Labour Day is celebrated on the 1st of May every year. But why do we observe Labour Day? What is its history?  We speak to Audi Ali, who’s a labour rights activist and a writer for Jentayu. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Imagine this. Your partner seems a bit distant or quiet for a day or two. Instead of considering that your partner might be stressed or busy, your immediate thought is "They're probably cheating on me! Our relationship is doomed, and I'll never find love again!" That’s called catastrophizing. But what exactly is it and how do we overcome it? Image Credit: metamorworks, Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It is becoming increasingly common for us to receive a call from an unknown number telling us that we have a package stuck somewhere or a WhatsApp message offering the best salaries and investment plans. You engage, go down the rabbit hole and then lose tens of thousands of ringgit, as they turned out to be scams.  But how do scams work and how do we spot a scam? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Think of the scene from Harry Potter where Harry makes Ron think that he has spiked his drink with the liquid luck potion. Ron then goes on to play the best game of Quidditch he’s ever played, only for Harry to later reveal that he didn’t actually put anything in Ron’s drink. Ron played well because he thought his drink contained the liquid luck potion.  This is called The Placebo Effect. But how does it work, exactly? Image credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...

It is estimated that there are more than 7000 languages in the world. Some languages are going extinct, some are growing in popularity, some are spoken in many regions around the world, and some are considered more niche. So, how are languages formed and how do they evolve and travel? Image credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bank Negara Malaysia, or BNM, is the central bank of Malaysia. We often hear about its pivotal role in Malaysia's economy, in monitoring and perhaps even managing currency exchange rates and OPRs. But what exactly is Bank Negara Malaysia? What are its powers and limitations? Image credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia has been listed as the 5th happiest country (or 5th best mental well-being) in the world according to a report by the Global Mind Project. But are we really doing that well? We spoke to Dr Eugene Tee about the difference between happiness and well-being, why Malaysia ranked so highly and more. Image credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"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 noticing him. How does this work? What is the connection between memory and perception? We speak to...

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 for privacy information.

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.

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 Kaur, Dean of Faculty of Languages and Linguistics, University Malaya. Image Credit:...

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:...

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 privacy information.

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.

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 information.