Podcasts about Korean

North Korea media and tech specialist Martyn Williams joins this week's episode to discuss his trips to the inter-Korean border with NK News CEO Chad O'Carroll, which have explored how technology is reshaping control and communication in the DPRK. The conversation covers smartphones and digital infrastructure inside North Korea, including how mobile technology has expanded rapidly since the pandemic. He discusses the growing number of domestic smartphone brands, hundreds of state-approved apps and the broader 4G rollout across much of the country.  Williams also examines a North Korean health app offering telemedicine features and medicine delivery, illustrating how digital tools serve both convenience and surveillance. Martyn Williams is a senior fellow for the Stimson Center's Korea Program and 38 North. His primary interests are in North Korea's technology, infrastructure, broadcasting system and propaganda. He previously appeared on episode 149 of the NK News podcast. 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.

Our old friend Deuki Hong joins Matt in this episode for a really fun conversation. Deuki is the chef-partner at Sohn in San Francisco, an all-day café and community space in the city's Dogpatch neighborhood. It's such a cool place, and we talk all about it. We also reflect on the publication of Deuki and Matt's first book, the New York Times Bestseller Koreatown, released ten years ago today. We talk about where Korean food was then, and the exciting moments over the past decade that we've had a front row seat for. Also on the show Matt has a really fun conversation with Anthony Randello-Jahn, known widely as social star Donut Daddy. They talk about his new cookbook and so much more. Buy: Koreatown and Koreaworld. Subscribe to This Is TASTE: ⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠, ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Season 6, Episode 7! Our guest today is Lydia Kang, a professor, medical doctor, and acclaimed author, Her latest book is K-Jane, and it's the story of Jane Choi, a typical Nebraskan teen who loves Husker football and is a total banana. That all changes when her parents find out they're expecting a baby, and Jane goes on a mission to become an expert… or at least more knowledgeable about her Korean heritage and pop-culture. From K-pop to K-dramas, through Korean Food and Language, and pretty much K-everything, Jane immerses herself in it. Released on October 21, 2025, K-Jame was received a Starred Kirk's Review and was selected as a Kirkus Best Young Adult Book of 2025. Lydia writes young adult fiction, adult fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. The practicing physician and associate professor of Internal Medicine has also gained a reputation for helping fellow writers with their medical accuracy in their writing.  Her previous work includes Opium and Absinthe, Star Wars: Cataclysm, The November Girl, and Quackery: A Brief History of the Worst Ways to Cure Everything (one of your favorite nonfiction books). In our conversation, Lydia shares her journey to authorship, how she writes authentic awkward teen moments, what it means to be Asian American, and so much more.  To learn more about Lydia, you can visit her website lydiakang.com, follow her instagram @lydiakang, read her poetry and essays, and of course buy any of her books. If you like what we do, please share, follow, and like us in your podcast directory of choice or on Instagram @AAHistory101. For previous episodes and resources, please visit our site at https://asianamericanhistory101.libsyn.com or our links at http://castpie.com/AAHistory101. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, email us at info@aahistory101.com.

“Let's make a small room . . . for him. Then he can stay there whenever he comes to us.” — 2 Kings 4:10 We have a guest room in our house. It gets used on a regular basis. My mother uses it when she comes to visit, our grandkids use it for sleepovers, and anyone else who has needed it has slept there too. It has a bed, a dresser, a chair, and a lamp. I'm sure it doesn't look the same as the room that was made for Elisha, but it may have similarities in purpose. I wonder how God wants to use our spaces or our availability, wherever we may be. What are we willing to do to prepare for others? Are we ready for when Jesus calls us? I wonder if having a space available is about knowing that “the kingdom of God has come near” (Mark 1:15). I love the way my Korean friends pray. They pray in expectation so that they are ready for when Jesus shows up, wanting to do something in their lives. They are not scrambling at the last minute; they are in welcoming mode. They are prepared so that when Jesus or someone he has sent shows up, they can accommodate as needed, serving as people of peace. The woman in our text was a person of peace for Elisha, and I hope we too become people of peace for whoever may be in need of us. Are you looking forward to the next person Jesus is planning to send in your direction? Dear God, help us to create space in our lives so that we can be people of peace to whomever you send into our lives. Thank you for challenging us to be prepared for every encounter. Amen.

WHO'S CUTER - BAE BAE OR THE BABY??

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Monday reiterated her willingness to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to resolve the issue of Japanese nationals abducted to the reclusive country decades ago.

진행자: 간형우, Devin Whiting3.6 million young Koreans don't own homes — most on record기사 요약: 2024년 기준 무주택 20·30대 가구주가 역대 가장 많은 361만 명을 기록하며 청년층 주거 불안이 더욱 악화되고 있다.[1] A record-breaking 3.61 million heads of households in their 20s and 30s did not own homes here in 2024, data showed Sunday, with nearly a million of them residing in Seoul.household: 가구reside in: ~에 거주하다 (*resident: 거주하는 사람, 주민)[2] The number of household heads under the age of 40 who did not own homes reached the highest figure since the government started its official tally in 2015, according to the Ministry of Data and Statistics.reach: 닿다tally: 기록, 총계[3] The number of young Seoul residents who do not own homes has been trending upward since an initial tally of 799,491 in 2015, as has the figure in the greater Seoul area, which includes Gyeonggi Province and Incheon.trend upward: 상승세를 보이다greater Seoul area: 수도권[4] Just 1.29 million Koreans under 40 owned homes -- 666,640 of them in the greater Seoul area and 216,129 in Seoul itself. All figures were the lowest on record.on record: 기록 상, 기록되어 있는기사 원문: https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10671963

Theme music by UNIVERSFIELD & background music by PodcastACChimin InterviewChimin's link at Oxford University and Sensei's LibraryHis papers at ResearchGateLee Chang-hoLee SedolThe Korean drama Misaeng: Incomplete LifeDaniela TrinksAnthropologist Marc Moscowitz's Go NationGazza InterviewThe Australian Go AssociationShow your support hereEmail: AllThingsGoGame@gmail.comEpisode SponsorsBadukPop - Learn the rules of the ancient Chinese board game Go - also known as Baduk (바둑) or Weiqi (圍棋) - with a fun, interactive tutorial. Sharpen your Go skills with daily random Go problems (Tsumego) at your choice of difficulty level. Play games online or with a variety of AI opponents, each with its own unique playing style and strength.SmartGo One - Your complete app for the game of Go. Learn to play, practice against the computer, study master games, solve problems, and read Go books. Free to download.AI Sensei - Play Go against the strong KataGo AI, analyze your uploaded games, discuss moves with our community, and turn mistakes into Go problems.Go Magic - Interactive Courses, Go Problems, Lessons and Lectures on Go Game | Baduk | Weiqi. All you need to learn the Game of Go online.

Episode Notes

Today's sermon is presented to us by The Rev. Dr. Kate Cress. Join us every Sunday for a live streamed service at 10:30am(English) & 12:30pm(Korean) at St. James Episcopal Church, @StJamesla on Youtube.

Fluent Fiction - Korean: Winter Lessons: The Power of Teamwork in Seoul's Frost Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ko/episode/2026-02-15-08-38-20-ko Story Transcript:Ko: 서울의 겨울, 찬 바람이 불어오던 어느 날, 민준은 마음속의 불안감을 떨칠 수 없었다.En: One winter day in Seoul, when the cold wind blew, Minjun couldn't shake off the anxiety in his heart.Ko: 회사 건물은 설 연휴를 맞아 화려한 등불과 전통 장식들로 꾸며져 있었지만, 그의 마음은 무겁기만 했다.En: The company building was decorated with bright lanterns and traditional ornaments for the Seollal holiday, but his heart felt heavy.Ko: 내일은 중요한 프로젝트 발표일이었고, 그 결과에 따라 승진 여부가 결정될 것이라는 생각이 그를 긴장하게 했다.En: The thought that tomorrow was the day of an important project presentation, which would determine his promotion, made him tense.Ko: 민준은 자리에 앉아 발표 자료를 다시 검토했다.En: Minjun sat down and reviewed the presentation materials again.Ko: 하지만 늦은 밤 발견한 계산 오류가 그의 머리에서 떠나지 않았다.En: However, he couldn't get out of his mind the calculation error he discovered late at night.Ko: 마음 한켠에는 불안과 두려움이 자리 잡았고, 이를 어떻게 해결해야 할지 고민스러웠다.En: There was a corner of his mind occupied by anxiety and fear, leaving him troubled about how to solve this issue.Ko: "은지에게 도움을 요청할까?" 민준은 속으로 생각했다.En: "Should I ask Eunji for help?" Minjun thought to himself.Ko: 하지만 그는 은지가 자신보다 뛰어난 의견을 제시할까 두려웠다.En: But he was afraid that she might offer a superior opinion.Ko: 그녀는 창의력이 뛰어난 동료였고, 그간 서로 경쟁하는 듯한 관계였다.En: Eunji was a creative colleague, and they had always seemed to be in a competitive relationship.Ko: 그럼에도 불구하고 그는 혼자 해결하려고 애썼다.En: Nevertheless, he struggled to solve it on his own.Ko: 자신의 힘으로 이 문제를 해결하고 싶었다.En: He wanted to resolve this issue with his own strength.Ko: 다음 날 아침, 눈이 내리던 날, 회사는 평소보다 더 바빴다.En: The next morning, on a snowy day, the company was busier than usual.Ko: 모두가 자신의 업무에 몰두하며, 설 분위기를 느낄 시간조차 없었다.En: Everyone was so engrossed in their work that they didn't even have time to feel the holiday atmosphere.Ko: 민준은 힘겹게 회의실로 향했다.En: Minjun trudged toward the meeting room.Ko: 프레젠테이션이 시작되자 민준은 잘 설명해 나갔다.En: As the presentation began, Minjun explained things well.Ko: 동료들과 상사인 현수는 그의 발표를 주의 깊게 듣고 있었다.En: His colleagues and his boss, Hyunsu, were listening attentively to his presentation.Ko: 그러나 중간에 한 고객이 계산 관련 질문을 던졌고, 민준은 순간 당황했다.En: However, midway, a client asked a question related to calculations, which caught Minjun off guard.Ko: 이것이 어제 밤 발견한 오류와 관련된 질문임을 깨달았다.En: He realized it was related to the error he discovered the night before.Ko: 그는 땀을 흘리며 순간을 멈칫했다.En: He hesitated for a moment, sweating.Ko: 침묵을 깨고 그는 정직하게 말했다.En: Breaking the silence, he spoke honestly.Ko: "죄송합니다. 어젯밤 자료를 검토하던 중 계산 오류를 발견했습니다. 지금 바로 수정 안을 제시하겠습니다."En: "I apologize. While reviewing the materials last night, I found a calculation error. I will present a correction immediately."Ko: 은지가 그때 민준의 옆에 서서 빠르게 대안을 설명했다.En: At that moment, Eunji stood by Minjun and quickly explained an alternative.Ko: 그녀의 즉각적인 대응으로 프레젠테이션은 순조롭게 마무리될 수 있었다.En: Her prompt response allowed the presentation to conclude smoothly.Ko: 회의가 끝난 후, 민준은 은지에게 감사의 인사를 전했다.En: After the meeting ended, Minjun expressed his gratitude to Eunji.Ko: "네가 아니었다면 큰일 날 뻔했어."En: "If it weren't for you, things could have gone badly."Ko: 은지가 미소 지으며 말했다. "다음에는 문제를 같이 해결하자. 서로 도우면 더 좋은 결과를 만들 수 있으니까."En: Eunji smiled and said, "Let's solve problems together next time. We can achieve better results by helping each other."Ko: 현수는 민준의 솔직함과 은지의 협력 능력을 높이 평가했다.En: Hyunsu praised Minjun's honesty and Eunji's ability to cooperate.Ko: 그리고 이렇게 덧붙였다. "프로젝트의 성공은 팀워크에 달려 있지. 이번에 둘 다 크게 배운 것 같구나."En: He added, "The success of a project depends on teamwork. It seems both of you learned a lot this time."Ko: 그렇게 민준은 오늘의 일을 통해 협력과 솔직함의 가치를 깨달았다.En: Through today's experience, Minjun realized the value of collaboration and honesty.Ko: 그는 경쟁이 아닌 함께 일하는 힘을 이해하게 되었고, 겨울의 차가운 날씨 속에서도 마음만큼은 따뜻해졌다.En: He understood the power of working together rather than competing, and even in the cold winter weather, his heart felt warm.Ko: 함께하는 여정은 홀로 걷는 것보다 더 힘이 되었다는 것을 알게 된 것이다.En: He came to know that the journey taken together is more powerful than walking alone. Vocabulary Words:anxiety: 불안감determine: 결정하다promotion: 승진tense: 긴장하게 하다reviewed: 검토했다calculation: 계산alternative: 대안hesitated: 멈칫했다grateful: 감사의collaboration: 협력competitive: 경쟁하는trouble: 고민스러운resolve: 해결하다engrossed: 몰두하다attentively: 주의 깊게prompt: 즉각적인conclude: 마무리하다apologize: 죄송합니다cooperate: 협력하다praise: 평가하다honesty: 솔직함explained: 설명했다fear: 두려움discover: 발견하다issue: 문제superior: 뛰어난resolve: 해결하다achieve: 만들다enhance: 향상시키다honest: 정직한

