Taiwan Talk

Former Control Yuan President and Foreign Minister Fredrick Chien shares his memories and insights into the hours and days in the aftermath of the US decision to derecognize the Republic of China (Taiwan), in favor of the People's Republic of China. His discourse reintroduces listeners to several key personalities, including the last U.S. Ambassador to the ROC, Leonard S. Unger who was appointed in 1974; ROC Foreign Minister Shen Chang-huan who resigned after the U.S. announcement; Victor Wei-Jen Hu Private Secretary to the Foreign Minister H.E. Chang-Huan Shen; and GIO director James Soong. A longer version of the interview is also available for history buffs who might wish to hear a more complete narrative of what transpired among those who were"in the room where it happened." The interview was done as part of I-C-R-T's 45th birthday celebrations.

Jonathan Lin (林沛祥) comes from a family of politicians. But it took the urging of students involved in the Sunflower Movement to entice him to run for a seat in the Legislative Yuan. He tells I-C-R-T's Hope Ngo how that unfolded, and what it means for him to be a freshman lawmaker representing Keelung as part of the opposition KMT.

I-C-R-T's John Seaward chats with Oscar-nominated documentary maker, S. Leo Chiang about what inspired him to put his thoughts into a film that caught the attention of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. You can find the documentary short here.

Philippe Grelon is an avid sailor who did much to encourage recreational sailing as a sport in Taiwan. Philippe and his son Cosmas speak to I-C-R-T's Hope Ngo about the early days of sailing in Taiwan, and their quest to capture the top spot in this year's Rolex China Sea Race, sailing in "A Plastic Ocean" or TPE 003.

Can technology really help you find the partner of your dreams? Coffee Meets Bagel Co-Founder and CEO Arum Kang thinks so. She tells I-C-R-T's Hope Ngo how algorithms could be the 21st century Cupid singletons are looking for.

Lawyer and longtime Taiwan resident John Eastwood's social media now features curated images of some of Taipei's most iconic colonial buildings. He speaks to I-C-R-T's Hope Ngo about his interest in local architecture: what spurred it and what captures his imagination.

Japan and Italy may sit on different, faraway continents, but Initia's Chef Kunihiro Hagimoto says its easy to catch the similarities between the two cuisines -- and what they are -- during a chat with I-C-R-T 's Hope Ngo.

Taiwan may be a democracy today but it wasn't always this way. Writer and historian Mark O'Neill spent some years in Taipei during the 1980s -- he covers that period in his latest book in a chat with I-C-R-T's Hope Ngo.

As CEO of Taiwan NextGen Foundation, Chen Kuan Ting dreamt of "empowering the next generation of Taiwan's leaders". Today he has a chance of turning his vision into actionable plans as a member of the incoming Legislative Yuan. He speaks to I-C-R-T's Hope Ngo about his legislative agenda.

Cynthia Wu is a successful businesswoman and philanthropist who wears many hats. Most recently, she had been at the Legislative Yuan for just over a year before she was asked to be the running mate of TPP Vice-Presidential Candidate Ko Wen-je. Wu tells I-C-R-T's Hope Ngo what drew her to politics, and what she hopes to achieve as she re-enters civilian life.

Taiwan's Indigenous languages have gone through centuries of social upheaval and marginalisation, But many of these languages still persist in Indigenous communities - and so do the people determined to save, document and revitalise them. In this episode, guest host Aspen Beilharz talks to Apay Ai-yu Tang, linguist and Associate Professor at National Dong Hwa University, about her work to ensure the survival of her ancestral language Truku Seediq.

Building a successful wedding and event planning company can't be easy, but it's all in a day's work for Lin Ching Ching of Taipei's Chin Chin Weddings. Hear how the self-confessed "farm girl" built a thriving business by doing something young men and women can dream about -- owning a high-end event planning firm with a designer client roster.

The dust has settled and the 2024 Presidential and Legislative Elections are behind us. What can we expect of the incoming administration, and the new Legislative Yuan? I-C-R-T's Hope Ngo speaks to Sara Newland, Assistant Professor of Government at Smith College and a scholar of local politics in China and Taiwan.

There may not be absentee voting in Taiwan, but that won't keep members of the island's overseas community from weighing in on the elections which happen on January 13. In this special report for ICRT, Keith Menconi reveals how San Francisco-based Taiwanese feel about the polls.

2023 saw the end of COVID restrictions and new iterations of existing trade ties with Western allies. Stanford University Taiwan specialist KharisTempleman looks at the year that was in the area of foreign relations.

YouTube Co-Founder Steve Chen rode out most of the COVID-19 pandemic in Taiwan. The (literal) move gave him the opportunity to study Taiwan's startup ecosystem up close. Has anything changed since that time? He shared his thoughts with I-C-R-T's Hope Ngo in an interview that took place last summer in this encore presentation.

What does it take to introduce a cuisine that not many people may be too familiar with, and turn that into the cornerstone of a Michelin-starred offer? Zea's chef de cuisine Joaquin Elizondo talks about what brought him to Taipei, and the role his restaurant plays in bringing the flavors of Latin America to the island.

Hailing from Ivory Coast, Ange Samuel Kouamé has made his name in Taiwanese football with spectacular goal scoring - and in 2023, he became naturalized as a Taiwanese citizen. He talks with guest host Aspen Beilharz about his story, and how he overcame challenges to reach a footballer’s dream of playing on the world stage.

