BFM :: A Bit of Culture

Kam Raslan, Zan Azlee, and Azmyl Yunor reunite on another episode of A Bit of Culture, with an eclectic mix of topics that will get you pondering. Zan goes first with his take on eating food from its place of origin, and whether that's the best way to enjoy food from different cultures. Then, it's Azmyl's turn to dissect the nuances surrounding how people in the Malay community apologise. In the second part of the show, Kam wonders why people fall for scams, and speculates that it might not necessarily be driven by greed alone. Tune in and contemplate on how they dissect these topics!

A Bit of Culture welcomes November with three different topics that will get you thinking deeply about things. Our first guest, Ong Kar Jin, kicks off the show by talking about our obsession with nostalgia, particularly the 90s and its promise of our dreams and aspirations. Then, it's Kam's turn to talk about his obsession with US politics, and why he's focused on that, instead of Malaysian politics. After the break, our second guest, Julian Yap talks about cultural touchpoints that we used to collectively refer to and where they are at the moment. It's an episode that you don't want to miss!

Indeed. So, should you? That's the central question that we try to unpack and sift through in this episode, with regular guest Dhanya Nair raising the question to our host Kam Raslan and fellow guest Matt Armitage. They discuss this thoroughly, reflecting on various facets. But before that, Kam wants to know whether Matt and Dhanya are adventurous eaters, and to what extent they're willing to expand their palate. Afterwards, Matt talks about Google's NotebookLM and one of its unique features of being able to summarise your notes and research into a very well-produced podcast. Cue the fear from Kam (and us too!). It's a well-rounded episode that you don't want to miss, so tune in!

The dynamic trio of Kam Raslan, Na'a Murad and Michael Gong return once again to wreak cultural havoc! Na'a starts the show by talking about movie monsters and whether they're a reflection of the worst of us or not. From that topic, we then walk down memory lane, with Kam leading the way to reflect on things we used to do that we don't do anymore. This topic gets them reminiscing about things that people of a certain age can relate to! Later, they spend the second part of the show talking about whether someone can be considered a racist if they reject other people's food culture. A fascinating topic to end the show with, before their splendid recommendations. You don't want to miss this one!

Another week, another new episode of A Bit of Culture, looking at the many facets of culture that we surround ourselves with, but may not reflect on necessarily. Sim Wie Boon and Marion D'Cruz join Kam Raslan as he talks about luxuries, and how they're becoming more of a necessity for us these days. After that introspection, they then discuss whether gender equality exists in the art scene in Malaysia, before moving on to discuss our fascination for murderers and tragedies. Three different topics with unique perspectives from our host and guests, and one that you absolutely don't want to miss!

A Bit of Culture returns and this time around, it's a confessional episode, with both our guests, Julian Yap and Ahmad Yazid opening up to our host, Kam Raslan. Julian starts the show by talking about the “crisis marathon” trend that's sweeping people in their late 20s and early 30s. Is this their way of wanting to feel like they've achieved something significant in their lives? Yazid, meanwhile, asks the team whether they're happy with their work, reflecting on his own career and whether he has achieved that personal satisfaction so far. In between that, Kam speaks about his fascination with voiceovers and whether they dilute movies or documentaries that use them. Another episode of A Bit of Culture that you don't want to miss!

Is there a shift in the music industry when it comes to people's preference for music festivals? That's the question our guest, Bihzhu, is asking as attendance numbers have dwindled locally and internationally. She shared her thoughts with our culture vulture Kam Raslan and his trusty sidekick Dhanya Nair. That topic is sandwiched between a conversation on body positivity and fandom, ensuring a wholesome, nuanced episode of A Bit of Culture that you will enjoy. Tune in and find out for yourself!

This fresh episode of A Bit of Culture discusses the nuances in tech that has changed the way people behave and interact. Joining Kam Raslan to unpack the nuances, in separate contexts, are Azmyl Yunor and Sheryll Paul. Kam starts the show by talking about the dangers of being misunderstood in texting, drawing from his own personal experience of being interpreted as being “too aggressive” in the way he writes his text messages. Sheryll follows that up by talking about how LinkedIn can get pretty “cringe”, especially when some people become overly positive and upbeat about their jobs on the platform. Last but not least, Azmyl reflects on the way social media has changed the way artists behave, relying on the platform to share more about their personal lives, as opposed to focusing solely on their craft. Tune in for thoughtful and sometimes hilarious takes on these topics, and more!