Welcome back to Gnostic Insights and the Gnostic Reformation on Substack. It’s been a few weeks since I recorded a live episode, and here I am. Now, I don’t have any particular Gnostic insights for you today. However, I do have some interesting news to share and a very strange experience I had a couple of days ago. So, let’s start with the news. One of the reasons I don’t have a new episode for you this week, in particular a philosophical episode, is because I’ve been working on a stage play called A Midwife’s Trial. I wrote this play about 15 years ago, and I pulled it out of the drawer a couple weeks ago and decided to polish it and get it on its feet. I went with a friend to a little theater a few weeks ago, and they were putting on 12 Angry Men. Now, if you’ve never seen the movie 12 Angry Men, the original, there’s a newer movie, really bad, but the old classic movie starring Henry Fonda and 11 other very well-known actors of the black and white movie era—it’s a great movie. You should see it. It’s the story of the jurors in a deliberation room. They’ve just watched a trial, and they’re in the deliberation room. The entire movie or play takes place around the deliberation table, and they are the 12 Angry Men, the jury. My play is also a trial story, but it’s the trial side of it, so it makes like a nice bookend to 12 Angry Men. So, that’s why it reminded me to get my play back out and try it again. I had sent it around to play festivals and whatnot about 15 years ago. It made one final round, but didn’t win any prizes, so I put it away. It’s based upon my doctoral dissertation, The Trial of a California Midwife, and it is an enactment of actual trial testimony from a couple of midwives, an obstetrician, and then the two attorneys, one for the prosecution and one for the defense, and of course the judge. Those are all the characters. And then it cuts back and forth to a reenactment of this difficult birth that is the subject of the trial. So, it’s a very interesting play. I think it’s fascinating personally, and I’m hoping that audiences will too. I went ahead and contacted the creative director of the theater where I watched 12 Angry Men, and he says, yeah, sounds good. We’ll get you on the schedule for August. So, now it looks like I’m going to have a stage play staged in the town of Phoenix, Oregon. It’s between Ashland and Medford in southern Oregon. I’m going to produce and direct the play myself, which means that for the first time in my theater experience, I will have the power of casting, which is very exciting as well. Anyway, so that’s a little piece of exciting news for me, but it’s been taking up my mind and it’s been taking up my writing time. So, that’s my excuse for not having any new Gnostic Insights episodes for you. And if you live in the southern Oregon area or northern California, I do hope you will come and see the play. I’m also in the process of having the Children of the Fullness: A Gnostic Myth children’s book turned into an animated video. That’s very exciting. I got together with a fellow on LinkedIn, and he’s done a great job of animating these still pictures that are in the children’s book. So, we’re in the final polishing stage of that also. That should be available before too long on YouTube or wherever I can figure out it should go. Logos Falls What I mainly want to tell you about today is a very strange experience I had this week, day before yesterday. In November, my insurance coverage changed, and my primary care provider was not going to be covered by the insurance company that I had been with. So, I had to look for a new primary care provider, and it just so happens I don’t live very far from the VA hospital in White City, Oregon. It used to be an Army base in World War II, and then they changed it into a Veterans Administration hospital. And, by the way, part of the reason I linked into them, is because I actually live in one of the barracks from White City. My historic home is two parts. Half of the house is an 1875 farmhouse. That’s a two-story farmhouse, and I rent out that part of the house as an Airbnb rental, and it can accommodate parties of six pretty easily. The other side of my house is a set of Army barracks that were stuck onto the farmhouse around 1949, after the war was over, and White City was disassembling itself as an Army base, and people bought the old barracks as scrap lumber. So, the man that lived in my house in the 1940s bought two Army barracks and stuck them on the side of this farmhouse, and I live in one of those Army barracks. The other barracks is the garage. I like living in the barracks. It’s a very nice space, very cabin-y feeling, built in the 1930s, all local wood. So, I signed up with the VA to be my primary care physicians, and I have to tell you, very nice people. I’ve been to a chiropractor, an acupuncturist, and a primary care person there at the VA over the last couple of months. All three of them from other countries. That’s kind of funny to me. From Bulgaria, from Sri Lanka, and I didn’t even ask where the acupuncturist is from, but he sounds Eastern European. Very nice people and very competent care providers. Well, anyway, back to the weird part of the story. Day before yesterday, I went out to White City, my first appointment with their chiropractor. The VA hospital complex there, is made up of old two-story brick buildings. I think they probably replaced what must have been earlier wooden buildings when World War II was going on, and so these are really boring-looking boxes of brick buildings, two-story boxes, and they’re all right near each other and connected by corridors or breezeways. My appointment was in the upper floor of building 209, but you enter through the lower floor of 201, and there are like eight buildings you’ve got to get through to get to 209, and they’re all connected. That’s the way you get to building 209. The parking lot’s in front of building 201. So, I had brought a book with me, a library book, a very good library book that I’m enjoying reading that my brother Bill had recommended. He’s loving it. It’s called Culpability, and it’s about a car crash and who was at fault. Very well written and philosophical at the same time, and it includes AI and all kinds of stuff, self-driving automobiles and whatnot. So, I wanted to bring the book with me to read in the waiting room. Not that I’ve ever had to wait, because here’s the peculiar thing about this VA facility that I’ve been going to—I seem to be the only patient. It’s like I’m in one of those Reddit spaces called Mall World or Liminal Spaces, if any of you have ever been into any of those types of Reddit discussion groups, because there’s hardly any patients. Then the only people I see as I’m walking, and it takes, honestly, it takes about 20 minutes or a half hour to get from where I walk in to get back there to the chiropractor’s office. Maybe I saw three patients in all of that time. Corridor after corridor after corridor with empty waiting rooms, and the only people you see is glancing into office rooms, on the right and left, where people are working at their computers on whatever the heck they’re working on, because I never see patients there. It’s very strange. So, that in itself is very much like this place called Liminal Space or Mall World on Reddit. Anyway, I had brought my dog. He was waiting for me in the car. He’s a small dog, and so he has basically a high chair set up in the passenger seat, and he sits there to be able to see out the window as we drive along. Well, I know he likes to get in the driver’s seat and lay down when I’m doing errands and out of the car, so I set my book down on the roof of the car and straightened out a towel on the driver’s seat, and then I went into the building. Now, I lost the book somewhere. It’s a library book. I lost a library book. I don’t know if I left it on the roof of the car or if somewhere between 201 and 209. I did use a ladies room, and it had a couple of stalls in there, and it had a window with windowsill. I didn’t want to leave my purse out there on the windowsill, but I didn’t mind leaving the library book on the windowsill, so I took the purse into the stall with me, and then I came out. And by the time I got to the chiropractor’s office—of course, I was the only patient there—I didn’t have the book anymore. At first I thought I’d left it on the roof of the car when I was straightening the towel for the dog, so I said to the corpsman who was helping the chiropractor, oh darn, I left my book on the roof of the car. I hope nobody steals it. When the appointment was over and I made my long way back to the car, there was no book on the roof of the car, so either someone had stolen it, I figured, or I had left it in the bathroom on the windowsill instead. I wasn’t sure whether I left it on… I know I set it on the roof of the car, but perhaps I picked it up and took it into the bathroom. So I went back into the building and attempted to retrace my steps between 201 and 209 to look for, first, the stairwell I had taken—and that’s another thing that figures in these liminal spaces stories–stairwells. The stairwell I had taken from the first floor to the second floor in one of those buildings, I don’t know which one, had yellow daisies. It was a yellow flower motif painted on the stairwell walls. All of the stairwells have different motifs. So I was looking for the yellow stairwell that I took to the second floor and I couldn’t find it. So I went back and forth all this time looking for that yellow stairwell, couldn’t find it, and I’m passing through these empty hallways, and when I say there were very few patients, the weird thing about White City VA, of course, is that it seems that most of the patients that I’ve seen there are Vietnam or Korean veterans because they’re very elderly and usually in wheelchairs or walkers. I myself am not a spring chicken, but I can walk pretty good. Well, anyway, so that’s the other weird thing about it. The only people you see are elderly. So I’m looking for the yellow stairwell. I can’t find it, and I opened all those doors. I could not find the right ladies room, either, and I, of course, didn’t see the book. So I spent probably an hour and a half combing the hallways of 201-209 looking for a stairwell I couldn’t find and looking for a restroom I couldn’t find and looking for this book that I lost. But here’s the weird thing about the whole experience—I mean, I spent all this time—it was just like a dream. I do have a repetitive dream where I’m searching for something that I can’t find. So I thought to myself, oh my god, this is just like my dream, only it was for real. And it’s true. I couldn’t find it. Here’s how I would characterize it: I lost an object day before yesterday in a very confusing place in a room that I could not locate accessed by a stairwell that apparently doesn’t exist. So that was one weird experience. I wanted to share that with you for some reason. I figured, oh no, this is really going to trigger my dream, but I haven’t had that dream in the last two days. I just had the actual experience. If this prompts anything in you, please share it with us. I’d love to hear back from you. God bless us all, and onward and upward.

Fluent Fiction - Korean: Rainy Confessions: A Valentine's Day Surprise in the Garden Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ko/episode/2026-02-14-08-38-20-ko Story Transcript:Ko: 비가 올 듯한 날씨였습니다.En: The weather seemed like it was going to rain.Ko: 벚꽃 정원은 여전히 아름다웠습니다.En: The beotkkot garden was still beautiful.Ko: 꽃잎이 바람에 살랑거리고 있었습니다.En: The petals were fluttering in the breeze.Ko: 수현은 준비한 도시락을 다시 확인했습니다.En: Su-hyeon checked the lunchbox she had prepared once more.Ko: 마음이 두근거렸습니다.En: Her heart was pounding.Ko: 오늘, 지호에게 고백하고 싶었습니다.En: Today, she wanted to confess to Ji-ho.Ko: 지호는 밝고 낙천적입니다. 늘 옆에서 웃음을 줍니다.En: Ji-ho is bright and optimistic, always bringing laughter.Ko: 민지는 현실적이지만, 낭만을 좋아합니다.En: Min-ji is realistic but likes romance.Ko: 두 사람과의 만남은 늘 재미있었습니다.En: Meeting with the two was always fun.Ko: 오늘, 밸런타인 데이라서 더 특별했습니다.En: Today was Valentine's Day, which made it even more special.Ko: "수현아, 날씨가 좀 이상해," 민지가 말했습니다.En: "Su-hyeon, the weather is a bit weird," Min-ji said.Ko: "비가 올 것 같아."En: "It looks like it's going to rain."Ko: 수현은 잠시 망설였습니다.En: Su-hyeon hesitated for a moment.Ko: 하지만 결심을 굳혔습니다.En: But she made up her mind.Ko: "괜찮아. 한번 해보자."En: "It's okay. Let's give it a try."Ko: 벚꽃 나무 아래 돗자리를 깔았습니다.En: They laid out a mat under the cherry blossom trees.Ko: 주변은 꽃잎으로 가득했습니다.En: The area around them was full of petals.Ko: 그러나 멀리서 먹구름이 다가오고 있었습니다.En: However, dark clouds were approaching from afar.Ko: 불안한 마음이 들었습니다.En: An uneasy feeling crept in.Ko: 하지만 지호와의 시간을 포기할 수 없었습니다.En: But she couldn't give up the time with Ji-ho.Ko: 세 사람은 함께 웃고 이야기를 나눴습니다.En: The three of them laughed and talked together.Ko: 지호는 수현에게 사탕을 주면서 말했습니다. "수현아, 넌 정말 좋은 친구야."En: Ji-ho handed Su-hyeon some candy and said, "Su-hyeon, you're a really great friend."Ko: 수현은 가슴이 먹먹했습니다.En: Su-hyeon felt a lump in her chest.Ko: 고백할 용기를 내야 했습니다.En: She had to muster up the courage to confess.Ko: 그런데 갑자기 비가 쏟아졌습니다.En: But suddenly, it started pouring rain.Ko: "어떡하지?" 수현이 중얼거렸습니다.En: "What should I do?" Su-hyeon murmured.Ko: 지호는 우산을 펼쳐 수현에게 내밀었습니다.En: Ji-ho opened an umbrella and handed it to Su-hyeon.Ko: "같이 쓰자. 비 오는 날도 재미있잖아!"En: "Let's share it. Rainy days can be fun too!"Ko: 수현은 지호의 미소에 힘을 얻었습니다.En: Su-hyeon gained strength from Ji-ho's smile.Ko: "지호야, 사실은… 너를 좋아해."En: "Ji-ho, actually... I like you."Ko: 조용히 듣던 민지는 살짝 웃으며 말했습니다. "그랬구나, 둘 다 잘 어울려."En: Listening quietly, Min-ji smiled slightly and said, "I see, you both suit each other well."Ko: 비는 그치지 않았지만, 세 사람은 우산 아래 모였습니다.En: The rain didn't stop, but the three gathered under the umbrella.Ko: 민지는 수현의 손을 꼭 잡아주었습니다.En: Min-ji held Su-hyeon's hand tightly.Ko: "괜찮아, 너희 둘 다 좋을 것 같아."En: "It's okay, you two will be great together."Ko: 그들은 벚꽃 정원의 작은 정자에 들어가 비를 피했습니다.En: They took shelter from the rain in a small gazebo in the beotkkot garden.Ko: 셋은 함께 크게 웃었습니다.En: The three of them laughed out loud together.Ko: 수현은 더 이상 두렵지 않았습니다.En: Su-hyeon was no longer afraid.Ko: 친구와 함께하는 순간, 그리고 고백의 순간이 더욱 의미 있게 느껴졌습니다.En: The moment with friends and the moment of confession felt even more meaningful.Ko: 그렇게 벚꽃 정원에서의 소중한 밸런타인 데이가 끝났습니다.En: And so the precious Valentine's Day in the beotkkot garden came to an end.Ko: 수현은 자신이 원하는 것을 할 수 있다는 자신감을 얻었습니다.En: Su-hyeon gained the confidence to do what she wanted.Ko: 그리고 지호와의 새로운 시작을 바라보며 미소 지었습니다.En: She smiled looking forward to a new beginning with Ji-ho. Vocabulary Words:seemed: 듯한fluttering: 살랑거리고pounding: 두근거렸습니다confess: 고백하고optimistic: 낙천적입니다realistic: 현실적이지만romance: 낭만hesitated: 망설였습니다approaching: 다가오고uneasy: 불안한muster: 용기를 내야pouring: 쏟아졌습니다umbrella: 우산shelter: 피했습니다gazebo: 정자precious: 소중한meaningful: 의미 있게flutter: 살랑거리다confirm: 확인했습니다courage: 용기crept: 들었습니다sought: 원하는laughed: 웃었습니다determination: 결심meaning: 의미tightly: 꼭laughter: 웃음을prepared: 준비한gain: 얻었습니다bright: 밝고

Fluent Fiction - Korean: A Winter Tale: The Mystery of Changdeokgung's Hidden Flower Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ko/episode/2026-02-14-23-34-02-ko Story Transcript:Ko: 창덕궁의 비밀 정원에는 겨울의 침묵이 깃들어 있었다.En: In the secret garden of Changdeokgung, the silence of winter had settled.Ko: 하얀 눈이 소복이 쌓인 그곳에서는 발자국 소리도 마치 눈꽃처럼 부드럽게 울렸다.En: In that place, where the white snow was piled up, even the sound of footsteps echoed softly, like snowflowers.Ko: 발렌타인데이에 맞춰 열리는 전통 문화 축제를 준비하던 중 신비한 꽃 하나가 사라지는 사건이 벌어졌다.En: While preparing for a traditional cultural festival to be held on Valentine's Day, an incident occurred where a mysterious flower disappeared.Ko: 이것은 바로 지호가 정성껏 가꿔온 희귀한 꽃이었다.En: This was the rare flower that Jiho had carefully cultivated.Ko: 지호는 이 화려한 꽃이 축제의 하이라이트가 되리라 생각했다.En: Jiho thought that this dazzling flower would become the highlight of the festival.Ko: 하지만 꽃이 사라지자 지호는 난감했다.En: However, when the flower disappeared, Jiho was at a loss.Ko: 그는 명성을 잃을 위기에 처했다.En: He was at risk of losing his reputation.Ko: 친구 은주는 해외에서 막 도착했다.En: His friend Eunju had just arrived from overseas.Ko: 은주는 식물에 대한 숨겨진 열정을 가지고 있었다.En: Eunju had a hidden passion for plants.Ko: 그리고 정원지기 민석은 많은 것을 알고 있는 사람이었다.En: And the gardener Minseok was a person who knew a lot.Ko: 그는 이곳에서 오랫동안 일해왔고, 이 정원의 모든 비밀을 간직하고 있었다.En: He had been working there for a long time and held all the secrets of this garden.Ko: 지호는 은주와 함께 꽃을 찾기로 했다.En: Jiho decided to find the flower with Eunju.Ko: 처음에는 은주의 도움을 망설였지만, 그녀의 지식이 필요했다.En: At first, he hesitated to seek Eunju's help, but he needed her knowledge.Ko: 두 사람은 정원의 구석구석을 탐색하기 시작했다.En: The two of them began to explore every corner of the garden.Ko: 은주는 학업에서 배운 것을 바탕으로 조언을 아끼지 않았다.En: Eunju, based on what she learned from her studies, spared no advice.Ko: 그러던 중, 의심스러운 발자국들이 눈 속에 이어져 있었다.En: Meanwhile, suspicious footprints continued in the snow.Ko: 그 발자국은 정원의 깊숙한 곳으로 이끌었다.En: The footprints led to a deep part of the garden.Ko: 그곳에는 오래된 문이 있었다.En: There, an old door stood.Ko: 지호와 은주는 용기를 내어 문을 열었다.En: Jiho and Eunju gathered the courage to open the door.Ko: 그 안에는 숨겨진 작은 정원이 있었다.En: Inside, there was a hidden small garden.Ko: 여기 숨어 있는 것은 바로 그 희귀한 꽃이었다.En: What was hidden there was none other than the rare flower.Ko: 민석은 그곳에 있었다.En: Minseok was there.Ko: 그는 꽃을 보호하기 위해 여기에 숨긴 것이라고 설명했다.En: He explained that he had hidden it here to protect the flower.Ko: 환경 오염으로부터 보호하고 싶었던 것이었다.En: He wanted to shield it from environmental pollution.Ko: 지호는 처음에는 화가 났지만 곧 민석의 마음을 이해했다.En: Initially, Jiho was angry but soon understood Minseok's intention.Ko: 민석은 항상 정원을 보호하기 위해 최선을 다하고 있었던 것이다.En: Minseok had always been doing his best to protect the garden.Ko: 희귀한 꽃은 다시 제자리를 찾았다.En: The rare flower found its place again.Ko: 축제는 성공적으로 진행되었다.En: The festival proceeded successfully.Ko: 지호는 민석과 화해하며 전에 몰랐던 새로운 시각을 갖게 되었다.En: Jiho reconciled with Minseok and gained a new perspective he hadn't had before.Ko: 그리고 은주와의 협력도 큰 도움이 되었음을 깨달았다.En: He also realized the great help of collaborating with Eunju.Ko: 정원은 조화롭게 유지되었고, 모두가 그 속에서 행복한 순간을 보냈다.En: The garden was maintained harmoniously, and everyone spent a happy moment in it.Ko: 이렇게 지호는 타인의 도움을 신뢰하는 법을 배웠고, 서로 다른 시각을 가치 있게 여기는 법도 알게 되었다.En: Through this, Jiho learned to trust the help of others and to value different perspectives.Ko: 그리고 창덕궁의 비밀 정원은 또 다른 전설을 담고 겨울의 끝자락을 맞았다.En: And Changdeokgung's secret garden held yet another legend as it met the end of winter. Vocabulary Words:settled: 깃들어 있었다echoed: 울렸다footsteps: 발자국dazzling: 화려한highlight: 하이라이트a loss: 난감했다reputation: 명성cultivated: 가꿔온overseas: 해외passion: 열정gardener: 정원지기explore: 탐색하기deep: 깊숙한courage: 용기hidden: 숨겨진protect: 보호하기intention: 마음harmoniously: 조화롭게trust: 신뢰perspectives: 시각pollution: 오염tradition: 전통incident: 사건environmental: 환경hesitated: 망설였지만advice: 조언suspicious: 의심스러운reconciled: 화해하며realized: 깨달았다moment: 순간

