This is the first episode of our Literature for Equality Project where we pick 8 books that use them to discuss gender issues. This project is supported by The Canada Fund for Local Initiatives. Our first book is Iban Woman by Golda Mowe and this is a thrilling coming-of-age tale of Ratai, an Iban girl at the cusp of womanhood and her struggles in finding her identity and wanting to be more than just what the tribe deems as a perfect woman. The world is rich with Iban gods and mythology and you get immersed into Iban culture from ceremonies to rites within daily life and also if a tribe goes to war. Throughout you will feel the push and pull of Ratai's thoughts as she questions the gender stereotypes around her and eventually forge her own path in the world.

Two Book Nerds Talking

Literature For Equality E01 | Iban Woman by Golda Mowe - What Does it Mean to be a 'Perfect Girl'?

"Ehhh macam Jakun la""Jakun la you""Don't be like one Jakun can or not"Do these phrases sound familiar?What is a playful jibe towards others is actually an Orang Asli (meaning original or first peoples in Malay) tribe name. The Jakun people are the second largest Orang Asli sub-groups in Malaysia.In this episode, we spoke to Sherry Viviey, a half-Jakun youth on the discrimination and challenges faced by the Orang Asli community, and the misuse of her tribe name (usually used as a derogatory term).Tune in to listen to the story title "Macam Jakun", written by our own Honey Ahmad, inspired by Sherry's story, and the amazing discussion we had with this feisty youth.

TBNT x Empower E04 | Being an Orang Asli in Malaysia

Having to uproot yourself from a country and the life you've known, and starting all over can be daunting. But it can also mean opening more doors of opportunity for you.In this episode, we spoke to Abeera and Yusra, two amazing youths from Project Stand Up, on their aspirations, their challenges, and their hopes for the well-being and empowerment of refugee youths here in Malaysia.Check out this episode on all podcast platforms to hear their story titled "Freedom", and the discussion we had with these two lovely youths.

TBNT x EMPOWER E03 | Being a Refugee in Malaysia

“The grievances of the plaintiffs are real … the discrimination is apparent,” Justice Akhtar Tahir said, reading out his ruling in the landmark case against discriminatory citizenship laws back on the 9th of September 2021.In this episode, we spoke to Bina Ramanand who co-founded the Foreign Spouses Support Group Malaysia and is the Lead Coordinator for the "Malaysian Campaign for Equal Citizenship", Melinda Anne Sharlini who is a gender justice advocate and the programme manager for Family Frontiers and, Shamila Unnikrishnan, a Malaysian currently residing in Nairobi, Kenya on their experiences and journey to achieving gender-equal citizenship laws in Malaysia.Listen on for a story written by our very own Diana Yeong and the riveting discussion with Bina, Melinda and Shamila.

TBNT x Empower E02 | Malaysian Bi-national Families & Their Fight for Equality

Everyone has a universal need to feel accepted, to be accepted for their authentic self. In a country that does not recognize the rights of the LGBTQ+ community, living your truth can be scary and painful.In this special episode, you'll be hearing an excerpt of Julya's unpublished book, Transma and Me, and we had a wonderful conversation with Julya and Faris about their experiences and their individual journeys.Join us as we bring you the stories and voices of marginalized communities in Malaysia in this 4 part series of special edition shows in collaboration with Empower Malaysia.

TBNT x Empower E01 | Being Transgender in Malaysia

Hello there folks! This is an edited version of the LIVE conversation we have with Daryl Kho with some extra excerpts and nerd news. Mist Bound is a is a charming tale of a bright little girl, Alexis who is very close to her grandfather. When he was put under a spell by a kenit, his mind starts filling with mist and he soon forgets everything even his own wife and granddaughter. Alexis and her grandmother travels into the Mist to find the ingredients for a Memory Glue before her grandfather looses all his memories. What follows is an adventure into a magical world full of wise-cracking creatures, fairy-folk, mermaids and ogres where Alexis has to employ all she knows and the stories her grandfather tells her to complete the quest.

TBTN S05E11 | Mist-Bound with Daryl Kho : A fantasy that teaches kids about dementia

We sat down with Li Hsian the co-facilitator for art discovery tours at Ilham Gallery and picked her brains on great local children's picture books. They use a lot of picture books at the gallery to introduce children to art and themes that might be tricky to navigate. We went through some great books and waxed nostalgia on some reads from our childhoods.

