Today I Learned

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,...

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 exposu...

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? Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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...

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 M...

Thanks to recent earthquakes like the 7.1 magnitude that struck Kota Belud, Sabah in February 2026 and the 4.1 magnitude that hit Segamat, Johor in August 2025, Malaysians are starting to realise that our country is not free of seismic risks. But just how high is the risk of the next earthquake, and how alarmed do we need to be? We find out from Prof Emeritus Dato' Dr Ibrahim Komoo, an engineering...

What comes to mind when you picture a bee? You’re probably thinking of a fuzzy, winged insect with black and yellow stripes. But bumblebees only make up a small fraction of known bee species. In fact, recent estimates show that there could be over 26,000 species of bees, of which thousands remain undiscovered. So in this episode, ahead of World Bee Day, we’ll be finding out why bees matter and squ...

Tekat embroidery has been part of Malay cultural heritage for centuries, traditionally associated with royal courts, ceremonial textiles, and generations of artisans who have carefully passed the craft down through matrilineal knowledge and practice. But how does a traditional art form like this continue to evolve and remain relevant today? We speak to artists Xeem Noor and Yante Ismail, who are p...

Over the past couple of months, the Strait of Hormuz has been in the news every single day because of escalating tensions in the region due to the US and Israel’s illegal military attack on Iran. In response, Iran chose to close the Strait of Hormuz, which has disrupted global oil shipments passing through the waterway, which in turn has caused a global energy crisis. But what’s unique about the S...

As global markets swing between uncertainty and recovery, the word “recession” is once again creeping into everyday conversation. But what does it really mean, beyond technical jargon? And how does it affect everyday Malaysians? We unpack this with economist Dr Nungsari A. Radhi. Image Credits: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most Malaysians are one bad flood, one long blackout, or one supply disruption away from realising that they're completely unprepared. And if the Klang Valley floods and pandemic-era emergencies have taught us anything, it's that these things happen, and they happen fast. Tonight, we unpack what you need to know to prepare for any emergency that comes your way with Nik Muhammad Hafiz, the founder&...

For some, philosophy conjures images of ancient bearded Greeks, dense books and strings of big words that just don’t make sense. They might even think that philosophy is an elite discipline that never escapes the walls of academia. But for others, philosophy can be something far more ordinary and accessible to the average person – something that quietly shapes the way we think, the choices we make...

In recent years, European governments have uncovered plots involving so‑called “disposable agents” who are operatives sent on one‑off missions and then discarded. They’re expendable, deniable, and replaceable. How are they recruited? What missions do they undertake? And what larger strategy is Moscow pursuing? We break it down. Image Credits: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy in...

Actor Timothée Chalamet’s recent remarks dismissing ballet and opera have reignited debate on the relevance of classical art forms in modern society. Does ballet still resonate and connect with today’s audiences? Has it endured as a dance form and method of storytelling? We explore.  Image Credits: Pexels See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most Malaysians will recognise the 90-year-old Adibah Amin as the author of the twice-weekly New Straits Times column in the 1970s and 1980s, “As I Was Passing” (originally published under a pen name, Sri Delima). Recipient of the 1991 Southeast Asian Writers Award, she is also a celebrated novelist, educator, translator, and, whose warmth, wit and humanity shaped generations of readers across rac...

Women-only spaces have a long and complex history. From grassroots support groups and domestic violence shelters to professional networks, gyms, book clubs, and online communities. In conjunction with International Women’s Day, we sit down with Zara Riza, owner of the first gentlewomen’s club in KL. We also learn about the importance of women’s safe spaces with the folks at Women’s March Malaysia....

Wang Kelian, located in the north western corner of Perlis and bordering Thailand, is a valley where limestone hills, rare plants, wildlife and stories are waiting to be told. In 2024, a team of conservationists and storytellers embarked on a journey to document its hidden beauty through a project. One of those individuals, Peter Ong, joins us to talk about the project and why Wang Kelian should b...

Early this year, the US Department of Justice released 3.5 million files related to financier, human trafficker and sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein, drawing more of us into the Wild West of conspiracy theories. The files confirm what we already know about his crimes, and much of it references high‑profile figures, but often without context or evidence. Raw, redacted, and sprawling, the files are eno...

Cyberwarfare is in the spotlight after the US attack on Venezuela. We explore this with Benjamin Ang, comparing it to earlier cases like Stuxnet, and examining what cyber conflict means for both superpowers and small states. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Money doesn’t grow on trees, and we’re taught from a young age that we must always be prudent about how we spend our money. But how many of us are taught how to do that and do it well? Capping off the month where Today I Learned has been focusing on different areas of personal improvement, we speak to Nirmala Supramaniam, Head of Household Financial Education Department at Agensi Kaunseling dan Pe...

They say the best way to smoke your last cigarette is to not have one at all, but we know it is easier said than done. In this first month of 2026, Today I Learned will be focusing on different areas of personal improvement. In this episode, we explore one of the most common health goals people have when they kick off the new yeat: Quitting smoking. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/li...

In the first month of 2026, Today I Learned will be focusing on different areas of personal improvement. For this episode, the question is: how can I sleep better? We sit down with sleep psychologist Julian Lim to understand how sleep really works - from its biological necessity to its changing value in society.  Image Credit: Pexels See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the first month of 2026, Today I Learned will be focusing on different areas of personal improvement. For this episode, the question is: how do I make friends? We’ve heard about the Friendship Recession - and while most research is based on the US and European countries, there’s anecdotal evidence that the feeling of being disconnected and having fewer close friends is becoming a common experie...

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 lea...

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 counterpart...