Zan Azlee and Matt Armitage join Kam Raslan on another fun-filled episode of A Bit of Culture to tackle Godzilla, AI and the news! Kam starts the show by talking about his recent experience watching Godzilla Minus One, and whether there are other equivalent “monsters” in other cultures. Then, it's Zan's turn to put on his journalist hat and talk about journalism in the age of AI, and whether it's a boon, or a bane for the industry. Matt follows up on that topic by then talking about news and how they're treated more like infotainment these days, informing, but also trying to “entertain” audiences. It's one that you don't want to miss, so tune in!

Another week, another tantalising episode of A Bit of Culture, with Kam Raslan leading the line, and Ong Kar Jin and Dhanya Nair backing him up in a three-pronged attack. Our culture vulture goes first with his take on the controversy surrounding Algerian boxer and gold medalist, Imane Khelif, at the recent Olympics, as he relates it to his own experience of being perceived a certain way by certain people. He then passes the baton to Kar Jin, who talks about the boycott movement and wonders whether it's here to stay as consumers become more informed and discerning. In the second part of the show, Dhanya talks about her experiences being an adult in this generation and how it's different compared to her parents' generation. Another insightful episode of A Bit of Culture that's filled with intellectual reflections, pondering and confessions. :P

We're going to be taking a slightly different approach on this week's A Bit of Culture by talking about a topic that's related to the economy, inspired by our two guests, Michael Gong and Hafiz Noor Shams. They help explain what double-entry bookkeeping is and how influential it is in shaping and influencing the world. But before we get to that topic, Hafiz talks about the rise of modern skyscrapers in our region and how that's taking away from the originality and unique identity of our cities. Then it's Mikey's turn to reflect on his favourite music genre, jazz and how prevalent drug abuse was in the scene once upon a time. They discuss these three topics, exploring the nuances and combing through all the fine details. Don't sleep on this one!

A Bit of Culture starts this episode with a banger of a topic! Julian Yap returns to talk about the trend of rating things and how it has perhaps made our experiences objectively worse. Then, it's Kam's turn to ask a very deep question - what brings you joy? This gets them thinking deeply about the topic. Last but not least, Dhanya Nair completes the trifecta by talking about how hard it is to be a fan these days, as you never know what's going to happen to the things that you love. It's a hoot when these three individuals are together, so sit back, tune in, and have fun! Oh, and maybe rate the episode too! :P

It's a mini reunion on A Bit of Culture as Kam Raslan welcomes the return of two former BFMers to his realm. Sim Wie Boon and Sharmilla Ganesan join Kam to trade cultural blows, and they get the party started by talking about solitude, and whether they're okay with a bit of quiet time by themselves. After tackling solitude, they talk about the internet and how the space is now used by people to vent their unhappiness at things they perceive as “wrong” in pop culture. They conclude the show by wondering about whether travel has become a bit more cliched these days, as everyone goes for the same experience, based on what they see others do on the internet. Tune in and hear their thoughts on these topics!

Kam Raslan returns, and with his trusty sidekicks, Ong Kar Jin and Matt Armitage, they tackle three topics that will tickle your curiosity. Kar Jin steps up first, and as the youngest of the three, confesses to missing newspapers and how news was curated and delivered then, compared to now. This warms them up nicely for the second conversation on science fiction and whether this genre delivers (or not) on the kind of promise that it makes in its tropes. The second part of the show sees Matt talking about music and how it's become simpler these days. But does it matter? Hear their thoughts on that, and the other two topics on another tantalising episode of A Bit of Culture.

It's a special episode of A Bit of Culture as Kam Raslan is joined by two well-known figures in the Malaysian theatre scene - Marion D'Cruz and Na'a Murad. Kam uses this opportunity to immediately jump to the topic of theatre, its ephemeral nature and whether this is a downside, compared to other forms of arts. Na'a then talks about the incessant toxicity in pop culture these days and why that's the case. They end the show by talking about gossip as a form of resilience and rebellion. Curious to know more? Tune in to hear them tackle these topics, maybe in a gossip-y kinda way! ;P

Our host, Kam Raslan decides to start this episode of A Bit of Culture by reflecting on his relationship with his surroundings in the form of asking our guests of the week, Zan Azlee and Ahmad Yazid, whether they're members of their respective communities. From there, Zan changes the trajectory of the chat slightly by sharing his experience of being in a veteran basketball group and the advantages of being a part of such association at his age. In the second part of the show, documentary filmmaker Yazid compares the differences between TV and digital censorship. Another exciting episode you don't want to miss!

