Three American-raised friends living in China candidly explore the madness of modern behavior. We’ll be sipping on drinks with special guests as we tackle different topics on current culture, self-help, society, human psychology, nationality, politics, news and life. All this in an effort to reduce misconceptions about the world and ourselves. Tune in as we make these attempts and stumble our way towards becoming happier, healthier and wiser.
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Cymri Chang is a Creative Producer and friend of the show. Today we discuss the human race, whether it's as a species, a political race or literally racing in the Olympics. We talk about if continuing the human species is important to us. We present cases for and against humanity and its impact on itself and all other living things. We talk about a…
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158. Jorge Castellanos (Stand-up comedian, Mamahuhu)
2:23:29
2:23:29
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Jorge Castellanos is a stand-up comedian and was a member of the sketch comedy group Mamahuhu, a popular YouTube series. He is also the owner of the Shanghai bar called BnC. He has performed with some of the biggest comedians like Mark Normand, Kyle Kinane and Jim Gaffigan. Today we talk about Jorge’s experience as a comedian in China, navigating c…
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157. Danny Hu (on triathlons, health, lifestyle)
1:39:50
1:39:50
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Danny Hu is the CEO of WeCycle and started the largest triathlon community in China. His platform, STC大铁, has gone from a few hundred people to over 100k members and has helped organize 300+ triathlons and other active events across China. Today, in the spirit of the Olympics, we talk to Danny about how he got convinced to enter his first triathlon…
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156. Daniel Bateman: "The Game, Confidence, Rejection"
1:49:48
1:49:48
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Daniel Bateman is a content creator of his own social media channel @baidehan focused on being British, business and lifestyle in China. He is also the host of the "Panda Profits Podcast" and the founder of Brit Bridge, a global consultancy and marketing company. Today we talk about the book "The Game" by Neil Strauss and how it helped Daniel gain …
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155. Ben Cavender: "Chinese Brands, Economy, US Election, AI"
1:41:44
1:41:44
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1:41:44
Ben Cavender is the Managing Director and Head of Strategy with the China Market Research Group (CMR). He helps Fortune 500 companies strengthen their brands positions and presence in China's consumer market. He frequently speaks internationally on innovation, technology, economics and consumer trends. He is frequently quoted and interviewed by new…
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154. Tilman Rieger (on Psychological Safety)
1:39:49
1:39:49
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Tilman Rieger is a conflict mediator, interpersonal and cross-cultural communication expert. He is the founder of 8C Consulting and an expert in the fields of nonviolent communication, transactional analysis, positive intelligence and team building. Today we talk about psychological safety in groups, at work and in society. We learn about creating …
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153. Justin Hourn (on Fitness & Longevity)
1:49:28
1:49:28
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Justin Hourn is the head coach and co-founder of Refuge Martial Arts. He is a BJJ black belt, former Australian national wrestling team athlete, international kickboxer, Tedx speaker and youth health & fitness speaker. Today we talk about fitness trends, wellness, purpose and overcoming adversity. We talk about purposely not preparing for things so…
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Today we talk about the “3 Body Problem”, AI and finding jobs. We talk about the controversy over the Western adaptation of the show from the original Chinese science fiction novel “The Three-Body Problem” and where the limits might be for cultural appropriation. The conversation shifts to the topic of AI and we debate how much we should really thi…
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151. King Kwesi (China as an African)
1:33:26
1:33:26
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King Kwesi is a vlogger, street interviewer and English teacher from Ghana, living in China. His YouTube Channel documents his experiences as an African interacting in Chinese society. Today we talk about his background from Ghana, growing up in a polygamous family, and his experience living in China as an African. We talk about why he started the …
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150. Andrea Fenn: "The Great Digital Leap"
1:34:56
1:34:56
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Andrea Fenn is an award-winning digital strategist and the CEO of Adiacent, a global digital transformation company. He was a founding member of the APAC social media team at Ogilvy, a researcher of Chinese social media at Leiden University, and a former journalist for CNN and China Daily. He has lived 18 years in China working with the country’s e…
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149. Dylan Briley: "Death & Cooking"
1:30:48
