Mosaic of China

If you were asked to name your favourite phrase in Chinese, would you choose something you hear every day in China like 差不多, 哎哟, and 没有? Or would you choose something deeper which reveals layers of meaning like 一山不容二虎, 养儿防老 and 而遇而不可求? In today's final compilation episodes from Season 1, the guests discuss their favourite words and phrases in Chinese. So get ready to make no...

In today’s penultimate compilation episode from Season 1, we’re talking about the favourite places people like to frequent in China. And since this first season has focused on resident of Shanghai, the resulting answers are a love letter to all the restaurants, bars and cafés of this vibrant world-class city. Whether you’re looking for recommendations of street food, high-end restaurants, bars, cl...

The Mosaic of China podcast has been designed to have visual elements that can be enjoyed alongside its audio episodes. Today’s show is the biggest test of that theory, since it’s a compilation from Season 1 of the guests’ answers to the question: “What’s your favourite WeChat sticker?”. In the same week that Donald Trump has threatened to ban WeChat from the United States, we take a look at one o...

This episode will touch a nerve with a lot of people. It’s a compilation of the things that the guests from Season 1 would miss the most and miss the least if they were to leave China. It was designed as a hypothetical question, but has now become a sad reality for those who left China temporarily during the pandemic but now, six months later, still have no way of returning. It is also the one que...

The topic of where we get our information has been in centre stage across the world, as societies debate the ideals of press freedom versus the dangers of fake news. So when I asked the 30 guests from Season 1 of the podcast about their favourite sources of information in China, I had no idea what kind of answers I would receive. The picture that emerged is an array of news and information sources...

Today marks the halfway point of these ten special compilation episodes that showcase the guests from Season 1 of the show, and I hope you've been persuaded to go back and take a listen to some of the original episodes you may have missed before. If not, let me try yet again to convince you: the theme of today's episode is the best and worst purchases that have been made in China. In a way, this e...

If you're an annoying person like me, you will love to share little pieces of trivia to unsuspecting listeners. You will think it makes you look clever to those around you, and you will accept their polite silent nods as proof of your awe-inspiring worldliness, oblivious to the reality of your unending tediousness. If any of that sounds familiar to you, then you will love today's special compilati...

If there's one thing on which almost everyone can agree, it's on China's capacity to surprise. No matter whether you're a China outsider or someone who's been living here for decades, there will always be something to make you stop in your tracks. And this is just as much the case for Chinese people as it is for non-Chinese. Today's special compilation episode from Season 1of the podcast is an ant...

Today's compilation episode is all about the podcast guests’ favourite songs to sing at KTV, the Chinese version of karaoke. Out of all the questions asked on Mosaic of China, this one elicited the biggest array of emotions: joy, pride, embarrassment and… sheer terror. There’s a reason why karaoke is so popular in China and other East Asian societies with a Confucian heritage: it’s an important ca...

In the first of 10 compilation episodes from Season 1, we listen to the guests's answers to the question: "What is your favourite travel destination within Mainland China". The answers range from cities with historical cities to the Gobi desert; from the mountains of Tibet to the lakes of Hangzhou and Nanjing; and from the beaches of Sanya to the Alpine scenery of northern Sichuan. So my question...

For this special end of season wrap-up episode, I asked my friend and fellow podcaster Josh Ogden-Davis to join me for a chat. We talk about things like interview techniques, the editing process, and some of the show’s influences. But the main reason for recording this episode was to announce what’s coming next. Chapters 00:00 - Trailer & Intro 00:44 - Main 19:01 - Outro Instagram : www.instagram....

The final episode of the season is with the fashion designer Octo Cheung, who epitomises the phrase “East Meets West”. Raised in Hong Kong, trained in Europe, and employed in China, Octo explains how her own cultural development has helped to inform her personal philosophy and design aesthetic. You will find her observations fascinating, no matter how much you care about fashion or clothing. The m...

