Evening Edition

In the news today, it was reported that there was a 30% drop in the number of patients going to private hospitals. The report outlined cost as one of the main factors as to why patients turn to public hospitals. But there are people who still opt for private health care even when it burns a hole in their pockets. What's the perception people have on public vs private health care? So, on Talkback Thursday this evening, we're curious to find out what your first choice of healthcare is: private or public? Our lines will be open.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're featuring Malaysia's Queen of Jazz as we'll be taking a look at some of her biggest hits like Sinaran, Antara Anyer dan Jakarta and Lagenda, just to name a few. Dato' Sheila Majid talks candidly with Ezra offering some personal insights into some of her top-charting hits. And she also speaks about her latest offering released this year, Boneka.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We rush through our days, trying to merge our professional and personal lives, living in a narrative that can often be parochial or even inward-looking.. just as a means to get by. Sometimes it feels as though everyone lives in their own little bubble.   But every once in awhile, there'll be some random story that we read or see online that remind us to reflect... or to pause for thought. The Best of You is a social awareness movement that is collecting those moments and sharing them. We speak to Sai Tzy Horng, the mastermind of The Best of You, on why he founded the movement. Two of the movement's featured personalities, Siti Rahayu (or Cikgu Ayu), the founder of Buku Jalanan Chow Kit, and Wan Shah, a teacher at Bukit Bintang Boys Secondary School and a person with disabilities also joins us to tell us their tale.   You can find more stories or take part in the social movement at thebestofyou.mySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The episode where Uma - and special guests Iain McNally, Bahir Yeusuff, and Jason Leong, who shall, from this day forth, be collectively referred to as "The Boys of Summer" - are concerned with some of the narrative inconsistencies that are starting to plague this penultimate season of the series.       (We do apologize for parts of this episode not being up to our exacting audio standards. Uma was dialing in from the United States and couldn't quite land a perfect telephone connection.)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Happily Ever After? -- the show where we revisit the fairy tales we fell in love with once upon a time. Whether it's from the East or West, fairy tales have always been boldly weaved together by magic. Enchanted forests, evil witches, anthropomorphic clocks… the supernatural awaits at every turn. But is it all childish nonsense that must be outgrown? Or is there something more to the pull that magic has and the way we, as human beings, relate to it? We explore with Marion Gibson.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Hong Kong, Cantonese is the default language for most of the population. But there's been an increasing number of people who speak Putonghua in the country. For many Hong Kongers, this signals the increasing "mainlandisation" of the country, and a threat to a central part of their identity. Caroline Oh speaks with Lau Chaak-Ming, a linguistics expert in Hong Kong who is passionate about preserving Cantonese. Chaak-Ming is in the midst of compiling an online Cantonese-to-Cantonese dictionary at words.hk.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Qatar diplomatic crisis happened out of the blue in June when several Middle East nations abruptly cut off diplomatic relations with Qatar. Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Egypt severed relations with Qatar by withdrawing ambassadors and imposing trade and travel bans. To end the rift, the Middle East nations presented a list of 13 demands to Qatar. Among the things Qatar had to do was to close a Turkish military base, scale down ties with Iran...and shut down Al Jazeera. Why did they target Al Jazeera specifically? We find out why by speaking to Hugh Miles, journalist and the author of Al Jazeera: How Arab TV News Challenged The World.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The episode where Uma - and special guests Iain McNally and Bahir Yeusuff - finally get around to reviewing the action adventure heist musical fairy tale that is Baby Driver.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The episode where Uma and Iain try to maintain their composure while chatting with the most excellent Edgar Wright.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The episode where Uma and Iain meet Ansel Elgort and Lily James to talk about their starring roles in the new Edgar Wright movie Baby Driver.