TBNT Minisode 19 | Sept Challenge: Local Children's Picture Books with Li Hsian

We are all bereft of nature right now being stuck in our houses so being a book nerd, we picked up some books that we can live vicariously through. From long nature walks to friendships with foxes, there is something in our picks that will be bound to tickle your non-fiction fancy. Try them and smell fresh air and marvel at creatures great and small through the pages of these books. Music : Teddy Bear Waltz by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4466-teddy-bear-waltzLicense: https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseAnd other tracks from https://www.bensound.com/

TBNT S05E10 | 4 Books that Brings you Back to Nature

After last week's horror that is way too close to home, we are still in the world of the supernatural albeit a more rollicking one. Welcome to an alternate Cairo at the turn of the 20th century a mash up of steampunk and djinns with a nice dash of police noir. These series of novellas, short story and novel is pure escapism. Diana and I can't get enough of them. Many thanks this week to Dilly who went above and beyond reading our excerpts.Music : Hidden Agenda by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3872-hidden-agendaLicense: https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseKrampus's Workshop by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/5518-krampus-s-workshopLicense: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

TBNT S05E09 | The Dead Djinn Universe of P. Djèlí Clark

Here is an interview we did at the last Ubud Writer's Festival in 2019 (remember sitting in rooms, huddled together listening to an author?) What carefree days those were. Honey sat down with an Indonesian Emerging Writer Nurillah Achmad and talked to her about her macabre short story, myths and black magic. We finally got down to editing it. We left the Bahasa Indonesian interview but explain what was being said in between. You will also be able to listen to the sad and poetic story in both Bahasa Indonesia and English. Enjoy!

TBNT S05E08 | Black Magic in Jember with Nurillah Achmed

In keeping with our August 2021 Book Challenge, we are re-releasing one of our favourite cli-fi reads, The Broken Earth Trilogy by N.K. Jemisin. Being fantasy dorks, we dig deep into NK Jemisin's award-winning fantasy series, the Broken Earth trilogy. It is epic, nuanced and delves into really personal stuff with a backdrop of the world ending. We talk about reading everything from just one author and end the podcast with an excerpt of Jemisin's fierce Hugo acceptance speech.

TBNT S05E07 (Re-release) | The Broken Earth Trilogy

Our August challenge is to read a book about climate change or a book set in the tropics. We decided to give you reads set near a beach (or sea or island) and as you can see we have interpreted it rather loosely. And well, that's the challenge; to just pick up a book on your TBR or something that you've always wanted to read to fit our #TBNTBookChallenge2021. And feel free to be creative. Here are our socials if you want to hook up with us:FB: Two Book Nerds TalkingIG: @tbntbooksTwitter: @TbnTpodEmail: booknerdstalking@gmail.comMusic credits:Bossa Antigua by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3454-bossa-antiguaLicense: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

TBNT Minisode 18 | 30 Dirty (August) Reads set by a Beach

We sat down for an interview with YA author Kalynn Bayron and talked about her new novel, This Poison Heart. It's got a gothic house, a secret garden, locked rooms and a girl who can control plants. 'Black Poison Ivy' is what she calls her heroine Briseis and there is plenty of blooming action when she arrives at her inheritance, a dark mansion over acres of land. Check it out.Music credits:Bossa Antigua by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3454-bossa-antiguaLicense: https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseDecline by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1300016Artist: http://incompetech.com/

TBNT S05E06 | Poisonous plants and witchery with Kalynn Bayron

In these strange and challenging times, books like Think Again can be useful in making you embrace the things that you think are keeping you back from making change and moving on. Imposter syndrome (apparently not that bad), constructive arguing (we can all learn it and trust it), changing your mind and being able to change another's (and still do it with compassion). So many things we like to nibble into in this accessible non-fic by one of the most interesting organisational psychologists in the world today.Music credits:Bossa Antigua by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3454-bossa-antiguaLicense: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

TBNT S05E05 | Coping with Stuff and Rethinking: We discuss Think Again by Adam Grant

We had a little online LIVE event recently with Elaine from Lit Books and Singaporean author Suffian Hakim. We wished we were doing it at the bookstore and all of us felt a little bereft about it but well- the show must go on! The Keepers of Stories is his most intimate one yet, and in our opinion, his best. It follows siblings Hakeem and Zulaika as they are taken to Changi Beach (this is the 70s) to live with The Anak Bumi- a community of people who reject modernity in order to live free.

TBNT S05E04 | Keepers of Stories with Suffian Hakim

We are Honey and Diana, two Malaysian gals who really love diving into books of all kinds. Welcome to 2 Book Nerds Talking where we discuss books we love or those hot on the read list. We get to share reading insights, bookish topics, pick the minds of occasional bookworm guests and other general book nerdery. If you love books as much as we do, this is the podcast for you!