The Bridge to China

The list of countries trading in currencies other than the dollar is growing by the day. According to Reuters, China is now trading less than half of its global trade in dollars. Bengal is beginning to trade with India in local currencies and the list has grown to include more nations than you might expect. But why? And what does this mean for American financial hegemony? We make the complex easie...

Sir Gilbert Van Kerckhove from Ghent, Belgium, has lived in China for four decades. While working in the country, he led the initiative to build Shanghai’s Line 3 in the 1990s and was involved in the preparations for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. In his book Toxic Capitalism, he shares extensive knowledge on global consumerism and wastage, and how to tackle these challenges. A rec...

The Bridge Podcast goes meta as we invite the hosts of The Honest Drink Podcast to join our show. Jason asks Justin, Howie and Aric about their collective 50 years living in China. What are the best places to visit? How has China changed in their eyes and how have our guests changed with it? Hear four Americans rap about their amazement at the modernity of life in both the US and China. Hosted on...

We are joined by a podcaster, who interviews folks who are making their mark in China. Oscar Fuchs is host of Shanghai's 'Mosaic of China' podcast. We ask him about his show and his time in Germany, Japan, Singapore and China. Beibei and Oscar discuss Chinese philosophy and talk about food. If you need some cultural fun and fabulous insights, this episode will have you laughing and thinking too. H...

Men in Japan and China are entitled up to four weeks of paternity leave, but many don’t take them. US citizens are entitled to neither maternity nor paternity leave, but many would take them if they could. France experienced riots protesting government’s plan to raise retirement age by two more years. On today’s show we examine the complicated global cultures of working and sometimes, not working....

From raging fires to smoldering mountains of trash and plastic oceans, our world feels out of control. Earth Day is here. In this episode we rapid fire the trends and celebrations of earth day from every corner of our globe. Be inspired. Be hopeful. And tune in. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s guest David W. Ferguson has written several original books on contemporary China. His latest book takes a deep dive into the strategies used in China’s successful campaign to end absolute poverty. He has also researched the greening of Beijing and the methods China uses to promote environmentalism. Join us as we interview the editor of the Governance of China about China’s path to moderniz...

A college education used to be part of realizing the American dream for young Americans. But with the crippling Student Loan Crisis, college enrollment in the US is falling faster than any time in recent history. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, fall enrollments in 2010 were 21 million. By 2021, enrollment had fallen by three million to 18 million. Is a university degree...

New technology promises to recycle hundreds of thousands of tons of textiles by 2030. The damage that the fashion industry brings to our planet is beyond belief. What’s at stake? How big is the problem? What can we do to address the problem of fast fashion in 2023? With Earth Day approaching, we take a look at impulse shopping and our unused wardrobe. There is hope, but only if we take a few...

Today’s guest Michael Crook is a British/Canadian who was born in Beijing in 1951 to parents who met in China. Michael grew up on a university campus in Beijing, worked in Chinese factories, and went to university in Britain. Michael helped found the Western Academy of Beijing in 1994. He is also the Chairman of International Committee for the Promotion of Chinese Industrial Cooperatives (known as...

Statistics show that US police kill "Far more civilians than any other wealthy country." A Colorado sheriff recently received an honorary award after shooting an unarmed man at an elementary school. What's going on in US policing? How do other wealthy nations have such low incidence of policing-related fatalities? Can the US change, and what would it need to do? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priv...

Is the US finally going to enter the High-Speed Rail game? A new article on KTLA says a line will connect a county outside LA with Los Vegas. With Spain, France, Germany, Japan, China and others in the club, we at The Bridge take a look at the global landscape of High Speed Rail, its advantages in using green energy, de-stressing, and easing road congestions. What's the past, present and future of...

As China observes annual Tomb Sweeping Day, we explain the tradition of burning joss money. From China to Amazon, the sacred money is going global. We take you inside the Chinese customs associated with respecting your passed loved ones. China doesn’t have a single set of traditions; we discuss the variety which makes understanding ‘China’ an ongoing exercise. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privac...