1:30:48
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Dylan Briley is the Head Chef at Crush, former Sous Chef at Mr & Mrs Bund, and former chef at Goga in Shanghai. He is also an artist, culinary consultant and DJ. Today we talk about digital addiction, self-hate and his experiences working in the restaurant industry, both in the US and China. He recounts a pivotal moment when he had a heart attack w…
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148. Yimin Wang: "The Personality Trap"
1:39:54
1:39:54
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Yimin Wang is a personality development and leadership coach. He is one of the highest certified people development coaches in China, the CEO of Sense Consulting and the Global Partner of Lumina Learning. Today we explore the Lumina Spark personality assessment which measures your various personality traits and qualities. We talk about the concept …
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147. James Hsu: "The Art of Being Yourself"
1:36:34
1:36:34
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James Hsu is an entrepreneur, podcaster and advisor. He helps people through the mental and emotional side of entrepreneurship and on the topic of authenticity. Today we talk about the struggle to be ourselves and pretending to be someone we're not, both in social situations and at work. We talk about how we are affected by politics and news. We ta…
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Dawn Wong is a Stand-Up Comedian in Shanghai. Today we talk about stand-up comedy in China. We discuss censorship, cancel culture and the differences between doing comedy for Chinese and Western audiences. We talk about gender equality, her influences growing up, and her thoughts on Asian men’s taste in women and porn. We also talk about how female…
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145. Richard Brubaker: "Is This Sustainable"
2:02:47
2:02:47
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Richard Brubaker is the Sustainability & Corporate Social Responsibility Chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai, Adjunct Professor of Sustainability and Social Innovation, Founder of Collective Responsibility and host of the Sustainable Ambassador and Mission Driven podcasts. Today we talk about the state of the world through the …
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144. Julia Shen: "Not Lost In Translation"
1:39:25
1:39:25
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Today we try a bilingual episode speaking Chinese with our guest Julia Shen. We talk about gender roles, relationships, masculinity, marriage and compare certain interesting behaviors between Chinese and Western culture. We try to find definitions for Chinese words that may not exist in the English language, and learn some new Chinese sayings at th…
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Today we talk about the flaws in our understanding of the distant past and do some reflecting as we look ahead this year. We talk about creating and capturing more memories, getting healthier, building habits, guilt and motivation. We talk about work sabotaging health, failed fitness attempts and seeking progress through habit stacking, incremental…
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Today we compare our views on artificial intelligence and the human condition. We talk about the evolution of society and how AI will change the way we play the game of life. We talk about the nature of the 'game' itself. We talk to ChatGPT, debate its current usefulness and explore positive and negative societal consequences of humanity's advancin…
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Today we listen to some of our favorite songs and talk about the memorable moments in our lives they remind us of. This is the second volume of our "Life's Mixtape" series in which we combine music listening with podcasting. _____________________ If you enjoy this show don't forget to leave a rating Follow Us On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com…
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Merry Xmas! Today we exchange stories and personal experiences with bullying in school. We talk about stereotypical nerdy Asian kids when we were growing up and the troubling traumatic time many of them had going to school in America. We discuss the importance of parental awareness and emotional support to help our kids cope psychologically if ever…
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139. Ashley Recanati: "Your AI Battle"
2:20:05
2:20:05
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Ashley Recanati is an author, Futurist academic and lecturer of digital ecosystems. His new book "AI Battle Royale: How to Protect your Job from Disruption in the 4th Industrial Revolution" guides workers through the perils of AI. Today we talk about practical ways to think about AI and how to protect your working future from its impact. We navigat…
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Today we talk about brain fog and cognitive decline. We share our personal experience with feeling dumber and discuss what might be the reasons behind it, and what we can do about it. We talk about why its so hard to speak up about intellectual weaknesses or to even admit experiencing temporary ones. We talk about daily routines and addiction to sc…
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137. Anna Yang: "Whats Wrong With Room Temperature?"
