Through no-holds barred conversations, Spill The Teh gets into the minds of individuals who break stereotypes of society. Join us in igniting curiosity, changing perspectives, and seeing life’s flip side.
[EP12] Seriously Funny: The Power of Comedy and What’s Behind the Stage, with Gajen Nad
As the saying goes, ‘Laughter is the best medicine’. Whether or not it cures physical ailments, comedy shows definitely have the power to bring strangers together by laughing about the same subject, sometimes at the expense of themselves. We speak to Gajen Nad, stand-up comedian, on the power of comedy and his journey to becoming the first Penang-born comedian to have his own show on Netflix.
[EP11] Scoring it High: Malaysian Football and the Domestic Sports Ecosystem, with Jeffrey Chew
When it comes to football, many would think about international footballers and the clubs they belong to, branded jerseys, and roaring crowds. That is on an international level. On the domestic level, the enthusiasm during local leagues in Malaysia might be of a different nature. We talk to Jeffrey Chew, General Manager of the Penang Football Club who is also on the Board of Directors of the Malaysian Football League to learn more about Malaysia’s football scene.
[EP10] Raising the Bar in the Art Ecosystem, with Ch’ng Huck Theng
Penang often gives the impression of being an artsy place due to its built and natural heritage, as well as the popularity of the murals amongst tourists. However, mentioning an international art summit in Penang would be a pleasant surprise for many, given that such an event is hardly heard of here. We speak to Dato’ Ch’ng Huck Theng, award-winning artist and sculptor and the founder of Beyond Contemporary Art Penang (BCAP), an international art summit and expo, on integrating life with arts and business.
[EP9] Mixing Hits and Making History: Phil Tan’s Journey
Phil Tan dropped by Penang Institute for a podcast chat with the Institute’s Executive Director Dato’ Dr Ooi Kee Beng. For those who don’t know Atlanta/Georgia-based music/audio engineer Malaysian Phil Tan, quoting from his website philtan.com, “He is a 3-time Grammy Award recipient, as mixing engineer for Mariah Carey’s “The Emancipation of Mimi” (Best Contemporary R&B Album, 2005), Ludacris’ “Release Therapy” (Best Rap Album, 2006) and Rihanna’s “Only Girl (In the World)” (Best Dance Recording, 2010).
[EP8] Experimental Experiences: Architecture and Community Engagement, with Mei Chee Seong
We speak to Ar. Mei Chee Seong, founder of aLM Architects and COEX, one of Penang’s latest community hubs which actively serves as a platform for collaborative events. Mei shares his thoughts on curating an experimental space and his idea of ‘Timescapes’ in allowing buildings to tell their own stories through time.
[EP7] Exploring Ecotherapy: Conversations with Jonathan Lim, Chief Storyteller of Tropical Spice Garden
Terms such as ‘forest baths,’ ‘nature therapies,’ and ‘glamping’ are becoming more popular as city dwellers long to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of city life. The Tropical Spice Garden is known as an ecotourism destination where one can explore and learn about the natural heritage of Penang. We speak to Jonathan Lim, Chief Storyteller of the Tropical Spice Garden, who explains the importance of connecting nature and culture to the community.
[EP6] Inspiring Spaces: Hin Bus Depot’s Impact on Penang’s Creative Scene, with Tan Shih Thoe
Hin Bus Depot is no stranger to Penangites as an event space, art gallery, weekend market spot, and for all things creative. Apart from within the Depot, it has also impacted the surrounding area by reshaping the streetscape and influencing the types of businesses in its vicinity. We speak to Tan Shih Thoe, owner and manager of Hin Bus Depot, to learn more about the creative community hub.
[EP5] Trash Coins Movement: Beach Clean-up programme, with Fazil Irwan Som
We speak to Fazil Irwan Som, CEO of Penang Halal International and founder of the Trash Coins Movement, on how beach cleanup programmes benefit the community and foster a sense of responsibility towards nature. We also speak about how cleanliness and caring for the environment align with the larger concept of a halal lifestyle.
[EP4] Tasting the Trends: Exploring the Latest in Food and Beverage, with Aw Kai Ho and Daeng Sariges
After two consecutive years of pandemic-related decline in 2020 and 2021, the F&B industry income inched closer to pre-pandemic levels in 2022, from pent-up demand and the return to normalcy for social and economic activities. We speak to Aw Kai Ho and Daeng Sariges from Forest Cloud Beverage Company, on F&B trends locally and globally.
[EP3] From Imagination to Impact: Valuing the Creative Economy, with Loo Ping
‘Creative Economy’ has been the buzzword for some time, but do we really know what it is? And are people cognisant of its presence in Penang? We speak to Loo Ping, Brand Consultant of Foci Collective. Foci is a Penang-based design collective specialising in brand strategy and creative works in Malaysia and Singapore.
[EP2] The Reluctant Politician – Tun Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman, with Ooi Kee Beng
On this special episode leading to Malaysia’s 15th General Election, we look back at the nation’s first generation of leaders and what made them effective nation-builders, with a particular focus on Tun Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman, Malaysia’s second Deputy Prime Minister. We talk to Ooi Kee Beng, Executive Director of Penang Institute and author of the award-winning “The Reluctant Politician: Tun Dr Ismail and His Time”.
[EP1] Stability and Opportunity: Decoding Brain Gain to Penang, with Leong Ting Hwa
In this first episode of Penang Institute’s Spill The Teh Podcast, we talk to Leong Ting Hwa, who came home to Penang despite his high flying career in Singapore. As a Brain Gain to Penang, he broke the Brain Drain pattern which has been plaguing Malaysia. While we agreed that money is the main bait for people to leave Malaysia, we deduced that political and economic stability is the way to attract our talents home.