Have you ever thought of the “right way”, or the etiquette of splitting a bill, after a fun day out with a group of friends? This is a topic that our A Bit of Culture guest, Sheryll Paul brings to the table, and frankly, it's about time it's being discussed, as the nuances can be pretty layered and complex, depending on your social group and what they are like. Man of culture Kam Raslan moderates that topic alongside our other returning guest making his second appearance, Hafiz Noor Shams. Besides that topic, they also talk about plastic and how we're slowly learning how destructive this creation is to us when it was meant to make our lives more convenient initially, as well as the posterity of our work on the internet, in this modern era when almost everything is there, or on the cloud. Another episode of A Bit of Culture that will get you pondering, so be sure not to miss it!

A Bit of Culture up the stakes this time around, with regulars Dhanya Nair and Michael Gong joining Kam Raslan to indulge in his slightly confessional topic that may (or may not) be strange to some - he likes watching videos of ears being cleaned! Not really strange, really, but what did Dhanya and Mikey think? But before we get to that, Mikey poses a very interesting question - what are three English books that they would like to teach to Malaysian teenagers. Tune in to hear what they pick! Last but definitely not least, Dhanya ends the show by talking about a topic that's discussed on TikTok - gifted child vs mediocre adult. It's another episode that you don't want to miss!

It's a jam-packed episode of A Bit of Culture that's filled with starry-eyed conversations that look into the future of rom coms, AI and memory. Regular guest and a huge fan of rom coms Julian Yap shares her love for a genre that has seen a resurgence in popularity and how it's going to evolve in the future. Then, it's futurologist Matt Armitage's turn to put Julian and our host Kam Raslan on the spot by asking them how they use AI, and unpacks our attitude to them. Then, in the second part of the show, Kam talks about how we deal with memory and its future. Tune in and have fun pondering!

Our culture vulture Kam Raslan welcomes regular guests, Zan Azlee and Ong Kar Jin on another thought-provoking episode of A Bit of Culture. Since they're both guys, Kam starts the show by talking about the concept of machismo, and their perspectives on it. Zan then reflects on the various types of Malaysian sports movies that are available out there after watching the recently released Padu The Movie and how fun and important these movies are, despite following certain tropes. Afterwards, things get more philosophical and heavy, as Kar Jin talks about our memories and how the way we remember things might not necessarily be how we think it is. Tune in to find out more!

It's a laughter-filled episode of A Bit of Culture as Kam and regular guests Dhanya Nair and Vernon Adrian Emuang discuss different facets of modern culture, peeling through the topics layer-by-layer. Our culture vulture gets the ball rolling by looking at Barbie's latest line up consisting of notable real-life figures, made into figurines, and wonders whether they can actually change or shape children's minds as they grow older. Afterwards, Vernon talks about the possibility of positivity being suppressed by the powers-that-be in order to control society. In the second part of the show, Dhanya speaks about the struggles of not being able to speak her mother tongue. Another episode you don't want to miss!

It's a star-studded cast on A Bit of Culture, as futurist Matt Armitage and Bob Dylan of Bangi Azmyl Yunor join Kam Raslan for another session of culture-filled banter. Matt gets the party going by talking about ChatGPT's latest feature - it can now sing! This gets Kam excited, though Azmyl thinks it won't be much of a threat to his music career. After that, Kam talks about coolness and whether there's a universal norm for being cool. And to end the show, Azmyl ponders about whether there's a difference between travelling and going on a vacation. Another episode that you don't want to miss!

A Bit of Culture welcomes economist Hafiz Noor Shams to the ABOC family to share his take on Malaysia's growth in the 90s and her eventual decline. But before Hafiz's debut topic, the show's regular guest Julian Yap talks about girl power and the rise of female-driven pop culture content. Kam then follows that up by looking for the definition of middle class and what it entails. Another exciting episode of A Bit of Culture that explores wonderful topics from multiple different angles!

Sometimes, it's good to have conversations that are so random and diverse and that's what this episode of A Bit of Culture is all about. Dhanya Nair and Marion D'Cruz join our culture vulture Kam Raslan on the episode to unpack three distinctive topics - the concept of living funerals and whether that's a cool thing that we should consider before we say goodbye to our loved ones, the continuous growth of Malaysian designers and brands and the unique approach that they take to showcase our identities, and maffick, or mass hysteria, and how they come to be. Tune in to hear how they expertly navigate these topics!

Another week, another episode of A Bit of Culture. This post-Labour Day episode features regular guests Na'a Murad and Matt Armitage as they join Kam to explore Malaysian science fiction, the future of social media, and the enduring appeal of board games. Na'a opens the show by hypothetically projecting what a strong Malaysian science fiction will be based or anchored on, and this gets both Kam and Matt speculating wildly. Kam then looks to the future to ponder what social media is going to look like then. Matt closes the show by talking about board games and how they've managed to successfully endure and survive, despite competitions and distractions from a lot of other things these days. Tune in to hear how they tackle all these topics!

