Formosa Dream Chasers

Dr. Tzeng Yi-shuo, Associate Research Fellow at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, joins us to explore the growing challenges of misinformation and disinformation in today’s AI-driven digital landscape. He shares valuable insights on how these threats are evolving and what societies can do to build resilience in the face of information warfare.

In the final part of our conversation with Taiwanese metal artist Johnny Chen, he and his manager reflect on their experience collaborating on government-funded art projects and offer valuable advice 

In today’s episode, we continue our conversation with renowned metal artist Johnny Chen (陳柏豪). After sharing how his journey began with illustration, Johnny opens up about how his Taiwanese roots help shape the pieces he creates. We explore the heart of his creative process: where inspiration comes from, how he tackles mistakes, and what it means to turn culture into form.  Plus, Joh...

Are you drawn to art galleries and creative spaces? Ever wondered what it’s like to pursue a full-time art career in Taiwan? This week, we sit down with Johnny Chen, a Taiwanese metal artist who began his artistic journey in graphic design and later honed his craft in Bangkok. Johnny shares what inspired him to follow his passion and how he transitioned into metal art. Join us for a candid c...

In Part 2 of our special series Truth Under Siege, we shift from exposing the dangers of disinformation to exploring how we can fight back. What tools do we have to protect the truth — and who’s leading the charge? From the Journalism Trust Initiative to the World Press Freedom Index, we highlight global efforts that defend reliable journalism and empower everyday people to think criti...

Welcome to Formosa Dream Chasers — a show where we celebrate the journeys of people turning their dreams into reality. But it is important to remember that none of that would be possible without a society where ideas can be freely shared and truth can be told.  In this special episode, we explore how threats to press freedom and rising disinformation aren’t just political issues &...

This is the last part of our conversation with Michael Michael Huang, co-founder of the Li-ze Community School. He continues by sharing more about another meaningful project — a samban-building initiative that helped rebuild the ethnic memories of local indigenous tribes. Michael also shares a summer school he's been involved in to promote and educate people about the indigenous Kavalan peop...

In his reflections on founding the Li-ze Community School in Yilan, Michael Huang sheds light on the multifaceted challenges he and his team encountered. Beyond the school itself, Michael referenced the Real-Free Market—a grassroots initiative that originally sparked his commitment to community-based change. 

Michael Huang, co-founder of the Li-ze Community School, joins us this week to share his journey in developing community-based educational programs in Yilan County. He talks about his move to his father's hometown "Ritakkan" of Yilan and how he began working in environmental education and preserving local history.

In the final part of our chat with Ivan and David Perez, things take an unexpected — and heartwarming — turn. Not only do they open up about their future plans, but they flip the script and start asking Ching-en and Mary Anne the questions! What follows is a genuine, thoughtful exchange about the life lessons we've all picked up along the way. Trust us, you won’t want t...

This week, we continue our conversation with brothers Ivan and David Perez, who share how cooking became a guiding force through life’s toughest moments — transforming pain into purpose through food and connection. In this episode, they take us deeper into the heart of Mexican cuisine, revisiting the dishes that shaped their roots and continue to fuel their passion. Along the way, Ivan...

When life serves up hardship, some crumble — but others create. In this heartfelt episode, we meet Ivan and David Perez, brothers who survived life’s toughest moments through their passion for cooking. Through the comforting rhythm of preparing well-loved Mexican dishes, they discovered not just healing, but also a renewed sense of connection -  to themselves, to ea...

In the final part of our conversation, Taiwanese video journalist Jonah Khu discusses the evolving role of foreign media in Taiwan, the unique position of local reporters, and shares some thoughtful advice for aspiring journalists.

This week, we continue our conversation with Taiwanese video journalist Jonah Khu to delve deeper into Taiwan's media landscape and the Taiwan Media Workers' Alliance, which he co-founded.

This week, we’re joined by Jonah Khu, a Taiwanese freelance journalist and news producer, who stumbled into the world of journalism right after graduation. Join us as Jonah shares the story of how his career took off unexpectedly and offers his insights into the media landscape in Taiwan.

In the previous episode, we were joined by Benjamin Sabbah, Director of the Journalism Trust Initiative at Reporters Without Borders. He talked about how the organization is working to build public trust in the news and the initiative they’ve launched to certify the trustworthiness of media outlets worldwide. In the next part of our conversation, Director Sabbah will share one of his mo...

Trust in the reliability of media is more critical than ever, as misinformation continues to spread rapidly. In an age where audiences are constantly bombarded with conflicting information, ensuring journalistic integrity has become a global priority. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has spent decades advocating for truthful journalism, protecting journalists, and upholding press freedom. Join...

We continue our conversation with Alex Khomenko, a Ukrainian currently living in Taiwan. In previous episodes, Alex shared how he began advocating for peace in Ukraine shortly after moving to Taiwan, following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Alex is one of the founding members of the advocacy group Taiwan Stands With Ukraine, which regularly organizes cultural events and pro...

Previously, Ukrainian activist Alex Khomenko from Taiwan Stands With Ukraine stated that the Russo-Ukrainian War isn’t—and shouldn’t be—seen as an ethnic conflict. Today, he breaks down why that’s the case. He also shares more about Taiwan Stands With Ukraine and what the group is doing to support Ukraine in its fight for sovereignty. P.S. Taiwan Stands With Ukraine i...

In previous episodes, we met Taiwanese-Ukrainian couple Lin Yue (林月) and Olga Kulish, who opened their restaurant, Hata, as an unexpected consequence of the Russo-Ukrainian War. Wanting to better understand the roots of this conflict, Mary Anne and Ching-en invited Alex Khomenko, a representative of Taiwan Stands With Ukraine (TSWU), to share his perspective. Born during the Soviet era, Alex ref...

From building a business in Ukraine to starting over in Taiwan, Lin Yue’s (林月) journey is one of resilience, adaptation, and cultural connection. In this episode, he shares how the war uprooted him from the life he built in Ukraine, the struggles he faced upon returning home, and how he and his wife Olga turned adversity into opportunity—opening Hata, one of the very few Ukraini...

Mary Anne and Ching-en visited Hata, a Ukrainian restaurant in Kaohsiung, where they spoke with one of the owners, Olga Kulish. Olga shared her journey of learning Mandarin Chinese and the story of how she and her family relocated to Taiwan. She also discussed the similarities and differences between Ukrainian and Taiwanese cuisines, her perspective on Taiwanese culture, and the campaign she launc...

As Mary Anne and Ching-en wrap up their interview with Indonesian-Taiwanese filmmaker Martin Rustandi, they turn their focus to Taiwan’s migrant workers and new immigrants. Our hosts explore the growing number of individuals in these communities and highlight government initiatives aimed at providing practical information, resources, and support.

Indonesian-Taiwanese filmmaker Martin Rustandi takes us behind the scenes of his latest mini-documentary series, Not Far From Home, which delves into the lives of Indonesian immigrants in Taiwan. He reveals the intense process of narrowing down the stories of 150 applicants, each eager to share their migrant journey, and how he chose the voices that were the most representative and would make...

In today’s episode, we explore the balance between pursuing your passions and maintaining a full-time career. We are joined by Niya Chen (陳怡安), a poet and administration worker for a Taiwanese NGO. Niya shares how she successfully nurtured her love for poetry alongside her career, having already published two books under her real name and with plans for a third in the near future. Jo...