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What if the very things that seem to be pulling our profession apart are actually the forces that will finally condense it into something more resilient? We're in a moment of choppy waters—school closures, shrinking enrollment, and a shifting financial landscape—where the successes of what have brought us to this moment will not take us into the future. .In this conversation with Kathleen Lumiere, co-president of the Seattle Institute for East Asian Medicine (SIEAM), we discuss how we might make changes to our educational models that both streamlines and strengthens East Asian medicine. We discuss the integration of business education into clinical training, the disappearance of Grad Plus loans, and the effect that has had on a system that came to be dependent on them. Kathleen also introduces the idea of using the "wisdom of crowds" to define the irreducible core of our profession—a shared set of competencies that could protect our identity while opening new doors for collaboration.Listen into this conversation about what it means to be adventuresome and iconoclastic in a moment of crisis. It's a look at how we can protect our infrastructure while remaining flexible enough to evolve, ensuring that the next generation of practitioners doesn't just survive, but finds a path to true gainful employment.
Being uber-responsible, people-pleasing and a perfectionist are traits that first-born girls in Asia purportedly have.Synopsis: Every first Friday of the month, The Straits Times catches up with its foreign correspondents about life and trends in the countries they're based in. A book in Taiwan on the so-called “eldest daughter syndrome” is now a bestseller translated into other languages. It looks at how many first-born women in the East Asian society struggle with perfectionism, people-pleasing, burnout, anxiety and other mental health struggles. This often arises from the profound psychological and physical pressures that they face at home. What is even more insidious is when these traits carry over from the private space to their workplace. Taiwan correspondent Yip Wai Yee, herself a first-born girl, speaks to foreign editor Li Xueying, another first-born girl, on her personal experience, as well as the question: where is all of this coming from?Highlights (click/tap above): 1:58 What is the eldest daughter syndrome 4:43 Myth vs social expectations 6:29 Eldest daughter syndrome entrenched in Taiwan society 10:17 How it plays into workplace burnout and boundaries 13:55 Managing guilt and saying no as an eldest daughter Read Yip Wai Yee’s article here: https://str.sg/jbsK Read Li Xueying’s articles: https://str.sg/iqmR Follow Li Xueying on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/ip4x Sign up for ST’s weekly Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/sfpz Host: Li Xueying (xueying@sph.com.sg) Edited by: Fa’izah Sani Executive producer: Ernest Luis Follow Asian Insider on Fridays here: Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7 Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8 Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX --- #STAsianInsiderSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Commentary by Dr. Jian'an Wang.
The acupuncture and East Asian profession is facing a number of critical challenges as long-established schools close, new federal guidelines on graduate education loans will dramatically change how much students can borrow, and fewer students consider a career as an acupuncturist.How to wayfind through these troubled times? That is the question explored in this series with practitioners, researchers, and educators in the field of East Asian medicine.In this conversation with Danielle Reghi we follow the arc of her career from acquiring and dealing with upwards of 200K in debt, to building a multi-location practice and learning how business acumen is as necessary as clinical skills.She is the president of the Oregon Association of Acupuncturists. She played a key role in drafting the Oregon Acupuncture Workforce Sustainability Proposal, which considers the effect of the new RISE and AHEAD metrics from the federal government and how those affect the amount graduate students may borrow. Additionally this proposal looks at other educational options and alternative pathways that can lead to licensure in the State of Oregon.Any discussion of the future requires a clear eyed view of the present. You'll get that in this conversation with Danielle, along with some innovative thinking about what's up around the bend in the road..
진행자: 박준희, Chelsea ProctorInside 'Perfect Crown' controversy: Why its portrayal of Joseon royal rituals sparks outrage in Korea기사 요약: 최근 종영한 아이유, 변우석 주연 드라마 “21세기 대군부인”은 즉위식과 다도 장면 등에 중국식 예법을 연상시키는 설정이 등장하면서 역사 왜곡 논란에 휩싸였다.[1] “Perfect Crown,” one of the biggest K-dramas of the first half of 2026 starring IU and Byeon Woo-seok, is facing mounting backlash over its depiction of royal traditions, with potential repercussions including the repayment of government production funding.mounting: 점점 커지는backlash: 강한 반발depiction: 묘사repercussion: 후폭풍[2] The series performed strongly during its broadcast run. According to Nielsen Korea, the final episode, which aired on May 16, recorded a nationwide rating of 13.8 percent, up 0.3 percentage points from episode 11's 13.5 percent, marking a series high. However, despite its ratings success, the drama has been embroiled in controversy over its use of Joseon-era (1392–1910) court rituals, which critics say evoke the tributary customs of imperial China.strongly: 강하게embroiled in: 곤란한 상황에 깊이 휘말리다controversy: 논란evoke: 소환하다[3] Critics argue that although the story is set in a fictional 21st-century Korea where a constitutional monarchy still exists, the production overlooked how modern audiences might interpret its depiction of Joseon court traditions linked to the East Asian tributary system.fictional: 허구적인constitutional monarchy: 입헌군주제overlook: 간과하다interpret: 의미를 해석하다[4] Viewers also took issue with a coronation scene in which court officials proclaimed “Cheonse” (“Long live for a thousand years”), a phrase historically linked to vassal states, rather than “Manse” (“Long live for ten thousand years”), which has traditionally been used to signify an independent sovereign ruler.coronation: 대관식proclaim: 공식적으로 선언하다vassal state: 속국기사 원문: https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10743805[코리아헤럴드 팟캐스트 구독]아이튠즈(아이폰): https://itunes.apple.com/kr/podcast/koliaheleoldeu-paskaeseuteu/id686406253?mt=2네이버 오디오 클립 (아이폰, 안드로이드 겸용): https://audioclip.naver.com/channels/5404팟빵 (안드로이드): http://www.podbbang.com/ch/6638
Medicine is never only about treatment. It also carries culture, identity, and memory. Sometimes preserving a medicine is a way of preserving a people.In this episode we visit with James Flowers to explore a potent moment in the history of Korean medicine and how Hanbang became part of Korea's cultural resistance during the Japanese colonization. Not through politics or violence, but through preserving ways of healing, thinking, and living.We discuss how medical ideas moved between Korea, China, and Japan, the role of Yangsheng in everyday life, and how Korean medicine resisted separating mind from body in the way modern systems often do.This conversation also touches on the deeper question of how medicine lives within culture—not only through practitioners and institutions, but through families, daily habits, stories, and collective memory.Listen into this conversation that weaves together history, medicine, identity, and the enduring cultural force of East Asian healing traditions.
On this episode of Pilot Season Cartoon Edition, hosts Kinte, Renee, Jen, John, and Allen break down the pilot episode of Avatar: The Last Airbender, “The Boy in the Iceberg,” which originally aired on February 21, 2005. In this opening episode, Katara and Sokka discover a mysterious boy frozen in an iceberg. That boy is Aang, a young Airbender with a powerful destiny. As the siblings learn more about him, it becomes clear that Aang is no ordinary kid — he is the long-lost Avatar, the one person capable of mastering all four elements and bringing balance to a world at war. The episode sets the stage for an epic journey filled with adventure, danger, and destiny, while also introducing the heart, humor, and mythology that made the series a classic. Podcast airdate: 5/20/26 #AvatarTheLastAirbender #PilotSeasonCartoonEdition #TheBoyInTheIceberg John 9.9 Allen 8 Jen 10 Kinte 9 Renee 10 Total: 38.9 Brief history Avatar: The Last Airbender was created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko for Nickelodeon and premiered in 2005. The series was developed as an American animated fantasy adventure inspired by anime, East Asian art, martial arts traditions, and elemental mythology. Produced by Nickelodeon Animation Studio, the show stood out because it combined action, humor, deep world-building, and serialized storytelling in a way that was rare for children's animation at the time. The series is set in a world divided into four nations — Water, Earth, Fire, and Air — where certain people can bend their element. At the center of the story is Aang, the long-lost Avatar, who must master all four elements and bring balance to a world being torn apart by war. Across its run, the show earned praise for its animation, character development, emotional storytelling, and strong voice cast, and it became one of the most respected animated series of its era. Main cast and who they played Zach Tyler Eisen — Aang Mae Whitman — Katara Jack DeSena — Sokka Dante Basco — Prince Zuko Jessie Flower — Toph Beifong
In 1993, the World Bank published a report on a remarkable development story.East Asia's post-war growth — Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and their neighbours — had lifted millions out of poverty in a generation. The report documented the influence of export subsidies, state-directed credit, land reform, and government-business dialogue. But the bank, constrained by the Washington Consensus of the time, underplayed the industrial policies that were at the heart of this miracle.Nancy Birdsall was head of the department that produced the report. In this week's VoxDev Talk, she looks back, talking to Tim Phillips about whether this stance affected policy in other developing countries.Birdsall tells Tim Phillips how the report came to exist at all — financed by the Japanese government as a deliberate strategy to expose the bank's economists to a success story their prevailing framework couldn't explain. With industrial policy back at the centre of economic debate, Birdsall's new article in the Journal of Economic Perspectives asks whether the bank missed its moment to embed those lessons into its operational work. The research behind this episode:Birdsall, Nancy. 2025. "The World Bank's East Asian Miracle: Too Much a Product of Its Time?" Journal of Economic Perspectives 39(4): 127–48. A free download is available at the Center for Global Development.To cite this episode:Phillips, Tim, and Nancy Birdsall. 2026. "The World Bank's East Asian Miracle." VoxDev Talk (podcast). [Episode URL].Assign this as extra listening. The citation above is formatted and ready for a reading list or VLE.About Nancy BirdsallNancy Birdsall is president emerita of the Center for Global Development, which she co-founded in 2001. She was previously executive vice president of the Inter-American Development Bank and, before that, director of the Policy Research Department at the World Bank, where she oversaw the department responsible for the East Asian Miracle report. Her research spans development finance, inequality, economic growth and the role of multilateral institutions in the global economy.Research cited in this episodeThe East Asian Miracle (World Bank, 1993). A 400-page study of the economic performance of eight high-performing Asian economies — Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand — covering the period 1965 to 1990. Commissioned with Japanese government funding, the report documented both market fundamentals and a range of active state policies; its handling of industrial policy was carefully hedged to remain within the bounds of what the bank's dominant Washington Consensus framework could accept. The full report is available from the World Bank Open Knowledge Repository.The Washington Consensus. A term coined by economist John Williamson in 1989 to describe the package of macroeconomic and structural reforms — fiscal discipline, trade liberalisation, privatisation, deregulation and market-determined prices — that the IMF, World Bank and US Treasury broadly promoted as the framework for development in the late 1980s and 1990s. The consensus was dominant inside the bank during the period the East Asian Miracle report was written; countries following activist state policies did not fit its categories easily.MITI (Japan's Ministry of International Trade and Industry). The Japanese government body responsible for coordinating industrial and trade policy during Japan's post-war growth period, including the direction of credit, protection of infant industries and promotion of heavy manufacturing exports. MITI was widely known inside the bank, but its role in Japan's development was not systematically studied or incorporated into the bank's policy advice until the East Asian Miracle report. It was abolished and reorganised as the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) in 2001.Performance-based credit subsidies. A mechanism used across several East Asian economies in which exporters could access subsidised credit conditional on demonstrating actual export orders. The conditionality — credit only if you are already performing — was central to why the policy worked: it rewarded productive firms and withdrew support from those that failed to deliver. The East Asian Miracle report described this approach in detail without classifying it as industrial policy.Japan's postal savings system. A government-run savings scheme that channelled household deposits through post offices into state-directed investment, providing below-market returns to savers while funding subsidised credit to targeted sectors. Birdsall notes it as a mechanism worth studying for developing countries seeking to finance industrial support without relying on private capital markets.Indonesia and the airplane sector. The Indonesian government under Suharto sought to develop a domestic aerospace industry, with state subsidies to Industri Pesawat Terbang Nusantara (IPTN). The World Bank's East Asia regional department, which managed the bank's lending relationship with Indonesia, was concerned that the East Asian Miracle report might be read as endorsing this approach. Their pressure to limit the report's treatment of industrial policy is the episode's opening anecdote — and the source of what is possibly the best line in the show.IDB report on public-private dialogue in Latin America. Birdsall references work by the Inter-American Development Bank on the conditions under which structured dialogue between government bureaucrats and private-sector firms can support industrial policy; she notes that access at the highest levels of government — including the president — appears to be a factor in whether such dialogues produce results. More VoxDev Talks on this topicIndustrial policy for economic development, Dani Rodrik on the evidence for active state roles in directing investment and exports, and the institutional prerequisites for making them work.The future of the World Bank: Why knowledge is power, Penny Goldberg on the bank's role as a producer and broker of development knowledge, and how that function has evolved since the Washington Consensus era.Related reading on VoxDevModern industrial policy: The Asian miracles' blueprint, a VoxDev Talk examining how the principles behind East Asian industrial success — performance conditionality, export orientation, technology learning — can be translated into policy frameworks for today's developing economies.Where are we in the economics of industrial policies?, what three decades of research have established about when and why industrial policy works, and what conditions determine whether government intervention helps or hinders.Implementing industrial policy effectively: Lessons from shipbuilding in China, how policy design and performance conditionality determine whether sector-level support produces lasting productivity gains — the same question at the heart of the East Asian Miracle debate.
