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
1:13 - Introducing Joe 
2:52 - The calendar event they look forward to the most 
3:35 - Keeping traditions during Christmas 
5:53 - Spending the holidays apart: “You’re not flying back” 
11:15 - Getting seats at church like they be Ed Sheeran tickets 
13:28 - Russell Curtis performing Silent Night 
16:01 - Joe’s message to his family (and to all of us?!) 
19:13 - Credits 

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

 

In this final episode of 2020, Ezra calls up a friend and finds out how the coronavirus affected his Christmas plans.
Bio
<a href="https://www.joesen.com/">Johanan Sen</a> 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 <a href="https://www.mediamonks.com/">MediaMonks</a> SEA.
Episode Structure
<ul>
<li>1:13 - Introducing Joe&nbsp;</li>
<li>2:52 - The calendar event they look forward to the most&nbsp;</li>
<li>3:35 - Keeping traditions during Christmas&nbsp;</li>
<li>5:53 - Spending the holidays apart: &ldquo;You&rsquo;re not flying back&rdquo;&nbsp;</li>
<li>11:15 - Getting seats at church like they be Ed Sheeran tickets&nbsp;</li>
<li>13:28 - Russell Curtis performing Silent Night&nbsp;</li>
<li>16:01 - Joe&rsquo;s message to his family (and to all of us?!)&nbsp;</li>
<li>19:13 - Credits&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Joe&rsquo;s Christmas Recommendation
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KA7GxpLH_5A">Mariah Carey&rsquo;s Magical Christmas Special</a> (Apple TV)
Russell Curtis and more of his music can be discovered on <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/7z0ZbGqJNj4zfv59YZitEc?si=OTwLuNyxSEuepkeOzsGn8w">Spotify</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy_3jLZ0iVBswjQztLbP7Sw/videos">YouTube</a>
&nbsp;

The podcast that features unique stories and anecdotes often hidden in plain sight. Every fortnight, join Ezra on a narrative journey as he trails the footprints of individuals navigating the prospect of discovery and adversity.

The Ezra Zaid Project

In this final episode of 2020, Ezra calls up a friend and finds out how the coronavirus affected his Christmas plans.

hey Christmas, bye 2020.

Marker 02

Marker 01

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.

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 <a href="https://arusacademy.org.my/web/">Arus Academy</a>. 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.

Alina Amir — What the Future of Learning Could Look Like

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
00:00 - Ezra monologue/intro
08:00 - Throwback to radio days and unexplained events in Malaysia
12:20 - UFO sightings are real!
16:10 - The Great Reset
17:04 - Riding on the hype of cryptocurrencies
21:58 -  Have you taken out your EPF so you can live your f*cking life? Carpe diem
24:54 - The not-so-amazing movie experts on "Matrix", "Pulp Fiction", "Reservoir Dogs"... and tipping culture
28:51 - "Politics and generosity are two words that don't belong in the same phrase”
29:52 - Chuang’s unpopular opinion on Greta Thunberg
33:00 - "World Earth Day is a load of bollocks."
36:16 - Is there an Asian solution to the climate crisis
42:10 - Does growing old mean achieving "Old People's Rights (OPR)"?
52:42 - Forced vs voluntary philanthropy through taxing the rich
1:04:30 - What constitutes success? Instagram and aliens
1:07:15 - The Education Industrial Complex
1:07:53 - Felicity Huffman, Lori Loughlin and the college admissions scandal
1:15:51 - Analysts targeting America to be normalised by Q3 of 2021; what's the impact on other countries?
1:19:39 - Pharmaceutical companies' bad track record and audience perceptions.
1:23:38 - Digital passport and human tracking
1:30:53 - Comparing the speed of evolution, the future of the human brain and technology | TOILET BREAK
1:37:37 - Pharmaceutical companies' irresponsible product marketing with government backing them up
1:43:03 - Circling back to Elon Musk, Greta Thunberg, cryptocurrencies, and big pharma.
1:45:40 - "We can be happy with the girl we love, a small house, two children who are healthy, and a simple lifestyle."
1:50:51 - Ezra outro and credits

