Getting Pacific

Joey and Michelle talk about break dancing's first appearance at Summer Olympics, and invite Taiwanese street dancer KrazyBonez (Jason Huang) to talk about his career as a dancer. Jason Huang instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasonkrazybonez/ -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

TaiwanPlus is Getting Pacific for season 2! Join us every Tuesday for chats with experts and activists about trending topics in Taiwan and around the world! -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Taiwan's Red Room event began years ago as a monthly gathering of locals and foreigners in Taipei, with five minutes of stage time available to anyone, for any kind of performance. The event quickly grew into a sort of movement, bringing with it a "culture of listening" that gave everyone a chance to speak. Trevor and Joey look into the culture of open mic events, and how they can help foster the...

Trying out a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle can come with a few initial hurdles, including your proximity to vegan options, your resources, and your eating habits. But the results have undeniably healthy effects on the environment, economies, and people. Joey and Trevor look into the world's most vegetarian countries, the roots of different kinds of veganism, and how it's getting easier to eat less...

Every year around late May or early June, we celebrate Dragon Boat Festival, a holiday with thousands of years of history, traditional foods, and competitive dragon boat races. Joey and Trevor look into the history behind the holiday, how it's celebrated, and its growing popularity in countries around the world. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

As global average temperatures rise, many coral reefs are experiencing a phenomenon called "bleaching", leaving behind brittle structures which often stand very little chance of recovery. Coral reefs, sometimes called "the rainforests of the ocean", are highly sensitive underwater ecosystems. So how many of them can still be saved? Trevor and Joey look into how corals grow, how we study them, and...

Comedians are often encouraged to "punch up", or criticize those in positions of power, rather than "punching down", or ridiculing those less fortunate. So in countries where criticizing the government is dangerous, how does standup comedy fare as a political voice? Trevor and Joey look into the growth of standup comedy scenes around Asia, comedy's role as a cultural force, and how jokes translate...

According to the World Health Organization, worldwide obesity has more than doubled since 1990, while obesity in adolescents has quadrupled in the same amount of time. In Taiwan, more than half of adults and a third of schoolchildren are either overweight or obese, giving it one of the highest rates in Southeast Asia. Joey and Trevor look into how these rates are calculated, which labels are unhel...

While you may be paying a low price for clothes produced as "fast fashion", the real price falls upon textile workers and our environment. Joey and Trevor chat about the advantages of a circular textile economy, the waste produced by major international brands, and where old clothes should go when we're done with them. In this episode, we spoke to representatives from two organizations trying to m...

Taiwan's "Bilingual by 2030" policy, set in motion in 2017, aims to achieve a Taiwanese society fluent in both Chinese and English by the end of the decade. With this ambitious undertaking, the government hopes to more deeply connect Taiwan's workforce with the world, and to attract more international businesses to Taiwan. Now that we're around seven years into this ambitious task, how is it going...

Around the end of April and the beginning of May, parts of North America are set to see two different broods of cicadas wake up at once. It's a dual emergence between groups that meet only once every 221 years. Trevor and Joey chat about the upcoming emergence event, why cicadas sleep for such exact amounts of time, and how the harmless insect has evolved to overcome even its toughest predators. -...

Mandarin pop music, or "Mandopop," is seeing increased listening in Taiwan, as one of the country's most famous musicians recently made history with global album sales. So, how does this affect the wider acceptance of music in Chinese, and how willing are people to listen to music in languages they don't understand? -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

The earthquake that hit Taiwan in 1999 caused a staggering 2,400 deaths, while this month's earthquake of almost the same magnitude killed 13. While we strive to avoid any number of casualties at all, the difference in casualties is still remarkable. What changed, and are we really prepared for more? -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Geothermal power is the second form of renewable energy we're looking into, and comes with its own set of merits and challenges. Getting green energy from kilometers underground is no easy feat, but more and more countries are doing it. Trevor and Joey go over a bit of the science behind geothermal power stations, why geothermal energy is strongest in specific parts of the world, and whether it's...

With cultural origins dating back thousands of years, Tomb Sweeping Day is a time for families to gather and pay respects to their ancestors. But could some traditions have a negative impact on the environment? Joey and Trevor chat about honoring ancestors across different cultures, how the accompanying practices have changed with time, and what people are doing to find a balance between tradition...

A growing number of students around the world are reporting feelings of exhaustion in school, but just how tired does a student have to be before they can take a mental health day? Joey and Trevor look into which countries have the toughest education systems, how overdigitalization in the classroom can adversely affect student performance, and how some experimental school systems are attempting to...

It's no secret that some healthcare systems seem to function more effectively than others, but even some of the world's most-praised systems face their own share of obstacles. This week, Joey and Trevor compare their experiences with healthcare in Asia and North America, share some insight into the price of health, and look into the cost of moving forward. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Every year, millions of people from Southeast Asia brave harsh working conditions and exploitative systems in search of stable work and better lives. Trevor and Joey look into where most of the region's migrant workers are coming from, where they're going, and the changes they're struggling to achieve. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Like many countries, Taiwan is facing a labor shortage, a complicated problem that is also inextricably linked to the topics covered in our previous and next episodes: birth rates and working conditions. Joey and Trevor look at what labor shortage means for an economy, and which courses of action are still available moving forward. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

An increasing number of countries are seeing less and less people born each year, with many concerned about the economic and cultural impact of steadily aging populations. Joey and Trevor take a look at the myriad reasons behind falling birth rates, with some personal insight into the economic and medical obstacles to parenthood. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

What does it take for a game to become competitive? Anyone can be a gamer, but competing in Esports is reserved for those who are willing to analyze, strategize, and train for hours on end. In today's episode, Joey and Trevor look into the rise of Esports in Taiwan and around the world, and learn just how much is required of its athletes. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Lunar New Year has deep roots in countries all across East Asia. So how do its massive and wide-reaching celebrations manifest in each culture? Trevor and Joey dive into the history behind Lunar New Year, with first-hand perspectives and stories shared by people from Taiwan, China, South Korea, Vietnam, and Malaysia. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Countries all over the world are setting ambitious goals for green energy transitions, but building the infrastructure for it is easier said than done. Trevor and Joey kick off a series of episodes on the elements with a focus on wind power, how we harness it, and where it's at its strongest. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

The pangolin's protective scales are one of its most unique features, but a black market demand for these scales has made pangolins the target of illegal trafficking operations in many countries. Trevor and Joey take a closer look at pangolins themselves, their lives in the wild, and what the world is doing to save them. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

The worldwide struggle for LGBTQ+ rights faces its own set of legal and cultural obstacles in each country, but even small victories can raise awareness and spearhead wider progressive change. Trevor and Joey take a look at the current state of LGBTQ+ rights around the world, with a focus on gender identity in Taiwan, and the fight for people's preferred gender to be recognized under the law. For...