Mandarin Mama Chitchat

In this episode, YaoYao will be reading the story "Gorilla's Bakery" (大猩猩的麵包店). The story follows the adventures of a gorilla, who runs a bakery in the forest. However, he has a reputation for being scary, and it raises the question of whether the other animals in the forest will be willing to buy bakery products from him. Join YaoYao as she reads the story and let's find...

In today's episode of Mandarin Mama Chitchat, hosts Trista and Yao sit down with Laura, an administrator at a Chinese immersion school in DC. Laura shares her inspiring journey of raising her daughter trilingual in English, Mandarin, and Spanish. Despite being Caucasian, Laura's deep love for Chinese culture led her to live in Shanghai for five years, where she fell in love with the countr...

In today's episode of "Mandarin Mama Chitchat," we have the pleasure of sitting down with Ran Wei, a remarkable mother, publisher, author, and marketing professional. Ran Wei shares her incredible journey of moving to the United States at the tender age of five. Growing up with the unwavering support and positivity of her parents, she not only learned Mandarin Chinese but also develo...

In today's episode of Mandarin Mama Chitchat, Trista dives into a hilarious yet educational topic - teaching us how to say potty words like fart, poop, and pee in Mandarin. As parents, we know that our kids find these words absolutely hilarious. So, why not embrace their curiosity and teach them how to say it in Mandarin? Trista will guide us through the pronunciation and meaning of these word...

In this podcast episode, Trista and YaoYao interview Candy, the founder of Hoppity Learning, a platform that focuses on elevating children's emotional intelligence for not only academic achievement and self-development. Candy shares insights on navigating emotions and demonstrating empathy towards children, highlighting the significance of addressing mental health issues in the United States....

Welcome to Story Time with YaoYao, a podcast where we share captivating stories and mini-lessons with you every week. In this episode, YaoYao takes you on a journey through the pages of a Taiwanese book called "I have a sister" 妹妹你好. YaoYao reads a book about a little chick who becomes jealous when her baby girl cousin comes to visit. The little chick feels left out as her baby cousi...

In this episode, we had the pleasure of interviewing Minji, the owner of Creative Chinese Club, who is on a mission to spread the love and rich heritage of Mandarin Chinese to the Western world. Minji's passion for teaching Mandarin to children shines through as she shares her creative and engaging teaching methods. With a deep understanding of the importance of keeping children interested and...

In this podcast episode, Trista takes on the role of teaching everyone how to "request" in Mandarin Chinese. Join us as she leads a short lesson where you can learn how to request something in Mandarin Chinese. Follow along with Trista as she guides you through the lesson, and you'll be able to confidently make requests in Mandarin Chinese in no time. Don't miss out on this insig...

In this episode, we have the pleasure of interviewing Katrina, a bilingual specialist who has now shifted her focus to trilingualism. Katrina is passionate about assisting parents worldwide in raising bilingual and trilingual children. Her positive and open-minded approach to language learning sets her apart, as she believes in making the process accessible and enjoyable for families. Unlike tradi...

Welcome to Story Time with YaoYao, a podcast where we share captivating stories and mini lessons with you every week. In this episode, YaoYao takes you on a journey through the pages of a Taiwanese book called "I Can Express 我会表达". "I Can Express 我会表达" is the journey of a little piggy who discovers the incredible power of communication. Through the story, we witness how...

In this episode, we have the pleasure of introducing Emma, a remarkable woman from Australia who adopted three Chinese children and moved to Singapore over 10 years ago. Join us as we delve into Emma's inspiring story of love, adoption, and the challenges she faced in raising her children in a multilingual and multicultural environment. Emma shares her experiences of living in Singapore, a mel...

In this podcast episode, Trista takes the lead in teaching everyone a few daily phrases in Mandarin Chinese. Join us as she guides you through a short lesson, where you can follow along and learn how to say these phrases. It's a great opportunity to enhance your language skills and expand your knowledge of Mandarin Chinese. Don't miss out on this mini-lesson with Trista! Don't forget t...

In this episode, YaoYao and Trista sit down with Gwen, a mother of two and the owner of Culture Tater Tots. Gwen shares her journey and how she created Culture Tater Tots to help parents engage with their children in learning Chinese culture through play. Culture Tater Tots offers play kits that include activities like making moon cakes during the Moon Festival, allowing children to connect with t...

Welcome to Story Time with YaoYao, a podcast where we share captivating stories and mini-lessons with you every week. In this episode, YaoYao takes you on a journey through the pages of a Taiwanese book called Super Big Lies 超级大谎言 (Chāojí Dà Huǎngyán). The delightful tale of "Super Big Lies" (超级大谎言), a charming Mandarin storybook that explores the consequences of dishonesty thr...

In this episode of Mandarin Mama Chitchat, we have the pleasure of interviewing our guest, Jenay, who has an extraordinary story to share. Born and raised in Florida, Jenay's life took an unexpected turn when she and her husband made the bold decision to move to China when their son was just two years old. It has been five years since they embarked on this adventure, and Jenay opens up about t...

Welcome to Mini Lesson with Trista, where we bring you a new story or mini-lesson every week! This week, Trista is excited to teach you how to say 4 affirmation phrases in Mandarin. Today, Trista shares valuable insights into fostering positivity and confidence in children through Mandarin affirmation phrases. As a parent or caregiver, it's essential to instill a strong sense of self-belief an...

In this thought-provoking episode of Mandarin Mama Chitchat, hosts Trista and Yaoyao dive deep into debunking common misconceptions and stereotypes surrounding Chinese and Asian culture. Prepare to have your preconceived notions shattered as they tackle sensitive topics such as the false belief that Chinese people eat cats and dogs, or the misconception that all Asians are constantly buried in the...

Welcome to Story Time with YaoYao, a podcast where we share captivating stories and mini lessons with you every week. In this episode, Yao takes you on a journey through the pages of a Taiwanese book called "Panic Man" (慌張先生). "Panic Man" is an engaging tale that teaches a valuable lesson about the consequences of procrastination and the importance of being proactive. In th...

In this episode, we have the pleasure of interviewing Jennifer Lai, a Taiwanese immigrant who moved to the United States at the age of 14. Jennifer shares her inspiring story of how she is determined to teach her mixed-race children Mandarin, despite her husband being Caucasian.  Jennifer goes above and beyond to create a Mandarin-speaking environment for her children, incorporating various experi...

Welcome to another exciting episode of Mini Lesson with Trista, where we bring you a new story or mini lesson each week! This week, Trista is thrilled to guide you through the world of Mandarin family vocabulary. Family is at the core of our lives, and what better way to celebrate the importance of family than by learning how to express those relationships in Mandarin? In this episode, Trista will...

Join Trista, Jennifer, and YaoYao as they embark on a captivating exploration of Chinese family values in this episode. Drawing from their personal experiences growing up in Taiwan, they delve into the notion of filial piety and its profound significance in Chinese culture. Through heartfelt anecdotes and reflections, they share intimate stories of their own upbringing within their families. In ad...

Welcome to another episode of Story Time with Yao, where we invite you to join us for an enchanting story or mini-lesson each week! This week, we have a special treat for you as Yao shares a delightful tale from Taiwan called "I Don't Hit" (我不打人). In this episode, Yao will introduce you to "I Don't Hit," a heartwarming story that carries a valuable lesson for both c...

In this thought-provoking episode, Trista and Yaoyao engage in a heartfelt conversation about their shared experiences growing up in Taiwan and attending school in the Taiwanese education system. They delve into the profound influence of parental expectations and Asian cultural norms, particularly the immense focus on grades and academic achievement. Trista and Yaoyao shed light on the prevalence...

Welcome to Mini Lesson with Trista, where we bring you a new story or mini-lesson every week! This week, Trista is excited to teach you how to say different fruits in Mandarin. Learning a new language can be both challenging and rewarding, and what better way to start than with the colorful and delicious world of fruits? In this episode, Trista will guide you through the pronunciations and vocabul...

In this compelling episode, we sit down with a special guest, my sister-in-law, who embarked on a journey that spans Ecuador, Taiwan, and the USA. Having married into a Taiwanese family living in the USA, she shares her experiences of adapting to both American and Taiwanese cultures over the past five years. Through heartfelt anecdotes, she discusses the challenges of cultural shock and the aspect...