We’re almost at the end of Season 1, so I’m very happy to squeeze in an episode with a scientist before the end of the series. Sanford Browne has a background in microbiology and, at the time of recording, was the VP of Research and Innovation at L'Oréal China. He has since been promoted to the SVP position covering all of Asia Pacific and has also moved to Tokyo, so we were lucky to catch him whi...

My guest today is Lissanthea Taylor, who specialises in rehabilitation and pain management. We have a fascinating conversation about the different ways in which China and the West handle the natural ageing process, short-term and persistent pain, and overall mental wellbeing. And beyond that, we make the distinction between how the brain handles pain versus danger, and how medical practitioners ex...

Spending over a decade being a Tour Manager in China for international bands has taken this week's guest, Abe Deyo, to many destinations. In our discussion, we discuss some of his favourites, as well as his experiences on tour and his opinions on music tastes in the Chinese indie scene. I tried to elicit some nefarious stories of the rock and role lifestyle out of Abe, but I promise that our chat...

As Programme Director of China's first and only theatre complex specifically dedicated to dance, Sabrina Chen knows a thing or two about reading the China arts scene. In our chat, she compares the audiences in Shanghai to those of other cities in China and around the world. To many people (your host included) contemporary dance can at first seem like an esoteric and abstract art form, which can on...

International diplomacy can deal with matters of global consequence such as trade and the environment. It can deal with the deeply personal aspects of helping nationals in distress overseas. And it can also deal with the mundane drudgery of working in a large bureaucracy. In my conversation with Tom Barker, the New Zealand Deputy Consul-General in Shanghai, we cover all of these aspects in our sho...

We all take translation and translators for granted these days. There are now apps on your phone that can translate inputted text, can magically convert text within photos, and can even simultaneously translate audio as you’re speaking. But once you listen to Gigi Chang talk about the philosophy behind her work translating literary texts, you’ll know that there can be no substitute to the human to...

Greg Nance’s business is in China, but his story will resonate with anyone around the world who is addicted to their life pursuits. For Greg, his addictions include ultramarathon racing, and his education business. If you’re a cynic, you’ll immediately be turned off by the idea of listening to someone as positive and accomplished as Greg. And about 5 minutes into our conversation, we talk about th...

At the time of recording, Roz Coleman was the International Company Manager of the immersive theatre experience “Sleep No More” in Shanghai. This has given Roz a unique appreciation of audience responses in different countries and cultures, and during our short chat she shares some great observations about human behavioural traits in China.   The obvious irony is that our discussion covers audienc...

Yang Yi is a Chinese editor, a broadcaster, and one of the trailblazers in the new world of podcasting in China. He is the host of two podcasts, a culture-themed show called "Left-Right", and a show called "Go! LIVE" where he invites reporters in China to share their eperiences in journalism. And he is also co-founder of the "JustPod" company, which currently produces four original and three brand...

Lexie Comstock is the Founder of Strictly Cookies, and we’ve known each other now for over four years. I thought I knew all about her when we sat down for our conversation. But just like an unexpectedly under-baked cookie, Lexie's story was notable for being surprisingly raw in parts. I was amazed to hear what she had been through in the early days of setting up her cookie empire, and inspired by...

Stephane de Montgros first came to China as an engineering graduate, and today is the Director of an events and hospitality company. In our conversation, we trace this circuitous career path, and make observations about the current state of the hospitality and tourism industry in China and beyond. If you’re curious to know about how hotels in China are coping with societal, environmental, and tech...

I didn't know I was interested in the art of jewellery design until I met Angie. Maybe that's because I didn't think about the precision of the tool-work; maybe it's because I didn't pay attention to the forms and structure of precious metals; or maybe it's because I've never met anyone as unique as Angie Wu. Angie has a fascinating background, and it was a joy to spend a short time together in he...

It's time to relect on the end of the year, and the end of the decade. So as you’re listening to Simon Manetti reflect on his last 10 years of choices and chances in China, take a moment to think about the forces that brought you to where you are today. Some of you might look back on your decade as a series of rational and linear decisions. Well congratulations to you. Personally I relate more to...