About That. (with Marga Ortigas)

An insightful and wide-ranging conversation with Epigram Award winning author of "The Accidental Malay", Karina Robles Bahrin, on everything from creating while running a business to 'Own Voices' narratives, writing in a second language, and being multi-racial in Asia. You won't want to miss this one!

After decades of working with one of the largest global news companies in the world, Guatemala-born journalist, Harris Whitbeck, boldly tells his own story in a new memoir.  He speaks to me from his home about death squads, dictators, and growing up gay in Latin America in the late 20th century. We also explore what its like to work in warzones, how using gadgets affects a story's impact on storyt...

The Brontes, The Moriartys, and also The Serings. But besides their individual achievements as authors and writers, sisters Tweet & Tara Sering together penned the hit show "K-Love" for VIU, Asia's leading streaming service. It instantly became a hit with viewers.  With the success of their first -- joint -- screenwriting endeavour, Tweet & Tara join me to talk about the joys and challenge...

Catch up with Gen-Xers Marga (the journalist), Karla (the chef), & Tanya (the film producer), a year after they were first "community quarantined" in pandemic-stricken Manila. The city has been under the longest and most militarised 'lockdown' in the world. Our hosts talk coping, keeping busy, and staying hopeful - as they say farewell to Karla who is off on a new adventure.

How do we move past an increasingly polarised world to create a common identity? Or are we doomed to always draw lines between US...and THEM? Back on the podcast is special guest Nik de Ynchausti. Music: Homestead, by Kai Engel

Boomers, Gen-Xers, Gen Y, Millennials, Gen Z...each generation had its share of challenges, but it can be argued that none more so than today's children. Health crises, wars, violence, environmental catastrophes, and above all global warming - they're in line to inherit a world with an expiry date. On this episode, we speak to Bhanu Bhatnagar from Save the Children International. Why aren't the Gr...

It's the 21st century and women in positions of power are still a rarity in many places. Even the country feted as the most powerful in the world has yet to see a female president. We talk gender and politics with a female (minority) senator from an Asian country overrun with macho, populist leaders and strongmen. SPECIAL GUEST: Philippine senator Risa Hontiveros News clips from : Euronews, ABS-CB...

The ins and outs of the Southeast Asian meth trade. Who are the key players? What's politics got to do with it? And how successful is the so-called "war on drugs"? We speak with journalist Patrick Winn, author of "Hello Shadowlands: Inside the Meth Fiefdoms, Rebel Hideouts and Bomb-Scarred Party Towns of Southeast Asia." Visit us on: www.patreon.com/aboutthatthepodcast Twitter: @margaortigas

A former journalist from a country that no longer exists talks to us about oppressive regimes, freedom of the press, and the changing face of democracy. . Neven Andjelic left his native Sarajevo when the communist republic of Yugoslavia was splintering. He sought asylum in the UK and is now a leading lecturer on International Relations and Human Rights. I catch him in Croatia. Newsclip from Radio...

With special guest, Nik de Ynchausti. Why are autocrats & the far right rewriting the past? How powerful a tool is social media in this exercise? In the democratized world of information, are we seeing the demise of "objective facts"? And yes, we talk about the Marcoses and their creative view of Philippine history. EPISODE MUSIC: "Over Midnight" by Lobo Loco.

A brief look at life in Manila, one of the longest lockdowned cities in the world. We talk staying sane, Viber ecosystems, cloud kitchens, social participation during distancing - and the glaring social divide. With special guests, media executive Tanya Yuson and chef Karla Mendoza. Please do pardon the audio quality. Recorded over the internet. Music is courtesy of Purple Planet.

So who else is glad to see the back of 2018? It wasn't the easiest of times... but the beginning of a new year is always the perfect reason for a fresh slate. (Phew!) Last December, we took a trip to the Yukon. To say it was inspirational would be an understatement. There's something about the starkness of frost that is invigorating. I felt the same rejuvenation a few years prior on a visit to Mon...

