Taiwan Talk

Nicole Huang is the Chief Operating Officer at SoundOn, Taiwan's largest podcast hosting platform. ICRT's Trevor Tortomasi speaks with Nicole about the explosion of podcasts in Taiwan, what makes a good conversation, and why people like gossip so much. SoundOn began with just 20 podcasts. Can you guess how many it's hosting now? If you'd like to start your own podcast, or even just listen through...

Co-chair of the European Chamber of Commerce Taiwan's Wind Energy Committee Bart Linssen discusses the perks of wind power in the second episode of our series on renewable energy in Taiwan. The government has set ambitious targets for Taiwan's wind energy output but what needs to happen in order to reach these goals? And what obstructions lie in the path to a greener future? Find out in this week'...

Otis Sheu (許泰銘) heads the operations division for Taichung's newly opened Mass Rapid Transit… And ICRT Taichung correspondent Donovan Smith adds some perspective as a longtime resident of the city. The Taichung MRT Green Line is the first step in a more closely connected Taichung City, with a Blue Line and an Orange Line slated for construction over the next decade or so. If you're in the area,...

Toi Windham is an activist and community event organizer hoping to bring people together over topics that we often find difficult to discuss. She comes on the show to discuss her latest project Community Convos - a bimonthly roundtable discussion with panel guests on topics that range from racism and cultural appropriation to life in the post-COVID world. You can find more information about the ev...

Starting this week, ICRT and the European Chamber of Commerce Taiwan join forces to look at environmental issues facing the country and renewable energy. Professor Chang-chien Le-ren of National Cheng Kung University's Electrical Engineering department is at hand to give us a general overview of Taiwan's energy dilemma. Check back at the same time next month for our next episode of Renewable Energ...

Eric Tsao (曹先紹) is the Taipei Zoo's current spokesman, and has been the face of the Taipei Zoo for many years, providing updates on its animals and projects to inquiring news agencies. ICRT's Trevor Tortomasi speaks with Eric about the zoo's efforts in conservation, research, and education, as well as the relationships he has formed with other zoos and ecological movements around the world. You...

Xiao Fei is an adventurer and YouTube blogger with a keen eye for secluded hot springs, waterfalls and hiking trails throughout Taiwan. Join correspondent Ryan Drillsma as he talks to Xiao Fei about his explorations and how he chronicles them in video blogs and on his website, where you can view all the places he recommends on a virtual map. Visit followxiaofei.com or search Xiaofei 小飛 on YouTub...

Carl Hill is the host of "The Black Expat Podcast", where he shares his and others' stories of adapting to life in Taiwan. ICRT's Trevor Tortomasi speaks with Carl about the wisdom gleaned from his life as a writer, a traveler, a bar owner, a teacher, and a coach, over the course of his decade in Taiwan. You can listen to "The Black Expat Podcast" on Spotify, or wherever you normally find Podcasts...

Dr. Chang-quan Chan is a professor at National Taiwan University's College of Public Health. He talks to ICRT correspondent Ryan Drillsma about his research and advisory roles during the pandemic and what a post-COVID world might look like. Will society ever go back to the way it was? Zhan gives his professional opinion on the matter. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Adam Hopkins is a travel agent, writer, and editor, who has found himself and his industry in some bizarre situations amidst the pandemic. Trevor Tortomasi speaks with Adam about domestic tourism, writing for VICE, and playing cricket on a global stage. Find awesome local tours at his agency: https://www.mytaiwantour.com/ Get helpful information on Taiwan living and travel: https://taiwan-scene.co...

Have you wondered what travel and quarantine might be like during the pandemic? Katherine Lu joins correspondent Ryan Drillsma to chat about how the pandemic changed her life and caused her to relocate back to Taiwan from the U.S. Katherine talks about her experience flying around the world during the pandemic and staying in one of Taiwan's quarantine hotels. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Douglas Habecker is not only a survivor of COVID-19, but was also one of the only 799 human beings to be diagnosed with the disease in Taiwan in 2020. ICRT's Trevor Tortomasi speaks with Doug about his experiences overcoming the virus, at a time when information surrounding it was still scarce. You can also read more from Doug's own account on Euroview: https://euroview.ecct.com.tw/category-inside...

