We had a nostalgic session with Phil Wang of Wong Fu Productions and Bopomofo Cafe. Phil shares his honest take of what it was like to create viral Youtube videos in the early 2000s, and what Wong Fu has evolved to since. We also go in depth about Bopomofo, his personal dream of creating a space where the community could gather over ABC inspired fo…

We meet with Steve Chen, the co-founder of YouTube, to talk about what his life has been like since he moved his family back to Taiwan. Steve shares his latest initiatives for bridging Taiwan with the rest of the world, and what he believes it will take for Taiwan to become the Silicon Valley of Asia. Please support the Taiwanren project by leaving…

Amy Fan, the co-founder of Twentyeight Health, is pioneering accessible sexual and reproductive healthcare for women in the US. Learn how Twentyeight Health is shaping the healthcare landscape, what type of support women need today, and our personal sex ed experiences growing up as Asian immigrants. Stefanie Ng from K50 Ventures is our special co-h…

We kick off our final season, Pioneers, with Lypid. Jen-Yu and Michelle created an alternative fat using plant-based oils so that we can enjoy our favorite pork belly dishes in new ways. Learn the science behind how this is done, and the interesting challenges of getting an alternative food company off the ground. You can try Lypid fat on menus at …

In the final episode of our 'Food' season, we chat with restaurant owner and chef Eric Sze. Eric is all in on not only Taiwanese food, but also the Taiwanese spirit. Learn about how he started selling noodle packs to running full fledged restaurants in New York City, even through Covid. The next time you're in town, make sure to drop by 886 or Wenw…

Olivia co-founded Twrl, a brand new way to enjoy milk tea: guilt-free in the comfort of our own homes. We chat with Olivia to learn how Twrl milk tea gets made and the uphill challenge of launching a drink in a new category. You can try Twrl by purchasing on https://twrlmilktea.com/ or Amazon! Please support the Taiwanren project by leaving a revie…

What's it like to run a vegan restaurant in Taiwan? Mai shares her unlikely entrepreneur journey with us while educating us on the greater significance of veganism and why food is, in fact, political. Please support the Taiwanren project by leaving a review and subscribing. 讓我們一起加油! IG: @taiwanren.co Email: cindy@taiwanren.co Support the show: http…

Jessica, Erica, and Austin are siblings that run a third generation family business. They began as a restaurant called Liang's Village in California, and has since expanded to selling frozen food online through Mama Liang's. Tune in to hear how the Liang family learned to work together to carry on their grandmother's legacy. Please support the Taiw…

In this collaboration with Bu Zhi Dao, we will be releasing a short ELI5 series on Web3 topics. Ray Tong, a long-time crypto investor, breaks down the concept of Web3, stablecoin, the metaverse, and popular buzzwords. Meet Ray and other experts at Taipei Blockchain Week! To purchase tickets for this event, please go to www.taipeiblockchainweek.com.…

In this collaboration with Bu Zhi Dao, we will be releasing a short ELI5 series on Web3 topics. Tiffany Lai kicks off this series by introducing us to the very first Taipei Blockchain Week and and breaking down the 'Dao' of Bu Zhi Dao. To purchase tickets for this event, please go to www.taipeiblockchainweek.com. To join BZD, sign up at https://buz…

If you've been to Costco lately, you may have noticed A-Sha Dry Noodle products on the shelves. Learn the incredible story of how Young Chang, the President and CEO of A-sha Foods USA, broke the mold with dry noodles. Young lets us in on his Midwestern upbringing, the early day challenges of launching a Taiwanese product in the US, and what's next …

We kick off our brand new FOOD season with Lisa and Lillian of Yun Hai Pantry. Lisa had the incredible vision of bringing high quality Taiwanese ingredients to homecooks in the US, while Lillian educates us in an exclusive soy sauce tasting. Are you hungry yet? Please support the Taiwanren project by leaving a review and subscribing. 讓我們一起加油! IG: @…