Often what brings someone into our office looks straightforward at first—a concussion, dizziness, headache, or a sense that something is not quite right. But what begins as the search to fix a symptom often reveals something deeper—a nervous system that has lost its bearings, sensory maps that no longer line up, and a body quietly adapting around signals it can no longer fully trust.Ayla Wolf and Clayton Shiu both work at the intersection of functional neurology and East Asian medicine. Through clinical observation, modern diagnostic tools, and hands-on palpation, they've developed ways of seeing patterns that often sit beneath symptoms most people wouldn't connect to the brain.Listen into this conversation as we explore how concussion can masquerade as digestive issues, tinnitus, anxiety, or vestibular dysfunction. And why the neck, eyes, inner ear, and autonomic nervous system all can be part of the problem. We'll explore how acupuncture can help restore orientation, balance, and sensory accuracy. And what becomes possible when ancient medicine intersects with a modern understanding of neuroplasticity.
Two Wasian Americans and one classic, everyday Asian American, all millennials, try to make sense of East Asian American discourses in the zeitgeist of the past six months. Recorded shortly before the cursed Wasian meetups in SF and NY. 1. CS graduation rates fall off a cliff. For a particular class of Asian Americans, computer science degrees were a step in the direction of the American Dream. Now that tech oligarch's true nature as warmongers who hate humanity and want to replace workers with data centers has been revealed, where will they go? See: DailyCal, "UC Berkeley CS major enrollment on pace to drop by 59% as part of nationwide trend" https://www.dailycal.org/news/campus/academics/uc-berkeley-cs-major-enrollment-on-pace-to-drop-by-59-as-part-of-nationwide/article_8ceded3c-d939-4f60-8aa4-110be003c4e3.html 2. Is the Laufey music video starring Alyssa Liu, Hudson Williams, a Katseye member and other Wasians of Hollywood a Wasian supremacist cultural object? See: Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/aznidentity/comments/1sodav8/wasian_obsession_in_the_western_media/ 3. Benjamin Champagne Song is a political prisoner convicted as part of Pam Bondi (RIP) and Andy Ngo's effort to kill dissent and funnel more money to the white power movement and DHS contractors. Fanmail to (as of May 2026): BENJAMIN HANIL SONG, #11137-512, FMC Fort Worth, FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTER, P.O. BOX 15330, FORT WORTH, TX 76119 4. 2025 ended with Asian (and to an extent, Black) TikTok Gen Z thru Gen X consumed by H-Martgate, which started as a joke questioning non-Asian peoples' place in Asian grocery stores. See: Madeline Qi's original TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@say_qis/video/7546343858146118926 5. The birth rate in the US is now well below "replacement rate": Are Hell Joseon (South Korea) and other East Asian countries a window into our future? See: Namuwiki: https://en.namu.wiki/w/N포세대 Chris on the anti-trans, red scare Falun Gong cult (known for its Epoch Times newspaper and Shen Yun anti-communist dance troupe spectaculars): https://www.patreon.com/posts/falun-gong-and-122689473 Jasmine on the problem with Waymos being personified and racialized as Asian: https://www.patreon.com/posts/waymos-arent-lee-120643766 Support the show and get new episodes early on Patreon: https://patreon.com/sadfrancisco
In this episode, we sit down with renowned economist Professor Arvind Panagariya to explore the complexities, challenges, and future trajectory of India's economic landscape. We delve into why underemployment, rather than open unemployment, is the true structural hurdle facing the nation and look at the heavy debt burden squeezing the rising middle class. Professor Panagariya shares insights on the critical necessity of transitioning from an agricultural economy to an industrial powerhouse, drawing parallels to successful East Asian models. Despite the steep climb ahead, he shares his data-backed optimism for India's growth, projecting a massive expansion of the middle class by 2047 and laying out the essential reforms in trade, land, and the judiciary needed to sustain this momentum.HighlightsUnderemployment is the Core Issue: India's primary labor challenge isn't a lack of jobs, but underemployment. Too many workers remain trapped in low-productivity, low-paying activities rather than transitioning to high-yielding industrial roles.Debt Burden on the Middle Class: Financial stability is at risk as roughly 50% of India's middle class currently carries debt, with repayments swallowing up to 40% of their monthly income and limiting discretionary spending.Economic Transformation Needed: To replicate the economic miracles of South Korea and Taiwan, India must systematically shift its massive agricultural workforce (currently at 46%) into industrialized sectors and urban centers.Growth of the Middle Class: Driven by steady macroeconomic growth, India's middle class is projected to rocket from 31% to nearly 60% by 2047, signaling a monumental rise in prosperity over the next two decades.Need for Structural Reforms: Sustaining this aggressive growth trajectory will require deep structural interventions, specifically through liberalizing trade tariffs, updating land acquisition laws, and streamlining judicial processes.TimestampsIntroduction – 00:00Prime Minister Modi's Leadership – 00:23Current Economic Landscape – 01:10Understanding the Middle Class – 01:39Economic Growth and Challenges – 04:12Debt and Inflation Issues – 07:51Economic Growth Projections – 13:13The Role of External Factors – 18:58Internal Reforms Needed – 20:17Urbanization and Job Creation – 30:03Optimism for the Future – 43:54Conclusion and Final Thoughts – 59:54
David Osman of IRF is joined by Paul Cavey, the Founder of East Asia Econ. ----more---- In this podcast, Paul Cavey of East Asia Econ explains that there are two terms of trades shocks playing through in East Asia at present, one positive, one negative. He points out that the A.I. boom and the strength of the global semiconductor sector have helped the stock markets of Japan, South Korea and Taiwan to reach new record highs recently, despite the Gulf war and the oil price shock. With respect to China, Paul discusses the evidence that suggests the Chinese economy is stabilising and should pick up once there's a US-Iranian peace agreement and the oil market starts to normalise. In Japan, Paul says there are expectations that the Bank of Japan will raise interest rates to combat the rise in inflationary pressures, thereby helping to support a stronger yen exchange rate, but this is not a done deal. In South Korea and Taiwan, Paul highlights how the growth-inflation trade off is influencing monetary policy and could result in a strengthening of the Korean won and the Taiwanese dollar versus the US dollar. Paul Cavey has been living in East Asia for over twenty years – in Taipei, Beijing, Hong Kong and Tokyo. Paul is currently living in Taiwan and is fluent in Mandarin Chinese. He has been analysing the Economies of the East Asian region, with a particular focus on China, for over 25 years. Previously, Paul has been the Chief Regional Economist at several leading firms, notably the Economist Intelligence Unit, Macquarie Securities and Wellington Management. East Asia Econ provides high-quality research and thematic analysis of Macroeconomic and Market Issues in China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan.”
This week on Oscars Outsider, Cannes is open, but Hollywood might have left the group chat.We dig into a strange Cannes lineup where the big American studio titles mostly stayed home, while European, East Asian, and international festival heavyweights take center stage. What does that mean for the Oscar race? Is Hollywood avoiding the risk of an early festival reaction, or is Cannes simply becoming less dependent on Hollywood glamour?We also look at the films that could emerge from Cannes as real awards contenders, including potential international players, major auteurs returning to the Croisette, and the movies that might shape the Best Picture conversation months from now.It's Cannes season, which means it's time to overreact responsibly.Subscribe to Oscars Outsider for awards race analysis, Oscar history, festival coverage, and movie conversations from outside the usual pundit bubble.#Oscars #Cannes #CannesFilmFestival #OscarRace #BestPicture #Movies #AwardsSeason #FilmFestival
At 93, Paul Biya is the oldest head of state in the world. In June he will have been the leader of Cameroon for 44 years and is currently serving his eighth consecutive term. It was announced in April that for the first time in Biya's leadership, the position of vice-president would be created in the country. This new post has drawn attention to the lack of certainty within Cameroon over who will take over from Paul Biya once he is no longer in office. BBC Africa's Paul Njie is from Cameroon himself and has been looking into the story. A Thai drag performer has won the latest series of the television show RuPaul's Drag Race: UK versus The World. Gawdland is the first Thai winner of the all-star series and also the first non-native English speaker to take the title. Her triumph took some by surprise, but for fans of Drag Race, she's seen as a trailblazer for East Asian drag queens. Panisa Aemocha of BBC Thai explains what makes Gawdland such a stand-out performer. Like anyone forced to leave their home country against their will, Russians who've sought asylum abroad face a variety of painful realities. Besides homesickness and the challenges of adapting to a new country, they also cannot safely return home to visit loved ones. For many years, exiled Russians could reunite with Russian family and friends in a wide variety of European and other countries, including the Baltic states. But as the rift between Russia and the rest of Europe deepend in the wake of the war in Ukraine, visa restrictions changed, leaving Russians with only a small handful of countries in which they could meet people from home. Recently, an exiled Russian man in his twenties, Sasha, planned and filmed a unique reunion with Russian friends. BBC Russian's Tatiana Kovtun tells Sasha's story and discusses the online response. The Fifth Floor is at the heart of global storytelling on the BBC World Service, bringing you the best stories from journalists in the BBC's 43 language services. We're here to help you make sense of the stories making headlines around the world; to excite your curiosity and to get to grips with the facts. Recent episodes have investigated Russia's youth armies and how they make soldiers of Ukrainian children; featured the BBC team who were the first journalists to the site of the Nigerian school kidnappings and reflected the effects of internet blackouts in Iran, Uganda and India. If you want to know more about Venezuela's acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, and the legacy of Hugo Chavez; or how Vladimir Putin's network of deep cover spies operates; or why Donald Trump signed an executive order granting white South Africans asylum in the US, we have all those stories and more. Presented by Faranak Amidi. Produced by Laura Thomas and Caroline Ferguson (Photo: Faranak Amidi. Credit: Tricia Yourkevich.)
