Al x Al Try Podcasting
By Al Ibrahim & Al Siew
Al x Al Try PodcastingMar 27, 2024
What is Malta?
Is it a country or a city in Ireland? How confident are you about where it's located on a map? Can you point to it? Why were Paul Mescal and Pedro Pascal there? Does Malta ever play itself on screen? What does Maltese even sound like?
All these questions and more on this new (but also old) episode of the AlxAl Podcast.
It's also our very first episode with guests! Shoutout to Grace Wong and Amirul Ruslan for jumping in to talk about Creativity, ADHD, and Esperanto.
Yes, this episode is jam-packed with conversations that go all over the place. But it's a really fun one, and we hope you enjoy it as you do the dishes or walk your dog, or while doing whatever it is that you normally do when you listen to us.
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Al Ibrahim can be found at madebyal.net, and Al Siew writes at alsiew.com. Sandra is covering.blog.
For feedback and topic suggestions, please DM us on Instagram @alxalpodcast , or email alxalpodcast@gmail.com.
Bonus: Which Oscar Best-Picture Nominee Should You Watch?
In this now bonus episode which we recorded all the way back in March, we discuss the things we remember from movies, what we think about Women Talking (mild-spoilers, fyi), and which of the Oscar best-picture nominees we'd actually recommend.
Also in this episode, one of the Als confesses that he primarily remembers Avatar as a porno -- gasp! -- but which Al is that?
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Al Ibrahim can be found at madebyal.net, and Al Siew writes at alsiew.com.
For feedback and topic suggestions, please DM us on Instagram @alxalpodcast , or email alxalpodcast@gmail.com.
Episode 9: Balance, Belonging, and Other Things We Take for Granted
In our first episode back after a 3-month hiatus, one Al talks about being back home, and the other talks about being in the hospital.
Things mentioned:
Ezra Klein and Rachel Zoffness on pain
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Al Ibrahim can be found at madebyal.net, and Al Siew writes at alsiew.com. For feedback and topic suggestions, DM us on Instagram @alxalpodcast, or email alxalpodcast@gmail.com.
Episode 8: Comfort Zones
In this episode, we talk about getting out of our comfort zones, trying out new hobbies, and exploring different career paths. But do we even agree on what the definition of a "comfort zone" is?
Things mentioned:
Al Ibrahim's faux disposable film photos
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Al Ibrahim can be found at madebyal.net, and Al Siew writes at alsiew.com. For feedback and topic suggestions, DM us on Instagram @alxalpodcast, or email alxalpodcast@gmail.com.
Bonus: OkCupid Questions
Who is more well-known today: David Bowie or Justin Bieber? Which is the more romantic activity: Kissing in Paris or Kissing in a tent in the woods? And would you date someone who’s never been in any kind of romantic relationship before?
Find out the answers to these questions and more on this very special post-valentine's bonus episode.
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Al Ibrahim can be found at madebyal.net, and Al Siew writes at alsiew.com.
For feedback and topic suggestions, DM us on Instagram @alxalpodcast , or email alxalpodcast@gmail.com.
Episode 7: Dating and Relationships
This is perhaps the episode we've prepared the most for yet. We even got chatGPT to give us talking points, and we were going to talk about important relationship things like building self-confidence and navigating the dating world after a breakup or divorce.
But instead -- for reasons beyond our comprehension -- we mostly ended up reminiscing about our past romantic relationships. Although along the way, one Al did manage to share his framework for doing audits in relationships, and the other Al explains what going on dates in a long term relationship feels like.
Things we discussed:
Good conversations have lots of doorknobs
How to talk to people about things
Dan Savage on Polyamory, Chosen Family and Better Sex
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Al Ibrahim can be found at madebyal.net, and Al Siew writes at alsiew.com. For feedback and topic suggestions, DM us on Instagram @alxalpodcast, or email alxalpodcast@gmail.com.
Episode 6: Goals and Aspirations
In this episode, we talk about some of the things we want to achieve in 2023, but before going into that, Al Siew rates Al Ibrahim a 7 out of 10. But what on? Hamstrings, sleep, and jet-skis also make an appearance in this episode.