With most of life returning to normal, few of us remember that it was just a year ago in November that the Taiwan government began easing its COVID-related restrictions. I-C-R-T's Hope Ngo looks back at the conversations she's had with personalities within the food and restaurant industry, as well as hospitality space to ask them what they remember about business in the time of the coronavirus, even if many of us might have forgotten.

Bed and Breakfast owner Wayne Wang has spent nearly all his life living in and exploring Sun Moon Lake. He tells I-C-R-T's Hope Ngo why he remains entranced by the area and how best to explore the lake, which international media once described as one of the most beautiful bike trails in the world.

In 2016, Peter Sutton left a successful career in international finance to create Woodpecker Learning – a language learning app with a unique methodology, informed by his own experience learning Chinese. Guest host Aspen Beilharz talks to Peter about a life of travel and innovative learning design.

Award-winning novelist Kevin Chen sits down with I-C-R-T's Tim Berge to talk about life's twists that led him to write "Ghost Town", which won the prestigious Taiwan Literature Award for Books by the National Museum of Taiwan Literature and the Golden Tripod Award. It was also was one of the New York Times' most anticipated books of Fall 2022; was selected by Library Journal for their Best of World Literature 2022; and was longlisted for the 2023 PEN Translation Prize.

Award-winning jazz vibraphonist Chien Chien Lu has experienced remarkable success in both the US and Taiwan, but her path to this point was anything but straightforward. She started her career in classical music, and made a radical change to turn herself toward a new, inspired direction. Guest host Aspen Beilharz talks with Lu about her journey in music and what drives her now as an artist.

It might be difficult to find a link between a traditional condiment like soy sauce with a western style beverage like kombucha. Gene Chung shows I-C-R-T's Hope Ngo how he bridged the gap between the traditional condiment and the trendy beverage; he also makes the case for taking the lessons learned from working at his family's soy sauce company (which involves fermentation) to make his personal brand of kombucha (which also involves fermentation).

For 30 years, Taiwan’s Women Make Waves International Film Festival has showcased women’s perspectives and films on a wide range of social issues. Guest host Aspen Beilharz sits down with festival programmer Huei-Yin Chen to talk about her career working with film, and the history and mission of the festival.

Taiwan is on the world's culinary map for its night markets and street food. It's not as known for fine dining, but Taipei's Tairroir could change that. The Michelin Guide describes the restaurant's name as a play on "Taiwan" and "terroir", and its cuisine, a "love letter" to Chef Kai Ho's home island. Chef Kai sits down with ICRT's Hope Ngo in a rare, exclusive interview… and yes, he fed her too. To hear what Michelin's inspectors have to say about Taiwan's dining scene, check our our chat with Gwendal POULLENNEC, International Director of Michelin Guides here.

Theatre director Craig Quintero is on the forefront of using virtual reality to create immersive, enigmatic performances. But his links to Taiwan theatre goes back a lot further to the work he is known for today. Quintero founded the Taipei-based company Riverbed Theatre in 1998 and spent decades creating works with dreamlike imagery. Guest host Aspen Beilharz talks to Craig about his career and his artistic philosophy.

Taiwan used to export tens of millions of butterflies a year to be used to adorn tablecloths and paintings, and as part of specimen books. But this has changed over the years, thanks to a combination of factors including rising environmental awareness, climate change, and a loss of habitat. They have resulted in a big drop in Taiwan's butterfly population. But even so, butterflies can still be spotted in suburban areas or in mountain areas island-wide. In this episode of Taiwan Talk, ICRT's Jane Lee chats with Professor Hsu Yufeng, who has dedicated over five decades years of his life studying these spectacular insects. He compares himself to Peter Pan when it comes to butterflies, the little creatures that he fell in love with at the age of 8.

There's never been a better time to experience gourmet dining in Taiwan. During this year's Michelin awards, the storied guide recognized 321 establishments, 148 in Taipei, 64 in Taichung, 56 in Tainan, and 53 in Kaohsiung. The group was made up of a range of mouthwatering dining options from the street eats that Taiwan is best known for (aka "Bib Gourmands") to high-end dining choices -- including two newly minted three-star options. Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of Michelin Guides joined ICRT's Hope Ngo to talk about how the selections were made, and why the storied international gourmet guide is captivated by Taiwan's dining scene as a whole. To hear Hope's conversation with Tairroir chef Kai Ho, whose restaurant was awarded three Michelin stars, click here.

Carrie Kellenberger is no ordinary expatriate. The courageous businesswoman is an advocate for the rights of disabled members of the foreign community in Taiwan. She speaks to I-C-R-T's Hope Ngo about a day in her life and what it is like to live in the fringes of a much-lauded successful healthcare system that has left her -- and others like her -- behind. You can find Carrie online at My Several Worlds.

Its logo pays homage to Jazz legend Charlie "Yardbird" Parker. Its flavors all feature a play on words related to jazz. David Pan's devotion to the genre can be seen all over Bebop, the premium ice cream label he began during Taiwan's COVID lockdown. Pan joined us to talk about Bebop's beginnings and as a bonus, he gives us lessons on how to begin a business venture -- and when to walk away from one -- as a self-described serial start-up entrepreneur. Music courtesy of Tainan's KoSwing Big Band.