Yasss queen! We hang out with Miss Shu Mai, one of LA's top Asian American drag performers, to talk about her drag journey, common misconceptions of drag, and how drag has ultimately brought her closer to Taiwan. Please support the Taiwanren project by leaving a review and subscribing. 讓我們一起加油! IG: @taiwanren.co Email: cindy@taiwanren.co Support th…

💆🏻For all our skincare addicts 💆🏻 We sit down with Grace Wan of Wan Cosmetics in San Francisco. Grace educates us on clean beauty, Taiwanese manufacturing, and the next movement for Taiwanese beauty. Please support the Taiwanren project by leaving a review and subscribing. 讓我們一起加油! IG: @taiwanren.co Email: cindy@taiwanren.co Support the show: http:…

In this podcast, I talk about what I learned about cotton and spinning cotton in a class at SAFF this year. I also had the chance to do some fiber and fleece shopping, and talk about that experience. I mentioned that I would list the four currently grown species of cotton plants and their details. Gossypium hirsutum Known as upland cotton and nativ…

We chat with Colin Hodge, the co-founder of Snowball For Good, and Aurora Chang, the organization's first researcher, about ethical consumerism. They would like to share practical (and easy!) ways for you to support democratic values, starting with your weekly boba purchase. Please support the Taiwanren project by leaving a review and subscribing. …

We listen and dissect some jams with Bo Haan, an LA based Taiwanese-American musician. Bo shares his journey to becoming an entertainer, his musical influences growing up (David Tao, anyone??), and practical tips for anyone who wants to break into the industry. Please support the Taiwanren project by leaving a review and subscribing. 讓我們一起加油! IG: @…

A short podcast talking about the last five skeins in the yarn wash up, and my recent spinning. I mention fiber from a Phatt fiber box, they can be found here. The other fiber I have been spinning awhile is from Hobby Lobby. I finally looked it up online and can provide a link. I am spinning Yarn Bee Showstopper in the Winter Solstice colorway.…

After I spin a skein of yarn, it needs to be washed. I put this off until I have enough to take several days of washing. I also talk about doing a burn test on fiber to determine the fiber content. One was a very big surprise! The flow chart I was using for this burn test can be found here. My pack of luxury fibers contained white angora and it is …

Live from the sunny Wax Apple studio in LA, Juliana shares how she got started on her eclectic shop of cultural objects -- including feather dusters and massage tools. We chat about why it's important to cherish pieces of the past, and what Juliana has learned on this journey. Do you ever miss ah-gong or ah-ma? Take a tour of the Wax Apple, and you…

This podcast is for the week of Sept 5th, and talks about prepping cormo fiber for the dyepot, and spinning a merino silk bamboo blend. I also refer to two past podcasts so here are the links: Episode 38 talks about buying a fleece. Episode 39 talks about buying non wool fibers and how to store all fibers. Also the ghost story that I wrote is at th…

A catch up podcast talking about Stashdash, the state fair and a black and white Shetland fleece. Stashdash is a challenge created by the podcast TheKnitGirlls. The young spinner I mention in the state fair has grown up and now has her own fiber business at Cedar Ridge Fiber Farm. If you would like to see the daily streams I did during Tour de Flee…

Have you ever thought about how being Asian can impact your mental health? Dr. Jenny Wang joins us for a therapeutic session on the cultural programming of Asian Americans and how we can start taking better care of our mental health. Please support the Taiwanren project by leaving a review and subscribing. 讓我們一起加油! IG: @taiwanren.co Email: cindy@ta…

Just a brief note to fill those of you that haven't heard of my Mom's illness. I have to stop the podcast for awhile, as I spend time with her.

