Formosa Dream Chasers

It goes without saying that parents generally want the best for their children but what happens when their expectations clash with one's desires and dreams? This very question was what EX-Theatre Asia's very own Co-Founder and Artistic Director, Mr. Chongtham Jayanta Meetei (江譚佳彥) faced when he wanted to pursue his passion for acting and the theater arts. Now based in...

In this episode, Mary Anne and Ching-en continue their chat with Spacebit Founder and CEO Pavlo Tanasyuk as he shares his secret of how he stays resilient despite the many challenges of running a space company. He also talks about his upcoming charity bike ride in Asia and the U.S. to raise funds for Ukrainian children who are victims of the war.  

The idea of space exploration may seem like science fiction to most but as Spacebit CEO and founder Pavlo Tanasyuk explains, this isn't as far-fetched nor as impossible as we may think. Join us in today's fascinating chat as Mr. Tanasyuk shares how he goes after his dream of conducting lunar explorations through Spacebit and how his company is working on making living on the moon a reali...

In our previous episode, Billy and Joyce shared their experiences working with the Rti Academy and their goals for the future. In the second half of our conversation, they share with Mary Anne and Ching-en what challenges the youth of Taiwan face these days. They discuss their concerns ranging from career development to livelihood issues and share personal experiences on how they ad...

In this week's program, we're joined by Billy Wu (吳秉勵) and Joyce Wang (王若穎) to discuss why they chose to have their internship with the Rti Academy and what were the practical skills they gained in the past two months. Billy and Joyce are master's students at National Chengchi University (NCCU), specializing in Global Communication and Innovation Technology. Tune in as they share their...

In this concluding segment of our conversation with Lee Han-wei (李翰威), he delves into the obstacles that many composers and arrangers encounter within Taiwan's music industry and shares practical advice and valuable insights for aspiring musicians. Tune in and find out how Han-wei is able to find joy in his work despite the many challenges. We hope this episode similarly encourages out listener...

Teachers and friends can indeed be profound sources of inspiration in one's life journey. Continuing our conversation with Lee Han-wei (李翰威), we delve into his childhood and how he evolved from being a clarinet player with a school band to a seasoned music performer over the past two decades. What prompted Han-wei's decision to venture into the realm of music arranging? Moreover, how did h...

Today's conversation talks about how one's parents dream can sometimes inspire one's own child and in the process, allow them to discover their own.  Lee Han-wei (李翰威), our guest for this episode, shares how his musical journey unfolded through his father's love for the saxophone. By embracing his father's dream, he talks about his beginnings as a clarinetist and how he later tra...

In the next installation of our conversation with David, we delve deeper into his experience studying abroad as he immerses himself in various foreign cultures and languages. He also shares his favorite and...not so favorite things about Taiwan. Don't miss out as David offers invaluable advice for those looking to embark on their own adventures of exploration. Tune in now!

Moving to another country wouldn't exactly be everyone's dream...especially for Hungarian David Dosa who couldn't imagine moving to Taiwan of all places to learn Mandarin when he was younger. Yet, life sometimes surprises you with its own twists and turns. Tune in to find out more about David's story and get the chance to have a close-up look of what life is like in Taiwan from  his perspecti...

Let's continue with our conversation with Brad Kao, founder of the 1624 Noodle Bar, and delve deep into what it is like to set up a business in Taiwan compared to some other countries. We also hear of his insights on preparations to launch a new brand, his marketing strategies, and what being a success in business means for him. Stay tuned as we uncover more abou...

This week, we get to learn what it takes to start a franchise business as we chat with Brad Kao, an ambitious entrepreneur. Brad started his noodle bar, 1624, in the heart of Taipei City just 2 years ago and shares how he transformed his love for noodles into a business.   For those interested in starting your own brand and creating your own franchise business, don't miss out on thi...

