Shows
Thriving in the Age of DisruptionSeason 1 - Episode 31 | International Women's Day Special - Unleashing the Power of Women: Marina Mahathir (Malaysia)Welcome to our International Women's Day 2023 special episode of Thriving in the Age of Disruption podcast. This year's IWD theme is #EmbraceEquity and we're excited to celebrate by sharing inspiring ideas of how we can all work to create a world where women are valued, respected, and empowered.Dr. Ramesh has a very special guest, Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir, a renowned Malaysian socio-political activist and writer. Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir is also a fearless voice for women’s rights, gender equality, religious freedom and justice. The eldest child of Malaysia's longest-serving Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, sh...2023-03-0837 min
Thriving in the Age of DisruptionInternational Women's Day 2023: #EmbraceEquity with Dr. Ramesh Ramachandra (Podcast Trailer)For this International Women’s Day #IWD2023, let’s all fully #EmbraceEquity so that it becomes a part of our society’s DNA and we're working together to remove the barriers that prevent some women from achieving their full potential.Do join my podcast “Thriving in the Age of Disruption” - We’ll be hearing from Changemakers who have embraced equity in their own lives and work. You’ll hear their stories of resilience, courage and hope, and I believe that just like me, you’ll be inspired by the power of these voices.A big "Thank...2023-02-2303 min
Busy Reading BooksS01E24 | Should I? Will I? Must I?: All the Books I've Yet to ReadIn our last episode for the season, we're doing things a little differently. Instead of talking you through books she's read, Marina explores a list of titles and authors she's yet to peruse -- some that she may add to her reading list in the future and some she may not despite how popular they are.
Mentioned this episode:
Harold Robbins - The Carpetbaggers, The Adventurers
Mario Puzo - The Godfather
William Peter Blatty - The Exorcist
Charlotte Brontë
Emily Brontë
Anne Brontë
W...2021-09-2221 min
Busy Reading BooksS01E23 | What Our Family Stories Mean to Malaysia with Viji KrishnamoorthyAs we near Malaysia Day on September 16, our thoughts turn to the history of our country, now 64 years old. Or rather, to the many histories, of families who were born and bred here, or who came from elsewhere and made a life for themselves here, of families disrupted by war or brought together by other circumstances. Some of these stories have made their way into books as Malaysian authors mine their own personal histories to tell stories that not only resonate with Malaysians but those around the world. Tan Twan Eng, Tash Aw and Preta Samarasen are just three...2021-09-1543 min
Busy Reading BooksS01E22 | The Case for Narrative Non-fictionNot a fan of non-fiction reads? In this episode, Marina talks about some of her most-loved narrative non-fiction books and makes a pitch for why you should give the genre a go. These unique books interweave various literary techniques into true stories and create gripping accounts of a person, event, or issue, and often leaves its readers feeling as though they were reading works of fiction. Warning: these books can be compulsively readable.
Mentioned this episode:
Rebecca Skloot - The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
Jared Diamond - Guns, Germs, and Steel; Collapse...2021-09-0824 min
Busy Reading BooksS01E21 | Is Small Beautiful? A Chat with Indie Publishers Amir Muhammad & Rosalind ChuaHas the book publishing industry been hit by the Covid pandemic? On the one hand, people forced into lockdown have more time to read which should be good news for publishers. On the other hand, with less footfall, bookstores are closing down for lack of customers. The big publishers may have the cushion of previous successes to survive with. But what about small publishing houses? How are they coping? Marina speaks to the founders of two independent Malaysian publishing houses, Amir Muhammad from Buku Fixi and Rosalind Chua from Clarity Publishing, to learn their views on what the future...2021-09-011h 02
Busy Reading BooksS01E20 | Adaptations: Is the Book Really Better Than the Film?You’ve probably heard this question being asked a thousand times before: Is the book is better than the movie/series? Granted, reading allows you to get creative while interpreting the story to your liking. On the other hand, the great thing about films is their ability to show. Not forgetting, there's the overall experience of watching a novel you love come to life.
But can we really compare both mediums? In this episode, Marina tackles the ol' page vs screen argument while exploring some favourite and popular titles and their feature film or TV show adaptations....2021-08-2529 min
Busy Reading BooksS01E19 | A Crash Course on Graphic Novels with Ineza RoussilleThis week, Marina ventures into the world of graphic novels with her daughter, Ineza Roussille. Ineza, a documentary filmmaker and visual storytelling enthusiast, has loved reading graphic novels ever since discovering Joe Sacco's works. In this episode, she doesn't just give us a breakdown of the popular categories within the genre, but also shares who her favourite authors and illustrators are.
