Mackerel: Culture, literature and social commentary Mackerel

Mackerel interviews Mok Zining, author of The Orchid Folios, published by Ethos Books. 

Join us as we chat with the 2020 Epigram Books Fiction Prize winner, Joshua Kam, as he takes us on a sparkling road trip through his madcap yet mellifluous debut novel,  How the Man in Green Saved Pahang, and Possibly the World, available at leading bookstores and at Epigram.

Hannah Ng and Yogesh Tulsi talk about what they're doing to protect the environment. Just as it took a boy to say that the emperor wasn’t actually wearing any clothes, it’s our young people like Hannah and Yogesh who are stepping up to take charge.

This is Part 3 of our series of fabulous conversations with people who have found themselves “stranded” on three different islands – Siargao in the Philippines, Gili Trawangan in Indonesia and the little red dot of Singapore.

In this final one of these conversations, Carolyn and Marc speak with artist Yen Phang. We talk about going a little claustrophobic after weeks of having our freedom short-circuited, of various government campaigns that infantilise the population and the ignominy of living on an island that doesn’t want to be an island, whose inhabitants are growing increasingly overweight and suffering from a shortage of Vitamin D.

We explore the answers to this question over three conversations with three fabulous people who have found themselves “stranded” on three different islands – Siargao in the Philippines, Gili Trawangan in Indonesia and the little red dot of Singapore.

This is Part 2 and we’re speaking with Ashleigh Sanderson who went to Gili Trawangan to scuba dive and to volunteer at the island’s horse and cat clinic, thinking that it would be a short holiday. Fast forward eight weeks (and counting) and Sanderson is still there. It’s fair to say that Sanderson might have gone stark raving mad if it hadn’t been for Batty, the little rescue kitten.

How are things on YOUR island?

We explore the answers to this question over three conversations with three fabulous people who have found themselves “stranded” on three different islands – Siargao in the Philippines, Gili Trawangan in Indonesia and the little red dot of Singapore.

We start with Michelle Villarosa on Siargao in the Philippines, who tells us more about the importance of looking inward to find stability, lush coconuts and Filipino dramatics.

Background sound effects courtesy of the island.

Enjoy!