This week, we continue our chat with Ethan on his cross-cultural relationship with his British partner Andrew.  Ethan talks about the difficulties he faced (and continues to face!) to be with his partner, common misconceptions people and family have of his relationship and what strategies he adopted to deal with rumors and the hate he received. Near the end of our conversation, Etha...

In this episode, Ching-en and Mary Anne sit down with Ethan Chao to listen to the incredible love story on how he met his British husband, Andrew. With an age difference of about 50 years and as a same-sex couple from opposite ends of the globe—Taiwan and the UK—Ethan and Andrew's journey is as unique as it is inspiring. Ethan, a young man hailing from the relatively conserva...

All journeys leave a mark on us one way or the other and as we continue our chat with Tricia in this final installment, this episode is NOT to be missed! In the many twists and turns that Tricia experienced, she shares with us the most memorable moments in her journey, the wisdom and life lessons she gained which is sure to make a significant impact to listeners as well. Do you also aspire to...

In the previous episode, Tricia recounted her experience of growing up as a female in Taiwanese society and her inspirations for feminism while studying in the U.S. We continue our conversation with Tricia today as she recounts how her journey unfolded when in the late 1990s, after a decade in the U.S., Tricia turned her critical lens back to her motherland Taiwan where she continued to build...

This week, we're excited to welcome a special guest who has travelled all the way from the United States back to Taiwan - Chair and Professor Yi-chun Tricia Lin (林怡君) of the Women's & Gender Studies Department at Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU)! Join us as we learn what challenges and experiences women faced growing up during the 1960s-1980s in Taiwanese society....

Last week, Chinese calligraphy artist Wang I-chun (王意淳) gave an overview of what Chinese calligraphy is about and how her journey started. Tune in to today's episode as we continue the conversation with I-chun! She does a deep dive into what the environment is like in Taiwan for calligraphy artists, how artists like her earn money through their craft and her suggestions for those who...

The lunar new year (LNY) is just around the corner! During this festive season, many Taiwanese families hang up a pair of red couplets with auspicious phrases above the doorframe of their houses. Have you ever wondered what those words mean? Do you want to know more about the art of Chinese calligraphy? Please join our conversation with one of the few female Chinese calligraphy artists here i...

For this episode, Mary Anne refers to a quote from Ms. Harriet Tubman - "Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world." Our dreams are precious. One could even say that our dreams are pieces of our soul which is why when we give them up, we are actually giving up a part of w...

Let's face it. Life IS a rollercoaster, it goes up and down. We go through set-backs, challenges and there are times when we are just tired of it all. We all get drained and exhausted so much so that it seems like giving up may be the only option for us.  If you feel that way then today's episode is for you. Mary Anne shares her thoughts and favorite songs that inspire her to c...

Previously, Ching-en and Mary Anne came up with the idea of sharing their favorite "hit songs" and it's now Mary Anne's turn to share her favorite songs in what she likes to call Mary Anne's motivational mixtapes!  Today Mary Anne shares the songs that remind her why she does what she does, help get her blood pumping and ready to face the day. She hopes that these same songs also serve a...

Last week, Jason Lin from LikeIt Formosa shared with us what inspired him to become an English walking tour guide and how his journey started.  We continue our conversation with Jason today to get an idea of what his work is like, how rewarding is it (yes, we mean that literally and figuratively!) being a walking tour guide and get his advice for people wanting to try out his line o...

This week, Ching-en and Mary Anne are joined by Jason Lin from "Like It Formosa", the biggest English walking tour company in Taiwan.  Jason initially trained at National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU) to become a high school teacher. Rather than teaching in school, however, Jason decided to apply the skills of curriculum design into tour planning! These days, you will find him lea...

In this episode, Ching-en gets up close and personal as he shares his experiences and struggles during high school. He also introduces the song "Kite" and explains why "Kite", first released in 2012, went viral among many high school graduates at the time. With its upbeat chorus and energetic rhythm, the song illustrates the graduates' determination to fearlessly chase after th...