The world is in debt, but who are we in debt to? Pro-wrestling is fake, so why do we love it? These are the kinds of discussions we have on Today I Learned -- a weekly show exploring a plethora of topics, to satisfy your curious mind!
According to many studies, toxic work culture is the biggest reason why people quit their jobs. But what exactly does a toxic workplace look like? And on the flip side, how can you tell if you’re the one who’s making your workplace toxic? Deepa George, HR Consultant, joins us to discuss. Image credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
It’s been a month since the assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The shooting came as a shock because Japan is considered one of the safest countries in the world, one where gun violence especially is very much unheard of in modern times. So what has been the sociopolitical fallout of his assassination? Image credit: Wikimedia Commons See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On the 20th of July 2022, the Malaysian Parliament passed the long-awaited Anti-Sexual Harassment Bill. But did you know that the first draft of the Anti-Sexual Harassment Bill was penned 22 years ago? On this episode, we take a look at the origins of the Anti-Sexual Harassment Bill and the significance of it finally being passed in Parliament. Image credit: Shutterstock / Lucien Fraud See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
The Elon Musk and Twitter saga continues. Billionaire Elon Musk said he’s no longer interested in buying Twitter. Twitter says it’s having none of that and will sue Musk to ensure the deal goes through. So, what does this all mean? In a follow-up to our previous conversation , we speak with Assistant Professor Peter Beattie, Media Researcher, Lecturer, Global Political Economy & Political Psychology, Chinese University of Hong Kong. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Most of us probably have some experiences with shyness – That sense of awkwardness or uneasiness felt when in the company of others. The question is, why do we feel shy? And how do we overcome it? Image credit: Shutterstock / GoodStudio See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
China is a one-party state governed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). But are they actually a communist (or socialist) country? On this episode of Today I Learned, we explore China's massive growth over the past three decades, the difference between Chinese socialism and Capitalism, the ups and downs of embracing the free market and how do the youth and working class people in China feel about the revolutionary figure, Chairman Mao Zedong. We're joined by Zhun Xu, Associate Professor of Econ...
Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, is facing extradition to the United States after it was given the green light by the British Government. So, what exactly is this case about and how does it threaten free speech? Image credit: Wikimedia Commons See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
World Refugee Day is observed every year on the 20th of June to celebrate the strength and courage of people who have been forced to flee their home country to escape conflict or persecution. But what does it mean to be a refugee? What are the challenges they go through? Image credit: Orlok/Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Inflation & recession. Every so often, economists and governments use these terms when discussing the economic health of the country. But what exactly do they mean and how does it affect your finances? Image credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On the 1st of June, Johnny Depp won his defamation trial against Amber Heard. It was televised live and social media consumed and commented on it like a spectator sport or reality tv. While some people watched the entirety of the trial, many others kept up by watching bits and pieces circulating on social media in the form of memes. The entire thing was bizarre, to say the least. Netizens cheered and clapped for Johnny Depp and poked fun at Amber Heard. But has there been a disinformation campai...
Money is a big part of our lives and well-being. You need money to put food on the table, to send your kids to school and even for healthcare. But can money buy happiness? Dr Eugene Tee, Associate Professor in Psychology, joins us to explore this question. Image credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In February 1986, a revolutionary mass revolt in the Philippines led to the downfall of its corrupt and cruel dictator, Ferdinand Marcos. He and his family fled the country. Yet, 36 years later, the Philippines voted in the son of that very same dictator, namely Ferdinand Marcos Jr (also known as Bongbong). So, how did this happen? Dr Maria Atienza, a professor of political science in the Philippines joins us to discuss. Image credit: Wikimedia Commons See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inf...