Sometimes, A Bit of Culture starts the show with a topic that's pretty deep, and that's how this episode begins - with Kam sharing his dislike for the word “civilisation” and what it entails. It gets our regular guest, Dhanya Nair and debutant Sudais Ferhard thinking, reflecting and even coming up with a counter argument. Then, they move on to talking about dating app etiquette, inspired by Dhanya and Sudais' personal experience on these platforms and their ways of going about it. Are the apps still relevant, or have people moved away from them? In the second part of the show, they talk about fashion, with debutant Sudais sharing his love for styles that are timeless.

…that's the question of the week, as Kam Raslan and his guests, Julian Yap and Vernon Adrian Emuang, unpack our obsession with travelling and whether it truly broadens our horizons, as claimed by many. From there, they then move on to talking about swearing, without dropping any foul words along the way, surprisingly. In the second part of the show, Vernon speaks about identity and diasporas, reflecting on his own identity and community. It's another fun episode that you don't want to miss!

Zan Azlee and Matt Armitage return to A Bit of Culture and one of them might get in trouble with a lot of people as they discuss mass media's appeal to the lowest common denominator. But prior to that, Kam kicks off the show by talking about optimism vs pessimism, forcing everyone to look in the mirror to assess their own personalities. From there, they move on to talking about brain implants and whether it's something we should embrace as and when it becomes an option for all of us. It's another exciting episode of A Bit of Culture that promises to entertain you!

It's a slightly unique A Bit of Culture episode this time around, as we only have two topics, instead of the usual three. BFMers, past and present, join Kam Raslan to talk about things that matter to them. Firstly, former BFM News Producer Sheryll Paul ponders about third spaces and whether we have enough of them here in the country. What are third spaces? Tune in to find out! Afterwards, current BFMer, Julian Yap talks about relying on algorithms to feed you information, vs making the effort to search for them. It's another episode that you don't want to miss!

Miriam Margolyes, the actor who played Professor Pomona Sprout in the Harry Potter films recently courted controversy after telling adult Harry Potter fans that they should “grow up” and “get over it”. This riled up our regular guest, Dhanya Nair, a Potterhead herself, and she decided to talk about it on the show. Afterwards, Kam revisits the topic of whether Malaysians read books, this time getting the perspective of ABOC debutant and owner of Lit Books, Fong Min Hun. In the second part of the show, Min Hun shares his thoughts on TV and film adaptations of books, making references to the recently released Dune movie. Tune in to another exciting episode of A Bit of Culture.

Another week, another exciting episode of A Bit of Culture, this time around featuring Marion D'Cruz and Michael Gong! We kick things off with a philosophical discussion on capital cities and their characteristics. Then, the trio moves on by talking about high art and whether one should approach it with a certain degree of knowledge, or it's fine if they're just there to appreciate things without really knowing everything. In the second part of the show, Marion talks about how certain Mamak restaurants have rebranded themselves, and with that, the disappearing of certain cuisines.

A Bit of Culture welcomes another debutant, in the form of dancer and choreographer, Lee Su-Feh! She speaks about our perception of our bodies and others in public spaces and how indirectly and subliminally aware we are of these things. But before that, ABOC regular Ong Kar Jin discusses the self-immolation of Aaron Bushnell, to protest the Gaza war, while Kam shares to the group his reluctance and refusal to learn the names of Korean actors & directors. Why? Tune in to find out!

A Bit of Culture welcomes March with another episode that's true to the essence of the show. Dhanya Nair and Na'a Murad join Kam Raslan to talk about Reddit, learning martial arts and Mount Everest. Dhanya gets the ball rolling by bringing Kam and Na'a down the rabbit hole of Reddit, much to the delight (and bemusement) of these two fine gentlemen. Then, it was Na'a's turn to share his experience learning martial arts, then and now, and how martial arts have evolved to be a bit more accessible, but at the same time, lost some of its essence as well. In the second part of the show, it's Kam's turn to talk about Mount Everest - both the literal, and the figurative one. Tune in for these exciting conversations!