A tiny but perfectly acceptable spinning wheel is being 3D printed by Dreaming Robots. I have the smaller version called the Nano and I talk about it in this podcast. I purchased it at the Hoosier Hill fiber fair at the booth for Susan's fiber shop. I referenced the book Big Book of Handspinning by Alden Amos. This is just one source for the book.…

The podcasts will have a new format starting with this one. The good news is they will be more frequent, and the maybe or maybe not bad news is they will be shorter. For years I have been using this podcast to teach many things about the spinning of yarn. Those are available on the website by checking under archives. There is even listings of the e…

Jane and Denner sit with us to share the incredible journey of Empress Hot Sauce. Listen to us sample a ton of hot sauce while we discuss how the perfect sauce is made, the evolution of Taiwan's food scene, and expats' appreciation for Taiwan. ASMR anyone? Please support the Taiwanren project by leaving a review and subscribing. 讓我們一起加油! IG: @taiwa…

We chat with Joey from The News Lens, an independent media company that covers stories across Asia. Joey shares why we need to balance idealism with practicality, how media consumption is changing, and his company's ultimate goal. Please support the Taiwanren project by leaving a review and subscribing. 讓我們一起加油! IG: @taiwanren.co Email: cindy@taiwa…

This is a special episode dedicated to our family and friends in Taiwan who are experiencing Covid lockdown for the first time. We chat with Tony from the podcast, 通勤十分鐘 On The Way to Work, to share our own 2020 lockdown experience, mental health tips, and work from home suggestions. 大家一起努力! #團結防疫守台灣 #台灣加油 IG: @taiwanren.co Email: cindy@taiwanren.c…

We chat with Vic and Maggie, the co-founders behind Furbo. Vic and Maggie talk about how they turned an Indiegogo campaign into a full-fledged business, what makes their team successful, and business frameworks that Taiwanese companies should adopt. Please support the Taiwanren project by leaving a review and subscribing. 讓我們一起加油! IG: @taiwanren.co…

We hang with Brandon, better known by his stage name @BlasianTW, a half-Taiwanese and half Black comedian based in Taiwan. Brandon shares what it's like to grow up as a visible minority, how the Taiwanese community can become more accepting, and how he got started in comedy. Check out Brandon's skits on IG, YouTube, TikTok and more. Please support …

We meet with Jeffrey, the founder of WeMo Scooter, which provides electric scooter sharing throughout Taiwan. Jeffrey shares what makes hardware startups difficult, his noble mission for Taiwan, and what it's like to start a company at 35. Try a WeMo scooter the next time you're in town (we promise it's better than Bird). Please support the Taiwanr…

We chat with Lara and Esther, the sister duo behind Meimeiwawa, about growing up in the TW entertainment industry, the media's portrayal of women, and how they're challenging the status quo with their independently produced films and music. You can watch Tomorrow Star on KKTV, friDay, LineTV and LiTV in Taiwan. It will be available soon on Amazon P…

Podcasting for me is on the back burner at this time. I plan to return with the Tour de Fleece in July 2021.

Working professionals - TUNE IN! We meet with Laura, a professor at Harvard Business School, about her book, EDGE: Turning Adversity into Advantage. Laura shares the secret to recognizing implicit bias, and make it work in your favor. Life changing tips, so bring a notebook. We also chat about how to deal with multiple identities, letting go of bit…

We chat with Anting, the founder of Teach for Taiwan, a non-profit organization that aims to provide equal opportunity to all Taiwanese children. Anting shares what kind of impact TFT has had on its fellows, why she ultimately returned to Taiwan, and her lessons on leadership. To visit TFT, go to www.teach4taiwan.org. To learn more about Project EM…

Francesca is a tour scout, travel blogger, and career coach. Tune in to find out her favorite off the beaten path experience in Taiwan and how she reinvented herself after leaving the law. Check out Francesca's travel guides on https://www.attorney-on-a-journey.com/ or follow her IG @attorney_on_a_journey. Please support the Taiwanren project by le…