1:28:10
1:28:10
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Anna Yang is an award-winning advertising creative. She is the youngest ever delegate to have represented China and won gold at the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity. She has been named one of the Top 30 creatives in China by Campaign Brief. She is also the recipient of the United Nations Common Ground Initiative Grant. Today we talk about authen…
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Today we talk to friends of the show Jackie Wang and Andrew Trapp. We discuss Andrew's decision to leave China after over a decade and Jackie's renewed perspective after leaving to live abroad and now returning to Shanghai on a visit. We talk about the factors behind Andrew deciding to move back to America and reflect on his time living in China; w…
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Today Justin and Aric reflect on inner demons or "old friends" that cause torment, such as self-doubt, unmet expectations, fear of repeating hurtful patterns, and the feeling of time slipping away. We discuss acceptance vs being content, guilt vs shame, and mindfulness. We talk about our awkward friendship and explore what makes a "one-on-one" frie…
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Today we talk about Baby Metal, a popular Japanese Kawaii-Metal band. We talk about Asian countries re-appropriating Western culture such as Heavy Metal music and why its controversial to some. We talk about the concept of "being cool" and the need to fit into a tribe during our youth. We share our opinions on what "cool" actually means and talk ab…
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133. Gabor Holch: "Beneath The Armor"
1:35:16
1:35:16
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Gabor Holch is an intercultural leadership coach, speaker and author. He has coached public leaders, CEO’s and high-level decision makers in some of the largest multinational companies in over 25 countries. A former diplomat, he holds degrees in international relations, diplomacy and certifications in several assessment and coaching methodologies. …
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132. Debora Malito: "This Unstable World"
1:24:55
1:24:55
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Debora Malito is an author and Assistant Professor. Her work surrounds questions of sovereignty and inequality in international politics. Her current research focuses on how information is produced, international interventions and the reordering of states and political orders. She is the author of "Destabilising Interventions in Somalia". Today we …
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Today we learn about a series of misunderstandings that led to Aric's angry disappearance from the show last week. This gets us talking about how petty misinterpretations can often lead to larger problems. We learn about concepts like fundamental attribution bias, actor/observer bias and how we act and react emotionally without always having all th…
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Today we have no idea where Aric is. His disappearance gets us talking about what else we don't know. As we explore the mysteries of the unknown, we talk UFO's, share personal ghost stories and things we've experienced that can't be explained. We talk about sleep paralysis, deja vu and other dimensions beyond our own. We dig into human intelligence…
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129. Franklin Yao: "A Nugget Of Good"
1:30:29
1:30:29
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Franklin Yao is the founder of Zrou, the plant-based meat alternative. He leads a team of scientists, chefs and branding leaders to create tasty food solutions such as plant-based protein alternatives to pork, beef and chicken. Through healthy, sustainable processes his company’s mission is to represent China on the global food stage, with affordab…
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128. Steve Shi: "A Few Rules For Life"
1:53:35
1:53:35
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Steve Shi is a psychotherapist, podcaster, personal growth and mental health educator and writer. He is a Top 50 most influential psychology professional in China and is host of “史蒂夫说” podcast, winner of 2019 Apple Best Podcast in Chinese. He was also the official Chinese translator of Jordan Peterson’s “12 Rules For Life”. Today we dive into the p…
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127. Jonathan Rechtman: "The Noise"
1:28:45
1:28:45
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Jonathan Rechtman is one of the worlds top Chinese-English simultaneous interpreters and communication coach. He has served as interpreter for multiple Presidents, Prime Ministers, Fortune 500 CEOs, celebrities and Nobel Prize winners. He has also coached some of the most influential business leaders helping them with high-stakes communication skil…
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126. Cyrus Janssen: "Divided We Lose"
1:46:38
1:46:38
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Cyrus Janssen is a Youtuber, geopolitical analyst, speaker and investor. He is well known for his Youtube channel where he shares insights on China and his videos have nearly 50 million views. As an American, he hopes to help the world better understand China while dispelling misunderstandings about the country. Today we talk about his long awaited…
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125. Jason Smith: "Crossing The Bridge"
1:25:00
1:25:00
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Jason Smith is host of The Bridge Podcast, a show focused on building bridges between East and West by going beyond the headlines to find common ground amongst perceived opposites in the world. He seeks to bridge his American home with his Chinese home through dialogue and understanding and is also a social media influencer with nearly 1 million fa…
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124. Pete Rogers: "The Wounds We Carry"
1:35:13
1:35:13
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Pete Rogers is a coach and speaker on mental health, parenting, EQ and leadership. He is the Director of Counseling at Community Center Shanghai (CCS) and the founder of Rogers Consulting Group, "where EQ meets IQ". He works with International school students and their parents with mental health related issues such as stress, anxiety and sadness. H…