Mentioned this episode:
Joe Sacco - Palestine
Alan Moore - Watchmen
Marjane Satrapi - Persepolis, Embroideries
Lorina Mapa - Duran Duran, Imelda Marcos, and Me
Alison Bechdel - Fun Home; Are you My Mother
...2021-08-1841 min
Busy Reading BooksS01E18 | Exploring the Middle East through LiteratureMentioned this episode:
Orhan Pamuk - Other Colors
Elif Shafak - The Forty Rules of Love, The Bastard of Istanbul, 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World, The Island of Missing Trees
Jokha Alharthi - Celestial Bodies
Naguib Mahfouz - Palace of Desire
Nawal El Saadawi - Woman at Point Zero
Mona Eltahawy - Headscarves and Hymens: Why the Middle East Needs a Sexual Revolution, The Seven Necessary Sins for Women and Girls
Elias Khoury - As Though She Were Sleeping
Leila Aboulela - Lyrics Alley
2021-08-1223 min
Busy Reading BooksS01E17 | Understanding Culture Through Food with Asma KhanOne of the must-dos for many travellers is to try local foods in whatever country we visit. Food represents so much of a country from its environment which dictates its ingredients to its culture and traditions. Since we can’t physically travel right now, one way of visiting different countries is by reading cookbooks. Not just recipes but the cookbooks that tell you a bit more about the country or region that the recipes come from. This episode, Marina speaks to a special guest, Asma Khan of Darjeeling Express restaurant in London, who you may have seen on that wo...2021-08-0449 min
Busy Reading BooksS01E16 | Stories Set Under the African SunFrom fiction and non-fiction to essays and poetry, we bring you some of the continent’s most exciting reads.
Mentioned this episode:
Nadine Gordimer - Burger's Daughter
Alan Paton - Cry, the Beloved Country
Donald Woods - Biko
Enid Blyton
Wilbur Smith
Barbara Kingsolver - The Poisonwood Bible
Abraham Verghese - Cutting for Stone
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - Half of a Yellow Sun, Americanah, Purple Hibiscus
Chinua Achebe
Ben Okri
Wole Soyinka - Chronicles from the Land of the Happiest People on Earth
Akwaeke Emezi - The Death of Vivek Oji
Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi - A Gi...2021-07-2823 min
Busy Reading BooksS01E15 | Debut Novels & Singapore's Literary Landscape with Sharlene TeoWe’ve talked to and about authors in many neighbouring countries but have yet to speak to writers from Singapore. Not that the island state is short of writers - there’s Catherine Lim, Philip Jayaretnam, Stella Kon, and Alfian Saat to name a few. But the one that has had Marina most excited recently is Sharlene Teo. Sharlene's debut novel, Ponti released in 2018 and is now working on her follow-up. She chats with Marina about her first book and gives us the low-down on which Singaporean authors are hot right now.
Mentioned this episode:
Amit Chau...2021-07-2153 min
Busy Reading BooksS01E14 | Stories of The Middle Kingdom: Books Set in ChinaChina is a place full of great history and tradition, so it's no surprise why there are so many excellent works of fiction and non-fiction based on and set in this country. In this episode, Marina revisits the Middle Kingdom through some of her favourite (and not so favourite) books. From tales of life during the Mao regime to the opium war, or just of people in search of better lives, these reads capture the magic of this fascinating nation.
Mentioned this episode:
Jung Chang - Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China; Empress Dowager Cixi: The...2021-07-1422 min
Busy Reading BooksS01E13 | Literary Festivals: Evolve or Die? with Lily Yulianti Farid & Pauline FanFor booklovers, literary festivals have been the opportunities to meet and listen to authors, to talk about and buy books. But with the COVID-19 pandemic, these festivals that have thrived so much on face-to-face interactions have had to go online or close down. What has this meant for festivals, for authors, publishers and readers? Marina speaks to Lily Yulianti Farid and Pauline Fan, who have organised two of the most successful regional festivals, the Makassar International Writers Festival, and the George Town Literary Festival.
Mentioned this episode:
John Freeman - Tales of Two Planets: Stories of...2021-07-0754 min
Busy Reading BooksS01E12 | London Calling: Books That Transport You To The CityAs a city that's rich in culture, it's no surprise why London has been an inspiration for many books over the years. Whether you can’t get enough of the British capital or have it on your must-visit bucket list, the city does have a certain draw to it. Having studied there (twice), London has a soft place in Marina's heart and in this episode, she takes you on a journey through the swinging city through some of her favourite books.