On today's episode Rush Limbaugh has a crush on one of Trumps Daughters, JCW drops a bunch of Knowlege bombs about the car industry, DJ Pre K gets in trouble, and olympic correspondent Conner Johnson gives the show an update on Curling and all things Korean.

Maxine Sharf is a culinary creator and recipe developer who is passionate about bringing comfort, confidence, and community to cooking. She takes inspiration from her diverse background as Korean, Chinese, Russian, Romanian, and Polish with a California upbringing. She left her ten-year career in tech to pursue her mission to help others feel less intimidated in the kitchen, and she writes about it in her debut cookbook, Maxi's Kitchen. And at the top of the show, Aliza talks about my recent trip to Taiwan, covering many stops along the way including: Ron Museum, Moon Moon Food, 詹記麻辣火鍋-西門大世界, 阿仁甕缸雞-名間店, and Shanghai Hao Wei Soup Dumplings. Subscribe to This Is TASTE: ⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠, ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dena and Catalina open the episode with some discussion of  the Bad Bunny Superbowl Halftime show, including videos by @nssmagazine and @kimherrmann5 before moving on to their FYPs. Dena's includes @opinionatedhag commenting on Olympic ice dancing, @hannahstudent sharing her Olympic crushes of years-past, and @kar_enthegarage discussing Lindsey Vonn. She also highlights @christina.marie.palma's feedback for Medieval Times. Catalina's FYP trends include the Bebot makeup and audio trend (@ling_app, @lolydlplr) and @sarreexcuse demanding even more probiotic sodas. For food and drink trends they cover the Mcdonald's Caviar and Nugget promotion (@stellabr8), @shrimpfriedroice pairing Little Caesar's and Butter Chicken, and a new Korean cookie. Last up is Learning on TikTok where @eyedr.ang tells her followers how to test for an astigmatism and @marketpricebk explains what to look for in a shucked oyster.    Check out all the videos we mention and more on our blog (2old4tiktok.com), Instagram (@2old4tiktokpod), and TikTok (@2old4tiktok_podcast). 

We are pleased to have been able to spend time with Judiaann Woo on our  podcast.  Judiaann has her pulse on the food world, which comes from a multi-faceted background and perspective, She shares her journey from a childhood passion for food to her move to New York, where she went from the French Culinary Institute to various high level pastry chef positions, eventually realizing that the kitchen wasn't going to be the place where she would thrive.  She made some adjustments, while also accommodating her relationship in New York, to become a prominent figure in the culinary world before returning to Portland..    Chris and Judiaann discuss her experiences in high-end kitchens, the transition to food consulting and the impact of social media and influencer marketing on the food and travel industry. Ms Woo talks about the importance of authenticity in storytelling and the role of family values --the child of Korean immigrants -- in shaping her career. The discussion also touches on the challenges faced by the restaurant industry during and after the pandemic and the exciting renaissance of Portland's food scene, which has always had Oregon's intense agricultural richness as a foundation for the talent and food enjoyed by many.   Judiaann is a thoughtful, intelligent professional who has had an impact on many businesses and organizations.  A must-listen!   Right at the Fork is made possible by: Zupan's Markets: www.zupans.com  RingSide SteakHouse: www.RingSideSteakhouse.com  Portland Food Adventures: www.PortlandFoodAdventures.com 

February 12, 2026 - K-pop fandom's practices and activities are a primary productive force, instrumental in shaping the genre's immense global appeal, as well as its cultural influence, politics, and future potential. Over the last thirty years, the K-pop fandom has grown, intensified, and diversified, while its activities have taken on new social, technological, and economic manifestations, some of which are exclusive to K-pop and others that align with the broader cultural and industrial dynamics of global mass entertainment. In this lecture, Areum Jeong will explore the phenomenon of performing deokhu—a Korean term connoting an "avid fan"—and the cultural significance and meaning of K-pop fan practices with a nuanced examination of contemporary audience power. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/2105-k-pop-fandom-performing-deokhu-with-areum-jeong

On this Health & Wellness Wednesday episode of https://RushToReason.com, John Rush asks questions most people avoid—until it's too late. John explores how everyday choices quietly shape long-term outcomes, from skin health to cancer prevention. Leo Park, CEO of Soul Beauty Club (https://www.seoulbeautyclub.com/), challenges Western skincare thinking, explaining why Korean beauty focuses on hydration, skin-barrier health, and long-term routines—not quick fixes. Why are men increasingly paying attention too? And are Americans damaging their skin by doing too much, too soon? Then the conversation deepens with oncologist Dr. Francisco Contreras, Director of Oasis of Hope Hospital (https://www.oasisofhope.com/), who delivers a surprising message: cancer is not just about genetics—it's about lifestyle. Can happiness, real food, and movement dramatically lower cancer risk? Why do developed countries see higher cancer rates? And what happens when conventional medicine is combined with natural therapies instead of competing with them? This hour doesn't offer hype—it offers perspective. If you think health is something you “deal with later,” this conversation may change that mindset entirely. Guest Timestamps * Leo Park – Soul Beauty Club: -14:57 * Dr. Francisco Contreras – Oasis of Hope Hospital: -30:56 HOUR 2 Hour 2 opens with a powerful and timely conversation as Richard Battle (https://RichardBattle.com) joins John Rush to reflect on the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln. As the nation marks Lincoln's birthday, the discussion draws sharp parallels between Lincoln's era and today's divided America. Was the country actually more fractured then than it is now? And what can Lincoln's perseverance, humility, and commitment to unity teach a modern nation struggling with identity, sovereignty, and purpose? The hour then shifts gears as Sunny Kutcher from Young Americans Against Socialism https://yaas.org) joins the show to break down rising political unrest in Los Angeles, outsider candidates challenging the status quo, and why younger Americans are starting to disengage—or re-engage—altogether. From voter ID and election integrity to civic responsibility and constitutional citizenship, this hour asks hard questions: Why is identity verification expected everywhere except the ballot box? And what happens when citizens finally push back? This is an hour about history, culture, and consequences—connecting America's past to the crossroads we face right now. Guest Timestamps * Richard Battle – Author / Historian: - 1:53 * Sunny Kutcher – Young Americans Against Socialism: - 28:00 HOUR 3 Hour 3 delivers a wide-ranging, no-holds-barred conversation that moves from culture and politics to markets and the future of work. John Rush is joined by Jim Pfaff of The Conservative Caucus (https://theconservativecaucus.com/), breaking down Super Bowl halftime controversies, media hypocrisy, and why conservatives must hold their own side accountable, not just the left. The discussion sharpens around the SAVE America Act, voter ID, and election integrity—asking a blunt question: can a republic survive if its elections aren't trusted? The hour then turns inward as John addresses Colorado politics, party loyalty, and the real cost of running unaffiliated. What happens when a candidate leaves the party structure—and who pays the political price? The final stretch shifts to economics and innovation with Scott Garliss of Bent Pine Capital (https://www.bentpinecapital.com/). Together, they unpack surprising job numbers, inflation signals, Fed policy, and why AI may be accelerating productivity faster than policymakers realize. Is manufacturing quietly rebounding? Will AI eliminate jobs—or force businesses to reinvent? And is the Federal Reserve already behind the curve? This hour challenges assumptions—and dares listeners to connect the dots. Guest Timestamps * Jim Paff – Conservative Caucus:-1:11 * Scott Garlis – Bent Pine Capital: -27:13

On this Health & Wellness Wednesday episode of https://RushToReason.com, John Rush asks questions most people avoid—until it's too late. John explores how everyday choices quietly shape long-term outcomes, from skin health to cancer prevention. Leo Park, CEO of Soul Beauty Club (https://www.seoulbeautyclub.com/), challenges Western skincare thinking, explaining why Korean beauty focuses on hydration, skin-barrier health, and long-term routines—not quick fixes. Why are men increasingly paying attention too? And are Americans damaging their skin by doing too much, too soon? Then the conversation deepens with oncologist Dr. Francisco Contreras, Director of Oasis of Hope Hospital (https://www.oasisofhope.com/), who delivers a surprising message: cancer is not just about genetics—it's about lifestyle. Can happiness, real food, and movement dramatically lower cancer risk? Why do developed countries see higher cancer rates? And what happens when conventional medicine is combined with natural therapies instead of competing with them? This hour doesn't offer hype—it offers perspective. If you think health is something you “deal with later,” this conversation may change that mindset entirely. Guest Timestamps * Leo Park – Soul Beauty Club: -14:57 * Dr. Francisco Contreras – Oasis of Hope Hospital: -30:56 HOUR 2 Hour 2 opens with a powerful and timely conversation as Richard Battle (https://RichardBattle.com) joins John Rush to reflect on the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln. As the nation marks Lincoln's birthday, the discussion draws sharp parallels between Lincoln's era and today's divided America. Was the country actually more fractured then than it is now? And what can Lincoln's perseverance, humility, and commitment to unity teach a modern nation struggling with identity, sovereignty, and purpose? The hour then shifts gears as Sunny Kutcher from Young Americans Against Socialism https://yaas.org) joins the show to break down rising political unrest in Los Angeles, outsider candidates challenging the status quo, and why younger Americans are starting to disengage—or re-engage—altogether. From voter ID and election integrity to civic responsibility and constitutional citizenship, this hour asks hard questions: Why is identity verification expected everywhere except the ballot box? And what happens when citizens finally push back? This is an hour about history, culture, and consequences—connecting America's past to the crossroads we face right now. Guest Timestamps * Richard Battle – Author / Historian: - 1:53 * Sunny Kutcher – Young Americans Against Socialism: - 28:00 HOUR 3 Hour 3 delivers a wide-ranging, no-holds-barred conversation that moves from culture and politics to markets and the future of work. John Rush is joined by Jim Pfaff of The Conservative Caucus (https://theconservativecaucus.com/), breaking down Super Bowl halftime controversies, media hypocrisy, and why conservatives must hold their own side accountable, not just the left. The discussion sharpens around the SAVE America Act, voter ID, and election integrity—asking a blunt question: can a republic survive if its elections aren't trusted? The hour then turns inward as John addresses Colorado politics, party loyalty, and the real cost of running unaffiliated. What happens when a candidate leaves the party structure—and who pays the political price? The final stretch shifts to economics and innovation with Scott Garliss of Bent Pine Capital (https://www.bentpinecapital.com/). Together, they unpack surprising job numbers, inflation signals, Fed policy, and why AI may be accelerating productivity faster than policymakers realize. Is manufacturing quietly rebounding? Will AI eliminate jobs—or force businesses to reinvent? And is the Federal Reserve already behind the curve? This hour challenges assumptions—and dares listeners to connect the dots. Guest Timestamps * Jim Paff – Conservative Caucus:-1:11 * Scott Garlis – Bent Pine Capital: -27:13

On this Health & Wellness Wednesday episode of https://RushToReason.com, John Rush asks questions most people avoid—until it's too late. John explores how everyday choices quietly shape long-term outcomes, from skin health to cancer prevention. Leo Park, CEO of Soul Beauty Club (https://www.seoulbeautyclub.com/), challenges Western skincare thinking, explaining why Korean beauty focuses on hydration, skin-barrier health, and long-term routines—not quick fixes. Why are men increasingly paying attention too? And are Americans damaging their skin by doing too much, too soon? Then the conversation deepens with oncologist Dr. Francisco Contreras, Director of Oasis of Hope Hospital (https://www.oasisofhope.com/), who delivers a surprising message: cancer is not just about genetics—it's about lifestyle. Can happiness, real food, and movement dramatically lower cancer risk? Why do developed countries see higher cancer rates? And what happens when conventional medicine is combined with natural therapies instead of competing with them? This hour doesn't offer hype—it offers perspective. If you think health is something you “deal with later,” this conversation may change that mindset entirely. Guest Timestamps * Leo Park – Soul Beauty Club: -14:57 * Dr. Francisco Contreras – Oasis of Hope Hospital: -30:56 HOUR 2 Hour 2 opens with a powerful and timely conversation as Richard Battle (https://RichardBattle.com) joins John Rush to reflect on the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln. As the nation marks Lincoln's birthday, the discussion draws sharp parallels between Lincoln's era and today's divided America. Was the country actually more fractured then than it is now? And what can Lincoln's perseverance, humility, and commitment to unity teach a modern nation struggling with identity, sovereignty, and purpose? The hour then shifts gears as Sunny Kutcher from Young Americans Against Socialism https://yaas.org) joins the show to break down rising political unrest in Los Angeles, outsider candidates challenging the status quo, and why younger Americans are starting to disengage—or re-engage—altogether. From voter ID and election integrity to civic responsibility and constitutional citizenship, this hour asks hard questions: Why is identity verification expected everywhere except the ballot box? And what happens when citizens finally push back? This is an hour about history, culture, and consequences—connecting America's past to the crossroads we face right now. Guest Timestamps * Richard Battle – Author / Historian: - 1:53 * Sunny Kutcher – Young Americans Against Socialism: - 28:00 HOUR 3 Hour 3 delivers a wide-ranging, no-holds-barred conversation that moves from culture and politics to markets and the future of work. John Rush is joined by Jim Pfaff of The Conservative Caucus (https://theconservativecaucus.com/), breaking down Super Bowl halftime controversies, media hypocrisy, and why conservatives must hold their own side accountable, not just the left. The discussion sharpens around the SAVE America Act, voter ID, and election integrity—asking a blunt question: can a republic survive if its elections aren't trusted? The hour then turns inward as John addresses Colorado politics, party loyalty, and the real cost of running unaffiliated. What happens when a candidate leaves the party structure—and who pays the political price? The final stretch shifts to economics and innovation with Scott Garliss of Bent Pine Capital (https://www.bentpinecapital.com/). Together, they unpack surprising job numbers, inflation signals, Fed policy, and why AI may be accelerating productivity faster than policymakers realize. Is manufacturing quietly rebounding? Will AI eliminate jobs—or force businesses to reinvent? And is the Federal Reserve already behind the curve? This hour challenges assumptions—and dares listeners to connect the dots. Guest Timestamps * Jim Paff – Conservative Caucus:-1:11 * Scott Garlis – Bent Pine Capital: -27:13

