The latest mass outbreak of COVID-19 in China has impacted people's lives, with over 5000 new cases reported each day this week. While the numbers are small compared with what other countries have experienced during the pandemic, the most recent outbreak is the largest in China since 2020. Many residents in major cities like Shanghai and the tech hub of Shenzhen have been told to remain in their homes, and officials in several jurisdictions have given orders for full or partial lockdowns. After feeling safe and protected for the past two years by China's Zero Covid Policy, Chinese people have, for the first time, started to question whether this policy is effectively dealing with the new omicron variant. Our Co-Host Yajun is now on her 16th day of being forced to stay inside her apartment complex due to a case of COVID being reported in the same compound. Co-Host Karoline was just released from mandatory quarantine after returning to China from a trip overseas. In this episode, Yajun and Karoline shared their personal experiences and observations of how public opinion has started to shift regarding China's  Zero COVID strategy. 

The latest mass outbreak of COVID-19 in China has impacted people's lives, with over 5000 new cases reported each day this week. While the numbers are small compared with what other countries have experienced during the pandemic, the most recent outbreak is the largest in China since 2020. Many residents in major cities like Shanghai and the tech hub of Shenzhen have been told to remain in their homes, and officials in several jurisdictions have given orders for full or partial lockdowns. After feeling safe and protected for the past two years by China's Zero Covid Policy, Chinese people have, for the first time, started to question whether this policy is effectively dealing with the new omicron variant. Our Co-Host Yajun is now on her 16th day of being forced to stay inside her apartment complex due to a case of COVID being reported in the same compound. Co-Host Karoline was just released from mandatory quarantine after returning to China from a trip overseas. In this episode, Yajun and Karoline shared their personal experiences and observations of how public opinion has started to shift regarding China's  Zero COVID strategy.

Behind the Lines of China's Zero Covid Strategy

When people feel confused or uncertain about their lives, some turn to fortune-tellers or psychics for guidance and advice. China has a long tradition of fortune-telling, soothsaying, and even exorcisms and shamanism. Those living in the Northeastern part of the country consult people known as Daxian (大仙), which can be translated as “spirit mediums” or “spirit possessors”). Daxian are the representatives of a local religion, combining shamanism and animal worship (including weasels, foxes, mice, snakes, and hedgehogs). According to legend, once these animal spirits possess their bodies, the daxian can cure disease or predict the future.   We talk to Vicky, a native of Northeastern China. She describes her personal experiences of consulting a daxian for help when she had difficulties maintaining a long-term relationship. She also shares her recent discovery about the extent her family was involved with this local religion.  

When people feel confused or uncertain about their lives, some turn to fortune-tellers or psychics for guidance and advice. China has a long tradition of fortune-telling, soothsaying, and even exorcisms and shamanism. Those living in the Northeastern part of the country consult people known as Daxian (大仙), which can be translated as “spirit mediums” or “spirit possessors”). Daxian are the representatives of a local religion, combining shamanism and animal worship (including weasels, foxes, mice, snakes, and hedgehogs). According to legend, once these animal spirits possess their bodies, the daxian can cure disease or predict the future.   We talk to Vicky, a native of Northeastern China. She describes her personal experiences of consulting a daxian for help when she had difficulties maintaining a long-term relationship. She also shares her recent discovery about the extent her family was involved with this local religion.

Spiritual Journey: One woman's experience with shamanism

It's an annual tradition. Yajun, Jingjing, and Karoline, the three cohosts of the Wo Men Podcast, got together virtually to discuss their experiences in 2021 and share their memories of the year that was. They also talked about what they were looking forward to most in 2022. Spoiler Alert: They would like to see each other and are hopeful that China will open its borders soon so that family and friends can finally be reunited. Fingers crossed!

It's an annual tradition. Yajun, Jingjing, and Karoline, the three cohosts of the Wo Men Podcast, got together virtually to discuss their experiences in 2021 and share their memories of the year that was. They also talked about what they were looking forward to most in 2022. Spoiler Alert: They would like to see each other and are hopeful that China will open its borders soon so that family and friends can finally be reunited. Fingers crossed!

The Wo Men Podcast 2021 Year in Review Episode

In China, there have been generations that “stood up” (站起来 zhànqǐlai) and generations that “jumped into the sea” (下海 xiàhǎi), but many young people in China today are choosing instead to just “lie down and chill.” The term “Lying Flat” (躺平 tǎngpíng) became popular following a blog post entitled “Lying Flat is Justice” (躺平即是正义 tǎngpíng jíshì zhèngyì) went viral earlier this year. This call to inaction inspired many to choose a lifestyle that rejected the social pressure to work hard and conform. Why bother striving if the “Chinese Dream” of a high-paying job, buying a house, and checking all the boxes for success seem impossible? Many young people are also turning their backs on the corporate grind and risky start-up jobs to find a stable gig with China’s biggest employer: the government. Why are young people lining up for “less competitive” jobs in the civil service? After 30 years of standing up and another 30 years of jumping in the sea of entrepreneurship, why are so many young people choosing a life of less struggle? To answer these questions, we talked with Kailai, a student at one of China’s top universities, who explains to us why the growing gap between expectations and reality is causing young people to question assumptions about what is the meaning of a successful life and why when the going gets tough, sometimes the best thing you can do is take a step back, lie down, and chill.

In China, there have been generations that “stood up” (站起来 zhànqǐlai) and generations that “jumped into the sea” (下海 xiàhǎi), but many young people in China today are choosing instead to just “lie down and chill.” The term “Lying Flat” (躺平 tǎngpíng) became popular following a blog post entitled “<a href="https://gnews.org/zh-hant/1275088/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lying Flat is Justice</a>” (躺平即是正义 tǎngpíng jíshì zhèngyì) went viral earlier this year. This call to inaction inspired many to choose a lifestyle that rejected the social pressure to work hard and conform. Why bother striving if the “Chinese Dream” of a high-paying job, buying a house, and checking all the boxes for success seem impossible? Many young people are also turning their backs on the corporate grind and risky start-up jobs to find a stable gig with China’s biggest employer: the government. Why are young people lining up for “less competitive” jobs in the civil service? After 30 years of standing up and another 30 years of jumping in the sea of entrepreneurship, why are so many young people choosing a life of less struggle? To answer these questions, we talked with Kailai, a student at one of China’s top universities, who explains to us why the growing gap between expectations and reality is causing young people to question assumptions about what is the meaning of a successful life and why when the going gets tough, sometimes the best thing you can do is take a step back, lie down, and chill.