Didn't know Taiwan had locally-made cheese? We didn't either until we caught up with Henry Gerard of Dida Creamery, whose products are a prominent part of the menu at a number of restaurants across the island. Henry spent an afternoon catching up with I-C-R-T's Hope Ngo, to talk about his business, Taiwan's dairy industry, and why Taiwan was --and is -- a 'gouda' place to set up a cheese business.

He's known to his fans as Taiwan's answer to Kenny G. At the height of his musical career, saxophone player Corbett Wall was a transformative force in Taiwan's music scene, which was once dominated by mando-pop and folk music. He speaks to I-C-R-T's Hope Ngo about the forces that shaped his sound, and whether he still plays the instrument that altered his life today. To hear Corbett talk about his most recent venture working with the Tsou (Cou) people of Alishan, click here

Ray Ko is a freediving instructor based on Taiwan's Xiaoliuqiu Island, and an enthusiastic advocate of the sport and its benefits. ICRT's Trevor Tortomasi chats with Ray about the benefits of spending time under the sea, the kinds of animals you can see while diving, how he holds his breath for four minutes, the rising popularity of freediving in Taiwan and around the world, and an upcoming freediving event in November 2023 called "Deep Week". You can find more info on Deep Week here: https://freedivingfamily.com/deep-week-taiwan And you can find Ray on Instagram: @freedivenomad Thanks for listening!

What does it take to modernize a cultural icon? The National Theater and Concert Hall's Director of Programming and International Development Ting-Chun Lin talks to ICRT's Hope Ngo about the theatre's digital projects and how lessons learnt during the COVID-19 has given rise to a new theatre experience. This episode was produced and is presented by Aspen Beilharz.

Ill Mo (老莫) is a Taiwanese rapper and hip hop artist, and teaches English as an assistant professor at Chihlee University (致理科技大學). ICRT's Trevor Tortomasi chats with Ill Mo about how he became a part of Taiwan's hip hop history, writing lyrics on both sides of the language barrier, and the hardest things to teach today's students. You can find Ill Mo's new album "Becoming" on Spotify or wherever you find music: https://open.spotify.com/album/2Fx0ZE76LMrLhhiHRIA7yJ And you can find Ill Mo on Instagram: @ill_mo Thanks so much for listening!

Kevin Magee is the former Australian Representative in Taipei, having effectively served as an Australian ambassador, but under the complicated dynamics of the "One China Policy". ICRT's Trevor Tortomasi chats with Mr. Magee about his work as an Australian diplomat in Taiwan, China, Russia, and Saudi Arabia, and the fascinating situations and people he has encountered in his decades in the foreign service. Thanks for listening!

Barry Martinson is known for his books, his music, and his work with stained glass. Even with his accomplishments, it is difficult to quantify how much Jesuit priest Barry Martinson and his brother Jerry (aka KPS' "Uncle Jerry") have done for the lives they touched. Martinson reminisces about his brother Jerry, and the brothers' legacy of service for the benefit of Taiwan. Note: the interview was recorded at Fr Barry's parish in Qingquan, Hsinchu County

How do Taiwan's white-collar workers compare with other labor pools in other markets? What can you do to get ahead -- whether you're new to the job market, or looking for work? John Winter, Taiwan Country Manager for global recruitment specialist Robert Walters gives us his take on what makes Taiwan's labor force stand out, and whether there are areas it can improve. *

Musa (明馬丁) is a veteran music producer from Argentina and naturalized Taiwanese citizen, who has worked with some of Taiwan's most recognized musicians, while releasing his own music along the way. ICRT's Trevor Tortomasi chats with Musa about the use of AI in production work, what we need to hear from Taiwan, and how to stay sincere in a noisy world. You can find Musa on Instagram: @musa_keys And you can check out his collaboration with Taiwan's indigenous singer ABAO (阿爆) on his YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQVF15jJVCk Thanks for listening!

Churchill's is best known to its fans for its line of sausages and easy-to-reheat food. The company's founders, Lee Thomas and Dom Grant, talk about what its like to start a food business and sustain it during the pandemic years. Note: recorded on location at the Churchill's kitchen in Tienmou

Faye Angevine is a French-American who has lived and worked in Taiwan since 1974, and works with numerous non-profit organizations here on the island. ICRT's Trevor Tortomasi chats with Faye about Taiwan's animal welfare initiatives, local community centers, what it's like to live with 23 dogs, and her fascination with Taiwan's history and antiques. You can find more information on adopting rescue dogs in Taiwan from the PACK Sanctuary: https://packtw.org/ And you can check out Faye's antique showroom, the Bai Win Collection, in Tianmu, Taipei City: https://baiwincollection.com/ Thanks for listening!

From the late 1980s to the early 2000s, Corbett Wall was Taiwan's Prince of the Saxophone. And while music is still very much a part of Wall's life, his priorities have changed; he now works with the indigenous youth to develop their skills in arts and culture. To learn more about the program's award winning film, visit COU175586 Little Warrior. To find out more about Wall's non-profit and you can help, visit Being Present Youth Support.

Former CNN Beijing Bureau Chief and Senior Fellow at the USC US-China Institute Mike Chinoy talks about the inspiration and genesis of his latest book, which tells the story of how U.S. journalists covered China: from the time of the civil war in the 1940s to the coronavirus pandemic.

