Best Popup Chinese Podcasts (2024)

1
From American Football to Chinese Films: The Journey of Matt William Knowles 50:46

2h ago50:46

50:46

Jared Turner interviews Matt William Knowles, a former college football player, who turned an unfortunate event into a remarkable life-changing adventure in China. After a career-ending injury left him uncertain about his future, Matt took a volunteer teaching position in one of China's most impoverished regions, Guizhou Province. Here, Matt found …

1
The Frustrated Learner and the Sound of Progress 24:34

14d ago24:34

24:34

Hosts Jared and John discuss the frustrations of a learner who came to John for help, particularly with pinyin and differentiation of similar sounds in Chinese. They explore why learners often misapply English pronunciation rules to pinyin and how comprehensible input can ease the learning curve. This episode is not just a deep dive into the phonet…

1
Finding Your Voice in Chinese: Happi's Multilingual Melody 48:17

25d ago48:17

48:17

Driven by her love for Asian cultures, anime, and K-pop, Happi (from Happi Across Cultures) has learned Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. Starting with friendships with exchange students, she went on to double major in Chinese and Japanese including studying abroad in Tokyo and Shanghai where she deeply engaged with the local culture. An accomplished …

1
Japanese and Chinese: Unraveling the Differences of Two Ancient Tongues 23:36

1M ago23:36

23:36

Dive into the fascinating world of East Asian languages with hosts Jared Turner and John Pasden. Whether you're navigating the tonal waves of Chinese or untangling the polite intricacies of Japanese, this episode offers a deep dive into the nuances, challenges, and delights of learning these two rich languages. They also discuss invaluable resource…

1
The Making of a YouTube Star: Ari Smith's Transformation into Xiao Ma 38:46

2M ago38:46

38:46

In this riveting episode, a clueless American white guy shocks a podcast host with flawless Chinese using one trick that teachers hate! Our special guest, Ari Smith, widely recognized as Xiao Ma on YouTube, shares the unexpected journey that led him from being a curious American to a Chinese-speaking internet sensation. Our special guest is none ot…

1
Bridging Continents and Cultures: How Akeel Alleyne Found His Calling and Career in the Heart of China 44:58

2M ago44:58

44:58

Some people may find they have a knack for learning Chinese, but deciding to make Chinese a part of your life is another decision entirely. Akeel Alleyne shares his story from learning Chinese in high school to making the move to live and work in China. He talks about how Chinese has enriched his life, helped find his calling, and enabled him to ca…

1
The Impact of Native Teaching Methods on Chinese Learners: Insights from a Shanghai Classroom 29:28

3M ago29:28

29:28

Join us as we step into the world of China's educational system. With an extra special guest interview, we pull back the curtain of how Chinese is taught in Chinese schools. These first-hand insights shed light on how China’s classrooms influence how Chinese is taught around the world. Links from the episode: Memes for Chinese Learners | Instagram …

1
How to use ChatGPT to Learn Chinese 19:45

3M ago19:45

19:45

Hosts Jared Turner and John Pasden give you some pro tips on how to use AI, specifically Chat GPT, to learn Chinese. They explore a variety of use cases, including limitations and tips on how to get the most out of these large language models we call artificial intelligence. Links from the episode: Chat GPT Send us a message | Mandarin Companion fe…

1
Christmas in China (Ep. 25 Replay) 58:12

4M ago58:12

58:12

Our special Chinese Christmas episode first aired Dec 16, 2019.

1
The Future of the You Can Learn Chinese Podcast 18:47

5M ago18:47

18:47

John and Jared have some sad news to share and want your feedback on the future of the podcast.

1
Mandarin reboot: How to get back into learning after taking a break 46:45

6M ago46:45

46:45

So you want to get back into learning Chinese after taking a break. John and Jared give you tips on how to get back into learning Chinese and make it an even better experience than before. Guest interview is with Martina Fuchs, who started her career as an Arabic-speaking spy for the Swiss government and later became a TV journalist for China’s sta…

1
Reframing the 10 worst Chinese learning tips 1:06:18

6M ago1:06:18

1:06:18

There is no shortage of advice on how to learn Chinese, but in this episode, hosts John and Jared not only talk about 10 common bad tips for learning Chinese, but also reframe them so you know what to do instead. Guest interview is with Dave Landis, a language enthusiast who shares his journey of learning Chinese, the role it played in his relation…

1
Fluency now: The power of extensive reading 1:04:44

7M ago1:04:44

1:04:44

Stories about the impact of extensive reading on language fluency pulled from studies and research. Guest interview with Sarah Reinstein, a game developer.

1
Knowledge vs Proficiency (Ep. 12 Replay) 50:59

7M ago50:59

50:59

You know a lot of Chinese, but can you actually use it? Listen to the stories of 10 years in Xinjiang from John Summers.

1
Five tips on taking better notes for learning Chinese 59:02

8M ago59:02

59:02

John and Jared discuss 5 principles to optimize your note-taking for language learning to maximize your learning gains. Guest interview is with Nick Anderson, a cross-cultural consultant and Chinese accent coach in Hollywood.

