The Ezra Zaid Project

After quitting her job as a management consultant, Alina signed up for a teaching fellowship that would change the course of her life. As a teacher and educator, she is one of the co-founders of Arus Academy: a social enterprise that focuses on imparting skills to create physical and digital solutions to existing problems. Bio Alina Amir is one of the four co-founders at Arus Academy. She helps with strategy and business development to ensure the long term sustainability of Arus. Alina graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She was also an analyst at Accenture before teaching History as a Teach For Malaysia Fellow for four years in a public school. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When a trio of ex-colleagues haven't caught up in a while, all bets are off! They explore the big questions: are aliens among us? UFOs are just a matter of fact now? What about cryptocurrency? And how would you sort out the climate crisis? Ezra catches up with old radio comrades Khoo Hsu Chuang and Julian Ng on a new segment: Cincai² Bocai. Bio Khoo Hsu Chuang is a financial journalist with over two decades of experience. He’s worked in KL, Singapore, Tokyo, Hong Kong and London covering financial and capital markets for The Edge, Bloomberg and Thomson-Reuters in print, newswire, Internet and digital TV broadcast formats. Chuang has spent the last decade grilling CEOs, policymakers, academics and politicians as a co-host of The Morning Run on BFM 89.9, a business and finance-oriented radio station and as a Contributing Editor and Video Presenter with The Edge Media Group in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Currently, he is the driving force behind Do More, a long-form video podcast series that explores entrepreneurship, investing and work-life balance. Julian Ng has 20 years’ experience in the investment banking and fund management industries with companies such as CIMB, J.P. Morgan and Public Mutual. As a producer and presenter on BFM 89.9, he covered business issues and financial stories and how it impacted ordinary folks. He now serves as the co-founder of Akru, a digital platform that provides automated, algorithm-driven financial planning services with little to no human supervision. Check out Julian’s previous appearance on the podcast: How Much Money Is Enough? feat. Julian Ng | EZ On The Money #1 Episode Structure Carpe diem Links: Navy pilots describe encounters with UFOs | 60 Minutes Naval Pilot's Shocking UFO Encounter | History President Obama replying to question by Reggie Watts on UFOs | The Late Late Show Reservoir Dogs - Tipping scene Operation Varsity Blues: The College Admissions Scandal | Netflix Neuralink: Elon Musk's entire brain chip presentation in 14 minutes (supercut) Full House - Jesse meets Becky scene Greta Thunberg in opening track of the album, The 1975… by The 1975 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Madam Kim falls into a depression following her divorce, her young son Kee Whay decides he should become a doctor. His wish: to mend his mother's broken heart. But as his own struggles with schizophrenia begin to emerge, their shared existence forces them to confront their relationship and what they mean to each other. Bio Madam Poh Kim Pheng, also known as Madam Kim, is currently a committee member of the Malaysian Mental Health Association, a non-profit NGO established to promote mental health awareness and public mental wellbeing. Episode structure Links mental health organisations and suicide hotlinesFree mental health resourcesFact sheet: World Health OrganisationSchizophrenia TED Talk Terms See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Hidayah Hisham was nine, she was unable to make sense of her Dad’s disappearance. 17 years later, she confronts her own past when she films the story of Siti — a daughter fighting for her father’s freedom — in her documentary Ayahku, Dr. G. Bio Hidayah Hisham is a video producer and presenter at BFM 89.9 - The Business Station. Ayahku, Dr. G is her first documentary film, made with her fellow filmmakers Loh Jo Yee and Dominique Teoh. The documentary captures the journey of a daughter fighting for justice to save her father from death row. Ayahku, Dr.G premiered at Freedom Film Festival 2020 and won the Film Grant Prize at the event. Episode Structure Ayahku, Dr. GAyahku, Dr. GAyahku, Dr. G Links Watch the trailer of the film, Ayahku, Dr G. Q: How can I watch the film? If you’d like to watch Ayahku, Dr G, sign up for our newsletter. After signing up, you will then receive a private link via e-mail to watch the film, available only for a limited period of time. Q: How do I find out more about Dr. G and his daughter, Siti? For a timeline of what’s taken place with Dr G, and his current status, read more articles here. Check out the official website representing Dr. G and his cause, made by the directors of Ayahku, Dr. G. You may get involved with the campaign if you wish to support his cause and help raise awareness for his case. Q: Is there a way I can donate and support them directly? Absolutely. Click here to help Siti and Dr. G today in acquiring the funds needed to support them during Dr. G's incarceration. If you would like to contact the fundraising team directly, please email to the filmmakers at ayahkudrg@gmail.com. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Financial writer Aaron Tang, explains why we never seem to have enough time - and why your time, and not wealth, is your most precious resource. If you’re someone who has money (and less time), Aaron reveals the formula of how to live a more meaningful life. Also, how do we rewire our lives to stay regret-free? Learn how you could ultimately make more money, and waste less time in the long-run, putting it aside for the things in life that make us happiest. Bio Aaron Tang has worked in the oil and gas industry for 9 years, under the national oil company Petronas, and multinational oil company Weatherford. He now works as the country manager of Luno, an international cryptocurrency exchange, and also Malaysia’s largest cryptocurrency exchange market. Due to his interest in cryptocurrency and bitcoin, he began writing about financial matters in his blog Mr-stingy, which has now become one of Malaysia’s top finance blogs. He has also contributed to multiple other finance-related websites, both locally and internationally, such as SAYS, iMoney, The Huffington Post, and The Good Men Project. Aaron Tang (Mr-stingy): Blog, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram Episode Structure Links https://waitbutwhy.com/2014/05/life-weeks.html - The article where the concept of the ‘memento mori’ was derived from. https://www.mr-stingy.com/time-money-love-most-important/ - Aaron Tang, or Mr-stingy’s article about time, money and love that this interview is based on. Terms 'Dua Kerja' -- A malay phrase for 'working two jobs' or 'working a part-time job alongside one's main occupation. Tithe -- A portion of one's earning, normally 10% of one's earnings, that was formally taken as tax for the support of the Church and clergy. Zakat -- an Islamic finance term referring to the obligation that an individual has to donate a certain proportion of wealth each year to charitable causes. ‘Sikit sikit, lama lama jadi bukit’ -- A malay idiom that describes how a little goes a long way - the rough translation in English is, ‘Little by little, over a long period of time, something will turn from a molehill into a mountain’. 'YOLO’ -- an acronym standing for 'You Only Live Once', used to express the view that one should make the most of the present moment without worrying about the future. EPF -- Employees' Provident Fund (EPF; Malay: Kumpulan Wang Simpanan Pekerja, KWSP), a federal statutory body under the purview of the Ministry of Finance. It manages the compulsory savings plan and retirement planning for private sector workers in Malaysia. 'Skim Cepat Kaya' -- A 'Get Rich Quick' scheme, a plan that typically offers a high or unrealistic rates of return for a small amount of investment and at the same time promises that the investment is simple and free from any risk. 'Syok sendiri' -- Malay slang to describe being full of oneself ------- This episode was brought to you Buttery. Use the code 'EZRA30' to get 30% off on their cakes, coffees, and pastries on https://www.buttery.my/ezra - order online now and you could have it delivered to your doorstep, free. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Determined to transform his relationship with money, Ezra begins the conversation about personal finance. With Julian Ng, co-founder of robo-advisor Akru, they discuss how much money is enough for you to have a life you love, now and in the future? What conscious choices can you make to improve your station in life? Also, the merits of passive investing. Bio Julian Ng has 20 years’ experience in the investment banking and fund management industries with companies such as CIMB, J.P. Morgan and Public Mutual. As a producer and presenter on BFM89.9, he covered business issues and financial stories and how it impacted ordinary folks. In his time as a portfolio manager, he became uncomfortable with the ideology that fund houses were expected to consistently outperform the market. This led him to co-found Akru, a digital platform that provides automated, algorithm-driven financial planning services with little to no human supervision. Julian Ng: Linkedin, Blog, Twitter Episode Structure Links Julian Ng interviews his hero, John Bogle Vanguard — John Bogle’s fund manager/investing company Barbell Investment Strategy by Nassim Nicholas Talebs New Economic Policy (NEP) in Malaysia Lemonade Day — inspiring kids to start a business and build something that will change the world regardless of how large or small their ambition is. Book Recommendations The Little Book of Common Sense Investing by John Bogle https://www.academia.edu/35165688/The_little_book_of_common_sense_investing Terms Assets — an asset is a resource with economic value that an individual, corporation, or country owns or controls with the expectation that it will provide a future benefit. Cryptocurrency — a digital currency in which transactions are verified and records maintained by a decentralized system using cryptography, rather than by a centralized authority. (ex. Bitcoin uses cryptocurrency) Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) — an exchange traded fund (ETF) is a type of security that involves a collection of securities—such as stocks—that often tracks an underlying index, although they can invest in any number of industry sectors or use various strategies. ETFs are in many ways similar to mutual funds; however, they are listed on exchanges and ETF shares trade throughout the day just like ordinary stock. Index Funds — an index fund is a type of mutual fund or exchange-traded fund (ETF) with a portfolio constructed to match or track the components of a financial market index, such as the Standard & Poor's 500 Index (S&P 500). An index mutual fund is said to provide broad market exposure, low operating expenses, and low portfolio turnover. These funds follow their benchmark index regardless of the state of the markets. Robo-advisor — Robo-advisor/roboadvisor are digital platforms that provide automated, algorithm-driven financial planning services with little to no human supervision. A typical robo-advisor collects information from clients about their financial situation and future goals through an online survey and then uses the data to offer advice and automatically invest client assets. Return — A return, also known as a financial return, in its simplest terms, is the money made or lost on an investment over some period of time. Stock Market — The stock market refers to the collection of markets and exchanges where regular activities of buying, selling, and issuance of shares of publicly-held companies take place. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pasi Sahlberg puts forth the case as to why play is an essential part of every child’s life. We discover the benefits of children and young people when they follow their own ideas and interests, in their own way, and for their own reasons. What's the most convincing evidence in favour of play? Also, a tribute to Sir Ken Robinson. Bio Pasi Sahlberg is a Finnish educator and a global leader in education reform. As a policy advisor in Finland, he has studied education systems and advised education leaders around the world. Pasi was awarded the Lego Prize in 2016 for his dedication to improve the lives of children around the world. As an author, his book “Finnish Lessons: What Can the World Learn from Educational Change in Finland” won the 2013 Grawemeyer Award. In 2019, he and William Doyle co-authored Let the Children Play: Why More Play Will Save Our Schools and Help Children Thrive. He is currently a Professor of Education Policy and Deputy Director of the Gonski Institute at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. Episode Structure Links Article by the the American Academy of Pediatrics: The Importance of Play in Promoting Healthy Child Development and Maintaining Strong Parent-Child Bonds. The Power of Play - 2018 Clinical Report Book by Pasi Sahlberg and William Doyle: Let the Children Play: Why More Play Will Save Our Schools and Help Children Thrive. Research by the LEGO Foundation on why learning through play is important. Do Schools Kill Creativity by Sir Ken Robinson Book Recommendations Born to RunMoving: A Memoir of Education and Social Mobility Contact : Pasi Sahlberg: Twitter, Website Gonski Institue of Education: Website See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this final episode of 2020, Ezra calls up a friend and finds out how the coronavirus affected his Christmas plans. Bio Johanan Sen has worked across the fields of strategic consulting, data-driven marketing, creative advertising, service design and product development. Currently, he is the Head Strategy Monk at MediaMonks SEA. Episode Structure Joe’s Christmas Recommendation Mariah Carey’s Magical Christmas Special (Apple TV) Russell Curtis and more of his music can be discovered on Spotify and YouTube See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Takahara Suiko is the brainchild behind The Venopian Solitude, the genre-defying experimental electro-pop-nusantara indie band. In this episode, she reflects on the concept of “Hō-ren-sō” (報・連・相) from her time in Japan; how she brings that to the dynamics of being in a band and her personal relationships. What distinguishes the person and persona that is Takahara Suiko? The singer-songwriter spells out the cost of fame, the price it puts on expression and what we can make of ourselves. Bio Bandleader, singer-songwriter, actor, writer (and now podcaster!) Takahara Suiko is the brainchild behind The Venopian Solitude, an experimental electro-pop-nusantara indie band. In 2014, their album, Hikayat Perawan Majnun (Tales of a Lunatic Damsel), was nominated for three categories in the prestigious Anugerah Industri Muzik 2014 (). In 2016, she became the first 1st ever Malaysian alumnus of The Red Bull Music Academy. When uploading quick, electronica-tinged songs, she also publishes under the moniker, Viona. In 2016, she also won Best Hip-Hop Song for the song 'Janji' with Altimet at as the singer and co-lyricist. She also co-hosts Buah Mulut — a podcast of conversations with her husband, Anwar Hadi. Best Engineered Album, Best Arrangement in Song, Best Music VideoAIM 2016 Episode Structure Book Recommendation How To: Absurd Scientific Advice for Common Real-World Problems by Randall Munroe More information can be found about The Venopian Solitude — their music can be discovered on Spotify. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Project Notes: where tips, thoughts and takeaways come together. This episode features Takahara Suiko (ep 003), bandleader of the Venopian Solitude, singer-songwriter, actor, writer (and now podcaster). She explores the nature of trust among bandmates, how it relates to ownership and performance within a band. Takahara makes the case of hacking the musical process with shortcuts, the virtues of being lazy and how it breeds creativity. Bio Bandleader, singer-songwriter, actor, writer (and now podcaster!) Takahara Suiko is the brainchild behind The Venopian Solitude, an experimental electro-pop-nusantara indie band. In 2014, their album, Hikayat Perawan Majnun (Tales of a Lunatic Damsel), was nominated for three categories in the prestigious Anugerah Industri Muzik 2014 (). In 2016, she became the first 1st ever Malaysian alumnus of The Red Bull Music Academy. When uploading quick, electronica-tinged songs, she also publishes under the moniker, Viona. In 2016, she also won Best Hip-Hop Song for the song 'Janji' with Altimet at as the singer and co-lyricist. She also co-hosts Buah Mulut — a podcast of conversations with her husband, Anwar Hadi. AIM 2016: Best Engineered Album, Best Arrangement in Song, Best Music Video. Episode Structure And while you're here... If you haven't had a chance to listen to Takahara Suiko's episode Processing The Rage is Tiring (ep 003), it's worth checking out. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Best-selling author (and now podcaster) Damian Hughes shares what it's like to be in the corner of a world boxing title fight. Also, what does it take to deliver a message that has maximum impact? How does storytelling help process complex information? He explains what tripwires are and how we can build it into our everyday lives. Bio Professor Damian Hughes is an international speaker and best selling author who combines his practical and academic background within sport, organisational development and change psychology, to help organisations and teams to create a high performing culture. He combines his practical and academic background within sport, organisation and change psychology to work as a trusted adviser to the business, education and sporting elite, specialising in the creation of high performing cultures. Episode Structure Book Recommendations The Midnight Library by Matt Haig The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a Generation for Failure by Jonathan Haidt and Greg Lukianoff If you'd like to read one of Damian's books: The Winning MindsetHow to Think Like Sir Alex Ferguson: The Business of Winning and Managing SuccessThe Barcelona Way: How to Create a Winning Team Contact / Social Media: Damian Hughes: Instagram, Website The High Performance Podcast: Instagram, Youtube, Spotify See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this bonus episode, Damian Hughes (ep 002) explains the common feature of high performers and explains the significance of the Dunning–Kruger effect. Notable mentions in the chat include: José Mourinho and the principle of the guided discovery, the evolution of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as Manchester United manager. Also, what Txiki Begiristain and Ferran Soriano learnt from Warren Buffett in relationship to leadership and culture. Bio Professor Damian Hughes is an international speaker and best selling author who combines his practical and academic background within sport, organisational development and change psychology, to help organisations and teams to create a high performing culture. Professor Damian Hughes combines his practical and academic background within sport, organisation and change psychology to work as a trusted adviser to the business, education and sporting elite, specialising in the creation of high performing cultures. If you want to know more about Damian, feel free to read here). Episode Structure Links: To listen to the High performance podcast episode featuring Olé Gunnar Solskjaer (Spotify | Apple) All or Nothing: Tottenham Hotspurs trailer Damian's book: The Barcelona Way — How to create a Winning Team And while you're here... If you haven't had a chance to listen to Damian's episode Sit Down When You Punch (ep 002), it's worth checking out here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ezra reconnects with his ex-house master from school, John Hendry. In this episode, John discusses how the loss of a loved one can alter one's perspective on relationships. Committing his life as an educator for more than 50 years, John reflects on a defining moment that altered the direction of his future. We hear more about what does it mean to be kind; and that much like our ability to be proficient at anything else, kindness too requires practice. Bio John Hendry has committed his life to education. For over 50 years, he has worked at all levels of school and higher education including Geelong Grammar School, where he spent 36 years of his career. His passion for education is coupled with his belief on the importance of relationships. As the lead consultant at Parents Victoria, John is working on a relationship-based education, of which you can read more about it here. If you want to know more about John, feel free to read here. Episode Structure Book Recommendations Morality by Rabbi Jonathan SacksTalking to Strangers by Malcolm GladwellThe Hour Between Dog and Wolf: How Risk Taking Transforms Us, Body and Mind Contact John can be reached at the following email: takethesingle@gmail.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this bonus episode, John Hendry (ep 001) shares the 5 key elements of a quality relationship. The basic elements of a quality relationship are trust, forgiveness, integrity, hope (optimism), and compassion. And while they are important individually, together they in fact substantiate the relationship. Bio John Hendry has committed his life to education. For over 50 years, he has worked at all levels of school and higher education including Geelong Grammar School, where he spent 36 years of his career. His passion for education is coupled with his belief on the importance of relationships. As the lead consultant at Parents Victoria, John is working on a relationship-based education, of which you can read more about it here. And while you're here...if you haven't had a chance to listen to John's episode On Why Relationships Matter, (ep 001) it's worth checking out here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is hardly a trailer. At best, it's a friendly reminder. Every fortnight, join Ezra Zaid on a narrative journey as he trails the footprints of individuals navigating the prospect of discovery and adversity. The podcast hopes to feature unique stories and anecdotes often hidden in plain sight. Oh, and hopefully there will be lots of puns, lots of it. The Ezra Zaid Project debuts on November 12th.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.