Today I Learned

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...

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 c...

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...

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 1...

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...

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 omnystud...

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 Inter...

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.co...

Why should the health of the planet matter to all of us, and what can we do about it? What can the government do against the enormous and complex environmental issues facing us today? To answer this question, we have Professor Emerita Datuk Dr Asma Ismail, Chair of the National Planetary Health Action Plan. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Just over two months ago, we saw the death of Zara Qarina Mahathir rock the nation and bring the topic of bullying back into our daily conversations. From school corridors to online platforms, bullying in Malaysia is a deeply rooted problem. While it's often dismissed as 'just part of growing up', the reality is far more serious with long-term effects on mental health, education, and even lives lo...

For some, the Cold War between the USA and USSR was about military strategies of containment, proxy wars in the Third World and covert activities, but it did also come with a large dose of cultural and ideological rivalry, some of which endures to this day. Together with Giles Scott-Smith, we discuss the other side of the Cold War, which found its way into the arts, literature, and even music. Ima...