1
Imperfectly fluent: Letting go of perfection 1:14:22

8M ago1:14:22

1:14:22

What if your perfectionism is holding you back from progressing in Chinese? Learn how perfectionism can both help and hinder you. Interview is with Rob Neal from Manchester, England.

1
How To Find The Perfect Tutor (Ep. 36 Replay) 1:00:02

9M ago1:00:02

1:00:02

What does a great tutor do differently and how do you find them? Tune in for the answer. Guest interview with Lucy Jak-Lax, an aspiring musician who fell in love with China.

1
Unleashing the power of motivation: Swire Chinese language conference 53:47

9M ago53:47

53:47

This special episode features Jared Turner’s keynote address at the Swire Chinese Language conference in June of 2023 in Newcastle, England, along with 6 speed interviews at the conference.

1
Listener questions answered: learning habits, immersion, and the power of extensive reading 56:04

10M ago56:04

56:04

Jared and John answer listener questions about learning Chinese and interview Shannon Kennedy, a polyglot who shares her experiences learning the language.

1
Why are dialogues so popular in language learning? 1:02:32

10M ago1:02:32

1:02:32

John and Jared discuss the benefits of dialogues in language learning. Guest interview is with Bohan Phoenix, a Chinese-American hip hop artist.

1
Beyond memorization: Higher order thinking skills in language learning 56:35

11M ago56:35

56:35

In this episode, Jared Turner and John Pasden delve into the topic of higher order thinking skills in language learning, with a focus on learning Chinese. They explore Bloom's Taxonomy and how it can be applied to language learning, and the challenges and rewards of creating in language learning. They emphasize the importance of seeking out program…

1
Will technology replace language learning? 1:11:02

12M ago1:11:02

1:11:02

Jared and John discuss the role of technology in language learning and whether it can replace the need to learn a foreign language. Guest interview is with Ben McMahon who shares his unique story of waking up from a coma speaking only Chinese and how he developed his language skills to pursue opportunities in the media and property industries.Links…

1
Breaking down emotional walls: the key to successful language learning 1:02:18

12M ago1:02:18

1:02:18

In this episode, Jared Turner and John Pasden discuss the affective filter hypothesis and its relevance to language learning. They explain the three key categories of the affective filter: motivation, self-confidence, and anxiety, and how teachers and learners can help lower the affective filter to improve language learning. Guest interview is with…

1
The impact of comprehensible input on language learning: a deep dive 1:10:57

1y ago1:10:57

1:10:57

Delver into the topic of comprehensible input in language learning with John & Jared who discuss various approaches and stress the importance of personalized learning, along with an interview with Mandarin teacher Emma Jamen.

1
How your personality changes in another language 1:10:10

1y ago1:10:10

1:10:10

If you feel like you have a different personality in Chinese, then you’re not alone. Jared & John talk about this fascinating phenomenon on how many act and feel differently when speaking a 2nd language. Guest interview is with Taha Shlibek from Libya, who left his stable job to learn Chinese and seek a new start. Links from the episode:Cross-Cultu…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Popup Chinese Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

1
You Can Learn Chinese

Jared Turner

1
Popup Chinese

Popup Chinese

1
Popup Cantonese

Popup Cantonese

1
From American Football to Chinese Films: The Journey of Matt William Knowles 50:46

1
The Frustrated Learner and the Sound of Progress 24:34

1
Finding Your Voice in Chinese: Happi's Multilingual Melody 48:17

1
Japanese and Chinese: Unraveling the Differences of Two Ancient Tongues 23:36

1
The Making of a YouTube Star: Ari Smith's Transformation into Xiao Ma 38:46

1
Bridging Continents and Cultures: How Akeel Alleyne Found His Calling and Career in the Heart of China 44:58

1
The Impact of Native Teaching Methods on Chinese Learners: Insights from a Shanghai Classroom 29:28

1
How to use ChatGPT to Learn Chinese 19:45

1
Christmas in China (Ep. 25 Replay) 58:12

1
The Future of the You Can Learn Chinese Podcast 18:47

1
Mandarin reboot: How to get back into learning after taking a break 46:45

1
Reframing the 10 worst Chinese learning tips 1:06:18

1
Fluency now: The power of extensive reading 1:04:44

1
Knowledge vs Proficiency (Ep. 12 Replay) 50:59

1
Five tips on taking better notes for learning Chinese 59:02

1
Imperfectly fluent: Letting go of perfection 1:14:22

1
How To Find The Perfect Tutor (Ep. 36 Replay) 1:00:02

1
Unleashing the power of motivation: Swire Chinese language conference 53:47

1
Listener questions answered: learning habits, immersion, and the power of extensive reading 56:04

1
Why are dialogues so popular in language learning? 1:02:32

1
Beyond memorization: Higher order thinking skills in language learning 56:35

1
Will technology replace language learning? 1:11:02

1
Breaking down emotional walls: the key to successful language learning 1:02:18

1
The impact of comprehensible input on language learning: a deep dive 1:10:57

1
How your personality changes in another language 1:10:10

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