Kudsia Kahar, Malaysian First

You can't think of the first few years of HITZ in Malaysia without remembering the name FlyGuy (what a legend!). I caught up with my HITZ OG sibling online recently to reconnect and reminisce about the first year we were the there, and the year when we finally launched it. And yeah, we talk radio.

If you've always wanted to be a radio talent, or if you are one now - what are the basics that you must know so your interests are protected? I get asked this quite often, so in this episode, I dive into straight into examples, the reality, and hypothetical situations. 00:00 - Intro and radio background 01:58 - The difference between RTM and commercial radio talent 04:20 - The big on-air shifts and where newbies go 05:46 - The different types of talent contracts 08:06 - Why listeners are your TRUE boss 09:04 - What's in a talent contract 13:07 - When crisis hits a radio station and industry best-practice examples (case study) 20:43 - Doing the right thing

If you've always wanted to be a radio talent, or if you are one now - what are the basics that you must know so your interests are protected? I get asked this quite often, so in this episode, I dive into straight into examples, the reality, and hypothetical situations. 00:00 - Intro and radio background 01:58 - The difference between RTM and commercial radio talent 04:20 - The big on-air shifts and where newbies go 05:46 - The different types of talent contracts 08:06 - Why listeners are your TRUE boss 09:04 - What's in a talent contract 13:07 - When crisis hits a radio station and industry best-practice examples (case study) 20:43 - Doing the right thing

In conjunction with Malaysia's National Women's Day, we bring you a special episode on Women Talking Business with Maybank! We talk to Fazrena Aziz, Director of Tudung People; Peggy Tan, Co-Founder of Switch; and Hazlinda Hamid, Deputy Head, Commercial Banking Division and Head of SME Banking. Collectively, they're responsible for over a billion Ringgit in revenue.

It's 2023 and the need to amend Perkara 14 which allows for automatic citizenship for children born to Malaysian mothers abroad is long overdue. We often read about the unnecessarily difficult journeys of Malaysian women fighting the administration seemingly hellbent on ensuring that women continue to be lesser than men whilst paying EQUAL taxes as them. In this episode though, Malaysian First talks to someone who eventually, in her teens, was granted Malaysian citizenship, albeit, at a price...

Malaysian standup comedy has grown so much, thanks to pioneers like Jamali Shadat, Ayappan and Lim Go Poh in the 1970s, followed by the late Jit Murad and Harith Iskander in the 1990s, to what it is now with dozens of comedians in the various languages we can now finally watch practically every weekend. I speak to one of Malaysia's brightest standup stars, Prakash Daniel, about how comedians coped during lockdowns, how comedy saved him from personal challenges, and - how we can unite through comedy.

Some of us have loved ones who have been diagnosed as bipolar. How do we care for them, help them, manage the episodes of mania? I speak to an advocate of mental health, specifically in disseminating knowledge on bipolar disorder and advocating for patients to have proper care and access to mental help - fellow Malaysian Amalina Davis.

What do US President Joe Biden, CNN anchor Anderson Cooper and America’s youngest Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman have in common? They each overcame a huge challenge that previously impeded any hope of impactful, persuasive public speaking. Find out what each conquered and what they did to help them become the icons they are today.

Are MCO and CMCO almost done? What's the latest and not-so-recent development in this new world we live in? Is supermarket shopping the new date night? Is Tik Tok the new FB? From sleep-shopping to garden eels being the sweetest underwater creatures...it's all here in Episode 4!

From prolonged periods of interrupted sleep to vivid dreams to animals in zoos in the Age of COVID-19...there's some good news still in the midst of all the uncertainty!

It's been said before that around 30% of Malaysians suffer from mental health issues. That's over 9 million of us who either knowingly or unknowingly, are in need of support and treatment. In 2018, The UM Specialist Centre (UMSC) released a finding that by THIS YEAR, mental illness is expected to be the second biggest health issue among Malaysians, right after heart disease. And yet, our level of understanding is still limited, and there are those who are scornful of the notion that one might need therapy, medication or even precise coping mechanisms to just, BE. In this episode, I speak to a mental health advocate and fellow Malaysian, himself diagnosed with Bipolar II Disorder, about understanding the disorder, how to cope under the CMO, seeking help, and how we can be supportive of friends or family who have been diagnosed. DISCLAIMER: The opinions and suggestions put forth in this episode are by no means medical recommendations. Please discuss your diagnosis and treatment with a qualified mental health professional, and avoid self-harm at all costs. If you are in need of immediate emotional assistance, please contact BEFRIENDERS at +603-7627 2929 (24-hour hotline) or e-mail sam@befrienders.org.my

Whether you're in a lockdown or Controlled Movement Order, the fact remains that WE ARE IN CRISIS. Exactly how do we go about our lives? From the single mom working from home to the inexperienced CEO handling the first crisis in his or her career...Some thoughts...