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123. Josef Gregory Mahoney: "The Fix Is In"
1:47:20
1:47:20
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Josef Gregory Mahoney is Professor of Politics and International Relations at East China Normal University, Executive Director of the International Center for Advanced Political Studies and Associate Editor of the US-based Journal of Chinese Political Science. The winner of multiple research awards he was formerly a university professor in the Unit…
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122. Frank Tsai: "Standing At A Crossroads"
1:31:33
1:31:33
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Frank Tsai is the largest single organizer of public lectures and talks in Shanghai. He is the founder and CEO of China Crossroads, hosting the largest number of public talks on "China and the world" where he invites senior figures in academia, politics, business and foreign affairs. He is an American formerly working at Control Risks, the top glob…
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Zak Dychtwald is the author of "Young China" and the founder and CEO of the Young China Group, a think tank focusing on the evolving East and West millennial mindset and the effects of China's young generation on the global marketplace, workplace and international politics. He is a fluent mandarin speaker from northern California, TED talker, write…
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120. Larry Wang: "The Right Direction"
1:36:44
1:36:44
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Larry Wang is a career, talent and leadership development facilitator. He has been supporting career and talent needs in China for over 30 years. He is the author of "The New Gold Mountain", "Know The Game , Play The Game" and "How To Develop Yourself As a Future Executive, Today". He works with both private individuals and top executives in the wo…
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Today we talk about video game addiction, how AI will impact society, medicine and compare Chinese and American healthcare systems. We also discuss the fading distinction between reality and digital reality and pose the question of, if there's a better reality between the two? We go on to talk about mass brain-washing, how often false narratives ar…
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118. Tilman Rieger: "I'm Ok You're Ok"
1:36:40
1:36:40
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Tilman Rieger is a conflict mediator, executive coach, interpersonal communication expert and cross-cultural consultant. He is the founder of 8C Consulting and an expert in the fields of compassionate/nonviolent communication, transactional analysis and positive intelligence. Simply put, today we talk about how to more effectively communicate, coll…
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Today we talk about toxic masculinity and what it's supposed to mean being masculine. We talk about getting more emotional as we age and how we seem to cry much easier now. We talk about paying the bill on dinner dates and the traditional expectations between the genders of who pays, we discuss how these social norms may be changing and in the cont…
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116. Charles Zeng: "Recipe For Survival"
1:40:26
1:40:26
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Charles Zeng owns the Charlie's Burger restaurant chain. As a Shanghai-based restauranteur, he recounts stories about operating during the strict 2022 lockdown. We talk pizza in China, debate over American-Chinese food and rising violence in the US. We also talk about dealing with anxiety, the "Art of being Stupid" and the "Art of War". We discuss …
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115. Deano Delpleash: "Get Up Off Your Little Rock"
1:42:22
1:42:22
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Deano Delpleash is a High-Performance coach, master neurolinguistic practitioner, entrepreneur and martial artist. He helps people succeed by achieving their highest levels of performance through increasing clarity, self-awareness, purpose and action. Today we talk about how to change and improve your life. Deano tells us about his experience growi…
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Richard Turrin is the international best-selling author of "Cashless: China's Digital Currency Revolution". He is currently one of the top fintech influencers in the world. A former investment banker of 20 years, he headed the fintech teams at IBM and is an expert on finance, technology and AI. Today we discuss the buzz and controversy over China's…
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Today Justin and Aric question the value of following the busy news cycle. They talk about how our beliefs and politics are just narratives that either bring us together or tear us apart. They also question if human beings are just naturally wired for a zero-sum game and to want winners and losers. They talk about childbirth and pain tolerance, the…
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112. Alex Wang & Hillary Lin: "In Stars & Cards"
1:28:01
1:28:01
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Alex Wang is a Vedic astrologer who's background is in mathematics. He made a dramatic shift from tech consulting to astrology under the guidance of several teachers including Sanjay Rath. Hillary Lin is a tarot card reader who has performed tarot readings for a wide range of clients helping them with decision making, mindfulness and understanding …
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Today we get nostalgic and talk about our adolescence, life and death, parents, our unborn children and music. We list some of the most impactful music albums in our lives and we share some of our favorite songs and how they became the backdrop to our youth. ____________________ If you enjoy this show don't forget to leave a rating! Follow Us On In…
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110. Ben Cavender: "Risky Business"
1:33:49
1:33:49
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Ben Cavender is the Managing Director and Head of Strategy with the China Market Research Group (CMR). He helps Fortune 500 companies strengthen their brands positions and presence in China's consumer market. He frequently speaks internationally on innovation, technology, economic and government policy, and consumer trends. He is frequently quoted …
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