Did you know that moral policing women or normalising certain things that men do by chalking it up to “boys will be boys” contributes to violence and sexual assault against women? It’s called Rape Culture. But what exactly is rape culture? Image credit: Ms Jane Campbell/Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The richest person on the planet, Elon Musk, is on the verge of owning Twitter. Mark Zuckerberg owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. Billionaires are also behind YouTube. On the surface, these may seem like benign information. But what if we told you that this is dangerous and harmful to you and free speech? Image credit: Frederic Legrand - COMEO/Shutterstock, Twin Design/Shutterstock, Wikimedia Commons See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Healthy Eating can sound scary. Does eating healthy mean no more Nasi Lemak? Does it need to be expensive? Do you have to pick a fancy-sounding diets like “Keto” or “Intermittent Fasting”? Or are these just myths? Image credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mamak restaurants. They’re everywhere in Malaysia. In fact, they’re a part of our culture. They sell a wide variety of Malaysian food, cater to all races and even televise football matches which brings about massive crowds, especially during the weekend. But how did this unique restaurant concept come to be and how has it contributed to social cohesion in the country? Image credit: Ahmad Fairuzazli/Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
WWE just concluded its 38th annual Wrestlemania event. The show took place over two days at a packed AT&T Stadium in Texas. More than 130 thousand tickets were sold. In 2015, WrestleMania made the list of most valuable sports brands, even topping the UEFA Champions League. But what on earth is Wrestlemania and why is it such a big deal? Image credit: Wikimedia Commons See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Happiness – we all want it, many of us are constantly chasing it, but most of us have no idea what it means to begin with. In this episode, we explore happiness, how it’s different from contentment and how we can go about attaining it. Image credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Economic sanctions. We’ve been hearing this term a lot recently, especially with relation to the Russia-Ukraine crisis. We know that countries are throwing sanctions at Russia in an effort to stop their invasion of Ukraine. But what exactly are sanctions? And how do they work? Image credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Here’s how many people believe elections in Malaysia work: You cast your vote on election day. The party/coalition that amasses more than half of the population’s votes wins and forms the government. But what if we told you that this isn’t the case; That a lot of the time, the party that forms the government, is a party that isn’t popular amongst the people. On this episode, we discuss our First-Past-the-Post electoral system and what we can do about it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy i...
Feminists hate men and want women to be the dominant gender. Is that true or is that a myth? It’s International Women’s Day today. International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. In light of that, in this episode, we will be busting myths surrounding feminism. Image credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Russia has invaded Ukraine. Conflict between Russia & the West has reached a boiling point. But what interests lie behind the conflict, and what should be the position of good working-class people? Image credit: Shutterstock & Wikimedia Commons See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Breakups. Not only do they hurt so bad, they’re not easy to overcome. But why? Why is it so difficult to get over breakups and move on, and what can we do about it – How do we get over a breakup? Image credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Consent means actively agreeing to be sexual with someone. Sexual activity without consent is rape or sexual assault. But what exactly constitutes consent and can it be withdrawn? Jernell Tan of AWAM joins us to give us the 101 on consent. Image credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
If you’re Malaysian, you’ve probably heard things like “Indians are all gangsters and criminals," or "Indians are alcoholics, drug addicts and wife beaters." But is the concept of the “rowdy Indian criminal” based on facts or are there systemic issues that need addressing? Is it a myth consciously or subconsciously perpetuated to protect the status quo? Image credit: Jagat (2015) & Kabali (2016) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Breakups are not easy. They can be unpleasant, uncomfortable and even scary. We all know this. Many of us have experienced it. The question is, why is breaking up so hard, even if we know the person is not right for us? Image credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Wrestling is scripted. The winners and losers are pre-determined and so is the over the top drama, tension and animosity. We all know this – wrestling fans, especially. So, why are millions of people crazy about this crazy, erm, sport? Artform? Entertainment? Image credit: Dashran Yohan Instagram Page See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
It’s the end of the year, so let’s relive some of the best moments from the show in 2021. On this week’s best of, we revisit some of the conversations we had on political economy, media and the likes in the US and Malaysia. Image credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
It’s the end of the year, so we take a look at some of the fun things we’ve learned this year, from ‘why we swear’ to if ‘introverts are antisocial or misunderstood.’ Relive some of the best moments from Today I Learned in 2021. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Last month, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and women’s rights activist, Malala Yousafzai’s marriage sparked debate. While many were happy for Malala, many others argued that Malala’s decision to marry is an antithesis to feminism and goes against what she stands for. The question is, is marriage anti-feminist? Image credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