Andrew Chau (周厚安) is a long-time actor of film, TV, and theater in Taiwan, and a co-host of two different shows on TaiwanPlus. ICRT's Trevor Tortomasi chats with Andrew about the hardest parts of acting, changing his accent and appearance for character roles, and his hilarious travels around Taiwan with fellow actor Fabio Grangeon. You can see Andrew and Fabio's travel show on TaiwanPlus: https://www.taiwanplus.com/originals/fabio-and-andrews-outdoor-adventures/221003010/fabio-and-andrews-outdoor-adventures You can check out "Wow! Taiwan", with Andrew and Patty Lee: https://www.taiwanplus.com/originals/wow-taiwan/230303009/wow-taiwan-ep17-dive-into-six-sea-wonders You can see what else Andrew has been a part of on his IMDB page: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7563749/ And check out our bilingual interview (雙語的訪談) with Andrew and the cast of Seqalu… …on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/taiwan-talk/id572456881?i=1000533479853 …on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4VwAlMAn1PGXOpNutdMvWc …and on Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5zb3VuZG9uLmZtL3BvZGNhc3RzLzM5NjBjNzQ2LWM5YWUtNGMwMS05ZDM5LTBhMTBhMDIwODFiNS54bWw/episode/MGU1MGVjOWMtY2EyNS00MzYyLWJjZWMtZDEwMTMyNzMzZTE1 Thanks for listening!

Amy Ma is a producer of many films and TV series here in Taiwan, such as the award-winning "American Girl" 【美國女孩】, and a manager for a bunch of Netflix's Chinese-language content. ICRT's Trevor Tortomasi chats with Amy about communicating between all levels of film production, the work that goes into making local and international projects, and the kinds of films she hopes to see Taiwan make next. You can find Amy Ma on IMDB here: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6183849/ And check out her podcast, "Come to Maamy", wherever you normally download podcasts… Thank for listening!

Alex Khomenko first made headlines in Taiwan by being the first -- and only -- protester outside the Russian offices in Taipei, immediately after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. Since then, he continues in his quest to keep the issue on top of mind for Taiwan. He talks about all that was achieved, and what Taiwan Stands with Ukraine hopes to achieve, as the war continues to mark grim milestones.

Vincent Soberano is an award-winning filmmaker, actor, writer, and martial artist, based in Taiwan and the Philippines. ICRT's Trevor Tortomasi chats with Vincent about the action film genre, his experience with martial arts and rigging stunts, the struggles of script-writing, and what it's like working in the film industry together with his wife, actor Sarah Chang. You can find Vincent's newly-opened production studio, Scene 8 Studio: https://scene8studio.wixsite.com/home And you can find more info on Vincent's films on his IMDB page: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6977819/ You can also check out our past interview with Sarah Chang, "The Kung Fu of Being a Parent", back in September of 2021, on your podcasting app. Thanks so much for listening!

Professor H. H. Michael Hsiao is Chairman of Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation and Chairman of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies at National Chengchi University. He is also an Adjunct Research Fellow, Institute of Sociology, Academia Sinica, He spoke to us about the evolution of Taiwan studies as an academic pursuit

Irene Liao's storied career reads like a business fairy tale. After a stint at high-end luxury goods company LVMH (Moët Hennessy) in Hong Kong, she returned to Taiwan to take the helm of her family's high-profile snack food firm Kuai Kuai. But she's since branched out and now leads her own, newly launched nutritious food startup, Vegan Joy. This is her story.

J.J. Chen is a French-Belgian-Taiwanese artist and veteran of the animation industry, both in Taiwan and Europe. ICRT's Trevor Tortomasi chats with Jean-Jacques about his experiences as an animator, Taiwan animation's place in the world, and a deep, deep breakdown of the animation process, from start to finish. Seriously, I learned a LOT this episode! You can find some of J.J.'s past projects on his vimeo page: https://vimeo.com/channels/303090 Here's some of his photography: https://500px.com/p/lapprentiroidessinges And here's an article he wrote on Taiwan's "On Happiness Road": https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3341091 You can also find J.J. on IG: @apprentiroidessinges Thanks so much for listening!

Hermione Lee is an author who has already published eight books by the age of 18 years old. ICRT's Trevor Tortomasi chats with Hermione about finding motivation, writing 6,000 words per day, and challenging oneself to write as many kinds of stories and characters as possible. You can find Hermione's books here: https://www.amazon.com/Hermione-Lee/e/B097P7LZB4/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1 And she has shared her Facebook fan page, as well! https://www.facebook.com/authorhermionelee Thanks for listening!

(下面的連結也包括中文版的！) Satoki Matsushita is an astrophysicist (天體物理學家) studying black holes (黑洞), and a research fellow at the Academia Sinica Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics here in Taiwan. ICRT's Trevor Tortomasi chats with Satoki about how we turned Earth into a giant telescope, to take a picture of Sagittarius A*, the black hole at the center of our galaxy. We also chat about what we've learned from the image, what's next for telescope technology, and the future of science education in Taiwan. 2022年的黑洞畫面： You can see the image of Sagittarius A* here: https://www.sinica.edu.tw/ch/news/7177 2019的黑洞畫面： And you can see humanity's first image of a black hole, M87, here: https://www.sinica.edu.tw/ch/news/6191 Both links should also have English versions available! 這裡也可以看中文版的黑洞科學解釋： https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQB_-kT6obo Thanks for listening!

The success Taiwan enjoyed with its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic didn't come without an environmental cost. Veteran environment researcher Nate Maynard breaks down the issues which arose as a result of the pandemic. You can follow Nate on Twitter here.

Ann Zheng and Dray Yang are award-winning board game designers from the company "Play With Us Design". ICRT's Trevor Tortomasi chats with Ann and Dray about developing tabletop games, working with feedback, and bringing more tabletop experiences to a Taiwanese audience. You can find Play With Us Design on social media here: https://linktr.ee/PWUDesign And you can catch Ann and Dray and PWUD at the Taipei Game Show (台北電玩展) and the Taipei International Book Faire (台北國際書展) in January and February of 2023! Thanks for listening!

Alex Kunz is a leading researcher of microplastics (微塑料) in Taiwan's rivers and oceans. ICRT's Trevor Tortomasi chats with Alex about where microplastics come from, where they go, and what we can do about them. Thanks for listening!

Dr. Lin Li-Jiang is the Department-Director of painting, calligraphy, rare books, and historical documents, at Taiwan's National Palace Museum (國立故宮博物院). ICRT's Trevor Tortomasi chats with Dr. Lin about the Palace Museum's latest exhibit on the life of Wang Shi-Zhen (王世貞), one of China's most prolific writers, historians, and critics. Dr. Lin also talks about the museum's oldest artifacts, the evolution of Chinese literature and art, and all kinds of crazy stories from China's history. The National Palace Museum's current exhibition will be open until December 25th, 2022, and will reopen with new artwork from December 28th through March 21st of 2023. You can find more information about the exhibit on the National Palace Museum's website: https://www.npm.gov.tw/ If you enjoy today's episode, feel free to share it with a friend :] Thanks so much for listening!

Cheng Ming-Dean (鄭明典) is the Director-General of the Central Weather Bureau (氣象局), or the CWB, which researches and forecasts weather, ocean conditions, seismology (basically earthquakes), and even astronomy! ICRT's Trevor Tortomasi chats with Mr. Cheng about Taiwan's record-setting rainbows, weather forecast technology, the effects of climate change on Taiwan's weather, rising sea levels, how typhoons are named, and whether a giant dehumidifier could save Taiwan from drought. You can find all kinds of information on Taiwan's atmosphere on the Central Weather Bureau website: https://www.cwb.gov.tw/eng/ And if you'd like some occasional updates on Taiwan's weather phenomena, you can follow Mr. Cheng himself! https://www.facebook.com/mdc.cwb And if you enjoyed this episode of Taiwan Talk, feel free to leave us an iTunes, or share it with a friend :] Thanks for listening!

This week, ICRT's Tim Berge talks to some of the candidates and their campaigns in the run up to Taiwan's 2022 mayoral elections.

Liam Fanning is the organizer of the upcoming "Taipei Shorts V", the fifth installment of a series of short theater plays, produced by the local performance community, set to debut from Friday, November 11th, for two weekends! ICRT's Trevor Tortomasi chats with Liam about this year's list of plays, their production process, and the future of multi-language theater in Taiwan. You can get tickets for Taipei Shorts here: https://tickets.udnfunlife.com/application/UTK02/UTK0201_.aspx?PRODUCT_ID=N27GD1OV And you can follow Taipei Shorts on social media, for more performances in the years to come! Instagram: @taipeishorts Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TaipeiShorts Thanks for listening!

Enoch Wu (吳怡農) is the Director of the Forward Alliance, and was named one of Time's 100 Next 2022. Hope Ngo chats with Enoch about the experiences that shaped him, the dreams that inspire him, and the passions that keep him moving ahead. You can find Wu on Twitter: @Enoch_TW Thank you for listening!

John Murn is the executive director and a co-founder of All Hands Taiwan, a non-profit helping people and organizations all over the island to network and foster professional connections. ICRT's Trevor Tortomasi chats with John about forging career paths for both locals and expats alike, finding sustainability for All Hands, and what Taiwan can do to attract more foreign talent. Check out the All Hands website: https://www.allhandstaiwan.org/ And follow them on Instagram: @allhandstw Thanks for listening!

Taiwan might know Frederic Laplanche as a diplomat and former head of the European Economic and Trade Office. But Mr Laplanche will also remembered for something else -- as the author of a book that provides a bird's eye view of 300 years of Taiwan history seen through French eyes. Thank you for listening.

Bryan D. Hopkins is a filmmaker living in Taiwan, who recently returned from filming a documentary in Ukraine. ICRT's Trevor Tortomasi chats with Bryan about how Ukrainians are coping with Russia's invasion, how it compares to the relationship between Taiwan and China, and what Taiwan can do to prepare itself amid constantly-changing geopolitics. You can find Bryan's previous documentary about the 2010 BP Oil Spill, "Dirty Energy", on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nf7B_SPj1s8 And you can keep up with Bryan on Instagram: @bryanoutside76 And in you're in Taipei, you can get DELICIOUS bread at his bakery "Flavor the World": 新北市新店區三民路94巷14號 No. 14, Lane 94, Sanmin Rd, Xindian District, New Taipei City (Seriously, he brought a loaf of sourdough bread to the interview. It was awesome. Get some.) And that's it for this episode… thanks for listening!

Joe Zhuang is the former Deputy Manager of the Indigenous Peoples Cultural Foundation, or IPCF, an organization that shares and celebrates indigenous news, music, art, documentaries, and cultural events. ICRT's Trevor Tortomasi speaks with Joe about the IPCF's TV and radio channels, fighting cultural stereotypes, and keeping Taiwan's many indigenous languages alive. Check out the IPCF website, for info on their various media and events: www.ipcf.org.tw Thanks for listening!

Sascha Zeegers is an astronomer researching interstellar dust, with Academia Sinica in Taiwan and scientists around the world. ICRT's Trevor Tortomasi chats with Sascha about her upcoming project with the James Webb Space Telescope, or JWST, and how these tiny dust particles throughout our galaxy play an important role in the birth of stars. Thanks for listening!

Liting Tan, also known as “Uncle Southside”, is a seasoned performer organizing an upcoming show for Taipei’s Fringe Festival, a city-wide cultural season for all kinds of performing arts. ICRT’s Trevor Tortomasi speaks with Liting about their show “Journey to the Jest”, a wild adaptation of the well-known myth that starred such characters as Wu Kong, the Monkey King… and a horse?! “Journey to the Jest” will be performed in Mandarin, with English subtitles, at "Venue" (濕地), on the evenings of September 1st and 2nd. "Venue" address: Taipei City, Zhongshan District, Linsen North Road, Lane 107, No. 10 Liting also has an earlier show this weekend, “Drag Mania”, at Two Three Comedy, on Saturday, August 20th. Check out their shows soon, and follow Uncle Southside on Instagram: @southside.tingles.king Thanks for listening!

Debbie Liu is an animal lover, DJ, and co-owner of one of Kaohsiung's most popular hang out spots. She talks about rising through the ranks at Brickyard, managing the business during COVID-19, and her family's experience trying to evade Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Join ICRT's Paz Bueno in her first rendition of Taiwan Talk.

Jenna Lynn Cody is the writer behind the blog "Lao Ren Cha", a commentary and resource hub for English speakers here in Taiwan. ICRT's Trevor Tortomasi speaks with Jenna Lynn Cody about finding resources for English speakers in Taiwan, literature about the island's history, and a better future for foreign teachers in the country. You can find the Lao Ren Cha blog here: https://laorencha.blogspot.com And you can find Jenna on Twitter: @laorenchanna You can also find her work on Ketagalan Media: https://ketagalanmedia.com/author/jenna-lynn-cody/ Jenna is also an admin for "Super Awesome Taiwan Women" on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1162094783892835/ Thanks for listening!

Achim Hake has been in Taiwan since the 1990s, and has seen Taiwan's hotel industry grow and evolve into what it is today. He shares the more memorable moments of his career with ICRT's Hope Ngo, along with insight into what he feels will be the future of Taiwan tourism as we emerge from aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks for listening.

Manav Mehta is the curator and host of Red Room Rendezvous, a.k.a. R3, a restaurant, bar, and event space in Taipei. ICRT's Trevor Tortomasi chats with Manav about the history of Red Room, international communities in Taipei, and Manav's current adventures with a percussion instrument called a "handpan". You can find Red Room Rendezvous on Instagram: @r3.taipei Follow Manav on Instagram as well: @aspiring_azul Thanks for listening!

Ashley Tong was just eight when she first played with the Taipei Symphony Orchestra. Today she is one of a three-person group known as the Heathcliff Trio, which went on to win first prize at the 9th International Johannes Brahms Chamber Music Competition. ICRT's Hope Ngo speaks to Tong about the path from child violinist to award-winning musician. Visit the Heathcliff Trio here to learn more about this talented group. Thanks for listening.

Lukas Engstrom is a Swedish YouTuber based here in Taiwan, who has collaborated with various content creators all over the island. ICRT's Trevor Tortomasi chats with Lukas about what it's like living with YouTubers, and which videos seem to appeal to which audiences so far. You can check out Lukas' channel here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3LxWTmKK24 And you can also find him on Instagram: @lukasengstrom Thanks for listening!

Rifat, also known as 吳鳳 (Wu Feng), is a Turkish-Taiwanese host, comedian, and actor in Taiwan, and the first foreigner to win Taiwan's Golden Bell Award, in 2012. ICRT's Trevor Tortomasi chats with Rifat about his experiences as a bridge between Taiwan and his home country of Turkey, as well as his recent collaboration with TaiwanPlus, on shows such as "Live From Taiwan" and "Legit Mando". You can find more from Rifat online: Instagram: @rifatkarlova YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/%E5%90%B3%E9%B3%B3Rifat Thanks for listening!

Sam Yarbs is a co-founder of the Two Three Comedy Club in Taipei, and a standup comedian with international accolades. ICRT's Trevor Tortomasi speaks with Sam about his work on The Night Night Show (博恩夜夜秀), comedy across the language barrier, and the future of standup in Taiwan. You can find info on Two Three Comedy's upcoming shows: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TwoThreeComedy Instagram: @twothreecomedy And you can find Sam on Instagram: @sam.yarbs Thanks for listening!