The Future is Lying Flat

2021 marks the 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks carried out by the terrorist group Al-Qaeda against targets in the United States. Over 3000 people died as a result, and the world was forever changed. Since then, the United States has faced many challenges, including a long-running military occupation of Afghanistan, which ended only this year. The past two decades have also seen a steadily rising China seeking to challenge US hegemony and disrupt the existing international order. What did 9/11 mean for China and the US-China relationship? How did people in China understand and react to the news that the United States had been attacked? In this episode, Karoline and Yajun share their personal stories of hearing about 9/11 and how those experiences have affected their later careers as cultural intermediaries between the world and China. They also reflect on how their careers have been affected by the complicated US-China relationship and consider how they can contribute to improving mutual understanding between the world’s two largest economies.

2021 marks the 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks carried out by the terrorist group Al-Qaeda against targets in the United States. Over 3000 people died as a result, and the world was forever changed. Since then, the United States has faced many challenges, including a long-running military occupation of Afghanistan, which ended only this year. The past two decades have also seen a steadily rising China seeking to challenge US hegemony and disrupt the existing international order. What did 9/11 mean for China and the US-China relationship? How did people in China understand and react to the news that the United States had been attacked? In this episode, Karoline and Yajun share their personal stories of hearing about 9/11 and how those experiences have affected their later careers as cultural intermediaries between the world and China. They also reflect on how their careers have been affected by the complicated US-China relationship and consider how they can contribute to improving mutual understanding between the world’s two largest economies.

20 Years Later: How did Chinese students react to the News of 9/11?

When most people think about China in the 21st century, they picture the big coastal megacities like Beijing or Shanghai. But that’s only a small part of the picture. For this episode, we traveled out west to Qinghai Province, which has an area the size of France but a population of just six million people. The region where Qinghai and southern Gansu Province meet has long been a frontier zone, a point of contact for many different ethnic groups, including people who still live a nomadic lifestyle. Today it is one of the poorest regions in China and has been the focus of intensive development even as many people who live there try and preserve their traditional lifestyle and distinctive culture. We talk to Gombo, who was raised in a Mongolian nomadic family and went on to be the first in his area to graduate from college. Gombo describes his life growing up in a nomad camp, how Tibetan Buddhism continues to be a significant part of his life, and how he pursued his education and career in modern China.  Today, Gombo works in the travel industry with the company Elevated Trips  based out of Xining.  Gombo is also a very talented musician and he shared with us some of his songs which you can hear as part of the episode.

When most people think about China in the 21st century, they picture the big coastal megacities like Beijing or Shanghai. But that’s only a small part of the picture. For this episode, we traveled out west to Qinghai Province, which has an area the size of France but a population of just six million people. The region where Qinghai and southern Gansu Province meet has long been a frontier zone, a point of contact for many different ethnic groups, including people who still live a nomadic lifestyle. Today it is one of the poorest regions in China and has been the focus of intensive development even as many people who live there try and preserve their traditional lifestyle and distinctive culture. We talk to Gombo, who was raised in a Mongolian nomadic family and went on to be the first in his area to graduate from college. Gombo describes his life growing up in a nomad camp, how Tibetan Buddhism continues to be a significant part of his life, and how he pursued his education and career in modern China. Today, Gombo works in the travel industry with the company <a href="https://www.elevatedtrips.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Elevated Trips</a> based out of Xining. Gombo is also a very talented musician and he shared with us some of his songs which you can hear as part of the episode.

Gombo's Prayers on the Plateau

Are you tired of big city life? Ever think of escaping the noise, dust, and exhausting pace of life for a slice of the country? For many young people in China, work means 12-hour days, six days a week, with a long and crowded commute to and from work. No wonder so many people are considering trading urban living for a rural lifestyle. In recent years, Dali has become a magnet for writers, musicians, artists, painters, and people looking to simplify their lives. In this episode, Karoline Kan talks to Feather, who moved to Dali from Beijing, about her lifestyle change.

Are you tired of big city life? Ever think of escaping the noise, dust, and exhausting pace of life for a slice of the country? For many young people in China, work means 12-hour days, six days a week, with a long and crowded commute to and from work. No wonder so many people are considering trading urban living for a rural lifestyle. In recent years, Dali has become a magnet for writers, musicians, artists, painters, and people looking to simplify their lives. In this episode, Karoline Kan talks to Feather, who moved to Dali from Beijing, about her lifestyle change.

Downsizing in Dali

The Medical Aesthetics industry (what your grandmother calls “plastic surgery”) is booming in China. According to Deloitte, China's aesthetic medicine market grew from 65 billion yuan (US$10 billion) in 2015 to 175 billion yuan in 2019. That’s three times faster than the global industry average. Why are Chinese women -- and men -- so crazy about beauty treatments? Don’t they worry about the risks and possible side effects? Today we talked to Guli Ai, a consumer with ten years of experience using aesthetics treatment. Guli explains her journey in pursuit of beauty and why she’s not afraid to take advantage of the benefits of medical science in her quest for perfection.

The Medical Aesthetics industry (what your grandmother calls “plastic surgery”) is booming in China. According to Deloitte, China's aesthetic medicine market grew from 65 billion yuan (US$10 billion) in 2015 to 175 billion yuan in 2019. That’s three times faster than the global industry average. Why are Chinese women -- and men -- so crazy about beauty treatments? Don’t they worry about the risks and possible side effects? Today we talked to Guli Ai, a consumer with ten years of experience using aesthetics treatment. Guli explains her journey in pursuit of beauty and why she’s not afraid to take advantage of the benefits of medical science in her quest for perfection.

The cost of beauty: Why is cosmetic surgery so popular in China?

While many companies have felt the impact of Covid-19, some courageous entrepreneurs in China are still willing to take risks and launch new ventures in this time of global economic fluctuations. Our guest today, Lysa Wei, is one of them. In 2020, Lysa started her own company bringing hard seltzer to the China market. Low-calories and sugar-free, hard seltzers have become one of the world’s hottest (or coldest, depending on how you like drinks served) alcoholic beverages in the world. In this episode, Lysa explains the opportunities and the challenges of starting a company in the Covid era. She also shares how to introduce a new alcoholic beverage to Chinese millennials who like to get their buzz differently from their parents or older siblings.

