Today I Learned

GDP or Gross Domestic Product often stands as a quintessential yardstick, reflecting a nation's economic vitality. But what exactly is it and is it a good barometer of how well a country is doing? Image Credit: 123RF See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Throughout history, diverse cultures and individuals have exhibited unique attitudes towards ‘death’, often accompanied by an inherent fear of the unknown. But should we fear death? We’re joined by Sandy Clarke, licensed counsellor who’s trained in existential therapy. We discuss why fear of death and the nothingness that  comes after, is so common and why mortality can actually be liberating...

Money laundering is an act of concealing the origins of illicit funds to make them appear legitimate. But how does it work exactly, and how do we prevent it? We speak to Raymon Ram, who’s an anti-money laundering specialist.  Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

War, a concept as old as human civilization itself, has played a prominent role in shaping our history. While we continue to push for a world without war, one has to sadly acknowledge that it isn’t the world we live in today. So, amidst the chaos and devastation war brings, the necessity arises to distinguish between the ethical and the immoral. So, what are the Dos and Don’ts of war?  Image...

Tax the rich! That’s a phrase that has become increasingly mainstream and popular in recent years. The call to tax the proverbial rich has only grown stronger in a post-pandemic world. But who are the rich, exactly, and why do we need to tax them? Image Credit: Christopher Penler / Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You may have heard of the term intersectionality, used by activists or policymakers, especially in recent years. At its core, intersectionality acknowledges that people’s experiences are shaped by multiple social categories such as race, gender and class, which intersect to produce unique and often compounded forms of disadvantage in a particular society.  But what exactly does that mean? We...

Most of us have probably experienced getting angry at one point or another. We may get angry when we feel threatened or face rejection. Sometimes, we may get angry for something silly or petty. But what is anger, exactly and how do we deal with it? Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Who am I?” That’s a question that many of us would’ve asked ourselves at some point in our lives. But how do we get to the bottom of it? How do we begin to think about answering this question? We discuss with Sandy Clarke, licensed Counsellor. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do you want to be loved? And is it akin to how your partner expresses their love towards you? Well, did you know that understanding and exploring the concept of love languages can greatly enhance communication and emotional connection in relationships? Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There is a misconception that if you’re unemployed, it’s probably because you’re lazy or lack the skills that the job market requires. But what about when employers purposely downsize to maximize profits? And what happens when technology becomes so advanced, that most of us become unemployed? We speak to Dr Geoffrey Williams, Economist, Malaysia University of Science and Technology. Image Credit:...

From ancient conflicts between empires to modern-day wars fought with advanced technology, war has been a tragic and pervasive feature of human history, claiming countless lives and inflicting immeasurable suffering. Oftentimes the horrific consequences of war are felt many, many years after the war ends. But why do wars happen?  We speak to Peter Beattie, who’s a political psychologist and p...

Recently, an elderly couple died after consuming pufferfish. The couple, both in their early 80s, unknowingly purchased at least two pufferfish from an online vendor. Unbeknownst to some, Pufferfish is incredibly poisonous. However, there are certain cultures that have Pufferfish as part of their cuisines. So, what’s unique about Pufferfish that make them either deadly or delicacies? Image Credit:...

Over the past few years, Cryptocurrencies have gained widespread attention, for its decentralized nature, technological potential and also because many assume that it’s a good way to make a quick buck. However, cryptocurrencies have also been associated with illegal and highly unethical activities, including money laundering and financing terrorism. But how exactly does that work? We speak to Raym...

War crimes are defined as serious violations of international humanitarian law committed during armed conflicts, including acts such as murder, torture, and deliberate targeting of civilians. But what happens when a country commits a war crime? Who do we hold accountable? And what if the one committing the crime is a global superpower? We explore this with Devasheesh Bais from the Centre for Inter...

Ghosting. That’s a phenomenon that has become increasingly prevalent in modern dating and social interactions, especially when interactions are online. But what exactly is ghosting, why do people do it and what are its impacts? Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysian-Indians are the third largest ethnic group in the country, making up about 7% of the nation’s population. But what exactly is a Malaysian-Indian? How has the identity evolved over the years? We speak to Dr Asha Rathina Pandi, a sociologist. Image Credit: Wikimedia / Creative Commons See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Imagine you’re at your high school reunion. It’s been about 15 years since you last saw your peers from school. A former classmate of yours comes up and says “Wow! You’re a professor at a university now? That’s awesome. You’ve really come a long way since your high school years, eh?” Your ex-teacher chimes in too. “Yes! You’ve changed a lot. I’m so proud of you!” You flash an awkward smile but int...

There is often a perception that feminism is a Western worldview or culture (AKA Budaya Barat). But is that really true? How do we contextualise the movement for gender equality here in the Southeast Asian region? In conjunction with International Women’s Day, we speak to Sharon A. Bong, Professor of Gender Studies at the School of Arts and Social Sciences, Monash University Malaysia. She has also...

For decades, Palestinians have suffered injustice and oppression at the hands of the violent Israeli Zionist regime. There have been many attempts to resolve this conflict peacefully, but negotiations have always fallen through. But what lies at the heart of the Israel-Palestinian conflict?  Baha Hilo, a Palestinian rights activist and educator. Since 2013 he has been focused on education on...

Nepotism – that’s a word we’ve been hearing a lot lately. Whether it's during the backlash against YB Nurul Izzah when she was appointed by Anwar Ibrahim to be his economic advisor or even when we discuss celebrity culture. But what exactly is nepotism? Is it ethical? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Persuasion is the act of convincing someone to do or believe something. But what makes some people so persuasive, while others aren’t? Why do some salespeople, for example, have the ability to sell water to fish? In this episode, we discuss Robert Cialdini’s Pre-Suasion: A Revolutionary Way to Influence and Persuade. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The minimum wage level in Malaysia is currently at RM 1500, which isn’t even a living wage, which experts say is around RM 2700 in the Klang Valley. But it isn’t just the minimum wage. We often hear about people with bachelor’s and master’s degrees barely making a living wage. Many Malaysians, including professionals, are leaving to work in neighbouring countries, for better wages.  But why a...

There’s a new Artificial Intelligence tool in town. And if you, for example, ask it to write an essay on the pros and cons of capitalism, it’ll produce an in-depth piece for you in a matter of seconds. It can also write rap songs and poetry that would impress the likes of Tupac and Shakespeare. It’s called ChatGPT and it’s incredibly intelligent. But what is it exactly and is it going to take over...

One of the age-old debates among linguists, philosophers and even psychologists is if language can shape the way we think. Well, Sandy Clarke, who’s an author and licensed counsellor suggests that not only can language impact one’s psychology, but also one’s perception of time can impact psychology, as well. But how exactly? Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inform...

Chances are, you’ve experienced failure at some point in your life, if not many points. Failure is heartbreaking and more often than not, the fear of failure can prevent you from pursuing dreams or trying new things. But what exactly is failure? What can it teach us? And does our understanding of failure focus too much on individuals rather than society? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inf...