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

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: Cincai&sup2; Bocai.
Bio Khoo Hsu Chuang is a financial journalist with over two decades of experience. He&rsquo;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. <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/hsu-chuang-khoo-ab199343/">Chuang</a> has spent the last decade grilling CEOs, policymakers, academics and politicians as a co-host of The Morning Run on <a href="https://www.bfm.my">BFM 89.9</a>, 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 <a href="https://www.domore.my/">Do More</a>, a long-form video podcast series that explores entrepreneurship, investing and work-life balance.&nbsp;
Julian Ng has 20 years&rsquo; 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 <a href="https://www.bfm.my">BFM 89.9</a>, he covered business issues and financial stories and how it impacted ordinary folks. <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/julian-ng-a59039112/">He</a> now serves as the co-founder of <a href="https://www.akrunow.com/">Akru</a>, a digital platform that provides automated, algorithm-driven financial planning services with little to no human supervision.
Check out Julian&rsquo;s previous appearance on the podcast: <a href="https://www.ezrazaid.com/ez-on-the-money-1-how-much-money-is-enough-feat-julian-ng/">How Much Money Is Enough? feat. Julian Ng | EZ On The Money #1</a>
Episode Structure
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">00:00 - Ezra monologue/intro</li>
<li aria-level="1">08:00 - Throwback to radio days and unexplained events in Malaysia</li>
<li aria-level="1">12:20 - UFO sightings are real!</li>
<li aria-level="1">16:10 - The Great Reset</li>
<li aria-level="1">17:04 - Riding on the hype of cryptocurrencies</li>
<li aria-level="1">21:58 -&nbsp; Have you taken out your EPF so you can live your f*cking life? Carpe diem</li>
<li aria-level="1">24:54 - The not-so-amazing movie experts on "Matrix", "Pulp Fiction", "Reservoir Dogs"... and tipping culture</li>
<li aria-level="1">28:51 - "Politics and generosity are two words that don't belong in the same phrase&rdquo;</li>
<li aria-level="1">29:52 - Chuang&rsquo;s unpopular opinion on Greta Thunberg</li>
<li aria-level="1">33:00 - "World Earth Day is a load of bollocks."</li>
<li aria-level="1">36:16 - Is there an Asian solution to the climate crisis</li>
<li aria-level="1">42:10 - Does growing old mean achieving "Old People's Rights (OPR)"?</li>
<li aria-level="1">52:42 - Forced vs voluntary philanthropy through taxing the rich</li>
<li aria-level="1">1:04:30 - What constitutes success? Instagram and aliens</li>
<li aria-level="1">1:07:15 - The Education Industrial Complex</li>
<li aria-level="1">1:07:53 - Felicity Huffman, Lori Loughlin and the college admissions scandal</li>
<li aria-level="1">1:15:51 - Analysts targeting America to be normalised by Q3 of 2021; what's the impact on other countries?</li>
<li aria-level="1">1:19:39 - Pharmaceutical companies' bad track record and audience perceptions.</li>
<li aria-level="1">1:23:38 - Digital passport and human tracking</li>
<li aria-level="1">1:30:53 - Comparing the speed of evolution, the future of the human brain and technology | TOILET BREAK</li>
<li aria-level="1">1:37:37 - Pharmaceutical companies' irresponsible product marketing with government backing them up</li>
<li aria-level="1">1:43:03 - Circling back to Elon Musk, Greta Thunberg, cryptocurrencies, and big pharma.</li>
<li aria-level="1">1:45:40 - "We can be happy with the girl we love, a small house, two children who are healthy, and a simple lifestyle."</li>
<li aria-level="1">1:50:51 - Ezra outro and credits</li>
</ul>
Links:
<a href="https://youtu.be/ZBtMbBPzqHY">Navy pilots describe encounters with UFOs | 60 Minutes</a>
<a href="https://youtu.be/NTLSQCF6ohQ">Naval Pilot's Shocking UFO Encounter | History </a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xp6Ph5iTIgc">President Obama replying to question by Reggie Watts on UFOs | The Late Late Show </a><a href="https://youtu.be/Z-qV9wVGb38">Reservoir Dogs - Tipping scene</a> <a href="https://youtu.be/LFHj8e7mU_I">Operation Varsity Blues: The College Admissions Scandal | Netflix</a>
<a href="https://youtu.be/CLUWDLKAF1M">Neuralink: Elon Musk's entire brain chip presentation in 14 minutes (supercut) </a><a href="https://youtu.be/fNgpg3TFXyA">Full House - Jesse meets Becky scene </a><a href="https://youtu.be/4fwEG8XK1uU">Greta Thunberg in opening track of the album, The 1975&hellip; by The 1975</a>