While many companies have felt the impact of Covid-19, some courageous entrepreneurs in China are still willing to take risks and launch new ventures in this time of global economic fluctuations. Our guest today, Lysa Wei, is one of them. In 2020, Lysa started her own company bringing hard seltzer to the China market. Low-calories and sugar-free, hard seltzers have become one of the world’s hottest (or coldest, depending on how you like drinks served) alcoholic beverages in the world. In this episode, Lysa explains the opportunities and the challenges of starting a company in the Covid era. She also shares how to introduce a new alcoholic beverage to Chinese millennials who like to get their buzz differently from their parents or older siblings.

Buzzing and Bubbling Business Start-ups for the Covid-19 Era

The LGBTQ+ community in China is largely out of sight, and awareness of ideas relating to sexual equality is still very low. Ying, who calls herself Iron, is a feminist, activist, and director of the Beijing LGBT Center. She is one of the most prominent activists promoting LGBT rights in China and has played a vital role in arranging mental health services for the LGBTQ community. For the first time, a national survey has been conducted to look at the lives of the LGBTQ community in China. Ying joins our show today to discuss her personal experience as a member of this community and how she developed her passion into a career. She also shares with us her views on the progress – and remaining challenges – for activists promoting LGBTQ rights in the PRC.

The LGBTQ+ community in China is largely out of sight, and awareness of ideas relating to sexual equality is still very low. Ying, who calls herself Iron, is a feminist, activist, and director of the Beijing LGBT Center. She is one of the most prominent activists promoting LGBT rights in China and has played a vital role in arranging mental health services for the LGBTQ community. For the first time, a national survey has been conducted to look at the lives of the LGBTQ community in China. Ying joins our show today to discuss her personal experience as a member of this community and how she developed her passion into a career. She also shares with us her views on the progress – and remaining challenges – for activists promoting LGBTQ rights in the PRC.

Promoting LGBTQ rights in today's China

Two Women. One Country. Modern China from the Inside.

Love this show. Always keeps me interested and always look forward to new episodes. 
-Tabby from Your New Best Friends podcast

Excellent

Love listening to the podcast, you ladies are awesome!

我们

Wo Men Podcast

Dating is hard for a Chinese girl. Not only because it’s difficult to find Mr. Right, but also because the window for you to date is short. Before college, parents and teachers forbid you to date lest it distracts from your studies. Right after college, if you’re still single, parents and relatives start to become anxious. God forbid you turn 25 and are still single, and get labeled a “leftover woman.” At that point, finding a so-called “perfect husband” suddenly becomes the top priority not only for you but the whole extended family. Seriously. You will find yourself overwhelmed by blind dates set up by your parents, your third auntie, your fourth uncle. Even your grandma’s random friend, who hasn’t talked to her for years, will worry about you and provide all kinds of dating tips. Pleeeaaase, just give us a break! Swamped with blind dates, we realize that we don’t actually know what kind of person we want. Some of us have decided to turn a blind eye to the whole process and just carry on, while others have started to ask questions: What is a healthy relationship? How to love? Where can we learn this? Our parents are not good examples. They either never show their emotions or use arguments to express their frustration rather than having a calm discussion. Our peers are having the same problems, so there is no way to count on them either. Maybe turn to TV and film? It sounds ridiculous, but it works. Friends and the Sex and the City became the relationship textbook for many of us. So we grow up and teach ourselves how to navigate relationships. Sometimes, if we’re lucky, the relationship works out, but other times we hit the wall badly. Today we invite Jia Hailan, a single girl in Beijing, to chat with us. The three of us shared our dating experiences and discussed how we’ve learned to love, and the impact our families have had on our relationships. Previous episodes of the Wǒ Men podcast can be found here, and you can find Wǒ Men on iTunes here. Have thoughts or feedback to share? Want to join the discussion? Write to Yajun and Jingjing at womenpodcast@outlook.com.

Dating is hard for a Chinese girl. Not only because it’s difficult to find Mr. Right, but also because the window for you to date is short. Before college, parents and teachers forbid you to date lest it distracts from your studies. Right after college, if you’re still single, parents and relatives start to become anxious. God forbid you turn 25 and are still single, and get labeled a “leftover woman.” At that point, finding a so-called “perfect husband” suddenly becomes the top priority not only for you but the whole extended family. Seriously. You will find yourself overwhelmed by blind dates set up by your parents, your third auntie, your fourth uncle. Even your grandma’s random friend, who hasn’t talked to her for years, will worry about you and provide all kinds of dating tips. Pleeeaaase, just give us a break! Swamped with blind dates, we realize that we don’t actually know what kind of person we want. Some of us have decided to turn a blind eye to the whole process and just carry on, while others have started to ask questions: What is a healthy relationship? How to love? Where can we learn this? Our parents are not good examples. They either never show their emotions or use arguments to express their frustration rather than having a calm discussion. Our peers are having the same problems, so there is no way to count on them either. Maybe turn to TV and film? It sounds ridiculous, but it works. Friends and the Sex and the City became the relationship textbook for many of us. So we grow up and teach ourselves how to navigate relationships. Sometimes, if we’re lucky, the relationship works out, but other times we hit the wall badly. Today we invite Jia Hailan, a single girl in Beijing, to chat with us. The three of us shared our dating experiences and discussed how we’ve learned to love, and the impact our families have had on our relationships. Previous episodes of the Wǒ Men podcast can be found <a href="https://radiichina.com/tag/wo-men/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>, and you can find Wǒ Men on iTunes <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/wo-men-podcast/id1278310134?mt=2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>. Have thoughts or feedback to share? Want to join the discussion? Write to <a href="https://radiichina.com/author/yajunzhang/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Yajun</a> and <a href="https://radiichina.com/author/jingjingzhang/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jingjing</a> at <a href="mailto:womenpodcast@outlook.com">womenpodcast@outlook.com</a>.

Wǒ Men Podcast: The Difficulties of Dating in China

Lijia Zhang

Zhang Lijia is a free spirit and rebellious soul. After being forced to drop out of school and work in a rocket factory for ten years in the early stages of the Reform and Opening up era, Lijia taught herself English and chased her childhood dream to eventually become one of the best-known Chinese authors writing in English. Over the last decade, she has used her pen to portray a China that we rarely see in mainstream media.   For this episode of Wǒ Men Podcast, we sit down with Lijia to discuss her life and to examine just how much China has transformed over the generations. As a social commentator, Lijia shares her views on the changes and constants in China over the last few decades. We also discuss her latest book Lotus and the core social issues demonstrated by China’s prostitution industry. Cover photo: Lijia Zhang as a baby (courtesy Lijia Zhang) Join Us for the Wǒ Men Podcast 1st Anniversary Party! Wǒ Men is turning one! Come and celebrate the first birthday of the Wǒ Men podcast with RADII at The Bookworm Beijing at 4 pm on Saturday, July 7th. Entry is free, but places are limited so please register in advance by clicking this link or scanning the QR code below. We can’t wait to see you there!