Charles Dickens - Oliver Twist
Arthur Conan Doyle - The Complete Sherlock Holmes
Monica Ali - Brick La...2021-06-3021 min
Hello ZafigoHello Zafigo Session #15: Preserving Local Culture & Tradition Through TourismAccording to a study conducted by Tourism Malaysia, one of our country’s biggest draws for tourists, near and far, is our rich culture and diversity. Apart from historical walking and food tours, it is cultural events, traditional and modern arts, theatre, and film that are what attract visitors to the country. In fact, both the arts and tourism industries are co-dependent on each other to survive. In a brand new episode of Hello Zafigo, Marina Mahathir, who is back on hosting duty, chats to Low Ngai Yuen and Susan Lankester about Malaysia’s creative communities and how it d...2021-06-291h 07
Busy Reading BooksS01E11 | Talking Literary Recognitions & Southeast Asian Storytelling with Ling Low & Joshua KamIn this era full of distressing news, Malaysians always perk up when we hear of our fellow citizens doing well and winning awards. It makes us proud and happy to see our flag being flown high especially by talented young people. Here, Marina speaks to two gifted storytellers doing the Malaysian literary scene proud, Ling Low and Joshua Kam, about what being nominated and winning awards feels like, how important these prizes are, and the future of Malaysian writing.
Mentioned this episode:
Sharlene Teo - Ponti
Ocean Vuong - On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous
Robert Jones...2021-05-2652 min
Hello ZafigoHello Zafigo Session #14 | Taking Ownership Of Your Health & WellbeingIt’s never too early or late to take care of yourself and make healthy changes to your routine, so you think, feel, and look the best for yourself. This Women’s Health Month, #teamZafigo encourages women to take control, starting from within.
In this session of Hello Zafigo, hosted by Zafigo’s Editor, Eliza Thomas, we speak to Lavender Tan, a clinical psychologist from The Mind Psychological Services and Training, which offers professional yet approachable individual, couple, family, and behavioural therapy amongst other services, as well as TV host and emcee Che Puan Sarimah Ibrahim, who is...2021-05-251h 12
Busy Reading BooksS01E10 | Beyond Coelho: Books to Read to Understand Latin American CultureLatin America is full of literary talents and many of them have left a mark on classic and contemporary literature. Even if you’ve never visited the countries in this region, novelists like Gabriel García Márquez and Isabel Allende allow you to escape the prison of your mind and take flight in somebody else’s. After all, there’s no better way to satisfy your curiosity than with good reading material. In this episode, Marina shares a vast selection of poetry, fiction, and non-fiction works that offer a distinct look into the histories, voices, and views of Latin Am...2021-05-1934 min
Busy Reading BooksS01E09 | Is Listening the New Reading? with Sharon BakarAs our lives get busier and busier, sitting down to read a book has become harder to do. One solution is audiobooks, which allow us to listen while doing something else: cooking, doing our makeup, sitting in a traffic jam. Newly published books now almost always come in audio form as well, often read by their own authors. Are they the same as print books? Are they the future of ‘reading’? Listen as Marina speaks to bibliophile, author and freelance writer Sharon Bakar as they ponder these questions.
Mentioned this episode:
George Saunders: Lincoln in the Bard...2021-05-1242 min
Busy Reading BooksS01E08 | Japan: Land of the Rising AuthorsJourney to Japan with Marina as she reminisces the years when she lived in Tokyo and what it was like for her, as a young woman in the 80s. She also gives us the low-down on some of the country's most well-known and up-and-coming writers that you can read in translation. From classic favourites to more contemporary wordsmiths, and even feminist literary forces, there's a book for everyone.
Mentioned this episode:
Yasunari Kawabata - Palm-of-the-Hand Stories
Kenzaburō Ōe
Kazuo Ishiguro - A Pale View of the Hills // An Artist of the Floating World // The Remains of...2021-05-0520 min
Busy Reading BooksS01E07 | On Nurturing a Passion for Reading with Tun Dr Mahathir MohamadWhat types of books does our former premier like to read (when he has the time to do so, of course)? Marina sits down for a chat with her father, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, a National Reading Icon, about his favourite authors, the books he's written and is working on, and why we should encourage the younger generation to read, especially in English.
