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!