We talk with Jamie Lin, one of the most prominent figures in Taiwan's startup landscape. Jamie reveals how the startup scene has changed over the last 20 years, and why startups are more valuable than ever. Jamie also shares incredible insights on how Taiwan can continue to prosper, and why it is the perfect startup hub across the Asian region. Ple…

Parents and educators, this one's for you. We meet with Ron, the director of Tinkerseeds Children's Workshop and advocate for progressive education. What do today's kids need to learn? What do Taiwanese parents think? What does educational reform look like in Taiwan, and what can we expect next? Find out with us. Please support the Taiwanren projec…

We cover all aspects of social innovation with Audrey Tang, Taiwan's Digital Minister, starting from the Sunflower Movement back in 2014. Tune into hear about Taiwan's creative Covid-19 response, collaborative efforts between citizens and government, and what makes our democracy a special one. Please support the Taiwanren project by leaving a revie…

Meet Emily, the co-founder of Ghost Island Media, a podcast network based in Taiwan. Emily shares what kinds of stories need to be told, the podcast boom in Taiwan, and the meaning behind 'ghost island'. Please support the Taiwanren project by leaving a review and donating to the cause on Patreon. 讓我們一起加油! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/taiwanren…

We meet with Jay Lin, one of the leading LGBTQ advocates in Taiwan. Jay shares his own coming out story, how he went from running a film festival to launching an entire media platform, and the catalyst for legalizing same sex marriage in Taiwan. Please support the Taiwanren project by leaving a review and donating to the cause on Patreon. 讓我們一起加油! …

Last podcast of 2020 and maybe the last breed reviews I do for awhile. It is time to move forward into other areas of spinning and the new year seems a good time to start. The breeds reviewed today are Llanowag and Lleyn. The fiber was part of a Welsh breed study pack from Wychwood Spinners This podcast was created from the audio of a livestream I …

Introverts, this one's for you! Meet Jill, the author of Quiet Is a Superpower. Jill shares her incredible stories of how she used her introvert strengths to succeed as the first female in Taiwan's sports agency. She weighs in on how introversion differs across cultures, and how she learned to adapt. Plenty of tips for introverts and extroverts ali…

We chat with Shawna Yang Ryan, author of the beloved novel, Green Island. Shawna takes us through pivotal events in modern Taiwanese history (she just has a way of bringing things to life). We also discuss Shawna's writing journey and hopes for Taiwan. Basically a PBS special you won't want to miss :) You can purchase Green Island on indiebound.org…

Meet Matt, who started with an orchestra of one (and 20+ instruments), but now leads a full orchestra of talented artists from Brisbane, Australia. Matt talks about his struggle growing up Asian Australian, and how music helped him reconnect with his Taiwanese roots. From that reconnection came his award-winning song, Make Everything (which I added…

We catch up with Mel from AsianBossGirl, a podcast series for the modern Asian American. We discuss podcasting, "taboo" topics, and ways to keep up with Asian American content. Listen to AsianBossGirl on any podcasting platform. If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and subscribe. 讓我們一起加油! IG: @taiwanren.co Email: cindy@taiwanren.co Support the …

Meet Casey, the founder of Miss Modi, a shop that designs and curates handcrafted jewelry. Casey's not only introducing Asian female designers to the US, she's also making our most beloved cultural items more wearable. Find your favorite snacks like taiyaki, XLB, and boba immortalized as earrings, necklaces, and bracelets on missmodi.com. If you en…

We chat with Michael from Camphor Press on how he's making Taiwanese stories more accessible. Michael shares some of his favorite books, from titles covering the Dutch era to the lives of migrant workers, and why he thinks Taiwan is a great place to live. Find your next book at www.camphorpress.com. If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and subs…

We get real with Andrew, the co-founder of Boba Guys. Join us as we discuss why Boba Guys can't be imitated, vulnerability among Asians, and what you can do to support the Chinatown community. If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and subscribe. 讓我們一起加油! IG: @taiwanren.co Email: cindy@taiwanren.co Support the show: http://patreon.com/taiwanren S…