Mentioned this episode:
Ken Follet
Wilbur Smith
Jeffrey Archer
Nelson Mandela - Long Walk to Freedom
Mahathir Mohamad - The Malay Dilemma / A Doctor in the House / The Challenge
Mustafa Akyol...2021-04-2840 min
Busy Reading BooksS01E06 | True Story! A Look at Autobiographies, Biographies & MemoirsMemoirs, autobiographies, and biographies... Each form of these non-fiction books has its own distinct characteristics and in this episode, Marina takes us through what differentiates them. She also talks about some of her favourite non-fiction books - From Jean McNeil's account of her year as writer-in-residence with the British Antarctic Survey, to Keggie Carew's story of a daughter striving to reclaim her father from the grip of dementia.
Mentioned in this episode:
Nelson Mandela - Long Walk to Freedom
Mahathir Mohamad - A Doctor in the House: The Memoirs of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad
Joan Didion...2021-04-2130 min
Hello ZafigoHello Zafigo Session #13 | For The Love Of Food & TravelTravelling is one of the best things to do in life. Now find out why trying out new food is the reason travelling is the best adventure!
Hello Zafigo is back for a third season and in the opening episode, host Marina Mahathir speaks to three major foodies who travel specifically to gain culinary inspiration – "queen of spice" Sapna Anand; chief eating officer of The BIG Group, Benjamin Yong; and Food Hero Asia winner, Ili Sulaiman. These gastronomes come together to talk about their tantalising adventures, delicious discoveries, and the flavourful inspirations behind some of their most po...2021-04-201h 04
Busy Reading BooksS01E05 | Talking Romance Novels, Writing, & Decolonising the Publishing Industry with Pyae Moe Thet WarThis week, Marina catches up with Pyae Moe Thet War, a classmate from her years studying at the University of East Anglia and a fellow writer. They chat about the books they've read and why they like them, and perhaps whether the cultural issues that arise from Asians (like them) who have studied and lived in the West are worth exploring in their writing.
Pyae is now back in Myanmar and is working on her first book, an essay collection titled You’ve Changed to be published by Catapult in 2022.
Mentioned in this episode:
Jo...2021-04-1442 min
Busy Reading BooksS01E04 | A Brief Guide to Great Indian WritersDid you know that India is the world's second-largest English-language book market? The nation has also produced some of the world's best fiction and non-fiction authors. In this episode, Marina takes us through a list of nationally and globally awarded writers as well as some of her personal favourites.
Salman Rushdie - Midnight's Children; The Enchantress of Florence
Arundhati Roy - The God of Small Things
Aravind Adiga - The White Tiger
Amitav Ghosh - Sea of Poppies; The Glass Palace
Megha Majumdar - A Burning
Kiran Desai - The Inheritance of Loss
Jeet Thayil - Narcopolis
...2021-04-0722 min
Busy Reading BooksS01E03 | Talking Books, Inspiration, & Homegrown Authors with Tash AwMarina chats with Internationally-acclaimed Malaysian novelist, Tash Aw about his recent projects, books by Malaysian writers they've recently read and loved, and what we can (hopefully) expect to emerge from the local literary scene.
Mentioned in this episode:
Joshua Kam - How the Man in Green Saved Pahang, and Possibly the World
Hanna Alkaf - The Weight of Our Sky
Zen Cho - Black Water Sister
Tash Aw - Five Star Billionaire
Tash Aw - The Face: Strangers on a Pier
Tan Twan Eng - The Gift of Rain
Visit zafigo.com/busy-reading-books...2021-03-3144 min
Busy Reading BooksS01E02 | Women Writers Around the WorldIt’s Women’s History Month! To celebrate amazing women writers, Marina gives us some insight into the publishing world and why some consider it a tough industry, especially for women. Our host also shares some of her favourite books written by intelligent and astute female authors.
Mentioned in this episode:
Jeanette Winterson - Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit
Anne Tyler - A Spool of Blue Thread
Barbara Kingsolver - The Posionwood Bible
E. Annie Proulx - The Shipping News
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - Half of a Yellow Sun
Elena Ferrante - My Brilliant Friend
Tara...2021-03-2423 min
Busy Reading BooksS01E01 | A Peek into Busy Reading BooksIn this first episode of Busy Reading Books, Marina talks about how she came about the idea of starting a podcast and gives you a taste of some of the books and themes we will be exploring this season.2021-03-1714 min
Busy Reading BooksBusy Reading Books - TrailerWelcome to Busy Reading Books! A brand-new podcast by Zafigo where we explore the world through books.
Join our founder, Marina Mahathir weekly as she talks about the books she loves, share insights about them, and sometimes, chat with other interesting book lovers.