Zhang Lijia is a free spirit and rebellious soul. After being forced to drop out of school and work in a rocket factory for ten years in the early stages of the Reform and Opening up era, Lijia taught herself English and chased her childhood dream to eventually become one of the best-known Chinese authors writing in English. Over the last decade, she has used her pen to portray a China that we rarely see in mainstream media.  For this episode of Wǒ Men Podcast, we sit down with Lijia to discuss her life and to examine just how much China has transformed over the generations. As a social commentator, Lijia shares her views on the changes and constants in China over the last few decades. We also discuss her latest book Lotus and the core social issues demonstrated by China’s prostitution industry. Cover photo: Lijia Zhang as a baby (courtesy Lijia Zhang) Join Us for the Wǒ Men Podcast 1st Anniversary Party! Wǒ Men is turning one! Come and celebrate the first birthday of the Wǒ Men podcast with RADII at The Bookworm Beijing at 4 pm on Saturday, July 7th. Entry is free, but places are limited so please register in advance by <a href="https://jinshuju.net/f/GvGGL1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">clicking this link</a> or scanning the QR code below. We can’t wait to see you there!

Wǒ Men Podcast: Author Lijia Zhang on China, Changes, and Prostitution

When we first met with Shi Xiaoqin, we couldn’t believe that she had just left the Chinese army. She was free-minded, vocal and funny, very different from the images of disciplined military officers portrayed in media or in popular entertainment. More importantly, she very proudly called herself a feminist. Just before International Women’s Day on March 8th, we are pleased to interview her, and to listen to her story about how she transformed into an outspoken women’s rights advocate. Born in a small village in China, Xiaoqin puts women’s rights issues into a complex social context, which is influenced by many cultural, economic, and historical elements. Her understanding of women’s rights issues is comprehensive and in-depth, moving way beyond topical issues like sexual harassment in universities and urban working environments. Her perspective is deeply rooted in women’s livelihoods in the vast rural areas of China, and considers the broader social and economic structure of Chinese society. Previous episodes of the Wǒ Men podcast can be found here, and you can find Wǒ Men on iTunes here. Have thoughts or feedback to share? Want to join the discussion? Write to Yajun and Jingjing at womenpodcast@outlook.com.

When we first met with Shi Xiaoqin, we couldn’t believe that she had just left the Chinese army. She was free-minded, vocal and funny, very different from the images of disciplined military officers portrayed in media or in popular entertainment. More importantly, she very proudly called herself a feminist. Just before International Women’s Day on March 8th, we are pleased to interview her, and to listen to her story about how she transformed into an outspoken women’s rights advocate. Born in a small village in China, Xiaoqin puts women’s rights issues into a complex social context, which is influenced by many cultural, economic, and historical elements. Her understanding of women’s rights issues is comprehensive and in-depth, moving way beyond topical issues like sexual harassment in universities and urban working environments. Her perspective is deeply rooted in women’s livelihoods in the vast rural areas of China, and considers the broader social and economic structure of Chinese society. Previous episodes of the Wǒ Men podcast can be found <a href="https://radiichina.com/tag/wo-men/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>, and you can find Wǒ Men on iTunes <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/wo-men-podcast/id1278310134?mt=2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>. Have thoughts or feedback to share? Want to join the discussion? Write to <a href="https://radiichina.com/author/yajunzhang/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Yajun</a> and <a href="https://radiichina.com/author/jingjingzhang/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jingjing</a> at <a href="mailto:womenpodcast@outlook.com">womenpodcast@outlook.com</a>.

Wǒ Men Podcast: From a Chinese Military Officer to a Feminist

Originally broadcast February 2018 China has transformed greatly over the last few decades, and Chinese New Year has also come to mean very different things from generation to generation. When our parents were children in the 1960s, their pleasure at this time of year was being able to finally enjoy vegetable balls fried with the oil that the whole family had been saving for the entire year. By contrast, when we were kids in the 1980s, meat dishes, sweets, new clothes and endless playtime with our cousins made the Chinese New Year the happiest time of the whole year. Today, we can purchase imported food and new clothes on e-commerce platforms every day. Material pleasure doesn’t thrill us anymore. Instead, the New Year has become an obligatory time to face relatives’ constant questions about why we don’t have boyfriends/girlfriends, or if we do, why we don’t have babies yet. Times have changed. On this episode of the podcast, we recall our memories and discuss all of the interesting and weird (and superstitious) customs and traditions that surround Chinese New Year in our own families, particularly in the old days. Do you know when is the proper time to eat dumplings on New Year’s Eve? Do you know why you are supposed to wear red during the New Year? Do you know what tricks there are to make sure you’ll stay out of trouble in the coming year (at least, the ones that Yajun’s grandma believed in)? You can answer all of the above questions in this episode. Previous episodes of the Wǒ Men podcast can be found here, and you can find Wǒ Men on iTunes  here. Have thoughts or feedback to share? Want to join the discussion? Write to Yajun and Jingjing at womenpodcast@outlook.com.

Originally broadcast February 2018 China has transformed greatly over the last few decades, and Chinese New Year has also come to mean very different things from generation to generation. When our parents were children in the 1960s, their pleasure at this time of year was being able to finally enjoy vegetable balls fried with the oil that the whole family had been saving for the entire year. By contrast, when we were kids in the 1980s, meat dishes, sweets, new clothes and endless playtime with our cousins made the Chinese New Year the happiest time of the whole year. Today, we can purchase imported food and new clothes on e-commerce platforms every day. Material pleasure doesn’t thrill us anymore. Instead, the New Year has become an obligatory time to face relatives’ constant questions about why we don’t have boyfriends/girlfriends, or if we do, why we don’t have babies yet. Times have changed. On this episode of the podcast, we recall our memories and discuss all of the interesting and weird (and superstitious) customs and traditions that surround Chinese New Year in our own families, particularly in the old days. Do you know when is the proper time to eat dumplings on New Year’s Eve? Do you know why you are supposed to wear red during the New Year? Do you know what tricks there are to make sure you’ll stay out of trouble in the coming year (at least, the ones that Yajun’s grandma believed in)? You can answer all of the above questions in this episode. Previous episodes of the Wǒ Men podcast can be found <a href="https://radiichina.com/tag/wo-men/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>, and you can find Wǒ Men on iTunes <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/wo-men-podcast/id1278310134?mt=2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> here</a>. Have thoughts or feedback to share? Want to join the discussion? Write to <a href="https://radiichina.com/author/yajunzhang/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Yajun</a> and <a href="https://radiichina.com/author/jingjingzhang/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jingjing</a> at <a href="mailto:womenpodcast@outlook.com">womenpodcast@outlook.com</a>.