True to A Bit of Culture's DNA, the Super Bowl (or at least a part of it) becomes a talking point for Kam and his two guests for this week, Julian Yap and Matt Armitage. Julian starts the show by talking about the controversy surrounding Alicia Keys' slight off-key performance at the recent Super Bowl, which was subsequently “corrected” when the video of that performance was uploaded on the NFL's official YouTube channel. Was that move a right one? The folks discuss that before moving on to talking about musical biographies and whether there are good ones out there that do not over-sensationalise the musicians, and instead, focus solely on their craft. Afterwards, Matt ponders whether we should understand how technology works. Tune in for a well-rounded discussion on culture, music and technology!

Join Kam Raslan, Dhanya Nair and Azmyl Yunor as they look at pop culture from many different facets and perspectives. Kam kicks off the show by talking about music and how “visual” it actually is and can be, despite the obvious, inspired by Azmyl Yunor's latest music video. Then, it's Azmyl's turn to reflect on rock and roll and its ageing rockstars and the secret to their longevity. After the break, Dhanya shares her love for Indian Cinema and why they're severely underrated and should be paid more attention to by people out there.

The apologists are back and they're looking for revenge! Not literally, but in a more dynamic way that somehow marks the delicate intricacies of the global societies and communities at large. Tune in for a clearer picture of this conversation, brought to you by ABOC regular, Ong Kar Jin. But before we get to that, Kam starts off the show by talking about AI-generated images and whether they will be the norm moving forward, as more people opt for them. And in her second appearance on the show, Sheryll Paul speaks about musicals and why they're not being marketed clearly for the audience.

New year means new milestone for some, and in the case of ABOC regular and documentary filmmaker, Ahmad Yazid, it's embracing wearing braces at the age of 40. He shares his experience with our host Kam, and another ABOC regular, Vernon Adrian Emuang. Kam then asks his guests what their relationship is with their old photographs, while sharing his. After the break, Vernon talks about Youtube and how he finds so much joy from the platform. It's another episode that you don't want to miss!

Yup, you read that right. Kam has a Taylor Swift-related conundrum. What is it exactly? Tune in to find out! But before you'll get to that dilemma, Dhanya Nair starts off the show by ruminating about leading old actors and whether there's a cut-off age before they're considered “too old” to be the leading person. Later on the show, Matt Armitage wonders why robots have to look like human beings, when it's technically more difficult to make them that way. It's a fascinating conversation that discusses the potential reasons and many other nuances. Another fun episode of A Bit of Culture that you don't want to miss!

A Bit of Culture regulars, Julian Yap and Dhanya Nair join Kam to usher in the new year and of course, inevitably, the topic of resolutions come up. In between that, Julian speaks about the casting choices for period pieces and how they should avoid casting faces that know what an iPhone is. Speaking of movies, Kam reminisces about Mary Poppins and how some films are catered and targeted for children exclusively, without thinking about the adults that are watching them as well. Tune in to start 2024 the right way!

Joining Kam Raslan on the last episode of A Bit of Culture for the year 2023 are Zan Azlee and Ong Kar Jin, and together, they reflect on the ten best Malaysian movies of the year, whether competitive sports for kids should be cancelled, and nostalgia vs retro. Zan starts things off by listing down his ten favourite Malaysian movies this year, and his thoughts on what he considers a good year for our local movie industry. Kam then uses Zan as an example of how we should consider cancelling competitive sports for kids, as some parents (such as Zan) can be overly competitive in supporting their kids, making other kids who may not perform as well, feel bad. Kar Jin ends the show with his observation on how we're now clamouring for everything retro, but one that is presented in a slightly sanitised way. Tune in to hear their thoughtful takes on these topics!

Kam Raslan and his two close companions, Na'a Murad and Sim Wie Boon gathered ahead of Christmas to talk about pirates, independent news sources and the end of the world, in that order. Kam begins the show by talking about his fascination with pirates and how to separate what they really are, in reality, and how they're perceived in myths and mainstream media. Speaking of media, Na'a shares his thoughts and observations of independent news sources and how they're challenging the mainstream narratives and ways of doing things from critical perspectives. In the second part of the show, Wie Boon talks about what the end of the world will be like, based on Netflix's latest film, Leave The World Behind.

Once in a while, A Bit of Culture likes to feature new voices, and in this episode, it is Sheryll Paul's turn to make her first appearance on the show. Together with a veteran, Michael Gong, they discuss three different topics that are related to culture. Our venerable host, Kam Raslan kicks off the show by wondering about our fascination with serial killers. Or rather, our fascination with their stories. Frequent traveller, Mikey then reflects on our tendency to buy souvenirs and mementos when we travel and why we do them. Last but not least, debutant Sheryll makes her bow by talking about BookTok and how it has reinvigorated reading culture for the new generation.