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The episode where Uma - and special guests Iain McNally and Bahir Yeusuff - experience shell shock while watching Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yesterday, the results to a survey conducted by the Integrity Institute of Malaysia (IIM) on student’s perception of corruption was released. It revealed that more than a third of their surveyed public university students believed that graft is morally acceptable and doesn’t constitute as a crime. About a fifth of the respondents consider nepotism as a permissible act, and that almost 40% of them saw nothing wrong with making false claims for attending out-of-office events. So on Talkback today, we're asking you, are we Malaysians becoming morally bankrupt? Our lines will be open.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Clash - one of the pioneers of British punk rock, released one of the greatest rock albums of all time in 1979. "London Calling" immediately caught the attention of the public through its charged lyrical narratives and wide-ranging musical genres. Tonight, on (Untitled), Uma and Ezra spins this timeless record that influenced the words, styles and sounds of many artists today.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The episode where Uma - and special guest Kaite Welsh - squeal in delight over the announcement that Jodie Whitaker will take over the mantle of The Doctor on the new series of Doctor Who.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Come July, DJs Goldfish & Blink will be spinning at one of the world’s largest electronic dance music festivals, Tomorrowland. It's an epic coup and a proud moment for the duo, who will be the first Malaysians to represent at the Belgium based festival, performing alongside acts like Axwell/\Ingrosso, David Guetta, Martin Garrix, Marshmello, and Steve Aoki. Ezra catches up with the boys before they take to the decks.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The episode where Uma - and special guests Iain McNally, Bahir Yeusuff, and Jason Leong, who shall, from this day forth, be collectively referred to as "The Boys of Summer" - geek out and recap the first episode of the seventh season of Game of Thrones.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The episode where Uma welcomes special guest Lina Teoh for a conversation about Crossing Borders, a 5 day international cross cultural European/ Asian documentary pitch training workshop, and its role in developing local documentary filmmakers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Happily Ever After? -- the show where we revisit the fairy tales we fell in love with once upon a time. In this episode, Ninot Aziz returns to delve into our rich collection of local folk tales, to bring you of stories of Cik Siti Wan Kembang, Puteri Saadong and Tengku Mariam.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's not new, it happens all too often, yet it's hardly reported or discussed about. But recent high profile accounts from Silicon Valley have thrust the issue into the fore, revealing the scale and severity of a problem that persists in industries across the board. Animah Kosai talks us through identifying and responding to sexual harassment at the workplace.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our laws say that Malaysian women have the right to end an early pregnancy if it causes serious physical or mental harm. Yet access to abortion pills, the only safe and effective non surgical option available, is restricted in the country. Women either face the stigma and discomfort of a surgical abortion, or turn to the online black market for counterfeit pills. We speak to Dr. Choong SP, co-chair of Reproductive Rights Advocacy Alliance Malaysia (RRAAM), about the facts surrounding this dilemma.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The episode where Uma - and special guests Bahir Yeusuff and Jason Leong - get hyped over the fact that winter is finally, finally here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The episode where Uma - and special guests Iain McNally and Bahir Yeusuff - take a look back at the stunning oeuvre of writer/director Edgar Wright.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The brilliance of Sarawak lies not just in its rich cultural traditions, but also in its rainforest experiences. This year, the capital town of Kuching blends art and adventure as the city holds the first ever Rainforest Fringe Festival (RFF). The 10-day festival aims to exhibit the indigenous culture of present-day Sarawak through local talents in music, fashion, food, film, etc. This evening, Ezra alongside festival director, Joe Sidek, rediscover the beauty of Sarawak as they go deep into the heart of Kuching.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This month marks the 20th anniversary of the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis (AFC). What happened in Malaysia was pretty dramatic. We were going through both economic and political turmoil at the same time. And it wasn't hard just for our country, but of our livelihoods and the prospects of our kids. But 20 years on we’ve survived and somewhat rebounded. So we want to hear what happened in those 20 years.. How did the financial crisis impact you? Our lines will be open.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With its crisp guitars and start-stop tempos, "Are You Gonna Be My Girl" quickly became Jet's signature song. Formed in 2001, the Australian rock band gained international popularity from their debut studio album, "Get Born", with music critics associating them with the likes of AC/DC and Oasis. This week on (Untitled), Ezra welcomes Mark Wilson, the bassist of Jet as they reminisce on the band's very successful debut album.