Shows / Talkback
Talkback
We’re on, when you’re off. Lee Chwi Lynn, Kelvin Yee and Tasha Fusil restore sanity to your day even as you’re stuck in traffic trying to get home. And who isn’t? Tune in as they take on hot-potato issues to inform and entertain you, soundtracked by the thumping music that only BFM plays. EE runs the gamut, bringing you noteworthy pop culture, punchy interviews, and rocking call-in sessions.
Episodes
- Talkback
When Was The Last Time You Got A Pay Rise?
Last year the prime minister announced civil servants would be getting a 13% salary hike; this year Malaysia’s minimum wage policy was revised taking a monthly…
- Talkback
How Do You Express Your Political Opinions?
On Saturday, about 18,000 citizens gathered for the Turun Anwar rally, aimed to urge Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to step down. This got us thinking…
- Talkback
Do You Feel Appreciated by Madani?
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s long-teased “extraordinary appreciation” for Malaysians includes RM100 cash aid, cheaper RON95 petrol, and a minimum…
- Talkback
Can You Embrace An Ever-Changing World?
We are constantly hearing news of changes in the world. Some are on a larger scale and political and some news is very personal. Some are driven by technology…
- Talkback
Were Your Parents Overprotective?
A story of a boy caught shoplifting went viral after he was defended by his parents, with his father even hitting the security guards who refused to let him…
- Talkback
PLKN 3.0: Discipline or Disruption?
National Service is back — but is it the right move? With PLKN 3.0 now underway and full rollout set for 2026, we ask: Are you for or against it? What do you…
- Talkback
Are You a Good Driver?
Every 50 seconds in Malaysia, there’s a road accident and every two hours, a fatality as a result. With Malaysia ranking second in Southeast Asia for road…
- Talkback
Did You Do Chores As A Child?
A recent Harvard study found a connection between high achieving individuals and being made to do household chores as children. The study discovered that these…
- Talkback
Can You Separate Art From the Artist?
After the UK Supreme Court ruled that “woman” refers to biological sex under the Equality Act, JK Rowling publicly celebrated the verdict, deepening her divide…
- Talkback
What Makes Someone Cool?
A new cross-cultural study published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: General explores what it really means to be “cool”, and whether it’s the same…
- Talkback
What Good Habits Do You Struggle With?
Recent conversations about Australian vs Japanese sunscreens have reminded people how important it is to slap it on. And for us, it prompted a conversation…
- Talkback
Was Your School Good or Bad?
After a Malaysian school recently made the shortlist for the World's Best School Prize by developing an app to help with their students' mental health, we go…
- Talkback
Did You Study Abroad?
With the Trump administration's recent attempt to restrict international students from studying at Harvard, the conversation around studying abroad, and more…
- Talkback
Do You Like To Party?
With coffee rave hitting our shores, we wondered whether partying, or the way people define what a good time is, has evolved. So we asked: How do you like to…
- Talkback
Is Travelling Important to You?
While some people look forward to travelling as it comes with experiencing new cultures and having some much needed relaxation time, others find the whole…
- Talkback
Are You Scam Proof?
In the age of AI and with scammers adapting and becoming more advanced we ask you: are you scam proof? Have you noticed scams getting more convincing? Image…
- Talkback
How Much Do You Swear?
Malaysia recently placed 6th for online profanity, tying with Ireland in a study conducted by a team of Australian linguists. The study also found that…
- Talkback
Has Your Attention Span Gotten Better or Worse?
Over the years, the average person has experienced a decline in attention spans which can have implications on their focus at work and learning in schools…
- Talkback
Hot Takes on Food
Taugeh in kuey teow? Fries dipped in ice cream?? Milo in maggi kari??? Where do you draw the line? Or is anything edible fair game to you? Tonight we're…
- Talkback
How Much Do You Spend on Groceries?
Malaysians are spending more on groceries than anyone else in the region, but why? Is it rising food prices, changing lifestyles, or simply larger households?…
- Talkback
How Do You Like Your Doctors?
We all remember our first trip to the doctor — the awkward questions, the cold stethoscope, the quiet sense of vulnerability. Some of us have stuck with the…
- Talkback
Do You Want to Live Without the Internet?
A new survey by the British Standards Institution found that nearly half of young people would rather live in a world without the internet. The findings come…
- Talkback
Does Your Accent Affect the Way Others Treat You?
Malaysia is a melting pot of different ethnic races, all with unique accents that form the oh so familiar "Malaysian accent" - familiar, yet uniquely personal…
- Talkback
Do We Rely on Food Delivery Too Much?
Ever since the pandemic, we've seen a surge in food deliveries. Whether it's foodpanda or Grab, nowadays people are opting to stay in rather than eat out. But…
- Talkback
Are We Too Hard on Nepo Babies?
The slang term nepo baby - short for nepotism baby - can be traced back to the Italian word nipote, meaning nephew, which referred to the advantages the…
- Talkback
How Does Your Salary Now Compare to Back Then?
The former Bank Negara Malaysia governor said Malaysian wages have declined threefold over the past 40 years. He pointed out that fresh grad salaries today…
- Talkback
Can Circumstance Justify Crime?
An unemployed mother was charged with stealing food and hygiene items from a Brickfields supermarket. Initially sentenced to two months in jail, her punishment…
- Talkback
How Did Your SPM Results Shape Your Future?
The 2024 SPM results are in. Over 400,000 candidates registered, and according to Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek, this year marks the best results in SPM…
- Talkback
Are You an Agreeable Person?
