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 noticing him. How does this work? What is the connection between memory and perception? We speak to Dr...
Feb 04, 2024•36 min
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.
Jan 28, 2024•37 min
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 for privacy information.
Jan 21, 2024•42 min
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 information.
Jan 14, 2024•39 min
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.
Jan 07, 2024•32 min
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 Kaur, Dean of Faculty of Languages and Linguistics, University Malaya. Image Credit: Shutterstock/Fiqah...
Dec 10, 2023•39 min
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 Cognitive dissonance. But what exactly is it and how do we overcome it? Image Credit: Shutterstock S...
Dec 03, 2023•38 min
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....
Nov 26, 2023•41 min
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 privacy information....
Nov 19, 2023•50 min
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.com/listener for privacy information....
Nov 05, 2023•48 min
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....
Oct 29, 2023•36 min
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.
Oct 22, 2023•41 min
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 information....
Oct 15, 2023•43 min
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 Israel regime and the oppression of the Palestinian people. But just how crucial is this particular momen...
Oct 08, 2023•43 min
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....
Oct 01, 2023•34 min
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.
Sep 24, 2023•36 min
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.
Sep 17, 2023•36 min
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.
Sep 10, 2023•37 min
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 information....
Sep 03, 2023•50 min
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....
Aug 27, 2023•32 min
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.
Aug 20, 2023•37 min
GDP or Gross Domestic Product often stands as a quintessential yardstick, reflecting a nation's economic vitality. But what exactly is it and is it a good barometer of how well a country is doing? Image Credit: 123RF See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aug 13, 2023•36 min
Throughout history, diverse cultures and individuals have exhibited unique attitudes towards ‘death’, often accompanied by an inherent fear of the unknown. But should we fear death? We’re joined by Sandy Clarke, licensed counsellor who’s trained in existential therapy. We discuss why fear of death and the nothingness that comes after, is so common and why mortality can actually be liberating. Image Credit: 123RF See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Jul 30, 2023•41 min
Money laundering is an act of concealing the origins of illicit funds to make them appear legitimate. But how does it work exactly, and how do we prevent it? We speak to Raymon Ram, who’s an anti-money laundering specialist. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 23, 2023•25 min
War, a concept as old as human civilization itself, has played a prominent role in shaping our history. While we continue to push for a world without war, one has to sadly acknowledge that it isn’t the world we live in today. So, amidst the chaos and devastation war brings, the necessity arises to distinguish between the ethical and the immoral. So, what are the Dos and Don’ts of war? Image Credit: 123RF See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Jul 16, 2023•39 min
Tax the rich! That’s a phrase that has become increasingly mainstream and popular in recent years. The call to tax the proverbial rich has only grown stronger in a post-pandemic world. But who are the rich, exactly, and why do we need to tax them? Image Credit: Christopher Penler / Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Jul 09, 2023•28 min
You may have heard of the term intersectionality, used by activists or policymakers, especially in recent years. At its core, intersectionality acknowledges that people’s experiences are shaped by multiple social categories such as race, gender and class, which intersect to produce unique and often compounded forms of disadvantage in a particular society. But what exactly does that mean? We speak to Sivananthi Thanenthiran, Executive Director, Asian-Pacific Resource & Research Centre for Wom...
Jul 02, 2023•38 min
Most of us have probably experienced getting angry at one point or another. We may get angry when we feel threatened or face rejection. Sometimes, we may get angry for something silly or petty. But what is anger, exactly and how do we deal with it? Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 25, 2023•41 min
“Who am I?” That’s a question that many of us would’ve asked ourselves at some point in our lives. But how do we get to the bottom of it? How do we begin to think about answering this question? We discuss with Sandy Clarke, licensed Counsellor. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 11, 2023•45 min
How do you want to be loved? And is it akin to how your partner expresses their love towards you? Well, did you know that understanding and exploring the concept of love languages can greatly enhance communication and emotional connection in relationships? Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 28, 2023•29 min
