Formosa Dream Chasers

In this deeply personal solo episode of Formosa Dream Chasers, Mary Anne revisits her own Taiwan immigration story, including the much messier, more human reality that unfolded afterward. From the carefully written plans to the quiet moments of burnout, detours, and dreams put on pause, she reflects on how her understanding of success and “making it” has changed over time. This episode...

As 2025 comes to a close, Mary Anne sits down with her good friend Michelle Capistrano for an honest and heartfelt catch-up. Together, they look back on the year that was, share their New Year’s resolutions, and talk about why setting realistic intentions matters more than chasing perfection. From gratitude for the people who’ve supported them, to prioritizing health and learning to en...

We continue our chat with Hashlaey Bermudez as we dive deeper into her life in Taiwan beyond the classroom. In this episode, she reflects on the key differences between the education systems and work cultures of Taiwan and Honduras, sharing what surprised her most along the way. From navigating work opportunities to finding her footing in a new industry, she opens up about the challenges of buildi...

In this episode of Formosa Dream Chasers, we speak with Hashlaey Bermudez, a Honduran student who came to Taiwan to pursue Fashion Management at Ming Chuan University. Hashlaey shares what motivated her to study abroad, why Taiwan became her chosen destination, and her first impressions upon arriving—from navigating a new culture and language to adjusting to life far from home. Want to know...

What does it really take to build a life in Taiwan? We continue our conversation with Professor Ilon Huang, a German language lecturer at National Chengchi University and Soochow University, in part 2  of Formosa Dream Chasers, as he shares his journey of more than 25 years in Taiwan. After exploring his early days as a Mandarin student and his dual cultural identity last week, this episode g...

In this episode of Formosa Dream Chasers, we sit down with Ilon Huang who shares how his 25-year journey in Taiwan began with the simple step of coming here to study Mandarin. What started as a language-learning adventure gradually unfolded into a deeply rooted life on this island he now calls home. Today, Ilon is a German language lecturer at National Chengchi University and Soochow University, w...

In today’s episode, writer and Bandung Pop Darlings author Irfan Muhammad, takes a more reflective look at the life he’s built here in Taiwan—from comparing the media and entertainment industries between Taiwan and Indonesia to the life of migrant workers and South East Asians in this country. In this final installment, Irfan also shares thoughtful advice for foreign students and...

Last week, we sat down with writer and Bandung Pop Darlings author Irfan Muhammad to trace the beginnings of his journey from Indonesia, where we learned how stepping away from a journalism career to pursue further studies opened the door to a new life in Taiwan. Today's episode continues with Irfan highlighting the diverse Indonesian communities living in Taiwan, the different perspectives they b...

In this episode of Formosa Dream Chasers, we sit down with writer and Bandung Pop Darlings author Irfan Muhammad to trace the journey that brought him from Indonesia all the way to Taiwan. Now, having lived here for nearly four years, Irfan looks back on the ideas and impressions he and many Indonesians have about Taiwan long before seeing it for themselves. He shares what pushed him to take that...

In last week's episode, we heard some amazing stories of resilience and courage from people who took the leap to build a new life abroad. This time, we’re continuing that journey with more inspiring voices from guests who came to Taiwan as students. From culture shock to connection, our guests share how studying abroad can be both a challenge, a chance to reinvent yourself, and an opportunit...

Over the past two years, I’ve had the amazing privilege of chatting with so many people who have worked hard to pursue their dreams — each with their own story of courage, change, and growth. In many of our episodes, we’ve interviewed people who relocated as part of their journey. As we celebrate reaching 100 episodes, we’re looking back at some of those conversations to re...

We’ve come a long way with Rhea Leorag these past two episodes — from her experiences finding her place in Taiwan and Seoul, to the insights she’s gained from living in both countries. When we first met Rhea, she was pursuing her International Master’s in Cultural and Creative Industries at the Taipei National University of the Arts (TNUA). Later, she joined an exchange pro...

Last week, we caught up with fellow Filipino Rhea Leorag, who’s been charting her own path across cultures — from Manila to Taipei to Seoul. We learned how studying in both Taiwan and South Korea broadened Rhea's view of the world — especially through the lens of music. Today, we dive deeper into Rhea’s time in South Korea — this time, turning the spotlight on the cou...

