CHAO Radio

On the show this time round is hip-hop extraordinaire and Chicago native Lupe Fiasco. This was an interview that we recorded some months ago during his stay with us at CHAO in Beijing, we were joined by Philipp Grefer, cofounder of Fake Music Media. Throughout the interview, we got the chance to speak to Lupe about his creative process and his influences both musically and from his eccentric upbringing. It was the first interview he had accepted in a long time, and we caught him during his trip around China shooting for his new project ‘Beat n Path’. The project is the first from the new venture Studio SV, a new Los Angeles and Hong Kong-based content development, production and financing company for high-end TV programming - created by Lupe with Bonnie Chan (shout out!) from Hong Kong. Studio SV's first project will be Beat n Path, a docuseries that follows Fiasco as he drops everything to embark on a cross-cultural journey throughout China. The show will track Fiasco as he follows his dual passions for music and martial arts, practicing with Kung Fu Masters throughout the Middle Kingdom while exploring China's fast-emerging hip-hop scene. To learn more about Beat’n’Path: www.studiosv.tv/beatnpath To learn more about CHAO: ilovechao.com

Journalist Ananth Krishnan on Economic Growth, Bullet Trains and Tea Estates by CHAO

There’s so much talk in the news today about refugees. Some people embrace them, others reject them, while more still don’t know what to make of some of the most vulnerable people in society. But it’s not a new phenomenon. Almost 30 years ago, when Iraq invade Iran, Camilla Douraghy – a ten year old girl at the time – lost the world as she knew it, and started a new one with her family in Switzerland. She recalls that story against the current geopolitical backdrop and how politics or, more simply, people have shaped her work as a photographer. I’m very humbled to have one her works at my home and, so, I can testify to how it continues to move me in new and unexpected ways. Coincidentally, I sat down for this podcast with Camilla in Basel, the town in Switzerland which became her second childhood home.

When I was growing up, I listened to Rachmaninoff and I listened to Motown. It’s not as strange a pairing as it might seem. The music that came from both was incredible, and in the case of the latter, Motown was not just the sound of “young America”, but the beating rhythm behind the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s. How relevant that is today still. In the mix was Susaye Greene, a longtime collaborator of musical greats from Ray Charles to Stevie Wonder. To the wider public, she is perhaps best-known as being the last member of The Supremes, the girl group originally led by Diana Ross that racked up 12 #1 hits. But Susaye is as much a creator as she is a performer. She wrote ‘I Can’t Help It’, the incredible track sung by Michael Jackson on his ‘Off the Wall’ album, as well as ‘Free’, hit single for Deniece Williams. I sat down with Susaye at the Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles, and we had a fantastic time recording this podcast. If you love music, and the way it connects to social history, then listen to our conversation. I think you’ll love it.

Ming Liu writes for some of the best-known titles in journalism: the Financial Times, New York Times and Wall Street Journal. But she’s also published her first novel, a fictional account (based on her non-fictional experiences) on what it means to be a Chinese growing up outside of China, especially at a time when ‘China’ is one of the most important stories of the century. I met up with her at a tram stop in Basel, Switzerland, to explore the key trends both in culture and luxury that are being defined by 1.4 billion Chinese.

In 2018, the world will celebrate what would have been Nelson Mandela’s 100th birthday. Ahead of that milestone, I spoke in Basel with his grandson, Ndaba, who has committed his life to working with Africa’s youth. He talks about losing his own parents to an AIDS-related illness, the impact this has had on him, and how Nelson Mandela’s legacy continues to shape vulnerable societies today.

For this episode, I spoke to the talented Celina Jade - actress, model, singer/songwriter, martial artist, entrepreneur, philanthropist and dear friend. As the lead actress in Wolf Warrior 2 - a film now well on its way to grossing ¥5 billion in the box office - she was the highlights of what is now China’s most popular movie ever. She was in Beijing recently to promote the film and I got a chance to sit down with her at the CHAO Cinema Club to catch up on old times, we also covered a wide variety of topics, from growing up in Hong Kong, Ed Sheeran, and her passion for food and the environment.

For eight years, Michel Sidibé has led UNAIDS from its headquarters in Geneva and, with his team, on-the-ground in every part of the world. Born in Mali, he has an intimate knowledge of Africa and China, and the relationship they share in a complex and changing world. Drawing on his insights from the fight against HIV and AIDS, and particularly the understanding he’s gained from working alongside the highest level of leadership, he speaks in this podcast with James Chau. He says the world is living in unprecedented times, and responds with what he believes its people need most now.

For this episode, I’m in Shanghai participating in the Conde Nast Traveler Gold List awards show, where I had the chance to sit down with Loren Daye, the creative director of spaces at Atelier Ace, ala Ace Hotel. We actually got a chance to hang out quite a bit and found out she’s a real design geek and very passionate about Chinese culture (she actually got her degree in Chinese Studies in University), we had an interesting chat about the creative and design process, where we got to learn a lot more about ACE and the people who create it.

With us today are regulars of the Marseille's indie music scene, King Krab. Fresh off performing at the Living Room in CHAO - playing music from their 2016 debut EP All In - their performance was part of this year's Fête de la Musique, the festival of Music put together in partnership with the embassy of France here in Beijing. We had the pleasure to speak to brothers Lucas and Adam, geeked out over funk and hip-hop, their musical inspiration, and their future plans for a second album. For more of King Krab's music, check out: https://soundcloud.com/kingkrab

James Chau speaks with Sean Tompkins CEO of RICS at the World Built Environment Forum in Shanghai. He talks about what's next for infrastructure, partnerships and populations, and how they demand a unified approach from finance to architecture.

James Chau talks about development, social inequity and One Belt One Road – China's new global strategy – with Sir Danny Alexander. A Vice President of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and a former Secretary of State for Scotland in the UK government, he lives in Beijing.

James Chau talks about the built environment and how it shapes our lives with London-based Amanda Clack, President of the RICS and Partner at EY. They discuss opportunities for young people today and what it takes for us to achieve the best lives we aspire to.

James Chau talks about fitness with Andrea Firley, Co-Founder of YOUME, a Beijing-based advisory that brings healthy lifestyles to businesses in China. She reflects on her childhood and the formative experiences that inform her teaching today.

James Chau talks about depression with Dr. Bernhard Schwartländer, Country Representative of the World Health Organization in China. He explores the complexities of this illness which affects 350 million people – and losing his partner to suicide 15 years ago.

James Chau talks about Sydney with Nick Lucchinelli, an Australian journalist who covered politics and business for the ABC and was also based in Geneva for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria. Today, he leads Horton Advisory, a Sydney-based public affairs agency.

4月15日下午，在舒适的CHAO Cinema Club，致力于佳片推荐的“奇遇电影”主创团队、电影导演唐棣、影评人“亵渎电影”作为嘉宾，以“我们为什么推荐这些电影”为主题和我们聊了聊他们对“好电影”的理解。

An in-depth, moderated conversation that looks at the issues surrounding depression, an illness that hundreds of millions of people can relate to directly – and even more of us through family, friends and others in our community. But as often as we hear the words “depressed” and “depression”, this is a serious condition that is not properly understood. The speakers on this panel are encouraged to engage in an exciting debate that will define depression, and to explain its potential consequences and the fundamental steps that are necessary to manage it. There will be a special focus on the link between physical activity and mental health. The aim is to communicate the complexities to a wide-ranging rather than medically-focused audience, with 15 minutes set aside at the end for questions. Speakers: Dr. Bernhard Schwartländer, WHO Country Representative, China Dr. Lucy Chen, Family Physician, Raffles Medical Group/International SOS Dr. Huang Shan, Functional Medicine, TCM Expert Prof. Ma Hong, Director, Department of Public Mental Health, Peking University Institute of Mental Health (TBC) Xu Ni, Founder, It Gets Brighter China Moderator: James Chau, WHO Goodwill Ambassador for SDGs and Health CHAO Wellness is a series of talks that bring together the experts, practitioners and entrepreneurs who are helping to create healthy and happy lives.

The Briefing Podcast Live @ CHAO A program of all the interesting news, cultural musings and creative happenings around the globe that caught our attention. Hosted by Maurice Li the program is recorded live at CHAO Sanlitun in Beijing, each episode we prepare a list of happenings and works from around the world that we recommend you should watch, listen and experience; We will also invite a guest onto the program each week to offer their unique perspectives. In this episode, we invited good friend and wearer of many hats, Philipp Grefer (AKA Metro Tokyo) - DJ, co-founder of Fake Music Media and Neu Festival. We chat about the trend of mega festivals in China and the region, the music scene, art Basel in Hong Kong as well as preview a few events coming up in the coming month. It’s a free flowing conversation all done over a pint of Guinness. I hope you all will enjoy it.