Today I Learned

"Revenge bedtime procrastination" is when people decide to sacrifice sleep to enjoy leisure time or time to themselves. But what are the root causes of revenge bedtime procrastination and how is it different from excitedly staying up to binge-watch a TV series you’re currently addicted to? Image credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're often told that striving for perfection is the key to success. But is it? Or is it detrimental to one’s wellbeing? What’s the difference between perfectionism and healthy striving? We speak to Sandy Clarke, licensed counsellor. Image credits: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did you know that words can change how we feel? The framing of language can influence the way we think and feel about certain events. So, how exactly does language shape emotions? Image credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Relationships are about connecting with others, supporting one another, and caring for one another. But did you know that to maintain healthy relationships, you must first love yourself? So, why is self-love important for healthy relationships? Image credit: Shutterstock Inc See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Picture this: You and someone named Bob live in the same neighbourhood and go to the same school. But you never noticed each other. One day, you and Bob become friends. And since then, you notice Bob everywhere – when you’re walking to school, when he’s jogging around the park and when he’s eating at the nearby Kopitiam. He hasn’t changed his routine and neither have you – it’s just that you’re no...

Every now and again, whenever there’s news about the ringgit becoming weaker, there will also be subsequent debates on whether our Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) should be adjusted. But what exactly is OPR? Image credit: Shutterstock Inc. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Personality tests are incredibly popular. Whether it’s in-depth ones like the Myers Briggs Type Indicator tests or silly ones on Facebook, many of us enjoy taking these tests, so much so that some people even display the result of their personality tests on their dating profiles. But are personality tests accurate? And what do they tell us? Image credit: Shutterstock Ai See omnystudio.com/listener...

Every great writer has a distinctive voice. Whether it’s bestselling authors like Stephen King, screenwriters like Aaron Sorkin or Quentin Tarantino or even film critics like Baradwaj Rangan or the late Roger Ebert, all have unique voices that can be instantly recognised just by reading a few paragraphs or pages. So, how does a writer develop their voice? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy in...

It’s the season of new year new me. So it’s only natural that people have big and lofty goals on transforming yourself. But how can people set realistic goals for personal growth and contentment in the new year? We speak to Sandy Clarke, Licensed Counsellor. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Beyond being a communication tool, language is also an important fabric of personal identity, cultural identity and national identity. Language encapsulates history, values, and diverse expressions that could bind communities in a collective identity. So, in a country with multiple languages, ethnicities, and religions, how can language serve as a unifying force? We discuss with Dr Surinderpal Kau...

Imagine living your whole life believing that human beings are inherently good. Imagine being very confident in your belief. What if one day you come across an article/research discussing how human beings are inherently selfish and evil? How would that make you feel? We’ve all experienced that uncomfortable feeling when we come across information that contradicts our existing beliefs. It’s called...

Long-distance relationships bring forth a myriad of challenges—emotional isolation, uncertainty about the future, and the ever-present spectre of jealousy. The lack of physical intimacy complicates things further. So, how can we navigate the intricacies of long-distance relationships? Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We often hear about how the Ringgit is becoming weaker or stronger when compared to other currencies. For example, people often talk about how at one point, the Ringgit to the Singapore dollar was 1:1, but now one SGD is more than RM 3. More commonly we often discuss the ringgit to the US dollar. But how does any of this work, exactly? Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for pri...

It’s hardly controversial to say that everybody wants to be happy. In fact, many consider happiness their ultimate goal in life. But is the pursuit of happiness a meaningful goal? Is that the right approach to live life? We speak to Sandy Clarke, Licensed Counsellor and author 'Mindfulness and Emotions: Understanding Your Mind and the Benefits of Being Present' . Image Credit: 123RF See omnystudio...

As technology becomes a bigger and bigger part of our lives, data protection becomes increasingly important. But what do global privacy laws say about data protection? We speak to Devasheesh Bais, Fellow, Centre for International Law Research and Policy (CILRAP). Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is the purpose of life and living? This is something that many of us tend to ask ourselves at one point or another. Ikigai is a Japanese concept referring to something that gives a person a sense of purpose. But how do you identify your Ikigai? We discuss with Dr Eugene Tee, Associate Professor in Psychology. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many people tend to think that we live in a world where most people are inherently greedy, selfish and evil. That when push comes to shove, we all want more for ourselves, even if it means less for everyone else. But just how true is that? We discuss with Dr Chua Sook Ning, a psychologist and the founder of RELATE Malaysia.  Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy i...

Approximately 48 hours ago, Hamas, the militant faction in Palestine, launched an unprecedented operation. Hamas fired rockets and also sent its fighters from the Gaza Strip into southern Israel. They managed to briefly take control of some Israeli settlements and took some Israeli soldiers hostage too. This is all in response to years of illegal occupation of Palestinian land by the Zionist Israe...

You’ve probably heard of pyramid and Ponzi schemes. They’re deceptive  investment models that promise high returns but ultimately collapse, leaving unsuspecting and often vulnerable participants with significant losses. But how exactly does a pyramid scheme work?  Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We know that language is an important communication tool. But it is so much more than that. It is part of our identity, culture and how we express ourselves. But what exactly is the relationship between language and our identity? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fiscal Policy is an important economic tool. It can tell us whether a government is going to be spending more or less. But how does fiscal policy work exactly and what is its significance in economic management? Image Credit: 123RF See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UMNO President Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s recent Discharge Not Amounting to Acquittal for his Yayasan Akal Budi case has renewed calls among civil society to separate the powers of the Attorney General and Public Prosecutor. But what exactly are the functions of the Attorney General and Public Prosecutor? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BFM is celebrating its 15th birthday today. In light of that, we’re walking down memory lane to bring you 15-minute snippets of conversations from the years past. Launched in May 2021, Today I Learned is an educational show that explores various topics of interest surrounding psychology, philosophy, economy, language and more. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy info...

Online dating or meeting your potential partner online has become the norm. This has transformed the landscape and culture of dating. But what are some of the biggest positives and drawbacks of online dating?  Image Credit: 123RF See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’ve all probably heard of the simple concept called ‘Freedom of Expression’. But what exactly is it, why is it important and is there such a thing as too much freedom of expression?  Image Credit: 123RF See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.