In this episode, we reconnect with Rhea Leorag, a fellow Filipino whose journey has taken her from Manila to Taipei and Seoul — all in pursuit of learning, growth, and music. Rhea recently earned her Master’s degree in Cultural and Creative Industries from the Taipei National University of the Arts, with part of her studies spent in South Korea through an exchange program at the Korea...

David Perez is back for the third and final part of his story on Formosa Dream Chasers! In earlier episodes, we heard how his brother's motorcycle accident pushed him to start a new chapter in Taiwan with their Mexican food business. As we learned more about David's start in the entertainment industry, we also discovered the many struggles he overcame to build his career. This time, we dig deeper...

David Perez returns for the second part of his story! This time, we join him in the spotlight as we learn what it is like to step onto the stage here in Taiwan. Beyond running a Mexican food business and dealing with day-to-day challenges of life, David talks about facing down stage fright, finding ways to connect with his audiences, and discovering just how powerful laughter can be. In this episo...

David Perez is back on Formosa Dream Chasers! You might remember him from our earlier episode with his brother Ivan, when they shared how a life-changing accident sparked the idea for their Mexican restaurant in Taiwan. But that was just the beginning of David’s story. Beyond running a Mexican food business, David is also an actor and comedian, bringing energy and laughter to audiences here...

Last week, we sat down with Michelle Chiang (whom you may know as the host of Geek Out! here at Rti) as she put on her entrepreneur’s hat and joined us as the founder of Phoenix Dice. In the previous episode, we learned how her love of dice collecting grew into a thriving business. Today, we dive deeper into her journey—exploring the challenges of running a niche business in a shifting...

Step into the world of gaming with the founder of Phoenix Dice in today's episode! While you might know her as the host of Geek Out! (one of our other programs at Rti), Michelle puts on her entrepreneur’s hat to share how she went from being an avid dice collector to becoming a business owner. From its humble beginnings to building a brand that resonates with players around the world, Phoeni...

Over the past two episodes, we’ve been following the inspiring journey of Fr. Joyalito “Joy” Tajonera, a Maryknoll priest who has devoted more than two decades to serving Taiwan’s migrant and new immigrant communities. In Part 1, Fr. Joy talked about his early life, his calling to the priesthood, and how his first assignment in Taiwan helped shape his mission. In Part 2, we...

In our last episode, we met Fr. Joyalito “Joy” Tajonera, a Maryknoll priest who shared his journey from the Philippines to the U.S., and how his calling to the priesthood was shaped by missionaries who walked alongside the marginalized. He also opened up about his first assignment in Taiwan—where he experienced culture shock, language struggles, and the unexpected discovery of Ta...

Dreams take on many shapes and forms, and today’s conversation with Fr. Joyalito “Joy” Tajonera is a perfect example of that.  Fr. Joy is a Filipino-American Catholic priest whose journey has taken him from the Philippines to the heart of Taiwan’s migrant communities. With warmth and a deep sense of purpose, Fr. Joy shares how his early life and spiritual calling led h...

On today’s episode we learn that Ching-en Chiou is trading the Rti studio for the streets of Bangkok!  Inspired by his work at Rti, he’s heading to Chulaongkorn University for a one-year Master's in International Development.  Ready to put his passion into action, Ching-en talks about tackling global challenges - setting his sights on immigration issues and gender inequality....

Today’s episode features Pei Fang-tsao (裴芳草), also known as Thao—a former journalist from Vietnam who made the bold decision to study in Taiwan in pursuit of her dreams. She’s now gaining hands-on experience as an intern with RTI’s English service! With her journalistic background, Thao offers valuable insights into the evolving media landscape in Vietnam—from issu...

In Part 2 of our conversation, Dr. Tzeng Yi-shuo, Associate Research Fellow at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, explores how artificial intelligence could be weaponized to undermine democratic institutions. From deepfakes to algorithmic manipulation, he outlines the potential threats posed by AI-driven disinformation campaigns—and offers practical strategies to help...