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.

We Talk About Aliens! feat. Khoo Hsu Chuang and Julian Ng |  Cincai² Bocai

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 
00:00 - Trigger warning disclaimer
01:37 - Introducing host: Rahmah Pauzi
02:15 - Introducing Madam Kim and son - Kee Whay
07:13 - 'He kicked me out of the car'
12:50 - Suffering alone from mental illness
15:00 - Discovering Schizophrenia
18:21 - Underlying resentment and forgiveness
21:08 - Madam Kim's life, going to Oxford University
28:19 - [TW: Su*cide, depression] Divorce
36:43 - 'I would turn on the shower and cry, in the bathroom'
41:34 - [TW: Su*cide] Madam Kim's breaking point: attempting s*cide
45:00 - 'Forgive, and let go, and the life will come back to you'
50:57 - Kee Whay: coming to terms with past mistakes
58:40 - 'I believe all mothers will just want their children to get better'
60:59 - Kee Whay's recovery: What's he doing now?
69:12 - Find mental health support sources in our show notes
69:40 - Outro and credits

Links
A list of mental health organisations and suicide hotlines in Malaysia
Free mental health resources, in your preferred languages
Fact sheet: World Health Organisation
What it’s like to have Schizophrenia TED Talk by Cecilia McGough

Terms 
‘UH’ - University of Malaya Medical Centre, formerly known as University Hospital, is a government-funded medical institution located in Pantai Dalam, southwest corner of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Thean Hou Temple - The Thean Hou Temple is a six-tiered Buddhist temple of the Chinese sea goddess, Mazu, located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It is one of the biggest temples in Southeast Asia. 
‘Hawking’ - Stephen William Hawking was an English theoretical physicist, cosmologist, and author, widely known for his bestselling book, ‘A Brief History of Time.’ 
Cincai - Malaysian slang word that literally translates to ‘whatever’. 
Flower Bathing - Also known as ritual of ‘Mandi Bunga’, it is a popular cleansing ritual in Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia. The normal purpose of the bath is to remove bad luck, ward off evil spirits and increase a person’s aura in hopes of attracting good luck. 
‘Makan’ - Malay word which translates to ‘eat’ or ‘to eat’. 
'Armstrong' - Neil Armstrong, an american astronaut and astrophysicist, and also the first person to walk on the moon. 
Apollo 11 - The spaceflight that first landed humans on the moon, piloted by commander Neil Armstrong and lunar module pilot Buzz Aldrin. 
Tau jiong - Malaysian soymilk. 
Tau fu fah - A sweet chinese snack made of very soft tofu, often referred to as ‘soybean pudding’, ‘tofu brains’, or ‘tofu pudding.’

