Show Notes
Being named after another politician, it seems to be no surprise that our guest, Walid Jumblatt has started a podcast like Teh Tarik With Walid. Current based in one of the top university in Singapore, Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Assistant Professor. Walid Jumblatt has always been interested in politics specifically politics in the South East Asian region. He explains the essence of Singapore modern politics and the pitfalls of not accepting the results of a democratic process when you don't agree with it. He recalls the time when having a chat with various prolific people on his podcast, the guests' response and how it has changed his world view. The fun part of being a podcaster is to be a "journalist". We talked about difficult questions, the job of being part of the media scene and the outsiders of the mainstream media and not getting swooned with politicians Although the ideological differences, the thing that we can totally agree with is the power of freedom of speech. Walid dissects the importance Freedom of Speech and Expression in the modern democratic society and explained the nuance of fairness on how the Government view fairness in society. What happens if people are offended by the idea of criticism of their own faith? Is criticism and questioning the prophet wrong according to Quran? Walid has explains his confidence in his Islamic faith. One of his many hats, is to nurture the new generation. We discuss the difficulties and especially being the shaper of minds in a topic that can be divisive and what are the tools that he has tackling the issue. Teh Tark With Walid: https://open.spotify.com/show/5Q6mrga7xtAAFAeoMuzkAo?si=c12dc4231fad4e87
More from Not Again Podcast
Terry Johnson or more commonly known as The Real TJ has a fascinating life. Born in Dayton, Ohio, the Real TJ shares about him growing up in a family that is addicted to drugs. The realisation of needing to get sober and being a drug dealer when he was younger. He told a story of how he and his room mate who he perceived as racist. While I tried to cautiously ventured to his regrets, he shares his time with being In The Living Colour and the time he was in Oprah Winfrey Show. We talked about presenting our jokes and how he perceived me as a comedian.
Welcome To The Machine is a Pink Floyd tribute band from Singapore. With its members include: Lim Kiang as Bass, Noel Ong as Guitarist, Arinda as the front man, Laurence as the drummer, David as the Guitarist and Yuk Wong (not in around) as the keyboardist. So I has asked the million dollar question: Why Pink Floyd? It spiraled into a rabbit hole of favourite Pink Floyd songs and the theater aspect of Pink Floyd. Stories shared on how Welcome To The Machine got started. How the reception of Pink Floyd music in Singapore as compare to other countries such as Vietnam and India. Questions such as what they look out for during auditions and how the band stay together for close to a decade. The sacrifice and discipline that gels the band together. Kiang is an old veteran when it comes to the local music scene, the song that pushed Beatles off the charts and the story that make his previous band the straydogs as the rebel band in the 1960s. Oh yeah We do think there are dated songs from Pink Floyd and Laurence loves Tool as well. Details of Welcome To The Machine concert: https://www.catch.sg/Event/Experience-The-Wall-from-the-inside-Welcome-To-The-Machine-brings-Pi-20250731131848
Having an album titled "Not all who wander are lost" seems to be an ironic title for the band Paint The Sky Red. Paint The Sky Red made up by four Malay guys Azman, Hakim, Yasser and Fahmi, talked a lot of revisiting their roots in their music and having their families with the journey with them. Recounting the genesis of the band, Paint the Sky Red tells the story of why the lack of a lead vocalist and how a band in Malaysia and one from Indonesia have helped them along the way. Selflessness seems to be the one thing that bind all of them together as everyone seems to be really excited with everyone's progress in the band, telling the story how they innovate with one another. The call for the tour is unexpected. The culture is different, there is no marketing done. Paint the Sky Red shares their adventure and misadventure in their China tour. From feeling like a rock star to comically scolding the idea of hard case their guitar and going to a football match in China. They made an impossible decision with their music career. Giggling like a bunch of primary school kids. The band shares the joys of having their partners with them. How they have supported them throughout the journey, from having an obsession to be better and even them involved. Time being spent with their family as priority and how the band has evolved in making the career decision in their life.
It takes someone special to be in the cage and start fighting. "Kobra" Kai Xiong will be one such guy. Started at a young age, he talks about the life of MMA Fighter and why he had made that decision so early in his life. We nerd out on the evolution of old school MMA vs new age MMA. Kai Xiong shared the secrets of being a good MMA fighter and getting a good coach. He shares the university major to improve your Ju Jitsu game. We guys have the romantic dream about chasing one dream as a MMA fighter. He shares the horror stories in chasing a dream of being a pro-MMA Fighter Quote: A good coach is just somebody who cares for you. Because if they care for you on a personal level with respect, like personal in the sense, like your individual progression rather than like the gym as a whole, then they will be able to, uh, see the things that you need specifically. Not just like a cookie cutter process to let everybody go through Because if somebody cares for you individually and they're able to identify your mistakes, your strengths, your weak points, right, then they can cater the way they coach or their instructions and whatever they want to teach or show you specifically to what will make you the best version of you.
Being dubbed as a Singapore's best boxer, Velvan Tan has sure been through some of the greatest challenge and forged his own path. Now reside as the head coach of Spartans Boxing Club, he reviews about the time when he first got started. The first time he talks about his dreams, the first interviews and now his first podcast. From being the head coach, he talks about his pet peeves as a gym coach and convincing people his capabilities as a coach while being in the youngest in the room. Martial artist and people who practiced combat sports always talk about the lessons learnt, the rise and the falls. When we talked about disappointments, I think Velvan is a good person to talk to about have his dream crushed and coming back. Having his expectations not going the way he intended and yet coming out and being the best at his craft and later his life. Velvan ended being very candid about his personal life. How he got to where he is today? The important lessons that he has learnt from his father and working to deal with the death of his mother. The important lesson here is Family.