Some of the most creative, bold, and thought-provoking science fiction and fantasy being written today…
This podcast episode is hosted by Mart Tšernjuk, the Taiwan Coordinator at the University of Tartu Asia who is talking to Prof. Robert Chen, a leading scholar of Taiwanese cinema, discussing the relationship between film, history, and identity in Taiwan. Drawing on Chen's teaching experience at the University of Tartu, he highlights how Estonian students engage deeply with Taiwanese films, particularly due to shared historical experiences of colonisation and political repression. This common ground allows students to connect emotionally with themes such as trauma and national identity, especially in films addressing the White Terror period. Chen emphasises that understanding Taiwan's cinema requires strong historical awareness, as film history closely mirrors Taiwan's broader political and social development. Unlike other East Asian film industries, Taiwan's cinematic identity is shaped by its complex colonial past, multicultural society, and ongoing geopolitical tensions. Language also plays a crucial role, reflecting shifts in identity from a China-centred perspective toward a distinctly Taiwanese consciousness. Aesthetically, Taiwanese cinema, especially the New Cinema movement, is characterised by realism, long takes, and a contemplative style that resonates globally. Directors like Hou Hsiao-Hsien create stories with universal themes, allowing international audiences to relate to Taiwanese experiences. Chen also discusses King Hu's films, which blend action with Buddhist philosophy, emphasising harmony with nature and the concept of emptiness. In contrast, films about the White Terror demonstrate how cinema helps process collective trauma and educate younger generations. While earlier films treated these topics with gravity, newer filmmakers approach them more lightly, making them more accessible. Ultimately, Chen suggests that films such as Dust in the Wind capture the essence of Taiwan through universal coming-of-age narratives, offering an accessible entry point into understanding Taiwanese culture and cinema. Robert Chen (陳儒修) is a Professor at the Department of Radio and Television at National Chengchi University in Taipei. He earned his PhD in Cinema-Studies from the University of Southern California (USC) and is a prolific author, known for foundational works such as Historical Memory and National Identity in Taiwan Cinema. Throughout his career, he has taught and researched extensively on how national identity and historical trauma are projected onto the silver screen. Robert is currently visiting University of Tartu as the Taiwan Chair. He is teaching a course "Culture and Politics in Taiwan Cinema". Mart Tšernjuk is the Taiwan Coordinator at the University of Tartu Asia Centre. He is also a lecturer in Chinese language and culture at the Institute of Foreign Languages and Cultures, and President of the Estonian Academic Oriental Society. He has lived and studied in Hong Kong and Taiwan. --- Chen's selection of films for introducing yourself to the history of Taiwan cinema: The Mountain (1962) depicts young people living under a repressive atmosphere. Raining in the Mountain (by King Hu, 1979) Super Citizen Ko (by Wan Jen, 1995) Dust in the Wind (by Hou Hsiao-hsien, 1986) The Skywalk Is Gone (2003) explores modernity and urban alienation and shows how Taiwan undergoes similar modernisation processes as Estonia and other developed countries. The Electric Princess House (2007) brings the focus back to Taiwanese cinema itself and connects to the shared experience of watching films in theatres. As well as Raining in the Mountain (by King Hu, 1979); Super Citizen Ko (by Wan Jen, 1995); Dust in the Wind (by Hou Hsiao-hsien, 1986) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network
This podcast episode is hosted by Mart Tšernjuk, the Taiwan Coordinator at the University of Tartu Asia who is talking to Prof. Robert Chen, a leading scholar of Taiwanese cinema, discussing the relationship between film, history, and identity in Taiwan. Drawing on Chen's teaching experience at the University of Tartu, he highlights how Estonian students engage deeply with Taiwanese films, particularly due to shared historical experiences of colonisation and political repression. This common ground allows students to connect emotionally with themes such as trauma and national identity, especially in films addressing the White Terror period. Chen emphasises that understanding Taiwan's cinema requires strong historical awareness, as film history closely mirrors Taiwan's broader political and social development. Unlike other East Asian film industries, Taiwan's cinematic identity is shaped by its complex colonial past, multicultural society, and ongoing geopolitical tensions. Language also plays a crucial role, reflecting shifts in identity from a China-centred perspective toward a distinctly Taiwanese consciousness. Aesthetically, Taiwanese cinema, especially the New Cinema movement, is characterised by realism, long takes, and a contemplative style that resonates globally. Directors like Hou Hsiao-Hsien create stories with universal themes, allowing international audiences to relate to Taiwanese experiences. Chen also discusses King Hu's films, which blend action with Buddhist philosophy, emphasising harmony with nature and the concept of emptiness. In contrast, films about the White Terror demonstrate how cinema helps process collective trauma and educate younger generations. While earlier films treated these topics with gravity, newer filmmakers approach them more lightly, making them more accessible. Ultimately, Chen suggests that films such as Dust in the Wind capture the essence of Taiwan through universal coming-of-age narratives, offering an accessible entry point into understanding Taiwanese culture and cinema. Robert Chen (陳儒修) is a Professor at the Department of Radio and Television at National Chengchi University in Taipei. He earned his PhD in Cinema-Studies from the University of Southern California (USC) and is a prolific author, known for foundational works such as Historical Memory and National Identity in Taiwan Cinema. Throughout his career, he has taught and researched extensively on how national identity and historical trauma are projected onto the silver screen. Robert is currently visiting University of Tartu as the Taiwan Chair. He is teaching a course "Culture and Politics in Taiwan Cinema". Mart Tšernjuk is the Taiwan Coordinator at the University of Tartu Asia Centre. He is also a lecturer in Chinese language and culture at the Institute of Foreign Languages and Cultures, and President of the Estonian Academic Oriental Society. He has lived and studied in Hong Kong and Taiwan. --- Chen's selection of films for introducing yourself to the history of Taiwan cinema: The Mountain (1962) depicts young people living under a repressive atmosphere. Raining in the Mountain (by King Hu, 1979) Super Citizen Ko (by Wan Jen, 1995) Dust in the Wind (by Hou Hsiao-hsien, 1986) The Skywalk Is Gone (2003) explores modernity and urban alienation and shows how Taiwan undergoes similar modernisation processes as Estonia and other developed countries. The Electric Princess House (2007) brings the focus back to Taiwanese cinema itself and connects to the shared experience of watching films in theatres. As well as Raining in the Mountain (by King Hu, 1979); Super Citizen Ko (by Wan Jen, 1995); Dust in the Wind (by Hou Hsiao-hsien, 1986) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/east-asian-studies
This podcast episode is hosted by Mart Tšernjuk, the Taiwan Coordinator at the University of Tartu Asia who is talking to Prof. Robert Chen, a leading scholar of Taiwanese cinema, discussing the relationship between film, history, and identity in Taiwan. Drawing on Chen's teaching experience at the University of Tartu, he highlights how Estonian students engage deeply with Taiwanese films, particularly due to shared historical experiences of colonisation and political repression. This common ground allows students to connect emotionally with themes such as trauma and national identity, especially in films addressing the White Terror period. Chen emphasises that understanding Taiwan's cinema requires strong historical awareness, as film history closely mirrors Taiwan's broader political and social development. Unlike other East Asian film industries, Taiwan's cinematic identity is shaped by its complex colonial past, multicultural society, and ongoing geopolitical tensions. Language also plays a crucial role, reflecting shifts in identity from a China-centred perspective toward a distinctly Taiwanese consciousness. Aesthetically, Taiwanese cinema, especially the New Cinema movement, is characterised by realism, long takes, and a contemplative style that resonates globally. Directors like Hou Hsiao-Hsien create stories with universal themes, allowing international audiences to relate to Taiwanese experiences. Chen also discusses King Hu's films, which blend action with Buddhist philosophy, emphasising harmony with nature and the concept of emptiness. In contrast, films about the White Terror demonstrate how cinema helps process collective trauma and educate younger generations. While earlier films treated these topics with gravity, newer filmmakers approach them more lightly, making them more accessible. Ultimately, Chen suggests that films such as Dust in the Wind capture the essence of Taiwan through universal coming-of-age narratives, offering an accessible entry point into understanding Taiwanese culture and cinema. Robert Chen (陳儒修) is a Professor at the Department of Radio and Television at National Chengchi University in Taipei. He earned his PhD in Cinema-Studies from the University of Southern California (USC) and is a prolific author, known for foundational works such as Historical Memory and National Identity in Taiwan Cinema. Throughout his career, he has taught and researched extensively on how national identity and historical trauma are projected onto the silver screen. Robert is currently visiting University of Tartu as the Taiwan Chair. He is teaching a course "Culture and Politics in Taiwan Cinema". Mart Tšernjuk is the Taiwan Coordinator at the University of Tartu Asia Centre. He is also a lecturer in Chinese language and culture at the Institute of Foreign Languages and Cultures, and President of the Estonian Academic Oriental Society. He has lived and studied in Hong Kong and Taiwan. --- Chen's selection of films for introducing yourself to the history of Taiwan cinema: The Mountain (1962) depicts young people living under a repressive atmosphere. Raining in the Mountain (by King Hu, 1979) Super Citizen Ko (by Wan Jen, 1995) Dust in the Wind (by Hou Hsiao-hsien, 1986) The Skywalk Is Gone (2003) explores modernity and urban alienation and shows how Taiwan undergoes similar modernisation processes as Estonia and other developed countries. The Electric Princess House (2007) brings the focus back to Taiwanese cinema itself and connects to the shared experience of watching films in theatres. As well as Raining in the Mountain (by King Hu, 1979); Super Citizen Ko (by Wan Jen, 1995); Dust in the Wind (by Hou Hsiao-hsien, 1986) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/film
This podcast episode is hosted by Mart Tšernjuk, the Taiwan Coordinator at the University of Tartu Asia who is talking to Prof. Robert Chen, a leading scholar of Taiwanese cinema, discussing the relationship between film, history, and identity in Taiwan. Drawing on Chen's teaching experience at the University of Tartu, he highlights how Estonian students engage deeply with Taiwanese films, particularly due to shared historical experiences of colonisation and political repression. This common ground allows students to connect emotionally with themes such as trauma and national identity, especially in films addressing the White Terror period. Chen emphasises that understanding Taiwan's cinema requires strong historical awareness, as film history closely mirrors Taiwan's broader political and social development. Unlike other East Asian film industries, Taiwan's cinematic identity is shaped by its complex colonial past, multicultural society, and ongoing geopolitical tensions. Language also plays a crucial role, reflecting shifts in identity from a China-centred perspective toward a distinctly Taiwanese consciousness. Aesthetically, Taiwanese cinema, especially the New Cinema movement, is characterised by realism, long takes, and a contemplative style that resonates globally. Directors like Hou Hsiao-Hsien create stories with universal themes, allowing international audiences to relate to Taiwanese experiences. Chen also discusses King Hu's films, which blend action with Buddhist philosophy, emphasising harmony with nature and the concept of emptiness. In contrast, films about the White Terror demonstrate how cinema helps process collective trauma and educate younger generations. While earlier films treated these topics with gravity, newer filmmakers approach them more lightly, making them more accessible. Ultimately, Chen suggests that films such as Dust in the Wind capture the essence of Taiwan through universal coming-of-age narratives, offering an accessible entry point into understanding Taiwanese culture and cinema. Robert Chen (陳儒修) is a Professor at the Department of Radio and Television at National Chengchi University in Taipei. He earned his PhD in Cinema-Studies from the University of Southern California (USC) and is a prolific author, known for foundational works such as Historical Memory and National Identity in Taiwan Cinema. Throughout his career, he has taught and researched extensively on how national identity and historical trauma are projected onto the silver screen. Robert is currently visiting University of Tartu as the Taiwan Chair. He is teaching a course "Culture and Politics in Taiwan Cinema". Mart Tšernjuk is the Taiwan Coordinator at the University of Tartu Asia Centre. He is also a lecturer in Chinese language and culture at the Institute of Foreign Languages and Cultures, and President of the Estonian Academic Oriental Society. He has lived and studied in Hong Kong and Taiwan. --- Chen's selection of films for introducing yourself to the history of Taiwan cinema: The Mountain (1962) depicts young people living under a repressive atmosphere. Raining in the Mountain (by King Hu, 1979) Super Citizen Ko (by Wan Jen, 1995) Dust in the Wind (by Hou Hsiao-hsien, 1986) The Skywalk Is Gone (2003) explores modernity and urban alienation and shows how Taiwan undergoes similar modernisation processes as Estonia and other developed countries. The Electric Princess House (2007) brings the focus back to Taiwanese cinema itself and connects to the shared experience of watching films in theatres. As well as Raining in the Mountain (by King Hu, 1979); Super Citizen Ko (by Wan Jen, 1995); Dust in the Wind (by Hou Hsiao-hsien, 1986) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/chinese-studies
This podcast episode is hosted by Mart Tšernjuk, the Taiwan Coordinator at the University of Tartu Asia who is talking to Prof. Robert Chen, a leading scholar of Taiwanese cinema, discussing the relationship between film, history, and identity in Taiwan. Drawing on Chen's teaching experience at the University of Tartu, he highlights how Estonian students engage deeply with Taiwanese films, particularly due to shared historical experiences of colonisation and political repression. This common ground allows students to connect emotionally with themes such as trauma and national identity, especially in films addressing the White Terror period. Chen emphasises that understanding Taiwan's cinema requires strong historical awareness, as film history closely mirrors Taiwan's broader political and social development. Unlike other East Asian film industries, Taiwan's cinematic identity is shaped by its complex colonial past, multicultural society, and ongoing geopolitical tensions. Language also plays a crucial role, reflecting shifts in identity from a China-centred perspective toward a distinctly Taiwanese consciousness. Aesthetically, Taiwanese cinema, especially the New Cinema movement, is characterised by realism, long takes, and a contemplative style that resonates globally. Directors like Hou Hsiao-Hsien create stories with universal themes, allowing international audiences to relate to Taiwanese experiences. Chen also discusses King Hu's films, which blend action with Buddhist philosophy, emphasising harmony with nature and the concept of emptiness. In contrast, films about the White Terror demonstrate how cinema helps process collective trauma and educate younger generations. While earlier films treated these topics with gravity, newer filmmakers approach them more lightly, making them more accessible. Ultimately, Chen suggests that films such as Dust in the Wind capture the essence of Taiwan through universal coming-of-age narratives, offering an accessible entry point into understanding Taiwanese culture and cinema. Robert Chen (陳儒修) is a Professor at the Department of Radio and Television at National Chengchi University in Taipei. He earned his PhD in Cinema-Studies from the University of Southern California (USC) and is a prolific author, known for foundational works such as Historical Memory and National Identity in Taiwan Cinema. Throughout his career, he has taught and researched extensively on how national identity and historical trauma are projected onto the silver screen. Robert is currently visiting University of Tartu as the Taiwan Chair. He is teaching a course "Culture and Politics in Taiwan Cinema". Mart Tšernjuk is the Taiwan Coordinator at the University of Tartu Asia Centre. He is also a lecturer in Chinese language and culture at the Institute of Foreign Languages and Cultures, and President of the Estonian Academic Oriental Society. He has lived and studied in Hong Kong and Taiwan. --- Chen's selection of films for introducing yourself to the history of Taiwan cinema: The Mountain (1962) depicts young people living under a repressive atmosphere. Raining in the Mountain (by King Hu, 1979) Super Citizen Ko (by Wan Jen, 1995) Dust in the Wind (by Hou Hsiao-hsien, 1986) The Skywalk Is Gone (2003) explores modernity and urban alienation and shows how Taiwan undergoes similar modernisation processes as Estonia and other developed countries. The Electric Princess House (2007) brings the focus back to Taiwanese cinema itself and connects to the shared experience of watching films in theatres. As well as Raining in the Mountain (by King Hu, 1979); Super Citizen Ko (by Wan Jen, 1995); Dust in the Wind (by Hou Hsiao-hsien, 1986)
This episode dives into the 4K resurgence of East Asian cinema, spanning Hong Kong action, Japanese classics, J-horror, Godzilla and modern Korean favourites. From John Woo and Kurosawa to Jackie Chan, Oldboy and Parasite, it is a broad celebration of essential films and standout disc releases.