Fluent Fiction - Korean: Seoul's Tea Evolution: Tradition Meets Modernity Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ko/episode/2026-02-13-08-38-20-ko Story Transcript:Ko: 서울의 예술적인 거리, 인사동에는 작은 찻집이 있다.En: In the artistic streets of Seoul, there is a small tea house in Insadong.Ko: 찻집은 전통적인 한국 장식들로 가득 차 있고, 겨울의 쌀쌀한 공기를 가르는 따뜻한 차 향기가 가득하다.En: The tea house is filled with traditional Korean decorations and is infused with the warm aroma of tea cutting through the chilly winter air.Ko: 이곳의 주인, 지수는 최근 가업을 이어받고 새롭게 바쁜 새해 맞이를 준비 중이다.En: The owner of this place, Jisoo, has recently inherited the family business and is preparing for a busy New Year afresh.Ko: 지수는 차에 대한 열정이 가득한 차 마스터이다.En: Jisoo is a tea master full of passion for tea.Ko: 설날을 맞아 새로운 손님을 유치하고 싶었다.En: To celebrate the Lunar New Year, he wanted to attract new customers.Ko: 그는 새로운 차 블렌드를 만들어 찻집을 더욱 활기차게 만들기를 소망했다.En: He desired to create a new tea blend to make the tea house even more vibrant.Ko: 하지만 지수는 가족의 명성에 걸맞게 해야 한다는 생각에 약간의 불안감을 느꼈다. 설날이 다가오면서 관광객들이 많이 방문할 것이기 때문이다.En: However, he felt a bit anxious about living up to the family's reputation because many tourists would visit as the Lunar New Year approached.Ko: 지수 옆에는 항상 성실한 가족 친구 민준이 있다.En: Always by Jisoo's side is the diligent family friend Minjun.Ko: 민준은 찻집이 바쁠 때면 언제나 도와준다.En: Minjun always helps out when the tea house is busy.Ko: 그리고 새로 온 인턴, 하나는 전통 한국 차 문화에 대해 배우고 싶어했다.En: The new intern, Hana, wanted to learn about traditional Korean tea culture.Ko: 셋은 함께 새로운 차 블렌드를 준비하기 시작했다.En: The three of them began preparing a new tea blend together.Ko: 지수는 전통적인 재료에 현대적인 변화를 주고 싶었다.En: Jisoo wanted to introduce a modern twist to traditional ingredients.Ko: 하지만 민준은 그런 변화가 필요 없다고 생각했고, 하나는 신선한 아이디어를 내며 여러 가지 시도를 해보고 싶어 했다.En: However, Minjun believed such changes were unnecessary, while Hana wanted to try out various ideas with fresh concepts.Ko: 그러나 지수는 자신의 방식대로 블렌드를 완성하기로 결심했다.En: Nevertheless, Jisoo decided to complete the blend in his own way.Ko: 설날 전날이 되었고, 지수는 준비한 차를 드디어 손님들에게 선보였다.En: The day before the Lunar New Year arrived, and Jisoo finally presented the prepared tea to the customers.Ko: 손님들은 차를 맛보고 각자의 의견을 나누었다.En: Customers tasted the tea and shared their opinions.Ko: 찻집은 사람들로 붐볐다.En: The tea house was bustling with people.Ko: 어떤 손님들은 찬사를 보냈고, 어떤 손님들은 전통의 변화에 약간의 불만을 느끼기도 했다.En: Some customers gave praises, while others felt a bit discontented with the changes to tradition.Ko: 그럼에도 불구하고, 많은 사람들이 지수의 새로운 시도를 지지하며 찻집에 대한 관심이 높아졌다.En: Despite this, many people supported Jisoo's new attempt, and interest in the tea house increased.Ko: 전통을 유지하면서도 혁신을 받아들이는 모습이 사람들에게 감동을 주었다.En: The blend of preserving tradition while accepting innovation moved people.Ko: 찻집은 이제 더욱 많은 방문객을 맞이하며 인사동의 문화적인 부분을 더욱 강화했다.En: The tea house has now welcomed even more visitors, further enhancing the cultural aspect of Insadong.Ko: 지수는 자신의 창의적인 비전을 통해 전통을 존중하고 미래를 향해 나아가는 방법을 배웠다.En: Jisoo learned how to respect tradition and move toward the future through his creative vision.Ko: 그는 찻집을 더욱 발전시키며, 스스로에 대한 믿음을 얻었다.En: He further developed the tea house and gained confidence in himself.Ko: 이제 다른 어떤 도전도 두렵지 않았다.En: Now, no challenge seemed daunting.Ko: 찻집은 더욱 밝은 미래를 향해 나아가고 있다.En: The tea house is moving toward a brighter future. Vocabulary Words:artistic: 예술적인infused: 가득하다inherit: 이어받다afresh: 새롭게passion: 열정blend: 블렌드vibrant: 활기차게anxious: 불안감reputation: 명성diligent: 성실한intern: 인턴twist: 변화unnecessary: 필요 없다고concepts: 아이디어nevertheless: 그럼에도 불구하고bustling: 붐볐다discontented: 불만despite: 그럼에도innovations: 혁신enhancing: 강화했다creative: 창의적인vision: 비전daunting: 두렵지chilly: 쌀쌀한aroma: 향기preserving: 유지approached: 다가오면서support: 지지praises: 찬사respect: 존중

Fluent Fiction - Korean: Bunker Bonds: Finding Friendship in Unexpected Places Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ko/episode/2026-02-13-23-34-02-ko Story Transcript:Ko: 지훈은 추운 겨울 아침, 커다란 지하 벙커 앞에 섰습니다.En: Jihoon stood in front of a large underground bunker on a cold winter morning.Ko: 벙커의 문은 두껍고 차가웠습니다.En: The door to the bunker was thick and cold.Ko: 오늘은 주민 안전 훈련이 있는 날이었습니다.En: Today was the day of the resident safety drill.Ko: 지훈은 건축에 관심이 많았습니다. 그래서 벙커의 구조가 궁금했습니다.En: Jihoon was very interested in architecture, so he was curious about the structure of the bunker.Ko: 그러나 지훈은 사람들과 어울리는 것을 어려워했습니다.En: However, he found it difficult to mingle with people.Ko: 안으로 들어가자, 벙커는 약간 어둡고 벽은 콘크리트로 완전하게 둘러싸였습니다.En: Inside, the bunker was somewhat dark, and the walls were completely surrounded by concrete.Ko: 먼 쪽에서 발전기 소리가 낮게 들렸습니다.En: From afar, the low sound of a generator could be heard.Ko: 분위기는 안전했지만, 약간 답답했습니다.En: The atmosphere felt safe, but a bit oppressive.Ko: 지훈은 어느 자리에 앉아서 주변을 살폈습니다.En: Jihoon sat in a seat and looked around his surroundings.Ko: 수아는 벙커 한쪽에서 바빠 보였습니다.En: Sooah appeared busy on one side of the bunker.Ko: 그녀는 주민들이 편안하게 있을 수 있도록 돕고 있었습니다.En: She was helping the residents feel comfortable.Ko: 수아는 활발하고 사람을 사귀는 것을 좋아했지만, 좁은 공간은 여전히 두려웠습니다.En: Although Sooah was outgoing and liked making friends, she was still afraid of confined spaces.Ko: 그녀는 그 두려움을 극복하고 싶었습니다.En: She wanted to overcome that fear.Ko: 지훈과 수아는 우연히 나란히 앉게 되었습니다.En: Jihoon and Sooah happened to sit next to each other.Ko: 지훈은 수아에게 말을 걸고 싶었지만, 용기가 나지 않았습니다.En: Jihoon wanted to talk to Sooah, but he couldn't muster the courage.Ko: 그때, 수아가 먼저 웃으며 말을 건넸습니다.En: Just then, Sooah smiled first and spoke to him.Ko: "여기 생각보다 안 추워서 다행이에요, 그렇죠?"En: "It's a relief that it's not as cold in here as I thought, right?"Ko: 지훈은 미소를 지으며 대답했습니다. "네, 정말 그렇네요.En: Jihoon smiled and replied, "Yes, it really is.Ko: 이 벙커 구조가 너무 흥미로워요.En: The structure of this bunker is so intriguing.Ko: 안전하게 만드는 데 많은 생각이 필요했겠죠."En: A lot of thought must have gone into making it safe."Ko: 수아는 벙커 얘기에 흥미를 보이며 지훈에게 물었습니다. "건축에 대해 알고 계세요?"En: Sooah, showing interest in the bunker conversation, asked Jihoon, "Do you know about architecture?"Ko: 두 사람은 벙커와 관련된 이야기를 시작으로 서로에게 마음을 열었습니다.En: The two began to open up to each other starting with their conversation about the bunker.Ko: 지훈은 수아의 밝은 성격에 끌렸고, 수아는 지훈의 진중한 태도에 안정을 느꼈습니다.En: Jihoon was drawn to Sooah's bright personality, and Sooah felt a sense of stability from Jihoon's serious demeanor.Ko: 그런데 갑자기 벙커 안의 전등이 깜빡거리더니, 순식간에 전기가 나갔습니다.En: But suddenly, the lights inside the bunker began to flicker and, in an instant, the power went out.Ko: 어둠 속에서 느껴지는 불안함.En: In the darkness, there was a sense of unease.Ko: 지훈은 손전등을 꺼내어 둘 사이를 비추었습니다.En: Jihoon took out a flashlight and illuminated the space between them.Ko: 수아는 조금 긴장한 듯 했지만, 지훈의 침착한 모습에 안심했습니다.En: Sooah seemed a little tense but felt reassured by Jihoon's calm demeanor.Ko: "괜찮아요. 발전기가 돌아오면 금방 전기가 들어올 거예요."En: "It's okay. The electricity will come back on as soon as the generator starts working again."Ko: 그동안 두 사람은 긴장한 어둠 속에서 서로를 의지하게 되었습니다.En: During that time, the two relied on each other in the tense darkness.Ko: 조심스레 이야기를 나누며 서로의 이야기를 조금씩 열어 보였습니다.En: Cautiously sharing stories, they gradually opened up to each other.Ko: 지훈은 자신의 외로움을 털어놨고, 수아는 자신의 두려움을 솔직히 말했습니다.En: Jihoon shared his loneliness, and Sooah spoke honestly about her fears.Ko: 잠시 후 전기가 돌아왔습니다.En: After a while, the electricity returned.Ko: 벙커 안은 다시 밝아졌습니다.En: The inside of the bunker was bright again.Ko: 훈련도 끝나가고 있었습니다.En: The drill was also nearing its end.Ko: 지훈과 수아는 얼굴에 서로의 이름을 적은 쪽지를 교환했습니다.En: Jihoon and Sooah exchanged notes with each other's names written on them.Ko: "거기 밖에서 커피 한 잔 하자고 해도 될까요?" 수아가 물었습니다.En: "Can I ask you out for a coffee outside?" Sooah asked.Ko: "좋아요. 그러면 건축 얘기 더 하고 싶어요." 지훈이 웃으며 대답했습니다.En: "Sure, I'd love to talk more about architecture," Jihoon replied with a smile.Ko: 벙커를 나와 하얗게 쌓인 눈을 보며 두 사람은 마음이 훈훈해지는 것을 느꼈습니다.En: As they stepped out of the bunker and looked at the white snow piled up, they both felt a warmth in their hearts.Ko: 지훈은 앞으로 더 많은 사람들과 연결될 수 있는 자신감을 얻었고, 수아는 좁은 공간에 대한 두려움에서 더 자유로워졌습니다.En: Jihoon gained confidence in connecting with more people in the future, and Sooah felt freer from her fear of confined spaces.Ko: 그들에게는 이제 새로운 친구가 생겼습니다.En: They now had a new friend.Ko: 그날의 만남은 그들에게 특별한 밸런타인데이 선물이 되었습니다.En: The encounter that day became a special Valentine's Day gift for them. Vocabulary Words:underground: 지하bunker: 벙커drill: 훈련architecture: 건축mingle: 어울리다concrete: 콘크리트oppressive: 답답한atmosphere: 분위기confined: 좁은muster: 용기 내다courage: 용기relief: 안심intriguing: 흥미로운flicker: 깜빡거리다illuminated: 비추었다tense: 긴장한reassured: 안심한unease: 불안함rely: 의지하다demonstrate: 드러내다loneliness: 외로움overcome: 극복하다exchange: 교환하다pile up: 쌓이다stability: 안정demeanor: 태도flashlight: 손전등confidence: 자신감encounter: 만남Valentine's Day: 밸런타인데이

Our Global Head of Fixed Income Research Andrew Sheets explains how key market indicators reflect a constructive view around the global cyclical outlook, despite a volatile start to 2026.Read more insights from Morgan Stanley.----- Transcript -----Andrew Sheets: Welcome to Thoughts on the Market. I'm Andrew Sheets, Global Head of Fixed Income Research at Morgan Stanley. Today I'm going to talk about the unusual alignment of a number of key indicators. It's Thursday, February 12th at 2pm in London. A frustrating element of investing is that any indicator at any time can let you down. That makes sense. With so much on the line, the secret to markets probably isn't just one of a hundreds of data series that a thousand of us can access at the push of a button. But many indicators all suggesting the same? That's far more notable. And despite a volatile start to 2026 with big swings in everything from Japanese government bonds to software stocks, it is very much what we think is happening below the surface. Specifically, a variety of indicators linked to optimism around the global cyclical outlook are all stronger, all moving up and to the right. Copper, which is closely followed as an economically sensitive commodity, is up strongly. Korean equities, which have above average cyclicality and sensitivity to global trade is the best performing of any major global equity market over the last year. Financials, which lie at the heart of credit creation, have been outperforming across the U.S., Europe, and Asia. And more recently, year-to-date cyclicals and transports are outperforming. Small caps are leading, breadth is improving, and the yield curve is bear steepening. All of these are the outcomes that you'd expect, all else equal, if global growth is going to be stronger in the future than it is today. Now individually, these data points can be explained away. Maybe Copper is just part of an AI build out story. Maybe Korea is just rebounding off extreme levels of valuation. Maybe Financials are just about deregulation in a steeper yield curve. Maybe the steeper yield curve is just about the policy uncertainty. And small cap stocks have been long-term laggards – maybe every dog has its day. But collectively, well, they're exactly what investors will be looking for to confirm that the global growth backdrop is getting stronger, and we believe they form a pretty powerful, overlapping signal worthy of respect. But if things are getting better, how much is too much. In the face of easier fiscal, monetary, and regulatory policy, the market may focus on other signposts to determine whether we now have too much of a good thing. For example, is there signs of significant inflation on the horizon? Is volatility in the bond market increasing? Is the U.S. dollar deviating significantly from its fair value? Is the credit market showing weakness? And do stocks and credit now react badly when the data is good? So far, not yet. As we discussed on this program last week, long run inflation expectations in the U.S. and euro area remain pretty consistent with central bank targets. Expected volatility in U.S. interest rates has actually fallen year-to-date. The U.S. dollar's valuation is pretty close to what purchasing power parity would suggest. Credit has been very stable. And better than expected labor market data on Wednesday was treated well. Any single indicator can and eventually will let investors down. But when a broad set of economically sensitive signals all point in the same direction, we listen. Taken together, we think this alignment is still telling a story of supportive fundamental tailwinds while key measures of stress hold. Until that evidence changes, we think those signals deserve respect. Thank you as always, for your time. If you find Thoughts on the Market useful, let us know by leaving a review wherever you listen. And also tell a friend or colleague about us today.