If there's anything that many of our guests have echoed it's that legacies are built one small step at a time. In this final episode, a leading personality on Philippine English-language radio talks us through her pioneering journey: how a summer job that wasn't going too well became the career of a lifetime. Plus - the sorrows and surprises along the way. How DELAMAR unintentionally managed to sp...

Are you feeling overwhelmed by the world and struggling to keep up with everything you need to do? Or do you sometimes find yourself feeling "blah" about things? Maybe you're in the middle of a big life change and aren't sure how to get everything sorted just so...? It has been said that change is the only constant in life -- and yet it is the one thing that many of us fear the most. In this episo...

We're always searching for next big health kick...the latest cure-all and magic remedy. But what if that "new" health fix is really an old one? Centuries old, in fact. Business executive Nena Wuthrich joins us to share her latest passion outside of the office: it's all-natural, chemical-free, can help a wide vareity of ailments -- and ancient. Let's talk - Essential Oils.

Are you battling depression? Maybe you're dissatisfied with your life - or know someone who is. Do you think people are unhappier now than they have been before? Does the nonstop buzz of the digital world make things worse for you? Why is that as humanity has reached technological heights, many say they feel trapped in the black night of their soul? There are ways to cope - without medication. Psy...

Fashion designer. Artist. Entrepreneur. Son. Brother. Partner. Empire builder. Just a few of the hats worn by Philippine style icon Rajo Laurel. Hear this unfiltered conversation about living honestly, finding contentment, and defining identity through clothing.

This episode is dedicated to the dreamers. To those who are still in pursuit of dreams, and those who have had them come true. Are you an aspiring writer? Or maybe you don't know what it is you want to do yet. How do you find your passion? Meet British author Matt Killeen. He's done it all. Advertising, store managing, graphics designing, music playing. He's even dabbled in stand-up comedy. Now in...

Turning the tables on a veteran journalist: Gaby Tabuñar, Chairman Emeritus of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines, speaks about the things he's seen, the choices he's made, the world as he's seen it change, and what matters most... Can you imagine yourself at a hundred? We're doing things a little differently this episode - we hope you take the journey with us!

We all know Jagger, Ozzie, and even Gene Simmons... but ever wonder about a rockstar's life in the East? Spanish-Filipino musician Tirso Ripoll burst onto the Asian music scene in the early 1990s with the iconic rock group Razorback. 27 years later - Tirso is a businessman, a father, and still rocking with his band. He says there is a way to do it all. Hear more in this super animated conversation...

2017 was a year of change and transition for many people - among them, our host veteran journalist Marga Ortigas. In this podcast EXTRA, Marga starts us off on a new season of ABOUT THAT by looking back at the top things she's learned from our podcast guests so far. What are your top take-aways? Write us! aboutthat.thepodcast@gmail.com

Midlife crisis? Not quite, for Gen-X guys. At least that's the experience of Spanish videographer Miguel Castro. Listen in as he candidly talks about fatherhood in his 40s, walking away from a long-time job, and facing fears - and the unknown - with confidence.

She's a world-renowned designer from Turkey who expresses herself through fashion and design - within a very special context. An artist with leather, lace, lights and 3D printing, Arzu Kaprol has been called both "futuristic" and "architectural". Her work is not just a magical reflection of her rich heritage, but also her spirituality. Listen in as we catch up with Arzu...and you won't see clothin...

More people are travelling alone these days. And they're not just young men with backpacks, or veteran travellers. A growing number of these SOLO TRAVELLERS are women. Many are executives from Asia, and in their 40s. So - what's the appeal of leaving home and exploring on your own? Marga, Tanya, and Karla are reunited to discuss the pitfalls and pleasures of travelling alone.

So...maybe the pressures of the world are getting to you? Too much work? Or not enough? Freaking out about the things you can’t control? Maybe you’re older than you ever imagined…and feel too tired to keep moving forward. Sound familiar? How do you stay afloat? Mental health professional (& fellow Gen-Xer) Darby Latshaw returns to give us a few survival tips.