There are 500,000 kids working in agriculture in the US where “Unlimited Hours” are legal. For more than a century, Americans have fought to limit the work and related dangers that children could legally endure. The latest political trend in some states even weighs the merits of allowing children as young as twelve years old to work. A new law would increase both permissible work hours and the num...

Welcome to the first installment of The Bridge’s “Home Sweet Home, China,” where we show folks how to make China their home. And if you already live here, we have insights for you too. In this episode we’re going to cover how to come to China for work, choosing the right job, negotiating contracts, choosing the right city for you, getting a passport, visa, flights and all the steps you need to tak...

We interview Dr. Tang Xiaoyang, Chair of Department of International Relations at Tsinghua University in Beijing. A highly noted academic luminary on China–Africa economic cooperation, Dr. Tang has published extensively on the Belt and Road Initiative. He also has experiences working at the World Bank, UNDP, USAID, SAIS and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) in Washington DC....

Friend of The Bridge and frequent media commentator Fernando Munoz Bernal joins us. Hailing from Colombia, Fernando has lived in China for more than 20 years and was made an "honorary citizen" by the city of Dongguan. We discuss his journey through China by electric RV, how China's COVID policy saved lives, where to charge your EV on a road trip, and more. Want the truth about China and COVID? Thi...

With massive layoffs in the tech sector, many in 2023 are worried about their job security. According to the BBC, “As companies around the world slash positions, many workers are steeping in worry that they’re next…” As AI can now write online content, will corporate media be the next in line? Are we living in a cyber-punk-dystopia or is the world changing for the better? We take a look at the new...

“For the hundreds of millions of people living in small island developing states and other low-lying coastal areas around the world, sea-level rise is a torrent of trouble,” the UN Secretary General just warned. From climatologists flying to Davos in private jets, to Biden selling US gas on international markets and trending debates on the use of gas stoves, The Bridge radio show brings you the la...

“A new law banning Chinese citizens from buying property has some wondering if they’re welcome in Texas” according to an article this month in the Los Angeles Times . Have we entered a new period where questions similar to the Chinese Exclusion Act and the Japanese Internment are becoming normalized in US discourse? What’s at stake and what can be done? The Bridge takes on this critical issue. Joi...

CEO of FastForward Marketing, Cyrus Janssen is a geopolitical analyst, investor, speaker, and social media influencer with over 1 million fans across his social media platforms. He recently gave a TED Talk to inspire the youth. Born in the United States, Cyrus lived in China for 15 years. He shares his insights on China with Jason&Alex and how the US and China can build new bridges together. H...

As Women’s Day approaches, we at The Bridge discuss trending topics regarding the lives of ladies across the globe. From gender gaps in the digital industry, to gender-based violence and female leadership, we survey the landscape of inclusivity. Our hosts from China and the US bring you fresh insights into the often-hidden struggles of women around the world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pr...

China's 'Two Sessions' is being held in Beijing. Folks outside China have little understanding of China's democratic processes. In 2022, research group 'Latana' proved Chinese folks were more likely to rank the Chinese government as 'democratic' than any other nation in the world would rank their own.  With so little known in the West about what China calls "Whole-Process People's Democr...

The "Two Sessions", the biggest annual event on China's political calendar, will begin this weekend. Thousands of national lawmakers and political advisors will gather for these important political meetings that cover every aspect of China's development and people's wellbeing. The lawmakers and political advisors are from all walks of life in China, including farmers, workers, teachers…people from...

From exceeding your job description to quiet-quitting and lying-flat, the media sells us a mixed bag of seemingly incompatible narratives. So, which is it? Are we working too much or not enough? Alex and Jason delineate the borders of our changing career landscapes. If you want to avoid the landmines of today’s office culture, this episode is mandatory. So set your podcast to The Bridge, sit back...