Charles Ryu

Rubber Ducking Podcast

Education EN ↓ 42 episodes

Welcome to the Rubber Ducking Podcast! Join us each week as we dive into the real stories and insights about life in North Korea, the cultural differences between North Korea, South Korea, and America, and the latest tech developments in the Hermit Kingdom. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Be sure to visit the podcast's website and support the creator: shows.acast.com

Author

Charles Ryu

Episodes

Ep 39. Say This in North Korea, and You’re in Trouble 13.06.2025 44:00

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 38. Through a Defector’s Eyes: Why Visiting North Korea Is So Complicated 06.06.2025 37:01

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 37. No One Thrives Alone: Why Refugees and Immigrants Need Community 30.05.2025 46:33

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 36. The Hardest Part of Starting Over in a New World 26.05.2025 35:14

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 35. Part Two - Searching for North Korea in South Korea 28.02.2025 25:02

Hoping to reconnect with a sense of home, I traveled to South Korea—only to experience an unexpected culture shock. Everything felt unfamiliar, and I struggled to find any trace of the similarity I thought I would find. In this episode, I reflect on the complicated emotions of searching for belonging in a place that felt both close and foreign at the same time. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priva...

Ep 35. Part one -- Exploited and Abandoned: My Struggles as an Advocacy Fellow 21.02.2025 30:03

In this episode, I open up about my time as an advocacy fellow, where I worked for Liberty in North Korea (LiNK) for free—only to feel exploited. Things took a turn when I got into a car accident and was left to cover my own medical bills. I share my frustration and resentment toward LiNK for their lack of support, as well as the harsh reality of being on my own. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pri...

Ep 34: Part Two – Graduation Against the Odds 14.02.2025 29:19

Picking up where we left off, I share how I turned things around, faced my struggles head-on, and pushed through to graduation. From small victories to major setbacks, this episode is about resilience, unexpected support, and the journey to crossing that stage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 34. Part One -- Lost in High School: A North Korean Defector’s Struggle 07.02.2025 27:58

In this episode, I dive into my early high school years—struggling with language barriers, culture shock, and failing grades—all while working at a sushi restaurant. From awkward moments to overwhelming challenges, this is the raw reality of trying to fit into a world that felt completely foreign. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 33. Under the Shadow of Havana: Tales of Corruption and Escape Part 2 31.01.2025 41:04

We had the honor of hosting our very first guest, Rosario, who escaped Cuba with her sister and now resides in the United States. Join us as we dive into her powerful, emotional journey—filled with joy, pain, corruption, and the heart-pounding escape that mirrors the struggles of those fleeing North Korea. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 33. Under the Shadow of Havana: Tales of Corruption and Escape Part 1 26.01.2025 42:40

We had the honor of hosting our very first guest, Rosario, who escaped Cuba with her sister and now resides in the United States. Join us as we dive into her powerful, emotional journey—filled with miracles and the heart-pounding escape that mirrors the struggles of those fleeing North Korea. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 32. Hope - Confident Expectations of Good Outcome. 20.12.2024 41:35

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 31: A New Chapter Begins - Navigating Foster Care, Culture, and Language Barriers 13.12.2024 43:15

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 30: A Journey to Thailand, Reuniting with a Prison Friend, and Finding New Hope 06.12.2024 1:09:06

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep. 29 The underground opperation for helping North Korean Defectors. 29.11.2024 44:28

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 28. "Don't look back, just keep on moving until Thailand" 24.11.2024 38:45

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 27. Hello again, freedom. 17.11.2024 30:12

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 26. I met a Good Samaritan 10.11.2024 29:51

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 25. Second escape - part 2 25.10.2024 32:31

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 24. Second escape - part 1 18.10.2024 29:14

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep. 23 The Hazardous Trail 11.10.2024 31:09

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep. 22 Homeless but Not Hopeless 04.10.2024 21:45

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep. 21 Behind the Black Veil: Inside North Korea’s Coal Mining Industry Prt 2 27.09.2024 41:24

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep. 20 Behind the Black Veil: Inside North Korea’s Coal Mining Industry 25.09.2024 32:24

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 19. Cheating Husband, Business Collapse, and the Deadly Currency Devaluation that took many innocent lives 13.09.2024 42:47

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 18. Hello my old friends 07.09.2024 36:14

Please note that the information shared here is anecdotal, and is intended for educational, entertainment and discussion purposes only. It should not be considered as medical, scientific, or governmental research. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.