Speaker's Information:Mark Franklin (M.Ed,P.Eng) leads the team at CareerCycles, a career management practice based in Canada, that has helped 5000+ people manage their careers for the future. He co-founded narrative tools leader, OneLifeTools, through which he co-authored the Who You Are Matters! game and Online Storyteller platform. Mark teaches career management at University of Toronto and received the Stu Conger Award for Leadership in Career Development. Mark consulted with hundreds of organizations in his earlier industrial engineering career. Changing careers, he earned a Masters in counseling psychology and led student services initiatives in two of Canada's largest universities. Always seeking ways to unlock the power of storytelling, Mark hosts the Career Buzz podcast and radio show showcasing inspiring career stories. His career insights have appeared in Canadian media including Globe and Mail, National Post, CBC and CTV. 0000 Introduction02:11 Who is Mark Franklin - A Deep Listener in a Wounded World 04:50 From a Professional Engineer to a Career Practitioner7:55 Transition to starting out Career Cycles 12:30 Why "Career" is mostly misinterpreted 15:45 What is a Narrative Approach 22:12 One Life Tools Framework for a Holistic Assessment32:25 Encouraging Clients with their What's Next37:23 Thriving in the AI Era41:25 Doing Well AND Doing Good45:50 Building a Community of Story Listeners48:40 AI Stewardship Programme52:30 What brings hope for Mark54:50 Cross-pollinating #CDBee movement 58:30 Question for the next speaker1:00:50 Wrap-up from the co-hostsCitations mentioned:Stebleton, M. J., & Franklin, M. (2023). Applying narrative approaches to support undergraduate career decision-making. In M. Buford, M. Sharp, & M. J. Stebleton (Eds.), Mapping the future of undergraduate career education: Equitable career learning, development, and preparation for a new world of work (pp. 183-199). Routledge. Franklin, M., Yanar, B., & Feller, R. (2015). Narrative method of practice increases curiousity and exploration, psychological capital, and personal growth leading to career clarity: A retrospective outcome study. The Canadian Journal of Career Development, 14(2), 12-23.Franklin, M., & Feller, R. (2017). Using the One Life Tools framework: From clarification to intentional exploration with East Asian female. In L.Busacca & M. Rehfuss (Eds.), Postmodern career counseling: A handbook of culture, context and cases (pp. 273-284). American Counseling Association. Stebleton, M. J. (2010). Narrative-based career counseling perspectives in times of change: An analysis of strengths and limitations. Journal of Employment Counseling, 47(2), 64-78. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2161-1920.2010.tb00091.xStebleton, M. J., Franklin, M., Lee, C., & Kaler, L. S. (2019). Not just for undergraduates: Examining a university narrative-based career management course for Engineering graduate students. Canadian Journal of Career Development, 18(2), 64-77. https://cjcd-rcdc.ceric.ca/index.php/cjcd/article/view/32
Does it seem to you as if today's kids are not as smart and lacking in common sense than previous generations? You're not imagining things…The current focus on education — treating the human brain like a computer and using artificial intelligence (AI) to feed it knowledge — may be great for sitting in front of a screen playing video games, but not so much on real learning and creativity, the one true superpower every human being has.Educator Dr. Jared Horvath explains why today's kids are cognitively declining and describes what we can do to reverse that downward trend this week on Spirit Gym.Learn more about Jared at his LME Global website and on social media sites like Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn and Instagram.Timestamps8:05 Pursuing the science of learning.13:20 “The brain is not a computer, and you are not your brain.”24:49 Our kids are losing their conceptual natures, and are cognitively declining.27:56 Humanity's greatest superpower.32:32 The three stages of creativity.35:30 Why are kids living East Asian countries smarter and more creative than those in America?50:01 Why teachers don't have a say in the education process.58:20 Focusing on proximal goals versus distal goals.1:09:29 Do you really understand the difference between opinions and knowledge?1:16:01 AI falsely assumes human thought is best represented in speech.1:21:00 The reification of education.1:28:09 When Paul was a child, he dreamed of becoming a bank robber.1:35:42 The breadth of your knowledge is only as good as the depth of it, which may explain why education is broken.1:42:32 The importance of mastery.1:53:07 Is it really cheaper for schools to divest from digital tech for physical education and the arts?2:02:28 Why it is NOT important for kids to be taught how to use AI.2:16:01 Jared's real problem with AI, aside from the fact that it does nothing: Its intellectual heritage is hidden.2:21:08 The tech outsourcing of basic parenting.ResourcesThe Digital Delusion: How Classroom Technology Harms Our Kids' Learning — And How To Help Them Thrive Again by Dr. Jared HorvathFind more resources for this episode on our website.Music Credit: Meet Your Heroes (444Hz), Composed, mixed, mastered and produced by Michael RB Schwartz of Brave Bear MusicThanks to our awesome sponsors:PaleovalleyBIOptimizers US and BIOptimizers UK PAUL15Organifi CHEK20Wild PasturesPique LifeCHEK InstituteWe may earn commissions from qualifying purchases using affiliate links.
Join Ahmad Al-Natsheh, Founder and CEO of Khosouf Studio, for a high-energy, improvised deep dive into the world of interactive entertainment. A true polymath—civil engineer, award-winning developer, and musician—Ahmad is the visionary behind the first-ever PlayStation 5 VR2 title to emerge from the Middle East. In this episode, we explore the grit required to transition from a solo developer to a VC-backed studio head, the untapped potential of the Arab gaming landscape, and the raw truth about how AI is (and isn't) changing the way we build virtual worlds.
We all find our own unique way into the practice of East Asian medicine.It's part luck, part dogged curiosity and persistence, and sometimes a bit of fate.In this conversation with Holly Guzman, we wander through her circuitous route into the medicine—from knocking on the door of the Chinese embassy in Kabul, to hanging out at a bookstore in San Francisco, waiting to see who might pick up the one English book on acupuncture. Along the way she crossed paths with some remarkable teachers, witnessed extraordinary ways acupuncture was used in China, and learned lessons about herbs, storytelling, and clinical responsibility that shaped the practice she has today.Listen into this discussion as we explore her early travels to China in the late 1970s, what it was like to practice before acupuncture was legal, and the powerful influence of teachers like Miriam Lee and Yat Kee Lai. Holly also reflects on herbal training that emphasized curiosity over categories, the role of storytelling in clinical work, and how imagination opens the door to new possibilities in medicine.Holly reminds us that this medicine didn't arrive fully formed—it grew through the curiosity, audacity, and persistence of practitioners who were willing to explore what was possible.
What if your gut issues are simpler to solve than you think? In this solo episode, Dr. Jannine Krause dives deep into the science and history of peptides, gut repair, and the overlooked role of circulation and movement in digestive health. From bioregulator peptides to East Asian medicine principles, this episode connects ancient wisdom with cutting-edge research to help you get real results. In this episode you'll learn: The history and science of peptides plus why they're finally getting the attention they deserve The difference between research peptides, bioregulator peptides and pharmacetical weight loss peptides (aka GLPs) Why Tai Chi and Qi Gong circulation movements are non-negotiable for gut health How adding in peptides and bioregulators support your microbiome and repair your gut lining in a way no one is talking about Practical ways to use peptide bioregulators for specific organ support Why overeating and chronic stress are silently overloading your gut Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction to The Health Fix Podcast & Peptides 00:59 – Understanding Peptides and Their Importance 10:52 – The Gut: Foundation of Health 22:02 – Circulation and Its Role in Gut Health 29:34 – Peptide Bioregulators: A New Approach 37:44 – The Future of Gut Health and Probiotics Resources Mentioned: BioLongevity Labs Limitless Biotech Peptides Designs for Health - Anaerostipes probiotic 21 Day Cleanse Protocol by Standard Process Key Takeaways: ✔ Cycle peptides to avoid overstimulation ✔ Rotational movements, breathwork & abdominal massage support gut circulation ✔ Research your options and demand better results from your health care Connect with Dr. Jannine Krause:
On this episode, host Dr Pasquale Iannone discusses one of the finest action films ever made, John Woo's masterpiece of Hong Kong 'Heroic Bloodshed' Hard Boiled (1992). The film has recently been restored in 4K and is about to be released in a special edition box set courtesy of Arrow Video.Starring Chow Yun Fat and Tony Leung, Hard Boiled tells of a hard drinking Hong Kong cop Yuen (aka Tequila) and his investigation into a violent arms smuggling ring.Joining Pasquale to discuss the film is Dr Lin Feng. Lin is Associate Professor in Film Studies at the University of Leicester. She specialises in Chinese-language cinemas, East Asian film history and her other interests include transnational popular screen cultures, and cinematic representation and reception of gender and race. Lin's monograph Chow Yun Fat and the Territories of Hong Kong Stardom was published by Edinburgh University Press in 2017, while her co-edited collection Renegotiating Film Genres in East Asian Cinemas and Beyond came out in 2020 via Palgrave MacMillan. Lin has also contributed a video interview to the upcoming Hard Boiled Blu-ray release.Lin and Pasquale talk about the landscape of Hong Kong cinema in the 80s and 90s, the career of director John Woo as well as the star image of actor Chow Yun Fat. They then discuss some key scenes from Hard Boiled, exploring the film's distinctive action scenes as well as elements such as performance and costume design.
From the success of “K-pop Demon Hunters” to the return of BTS, K-pop is having a moment. But the rise of Korean culture was no accident—it has a decades-long backstory of investment by the South Korean government. On “Economics on Tap,” Kimberly talks with Michelle Cho, researcher of East Asian pop cultures at the University of Toronto, about the history behind the spread of Korean culture and how it's shaped industries from entertainment to beauty. Speaking of K-beauty: sunscreen or sheet masks?Here's everything we talked about today:‘KPop Demon Hunters' Leads the Wave Back to Korea from Foreign PolicyBTS Is Back With ‘Arirang,' but the K-Pop Landscape Has Changed from The New York TimesK-everything: the rise and rise of Korean culture from The Guardian "Americans Are Learning Korean Because of ‘KPop Demon Hunters'" from The New York Times"What's So Special About Korean Sunscreens?" from Vogue"How K-pop Stars Are Leading Mental Health Conversations for AAPI People and Beyond" from Teen VogueWe love hearing from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.
From the success of “K-pop Demon Hunters” to the return of BTS, K-pop is having a moment. But the rise of Korean culture was no accident—it has a decades-long backstory of investment by the South Korean government. On “Economics on Tap,” Kimberly talks with Michelle Cho, researcher of East Asian pop cultures at the University of Toronto, about the history behind the spread of Korean culture and how it's shaped industries from entertainment to beauty. Speaking of K-beauty: sunscreen or sheet masks?Here's everything we talked about today:‘KPop Demon Hunters' Leads the Wave Back to Korea from Foreign PolicyBTS Is Back With ‘Arirang,' but the K-Pop Landscape Has Changed from The New York TimesK-everything: the rise and rise of Korean culture from The Guardian "Americans Are Learning Korean Because of ‘KPop Demon Hunters'" from The New York Times"What's So Special About Korean Sunscreens?" from Vogue"How K-pop Stars Are Leading Mental Health Conversations for AAPI People and Beyond" from Teen VogueWe love hearing from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.
Five East Asian economies offer investment-based residency, but each program carries distinct costs, limitations, and long-term settlement prospects. All five are getting more expensive.View the full article here.Subscribe to the IMI Daily newsletter here.
Welcome back to the RPGBOT.Podcast, where today's travel brochure reads: "The Elemental Plane of Fire: Come for the lava rivers, stay because you physically cannot leave." Congratulations. You're about to plan a vacation to a place where the weather forecast is "burning with a chance of more burning." Let's talk about the Elemental Plane of Fire. Show Notes In this episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, hosts Randall James, Tyler Kamstra, and Ash Ely explore the Elemental Plane of Fire in Dungeons & Dragons and Pathfinder, diving into the lore, cosmology, monsters, and adventure potential of one of the most dangerous locations in tabletop RPGs. The discussion begins with the structure of the elemental planes in the D&D cosmology, where the Plane of Fire forms part of a ring of elemental realms surrounding the Material Plane. As Tyler explains, the inner planes gradually shift from familiar environments near the Material Plane to chaotic elemental extremes further out, meaning travelers eventually reach areas of pure elemental chaos. Naturally, the Plane of Fire is exactly what it sounds like: blisteringly hot landscapes of lava flows, burning deserts, and perpetual ash storms. The environment resembles the hottest regions of the Material Plane at best, and at worst becomes an ocean of fire fed by magma from neighboring quasi-elemental planes. Survival requires magical preparation, fire resistance, and ideally a source of conjured water, since natural water sources are extremely rare. The hosts also break down the cosmological neighbors of the Plane of Fire, including quasi-elemental planes like Ash and Magma, which connect fire to air and earth respectively. These transitional realms highlight how the elemental planes blend into one another rather than existing as strictly separate worlds, a key difference from the alignment-based Outer Planes. At the center of civilization lies the legendary City of Brass, a massive metropolis ruled by efreeti. It functions as a multiversal marketplace where adventurers can obtain incredibly rare magic items, forbidden knowledge, or impossible cures—assuming they can survive the negotiation process. The city is protected from the plane's constant ash storms through powerful magic, making it the most habitable location in an otherwise lethal realm. The episode also explores Pathfinder's reinterpretation of the elemental planes, where the classical four-element model expands into a broader elemental cosmology influenced by East Asian traditions. In that version, the Plane of Fire sits as the outermost elemental layer, functioning metaphorically as the "sun" of the multiverse. Despite the constant danger, the hosts agree that the Plane of Fire is actually an excellent adventure setting. Between genie politics, dangerous cults, exotic creatures, and legendary trade cities, it provides countless opportunities for extraplanar adventures. Key Takeaways The Elemental Plane of Fire is one of the Inner Planes in D&D cosmology and represents the pure elemental force of fire. The plane forms part of a ring of elemental realms surrounding the Material Plane, blending into neighboring elemental environments. Temperatures range from extreme desert heat to oceans of magma, with constant ash storms and burning winds. Water is extremely rare, so magical sources of water are essential for survival during travel. Major inhabitants include efreeti, azers, salamanders, fire giants, fire elementals, and red dragons. The City of Brass serves as the political and economic center of the plane, ruled by efreeti genies. The plane contains dangerous cults devoted to Imix, the destructive Prince of Elemental Evil. Pathfinder reimagines the elemental cosmology, placing the Plane of Fire as the outermost elemental layer of the multiverse. Despite its deadly environment, the plane offers excellent high-level adventure opportunities involving planar politics, rare magic markets, and elemental monsters. If you visit the Plane of Fire, remember the most important rule: everything is trying to burn you. Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you. Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players. Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings. Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community. Meet the Hosts Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix. Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme. Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy. Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos. How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra BlueSky: @rpgbot.net TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games BlueSky: @GravenAshes YouTube: @ashravenmedia Randall James BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG Amateurjack.com Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link) Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati
Join Károly Ludvigh, CEO and Co-Founder of ABZ Innovation, for a deep dive into the high-stakes world of industrial hardware. In an era dominated by East Asian manufacturing, Károly has pulled off the "impossible": building a European drone powerhouse from scratch. In this episode, we explore the strategic inflection point of the global drone industry, why Western technological sovereignty is now a matter of national security, and how ABZ Innovation won the 2026 Fruit Logistica Innovation Award by focusing on precision, quality, and LiDAR-integrated heavy-duty flight.