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Everyone wants the spread of HIV to end. Heavy-handed policies and a zero-tolerance approach have been found to be ineffective. Despite new research findings of better approaches that could effectively curb the disease, many governments are still reluctant to adopt new policies, not least due to cultural factors. Ezra Zaid speaks with Dr. Chris Beyrer, Professor of Epidemiology at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and Immediate Past President of the International AIDS Society.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Happily Ever After? -- the show where we revisit the fairy tales we fell in love with once upon a time. One of the greatest things to come out of Disney's massive cannon of fairy tale adaptions is its stunningly composed music. From Little Mermaid to Moana, we take an unabashed journey through the most epic and memorable Disney melodies.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In recent years, one of the main focuses of the Ministry of Education has been introducing technology in schools. But past moves or suggestions have not necessarily been successful or met with welcome. Most recently, the ministry has said that it's mulling over whether or not to allow the use of electronic gadgets in classrooms. Unsurprisingly, this has prompted both support and objection for various reasons. But today we hear from another perspective - an NGO that runs programmes teaching English and IT skills as a solution to poverty. Our guest is Raj Ridvan Singh, founder, and CEO of SOLS 24/7.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In recent decades, the private military industry has grown rapidly. Private military companies provide armed combat and security services. Governments, corporations, prominent individuals and even humanitarian organisations have turned to these companies to hire private military contractors, also known as PMCs. Ezra Zaid speaks with Dr. Sean McFate, professor of strategy at the National Defence University and Georgetown University, about the ethical questions in the industry. He is also the author of the novel Deep Black (to be released in August), that he wrote with his personal experience working in private military companies.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yesterday, we highlighted a story about how the former MaGIC CEO, Cheryl Yeoh, was sexually assaulted by a prominent Silicon Valley venture capitalist and CEO of 500 Startups, Dave McClure, 3 years ago. Sexual harassment at the workplace is a continuing problem. And depending on the circumstances, consent, for some people, can be confusing. So today on Talkback, we’d like to you to share your stories and concerns with us on the topic - have you ever experienced sexual harassment at the workplace? Do you understand what constitutes sexual harassment? Our lines will be open.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alongside artists such as the Beatles, the Beach Boys, and Bob Dylan, Simon & Garfunkel quickly became one of the best-selling music groups of the 1960s. In their final studio album, ‘Bridge over Troubled Water’, the folk-rock duo took on a more creative approach, combining rock, gospel, and other genres. This week on Untitled, Uma and Ezra rediscover the major hit album which features tracks like ‘The Boxer’, ‘Bridge over Troubled Water’, and ‘Cecilia’.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Peter Slezak is Jewish. He also happens to be a campaigner of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel. Because of his work, he's been called anti-Semitic and a self-hating Jew. He joins the show to tell us about his work, his life, and the Jewish community's role in the Palestine-Israel conflict.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's curious that the fairy tales we know today, are evolutions of folk tales that sound less like bedtime stories and more like dark fantasies of sex and violence. So this week, we head back to the 19th century, when fairy tales were at their most macabre, to look at these original versions and the men who collected them.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many charities work like this: they get donations in cash and then they use that money to buy goods like food and clothes to be given away to those in need. But what if the money was just given to those people instead? What happens then? That's the work that NGO GiveDirectly does. We speak to Piali, GiveDirectly's Chief Operating Officer on how their work has changed lives so far.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The episode where Uma - and special guests Iain McNally and Bahir Yeusuff - are excited to experience - once again and without reservation - a genuinely great Spider-Man movie.