Things we discussed:
Things Al Siew wants to do in 2023
Al Ibrahim can be found at madebyal.net, and Al Siew writes at alsiew.com.
For feedback and topic suggestions, DM us on Instagram @alxalpodcast , or email alxalpodcast@gmail.com.
Bonus: Christmas Gifts
While recording Episode 4 & 5, we talked about the gifts we got for Christmas and how we feel about gifts in general. It didn't make sense for that conversation to be a part of the episode, but we've decided to release it here on the feed as a bonus.
Al Ibrahim can be found at madebyal.net, and Al Siew writes at alsiew.com.
For feedback and topic suggestions, DM us on Instagram @alxalpodcast , or email alxalpodcast@gmail.com.
Episode 5: 2022 Music, TV, and Reconsiderations
In this episode, we talk about movies we did not like, and music we loved. We talked about fun TV, challenging TV, and relatable TV. One Al goes off on a movie that probably didn't deserve it, and the other Al drops his hottest take yet. But which Al did what?
Things we discussed:
(MOVIES)
Everything Everywhere All at Once
All Quiet on the Western Front
(TV)
(MUSIC)
Stromae - Sante (Official Music Video)
Stromae - les leçons c'est ''tous les mêmes'' (Lesson 24)
Al Ibrahim can be found at madebyal.net, and Al Siew writes at alsiew.com.
For feedback and topic suggestions, DM us on Instagram @alxalpodcast , or email alxalpodcast@gmail.com.
Episode 4: 2022 Memories, Books, and Films
In this episode, we talk about some of our favourite memories of 2022, and discuss some of the books and movies that have left an impression. Please note that there are some mild spoilers for the books and movies discussed, but nothing major: No twists, or surprises, and we don't spoil the endings. Having said that, if you're the kind of person who prefers to go into books and movies completely blind, we suggest you stop listening to this episode at exactly the 14-minute mark.
Things we discussed:
(BOOKS)
Open Water - Caleb Azumah Nelson
In The End, It Was All About Love - Musa Okwonga
I'm Glad My Mom Died - Jennette McCurdy
(FILMS)
Decision to Leave - Park Chan-wook
The Banshees of Inisherin - Martin McDonagh
Jackass Forever - Jeff Tremaine
Al Ibrahim can be found at madebyal.net, and Al Siew writes at alsiew.com.
For feedback and topic suggestions, DM us on Instagram @alxalpodcast , or email alxalpodcast@gmail.com.
Episode 3: Male Friendships
In this episode, we discuss why it's sometimes awkward for us to make friends with other men, and why it's often difficult to be open and vulnerable in our male friendships. Al Ibrahim shares some friendship frameworks, and Al Siew does something brave.
Recommendations:
David Reese's XOXO Festival Talk from 2016 (Talk)
The Blindboy Podcast (Podcast)
Al Ibrahim can be found at madebyal.net, and Al Siew writes at alsiew.com.
For feedback and topic suggestions, DM us on Instagram @alxalpodcast , or email alxalpodcast@gmail.com.
Episode 2: Neurodiversity & Self-Image
In this episode, we talk about our anxieties, how we see ourselves, and what motivates us to create. Also, Al Ibrahim has some hot takes, and Al Siew shares some party-going tips.
Recommendations:
The Banshees of Inisherin (Film)
The File of Intimate and Damning Details by @onemeerkat (Essayette)
Al Ibrahim can be found at madebyal.net, and Al Siew writes at alsiew.com.
For feedback and topic suggestions, DM us on Instagram @alxalpodcast , or email us at alxalpodcast@gmail.com.
Episode 1: Moving
In our inaugural episode, recorded a month after Al Siew moved from Malaysia to Ireland, we work through our feelings about migration, transition, and what it takes to belong to a place.
Recommendations:
The Young Offenders (Film)
In the End, It Was All About Love (Book)
Al Ibrahim can be found at madebyal.net, and Al Siew writes at alsiew.com.
For feedback or topic suggestions, DM us on Instagram @alxalpodcast , or email us at alxalpodcast@gmail.com.