She was the first girl Harry Potter called his "girlfriend." But, she was also a seeker, Cedric's date, a defender of her best friend, a member of Dumbledore's Army, and the only person brave enough to feel all the feelings when Cedric was taken. In this episode, we give Cho Chang the full Critical Magic Theory treatment.Listeners weighed in, and chaos ensued! What does it mean that J.K. Rowling's only (??) East Asian character is named Cho Chang, sorted into the house synonymous with intelligence, and written to be most desirable when she is least demanding? How do we reconcile the fact that her emotions are treated as a weakness? Who is this girl outside of what Harry sees?Let's find out together!
In this episode of The Narrative, Aaron and Mike celebrate the success of the most recent Prayer at the Statehouse, which saw its largest turnout ever as hundreds gathered to fill the Ohio Statehouse with worship and prayer. The guys also discuss the importance of Christian engagement in all areas of life, from protecting the family to advocating for fair property tax policies that ensure the elderly are not forced out of their homes. After the news, Aaron and Mike are joined by Dr. Fenggang Yang, a professor of sociology and director of the Center on Religion and the Global East at Purdue University. Yang provides a fascinating look at the "Triple Market" of religion in China. In a world dominated by a Communist regime that enforces "scientific atheism" and bans baptism for minors, Yang reveals how the underground "Grey Market" of Christianity is exploding. Discover how the Holy Spirit is outmaneuvering the Deep State of Beijing and why China is on a trajectory to become the largest Christian nation on the planet in our lifetime. More about Dr. Fenggang Yang Dr. Fenggang Yang is a Professor of Sociology and the Director of the Center on Religion and the Global East at Purdue University. He also holds the appointments of Courtesy Professor of Political Science and faculty affiliate with the Purdue Policy Research Institute, Asian Studies, and Religious Studies. Dr. Yang has served as President of the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion. As a renowned expert in the sociology of religion, immigration, Asian Americans, and East Asian societies, Dr. Yang has delivered numerous invited lectures at prestigious universities and keynote speeches at professional associations across the US, Asia, and Europe. His insights have been featured in major media outlets, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, The Economist, NPR, CNN, BBC, and ABC. Dr. Yang earned his B.A. in politics and education in 1982 and his M.A. in philosophy in 1987 in China before moving to the United States in 1989. He completed his Ph.D. in sociology at The Catholic University of America in 1997. He is the author of several influential books, including Chinese Christians in America: Conversion, Assimilation, and Adhesive Identities(Penn State 1999), Religion in China: Survival and Revival under Communist Rule (Oxford 2012), and Atlas of Religion in China: Social and Geographical Contexts (Brill 2018). Additionally, he has co-edited over a dozen scholarly books. Two of his numerous articles have received distinguished article awards from professional associations. Want to Go Deeper? On Saturday, April 11, Center for Christian Virtue will host our 2026 Columbus Celebration Gala. We're excited to welcome our keynote speaker, Scott Jennings, who is CNN's senior conservative voice and one of the sharpest commentators in the national spotlight. He's known for his clarity, conviction, and humor, and Scott brings decades of experience at the crossroads of politics and media, including serving in the George W. Bush White House and key roles in multiple presidential and Senate campaigns. It's going to be an elegant evening where you'll enjoy an incredible dinner followed by visionary keynotes exploring the path forward for the future of Ohio and America. Get your tickets or secure your table today at CCV.org/ColumbusGala.
SummaryJoin Rya as he chats with Howard and Jun from PH0, a Brooklyn-based band blending traditional Chinese instruments with electronic and metal influences. Discover their journey, creative process, and upcoming performances at South By, along with insights into their unique sound and cultural fusion.P.H.0 fuse the raw intensity of metal, the cyberpunk intensity of techno and drum & bass, and the visceral punch of modular synths with the ritualistic atmosphere of East Asian religious ceremonies, all channeled through the haunting melodies of the Chinese erhu.Episode InfoIG: https://www.instagram.com/ph0.silkpunk/Website: https://www.ph0silkpunk.com/ATXMP Website: https://atxmp.transistor.fm/Sponsors / AffiliatesCome and Take It Productions: https://www.comeandtakeitproductions.com/Come and Take It Live: https://www.comeandtakeitlive.com/No Control Radio: https://www.klbjfm.com/show/no-control/Chapters00:00 Introduction to the Band and Members07:49 NYU Music Program Insights13:43 The Meaning Behind PH019:51 Upcoming Performances at South By Southwest25:21 Preparing for the Live Show32:08 Navigating Austin's Traffic and Culture43:25 ATXMP Youtube Animation.mov
This week: BLOOR! We dig deep into the archives of absurd and infamous golden-age comics to bring you a Dramatic Read of PRIZE COMICS #4 from 1940, possibly created by legendary Batman artist Dick Sprang! Join Power Nelson, the Future Man from 1982, as he battles not only a job-cutting dictator on Earth, but also against BLOOR, the Dictator of Uranus, who has absconded with Earth’s workers! And he refuses to pay them — why, that’s forced labour! Thankfully, ol’ Power Nelson (aka Gene) has a NEW DEAL for Uranus, and he doesn’t care how many Amazons he has to surrender to or robots he has to smash to deliver it! It’ll all make sense in the episode. Probably! Content Warning: This comic contains some visually racist depictions of East Asian peoples, as was unfortunately common in that era. Direct Download: MP3
Today, I'm joined by Dr. Catherine Hua Xiang, an applied linguist, educator, and award-winning author who specializes in intercultural communication and language learning. Catherine leads East Asian languages at the London School of Economics and Political Science, serves as Program Director for LSE's BSc International Relations and Chinese program, and is the UK Director of the Confucius Institute for Business London. In this episode, Catherine and I explore what great communication really looks like in a global environment. We talk about building rapport and managing relationships, why knowing your audience is more than just a best practice, and how cultural differences shape expectations, politeness, and even everyday interactions. As AI continues to change how we work and communicate, Catherine offers a powerful reminder about the unique value of learning other languages and what it unlocks in empathy, perspective, and connection. Let's dive in. Additional Resources: ► Follow Communispond on LinkedIn for more communication skills tips: https://www.linkedin.com/company/communispond ► Connect with Scott D'Amico on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottdamico/ ► Connect with Catherine on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherine-hua-xiang-75890599/ ► Subscribe to Communicast: https://communicast.simplecast.com/ ► Learn more about Communispond: https://www.communispond.com
Last time we spoke about the end of the battle of khalkin gol. In the summer of 1939, the Nomonhan Incident escalated into a major border conflict between Soviet-Mongolian forces and Japan's Kwantung Army along the Halha River. Despite Japanese successes in July, Zhukov launched a decisive offensive on August 20. Under cover of darkness, Soviet troops crossed the river, unleashing over 200 bombers and intense artillery barrages that devastated Japanese positions. Zhukov's northern, central, and southern forces encircled General Komatsubara's 23rd Division, supported by Manchukuoan units. Fierce fighting ensued: the southern flank collapsed under Colonel Potapov's armor, while the northern Fui Heights held briefly before falling to relentless assaults, including flame-throwing tanks. Failed Japanese counterattacks on August 24 resulted in heavy losses, with regiments shattered by superior Soviet firepower and tactics. By August 25, encircled pockets were systematically eliminated, leading to the annihilation of the Japanese 6th Army. The defeat, coinciding with the Hitler-Stalin Pact, forced Japan to negotiate a ceasefire on September 15-16, redrawing borders. Zhukov's victory exposed Japanese weaknesses in mechanized warfare, influencing future strategies and deterring further northern expansion. #192 The Soviet–Japanese Neutrality Pact Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. Despite the fact this technically will go into future events, I thought it was important we talk about a key moment in Sino history. Even though the battle of changkufeng and khalkin gol were not part of the second sino-Japanese war, their outcomes certainly would affect it. Policymaking by the Soviet Union alone was not the primary factor in ending Moscow's diplomatic isolation in the late 1930s. After the Munich Conference signaled the failure of the popular front/united front approach, Neville Chamberlain, Adolf Hitler, and Poland's Józef Beck unintentionally strengthened Joseph Stalin's position in early 1939. Once the strategic cards were in his hands, Stalin capitalized on them. His handling of negotiations with Britain and France, as well as with Germany, from April to August was deft and effective. The spring and summer negotiations among the European powers are well documented and have been examined from many angles. In May 1939, while Stalin seemed to have the upper hand in Europe, yet before Hitler had signaled that a German–Soviet agreement might be possible, the Nomonhan incident erupted, a conflict initiated and escalated by the Kwantung Army. For a few months, the prospect of a Soviet–Japanese war revived concerns in Moscow about a two-front conflict. Reviewing Soviet talks with Britain, France, and Germany in the spring and summer of 1939 from an East Asian perspective sheds fresh light on the events that led to the German–Soviet Nonaggression Pact and, more broadly, to the outbreak of World War II. The second week of May marked the start of fighting at Nomonhan, during which negotiations between Germany and the USSR barely advanced beyond mutual scrutiny. Moscow signaled that an understanding with Nazi Germany might be possible. Notably, on May 4, the removal of Maksim Litvinov as foreign commissar and his replacement by Vyacheslav Molotov suggested a shift in approach. Litvinov, an urbane diplomat of Jewish origin and married to an Englishwoman, had been the leading Soviet proponent of the united-front policy and a steadfast critic of Nazi Germany. If a settlement with Hitler was sought, Litvinov was an unsuitable figure to lead the effort. Molotov, though with limited international experience, carried weight as chairman of the Council of Ministers and, more importantly, as one of Stalin's closest lieutenants. This personnel change seemed to accomplish its aim in Berlin, where the press was instructed on May 5 to halt polemical attacks on the Soviet Union and Bolshevism. On the same day, Karl Schnurre, head of the German Foreign Ministry's East European trade section, told Soviet chargé d'affaires Georgi Astakhov that Skoda, the German-controlled Czech arms manufacturer, would honor existing arms contracts with Russia. Astakhov asked whether, with Litvinov's departure, Germany might resume negotiations for a trade treaty Berlin had halted months earlier. By May 17, during discussions with Schnurre, Astakhov asserted that "there were no conflicts in foreign policy between Germany and the Soviet Union and that there was no reason for enmity between the two countries," and that Britain and France's negotiations appeared unpromising. The next day, Ribbentrop personally instructed Schulenburg to green-light trade talks. Molotov, however, insisted that a "political basis" for economic negotiations had to be established first. Suspicion remained high on both sides. Stalin feared Berlin might use reports of German–Soviet talks to destabilize a potential triple alliance with Britain and France; Hitler feared Stalin might use such reports to entice Tokyo away from an anti-German pact. The attempt to form a tripartite military alliance among Germany, Italy, and Japan foundered over divergent aims: Berlin targeted Britain and France; Tokyo aimed at the Soviet Union. Yet talks persisted through August 1939, with Japanese efforts to draw Germany into an anti-Soviet alignment continually reported to Moscow by Richard Sorge. Hitler and Mussolini, frustrated by Japanese objections, first concluded the bilateral Pact of Steel on May 22. The next day, Hitler, addressing his generals, stressed the inevitability of war with Poland and warned that opposition from Britain would be crushed militarily. He then hinted that Russia might "prove disinterested in the destruction of Poland," suggesting closer ties with Japan if Moscow opposed Germany. The exchange was quickly leaked to the press. Five days later, the first pitched battle of the Nomonhan campaign began. Although Hitler's timing with the Yamagata detachment's foray was coincidental, Moscow may have found the coincidence ominous. Despite the inducement of Molotov's call for a political basis before economic talks, Hitler and Ribbentrop did not immediately respond. On June 14, Astakhov signaled to Parvan Draganov, Bulgaria's ambassador in Berlin, that the USSR faced three options: ally with Britain and France, continue inconclusive talks with them, or align with Germany, the latter being closest to Soviet desires. Draganov relayed to the German Foreign Ministry that Moscow preferred a non-aggression agreement if Germany would pledge not to attack the Soviet Union. Two days later, Schulenburg told Astakhov that Germany recognized the link between economic and political relations and was prepared for far-reaching talks, a view echoed by Ribbentrop. The situation remained tangled: the Soviets pursued overt talks with Britain and France, while Stalin sought to maximize Soviet leverage. Chamberlain's stance toward Moscow remained wary but recognized a "psychological value" to an Anglo–Soviet rapprochement, tempered by his insistence on a hard bargain. American ambassador William C. Bullitt urged London to avoid the appearance of pursuing the Soviets, a view that resonated with Chamberlain's own