215: The Language of Love: How Culture Teaches Us to Care Valentine's Day: it's often spoken in the language of roses and romance, but love has many dialects. Today learn forms of love in different cultures that can be used in everyday life. Kiki & Dawit Today's Lexi:  Φροντίδα – Frontida – Care In Today's Episode: We have a sweet holiday coming up. How will you express your love this Valentine's Day? In many cultures, love is expressed through care – being present and being respectful. Kiki's on-location visit with Dawit of Brunch Spot Waikiki in Honolulu spotlights the important gestures Korean people share with their neighbor. Resources: Brunch Spot Waikiki Credits: Music: Spiro Dussias Vocals: Zabrina Hay Graphic Designer: Manos Koumparakis  

"I will say that QAnon was right and I was wrong." — Pepper CulpepperFrom Bannon and Trump to Summers, Gates, Blavatnik and Chomsky, the Epstein scandal has revealed elites of all ideological stripes behaving shamefully together. The Oxford political scientist Pepper Culpepper argues this is exactly the kind of corporate scandal that can save democracy—not despite its ugliness, but because of it. His new co-authored book, Billionaire Backlash, shows how scandals activate "latent opinion," bringing long-simmering public concerns to the surface and triggering society-wide demand for regulation. We discuss why Cambridge Analytica led to California privacy law, how Samsung's bribery scandal sparked Korea's Candlelight Protests, and why China's authoritarian approach to corporate malfeasance actually undermines trust.Culpepper, himself the Blavatnik Professor of Government at Oxford's Blavatnik School, acknowledges an uncomfortable truth. "I would say that QAnon was right," he admits, "and I was wrong." The specifics might have been fantasy, but the underlying suspicion about elite corruption was justified. And policy entrepreneurs—obsessive individuals who channel public outrage into actual legislation—matter more than we think. For Culpepper, billionaire backlash isn't a threat to democracy—it might actually be what saves it.About the GuestPepper Culpepper is Vice Dean of the Blavatnik School of Government at the University of Oxford. He is the co-author, with Taeku Lee of Harvard, of Billionaire Backlash: The Age of Corporate Scandal and How It Could Save Democracy (2026).ReferencesScandals discussed:●      The Epstein scandal revealed that elites across politics, finance, and academia were connected to Jeffrey Epstein's network of abuse—vindicating populist suspicions that "the system is broken."●      Cambridge Analytica (2018) exposed how Facebook leaked data on 90 million users, leading to the Digital Markets Act and Digital Services Act in the EU, and California's privacy regulations.●      The Samsung bribery scandal in South Korea led to the Candlelight Protests and President Park Geun-hye's resignation, demonstrating how corporate scandals can strengthen civil society.●      The 2008 Chinese milk scandal killed six infants due to melamine contamination; the government's cover-up during the Beijing Olympics destroyed public trust in domestic food safety.●      Volkswagen's Dieselgate scandal showed how companies cheat on regulations, bringing latent concerns about corporate behavior to the surface.Policy entrepreneurs mentioned:●      Carl Levin was a US Senator from Michigan who shepherded the Goldman Sachs hearings and contributed to the Dodd-Frank Act.●      Margrethe Vestager served as EU Competition Commissioner and pushed for the Digital Markets Act and Digital Services Act.●      Max Schrems is an Austrian privacy activist who, as a student, discovered Facebook retained his deleted messages and eventually brought down the US-EU data transfer agreement.●      Alastair Mactaggart is a California property developer who pushed through the state's privacy regulations when federal action proved impossible.●      Zhao Lianhai was a Chinese activist who tried to organize parents after the 2008 milk scandal; the government arrested and imprisoned him.Concepts discussed:●      Latent opinion refers to concerns people hold in the back of their minds that aren't front-of-mind until a scandal brings them to the surface.●      The Thermidor reference is to the French Revolutionary period when the radical Jacobins were overthrown—Culpepper suggests a controlled version might benefit democracy.●      The muckrakers were Progressive Era journalists whose exposés led to reforms like the Food and Drug Administration.Also mentioned:●      Michael Sandel is a Harvard political philosopher known for arguing that "there shouldn't be a price on everything."●      Patrick Radden Keefe wrote Empire of Pain, the definitive account of the Sackler family and the opioid epidemic.●      Lee Jae-yong is the heir apparent to Samsung, implicated in the bribery scandal.●      Parasite, Squid Game, and No Other Choice are Korean cultural works that critique the country's relationship with its conglomerates.About Keen On AmericaNobody asks more awkward questions than the Anglo-American writer and filmmaker Andrew Keen. In Keen On America, Andrew brings his pointed Transatlantic wit to making sense of the United States—hosting daily interviews about the history and future of this now venerable Republic. With nearly 2,800 episodes since the show launched on TechCrunch in 2010, Keen On America is the most prolific intellectual interview show in the history of podcasting.WebsiteSubstackYouTubeApple PodcastsSpotifyChapters:(00:00) - (00:22) - The Epstein opportunity (01:21) - Elite overreach exposed (03:12) - Scandals without partisan charge (05:04) - The Vice Dean's credibility problem (06:21) - Latent opinion explained (09:39) - Is there anything wrong with being a billionaire? (11:47) - American vs. European scandals (14:48) - Saving democracy vs. saving capitalism (17:05) - Corporate scandals and economic vitality (18:33) - Policy entrepreneurs: Carl Levin and Margrethe Vestager (19:54...

Over a six-month period from October 2024 until March 2025, CEAS Associate Director David Fields had the incredible opportunity to record an extensive oral history with Hyuk YU, emeritus professor of Chemistry at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. While he is best known as a chemist, this oral history focused on Professor Yu's early life in Korea. Born in 1933, Professor YU was an eye-witness to many of the historical events that shaped the Korean peninsula in the first half of the 20th century. This episode will focus on Professor YU's childhood in the far north of Korea. Born in the "exile locale" of Kapsan in 1933, he offers a rare eyewitness account of life under Japanese colonial rule and what it means to be Korean in the Japanese Empire. This episode was co-produced, edited, and mastered by Nate Gass. Jihoon Suk selected, restored, and digitally transferred the music on this episode. Music Credits 삼수갑산 Samsu Gapsan Sung by Kang Hongsik 강홍식 Lyrics by Kim Anseo 김안서(김억) Music by Kim Kyoseong 김교성 Recorded on May 9th, 1933 Originally issued as Victor 49233-A in September 1933. 방랑가 Bangrang-ga Sung by Kang Seokyeon 강석영 Lyrics by Kim Yeonghwan 김영환 Music by Kang Yunseok 강윤석 Recorded on March 22nd, 1931. Originally issued as Columbia 40138-A in July 1931. 달없는 항로 Dalupneun Hangno Sung by Yi Nanyeong 이난영 Lyrics by Kim Yong-ho 김용호 Composed by Um Jae-geun 엄재근 Originally issued as Okeh 12237-B in May 1939. 타향 Tahyang Sung by Ko Boksu 고복수 Lyrics by Keum Neung-in 금능인 Composed by Sohn Mokin 손목인 Originally issued as Okeh 1677-B in April 1934.

The latest episode of Tin Foil Hat features Tony Moon for a deep dive into U.S. civil unrest from the 1992 LA Riots to today's ICE protests, breaking down the patterns and narratives behind them. He also discusses his upcoming book, Rooftop Korean, exploring the legacy of the so-called "Rooftop Koreans," why some prefer "Rooftop Citizens Army," and what the story really means. As a Los Angeles resident since 1977—nearing 50 uninterrupted years in the city—Tony shares firsthand insight into LA's history and evolution. Please check out Tony Moon's Book: Rooftop Korean: Memoir Of The 1992 Riots- https://wargate.store/products/rooftop-korean-memoir-of-the-1992-l-a-riots Please subscribe to the new Tin Foil Hat youtube channel:  https://www.youtube.com/@TinFoilHatYoutube Grab your copy of the 2nd issue of the Chaos Twins now and join the Army Of Chaos: https://bit.ly/415fDfY Check out Sam "DoomScrollin with Sam Tripoli and Midnight Mike" Every Tuesday At 4pm pst on Youtube, X Twitter, Rumble and Rokfin! Join the WolfPack at Wise Wolf Gold and Silver and start hedging your financial position by investing in precious metals now! Go to https://www.samtripoli.gold/ and use the promo code "TinFoil" and we thank Tony for supporting our show. CopyMyCrypto.com: The 'Copy my Crypto' membership site shows you the coins that the youtuber 'James McMahon' personally holds - and allows you to copy him. So if you'd like to join the 1300 members who copy James, then stop what you're doing and head over to: https://copymycrypto.com/tinfoilhat/ You'll not only find proof of everything I've said - but my listeners get full access for just $1 LiveLongerFormula.com: Check out https://www.livelongerformula.com/sam — Christian is a longevity author and functional health expert who helps you fix your gut, detox, boost testosterone, and sleep better so you can thrive, not just survive. Watch his free masterclass on the 7 Deadly Health Fads, and if it clicks, book a free Metabolic Function Assessment to get to the root of your health issues. Grab Tickets To Sam Tripoli's Live Shows At SamTripoli.com: Hollywood, CA: 2/10 Perryville, MD: 2/20 Pottstown, PA: 2/21 Las Vegas, NV: 2/28 Bakersfield, CA: 3/6 Yuma, AZ: 3/7 Hollywood, CA: 3/10 Batavia, IL: 3/26-3/28 Toronto, CA: 4/17-18 Dallas, TX: 4/24 Fort Worth, TX: 4/25 Albuquerque, NM: 6/12-6/13 Austin, TX: The 100th Episode Of Tin Foil Hat 6/18 Lawerence, KS: 9/17-9/19 Tulsa, OK: 10/9-10/10 Austin, TX: 12/11-12/13   Please check out Tony Moon's internet:  Twitter: https://x.com/RoofKorean7 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roofkorean7   Please check out Sam Tripoli's internet: Linktree: https://linktr.ee/samtripoli Sam Tripoli's Stand Up Youtube Page: https://www.youtube.com/@SamTripoliComedy  Sam Tripoli's Comedy Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samtripolicomedy/%20P Sam Tripoli's Podcast Clip Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samtripolispodcastclips/   Please support our sponsors: Blue Chew Gold: And we've got a special deal for our listeners: Get 10% off your first month of BlueChew Gold with code TINFOIL. That's promo code TINFOIL. Visit BlueChew.com for more details and important safety information, and we thank BlueChew for sponsoring the podcast. Quince:  Refresh your winter wardrobe with Quince.. Go to Quince dot com slash TINFOILHAT for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too. That's Q-U-I-N-C-E dot com slash TINFOILHAT. Free shipping and 365-day returns. Quince dot com slash TINFOILHAT.          

GUEST EPISODE, GUEST EPISODEEEEE!!! We have our homie Anderson/AP/Andy on today, talking about everything from his new movie (featuring Jonnie and… Steffie??), being a father, 67, and how to flirt in Korean. Plus, the difference between Black and Korean churches.  "K-Pops!" out in theaters February 27th. Go support! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode, we are stripping back the luxury labels to find the breakthrough products that outperform their pricey counterparts. From the viral Korean “pudding” blushes that have officially infiltrated the drugstore to a $13 watery moisturizer that saturates skin, we're showcasing “recession-proof” musts that don't sacrifice your self-care routine.Shop everything in this episode hereYou'll hear about:The “micro-emulsion” breakthrough: Why everyone is buzzing about a $13 milky moisturizer – and the specific way it outshines heavy-duty creams Red carpet secrets for less: The exact $12 lip treat used on Lainey Wilson for the Grammys (and why it might be better than the “status” balms in your bag)The return of the “mousse” moment? We road-test the new 16-hour cheek and lip mousse that's giving us major 2000s nostalgia, now with a sophisticated, K-beauty twist Fresh and flushed: Is red blush low-key the most underrated runway beauty hack? Get in on the viral trend for $12. Foundation innovation: Soft matte is everything in 2026 – and a new small-but-mighty foundation formula is not to be overlookedFragrance that flatters: The $16 glass-bottle “sunshine” scent for hair and body that you'd swear is designed (just in time for Valentine's Day!)

Today we sit down and try to figure out what our ‘type' is, for romantic relationships, personal friendships, and work connections! We try to describe each others' types because sometimes…it's easier for a third party to clock the pattern ;-) We also try to dissect our personal values and needs based on the common factors we see in our close connections!Support the showFollow us on social media @eatyourcrustpod

Episode Summary: In this week's episode of your favorite Korean Adoptee podcast, the Janchi Boys chat about dealing with online spaces you thought were safe, making neighborhood friends, and getting real about our feelings with regards to ICE in our communities and country.Later we try Haitai's Espresso Ace Cracker…can we get this dipped in chocolate?---// Support the Show!Online at janchishow.com / @janchishowSupport the show at janchishow.com/supportJoin our Facebook Group! janchishow.com/afterpartyWatch our Youtube VideosLeave a voicemail! 972-677-8867Write us a note: janchishow@gmail.comThe Janchi Show Quick BioThe Janchi Show focuses on exploring intersectional identities and current events through the lens of adoption, race, lived experience and more. Sometimes we have guests, and sometimes it's just the three of us. Either way, it's always a janchi!// Meet the Janchi Boys!Nathan NowackNathan (he/him) is a transracial Korean American adoptee who was born in Seoul in the 1970s. He was adopted at the age of 5 months old and raised in a small town in Oklahoma along with a non-biological Korean adopted sister.  After going to college in Colorado he later moved to Los Angeles to pursue a digital media career and eventually started 2 photography companies.  He loves spending time with his wife and 3 kids, playing golf, and collecting Lego. He is in reunion with his biological family as the youngest of 7 and has been in contact since 2015.  He currently serves on the Advisory Council for KAAN and helps with the planning of their annual adoptee conference.  In 2021, Nathan and his family moved back to Colorado to be closer to family and start a new chapter in their lives.  Connect with Nathan!Website: http://www.coverve.comInstagram: http://instagram.com/nnowackPatrick ArmstrongPatrick Armstrong (he/him) is a transracial Korean American adoptee, podcaster, speaker, and community facilitator. He is one of the hosts of the Janchi Show, a podcast that explores and celebrates the experiences and stories of Korean adoptees everywhere. He also is host of Conversation Piece with Patrick Armstrong, a podcast where he discusses the missing pieces of the conversations we're already having. He is a cofounder of the Asian Adoptees of Indiana, a group dedicated to creating a safe, engaging community for all Asian adoptees who need it. He is currently based in Indianapolis with his wife and cat. Connect with Patrick!Website: http://patrickintheworld.meLinkedIn: http://linkedin/in/patrickintheworldInstagram: http://instagram.com/patrickintheworldK.J. Roelke (@kjroelke)KJ (he/him) was adopted from Daegu and raised in Dallas, Texas with his two biological, older siblings and his younger sister, adopted from Russia. After spending a decade in the Midwest for college and career, he and his wife are back in Dallas and living large! He has been on his journey of discovery since 2015 and spends his days as a web developer for the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.Connect with K.J.!Website: https://kjroelke.online/LinkedIn: https://linkedin/in/kjroelkeInstagram: https://instagram.com/kjroelke// Listen to/Watch The Janchi Show on all major platforms:Apple: http://janchishow.com/appleSpotify: http://janchishow.com/spotifyYoutube: http://janchishow.com/youtubeGratitude & CreditsMichelle Nam for our logo and brandingJerry Won for bring us togetherThis show is created and produced by Patrick, Nathan and KJ and is the sole property of the Janchi Show, LLC.