An article by Elle Hunt in The Guardian explored what it meant to be “disagreeable” after she was jokingly called the “fault-finder” by her friends. That…
- Talkback
Planning For Wealth the Right Way
We all have money dreams—whether it’s buying a home, clearing debt, or building up savings. But how many of us are actually on track? So we ask you: What are…
- Talkback
Are You Always Late, Early or On Time?
TGV Cinemas recently responded to a viral incident where a group of latecomers, who had missed the opening of Blood Brothers: Bara Naga, entered another…
- Talkback
Moments That Made You Walk Out
Have you ever had that moment where you just could not take it anymore and decided to walk away? Tonight, inspired by listener Benjamin Sabri, we’re talking…
- Talkback
Oxford Tapaus Nasi Lemak: Untranslatable Malaysianisms
Twelve Malaysian and Singaporean words — including alamak, tapau, and the ever-confusing terror — have officially made it into the Oxford English Dictionary…
- Talkback
Are You Big on Small Talk?
It’s Raya right now, and that means a lot of mingling at open houses and reconnecting with relatives. While it’s great to catch up, small talk often comes with…
- Talkback
What Do You Love About Your Kampung?
Every festive season, we witness the 'balik kampung' rush, as urbanites return to their hometowns to celebrate with loved ones. But with urbanisation on the…
- Talkback
Rich Friends, Poor Friends
A major study found that friendships across income groups boost social mobility, with low-income children in economically connected areas earning significantly…
- Talkback
Ramadan Bazaar Bests & Blahs
Ramadan bazaars are a cherished tradition, bringing together food, culture, and community in a vibrant, festive atmosphere. From traditional delights to…
- Talkback
Exploring Cultures Beyond Your Own
Era FM’s recent controversy over a video that allegedly mocked a Thaipusam ritual has reignited conversations about cultural awareness and respect. While the…
- Talkback
Flying Solo vs. Being Part of a Pack
KL Reads has turned silent reading into a social experience, drawing nearly 100 people to Perdana Botanical Gardens every Saturday. The movement, founded by…
- Talkback
Scanxiety over QR Menus
Uncle Kentang sparked debate after calling out restaurants for sidelining seniors who struggle with digital ordering. Some say printed menus should always be…
- Talkback
The Carefree Years of Our Lives
A UN-commissioned study highlights a growing youth mental health crisis in six English-speaking countries: the US, UK, Ireland, Australia, Canada, and New…
- Talkback
Would You Still Drive If We Had Better Public Transport?
Now, the argument against transitioning from a car-centric nation often centers on the lack of first and last mile connectivity affecting our public transport…
- Talkback
The Fear and Fun of Growing Old
Perak is projected to reach ageing status by the year 2030, which will make it the first state to do so. This means Perak needs to step up its game in terms of…
- Talkback
What's Your Mother Tongue?
To mark the 25th anniversary of International Mother Language Day, we explore the mother tongues spoken by our listeners, and their relationship with…
- Talkback
What Would You Tell Your Younger Self?
A trend about meeting one's younger self for coffee has taken the online world by storm, with over 16 million posts of people sharing what their advice to…
- Talkback
If We Spare the Rod, Do We Spoil the Child?
The Education Ministry has clarified that only headmasters or authorised teachers can cane students for bullying—parents or guardians of victims are not…
- Talkback
Fireworks: Yay or Nay?
Last night was the Pai Ti Kong celebrations, also known as the Jade Emperor's Birthday, a major event for the Hokkien Chinese community in Malaysia, especially…
- Talkback
Should We Be Held Accountable for Past Mistakes?
Karla Sofía Gascón, a trans actress known for the controversial film Emilia Perez (nominated for 13 Oscars, including Best Actress for Gascón), has recently…
- Talkback
Trump: Do You Love or Loathe Him?
Donald Trump is back in the White House. For some, his presidency represents a much-needed continuation of his bold policies and America-first approach; for…
- Talkback
Does Respect Automatically Come With Age?
Chinese New Year is just around the corner. It's a time for families to reunite, but also when generational tension can reach its peak from uncomfortable…
- Talkback
Do Looks Matter in the Workplace?
Does your appearance impact your chances of getting hired? Some employers expect a photo on resumes, while others say it’s unnecessary. In a job market where…
- Talkback
What is the Worst Thing You've Ever Eaten?
TasteAtlas has released a list of the 100 worst foods from around the world. With placings of foods like Cookie Salad from the US at 100th place and the…
- Talkback
What is Masculinity to You?
A man on Facebook is offering a service for men to appear "heroic" in front of their partners. For RM100, he lets them beat him up after he pretends to disturb…
- Talkback
Should Your Boss' Earnings be Capped?
Research by UK's High Pay Centre found that chief executives in FTSE 100 companies will have made more money by midday than the average worker in a year. So we…
- Talkback
Making Sacrifices for Your Child
18-year-old Gukesh Dommaraju bagged the title of world’s youngest chess champion at the World Chess Championship in Singapore, sharing that his victory was…
- Talkback
What Are Your 2025 Resolutions?
We kick off the first Talkback of 2025 by talking about resolutions! Some argue there is a pointlessness to new year's resolutions while others are excited by…
- Talkback
A Few of Our Favourite Things
For the last edition of Talkback of 2024, we're looking back on this rollercoaster of a year and thinking about what stood out to us the most. Whether it be…
- Talkback
Changing for the Better (And How To Do It Well)
The government's campaign to control the country's sugar intake involves, among others, a call for higher sugar tax. However, experts are saying that this…
- Talkback
Is It Hard To Admit When You're Wrong?
South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol has finally spoken out on his failed declaration of martial law, saying that he will not step down and continue to fight…
- Talkback
Can Different Colours Influence Your Mood?
Every year, the Pantone Colour Institute decides on a Colour of The Year, based on criterias that reflect people's current moods and influential trends…