distrust. Public confidence in a real Anglo–Soviet alliance remained low. By July 19, cabinet minutes show Chamberlain could not quite believe a genuine Russia–Germany alliance was possible, though he recognized the necessity of negotiations with Moscow to deter Hitler and to mollify an increasingly skeptical British public. Despite reservations, both sides kept the talks alive. Stalin's own bargaining style, with swift Soviet replies but frequent questions and demands, often produced delays. Molotov pressed on questions such as whether Britain and France would pledge to defend the Baltic states, intervene if Japan attacked the USSR, or join in opposing Germany if Hitler pressured Poland or Romania. These considerations were not trivial; they produced extended deliberations. On July 23, Molotov demanded that plans for coordinated military action among the three powers be fleshed out before a political pact. Britain and France accepted most political terms, and an Anglo-French military mission arrived in Moscow on August 11. The British commander, Admiral Sir Reginald Plunket-Ernle-Erle-Drax, conducted staff talks but could not conclude a military agreement. The French counterpart, General Joseph Doumenc, could sign but not bind his government. By then, Hitler had set August 26 as the date for war with Poland. With that looming, Hitler pressed for Soviet neutrality, or closer cooperation. In July and August, secret German–Soviet negotiations favored the Germans, who pressed for a rapid settlement and made most concessions. Yet Stalin benefited from keeping the British and French engaged, creating leverage against Hitler and safeguarding a potential Anglo–Soviet option as a fallback. To lengthen the talks and avoid immediate resolution, Moscow emphasized the Polish issue. Voroshilov demanded the Red Army be allowed to operate through Polish territory to defend Poland, a demand Warsaw would never accept. Moscow even floated a provocative plan: if Britain and France could compel Poland to permit Baltic State naval operations, the Western fleets would occupy Baltic ports, an idea that would have been militarily perilous and diplomatically explosive. Despite this, Stalin sought an agreement with Germany. Through Richard Sorge's intelligence, Moscow knew Tokyo aimed to avoid large-scale war with the USSR, and Moscow pressed for a German–Soviet settlement, including a nonaggression pact and measures to influence Japan to ease Sino–Japanese tensions. On August 16, Ribbentrop instructed Schulenburg to urge Molotov and Stalin toward a nonaggression pact and to coordinate with Japan. Stalin signaled willingness, and August 23–24 saw the drafting of the pact and the collapse of the Soviet and Japanese resistance elsewhere. That night, in a memorandum of Ribbentrop's staff, seven topics were summarized, with Soviet–Japanese relations and Molotov's insistence that Berlin demonstrate good faith standing out. Ribbentrop reiterated his willingness to influence Japan for a more favorable Soviet–Japanese relationship, and Stalin's reply indicated a path toward a détente in the East alongside the European agreement: "M. Stalin replied that the Soviet Union indeed desired an improvement in its relations with Japan, but that there were limits to its patience with regard to Japanese provocations. If Japan desired war she could have it. The Soviet Union was not afraid of it and was prepared for it. If Japan desired peace—so much the better! M. Stalin considered the assistance of Germany in bringing about an improvement in Soviet-Japanese relations as useful, but he did not want the Japanese to get the impression that the initiative in this direction had been taken by the Soviet Union." Second, the assertion that the Soviet Union was prepared for and unafraid of war with Japan is an overstatement, though Stalin certainly had grounds for optimism regarding the battlefield situation and the broader East Asian strategic balance. It is notable that, despite the USSR's immediate diplomatic and military gains against Japan, Stalin remained anxious to conceal from Tokyo any peace initiative that originated in Moscow. That stance suggests that Tokyo or Hsinking might read such openness as a sign of Soviet weakness or confidence overextended. The Japanese danger, it would seem, did not disappear from Stalin's mind. Even at the height of his diplomatic coup, Stalin was determined not to burn bridges prematurely. On August 21, while he urged Hitler to send Ribbentrop to Moscow, he did not sever talks with Britain and France. Voroshilov requested a temporary postponement on the grounds that Soviet delegation officers were needed for autumn maneuvers. It was not until August 25, after Britain reiterated its resolve to stand by Poland despite the German–Soviet pact, that Stalin sent the Anglo–French military mission home. Fortified by the nonaggression pact, which he hoped would deter Britain and France from action, Hitler unleashed his army on Poland on September 1. Two days later, as Zhukov's First Army Group was completing its operations at Nomonhan, Hitler faced a setback when Britain and France declared war. Hitler had hoped to finish Poland quickly in 1939 and avoid fighting Britain and France until 1940. World War II in Europe had begun. The Soviet–Japanese conflict at Nomonhan was not the sole, nor even the principal, factor prompting Stalin to conclude an alliance with Hitler. Standing aside from a European war that could fracture the major capitalist powers might have been reason enough. Yet the conflict with Japan in the East was also a factor in Stalin's calculations, a dimension that has received relatively little attention in standard accounts of the outbreak of the war. This East Asian focus seeks to clarify the record without proposing a revolutionary reinterpretation of Soviet foreign policy; rather, it adds an important piece often overlooked in the "origins of the Second World War" puzzle, helping to reduce the overall confusion. The German–Soviet agreement provided for the Soviet occupation of the eastern half of Poland soon after Germany's invasion. On September 3, just forty-eight hours after the invasion and on the day Britain and France declared war, Ribbentrop urged Moscow to invade Poland from the east. Yet, for two more weeks, Poland's eastern frontier remained inviolate; Soviet divisions waited at the border, as most Polish forces were engaged against Germany. The German inquiries about the timing of the Soviet invasion continued, but the Red Army did not move. This inactivity is often attributed to Stalin's caution and suspicion, but that caution extended beyond Europe. Throughout early September, sporadic ground and air combat continued at Nomonhan, including significant activity by Kwantung Army forces on September 8–9, and large-scale air engagements on September 1–2, 4–5, and 14–15. Not until September 15 was the Molotov–Togo cease-fire arrangement finalized, to take effect on September 16. The very next morning, September 17, the Red Army crossed the Polish frontier into a country collapsed at its feet. It appears that Stalin wanted to ensure that fighting on his eastern flank had concluded before engaging in Western battles, avoiding a two-front war. Through such policies, Stalin avoided the disaster of a two-front war. Each principal in the 1939 diplomatic maneuvering pursued distinct objectives. The British sought an arrangement with the USSR that would deter Hitler from attacking Poland and, if deterred, bind Moscow to the Anglo–French alliance. Hitler sought an alliance with the USSR to deter Britain and France from aiding Poland and, if they did aid Poland, to secure Soviet neutrality. Japan sought a military alliance with Germany against the USSR, or failing that, stronger Anti-Comintern ties. Stalin aimed for an outcome in which Germany would fight the Western democracies, leaving him freedom to operate in both the West and East; failing that, he sought military reassurance from Britain and France in case he had to confront Germany. Of the four, only Stalin achieved his primary objective. Hitler secured his secondary objective; the British and Japanese failed to realize theirs. Stalin won the diplomatic contest in 1939. Yet, as diplomats gave way to generals, the display of German military power in Poland and in Western Europe soon eclipsed Stalin's diplomatic triumph. By playing Germany against Britain and France, Stalin gained leverage and a potential fallback, but at the cost of unleashing a devastating European war. As with the aftermath of the Portsmouth Treaty in 1905, Russo-Japanese relations improved rapidly after hostilities ceased at Nomonhan. The Molotov–Togo agreement of September 15 and the local truces arranged around Nomonhan on September 19 were observed scrupulously by both sides. On October 27, the two nations settled another long-standing dispute by agreeing to mutual release of fishing boats detained on charges of illegal fishing in each other's territorial waters. On November 6, the USSR appointed Konstantin Smetanin as ambassador to Tokyo, replacing the previous fourteen-month tenure of a chargé d'affaires. Smetanin's first meeting with the new Japanese foreign minister, Nomura Kichisaburö, in November 1939 attracted broad, favorable coverage in the Japanese press. In a break with routine diplomatic practice, Nomura delivered a draft proposal for a new fisheries agreement and a memo outlining the functioning of the joint border commission to be established in the Nomonhan area before Smetanin presented his credentials. On December 31, an agreement finalizing Manchukuo's payment to the USSR for the sale of the Chinese Eastern Railway was reached, and the Soviet–Japanese Fisheries Convention was renewed for 1940. In due course, the boundary near Nomonhan was formally redefined. A November 1939 agreement between Molotov and Togo established a mixed border commission representing the four parties to the dispute. After protracted negotiations, the border commission completed its redemarcation on June 14, 1941, with new border markers erected in August 1941. The resulting boundary largely followed the Soviet–MPR position, lying ten to twelve miles east of the Halha River. With that, the Nomonhan incident was officially closed. Kwantung Army and Red Army leaders alike sought to "teach a lesson" to their foe at Nomonhan. The refrain recurs in documents and memoirs from both sides, "we must teach them a lesson." The incident provided lessons for both sides, but not all were well learned. For the Red Army, the lessons of Nomonhan intertwined with the laurels of victory, gratifying but sometimes distracting. Georgy Zhukov grasped the experience of modern warfare that summer, gaining more than a raised profile: command experience, confidence, and a set of hallmarks he would employ later. He demonstrated the ability to grasp complex strategic problems quickly, decisive crisis leadership, meticulous attention to logistics and deception, patience in building superior strength before striking at the enemy's weakest point, and the coordination of massed artillery, tanks, mechanized infantry, and tactical air power in large-scale double envelopment. These capabilities informed his actions at Moscow, Stalingrad, Kursk, and ultimately Berlin. It is tempting to wonder how Zhukov might have fared in the crucial autumn and winter of 1941 without Nomonhan, or whether he would have been entrusted with the Moscow front in 1941 had he not distinguished himself at Nomonhan. Yet the Soviet High Command overlooked an important lesson. Despite Zhukov's successes with independent tank formations and mechanized infantry, the command misapplied Spanish Civil War-era experience by disbanding armored divisions and redistributing tanks to infantry units to serve as support. It was not until after Germany demonstrated tank warfare in 1940 that the Soviets began reconstituting armored divisions and corps, a process still incomplete when the 1941 invasion began. The Red Army's performance at Nomonhan went largely unseen in the West. Western intelligence and military establishments largely believed the Red Army was fundamentally rotten, a view reinforced by the battlefield's remoteness and by both sides' reluctance to publicize the defeat. The Polish crisis and the outbreak of war in Europe drew attention away from Nomonhan, and the later Finnish Winter War reinforced negative Western judgments of Soviet military capability. U.S. military attaché Raymond Faymonville observed that the Soviets, anticipating a quick victory over Finland, relied on hastily summoned reserves ill-suited for winter fighting—an assessment that led some to judge the Red Army by its performance at Nomonhan. Even in Washington, this view persisted; Hitler reportedly called the Red Army "a paralytic on crutches" after Finland and then ordered invasion planning in 1941. Defeat can be a stronger teacher than victory. Because Nomonhan was a limited war, Japan's defeat was likewise limited, and its impact on Tokyo did not immediately recalibrate Japanese assessments. Yet Nomonhan did force Japan to revise its estimation of Soviet strength: the Imperial Army abandoned its strategic Plan Eight-B and adopted a more defensive posture toward the Soviet Union. An official inquiry into the debacle, submitted November 29, 1939, recognized Soviet superiority in materiel and firepower and urged Japan to bolster its own capabilities. The Kwantung Army's leadership, chastened, returned to the frontier with a more realistic sense of capability, even as the Army Ministry and AGS failed to translate lessons into policy. The enduring tendency toward gekokujo, the dominance of local and mid-level officers over central authority, remained persistent, and Tokyo did not fully purge it after Nomonhan. The Kwantung Army's operatives who helped drive the Nomonhan episode resurfaced in key posts at Imperial General Headquarters, contributing to Japan's 1941 decision to go to war. The defeat of the Kwantung Army at Nomonhan, together with the Stalin–Hitler pact and the outbreak of war in Europe, triggered a reorientation of Japanese strategy and foreign policy. The new government, led by the politically inexperienced and cautious General Abe Nobuyuki, pursued a conservative foreign policy. Chiang Kai-shek's retreat to Chongqing left the Chinese war at a stalemate: the Japanese Expeditionary Army could still inflict defeats on Chinese nationalist forces, but it had no viable path to a decisive victory. China remained Japan's principal focus. Still, the option of cutting Soviet aid to China and of moving north into Outer Mongolia and Siberia was discredited in Tokyo by the August 1939 double defeat. Northward expansion never again regained its ascendancy, though it briefly resurfaced in mid-1941 after Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union. Germany's alliance with the USSR during Nomonhan was viewed by Tokyo as a betrayal, cooling German–Japanese relations. Japan also stepped back from its confrontation with Britain over Tientsin. Tokyo recognized that the European war represented a momentous development that could reshape East Asia, as World War I had reshaped it before. The short-lived Abe government (September–December 1939) and its successor under Admiral Yonai Mitsumasa (December 1939–July 1940) adopted a cautious wait-and-see attitude toward the European war. That stance shifted in the summer of 1940, however, after Germany's successes in the West. With Germany's conquest of France and the Low Countries and Britain's fight for survival, Tokyo reassessed the global balance of power. Less than a year after Zhukov had effectively blocked further Japanese expansion northward, Hitler's victories seemed to open a southern expansion path. The prospect of seizing the resource-rich colonies in Southeast Asia, Dutch, French, and British and, more importantly, resolving the China problem in Japan's favor, tempted many in Tokyo. If Western aid to Chiang Kai-shek, channeled through Hong Kong, French Indochina, and Burma could be cut off, some in Tokyo believed Chiang might abandon resistance. If not, Japan could launch new operations against Chiang from Indochina and Burma, effectively turning China's southern flank. To facilitate a southward advance, Japan sought closer alignment with Germany and the USSR. Foreign Minister Yosuke Matsuoka brought Japan into the Tripartite Pact with Germany and Italy, in the hope of neutralizing the United States, and concluded a neutrality pact with the Soviet Union to secure calm in the north. Because of the European military situation, only the United States could check Japan's southward expansion. President Franklin D. Roosevelt appeared determined to do so and confident that he could. If the Manchurian incident and the Stimson Doctrine strained U.S.