Send a textBall Watching hosts, Jake Koenig and Justin Graham, discuss the latest CITY news, preseason learnings, and the overall season preview for 2026. The season preview includes scheduling blocks, previewing the depth chart, predicting points tallies, and ideating on the biggest themes that CITY needs to go their way in 2026. In addition, we cover updates from around MLS, the CONCACAF Champions League, and answer some of your questions!Follow the show on X and/or Instagram (@BallWatchingSTL)! Find our guest interviews and all episodes in video form on YouTube by searching https://www.youtube.com/@ballwatchingSTL. Be sure to hit subscribe and turn notifications on!Hoffmann Brothers is the 2025 presenting sponsor of Ball Watching! Headquartered right here in St. Louis for over 40 years, Hoffmann Brothers is a full-service residential & commercial provider, providing Heating, Air Conditioning, Plumbing, Drains, Sewer, Water Heaters, Duct Cleaning, Electrical and Appliance Repair services. Visit them online at hoffmannbros.com!Make The Pitch Athletic Club & Tavern (thepitch-stl.com) your St. Louis CITY SC pregame and postgame destination for all your food and drink needs! Tell them your friends at Ball Watching sent you... Seoul Juice is the official drink of Ball Watching and made with three clean simple ingredients: water, organic lemon juice, and Korean pear juice. Get yours at Dierbergs, Sams Club, or online at seouljuice.com. Use code "BALLWATCHING" at checkout for 20% off all online orders!Shop in-store or online at Series Six (seriessixcompany.com) and receive a 15% discount on all orders storewide using code "BALLWATCHING" at checkout!

From Dreams to Goals returns for 2026 with the AFC Women's Asian Cup now less than three weeks away. As kickoff approaches, there are many issues bubbling away which hosts Gina Bagnulo and Anirudh Nair discuss. Korean players take on their federation over pay and conditions India make a surprise coaching change Iran struggle with preparations The players call for more money Follow Gina Bagnulo on X: https://x.com/GinaBagnulo3  Follow Gina Bagnulo on IG: https://www.instagram.com/ginabagnulo  Follow Anirudh Nair on IG: https://www.instagram.com/annie_rude_ Be sure to follow The Asian Game on all our social media channels: X: https://twitter.com/TheAsianGame IG: https://instagram.com/theasiangame Facebook: https://facebook.com/TheAsianGamePodcast 

Kelly Gibney joins Jesse to share this week's Easy Eats recipe, Korean inspired Bolognese.

Sean and Amanda open the show by reacting to every movie trailer from the Super Bowl, including those for David Fincher's ‘The Adventures of Cliff Booth' and Steven Spielberg's ‘Disclosure Day' (1:25). Then, they talk through their experience at the DGA Awards this past weekend and explain what it's actually like at an awards show (33:15). Finally, Sean is joined by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, the directors of ‘KPop Demon Hunters,' to discuss why they wanted to make a movie for themselves first and foremost, how legendary Korean directors Bong Joon-ho and Park Chan-wook inspired their filmmaking style, and the importance of writing interesting and strong female characters (1:25:38). Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Guests: Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans Producer: Jack Sanders Video Producers: Sarah Reddy, Donald LoBianco, and Ryan Todd Audio Producers: Devon Baroldi and Kevin Cureghian Additional Production Support: Nick Kosut and T Cruz A State Farm agent can help you choose the coverage you need. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.® Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

K-Pop Fandom: Performing Deokhu from the 1990s to Today (U Michigan Press, 2026) insists that K-pop fan practices and activities constitute a central productive force, shaping not only K-pop's explosive global popularity, but also K-pop's cultural impacts, politics, and horizons of possibility. Over the past three decades, the K-pop fandom and its activities have expanded, intensified, and diversified along myriad dimensions, assuming novel social, technological, and economic forms, some of which are unique to K-pop, and some of which reflect broader cultural and industrial logics of globalized mass entertainment culture. Areum Jeong argues that K-pop fans, in performing deokhu—a Korean term connoting an “avid fan”—perform a materialization of affective labor that also seeks to produce good relationships between asymmetrically positioned actors in the K-pop ecosystem. Through an autoethnography of becoming a K-pop deokhu, Jeong connects their experiences to generations of K-pop fans, showing simultaneously how fandom practices have shifted over time and the intricacies of fan labor participation. This personal connection paved the way for participant-observation and co-performer witnessing methodologies in the study, which crucially allowed for collaborating with fans whose communal pursuits have been stigmatized by dominant discourses that denigrate their activities as solely addictive, uncritical, and wasteful. Jeong's genre-spanning corpus of fan activities and analyzing its contexts and contents represents an important contribution to the making of a fan archive that is also an archive of affective labor. 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

Since February is National Children's Month, I thought about writing an essay on what my grandchildren have taught me. They are now in school with children of other cultures, and although they may have graduated from Crayola college, they are color blind and love their friends from other cultures. Recently, my grandson Trevor was teaching me to count to five in the Japanese language and even write the numbers. Since we will be celebrating Valentine's day next week, I have researched how to say I love you in 15 languages: German, French, Swedish, Polish, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Greenlandish, Finnish, Russian, Filipino, Korean, and Hawaiian. My deepest apologies if I mispronounced any of those. What is Love? By a teenager. "Love is an attitude. Love is a prayer for someone in sorrow, a heart in despair. Love extends good wishes for the gain of another. Love suffers long with the fault of a brother. Love gives water to a cup that's run dry. Love reaches low, love reaches high. Love seeks not his own at the expense of another. Love reaches God when it reaches a brother." This poem, What is Love, has a special place in my heart. I first heard that poem read by a young woman who is blind and read the poem with her fingers. A former student of mine from Florida sent me this poem - one of her favorites by Emily Matthews. A Poem for You: "A lifetime of love and a hug and a smile, a reason to visit and stay for a while. The strength of a bond that's destined to last, the joys of the present and the warmth of the past. These are the treasures a fortunate few are lucky to cherish all their lives through. These are the blessings on which we depend for these are the gifts of a very best friend.” Happy Valentine's Day!Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea, written by Dr Luetta G WernerPublished in the Marion Record on February 8th, 2001Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

K-Pop Fandom: Performing Deokhu from the 1990s to Today (U Michigan Press, 2026) insists that K-pop fan practices and activities constitute a central productive force, shaping not only K-pop's explosive global popularity, but also K-pop's cultural impacts, politics, and horizons of possibility. Over the past three decades, the K-pop fandom and its activities have expanded, intensified, and diversified along myriad dimensions, assuming novel social, technological, and economic forms, some of which are unique to K-pop, and some of which reflect broader cultural and industrial logics of globalized mass entertainment culture. Areum Jeong argues that K-pop fans, in performing deokhu—a Korean term connoting an “avid fan”—perform a materialization of affective labor that also seeks to produce good relationships between asymmetrically positioned actors in the K-pop ecosystem. Through an autoethnography of becoming a K-pop deokhu, Jeong connects their experiences to generations of K-pop fans, showing simultaneously how fandom practices have shifted over time and the intricacies of fan labor participation. This personal connection paved the way for participant-observation and co-performer witnessing methodologies in the study, which crucially allowed for collaborating with fans whose communal pursuits have been stigmatized by dominant discourses that denigrate their activities as solely addictive, uncritical, and wasteful. Jeong's genre-spanning corpus of fan activities and analyzing its contexts and contents represents an important contribution to the making of a fan archive that is also an archive of affective labor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/music

