Today I Learned

Every October, we're told to wear pink and go for breast screening, but that message skips over something more basic. Many women have spent their whole lives feeling uneasy even talking about their own breasts, let alone examining them. So before we ask women to be proactive about breast health, how do we first help them feel comfortable with their bodies and confident enough to speak up? To unpac...

We often hear "inclusive learning" used as a catch-all buzzword in education, but what it actually looks like in a classroom, from play-based schemas to children speaking multiple languages at once, is far more specific and deliberate. So what does inclusive and authentic learning really require, in design and philosophy, to help every child thrive? In this second instalment of our three...

What should access to adequate housing look like for Malaysians? We’re covering this in conjunction with World Habitat Day, but it is also a time where owning a house or renting a place that is affordable and isn’t the size of a shoebox is becoming increasingly out of reach for many people. So, what is the ideal situation and how can Malaysia get there? That’s what we’ll unpack with our guest Thee...

From its early beginnings to its 80th anniversary, The Alice Smith School has remained committed to the not-for-profit model, and is the oldest and only British international school in Malaysia to operate this way. But what does that actually mean in practice? How does it shape the way a school is run day to day, and where does the money go when there’s a surplus? With our guests from The Alice Sm...

How do you turn an ordinary tree into a bonsai? And at what point does a small tree become a work of art? We get a beginner’s guide to bonsai, from shaping and caring for these miniature trees to the patience and artistry behind them. We also find out what suiseki is, and look back at Malaysia’s first time hosting the World Bonsai Convention. Image Credit: Pexels See omnystudio.com/listener for pr...

When we talk about September 16, 1963, our standard history textbooks often refer to the formation of Malaysia to a simple timeline of diplomatic handshakes between Kuala Lumpur and London. But if we take a closer look at Sabah, and the broader regional landscape, we get to uncover a far richer and higher-stakes narrative. It’s a story shaped by fierce debates over state autonomy, wartime resistan...

Sport is often seen as something that brings people together, but it can also be a powerful tool of international politics. From hosting the Olympics and World Cup to sending athletes abroad and using sporting exchanges to build relationships, countries have long used sport to project their image, build influence and pursue diplomatic goals. But how exactly does sports diplomacy work? In this epis...

Before that unforgettable "Merdeka!" cry rang out seven times at Dataran Merdeka, Malaya's path to independence was littered with false starts, stalled negotiations, and moments that almost changed history's course. We take a look into the road not taken with Eddin Khoo. Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Merdeka approaches, the Malaysian Coat of Arms and Jalur Gemilang become familiar symbols of national pride and unity. But behind these instantly recognisable designs are stories, meanings and details that reveal how thoughtfully they were created. In this episode, we take a closer look at the design of these national symbols and what they tell us about Malaysia. Image Credit: Shutterstock See...

We all keep things - gifts from loved ones, childhood memories, clothes we hope to wear again someday, items we think might come in handy one day. Holding onto things is a very human behaviour, but for some people, letting go becomes incredibly difficult, affecting their daily lives, homes, and relationships. So where is the line between sentimentality, collecting, clutter, and hoarding disorder?...

Most people think they're too smart to fall for a scam, but the data says otherwise. In this episode, we break down how credit card fraud actually happens in Malaysia, who's really at risk, and exactly what to do if it happens to you. We get into it with guest Winnie Chan, Ombudsman (Capital Markets and Banking, Islamic Banking and Payment Systems) at the Financial Markets Ombudsman Service. Image...

Looking back at the many human-wildlife conflicts that have ended in catastrophe, one thing that's common in the aftermath is the renewed calls for additional protections and improved wildlife crossing structures. We look at how Malaysia’s wildlife crossings shape up to international standards and unpack why they’re important with Lim Teck Wyn, Adjunct Lecturer of Environmental Sciences at Univers...

Chess is having a moment, from packed local meetups to online creators bringing the game to new audiences. In Kuala Lumpur, FriendsWhoChess has grown into one of the city's biggest chess communities, welcoming everyone from complete beginners to seasoned competitors. We speak to the club's founders about why chess continues to captivate people, how newcomers can get started without feeling intimid...

If you've been following the 2026 World Cup, you've obviously seen the football, but you've also probably seen a lot of Donald Trump. The US President made himself part of the tournament after FIFA President Gianni Infantino awarded him the organisation's first-ever "Peace Prize" in December. Fast forward to the Folarin Balogun decision, where one phone call from Trump was enough to reverse a red...

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&...