Wǒ Men Podcast: The Chinese New Year Traditions You Need to Know

Compared to the exhausting and time-consuming traditional way of finding a date, online dating apps open another door. In a fast-paced society, we don’t need to stand in a club for hours to fish for a handsome man or be forced to go on unpredictable and awkward blind dates. A few swipes on Tinder can solve it all. Seems like a perfect solution. But is that true? Today, we are talking to Sunny Sun, a cohost of the Chinese podcast 哼哈二将 and an experienced user of online dating apps, who will share with us her observation on the differences between English and Chinese apps and her personal experiences on how she got into a relationship with an undercover FBI agent through Tinder. Enjoy!

Compared to the exhausting and time-consuming traditional way of finding a date, online dating apps open another door. In a fast-paced society, we don’t need to stand in a club for hours to fish for a handsome man or be forced to go on unpredictable and awkward blind dates. A few swipes on Tinder can solve it all. Seems like a perfect solution. But is that true? Today, we are talking to Sunny Sun, a cohost of the Chinese podcast 哼哈二将 and an experienced user of online dating apps, who will share with us her observation on the differences between English and Chinese apps and her personal experiences on how she got into a relationship with an undercover FBI agent through Tinder. Enjoy!

Wǒ Men Podcast: Online Dating in China

Over the past month, a somewhat belated #MeToo campaign has finally sprouted in China. Over three dozen sexual harassment cases mushroomed in universities, media organizations, NGOs and the private sector in China. Suddenly, this campaign has become a hot topic on Chinese social media. But why now? Why has it started in the academic arena, rather than the entertainment industry, like in the US? Can the campaign last or have a long-term impact? And how should we address the concern expressed by some professors over the#MeToo campaign in China? To answer these questions, we invited our old friend Shi Xiaoqin, a former military officer, a feminist and now a professor in Zhejiang University to share with us her insights and observations.

Over the past month, a somewhat belated #MeToo campaign has finally sprouted in China. Over three dozen sexual harassment cases mushroomed in universities, media organizations, NGOs and the private sector in China. Suddenly, this campaign has become a hot topic on Chinese social media. But why now? Why has it started in the academic arena, rather than the entertainment industry, like in the US? Can the campaign last or have a long-term impact? And how should we address the concern expressed by some professors over the#MeToo campaign in China? To answer these questions, we invited our old friend <a href="https://radiichina.com/wo-men-podcast-from-military-officer-to-feminist/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Shi Xiaoqin</a>, a former military officer, a feminist and now a professor in Zhejiang University to share with us her insights and observations.

Wǒ Men Podcast: #MeToo Finally Takes Off in China

Karoline Kan is a second child born among the one-child generation in 1989. In order to give birth to her, her mother hid from local officials for almost ten months. But the challenges didn’t end there — to her paternal grandparents, she was an unwanted girl, an idea that shadowed her whole childhood. Yet she was also a lucky girl with a strong mother who pushed the family out of a remote Chinese village and completely changed Karoline’s life by providing her with the best education she could. In her late twenties, Karoline, a girl with a humble background, became an author and international journalist for The New York Times. Recently, she published Under Red Skies, widely touted as the first English-language memoir written by a Chinese millennial.  We were honored to interview her this past weekend at the Yenching Global Symposium hosted by the Yenching Academy of Peking University. On this live episode, Karoline talks about the millennial generation in China and foreign media’s coverage of this group. She also talks about how numerous historical incidents have impacted her and her generation and shaped who they are today.

Karoline Kan is a second child born among the one-child generation in 1989. In order to give birth to her, her mother hid from local officials for almost ten months. But the challenges didn’t end there — to her paternal grandparents, she was an unwanted girl, an idea that shadowed her whole childhood. Yet she was also a lucky girl with a strong mother who pushed the family out of a remote Chinese village and completely changed Karoline’s life by providing her with the best education she could. In her late twenties, Karoline, a girl with a humble background, became an author and international journalist for The New York Times. Recently, she published <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Under-Red-Skies-Three-Generations/dp/031641204X" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Under Red Skies</a>, widely touted as the first English-language memoir written by a Chinese millennial. We were honored to interview her this past weekend at the <a href="http://yenchingsymposium.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Yenching Global Symposium</a> hosted by the Yenching Academy of Peking University. On this live episode, Karoline talks about the millennial generation in China and foreign media’s coverage of this group. She also talks about how numerous historical incidents have impacted her and her generation and shaped who they are today.

Wǒ Men Podcast: Under Red Skies – Inside the Minds of Chinese Millennials

China dominates global headlines right now — and few of those headlines are positive. But is fear of the country justified? How to separate the people, the government, and the Party? And what impact is the breakdown in dialogue between China and the English-speaking world having on Chinese living and travelling abroad? Hosts Jingjing, Karoline, and Yajun share their perspectives from around the world.

China dominates global headlines right now — and few of those headlines are positive. But is fear of the country justified? How to separate the people, the government, and the Party? And what impact is the breakdown in dialogue between China and the English-speaking world having on Chinese living and travelling abroad? Hosts Jingjing, Karoline, and Yajun share their perspectives from around the world.

 The China Fear?

Are you comfortable with the idea of breastfeeding in public? Do you think it’s a totally natural thing, as Jingjing does? Or are you, like Yajun, someone who feels that breasts are too private to expose in public, no matter the purpose? What would you do if you and your child were out, and he or she needed to be fed? Many Chinese mothers face this kind of situation every day, and for working mothers, the situation gets even trickier when you factor in business trips. Today Grace Zhang, a communications expert for a well-known investment bank and mother of a two-year-old, shares her story with us through the lens of breastfeeding and discusses her experience of juggling raising a baby with excelling in a highly demanding job.