Taiwanese-American food blogger Frankie Gaw walked away from a successful career in tech and became a rising star within the highly competitive world of food blogging. ICRT’s Hope Ngo speaks to Gaw about what enticed him to swap a successful career in tech for food, and what he did to get his new cookbook “First Generation” ready for publication. Thanks for listening! You can find and follow Frankie on his blog, Little Fat Boy or on Instagram.

William Stanton served as Director for the American Institute in Taiwan -- the organization charged with maintaining relations between the U.S. and Taiwan -- between 2009 to 2012. ICRT's Hope Ngo speaks to Stanton about what inspired him to enter the foreign service, how he feels about being a teacher at this critical juncture in modern history, and how he feels about China, and his country's exchanges with Taiwan today. Thanks for listening!

Matan Shelomi is a professor of entomology (the study of insects) at National Taiwan University, and the first guest to make a return appearance on Taiwan Talk, after our previous journey through the world of insects in late 2020. ICRT's Trevor Tortomasi chats with Matan to learn about why some people get bitten by mosquitoes more often, which insects taste the best, and why insect species are disappearing at such an alarming rate. Thanks for listening!

Stephen Rong is a renaissance man of performance, as an actor, singer, dancer, model, podcaster, and radio DJ. ICRT's Trevor Tortomasi chats with Stephen about his role in the acapella group "Awkwapella", and its stark contrast with his murder-mystery podcast, "The Dark Forest". You can find Stephen on Instagram: @therongone And you can find his acapella group here: @awkwapella And if you understand Chinese, you can check out his podcast, 【暗黑森林 The Dark Forest】: https://open.spotify.com/show/2qKknXOhcJS0hxrKUSkNeB Thanks for listening!

Professor Joseph Allen's book "Taipei: City of Displacements" tells the story behind Taiwan's unique architecture -- from the Japanese colonial era to the current time. ICRT's Hope Ngo invites Professor Allen on an imaginary walk along the streets leading to Taipei's Ketagalan Boulevard, to tell audiences about two of the most distinctive buildings in the area. Thanks for listening!

Kassy Cho is an independent journalist and founder of Almost.co, a media outlet focused on getting news stories to the internet's younger generations. ICRT's Trevor Tortomasi chats with Kassy about internet journalism, and thinking visually to present stories to new audiences. You can find Kassy's news pages on Instagram: English: @almost.co Chinese: @almost.ch Or her personal page here: @kassy You can also find the Instagram page she worked on with Buzzfeed here: @world Thanks for listening!

Director and filmmaker Eric Rettstadt joins us on Taiwan Talk this week to discuss his new short movie "Tank Fairy" which stars Taiwan drag queen Marian Mesula. The film has enjoyed screenings at a number of prestigious film festival across the US. It tells the story of a fabulous gas delivery agent that meets a schoolboy in Taipei City and turns his world upside down.

Isabella Tan is a young filmmaker raised in Taiwan and Malaysia, also having spent some time making films in the U.S. ICRT's Trevor Tortomasi chats with Isabella about her experiences in the film industry, and Asian representation in front of and behind the cameras. You can find Isabella's Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/its.bellatan/ And her Vimeo page here: https://vimeo.com/isabellatan Thanks for listening!

Quincy Davis is a professional basketball player for the New Taipei Kings, and has been a crucial player on Taiwan's national basketball team. ICRT's Trevor Tortomasi speaks with Quincy about his experience becoming a Taiwanese citizen, playing basketball for Taiwan around the world, and inspiring the younger generations of Taiwan to try their hands and feet at sports. You can see some of Quincy's games on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/PLEAGUEofficial You can follow Quincy on Instagram: @q.davis3 And check out his restaurant for some amazing vegan food! https://www.facebook.com/uncleqvegan/ Thanks for listening!

Academia Sinica's Shashank Keshavmurthy is a coral reef specialist who has lived in Taiwan for more than a decade. ICRT's Hope Ngo speaks to Keshavmurthy about the lethal combination of climate change and relentless human interest that's threatening the coral reefs around Xiaoliuqiu. Thanks for listening.

Tobie Openshaw is a filmmaker, photographer, and advocate for Taiwan's next generation of visual storytellers. ICRT's Trevor Tortomasi chats with Tobie about his work with Taiwan's indigenous stories, his experience documenting the Sunflower Movement in 2014, and the hurdles that young filmmakers have to overcome in getting their work into the world. Join Tobie's group "Filmmaker Nights Taipei" for some valuable insight into filmmaking: https://www.facebook.com/groups/607185949394560 Thanks for listening!

Emily Wu is the CEO and co-founder of Ghost Island Media, one of Taiwan's most popular podcast networks. ICRT's Trevor Tortomasi chats with Emily about Ghost Island Media's first shows, her work in Taiwan's media industry, and the future of podcasts in Taiwan. You can find a list of Ghost Island Media's shows on their website: https://ghostisland.media/ On on their instagram: @ghostislandme Here's a link to one of their English shows, "Waste Not Why Not", on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0gQASkmr41ITwHegixRwE8 And check out their recent audio documentary in Chinese, 【一年的告白】： https://open.spotify.com/show/0wyy0JpqXvy2cPtGTaA0GC Thanks for listening!

Priya Lalwani-Purswaney, also known as 李眉君, is a professional interpreter of Chinese, English, and Hindi, and an organizer of Indian cultural events in Taiwan. ICRT's Trevor Tortomasi speaks with Priya about her experience growing up in Taiwan, her work as a simultaneous interpreter, and her role as a cultural bridge between India and Taiwan. You can find Priya's Translation and Interpreting Services here: https://www.facebook.com/PriyaTranslator/ Check out the events and support group "Indians In Taiwan", which Priya founded and manages: https://www.facebook.com/IndiansInTaiwan/ Thanks for listening!

Liam Fanning is organizing the upcoming "Taipei Shorts IV", the fourth installment of a series of short plays, going on stage in early January 2022! ICRT's Trevor Tortomasi speaks with Liam about writing, directing, and acting, as well as how Taipei Shorts is keeping English- and multi-language theater alive in Taiwan. Find tickets to Taipei Shorts here: bit.ly/taipeishorts Find out more about Taipei shorts online: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/219116397022862 Instagram: @taipeishorts And find Liam on Instagram: @liamfliamfliamf Thanks for listening!

Jim Geddes is the founder and bandleader of the Taipei Professional Orchestra Big Band, as well as a freelance musician and woodwind instrumentalist extraordinaire. ICRT's Trevor Tortomasi speaks with Jim about the TPO Big Band, gathering musicians in a pandemic, and his background on Broadway. You can find the TPO Big Band's new album here: https://tpotaipei.bandcamp.com/album/tpo-live-at-yuchen-cinema-studios Follow TPO for more info on performances around Taiwan: Instagram: @tpotaipei Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TPOTaipei Thanks for listening!

Satoki Matsushita is an astrophysicist who has worked with international projects like the Event Horizon Telescope and the Greenland Telescope Project, which have contributed to humanity's first imaging of a black hole, millions of lightyears from Earth. ICRT's Trevor Tortomasi speaks with Satoki about his research on black holes, his work with telescopes around the world, and his personal journey of learning astrophysics. CORRECTION NOTE: In the interview, Satoki mentions the use of an "S.I.S.", which should be a "superconductor-insulator-superconductor", not a "semiconductor". Thanks to Satoki for clarifying in post! You can read about Satoki in Chinese here: https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/life/breakingnews/2441505 More info on the Event Horizon Telescope: https://eventhorizontelescope.org/ And a short documentary on the Greenland Telescope: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkSSk5zEVC0 Thanks for listening!

Bonnie Lin and Angela Hsiung are professional street dancers, and are directing an immersive dance performance called "Lili", which is set to open for the weekend of December 11th and 12th. ICRT's Trevor Tortomasi speaks to Bonnie and Angela about their show Lili, immersive dance, training during the pandemic, and their experiences with street dance. Follow them on instagram: Lili: @lili20210717 Bonnie: @ahbong_moveon Angela: @angelahsiung Thanks for listening!

Mark Hsu, found of outsourcing service provider and consulting agency 11th Fleet joins the podcast this week to talk about his organisation and the new, decentralised business environment that organisations around the world are slowly starting to adopt.

Brian Hioe is a founding member of New Bloom Magazine, and a regular correspondent for news agencies including Taiwan Plus and ICRT. ICRT's Trevor Tortomasi speaks to Brian about his recent contribution to an extensive feature story on Taiwan by HBO's "Last Week Tonight", hosted by John Oliver, which is some of the most mainstream coverage of Taiwan by the U.S. in recent years. You can find more from Brian on New Bloom: https://newbloommag.net/ And you can follow Brian on social media: https://twitter.com/brianhioe Thanks for listening!

French filmmaker Aurelien Jegou joins us on this week's episode of Taiwan Talk to discuss his love of Taiwanese cinema, and two of the short movies he has produced since moving to Taiwan over five years ago. You can find more information about Aurelien's work at www.aurelien-binggan.com.

Eddy Gonzalez is the owner of the restaurant "Eddy's Cantina" in Taipei, where he hosts the weekly live show "Eddy LIVE". ICRT's Trevor Tortomasi chats with Eddy about running a restaurant through the pandemic, what he's learned from hosting a live show, and how to turn a Wednesday into a Friday. You can see his show on YouTube every Wednesday at 7 PM: https://www.eddy.live/ And you can follow him on Instagram: Eddy LIVE: @eddy.live.tw Eddy's Cantina: @eddyscantina Thanks for listening!

LGBTQ advocate and business-owner Olivia Wu joins us on Taiwan Talk this week to talk about her organization The Light Program. The organization offers holistic healing services and is involved in community-building activities in Taiwan. Olivia has also helped organize Asia Rainbow Ride - a biking event to raise money for LGBTQ charities.

Ray Ko is a freediving instructor on the island of Xiaoliuqiu, off the coast of Kaohsiung, Taiwan. ICRT's Trevor Tortomasi speaks with Ray about the different kinds of diving, ocean stories, sea life, and pushing the limits of one's own diving potential. You can find more info on diving lessons with Ray here: https://www.freedivenomadtaiwan.com/ Follow Ray on instagram: @freedivenomad And check out his educational podcast on diving, called: Total Beginner Freedive Podcast Thanks for listening!

This final episode in the Renewable Energy and Taiwan series features representative of Siemens Taiwan Anthony Tam, who talks about the company’s Smart City concept for sustainable energy usage. Anthony discusses the three key Smart City initiatives of “grid edge”, smart buildings, and smart electrification, and explains where these have been implemented in Taiwan and around the world.