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.&nbsp;
Bio&nbsp; Madam Poh Kim Pheng, also known as Madam Kim, is currently a committee member of the <a href="https://mmha.org.my/">Malaysian Mental Health Association</a>, a non-profit NGO established to promote mental health awareness and public mental wellbeing.&nbsp;
Episode structure&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>00:00 - Trigger warning disclaimer</li>
<li>01:37 - Introducing host: Rahmah Pauzi</li>
<li>02:15 - Introducing Madam Kim and son - Kee Whay</li>
<li>07:13 - 'He kicked me out of the car'</li>
<li>12:50 - Suffering alone from mental illness</li>
<li>15:00 - Discovering Schizophrenia</li>
<li>18:21 - Underlying resentment and forgiveness</li>
<li>21:08 - Madam Kim's life, going to Oxford University</li>
<li>28:19 - [TW: Su*cide, depression] Divorce</li>
<li>36:43 - 'I would turn on the shower and cry, in the bathroom'</li>
<li>41:34 - [TW: Su*cide] Madam Kim's breaking point: attempting s*cide</li>
<li>45:00 - 'Forgive, and let go, and the life will come back to you'</li>
<li>50:57 - Kee Whay: coming to terms with past mistakes</li>
<li>58:40 - 'I believe all mothers will just want their children to get better'</li>
<li>60:59 - Kee Whay's recovery: What's he doing now?</li>
<li>69:12 - Find mental health support sources in our show notes 69:40 - Outro and credits</li>
</ul>
Links
<ul>
<li>A list of <a href="https://thesmartlocal.com/malaysia/counselling-mental-health-services/">mental health organisations and suicide hotlines</a> in Malaysia</li>
<li><a href="https://www.therakyatpost.com/2021/01/21/need-help-there-are-free-mental-health-resources-for-you-in-your-preferred-languages/">Free mental health resources</a>, in your preferred languages</li>
<li><a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/schizophrenia">Fact sheet: World Health Organisation</a></li>
<li>What it&rsquo;s like to have <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbagFzcyNiM">Schizophrenia TED Talk</a> by Cecilia McGough</li>
</ul>
Terms&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>&lsquo;UH&rsquo; - University of Malaya Medical Centre, formerly known as University Hospital, is a government-funded medical institution located in Pantai Dalam, southwest corner of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.</li>
<li>Thean Hou Temple - The Thean Hou Temple is a six-tiered Buddhist temple of the Chinese sea goddess, Mazu, located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It is one of the biggest temples in Southeast Asia.&nbsp;</li>
<li>&lsquo;Hawking&rsquo; - Stephen William Hawking was an English theoretical physicist, cosmologist, and author, widely known for his bestselling book, &lsquo;A Brief History of Time.&rsquo;&nbsp;</li>
<li>Cincai - Malaysian slang word that literally translates to &lsquo;whatever&rsquo;.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Flower Bathing - Also known as ritual of &lsquo;Mandi Bunga&rsquo;, it is a popular cleansing ritual in Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia. The normal purpose of the bath is to remove bad luck, ward off evil spirits and increase a person&rsquo;s aura in hopes of attracting good luck.&nbsp;</li>
<li>&lsquo;Makan&rsquo; - Malay word which translates to &lsquo;eat&rsquo; or &lsquo;to eat&rsquo;.&nbsp;</li>
<li>'Armstrong' - Neil Armstrong, an american astronaut and astrophysicist, and also the first person to walk on the moon.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Apollo 11 - The spaceflight that first landed humans on the moon, piloted by commander Neil Armstrong and lunar module pilot Buzz Aldrin.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Tau jiong - Malaysian soymilk.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Tau fu fah - A sweet chinese snack made of very soft tofu, often referred to as &lsquo;soybean pudding&rsquo;, &lsquo;tofu brains&rsquo;, or &lsquo;tofu pudding.&rsquo;</li>
</ul>

When Madam Kim falls into a depression following her divorce, her young son Kee Whay wanted to become a doctor. His wish: to mend her 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.

hey Christmas, bye 2020.

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