Whether you have interest in the lives of historical figures, or want to learn about French cooking, join us as we flip through books based on the many genres and themes – proving that there truly is a book for everyone!2021-03-1701 min
Hello ZafigoHello Zafigo Session #12 | New Year Travel Trends: Reinventing VacationsAs the world slowly recovers from COVID-19 and borders start to open across many countries, travel will take on a whole new meaning. 2021 is (hopefully) set to be the year when travellers and travel businesses push for a return to normality, but the pandemic has and will continue to change how we choose to travel.
So what travel trends can we expect to see in the new year – not just for travellers but for businesses within the tourism industry as well?
In this last Hello Zafigo session for the year, Zafigo’s founder, Mari...2020-12-0100 min
Hello ZafigoHello Zafigo Session #11 | Have Followers, Will Travel: Influencer TourismAs we become more dependent on social media as a means for news and information, the value of social media influencers continues to grow and evolve. For the travel market specifically, social content seems to influence travellers’ destination choices more than any other type of advertising.
Join us as we speak to three key opinion leaders in the travel scene — Thuymi Do (Adventure Faktory), Pashmina Binwani (The Gone Goat), and Mynn Lee (She Walks The World) — about the glamorous (and not so glamorous) life of a travel influencer and the possible pressures that come with it. We als...2020-11-1600 min
Hello ZafigoHello Zafigo Session #10 | Creative Destinations: Travelling Through Journalling & ArtWhile we may not be able to physically travel right now, we can still journey with our minds by revisiting memories through a travel journal to keep our wanderlust spirit alive!
Join Marina Mahathir and special guests: artist and urban sketcher, Gladys Teo-Simpson (gladsketches.blogspot.com), and destination wedding photographer and avid journaller, Jane Lee (www.hellojanelee.com) as they share about how travel enabled them to better their crafts. Come learn how to get started with materials you already have, the different journalling styles you can explore – like sketching and painting, and also discover the li...2020-11-0300 min
Hello ZafigoHello Zafigo Session #9 | Differently-Abled: Exploring The World Without LimitsTo the majority of us, travel can be a liberating experience. Meeting new people, exploring new places, and experiencing new cultures aren’t things that anyone is or should be excluded from. But travelling does pose a unique challenge for people who are differently-abled, in the preparation and planning department as well as the actual journey itself. This, however, shouldn’t be a reason to not go forth and explore, at least not in this day and age when accessible travel is becoming more popular (though a lot still needs to be improved).
But it’s more t...2020-10-1900 min
Hello ZafigoHello Zafigo Session #8 | Holi-dates: Creating Meaningful Family VacationsTravelling with children from a young age is an experience that can play a vital role in their growth. Much like how reading is instrumental to their development, the skills they acquire from the experiences and memories that travel brings are just as valuable. It can be said that travelling with children is beneficial to a parent’s development too, as it requires special skills such as preparedness and adaptability on their parts.
In this Hello Zafigo session, Marina Mahathir speaks to the Ardent Traveler, Deborah Chan, and the Special Projects Coordinator from Makchic, Lu Sean Seah, an...2020-10-0600 min
Hello ZafigoHello Zafigo Session #7 | The Art of Travel: Finding Inspiration in the JourneyAfter a two-month break, #teamZafigo is back with a brand new season of Hello Zafigo!
Travel has long been a favourite activity for artists as it brings about inspiration on different fronts. Seeing new places, meeting new people, and learning new things opens up a whole new world to them, and it’s common for artists to use these influences and incorporate them into their work.
Zafigo's founder, Marina Mahathir speaks to Malaysian contemporary artist, Red Hong Yi about her creative process and personal influences, as well as how her own tr...2020-09-231h 04
ImAssumingImAssuming #2 - James Chong - Ideation / Digital StrategistIja Mohan talks to James Chong on the ways we discuss/debate ideas and if we can all get along. James Chong is the Co-founder & Chief Strategy Officer of OLFAC3 (an International perfumery brand from Malaysia) and also Director of Strategy & Development at Zafigo (an online travel magazine, platform and community for women travellers to Asia).2020-08-281h 48
Hello ZafigoHello Zafigo Session #6 - Independence: The Benefits of Solo TravelThere is something special about people who venture out alone to travel the world. Leaving the comforts of home is one thing; it’s still another to be without companionship as you visit new places and meet new people. Yet solo travel is – before the pandemic at least – booming, especially among younger people. What’s more, there are more women solo travellers than there are men.
In Hello Zafigo’s sixth (and final) edition for this season, Marina Mahathir talks to two solo women explorers, Priscilla Patrick and Mei Mei Chu, about their solo travels, the issues the...2020-07-211h 22