–Japanese relations, and the China War and U.S. aid to Chiang Kai-shek deepened mutual resentment, it was Japan's decision to press south against French, British, and Dutch colonies, and Roosevelt's resolve to prevent such a move, that put the two nations on a collision course. The dust had barely settled on the Mongolian plains following the Nomonhan ceasefire when the ripples of that distant conflict began to reshape the broader theater of the Second Sino-Japanese War. The defeat at Nomonhan in August 1939, coupled with the shocking revelation of the German-Soviet Nonaggression Pact, delivered a profound strategic blow to Japan's imperial ambitions. No longer could Tokyo entertain serious notions of a "northern advance" into Soviet territory, a strategy that had long tantalized military planners as a means to secure resources and buffer against communism. Instead, the Kwantung Army's humiliation exposed glaring deficiencies in Japanese mechanized warfare, logistics, and intelligence, forcing a pivot southward. This reorientation not only cooled tensions with the Soviet Union but also allowed Japan to redirect its military focus toward the protracted stalemate in China. As we transition from the border clashes of the north to the heartland tensions in central China, it's essential to trace how these events propelled Japan toward the brink of a major offensive in Hunan Province, setting the stage for what would become a critical confrontation. In the immediate aftermath of Nomonhan, Japan's military high command grappled with the implications of their setback. The Kwantung Army, once a symbol of unchecked aggression, was compelled to adopt a defensive posture along the Manchurian-Soviet border. The ceasefire agreement, formalized on September 15-16, 1939, effectively neutralized the northern front, freeing up significant resources and manpower that had been tied down in the escalating border skirmishes. This was no small relief; the Nomonhan campaign had drained Japanese forces, with estimates of over 18,000 casualties and the near-total annihilation of the 23rd Division. The psychological impact was equally severe, shattering the myth of Japanese invincibility against a modern, mechanized opponent. Georgy Zhukov's masterful use of combined arms—tanks, artillery, and air power—highlighted Japan's vulnerabilities, prompting internal reviews that urged reforms in tank production, artillery doctrine, and supply chains. Yet, these lessons were slow to implement, and in the short term, the primary benefit was the opportunity to consolidate efforts elsewhere. For Japan, "elsewhere" meant China, where the war had devolved into a grinding attrition since the fall of Wuhan in October 1938. The capture of Wuhan, a major transportation hub and temporary capital of the Nationalist government under Chiang Kai-shek, had been hailed as a turning point. Japanese forces, under the command of General Shunroku Hata, had pushed deep into central China, aiming to decapitate Chinese resistance. However, Chiang's strategic retreat to Chongqing transformed the conflict into a war of endurance. Nationalist forces, bolstered by guerrilla tactics and international aid, harassed Japanese supply lines and prevented a decisive knockout blow. By mid-1939, Japan controlled vast swaths of eastern and northern China, including key cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Nanjing, but the cost was immense: stretched logistics, mounting casualties, and an inability to fully pacify occupied territories. The Nomonhan defeat exacerbated these issues by underscoring the limits of Japan's military overextension. With the northern threat abated, Tokyo's Army General Staff saw an opening to intensify operations in China, hoping to force Chiang to the negotiating table before global events further complicated the picture. The diplomatic fallout from Nomonhan and the Hitler-Stalin Pact further influenced this shift. Japan's betrayal by Germany, its nominal ally under the Anti-Comintern Pact—fostered distrust and isolation. Tokyo's flirtations with a full Axis alliance stalled, as the pact with Moscow revealed Hitler's willingness to prioritize European gains over Asian solidarity. This isolation prompted Japan to reassess its priorities, emphasizing self-reliance in China while eyeing opportunistic expansions elsewhere. Domestically, the Hiranuma cabinet collapsed in August 1939 amid the diplomatic shock, paving the way for the more cautious Abe Nobuyuki government. Abe's administration, though short-lived, signaled a temporary de-escalation in aggressive posturing, but the underlying imperative to resolve the "China Incident" persisted. Japanese strategists believed that capturing additional strategic points in central China could sever Chiang's lifelines, particularly the routes funneling aid from the Soviet Union and the West via Burma and Indochina. The seismic shifts triggered by Nomonhan compelled Japan to fundamentally readjust its China policy and war plans, marking a pivotal transition from overambitious northern dreams to a more focused, albeit desperate, campaign in the south. With the Kwantung Army's defeat fresh in mind, Tokyo's Imperial General Headquarters initiated a comprehensive strategic review in late August 1939. The once-dominant "Northern Advance" doctrine, which envisioned rapid conquests into Siberia for resources like oil and minerals, was officially shelved. In its place emerged a "Southern Advance" framework, prioritizing the consolidation of gains in China and potential expansions into Southeast Asia. This pivot was not merely tactical; it reflected a profound policy recalibration aimed at ending the quagmire in China, where two years of war had yielded territorial control but no decisive victory over Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalists. Central to this readjustment was a renewed emphasis on economic and military self-sufficiency. The Nomonhan debacle had exposed Japan's vulnerabilities in mechanized warfare, leading to urgent reforms in industrial production. Tank manufacturing was ramped up, with designs influenced by observed Soviet models, and artillery stockpiles were bolstered to match the firepower discrepancies seen on the Mongolian steppes. Logistically, the Army General Staff prioritized streamlining supply lines in China, recognizing that prolonged engagements demanded better resource allocation. Politically, the Abe Nobuyuki cabinet, installed in September 1939, adopted a "wait-and-see" approach toward Europe but aggressively pursued diplomatic maneuvers to isolate China. Efforts to negotiate with Wang Jingwei's puppet regime in Nanjing intensified, aiming to undermine Chiang's legitimacy and splinter Chinese resistance. Japan also pressured Vichy France for concessions in Indochina, seeking to choke off aid routes to Chongqing. War plans evolved accordingly, shifting from broad-front offensives to targeted strikes designed to disrupt Chinese command and supply networks. The China Expeditionary Army, under General Yasuji Okamura, was restructured to emphasize mobility and combined arms operations, drawing partial lessons from Zhukov's tactics. Intelligence operations were enhanced, with greater focus on infiltrating Nationalist strongholds in central provinces. By early September, plans coalesced around a major push into Hunan Province, a vital crossroads linking northern and southern China. Hunan's river systems and rail lines made it a linchpin for Chinese logistics, funneling men and materiel to the front lines. Japanese strategists identified key urban centers in the region as critical objectives, believing their capture could sever Chiang's western supply corridors and force a strategic retreat. This readjustment was not without internal friction. Hardliners in the military lamented the abandonment of northern ambitions, but the reality of Soviet strength—and the neutrality pacts that followed—left little room for debate. Economically, Japan ramped up exploitation of occupied Chinese territories, extracting coal, iron, and rice to fuel the war machine. Diplomatically, Tokyo sought to mend fences with the Soviets through the 1941 Neutrality Pact, ensuring northern security while eyes turned south. Yet, these changes brewed tension with the United States, whose embargoes on scrap metal and oil threatened to cripple Japan's ambitions. As autumn approached, the stage was set for a bold gambit in central China. Japanese divisions massed along the Yangtze River, poised to strike at the heart of Hunan's defenses. Intelligence reports hinted at Chinese preparations, with Xue Yue's forces fortifying positions around a major provincial hub. The air thickened with anticipation of a clash that could tip the balance in the interminable war—a test of Japan's revamped strategies against a resilient foe determined to hold the line. What unfolded would reveal whether Tokyo's post-Nomonhan pivot could deliver the breakthrough so desperately needed, or if it would merely prolong the bloody stalemate. I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. In 1939, the Nomonhan Incident saw Soviet forces under Georgy Zhukov decisively defeat Japan's Kwantung Army at Khalkin Gol, exposing Japanese weaknesses in mechanized warfare. This setback, coupled with the Hitler-Stalin Nonaggression Pact, shattered Japan's northern expansion plans and prompted a strategic pivot southward. Diplomatic maneuvers involving Stalin, Hitler, Britain, France, and Japan reshaped alliances, leading to the Soviet-Japanese Neutrality Pact in 1941. Japan refocused on China, intensifying operations in Hunan Province to isolate Chiang Kai-shek.
There can be little doubt that Hong Kong has stood out as a particularly intense East Asian news hotspot in recent years. Whether reports have focused on pro-democracy protests, abducted booksellers or PRC Mainland integration plans, most of this news has revolved around a common theme - namely questions over Beijing's ruling Chinese Communist Party and its influence in Hong Kong. On this background, Christine Loh's book Underground Front: The Chinese Communist Party in Hong Kong(Hong Kong University Press, 2018) is an indispensable guide to the Party's approaches to Hong Kong over time. As a former-lawmaker in the city's Legislative Council, founder of the think tank Civic Exchange, and many other things, Loh makes the most of her unique vantage point on contemporary CCP affairs, as well her invaluable access to insights from the her hometown's colonial past. This book sets its analysis of how the Party seeks to maintain supremacy in Hong Kong within all-important historical context, and consequently will be a vital resource for anyone wishing to understand the questions of political culture, power and influence which are pivotal to the future of East Asia and the world at large. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/world-affairs
There can be little doubt that Hong Kong has stood out as a particularly intense East Asian news hotspot in recent years. Whether reports have focused on pro-democracy protests, abducted booksellers or PRC Mainland integration plans, most of this news has revolved around a common theme - namely questions over Beijing's ruling Chinese Communist Party and its influence in Hong Kong. On this background, Christine Loh's book Underground Front: The Chinese Communist Party in Hong Kong(Hong Kong University Press, 2018) is an indispensable guide to the Party's approaches to Hong Kong over time. As a former-lawmaker in the city's Legislative Council, founder of the think tank Civic Exchange, and many other things, Loh makes the most of her unique vantage point on contemporary CCP affairs, as well her invaluable access to insights from the her hometown's colonial past. This book sets its analysis of how the Party seeks to maintain supremacy in Hong Kong within all-important historical context, and consequently will be a vital resource for anyone wishing to understand the questions of political culture, power and influence which are pivotal to the future of East Asia and the world at large. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/chinese-studies
Last week, in celebration of Lunar New Year, CulinaryArts@SPAC welcomed four-time James Beard Award–nominated chef and acclaimed author Natasha Pickowicz for an evening dedicated to the ancient East Asian tradition of hot pot.She was in conversation at SPAC with former New York Times Photo Editor for Food and Style Tiina Loite.