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are many problems that still plague higher education, from its cost, whether it’s worth it, to the problem of it not preparing graduates enough for the workforce. So how do we solve them? Umapagan Ampikaipakan presents these problems to two folks from Minerva in an attempt generate solutions. He speaks to Ben Nelson, founder of the Minerva Schools, and Kenn Ross, its Asia Managing Director.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The episode where Uma - and special guests Iain McNally and Bahir Yeusuff - pass judgement on the first trailer for the 2017 reboot of Jumanji.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The episode where Uma - and special guests Iain McNally and Bahir Yeusuff - witness Miyazaki come to life in Bong Joon-ho's latest effort about a girl and her pet "superpig".See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The episode where Uma - and special guests Iain McNally and Bahir Yeusuff - get down and dirty with the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The episode where Uma - and special guests Iain McNally and Bahir Yeusuff - gush over the "TeKillYah" trailer for Edgar Wright's Baby Driver.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It is a known fact that when a couple plans for marriage, a creature creeps out in the open to take over these proceedings. It can be described as an irrational female who has lost all common sense while chasing the elusive 'perfect' wedding she's been planning since she was 4. But bridezillas, it seems, are now joined by their counterparts - groomzillas and momzillas. As if weddings couldn't get any more complicated, we speak to a wedding planner who's seen it all, and a clinical psychologist about why bridezillas exist.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys and The Arcs fame, released his second solo album entitled "Waiting on a Song". The album quickly gained positive reviews from critics, noting its bright sounding old-school rock and roll melodies paired with his distinctive fingerstyle guitar playing. This week on Untitled, Uma and Ezra drops the needle on Auerbach's lauded "Waiting on a Song".See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The premise of a Universal Basic Income (UBI) is simple, if not slightly improbable: each person is given a fixed monthly payment, regardless of wealth, gender, political affiliations or employment status, by the governing administration. The objective? To solve economic problems of the 21st century and to put an end to poverty. Previously dismissed as mere fantasy, the theory is now being put into practice as a pilot program in Finland. We talk logistics and the probability of success with Malcolm Torry, founder of the Citizen's Income Trust.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The episode where Uma - and special guests Iain McNally and Bahir Yeusuff - experience catalepsy while watching Michael Bay's ego... trip.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The episode where Uma - and special guests Iain McNally and Bahir Yeusuff - take a look back at The Wolf of Wall Street, Dumb and Dumber To, and Daddy's Home - three movies that have absolutely nothing to do with each other... for absolutely no particular reason whatsoever. Really.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The episode where Uma speaks to Malaysian-born Diana Chan about her experiences on the latest season of MasterChef Australia.       *You can catch MasterChef Australia on Lifetime Asia (Astro Ch 709), Mondays t0 Fridays at 8pm and again at 11pm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bullying has unfortunately been a long standing issue in our country, but it took the tragic deaths of T. Nhaveen and Zulfarhan Osman for the Malaysian public to stop and examine the causes behind the deeply-rooted culture of bullying in schools. What compels an individual or group to commit such brutalities against a fellow human being? How did the glorification of violence become accepted among our youth? And how can we as a society and country, put an end to this? Our lines will be open.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In his new self titled-album, former member of One Direction, Harry Styles, takes a more serious rock-based approach with critics comparing the sounds of the album to artists like Bowie, Elton John, and The Beatles. This week on (Untitled), Uma and Ezra explore this promising debut of Styles which include tracks like the lead single "Sign of the Times", and “Meet Me in the Hallway”.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fidget spinners- the latest gadget to get all the kids (and some of the adults) in a tizzy. A sociologist who studies fads and a clinical psychologist who advocates fidgeting tell us what they think.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Happily Ever After? -- the show where we revisit the fairy tales we fell in love with once upon a time. A recent advertising kerfuffle has revived or reintroduced Malaysians to Dayang Senandung, an old Malay folklore that tells the tale of a cursed princess with a melodious voice. Is it a moral tale about society's obsession with outer beauty, or a blatant account of racism and prejudice against skin colour?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.