exploring the culture behind this rebel island
It takes generations of practice to put on a performance worthy of the gods. Hand-puppet shows can be seen in front of temples all around Taiwan. This week we discuss the art of Taiwanese glove puppetry (布袋戲), a multi-generational family of puppet-masters, and talk about all that goes into making these amazing shows.
Recorded Feb. 06, 2022.
Mark and Dr. Dr. Max Lo chat with Mr. Charles DeBenedetto about his years living in a small town in Taiwan as a fluent Mandarin speaker. Listen as they share their various perspectives on what that experience was like and preparing to move back home to America.
Recorded Apr. 21, 2022.
With limited opportunity for international travel, visiting spots on the island has become, for many, their only option for a getaway. Join us as we discuss some of Taiwan’s most recommended tourist locations, and do they warrant the hype?
Recorded Apr. 15, 2022
Flag-waving owners can be seen standing on rooftops all around Taiwan. Are their pigeons safe? Kidnapped? Lost? And for those pigeons that do return, are they fast enough to get a piece of the millions of NTD that have been wagered on their success? Listen as we explore these amazing races.
Recorded Mar. 22, 2022.
Passed down from generation to generation, Taiwanese wisdom is spouted with such unwavering certainty. Some of it is solid guidance, some of it is understandable, and a lot of it is.. debatable. We tried to get answers to the origins behind some of Taiwan’s more interesting beliefs, with varying degrees of success.
Recorded Mar. 09, 2022.
Spaced out on street corners all over the country selling Supau, Taiwan Beer, cigarettes, water – and of course, betel nut – these shops are iconic to the Taiwanese landscape. Check out what a betel nut lady and a brand owner/distributor had to say about this lucrative product.
Recorded Feb. 20, 2022.
With what the last couple years have been for many of us, laughs come at a premium. But what’s funny for you may not be at all for me. We discuss the history of humour in Taiwan and the current comedy climate with some professional comedians.
Recorded Jan. 25, 2022.
Beauty standards, dependence, food, and other things lifestyle-related. Based on Yang Liu’s diagrams that shed light into some of the differences in perspectives between traditional Western thought and Asian culture. Lots of interesting stories to listen to.
Recorded Dec. 02, 2021.
Noise levels, party seating, streets on Sunday, and other things lifestyle-related. Based on Yang Liu’s diagrams that shed light into some of the differences in perspectives between traditional Western thought and Asian culture. Lots of interesting stories to listen to.
Recorded Dec. 02, 2021.
If this was a fashion trend, it might be one of the greatest runs of all time… but it’s not. Mask wearing has been a mandated accessory for over two years now. Why are some of us more accepting of masks than others? Where are they made, how many are made, how many do we throw away? Masks, masks, masks… have a listen and find out.
Recorded Jan. 30, 2022.