Are you comfortable with the idea of breastfeeding in public? Do you think it’s a totally natural thing, as Jingjing does? Or are you, like Yajun, someone who feels that breasts are too private to expose in public, no matter the purpose? What would you do if you and your child were out, and he or she needed to be fed? Many Chinese mothers face this kind of situation every day, and for working mothers, the situation gets even trickier when you factor in business trips. Today Grace Zhang, a communications expert for a well-known investment bank and mother of a two-year-old, shares her story with us through the lens of breastfeeding and discusses her experience of juggling raising a baby with excelling in a highly demanding job.

Wǒ Men Podcast: The Breastfeeding Dilemma

This week, we have a special guest — who for the purposes of the recording we’re calling “C” — who bravely came forward to share her deeply sad personal experience of being a victim of sexual assault when she was just 4 years old. Through discussing this horrendous experience, this episode looks at the underlying problems in some rural and undereducated areas in China, where gender inequality is a manifest of some purportedly “patriotic” values. It also examines how some criminals can take advantage of the concept of “面子 mianzi” (face) and a pervasive family shaming culture to cover up their actions.

This week, we have a special guest — who for the purposes of the recording we’re calling “C” — who bravely came forward to share her deeply sad personal experience of being a victim of sexual assault when she was just 4 years old. Through discussing this horrendous experience, this episode looks at the underlying problems in some rural and undereducated areas in China, where gender inequality is a manifest of some purportedly “patriotic” values. It also examines how some criminals can take advantage of the concept of “面子 mianzi” (face) and a pervasive family shaming culture to cover up their actions.

Sexual Assault in Rural China

How do you know whether your partner agrees with the sexual engagement or not? What kind of signals can be considered as a “yes”? Does going back to your apartment mean he or she definitely agrees to have sex with you? If he/she is drunk is he/she qualified to give consent? These are the questions we all kind of know, or think we know, but don’t necessarily understand as clearly as we might like to think. With the recent emergence of two alleged sexual assault cases against Jonathan Kaiman, the former President of the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of China and Beijing Bureau Chief of Los Angeles Times, sexual consent has become a hot topic especially in the correspondent community in the capital lately, with diverging opinions on both sides.  Rather than discussing the details of these individual cases, we invited Yuan Yang, Beijing correspondent for the Financial Times, to talk about what consent means under different circumstances. Growing up in the UK, Yuan has been hosting consent workshops since a sexual assault case occurred in a public area in her university.  The aim here is not to reach a concrete conclusion on consent, but we hope this podcast can provide some different perspectives and angles on the topic and contribute or lead to an inclusive and constructive discussion in the Beijing foreign correspondents community on these issues.

How do you know whether your partner agrees with the sexual engagement or not? What kind of signals can be considered as a “yes”? Does going back to your apartment mean he or she definitely agrees to have sex with you? If he/she is drunk is he/she qualified to give consent? These are the questions we all kind of know, or think we know, but don’t necessarily understand as clearly as we might like to think. With the recent emergence of <a href="https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/05/15/second-allegation-sexual-misconduct-la-times-beijing-bureau-chief-jon-kaiman-surfaces/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">two alleged sexual assault cases against Jonathan Kaiman,</a> the former President of the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of China and Beijing Bureau Chief of Los Angeles Times, sexual consent has become a hot topic especially in the correspondent community in the capital lately, with diverging opinions on both sides.  Rather than discussing the details of these individual cases, we invited Yuan Yang, Beijing correspondent for the Financial Times, to talk about what consent means under different circumstances. Growing up in the UK, Yuan has been hosting consent workshops since a sexual assault case occurred in a public area in her university.  The aim here is not to reach a concrete conclusion on consent, but we hope this podcast can provide some different perspectives and angles on the topic and contribute or lead to an inclusive and constructive discussion in the Beijing foreign correspondents community on these issues.

Wǒ Men Podcast: Let’s Talk About Sexual Consent

China has transformed greatly over the last few decades, and Chinese New Year has also come to mean very different things from generation to generation. When our parents were children in the 1960s, their pleasure at this time of year was being able to finally enjoy vegetable balls fried with the oil that the whole family had been saving for the entire year. By contrast, when we were kids in the 1980s, meat dishes, sweets, new clothes and endless playtime with our cousins made the Chinese New Year the happiest time of the whole year. Today, we can purchase imported food and new clothes on e-commerce platforms every day. Material pleasure doesn’t thrill us anymore. Instead, the New Year has become an obligatory time to face relatives’ constant questions about why we don’t have boyfriends/girlfriends, or if we do, why we don’t have babies yet. Times have changed. On this episode of the podcast, we recall our memories and discuss all of the interesting and weird (and superstitious) customs and traditions that surround Chinese New Year in our own families, particularly in the old days. Do you know when is the proper time to eat dumplings on New Year’s Eve? Do you know why you are supposed to wear red during the New Year? Do you know what tricks there are to make sure you’ll stay out of trouble in the coming year (at least, the ones that Yajun’s grandma believed in)? You can answer all of the above questions in this episode. We hope our listeners will have a wonderful and prosperous Year of the Dog! Previous episodes of the Wǒ Men podcast can be found here, and you can find Wǒ Men on iTunes  here. Have thoughts or feedback to share? Want to join the discussion? Write to Yajun and Jingjing at womenpodcast@outlook.com.

China has transformed greatly over the last few decades, and Chinese New Year has also come to mean very different things from generation to generation. When our parents were children in the 1960s, their pleasure at this time of year was being able to finally enjoy vegetable balls fried with the oil that the whole family had been saving for the entire year. By contrast, when we were kids in the 1980s, meat dishes, sweets, new clothes and endless playtime with our cousins made the Chinese New Year the happiest time of the whole year. Today, we can purchase imported food and new clothes on e-commerce platforms every day. Material pleasure doesn’t thrill us anymore. Instead, the New Year has become an obligatory time to face relatives’ constant questions about why we don’t have boyfriends/girlfriends, or if we do, why we don’t have babies yet. Times have changed. On this episode of the podcast, we recall our memories and discuss all of the interesting and weird (and superstitious) customs and traditions that surround Chinese New Year in our own families, particularly in the old days. Do you know when is the proper time to eat dumplings on New Year’s Eve? Do you know why you are supposed to wear red during the New Year? Do you know what tricks there are to make sure you’ll stay out of trouble in the coming year (at least, the ones that Yajun’s grandma believed in)? You can answer all of the above questions in this episode. We hope our listeners will have a wonderful and prosperous Year of the Dog! Previous episodes of the Wǒ Men podcast can be found <a href="https://radiichina.com/tag/wo-men/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>, and you can find Wǒ Men on iTunes <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/wo-men-podcast/id1278310134?mt=2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> here</a>. Have thoughts or feedback to share? Want to join the discussion? Write to <a href="https://radiichina.com/author/yajunzhang/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Yajun</a> and <a href="https://radiichina.com/author/jingjingzhang/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jingjing</a> at <a href="mailto:womenpodcast@outlook.com">womenpodcast@outlook.com</a>.