Drag artist Elja Heights talks with ICRT's Ryan Drillsma about what it's like to be a drag queen in Taipei, where the art form of drag has seen a surge of popularity in recent years, meaning shows are held across the island every weekend. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Leroy Yau is the CEO and a co-founder of Taiwan Startup Stadium, the country's leading startup ecosystem builder, which showcases Taiwan's new companies to the world. ICRT's Trevor Tortomasi speaks with Leroy about his years of experience in the world of creating, investing, and consulting. Visit the TSS homepage here: startupstadium.tw You can find more of Leroy's wisdom on his website: https://w...

Newly-published author and Taiwan Prisoner of War Camps Memorial Society Director Michael Hurst MBE sat down with ICRT's Ryan Drillsma to discuss forgotten histories he has spent the past 24 years researching, documenting, and bringing into the public eye. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Esther Chen is a Taiwanese-American standup comedian, actor, podcaster, and professional language coach, back in Taiwan after years of performance in New York. ICRT's Trevor Tortomasi hosts today's episode. See the video version of this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKIyZgLyWwQ You can find Esther on… Instagram: @theestherchen_ Twitter: @theestherchen_ Facebook: facebook.com/...

Taiwanese artist Shirley Chiang, who has a wealth of experience implanting her whimsical watercolor-wash illustrations into books and articles for clients across the world, sits down to talk to ICRT's Ryan Drillsma. Visit shirleysillustrations.com for a look at her work! -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Associate professor at the National Taipei University of Business David Pendery speaks to ICRT's Ryan Drillsma about his new book. The book offers a look into contemporary Taiwanese politics from both a personal and analytical perspective. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

This Irish lad known as Mossy is the creator of “Nihao’s It Going: 台味ㄉ愛爾蘭人”, a fan page for memes, news, and conversation about the Chinese language and life in Taiwan. ICRT's Trevor Tortomasi hosts today's episode. See the video version of this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPrDA_XgqFU You can find “Nihao’s It Going” on… Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nihaositgoin...

Julia Kao is the founder, director, and curator of Oomph. Oomph is an art space in Taipei's ZhongXiao FuXing area that hosts exhibitions, events, and workshops to bring people together through creative expression. ICRT's Trevor Tortomasi hosts today's episode. You can find Oomph on Facebook or follow them on Instagram: FB: https://www.facebook.com/oomph.arts IG: @oomph.arts Thanks for listening! -...

Anthony Carlisle is the International Affairs Supervisor of the Garden of Hope Foundation, which is a non-profit organization aiming to improve the lives of disadvantaged women across the world by building a global network of helplines. The organization was established in Taiwan and has worked to support women suffering domestic and gender-based violence. He sits down to talk about his organizatio...

Aleksandra Avli is the creator and founder of "Her Online Network", also known as HON, which helps create and foster networking for professional women. Their app is available for free, and it's setting up a base in Taiwan! ICRT's Trevor Tortomasi hosts today's episode. Thanks for listening! -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Ljius Rakuljivu is an indigenous scholar of Taiwan's southern Paiwan tribe. Ljius tells us about his experience growing up as an indigenous youth in Taiwan, and how his community values have traveled with him, from his hometown of Tjuvecekadan and into a more urban lifestyle. ICRT's Trevor Tortomasi hosts today's episode. If you'd like to see the video for this interview, check out Taiwan Talk on...

Daniel Miller is the cofounder of All Hands Taiwan -- an NGO that connects job seekers with hirers and offers valuable information on employment in Taiwan. He sits down to speak with ICRT correspondent Ryan Drillsma. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Electronic musician and DJ Chenta Tsai, formerly known by a more expletive moniker, speaks with ICRT's Ryan Drillsma about the political and sociological ideas that have influence his music. Tsai is Taiwan-born but has been making waves in the underground music scene of Spain, where he was raised. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn