Talkback

For the last edition of Talkback of 2024, we're looking back on this rollercoaster of a year and thinking about what stood out to us the most. Whether it be travelling, new additions to family or adopting a new healthy habit, we thought that we'd ask our listeners: What was your favourite thing to come out of this year? Image Credit: seamind224, Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...

The government's campaign to control the country's sugar intake involves, among others, a call for higher sugar tax. However, experts are saying that this alone is not enough and that we should include education about nutrition through food labelling regulations. This got us thinking about the act of changing for the better, whether it involves sugar or other habits we have. Since it's the end of...

South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol has finally spoken out on his failed declaration of martial law, saying that he will not step down and continue to fight till the end, regardless if he is impeached or investigated. This got us thinking about the act of admitting when one is in the wrong, so we explore this with our listeners. Image Credit: imtmphoto, Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for...

Every year, the Pantone Colour Institute decides on a Colour of The Year, based on criterias that reflect people's current moods and influential trends throughout the year. Mocha Mousse has bagged this title for the year 2025, chosen for its comforting feeling, and the way it presents 'relaxed elegance'. Social media has apparently inspired this decision as well, with self-care culture being seen...

They say you cannot teach an old dog new tricks, but is that really true? Can you really learn new skills at any age, or is there an expiration date on our ability to pick up new tricks? So we ask our listeners which side of the fence they land on and explore the benefits and potential drawbacks of learning something later in life. Image Credit: chingyunsong , Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/liste...

2024 is coming to an end so we're reflecting back on the epic highs and lows of our year. Whether you picked up a new hobby, gained a new achievement or allowed yourself the time to relax, we ask listeners, how was your 2024? And what were your highs and lows? Image Credit: Sirichai Puangsuwan, Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek recently explained that the abolition of exams was an effort to reduce stress among students, bringing attention to the impact of stress on overall well-being. This got us thinking about different stress coping strategies, like deep breathing to picking up a hobby. So we explore some of these strategies and discuss with listeners how they cope with a stressful day...

The Road Transport Department is conducting a study on enforcing new measures that would require drivers over 65 to pass competency and health tests amid calls for stricter criteria for license renewal. So we ask get into this with our listeners and ask: Do you think people over 65 should have to take a competency test or health assessment before their driving licenses get renewed? Is there an age...

KL has been ranked the 50th World's Best City with our Southeast Asian neighbour, Singapore ranking fifth and Bangkok ranking 32nd. With a city rich with culture and personality through our colourful makeup, we're thinking about how we feel about KL as a city. So we ask our listeners tonight: Do you think KL is a great city? And what do you think makes a city good or bad? Image Credit: Yadhav Anil...

Today is World Toilet Day, so naturally, we're diving right into the topic of toilets. Now, Malaysia has made some progress in improving the state of our public toilets, with the introduction of the 'Toilet of The Year Awards' and more inspections of Klang Valley toilets. But we're a far way away from shedding our reputation of having bad toilets, with slippery floors, lack of amenities like toile...

Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka has appointed three social media influencers to be 'language icons' to help promote the use of proper language among the public which got us thinking about the ways people expand their language and learn new words. So we ask our listeners: where do you learn new words? And what is a word you've learned recently that you've started using in your daily life? Image Credit: Ka...

11.11's record-breaking sales has proven the prowess of e-commerce on shoppers globally. With how easy shopping has become over recent years, we're giving some thought to how we shop. So, tonight, we ask you: What kind of shopper are you? Do you tend to be more careful and intentional, or spur of the moment? Image Credit: Ekahardiwito, Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informati...

As we digest the outcome of the recent U.S. elections, we're reminded that even events thousands of miles away can ripple through our lives in surprising ways. So, tonight, we ask you: Do you consider yourself a global citizen? Or are your interests and concerns more local? Image Credit: Montri Thipsorn, Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight, we reflect on the life of music legend Quincy Jones, who recently passed away at 91. Known for producing Michael Jackson’s Thriller and creating music for icons like Frank Sinatra and Aretha Franklin, Jones had a vast influence on the industry. With 28 Grammys and a wealth of remarkable life stories, his legacy serves as a reminder of music's incredible power to inspire. So, tonight, we a...

Tempers flare, arguments happen, plates break, mistakes are made. We've all been there, in a situation where we are on the receiving end of an apology, or having to apologize to someone else. But how do we define what makes a good apology? Is it in the tone, the delivery or in the content of the apology? And how do we figure out whether someone is sincere? Image Credit: metamorworks, Shutterstock...

Microsoft’s 2024 Work Trend Index reveals 84% of Malaysians are already using AI to save time and boost creativity, while 65% of business leaders say AI skills are becoming essential. But not everyone is optimistic, as concerns remain about the eventual loss of our "human touch". So tonight, we ask you: Is AI a force for good, or are you waiting for it to take over the world? Image Credit: Lila DK...

How do you find new friends, and is it harder to make them as an adult? As life gets busier and social circles shrink, we explore the emotional and practical challenges of forming new connections later in life. Image Credit: Tom Wang, Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We've all heard the saying, "It’s never too early to start thinking about retirement," so today, we explore exactly that. Regardless of age and life stage, we wanted to hear from our listeners about whether they have thought about their retirement, and what they'd like to do - and we got a lot of responses, from optimists to pessimists, and everyone in between. Image Credit: Diego Cervo, Shutterst...

It's that time of year again, when headlines are filled with flash floods, landslides, and heavy traffic. But the idea of 'extreme weather' varies around the world, and changes in weather can affect people's moods in different ways. For some, a downpour means the perfect time to sleep; for others, it signals gloom ahead. So we ask our listeners: What’s the wildest weather you've experienced, and h...

Today is World Mental Health Day, and the theme this year is on prioritising mental health in the workplace. We've all been there -- Chasing deadlines, trying to organise meetings, and most importantly, attempting to find work life balance. So we ask the ultimate question: Do you pay attention to your mental health? Does your job affect your mental health? Image Credit: Follow Focus, Shutterstock...

The government is introducing the National Reading Index to track our reading habits on a national scale. So we thought we'd use this opportunity to talk about reading, specifically, how much we read, what we like to read and how we've managed to maintain this habit. Image Credit: Vincenzo Malagoli, Pexels See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are you living up to your full potential, and how do you even define it? Inspired by 12-year-old Izz Imil, the youngest student ever admitted to University Malaya, we explore what it means to truly achieve one’s potential. With personal stories and reflections, we dive deep into different experiences and perspectives of the pursuit for success and fulfillment. Image Credit: krar hb, Pexels See omn...

With Malaysia's "war against sugar" campaign and rising health risks like diabetes and high cholesterol, we ask listeners about their eating habits and challenges they face to balance taste and health. Image Credit: olia danilevich, Pexels See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are you drowning in clutter? We've all either been there, or known someone in this messy (literally!) predicament. This article from The Star has brought up the idea of decluttering, but is letting go as easy as we think it is? So we dive into the mess, and ask our listeners whether they have a lot of clutter in their lives, and how they manage it. Image Credit: Pixaby, Pexels See omnystudio.com/l...

Yes, climate anxiety, the chronic fear of environmental doom. And now that we're seeing floods happening in Penang and Kedah, as well as the typhoon happening in China, the Philippines and Vietnam, it's mounting even more. We speak to our listeners about their feelings, and what they're doing in response. Image Credit: Yogendra Singh, Pexels See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.