Last time we spoke about The Battle of Suixian–Zaoyang-Shatow. Following the brutal 1938 capture of Wuhan, Japanese forces aimed to solidify their hold by launching an offensive against Chinese troops in the 5th War Zone, a rugged natural fortress in northern Hubei and southern Henan. Under General Yasuji Okamura, the 11th Army deployed three divisions and cavalry in a pincer assault starting May 1, 1939, targeting Suixian and Zaoyang to crush Nationalist resistance and secure flanks. Chinese commander Li Zongren, leveraging terrain like the Dabie and Tongbai Mountains, orchestrated defenses with over 200,000 troops, including Tang Enbo's 31st Army Group. By May 23, they recaptured Suixian and Zaoyang, forcing a Japanese withdrawal with heavy losses, over 13,000 Japanese casualties versus 25,000 Chinese, restoring pre-battle lines. Shifting south, Japan targeted Shantou in Guangdong to sever supply lines from Hong Kong. In a massive June 21 amphibious assault, the 21st Army overwhelmed thin Chinese defenses, capturing the port and Chao'an despite guerrilla resistance led by Zhang Fakui. Though losses mounted, Japan tightened its blockade, straining China's war effort amid ongoing attrition.   #188 From Changkufeng to Nomonhan 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. Well hello again, and yes you all have probably guessed we are taking another detour. Do not worry I hope to shorten this one a bit more so than what became a sort of mini series on the battle of Changkufeng or Battle of Lake Khasan. What we are about to jump into is known in the west as the battle of khalkin Gol, by the Japanese the Nomohan incident. But first I need to sort of set the table up so to say. So back on August 10th, 1938 the Litvinov-Shigemitsu agreement established a joint border commission tasked with redemarcating the disputed boundary between the Soviet Union and Japanese-controlled Manchukuo. However, this commission never achieved a mutually agreeable definition of the border in the contested area. In reality, the outcome was decided well before the group's inaugural meeting. Mere hours after the cease-fire took effect on the afternoon of August 11, General Grigory Shtern convened with a regimental commander from Japan's 19th Division to coordinate the disengagement of forces. With the conflict deemed "honorably" concluded, Japan's Imperial General Headquarters mandated the swift withdrawal of all Japanese troops to the west bank of the Tumen River. By the night of August 13, as the final Japanese soldier crossed the river, it effectively became the de facto border. Soviet forces promptly reoccupied Changkufeng Hill and the adjacent heights—a move that would carry unexpected and profound repercussions. Authoritative Japanese military analyses suggest that if negotiations in Moscow had dragged on for just one more day, the 19th Division would likely have been dislodged from Changkufeng and its surrounding elevations. Undoubtedly, General Shtern's infantry breathed a sigh of relief as the bloodshed ceased. Yet, one can't help but question why Moscow opted for a cease-fire at a juncture when Soviet troops were on the cusp of total battlefield triumph. Perhaps Kremlin leaders deemed it wiser to settle for a substantial gain, roughly three-quarters of their objectives, rather than risk everything. After all, Japan had mobilized threatening forces in eastern Manchuria, and the Imperial Army had a history of impulsive, unpredictable aggression. Moreover, amid the escalating crisis over Czechoslovakia, Moscow may have been wary of provoking a broader Asian conflict. Another theory posits that Soviet high command was misinformed about the ground situation. Reports of capturing a small segment of Changkufeng's crest might have been misinterpreted as control over the entire ridge, or an imminent full takeover before midnight on August 10. The unexpected phone call from Foreign Minister Maxim Litvinov to the Japanese embassy that night—proposing a one-kilometer Japanese retreat in exchange for a cease-fire along existing lines—hints at communication breakdowns between Shtern's headquarters and the Kremlin. Ironically, such lapses may have preserved Japanese military honor, allowing the 19th Division's evacuation through diplomacy rather than defeat. Both sides endured severe losses. Initial Japanese press reports claimed 158 killed and 740 wounded. However, the 19th Division's medical logs reveal a grimmer toll: 526 dead and 914 injured, totaling 1,440 casualties. The true figure may have climbed higher, possibly to 1,500–2,000. Following the armistice, the Soviet news agency TASS reported 236 Red Army fatalities and 611 wounded. Given Shtern's uphill assaults across open terrain against entrenched positions, these numbers seem understated. Attackers in such scenarios typically suffered two to three times the defenders' losses, suggesting Soviet casualties ranged from 3,000 to 5,000. This aligns with a Soviet Military Council investigation on August 31, 1938, which documented 408 killed and 2,807 wounded. Japanese estimates placed Soviet losses even higher, at 4,500–7,000. Not all victims perished in combat. Marshal Vasily Blyukher, a decorated Soviet commander, former warlord of the Far East, and Central Committee candidate, was summoned to Moscow in August 1938. Relieved of duty in September and arrested with his family in October, he faced charges of inadequate preparation against Japanese aggression and harboring "enemies of the people" within his ranks. On November 9, 1938, Blyukher died during interrogation a euphemism for torture-induced death.Other innocents suffered as well. In the wake of the fighting, Soviet authorities deported hundreds of thousands of Korean rice farmers from the Ussuri region to Kazakhstan, aiming to eradicate Korean settlements that Japanese spies had allegedly exploited. The Changkufeng clash indirectly hampered Japan's Wuhan offensive, a massive push to subdue China. The influx of troops and supplies for this campaign was briefly disrupted by the border flare-up. Notably, Kwantung Army's 2nd Air Group, slated for Wuhan, was retained due to the Soviet threat. Chiang Kai-shek's drastic measure, breaching the Yellow River dikes to flood Japanese advance routes—further delayed the assault. By October 25, 1938, when Japanese forces captured Hankow, Chiang had relocated his capital to distant Chungking. Paradoxically, Wuhan's fall cut rail links from Canton inland, heightening Chiang's reliance on Soviet aid routed overland and by air from Central Asia. Japan secured a tactical win but missed the decisive blow; Chinese resistance persisted, pinning down a million Japanese troops in occupation duties. What was the true significance of Changkufeng? For General Koiso Suetaka and the 19th Division, it evoked a mix of bitterness and pride. Those eager for combat got their share, though not on their terms. To veterans mourning fallen comrades on those desolate slopes, it might have felt like senseless tragedy. Yet, they fought valiantly under dire conditions, holding firm until a retreat that blended humiliation with imperial praise, a bittersweet inheritance. For the Red Army, it marked a crucial trial of resolve amid Stalin's purges. While Shtern's forces didn't shine brilliantly, they acquitted themselves well in adversity. The U.S. military attaché in Moscow observed that any purge-related inefficiencies had been surmounted, praising the Red Army's valor, reliability, and equipment. His counterpart in China, Colonel Joseph Stilwell, put it bluntly: the Soviets "appeared to advantage," urging skeptics to rethink notions of a weakened Red Army. Yet, by World War II's eve, many British, French, German, and Japanese leaders still dismissed it as a "paper tiger." Soviet leaders appeared content, promoting Shtern to command the Transbaikal Military District and colonel general by 1940, while honoring "Heroes of Lake Khasan" with medals. In a fiery November 7, 1938, speech, Marshal Kliment Voroshilov warned that future incursions would prompt strikes deep into enemy territory. Tokyo's views diverged sharply. Many in the military and government saw it as a stain on Imperial Army prestige, especially Kwantung Army, humiliated on Manchukuo soil it swore to protect. Colonel Masanobu Tsuji Inada, however, framed it as a successful reconnaissance, confirming Soviet border defense without broader aggression, allowing the Wuhan push to proceed safely. Critics, including Major General Gun Hashimoto and historians, questioned this. They argued IGHQ lacked contingency plans for a massive Soviet response, especially with Wuhan preparations underway since June. One expert warned Japan had "played with fire," risking Manchuria and Korea if escalation occurred. Yet, Japanese commanders gleaned few lessons, downplaying Soviet materiel superiority and maintaining disdain for Red Army prowess. The 19th Division's stand against outnumbered odds reinforced this hubris, as did tolerance for local insubordination—attitudes that would prove costly. The Kremlin, conversely, learned Japan remained unpredictable despite its China quagmire. But for Emperor Hirohito's intervention, the conflict might have ballooned. Amid purges and the Czech crisis, Stalin likely viewed it as a reminder of eastern vulnerabilities, especially with Munich advancing German threats westward. Both sides toyed with peril. Moderation won in Tokyo, but Kwantung Army seethed. On August 11, Premier Fumimaro Konoye noted the need for caution. Kwantung, however, pushed for and secured control of the disputed salient from Chosen Army by October 8, 1938. Even winter's chill couldn't quench their vengeful fire, setting the stage for future confrontations. A quick look at the regional map reveals how Manchukuo and the Mongolian People's Republic each jut into the other's territory like protruding salients. These bulges could be seen as aggressive thrusts into enemy land, yet they also risked encirclement and absorption by the opposing empire. A northward push from western Manchuria through Mongolia could sever the MPR and Soviet Far East from the USSR's heartland. Conversely, a pincer movement from Mongolia and the Soviet Maritime Province might envelop and isolate Manchukuo. This dynamic highlights the frontier's strategic volatility in the 1930s. One particularly tense sector was the broad Mongolian salient extending about 150 miles eastward into west-central Manchukuo. There, in mid-1939, Soviet-Japanese tensions erupted into major combat. Known to the Japanese as the Nomonhan Incident and to the Soviets and Mongolians as the Battle of Khalkhin Gol, this clash dwarfed the earlier Changkufeng affair in scale, duration, and impact. Spanning four months and claiming 30,000 to 50,000 casualties, it amounted to a small undeclared war, the modern era's first limited conflict between great powers. The Mongolian salient features vast, semiarid plains of sandy grassland, gently rolling terrain dotted with sparse scrub pines and low shrubs. The climate is unforgivingly continental: May brings hot days and freezing nights, while July and August see daytime highs exceeding 38°C (100°F in American units), with cool evenings. Swarms of mosquitoes and massive horseflies necessitate netting in summer. Rainfall is scarce, but dense morning fogs are common in August. Come September, temperatures plummet, with heavy snows by October and midwinter lows dipping to –34°C. This blend of North African aridity and North Dakotan winters supports only sparse populations, mainly two related but distinct Mongol tribes. The Buriat (or Barga) Mongols migrated into the Nomonhan area from the northwest in the late 17th to early 18th centuries, likely fleeing Russian expansion after the 1689 Treaty of Nerchinsk. Organized by Manchu emperors between 1732 and 1735, they settled east of the river they called Khalkhin Gol (Mongolian for "river"), in lands that would later become Manchukuo. The Khalkha Mongols, named for the word meaning "barrier" or "shield," traditionally guarded the Mongol Empire's northern frontiers. Their territories lay west of the Buriats, in what would become the MPR. For centuries, these tribes herded livestock across sands, river crossings, and desert paths, largely oblivious to any formal borders. For hundreds of years, the line dividing the Mongolian salient from western Manchuria was a hazy administrative divide within the Qing Empire. In the 20th century, Russia's detachment of Outer Mongolia and Japan's seizure of Manchuria transformed this vague boundary into a frontline between rival powers. The Nomonhan Incident ignited over this contested border. Near the salient's northeastern edge, the river, called Khalkhin Gol by Mongols and Soviets, and Halha by Manchurians and Japanese, flows northwest into Lake Buir Nor. The core dispute: Was the river, as Japan asserted, the historic boundary between Manchukuo and the MPR? Soviet and MPR officials insisted the line ran parallel to and 10–12 miles east of the river, claiming the intervening strip. Japan cited no fewer than 18 maps, from Chinese and Japanese sources, to support the river as the border, a logical choice in such barren terrain, where it served as the sole natural divider. Yet, Soviets and Mongolians countered with evidence like a 1919 Chinese postal atlas and maps from Japanese and Manchukuoan agencies (1919–1934). Unbeknownst to combatants, in July 1939, China's military attaché in Moscow shared a 1934 General Staff map with his American counterpart, showing the border east of the river. Postwar Japanese studies of 18th-century Chinese records confirm that in 1734, the Qing emperor set a boundary between Buriat and Khalkha Mongols east of the river, passing through the hamlet of Nomonhan—as the Soviets claimed. However, Kwantung Army Headquarters dismissed this as non-binding, viewing it as an internal Qing affair without Russian involvement. Two former Kwantung Army officers offer a pragmatic explanation: From 1931 to 1935, when Soviet forces in the Far East were weak, Japanese and Manchukuoan authorities imposed the river as the de facto border, with MPR acquiescence. By the mid- to late 1930s, as Soviet strength grew, Japan refused to yield, while Mongolians and Soviets rejected the river line, sparking clashes. In 1935, Kwantung Army revised its maps to align with the river claim. From late that year, the Lake Buir Nor–Halha sector saw frequent skirmishes between Manchukuoan and MPR patrols. Until mid-1938, frontier defense in northwestern Manchukuo fell to the 8th Border Garrison Unit , based near Hailar. This 7,000-man force, spread thin, lacked mobility, training, and, in Kwantung Army's eyes, combat readiness. That summer, the newly formed 23rd Division, under Kwantung Army, took station at Hailar, absorbing the 8th BGU under its command, led by Lieutenant General Michitaro Komatsubara. At 52, Komatsubara was a premier Russian specialist in the Imperial Army, with stints as military attaché in the USSR and head of Kwantung's Special Services Agency in Harbin. Standing 5'7" with a sturdy build, glasses, and a small mustache, he was detail-oriented, keeping meticulous diaries, writing lengthy letters, and composing poetry, though he lacked combat experience. Before departing Tokyo in July 1938, Komatsubara received briefings from Colonel Masazumi Inada, AGS Operations Section chief. Amid planning for Changkufeng, Inada urged calm on the Manchukuo-MPR border given China's ongoing campaigns. Guidelines: Ignore minor incidents, prioritize intelligence on Soviet forces east of Lake Baikal, and study operations against the Soviet Far East's western sector. Familiar with the region from his Harbin days, Komatsubara adopted a low-key approach. Neither impulsive nor aggressive, he kept the green 23rd Division near Hailar, delegating patrols to the 8th BGU. An autumn incident underscores his restraint. On November 1, 1938, an 8th BGU patrol was ambushed by MPR forces. Per Japanese accounts, the three-man team, led by a lieutenant, strayed too close to the border and was attacked 50 meters inside Manchukuo. The lieutenant escaped, but his men died. Komatsubara sent an infantry company to secure the site but forbade retaliation. He pursued body recovery diplomatically, protested to MPR and Soviet officials, and disciplined his officers: garrison leaders got five days' confinement for poor troop training, the lieutenant thirty days. Despite this caution, pressures at AGS and KwAHQ were mounting, poised to thrust the 23rd Division into fierce battle. Modern militaries routinely develop contingency plans against potential adversaries, and the mere existence of such strategies doesn't inherently signal aggressive intentions. That said, shifts in Japan's operational planning vis-à-vis the Soviet Union may have inadvertently fueled the Nomonhan Incident. From 1934 to 1938, Japanese war scenarios emphasized a massive surprise assault in the Ussuri River region, paired with defensive holding actions in northwestern Manchuria. However, between mid-1938 and early 1939, a clandestine joint task force from the Army General Staff  and Kwantung Army's Operations Departments crafted a bold new blueprint. This revised strategy proposed containing Soviet forces in the east and north while unleashing a full-scale offensive from Hailar, advancing west-northwest toward Chita and ultimately Lake Baikal. The goal: sever the Transbaikal Soviet Far East from the USSR's core. Dubbed Plan Eight-B, it gained Kwantung Army's endorsement in March 1939. Key architects—Colonels Takushiro Hattori and Masao Terada, along with Major Takeharu Shimanuki—were reassigned from AGS to Kwantung Army Headquarters to oversee implementation. The plan anticipated a five-year buildup before execution, with Hattori assuming the role of chief operations staff officer.  A map review exposes a glaring vulnerability in Plan Eight-B: the Japanese advance would leave its southern flank exposed to Soviet counterstrikes from the Mongolian salient. By spring 1939, KwAHQ likely began perceiving this protrusion as a strategic liability. Notably, at the outbreak of Nomonhan hostilities, no detailed operational contingencies for the area had been formalized. Concurrently, Japan initiated plans for a vital railroad linking Harlun Arshan to Hailar. While its direct tie to Plan Eight-B remains unclear, the route skirted perilously close to the Halha River, potentially heightening KwAHQ's focus on the disputed Mongolian salient. In early 1939, the 23rd Division intensified reconnaissance patrols near the river. Around this time, General Grigory Shtern, freshly appointed commander of Soviet Far Eastern forces, issued a public warning that Japan was gearing up for an assault on the Mongolian People's Republic. As Plan Eight-B took shape and railroad proposals advanced, KwAHQ issued a strikingly confrontational set of guidelines for frontier troops. These directives are often cited as a catalyst for the Nomonhan clash, forging a chain linking the 1937 Amur River incident, the 1938 Changkufeng debacle, and the 1939 conflict.Resentment had festered at KwAHQ over perceived AGS meddling during the Amur affair, which curtailed their command autonomy. This frustration intensified at Changkufeng, where General Kamezo Suetaka's 19th Division endured heavy losses, only for the contested Manchukuoan territory to be effectively ceded. Kwantung Army lobbied successfully to wrest oversight of the Changkufeng salient from Chosen Army. In November 1938, Major Masanobu Tsuji of KwAHQ's Operations Section was sent to survey the site. The audacious officer was dismayed: Soviet forces dominated the land from the disputed ridge to the Tumen River. Tsuji undertook several winter reconnaissance missions. His final outing in March 1939 involved leading 40 men to Changkufeng's base. With rifles slung non-threateningly, they ascended to within 200 yards of Soviet lines, formed a line, and urinated in unison, eliciting amused reactions from the enemy. They then picnicked with obentos and sake, sang army tunes, and left gifts of canned meat, chocolates, and whiskey. This theatrical stunt concealed Tsuji's real aim: covert photography proving Soviet fortifications encroached on Manchukuoan soil. Tsuji was a singular figure. Born of modest means, he embodied a modern samurai ethos, channeling a sharp intellect into a frail, often ailing body through feats of extraordinary daring. A creative tactician, he thrived in intelligence ops, political scheming, aerial scouting, planning, and frontline command—excelling across a tumultuous career. Yet, flaws marred his brilliance: narrow bigotry, virulent racism, and capacity for cruelty. Ever the ambitious outsider, Tsuji wielded outsized influence via gekokujo—Japan's tradition of subordinates steering policy from below. In 1939, he was a major, but his pivotal role at Nomonhan stemmed from this dynamic. Back in Hsinking after his Changkufeng escapade, Tsuji drafted a response plan: negotiate border "rectification" with the Soviets; if talks failed, launch an attack to expel intruders. Kwantung Army adopted it. Deputy Chief of Staff Major General Otozaburo Yano flew to Tokyo with Tsuji's photos, seeking AGS approval. There, he was rebuffed—Changkufeng was deemed settled, and minor violations should be overlooked amid Tokyo's aversion to Soviet conflict. Yano's plea that leniency would invite aggression was countered by notes on Europe's tensions restraining Moscow. Yano's return sparked outrage at KwAHQ, seen as AGS thwarting their imperial duty to safeguard Manchukuo. Fury peaked in the Operations Section, setting the stage for Tsuji's drafting of stringent new frontier guidelines: "Principles for the Settlement of Soviet-Manchukuoan Border Disputes." The core tenet: "If Soviet troops transgress the Manchukuoan frontiers, Kwantung Army will nip their ambitions in the bud by completely destroying them." Specific directives for local commanders included: "If the enemy crosses the frontiers … annihilate him without delay, employing strength carefully built up beforehand. To accomplish our mission, it is permissible to enter Soviet territory, or to trap or lure Soviet troops into Manchukuoan territory and allow them to remain there for some time… . Where boundary lines are not clearly defined, area defense commanders will, upon their own initiative, establish boundaries and indicate them to the forward elements… . In the event of an armed clash, fight until victory is won, regardless of relative strengths or of the location of the boundaries. If the enemy violates the borders, friendly units must challenge him courageously and endeavor to triumph in their zone of action without concerning themselves about the consequences, which will be the responsibility of higher headquarters." Major Tsuji Masanobu later justified the new guidelines by pointing to the "contradictory orders" that had hamstrung frontier commanders under the old rules. They were tasked with upholding Manchukuo's territorial integrity yet forbidden from actions that might spark conflict. This, Tsuji argued, bred hesitation, as officers feared repercussions for decisive responses to incursions. The updated directives aimed to alleviate this "anxiety," empowering local leaders to act boldly without personal liability. In truth, Tsuji's "Principles for the Settlement of Soviet-Manchukuoan Border Disputes" were more incendiary than conciliatory. They introduced provocative measures: authorizing commanders to unilaterally define unclear boundaries, enforce them with immediate force "shoot first, ask questions later", permit pursuits into enemy territory, and even encourage luring adversaries across the line. Such tactics flouted both government policy and official army doctrine, prioritizing escalation over restraint. The proposals sparked intense debate within Kwantung Army's Operations Section. Section chief Colonel Takushiro Hattori and Colonel Masao Terada outranked Tsuji, as did Major Takeharu Shimanuki, all recent transfers from the Army General Staff. Tsuji, however, boasted longer tenure at Kwantung Army Headquarters since April 1936 and in Operations since November 1937, making him the de facto veteran. Hattori and Terada hesitated to challenge the assertive major, whose reputation for intellect, persuasion, and deep knowledge of Manchuria commanded respect. In a 1960 interview, Shimanuki recalled Tsuji's dominance in discussions, where his proactive ideas often swayed the group. Unified, the section forwarded Tsuji's plan to Kwantung Army Command. Commander Lieutenant General Kenkichi Ueda consulted Chief of Staff General Rensuke Isogai and Vice Chief General Otozaburo Yano, seasoned leaders who should have spotted the guidelines' volatility. Yet, lingering grudges from AGS "interference" in past incidents like the Amur River and Changkufeng clouded their judgment. Ueda, Isogai, and Tsuji shared history from the 1932 Shanghai Incident: Tsuji, then a captain, led a company in the 7th Regiment under Colonel Isogai, with Yano as staff officer and Ueda commanding the 9th Division. Tsuji was wounded there, forging bonds of camaraderie. This "clique," which grew to include Hattori, Terada, and Shimanuki, amplified Tsuji's influence. Despite Isogai's initial reservations as the group's moderate voice, the guidelines won approval. Ueda issued them as Kwantung Army Operations Order 1488 on April 25, 1939, during a division commanders' conference at KwAHQ. A routine copy reached AGS in Tokyo, but no formal reply came. Preoccupied with the China War and alliance talks with Germany, AGS may have overlooked border matters. Colonel Masazumi Inada, AGS Operations head, later noted basic acceptance of Order 1488, with an informal expectation—relayed to Hattori and Terada—of prior consultation on violations. KwAHQ dismissed this as another Tokyo intrusion on their autonomy. Some Japanese analysts contend a stern AGS rejection might have prevented Nomonhan's catastrophe, though quelling Kwantung's defiance could have required mass staff reassignments, a disruptive step AGS avoided. Tsuji countered that permitting forceful action at Changkufeng would have deterred Nomonhan altogether, underscoring the interconnectedness of these clashes while implicitly critiquing the 1939 battle's location. Undeniably, Order 1488's issuance on April 25 paved the way for conflict three weeks later. Japanese records confirm that Khalkha Mongols and MPR patrols routinely crossed the Halha River—viewed by them as internal territory, 10 miles from the true border. Such crossings passed uneventfully in March and April 1939. Post-Order 1488, however, 23rd Division commander General Michitaro Komatsubara responded aggressively, setting the stage for escalation. The Nomonhan Incident ignited with a border clash on May 11–12, 1939, that rapidly spiraled into a major conflict. Over a dozen "authoritative" accounts exist, varying in viewpoint, focus, and specifics. After cross-referencing these sources, a coherent timeline emerges. On the night of May 10–11, a 20-man Mongolian People's Republic border patrol crossed eastward over the Halha River (known as Khalkhin Gol to Mongols and Soviets). About 10 miles east, atop a 150-foot sandy hill, lay the tiny hamlet of Nomonhan, a cluster of crude huts housing a few Mongol families. Just south flowed the Holsten River, merging westward into the broader Halha. By morning on May 11, Manchukuoan forces spotted the MPR patrol north of the Holsten and west of Nomonhan. In the MPR/Soviet perspective, Nomonhan Hill marked the Mongolia-Manchuria border. To Manchukuoans and Japanese, it sat 10 miles inside Manchukuo, well east of the Halha. A 40-man Manchukuoan cavalry unit repelled the Mongolians back across the river, inflicting initial casualties on both sides—the Manchukuoans drawing first blood. The MPR patrol leader exaggerated the attackers as 200 strong. The next day, May 12, a 60-man MPR force under Major P. Chogdan evicted the Manchukuoans from the disputed zone, reestablishing positions between the Halha and Nomonhan. The Manchukuoans, in turn, reported facing 700 enemies. Sporadic skirmishes and maneuvering persisted through the week. On May 13, two days post-clash, the local Manchukuoan commander alerted General Michitaro Komatsubara's 23rd Division headquarters in Hailar. Simultaneously, Major Chogdan reported to Soviet military command in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia's capital. What began as a Mongolian-Manchukuoan spat was poised to draw in Soviet and Japanese patrons. Attributing the May 10–11 violation hinges on border interpretations: both sides claimed the Halha-Nomonhan strip. Yet, most accounts concur that Manchukuoan forces initiated the fighting. Post-May 13 notifications to Moscow and Tokyo clarify the record thereafter. Midday on May 13, Komatsubara was leading a staff conference on the newly issued Kwantung Army Operations Order 1488—Major Tsuji Masanobu's aggressive border guidelines. Ironically, the first Nomonhan combat report arrived mid-discussion. Officers present recall Komatsubara deciding instantly to "destroy the invading Outer Mongolian forces" per Order 1488. That afternoon, he informed Kwantung Army Headquarters of the incident and his intent to eradicate the intruders, requesting air support and trucks. General Kenkichi Ueda, Kwantung commander, approved Komatsubara's "positive attitude," dispatching six scout planes, 40 fighters, 10 light bombers, two anti-aircraft batteries, and two motorized transport companies. Ueda added a caveat: exercise "extreme caution" to prevent escalation—a paradoxical blend of destruction and restraint, reflective of KwAHQ's fervent mood. Ueda relayed the details to Tokyo's Army General Staff, which responded that Kwantung should handle it "appropriately." Despite Kwantung's impulsive reputation, Tokyo deferred, perhaps trusting the northern strategic imbalance, eight Japanese divisions versus 30 Soviet ones from Lake Baikal to Vladivostok, would enforce prudence. This faith proved misguided. On May 14, Major Tsuji flew from KwAHQ for aerial reconnaissance over Nomonhan, spotting 20 horses but no troops. Upon landing, a fresh bullet hole in his plane confirmed lingering MPR presence east of the Halha. Tsuji briefed 23rd Division staff and reported to Ueda that the incident seemed minor. Aligning with Order 1488's spirit, Komatsubara deployed a force under Lieutenant Colonel Yaozo Azuma: an armored car company, two infantry companies, and a cavalry troop. Arriving at Nomonhan on May 15, Azuma learned most MPR forces had retreated westward across the Halha the prior night, with only token elements remaining, and those withdrawing. Undeterred, he pursued. The advance met scant resistance, as foes had crossed the river. However, Japanese light bombers struck a small MPR concentration on the west bank, Outpost Number 7, killing two and wounding 15 per MPR reports; Japanese claimed 30–40 kills. All agree: the raid targeted undisputed MPR territory. Hearing of May 15's events, Komatsubara deemed the Mongolians sufficiently rebuked and recalled Azuma to Hailar on May 16. KwAHQ concurred, closing the matter. Soviet leaders, however, saw it differently. Mid-May prompted Soviet support for the MPR under their 1936 Mutual Defense Pact. The Red Army's 57th Corps, stationed in Mongolia, faced initial disarray: Commander Nikolai Feklenko was hunting, Chief of Staff A. M. Kushchev in Ulan Ude with his ill wife. Moscow learned of clashes via international press from Japanese sources, sparking Chief of Staff Boris Shaposhnikov's furious inquiry. Feklenko and Kushchev rushed back to Ulaanbaatar, dispatching a mixed force—a battalion from the 149th Infantry Regiment (36th Division), plus light armor and artillery from the 11th Tank Brigade—to Tamsag Bulak, 80 miles west of the Halha. Led by Major A. E. Bykov, it bolstered the MPR's 6th Cavalry Division. Bykov and Cavalry Commander Colonel Shoaaiibuu inspected the site on May 15, post-Azum's departure. The cavalry arrived two days later, backed by Bykov (ordered to remain west of the river and avoid combat if possible). Some MPR troops recrossed, occupying the disputed zone. Clashes with Manchukuoan cavalry resumed and intensified. Notified of renewed hostilities, Komatsubara viewed it as defiance, a personal affront. Emboldened by Order 1488, he aimed not just to repel but to encircle and annihilate. The incident was on the verge of major expansion. 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. The ghosts of the Changufeng incident have come back to haunt both the USSR and Japan. Those like Tsuji Masanobu instigated yet another border clash that would erupt into a full blown battle that would set a precedent for both nations until the very end of WW2. 