In this episode Mark interviews Ka-Yee Essoe about the power of stories to instil empathy, resilience, joy, and hope, based on her experiences in the academic world, in research, in teaching, and in writing an epic fantasy novel. Prior to the interview Mark shares a brief personal update and word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by Toronto Indie Author Conference, taking place in Toronto, ON in April 2026. In the interview, Mark and Ka-Yee talk about: Mark and Ka-Yee's connection to Joshua EssoeKa-Yee's background with two different careers in academia Studying how to help people learn therapeutic techniques better Starting her creative writing journey in 2021 How this story (that became the first of a trilogy she is writing) started to unfold in her head as dialogue 128,000 words of the first draft coming out in about 2 months of writing Ka-Yee's move into an academic teaching role, which is something she's always wanted to do One of the classes that Ka-Yee co-teaches for writers HEXACO - the six-dimension personality test Some of the opposite-character writing exercises that derive from this test Debunking Myers-Briggs because it's not as science-based Ka-Yee's desire to help writers to write who has some sort of disability Helping students understand what therapy looks like and how to depict that relationship Techniques on how to learn memory enhancement How to evaluate routines and your process as a writer The problem with getting into a habit of doing things a certain way and missing out on how to make it better Ka-Yee not realizing she had ADHD until she was an adult The side-effect of suffering from long Covid The concept of deliberate rest Applying the scientific principle to writing an epic fantasy novel How people tend to have two different careers in their life The Kickstarter that Ka-Yee is running for her new book SHAZZWICK OF LAND VOL1: Time Becomes Relevant Aaron Fors as the talented narrator for the audiobook version What Ka-Yee's book is about How she sees the world differently now that she has written this novel After the interview Mark shares a few reflections inspired by the interview. Notes from Ka-Yee as mentioned in the interview: Guidance I provided students to create their own weekly evaluation on their writing process Before you begin, I encourage you to take stalk of your current process. What's your goal, what's your why, what works/doesn't, how often do you write, what resources do you need -- not what you WANT it to be, but what it is now. Then create a survey using the guideline below. Answer the questions now as your baseline, then check in every week (ideally on the same day), revise the questions as you go. There is no wrong way to do this. These can be any format as you see fit, or a combination of. You can make the questions open-ended, some form of rating scales (e.g., rate from 0 to 10, or 1 = Completely Disagree to 5 = Complete Agree), multiple choice, or fill in the blanks. Just don't get too attached, you should be adjusting these as your process evolves or as life encroaches. Ask yourself 6-10 (ish) questions 1-3 questions on what you did in the past week: e.g., did you change/stick with your process? did try something new? how did it go? were you able to stick to it? 2-3 questions on how "productive" or "successful" you are--but remember, every one's measure of success is different. E.g., how much did you write? how good were the writing? how brave were you in sharing your work with others? how zen you were about taking feedback. 2-3 questions on how you are flourishing vs languishing: e.g., do I have mental space to do OTHER things I love? Did I spend time with people who matter to me? Did I feel my life has purpose, joy, satisfaction, and meaning? Last question: ask yourself something that gets to the "why" of your creative endeavour. WHY did you write this week? Did you remember to keep your eyes on that which drives you and keeps you up at night when you forget it. That which makes your writing something that you must do. (okay, then the last last question: do I need to revise these questions for next week?) The most important thing is: again, update these questions as you go. This needs to be a living document, otherwise you aren't giving yourself room to grow and learn. Links of Interest: Snow Quill Press The Novel: Shazzwick of Land, Vol. 1: Time Becomes Relevant Kickstarter for Shazzwick of Land Vol 1 HEXACO Personality Inventory-Revised (by Drs. Lee and Ashton (2009, 2018)) HEXACO is a 6-factor personality test that measures personality across six dimensions: Honesty-humility, Emotionality, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, and Openness. There's also a bonus trait, Altruism, that pools from subscales within the 6 larger traits. The Big Five Personality Inventory (by Goldberg (1992)) The Big Five is probably the most widely used personality test in psychology. It measures personality across five dimensions, often forming the acronym of OCEAN or CANEO: Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism. Episode 137 - Action Sequences and Sex Scenes with Joshua Essoe Episode 260 - Mood, Atmosphere, and Worldbuilding with Joshua Essoe Superstars Writing Seminars Stark Reflections on Pushing for Better (Team Landing Page) CMHA (Canadian Mental Health Association) Mental Health Meter What's Your Stress Index? Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building Once Bitten (Novella) The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation I Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises Ka-Yee Essoe, Ph.D. (Psychology, UCLA; Psychiatry Postdoc, Johns Hopkins Medicine) is an assistant professor at a small, public university at rural Maine. As a cognitive neuroscientist specialising in learning enhancement, she understands the power of stories to instil empathy, resilience, joy, and hope. She began writing novels to do just that. As an East Asian immigrant who enjoys many intercultural friendships, rich cultural diversity permeates the worlds and conflicts she crafts in her epic fantasy novels with integral love-story threads. Drawing on her personal experience and 10+ years mentoring others to navigate anxiety, disabilities, abuse, discrimination, trauma, and grief, her stories follow characters facing these struggles to encourage readers through their journeys and growth. The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
Matt Hampton and Dr Tom Ingegno came into my world the way the best guests always do. They found me first. They pulled me onto their Irreverent Health Podcast, a show that blends medicine, curiosity, and unapologetic nonsense the same way Gen X kids blended Saturday morning cartoons with nuclear-war anxiety. We recorded together, we went off the rails together, and by the end I told them the rule. If you ever come to New York, you sit in my studio. No exceptions.They showed up. They took the hot seat. They told Alexa to shut up. They joked about Postmates. They compared bifocals before I even hit record. From there it turned into a full blown eighties time machine powered by weed policy, AI diagnostics, acupuncture philosophy, art school trauma, cannabis data science, paranormal detours, and the kind of deep cut pop culture references only Gen X survivors can decode.Matt builds AI systems. Tom heals people with needles and a lifetime of East Asian medicine. Together they make healthcare funny without pretending it works. They remind you that curiosity carries weight when the system collapses under its own stupidity.This episode is a reunion of three loudmouths raised on Atari, late night cable, and the hard lesson that you either tell the truth or get flattened by it. Go subscribe to Irreverent Health. These guys earned it.RELATED LINKS• Irreverent Health Podcast• Matt Hampton – Consilium Institute• Envoy Design• Dr. Tom Ingegno – Charm City Integrative Health• The Cupping Book• You Got Sick—Now What?• Matt Hampton on LinkedIn• Dr. Tom Ingegno on LinkedInFEEDBACKLike this episode? Rate and review Out of Patients on your favorite podcast platform. For guest suggestions or sponsorship email podcasts@matthewzachary.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Moni Castaneda is a Feng Shui consultant, speaker, and author. She helps you decorate and organize your home so it radiates beauty, attracts positive energy, and cultivates an environment where good fortune — both personal and professional — can thrive. Moni uses a method she created called the Nine Steps to Feng Shui® System, which blends ancient East Asian spatial concepts with modern architectural design principles. When you apply this process to your place, step by step, you turn your home into a dream home that actively supports your goals. The result of working with Moni is a life filled with joy and purposeful momentum, in a home that makes you proud.Visit Moni Castanedas' website: ninestepstofengshui.com
Book your Astrology Reading for the Year of the Fire Horse: www.jilljardineastrology.com Buy Jill's Book and Oracle Cards: Sacred Sound Formulas to Awaken the Modern Mind: jilljardineastrology.com Lunar New Year of the Fire Horse initiates February 17, 2026 marking a potent threshold, because the Lunar New Year and New Moon Solar Eclipse coincide on the same day, both activating late Aquarius. This is a rare energetic convergence, linking Eastern cyclical wisdom with Western eclipse initiation, signaling a collective reset with far-reaching consequences. Stay tuned until the end for recommendations during the last part of the episode on how to use this Lunar New Year energy and New Moon in Aquarius all year long! The Lunar New Year marks the first New Moon of the lunar calendar, a sacred reset point honored for thousands of years across East Asian cultures — including Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Tibetan, and other lineages. Unlike the solar New Year, which emphasizes linear time and external goals, the Lunar New Year is rooted in cyclical time, renewal, and alignment with nature's rhythms. This is not just a “date on the calendar.” It's a cosmic threshold— a moment when the Moon and Sun meet in darkness, symbolizing the fertile void where intention, destiny, and future pathways are seeded. In ancient cosmologies, the Lunar New Year was understood as: A reset of fate and fortune - A cleansing of karmic residue from the prior year moment to align personal will with cosmic timing in astrology, New Moons always initiate cycles, but the Lunar New Year is unique because it initiates an entire energetic year, not just a monthly chapter. In Chinese astrology, the Horse symbolizes: Independence and sovereignty, Physical vitality and stamina, Speed, travel, and migration, Charisma, leadership, and visibility, Refusal to be confined or controlled, Horses do not tolerate stagnation.They are wired for movement and forward motion. IIn a Horse year, collective energy pushes toward: Breaking out of restrictive systems Leaving situations that feel confining. Choosing autonomy over security. Reclaiming personal agency. This SOLAR ECLIPSE NEW MOON IN AQUARIUS which kicks off lunar New Year in the final degree known as the aneretic degree. This is A Fated Future-Forward Initiation . The New Moon on February 17 aligns with an annular solar eclipse intensifying its power as a point of no return. Eclipses accelerate timelines. They don't merely suggest change—they set it in motion, often through events or realizations that feel destined. This eclipse occurs at 29° Aquarius, the final and most charged degree of the sign—known as the anaretic degree. This degree carries themes of: Completion and culmination, Urgency and catharsis, Evolution beyond outdated patterns/ In Aquarius, this speaks to a collective clearing and reboot. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
News items read by Laura Kennedy include: Researchers unearth oldest handheld tools made of wood (details) Zapotec tomb in Oaxaca features symbolic owl carving (details) Ancient Taş Tepeler pillars found in Adiyaman point to an expansive Neolithic culture (details) Advanced stone technology found in China poses new questions about early East Asians (details)(details)
In this episode of the Investing in Integrity podcast, Ross Overline, CEO and Co-founder of Scholars of Finance, welcomes Stephen Philipson, Vice Chair and Head of Wealth, Corporate, Commercial, and Institutional Banking at U.S. Bank, America's fifth-largest bank, to unpack how principled leadership shapes modern finance. Stephen shares how embracing calculated risk, most notably during the 2009 crisis, can accelerate long-term growth when paired with disciplined downside assessment. He explains U.S. Bank's interconnected approach to banking, where unified business lines strengthen client relationships and operational resilience. The conversation also explores why authenticity, transparency, and ethical clarity remain essential traits for leaders navigating rapid technological change. From AI's role in enhancing, not replacing, client service to impact finance opportunities, Stephen offers a blueprint for building durable institutions grounded in purpose and integrity.Meet Stephen PhilipsonStephen Philipson is a vice chair and head of Wealth, Corporate, Commercial and Institutional Banking (WCIB). He has been with the organization since 2009. WCIB comprises several businesses, including Asset Management and Institutional Services, Commercial Real Estate, Equipment Finance, Global Capital Markets, Global Corporate Trust, Global Fund Services, Institutional Client Group, U.S. Bancorp Impact Finance, and Wealth Management. Prior to becoming head of WCIB in 2024 and adding oversight of U.S. Bancorp Impact Finance to his responsibilities in 2025, Philipson led the Global Markets and Specialized Finance group within WCIB. Philipson has more than 20 years of financial services experience. His past roles include working at Morgan Stanley in Global Capital Markets and then Fixed Income Trading, and at Wachovia, where he was director of the Financial Institutions Syndicate. Philipson chairs the board of governors of Isidore Newman School and serves on the boards of directors of the Foundation for the Charlotte Jewish Community. He serves on the board of directors of the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA). He earned a bachelor's degree with a double major in economics and East Asian studies from Washington and Lee UniversityEpisode Timeline• 00:00 Intro• 04:40 From New Orleans to Wall Street: Stephen's Early Finance Journey• 15:51 Joining US Bank During the 2009 Financial Crisis• 18:26 Building a $670B Balance Sheet: Growth Strategies Across Diverse Businesses• 22:24 Leading 16 Leaders: Management Committee Dynamics at US Bank• 25:53 Innovation Without Recklessness: Balancing Safety and Evolution• 28:21 AI as a Productivity Multiplier, Not a Job Eliminator• 34:21 Impact Finance: Profitability and Purpose Working Together• 37:08 Leadership Through Authenticity and Radical Transparency• 39:12 Creating Unified Culture Across Capital Markets, Trust, and Real Estate• 41:41 The Three Non-Negotiables for Next-Generation Finance Leaders• 44:08 Rapidfire Round
Dr. Ria Roy, a scholar of modern Korea and East Asian history, joins the podcast to discuss the differences in language between the two Koreas, including contrasts in linguistic and ideological correctness. She examines the Soviet Union's influence on the Korean language in the DPRK and the importance of conveying information with the right tone. She also explores the use of profanity on North Korean state TV and why announcers often refer to specific groups of people in bespoke ways — whether using a motherly tone when discussing children or pausing before the name of leaders. Roy is a Kleinheinz Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University and the author of the article “The Sacred Text and the Language of the Leader: ‘Cultured Language' and the Rhetorical Turn in North Korea.” About the podcast: The North Korea News Podcast is a weekly podcast hosted by Jacco Zwetsloot exclusively for NK News, covering all things DPRK — from news to extended interviews with leading experts and analysts in the field, along with insights from our very own journalists.
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