This is a recording Jingjing made when she attended an event in Los Angeles in October 2018 called SlutWalk. Slut Walk is a movement calling for an end to rape culture, including victim blaming and slut shaming of sexual assault victims. She interviewed a sex worker who attends SlutWalk every year calling on people to respect women for who they are, not their profession or how they dress. Slut-shaming is deeply rooted in Chinese culture. When China’s #MeToo movement was at its peak last year, there were several high-profile cases (including one involving an influential author, Zhang Wen) that forced everyone to take a long, hard look at the culture of shaming women. Today, with Chinese women, and men, becoming increasingly woke on the issue of gender quality, this is a conversation worth continuing to have.

This is a recording Jingjing made when she attended an event in Los Angeles in October 2018 called <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SlutWalk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">SlutWalk</a>. Slut Walk is a movement calling for an end to rape culture, including victim blaming and slut shaming of sexual assault victims. She interviewed a sex worker who attends SlutWalk every year calling on people to respect women for who they are, not their profession or how they dress. Slut-shaming is deeply rooted in Chinese culture. When <a href="https://radiichina.com/suppression-perseverance-and-anger-metoo-in-china-gathers-momentum-against-the-odds/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">China’s #MeToo movement</a> was at its peak last year, there were several high-profile cases (including one involving an influential author, Zhang Wen) that forced everyone to take a long, hard look at the culture of shaming women. Today, with Chinese women, and men, becoming increasingly woke on the issue of gender quality, this is a conversation worth continuing to have.

Slut-Shaming is Deeply Rooted in Chinese Culture

Last week, before the break out of the coronavirus, much of the world’s attention focused on Davos, a little European ski resort town in Switzerland where this year the World Economic Forum celebrated its 50 year anniversary and welcomed more than 3,000 political, business and other leaders. Jingjing and Yajun, the two co-hosts of Wǒ Men Podcast, met up there and shared their experiences and highlights at the summit from both a participant and organizer’s perspective, respectively.

Last week, before the break out of the <a href="https://radiichina.com/tag/coronavirus" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">coronavirus</a>, much of the world’s attention focused on Davos, a little European ski resort town in Switzerland where this year the World Economic Forum celebrated its 50 year anniversary and welcomed more than 3,000 political, business and other leaders. Jingjing and Yajun, the two co-hosts of Wǒ Men Podcast, met up there and shared their experiences and highlights at the summit from both a participant and organizer’s perspective, respectively.

The View From Davos 2020

Have you done lots of shopping on Double 11? The reason we ask is that 11/11, also known as Singles Day, has become China’s biggest online shopping holiday and become the Chinese retailer equivalent of Black Friday in the west. Is Singles Day still a culture phenomenon in China where if you have not participated, you feel you would be left out?  I have heard some people have started to lose interest this year as they feel the shopping rules have become quite complicated.  Do you feel the same? Do you use shopping as your retail therapy?  This is an encore episode in which Yajun and Jingjing discuss the "buy buy buy" culture in China.

Have you done lots of shopping on Double 11? The reason we ask is that 11/11, also known as Singles Day, has become China’s biggest online shopping holiday and become the Chinese retailer equivalent of Black Friday in the west. Is Singles Day still a culture phenomenon in China where if you have not participated, you feel you would be left out?  I have heard some people have started to lose interest this year as they feel the shopping rules have become quite complicated.  Do you feel the same? Do you use shopping as your retail therapy?  This is an encore episode in which Yajun and Jingjing discuss the "buy buy buy" culture in China.

Buy, Buy, Buy: Singles Day Shopping in China

Would you be able to ride a bicycle for eight months along the ancient Silk Road through 13 countries, while interviewing tech companies and hosting workshops along the way? Eva Yoo, an international cyclist and writer, just accomplished exactly this feat — and she’s the subject of our latest podcast episode. Born in Korea, Eva has worked in five countries and speaks four languages. Rather than enjoying a nice job in Shanghai, she decided to challenge herself by taking a bike trip from Shanghai to London. In this episode, she shares the danger and joy that she experienced during the trip and what she learned about China’s ever-expanding Belt and Road initiative along the way.

Would you be able to ride a bicycle for eight months along the ancient Silk Road through 13 countries, while interviewing tech companies and hosting workshops along the way? Eva Yoo, an international cyclist and writer, just accomplished exactly this feat — and she’s the subject of our latest podcast episode. Born in Korea, Eva has worked in five countries and speaks four languages. Rather than enjoying a nice job in Shanghai, she decided to challenge herself by taking a bike trip from Shanghai to London. In this episode, she shares the danger and joy that she experienced during the trip and what she learned about China’s ever-expanding <a href="https://radiichina.com/tag/belt-and-road/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Belt and Road initiative</a> along the way.

Cycling the Silk Road

Our new episode features an editor of international news at a major Chinese news portal, who gives us a rare peek inside a Chinese media organization and see their daily operations, story angles, and how they deal with censorship. Thanks to technology, the format of media keeps evolving from print, to online, to mobile.  At the same time, the media landscape keeps changing as well, from State media to commercialized media, and now to the rise of “self-media” and KOLs. People now have so many ways to access information and interact with the information they consume. So how does media adapt to these new way of consuming news, and more importantly, how do media outlets keep the reader on their platforms? How does Chinese media work and how does it compare to the Western media in dealing with new challenges? For the latest pod, we sat down with Ivy Yu, a senior editor at a major Chinese media portal, to discuss the changing media landscape, the role of the media, and her life as a news editor in China.

Our new episode features an editor of international news at a major Chinese news portal, who gives us a rare peek inside a Chinese media organization and see their daily operations, story angles, and how they deal with censorship. Thanks to technology, the format of media keeps evolving from print, to online, to mobile.  At the same time, the media landscape keeps changing as well, from State media to commercialized media, and now to the rise of “self-media” and KOLs. People now have so many ways to access information and interact with the information they consume. So how does media adapt to these new way of consuming news, and more importantly, how do media outlets keep the reader on their platforms? How does Chinese media work and how does it compare to the Western media in dealing with new challenges? For the latest pod, we sat down with Ivy Yu, a senior editor at a major Chinese media portal, to discuss the changing media landscape, the role of the media, and her life as a news editor in China.

Wǒ Men Podcast: The Changing Landscape of Chinese Media

Donald Trump

We are re-releasing the early episodes of the Wǒ Men podcast on iTunes. This was our second podcast (and we were still trying to figure out the technical aspects) with Kiki Zhao, formerly of the New York Times Beijing Bureau. For China, Donald Trump is one of the most dramatic and unusual US presidents in recent memory. His bold statements — sorry, Twitter posts — and capacity for courting controversy have made him popular fodder for the Chinese media. What do people in China think as they watch this American political tragicomedy unfold across the Pacific? On our podcast today, we have invited Kiki Zhao, a former researcher for the Financial Times and New York Times Beijing bureaus. Zhao has reported on a variety of topics in China, including politics, business, foreign policy, social issues, and many others. She recently moved on from her journalism career and is headed to New Haven in August to pursue a Master’s at Yale University’s East Asian Studies. This episode was recorded a few months ago when Kiki was still working for the New York Times. She explained to us the thinking behind her organization’s so-called “failing” coverage of Trump and shared her personal observations on what her Chinese friends, including friends from the Chinese Christian community, thinks about the Trump phenomenon.

We are re-releasing the early episodes of the Wǒ Men podcast on iTunes. This was our second podcast (and we were still trying to figure out the technical aspects) with Kiki Zhao, formerly of the New York Times Beijing Bureau. For China, Donald Trump is one of the most dramatic and unusual US presidents in recent memory. His bold statements — sorry, Twitter posts — and capacity for courting controversy have made him popular fodder for the Chinese media. What do people in China think as they watch this American political tragicomedy unfold across the Pacific? On our podcast today, we have invited Kiki Zhao, a former researcher for the Financial Times and New York Times Beijing bureaus. Zhao has reported on a variety of topics in China, including politics, business, foreign policy, social issues, and many others. She recently moved on from her journalism career and is headed to New Haven in August to pursue a Master’s at Yale University’s East Asian Studies. This episode was recorded a few months ago when Kiki was still working for the New York Times. She explained to us the thinking behind her organization’s so-called “failing” coverage of Trump and shared her personal observations on what her Chinese friends, including friends from the Chinese Christian community, thinks about the Trump phenomenon.

Wǒ Men Podcast: Donald Trump as Seen Through Chinese Eyes

Have you ever thought about the true price of your morning cappuccino? It’s more than the five dollars you pay at the cafe on the street corner. The global coffee industry is worth 100 billion USD and rising. But the huge industry profits from the second-most traded commodity in the world are not trickling down to the people who grow the beans. Coffee is extremely sensitive to weather conditions and this year’s drought in the Mekong region — worsened by climate change — has hit the area’s plantations badly. This has combined with intensive coffee farming practices to lead to environmental problems such as soil depletion, deforestation and biodiversity loss.   What are the social and environmental costs of coffee plantations in the world? How is climate change effecting coffee growing in the Mekong region? What does coffee mean to ethnic minority people in area? And what can we do to make the coffee industry greener and farmers more resistant to environmental risks? Karoline Kan shares her experiences reporting in Vietnam’s Central Highlands and China’s Yunnan province, where some harbor ambitions of the area becoming Asia’s coffee production capital yet numerous coffee farmers are struggling to make ends meet. 6.2.6

Have you ever thought about the true price of your morning cappuccino? It’s more than the five dollars you pay at the cafe on the street corner. The global coffee industry is worth 100 billion USD and rising. But the huge industry profits from the second-most traded commodity in the world are not trickling down to the people who grow the beans. Coffee is extremely sensitive to weather conditions and this year’s drought in the Mekong region — worsened by climate change — has hit the area’s plantations badly. This has combined with intensive coffee farming practices to lead to environmental problems such as soil depletion, deforestation and biodiversity loss. What are the social and environmental costs of coffee plantations in the world? How is climate change effecting coffee growing in the Mekong region? What does coffee mean to ethnic minority people in area? And what can we do to make the coffee industry greener and farmers more resistant to environmental risks? Karoline Kan shares her experiences <a href="https://www.chinadialogue.net/article/show/single/en/11544-Mekong-coffee-growers-struggle-with-drought-and-heating-climate" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">reporting in Vietnam’s Central Highlands and China’s Yunnan province</a>, where some harbor ambitions of the area becoming Asia’s coffee production capital yet numerous coffee farmers are struggling to make ends meet. 6.2.6

Counting the Cost of Coffee Culture in China’s Yunnan Province

The international community in China is changing. Chinese still stereotype expatriates as hanging out in bar districts, commute on an old fashioned bicycle and live in a traditional neighborhood such as Beijing’s hutong alleyways. But how do the younger generation of overseas students and expats live in China and immerse themselves in Chinese culture? In the latest Wo Men Podcast, Jingjing and Yajun sit down with Katharina Kempf to learn about her amazing journey in China. She talks about how she became fluent in the Chinese language in just three years, her passion for Chinese pop stars, and how she brings Chinese culture back to her home country.

The international community in China is changing. Chinese still stereotype expatriates as hanging out in bar districts, commute on an old fashioned bicycle and live in a traditional neighborhood such as Beijing’s hutong alleyways. But how do the younger generation of overseas students and expats live in China and immerse themselves in Chinese culture? In the latest Wo Men Podcast, Jingjing and Yajun sit down with Katharina Kempf to learn about her amazing journey in China. She talks about how she became fluent in the Chinese language in just three years, her passion for Chinese pop stars, and how she brings Chinese culture back to her home country.

Wǒ Men Podcast: How the China Expat Experience is Changing

The best podcast episodes on global issues affecting everyone. Covering topics such as the #metoo movement, climate change, the impact of technology and some of the biggest global issues facing us right now. For anyone interested in learning more about the world, and some of the issues we're facing, pick an episode below and start listening! Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!

Best Episodes on Global Issues

The best podcast episodes on physical health. Episodes talk about your diet, sleep, exercise and all the things that people do to improve their physical health and live a healthier life. This topic is for everyone, with applications in all of our everyday lives. Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!