The Founderz Lounge Episode #73 with Don Varady and Steve Bon.Don and Steve are back with another round of Business & Bullsh*t, where real entrepreneurs break down what's happening in business, what's changing in culture, and what owners need to stop whining about and start fixing.This one starts light, then gets real fast.They rip through the top menu trends shaping 2025, from boba and Dubai chocolate to Korean flavors, matcha, protein overload, pickles, and the rise of mocktails as younger consumers drink less.Then Steve pulls a weird one from CES. A lollipop that lets you “listen” to music through bone conduction while you eat it. It turns into a bigger convo about why brands have to create experiences people cannot get from a screen.From there, the episode bounces through Black Rock Coffee's aggressive growth goals and what “Barista First culture” might be doing right, then shifts into theaters reinventing themselves with premium experiences, funnels, and the push toward IMAX and 3D.But the real core of this episode is the Hot Take.“It is kind of the norm now for business owners to complain about staffing issues… When are we gonna stop using it as an excuse? And I feel like we either need to adapt or die.”They unpack why “just pay people more” is not the full answer, how expectations have shifted, why career paths matter more than ever, and what it takes to get people truly engaged. Don shares a direct strategy that has worked for him, and why ownership, not just pay, is what keeps the right people around.They wrap with a Fast Five full of one-liners, old school nostalgia, and a reminder that excuses are expensive.Tune in to hear more...Timestamps:[00:00] Trailer[01:26] Founderz RoundUp[05:39] Music-Playing Lollipop Launch[07:44] Random Bullshit[10:27] Movie Theater Industry Comeback[15:36] Founderz Hot Takes[19:37] Building Career Paths for Employees[24:19] Founderz Fast Five[28:21] Bringing Back Old TechnologyKey Takeaways:  • “It is kind of the norm now for business owners to complain about staffing issues… and I feel like we either need to adapt or die.” ~Don Varady• “The money coming in has to be greater than the money going out. Or why do you own a business?” ~Don Varady• “Where do you want to be here in a few years? What is it that you want? I may not be able to give it to you right now, but let's build a road to get there.” ~Don Varady• Younger employees expect clearer career paths and faster progress, not just a paycheck. ~Steve Bon• Employees want to feel like they are more than a puzzle piece and that their future inside the company actually matters. ~Steve Bon• “If someone feels underserved, underappreciated, and underpaid, no matter what you do, they are not going to be engaged.” ~Steve Bon• Giving people a sense of ownership beyond salary is what actually keeps them invested. ~Don Varady• The brands and businesses that survive are the ones willing to rethink how they motivate people instead of blaming the workforce. ~Steve BonConnect with Don and Steve…Don Varady:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/don.varady/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/donvarady/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/don-varady-450896145 Steve Bon:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenbon Instagram: https://instagram.com/stevebon8 Tune in to every episode on your favorite platform: Website: https://www.thefounderzlounge.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheFounderzLounge Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0Nurr4XjBE747qJ9Zjth0G Apple Music: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-founderz-lounge/id1461825349 The Founderz Lounge is Powered By:Clean Eatz:Website: https://cleaneatz.com/Bon's Eye Marketing:Website: https://bonseyeonline.com/ 

It's Bottom of the Stream with Adam and Nick - the best place to get your fix of all the latest news from the world of streaming and movies! This week we talk dinosaurs; violins; BTS and EGOTs! We answer the question of the week, discuss what we've been watching at the top of the stream and tackle another batch of your hot takes(there is much talk of fruit).   Please consider supporting the show on Patreon, If you do we will give you lots of bonus content including early access to the episodes. Check it out over at www.patreon.com/bottomofthestream   We also have a discord so join us to hang out https://discord.gg/wJ3Bfqt

Enjoy our second backdoor pilot to CIVIC-TV 2026. We are watching the 1990, Korean adaptation of Akira Toriyama's manga Dragon Ball titled Dragon Ball: Fight Son Goku, Win Son Goku. Video version with the movie is available exclusively on https://patreon.com/lowres Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's the month of love and football, and Rick Schmidt is back with another edition of Ask Rick to break down what's happening right now in the automotive world. Rick weighs in on recent comments from Ford CEO Jim Farley about the future of sedans, noting that American automakers have largely abandoned the affordable sedan market—leaving foreign manufacturers, especially Korean brands, to quietly dominate the segment. With early signs pointing toward low-cost electric sedans on the horizon, Rick believes Detroit may yet have an opportunity to re-enter a market it once owned. Rick also reviews the eye-opening results from January's major car auctions, calling it a market that “blew the doors off.” Unexpected vehicles crossed the $100K mark, classic '50s cars held strong, and certain sporty models like the Thunderbird remain undervalued despite high-dollar restorations. The episode wraps with a real-world Mecum challenge: three cars bought under $60K—can one be enjoyed for a year, untouched, and sold at Mecum January 2027 for a win? Rick breaks down the strategy and the risks behind the picks. The post TMCP #639: Ask Rick! Mecum Kissimmee Shockers — Is the Muscle Car Market Hot or Cooling? first appeared on The Muscle Car Place.

Sarah Lee went from cold-emailing 700 journalists by hand and sleeping two hours a night to building Glow Recipe into a nine-figure global skincare brand inside Sephora. And she did it without raising venture capital. In this interview, the co-founder of Glow Recipe breaks down how a $50,000 bootstrapped Korean beauty curation site turned into one of the most recognisable modern skincare brands in the world — including how they broke even in just three months, why they walked away from millions to stay in control, and the exact moment they knew it was time to build their own products. From getting on Shark Tank in year one to launching their first SKU with nothing but a white jar and an iPad mockup, this episode is a masterclass in brand building, retail strategy, and founder-led execution. What you'll learn in this interview: • How Glow Recipe broke even in just 3 months with a $50K bootstrap • Why Sarah and Christine personally cold-emailed 700+ press contacts • The real economics of starting as a curated marketplace vs owning the brand • How they validated product demand before manufacturing anything • What it took to pitch Sephora with no finished product • Why Glow Recipe walked away from millions in potential funding • Lessons from Shark Tank — and what didn't make it on TV • How Korean beauty education became their unfair advantage • The biggest mistakes founders make when launching beauty products • How Glow Recipe scaled from curation to a nine-figure product brand By the end of this episode, you'll understand how to validate demand early, build leverage without capital, and turn brand education into long-term defensibility — even in one of the most competitive categories in ecommerce. If you're building a product brand, thinking about retail expansion, or deciding whether to raise capital or stay bootstrapped, this conversation will fundamentally change how you think about control, growth, and timing. SAVE 50% ON OMNISEND FOR 3 MONTHS Get 50% off your first 3 months of email and SMS marketing with Omnisend with the code FOUNDR50. Just head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://your.omnisend.com/foundr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get started. HOW WE CAN HELP YOU SCALE YOUR BUSINESS FASTER Learn directly from 7, 8 & 9-figure founders inside Foundr+ Start your $1 trial → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.foundr.com/startdollartrial⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ PREFER A CUSTOM ROADMAP AND 1-ON-1 COACHING? → Starting from scratch? Apply here → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://foundr.com/pages/coaching-start-application⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ → Already have a store? Apply here → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://foundr.com/pages/coaching-growth-application⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ CONNECT WITH NATHAN CHAN Instagram → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/nathanchan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanhchan/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ CONNECT WITH SARAH LEE Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/sarah_glow/ LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahleenewyork/ Website→ https://www.glowrecipe.com/ FOLLOW FOUNDR FOR MORE BUSINESS GROWTH STRATEGIES YouTube → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/2uyvzdt⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.foundr.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/foundr/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/foundr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.twitter.com/foundr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/foundr/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Podcast → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.foundr.com/podcast⁠

Dave cooks jangjorim, a Korean braised dish usually served as a side, but that Dave thinks could be an entree and a star.  He also discusses how to know when rice is properly washed, as well as the difference between mu radish and daikon (amongst other Korean and Japanese foods).  Dave finishes the episode by answering an Ask Dave about who he would want as company for his dream last meal and his answer is...surprising. Learn more about The Sergeantsville Inn: https://www.sergeantsvilleinn.com/  Learn more about Park's BBQ: https://parksbbq.com/  Learn more about Noodle Bar: https://www.momofuku.com/pages/noodle-bar  Learn more about Baroo: https://www.baroolosangeles.com/  Learn more about Benu: https://www.benusf.com/  Learn more about Sun Nong Dan: https://sunnongdanusa.com/  Learn more about Ideas in food: https://ideasinfood.com/  Learn more about San Ho Won: https://www.sanhowon.com/  Learn more about Willie Mae's: https://williemaesnola.com/ Host: Dave Chang Majordomo Media Producer: David Meyer Spotify Producer: Felipe Guilhermino Additional Crew: Jake Loskutoff, Nikola Stanjevich, Dan McCoy, Michael Berger, Elizabeth Styles Sound Engineer: Kevin Cureghian Editor: Jake Loskutoff Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices