Formosa Dream Chasers

Most of us have accepted that fatigue, brain fog, digestive issues, and chronic aches are simply the price we pay for getting older or living busy, stressful lives. But what if they're not? What if these seemingly unrelated symptoms are actually our body's way of telling us that something deeper is out of balance? What if the reason we aren’t feeling our best is because we're treating sympto...

Some of the most powerful advice you'll ever hear can change your life. Some of it... probably deserves a second opinion. In part 2 of this special Formosa Dream Chasers series, we continue putting some of the world's most common success advice to the test. Because while motivational quotes often sound inspiring, real life is rarely as simple as a one-line slogan.  Join us as we separate time...

These days, success advice seems to be everywhere, from well-meaning friends and family to social media feeds, coffee mugs, and motivational posters. From "Follow your passion." "Never give up." to "Believe in yourself.", it wouldn’t be a stretch to say we’ve probably heard of them all before. But have you ever stopped to ask whether all these advice are actually good? In this special...

Most people don't leave home because they want to start over again…yet that's exactly what happens behind every migration story. A new language. A new culture. A new career path. New rules, new routines, and sometimes a completely different version of ourselves. We leave in search of opportunity, but what happens when the life we planned doesn't unfold the way we expected? In this episode o...

After more than three decades serving Filipino workers around the world, what moments stay with a person the most? In the final chapter of our conversation with Philippine Labor Director David Des T. Dicang, we move beyond policies and programs and into some of his personal experiences that shaped his commitment to public service. From an extraordinary community project born in the midst of t...

What makes Taiwan one of the most popular destinations for Filipino migrant workers? And what can other countries learn from its approach to migrant welfare? In Part 2 of our conversation with Philippine Labor Director David Des T. Dicang, we move beyond his personal journey and take a closer look at the realities of life and work for nearly 200,000 Filipinos living in Taiwan. Drawing from more th...

From the cool mountain city of Baguio to diplomatic missions across Korea, the Middle East, and Taiwan, Philippine Labor Director David Des T. Dicang has spent more than three decades standing at the frontlines of migrant worker welfare. But beyond the title and government post is a man whose journey has been shaped by public service and a passion for helping people. In this episode of Formosa Dre...

Over the last two episodes, we looked at the emotional realities of pursuing dreams — from the uncertainty and comparison that come with feeling “stuck in the middle” of the journey, to the hidden costs of ambition, burnout, and overwork. But in this third part of the conversation, the focus shifts toward something quieter and perhaps something even more difficult to confront: wh...

Last week host Mary Anne Sioco reflected on the uncertainty, pressure, and emotional weight that often came with chasing our dreams. This is especially true when life does not unfold according to the timelines we imagined for ourselves. But what happens when the pursuit of our goals slowly begins to consume us? Continuing the conversation, Mary Anne takes a deeper look at the hidden costs that can...

If you’ve ever questioned where you are in life, wondered whether you’re falling behind, or felt uncertain about the path you’re on, then this episode is for you. In this special solo episode of Formosa Dream Chasers, host Mary Anne Sioco steps away from interviews and reflects on the quieter, often unspoken side of pursuing dreams and building a meaningful life. Beyond the polis...

After years of struggling with her health symptoms, Michelle Capistrano finally found the right treatment and support that helped her better understand her body. Today, Michelle talks about how her experience pushed her to create an online platform focused on hormonal health and why representation matters — especially for Asian women navigating perimenopause and menopause. She also reflects...

Perimenopause affects far more than hormones - from sleep and mental health to relationships, intimacy, work performance, and family dynamics, all of these can be affected by the lack of hormones as women age. In Part 3 of our conversation, Michelle Capistrano shares about the wider impact this stage of life can have as she reflects on the larger systemic issues surrounding women’s healthcar...

How can anyone pursue their dreams without good health? That is the question at the heart of this conversation. Despite finally learning that perimenopause was the root cause of her medical issues, Michelle Capistrano found herself frustrated and hopeless, as she tried to find answers to health issues while navigating through a medical system that minimized her experiences.  She thought findi...

Having lived with health challenges for most of her life, Michelle Capistrano grew up learning how to navigate allergies, inflammation, hospital visits, and the daily realities of living with asthma.  But in her forties, something changed. What started as shoulder pain slowly became migraines, dry eyes, heart palpitations, sleepless nights, anxiety, and emotional changes that seemed impossibl...

We’ve followed Dan Orlovsky’s journey full circle—from a simple craving for the taste of home, to building Kaohsiung’s only Israeli restaurant, Loracorlo, and navigating the realities of running a business across cultures during uncertain times. Now, in this final chapter, we go beyond the surface and take an honest look at what it really takes to keep a restaurant running&...

Last week, we got a glimpse of the complexities of working across different countries as Dan Orlovsky shared his experience in Israel, China, the Philippines, and Taiwan. Today, we zoom in on one of the more intriguing parts of Dan’s journey: navigating culture—not just in food, but in people. What happens when you take leadership styles shaped in Israel and apply them in Taiwan? What...

Last week, we got a glimpse into Dan Orlovsky’s journey before stepping into the restaurant world, along with the story behind Loracorlo's name. In today’s episode, we go a step further and explore what truly makes Loracorlo, Kaohsiung's only Israeli restaurant, stand out. Dan shares how he brings authentic Israeli flavors to southern Taiwan, from carefully selected spices to specialty...

Tucked away in Kaohsiung is a restaurant with a story that stretches far beyond the city’s streets. Loracorlo, the only Israeli restaurant in this southern city, began with a very simple desire: a craving for the taste of home.  In this episode of Formosa Dream Chasers, we sit down with Dan Orlovsky, the founder of Loracorlo, to learn how the COVID-19 pandemic brought him to Taiwan and...

In Part 1 of our Lunar New Year special, we explored how Taiwan celebrates this vibrant holiday and kicked off our deep dive into the Chinese zodiac. We covered the first half of the zodiac cycle, looking at how the bold energy of the Fire Horse year might influence those born under the year of the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, and of course, the Horse. In this episode, we continue the jo...

In this special Lunar New Year episode of Formosa Dream Chasers, we take a cultural deep dive into how Taiwan celebrates this vibrant holiday — from meaningful traditions and family reunions to the symbolism behind the Chinese zodiac. As we welcome the Year of the Fire Horse, we explore what its bold, passionate energy represents and how it can inspire us to move fearlessly toward our goals....

Wrapping up our conversation with Harry Swart, he talks about the fire that’s been driving him and how, as he’s gotten older, he feels a stronger urgency to go after his dream. That hunger has made him more fearless, but it’s also led him to overdo it at times, pushing his voice past its limits and teaching him that chasing a dream still requires discipline and self-care. One big...

Continuing our conversation with musician Harry Swart, we zoom in on the nuts and bolts of busking in Taiwan. Harry originally came to Taiwan as an English teacher but later made the bold decision to pursue music full-time by building his career one street performance at a time. Beyond making music on the streets, what does it actually take to perform here? Today, Harry walks us through the practi...

Welcome back to Formosa Dream Chasers. In part two of our conversation with Harry Swart — musician, busker, and longtime Taiwan resident — we dig deeper into the dream he once thought was impossible. Harry shares that growing up, he always imagined what it might be like to make a living as a singer and musician. But at the time, it felt more like a pipe dream than a real possibility. S...

What does it mean to chase a dream—one street corner at a time? In this episode of Formosa Dream Chasers, we meet Harry Swart, a street performer and musician who has turned public spaces into stages and everyday passersby into audiences. Harry, who is also an English teacher, shares how his journey to Taiwan and his busking career began. What led him to perform on the streets, and what are...

Continuing a special Formosa Dream Chasers episode, Mary Anne shares her personal story of building a life in Taiwan—this time through a deeply reflective and intimate letter to her past self. Picking up from the challenges shared last week, this episode explores the sacrifices and compromises that often come with life abroad. And at the heart of this episode is a letter Mary Anne wrote, not...