, items we think might come in handy one day. Holding onto things is a very human behaviour, but for some people, letting go becomes incredibly difficult, affecting their daily lives, homes, and relationships. So where is the line between sentimentality, collecting, clutter, and hoarding disorder? In this episode, we explore why we become attached to our belongings, how hoarding develops, and how we can support someone who may be struggling with it. Helping us answer these questions is Evelyn Soong, a clinical psychologist.


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Most people think they're too smart to fall for a scam, but the data says otherwise. In this episode, we break down how credit card fraud actually happens in Malaysia, who's really at risk, and exactly what to do if it happens to you. We get into it with guest Winnie Chan, Ombudsman (Capital Markets and Banking, Islamic Banking and Payment Systems) at the Financial Markets Ombudsman Service.

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Looking back at the many human-wildlife conflicts that have ended in catastrophe, one thing that's common in the aftermath is the renewed calls for additional protections and improved wildlife crossing structures. We look at how Malaysia’s wildlife crossings shape up to international standards and unpack why they’re important with Lim Teck Wyn, Adjunct Lecturer of Environmental Sciences at University of Nottingham Malaysia.

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Chess is having a moment, from packed local meetups to online creators bringing the game to new audiences. In Kuala Lumpur, FriendsWhoChess has grown into one of the city's biggest chess communities, welcoming everyone from complete beginners to seasoned competitors. We speak to the club's founders about why chess continues to captivate people, how newcomers can get started without feeling intimidated, what separates casual players from grandmasters, and whether AI is changing how we play and learn the game.

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If you've been following the 2026 World Cup, you've obviously seen the football, but you've also probably seen a lot of Donald Trump. The US President made himself part of the tournament after FIFA President Gianni Infantino awarded him the organisation's first-ever "Peace Prize" in December. Fast forward to the Folarin Balogun decision, where one phone call from Trump was enough to reverse a red card on a US player. Fans, coaches, and lawmakers called it a clear breach of FIFA's political neutrality. To many people, the way politics is impacting the game might seem new, but has it ever really been any different? We discuss this with James Dorsey, adjunct senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies and one of the most-cited voices on sport and politics.

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We often talk about how increasing urbanisation means that children today no longer have childhoods where they can run freely, climb trees and play in the rain. In our bustling, densely populated urban centres, can children still thrive, live a quality life and participate in the city’s progress? To find out more about what makes a city child-friendly, we’re speaking to Janisha Keerthi Saravanan, Former Secretary of the Petaling Jaya Child Council and Tiara Shahrani Shahrom, Creative & Program Director of Cotton Space.

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Microplastics, air pollution, contaminated water, pesticides—we’re exposed to environmental toxins every day, often without realising it. But how much are these exposures actually affecting our health? Are they getting worse, and what could that mean for future generations? We explore what the science says about pollutants in our food, water, and air; whether the body can recover from these exposures; the myths surrounding "detoxing"; and how well Malaysia is monitoring and regulating the environmental risks around us.

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Amidst a revolving door of fitness and lifestyle trends, yoga continues to resonate with millions of people around the world. But how has it evolved from its ancient beginnings, and how does it benefit us in the modern world?

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Flourishing isn't a word we often use in everyday life, but perhaps we should. In a world that constantly tells us to chase happiness, success, productivity, or self-improvement, many of us still find ourselves feeling exhausted, disconnected, or unfulfilled. So on this episode of Today I Learned, we explore whether flourishing might offer us a different way of thinking about what it means to live well. Joining us is Dr Eugene Tee, Professor of Psychology at HELP University and author of the book "The Science of Flourishing: What Psychological Research Tells Us About Living Well." Together we explore the difference between happiness and flourishing, why constantly chasing happiness can sometimes leave us feeling emptier, and how flourishing may involve embracing the full complexity of life, including struggle and uncertainty.

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It’s World Ocean Day today, so what better opportunity to dive into the wonders of the marine world? As we all have heard before, the ocean makes up 70% of the Earth’s surface and plays a key role in regulating the planet’s climate. So in a world where climate change is wreaking havoc on the marine environment, what can we do to protect it? We speak to Shannon McIntyre Rake, Hope Spots Programme Manager with Mission Blue, about the network of 170 Hope Spots (and counting!) that they’re building and how we can all do our part. 

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