Taiwan Community Archives | Talking Taiwan Podcast

Yun Hai Taiwanese Pantry: Our Talk with Founder Lisa Cheng Smith Ep 135

Felicia Lin — Mon, 14 Jun 2021 13:51:25 +0000

A note from Talking Taiwan host Felicia Lin:

My guest on this episode of Talking Taiwan, Lisa Cheng Smith, has channeled her love of Taiwanese food, cooking and premium ingredients into creating Yun Hai Taiwanese Pantry. Yun Hai sources premium ingredients for Taiwanese cooking, directly from artisans, farms, and soy sauce breweries in Taiwan.

In this interview Lisa not only talks about how and why she started Yun Hai, and her vision for the business, but she shares her favorite Taiwanese restaurants, cookbooks, and some great resources for tips on Taiwanese cooking.

Taiwanese food lovers, this episode is definitely for you!

I initially spoke with Lisa earlier this year but so much has happened with Yun Hai since then, so a week or so ago we spoke again to get some updates. Be sure to listen to the end of the interview to hear about all of the exciting developments.

Here’s a little preview of what we talked about in the podcast:

What inspired Lisa to start Yun Hai Taiwanese Pantry
Where Lisa’s love of Taiwanese food comes from
The chili sauce that inspired her to start Yun Hai
The slow food movement
What Lisa loves about the food in Taiwan
How long it took Lisa to set up Yun Hai
The story behind the name Yun Hai
The challenges of running a small online business
How Lisa met her business partner
Yun Hai’s collaboration with Rose Bakery for the Lunar New Year
Lisa’s favorite Taiwanese holidays and festivals
Lisa’s Taiwanese cookbook recommendations
Other sources recommended by Lisa for Taiwanese recipes (blogs, YouTube)
Products offered by Yun Hai
New products
How Lisa choses products for Yun Hai
Yun Hai’s connection to Win Son
Lisa’s Taiwanese restaurant recommendations
Future plans for Yun Hai
The short documentary that Yun Hai produced about soy sauce makers in Taiwan
The newest developments with Yun Hai since the initial interview with Lisa earlier this year
Yun Hai’s Kickstarter campaign for Yun Hai Selection Dried Fruit Line (pineapple, mango, guava)
New products that Yun Hai is introducing
How Yun Hai has been growing
Yun Hai’s plans to open a store in East Williamsburg Brooklyn, NY
The Yun Hai Stories newsletter

Why the Surge in Taiwan’s Coronavirus Cases? An Interview with Courtney Donovan Smith Ep 134

Felicia Lin — Mon, 07 Jun 2021 13:00:08 +0000

A note from Talking Taiwan host Felicia Lin:

There has been a surge in Taiwan’s coronavirus cases since about mid-May, and Taiwan is now on COVID alert level 3, one level before full lockdown. I’ve invited Courtney Donovan Smith on to Talking Taiwan to talk about what led to the increase in COVID cases, the current situation and what’s happening with Taiwan’s efforts to acquire COVID vaccines. Courtney Donovan Smith is the central Taiwan correspondent for ICRT News, and one of the co-founders of the Taiwan Report, which I highly recommend as a really great news resource for what’s happening in Taiwan.

Since Courtney and I spoke on June 3rd, Taiwan remains at COVID alert level 3, on Friday, Japan sent over one million doses of AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine to Taiwan, and the U.S. has promised to donate 750,000 Covid-19 vaccine doses to Taiwan.

Here’s a little preview of what we talked about in this podcast episode:

The current situation and atmosphere in Taiwan since COVID cases started to spike
How the increase in COVID cases were linked to commercial airline pilots who stayed at the Novotel airport hotel
Taiwan is currently at COVID alert level 3
What does COVID alert level 3 entail
What’s happened since Taiwan has been at COVID alert level 3
How the increase in COVID cases in Taiwan are due to the more virulent UK variant of COVID
How one of the factors to determine whether Taiwan will go to level 4 (full lockdown), is the number of cases with unknown origin and what constitutes a case of known or unknown origin
Taiwan is tentatively going to remain at level 3 until June 14
Reasons for the low COVID vaccination rate in Taiwan
Why Taiwan has not been able to procure Pfizer vaccines from German firm BioNTech and what happened to the deal
What China’s Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical Group (which claims to handle the Greater China market which includes Taiwan) has to do with Taiwan’s efforts to access COVID vaccines
The Chinese made COVID vaccine
China’s interference in Taiwan’s efforts to secure COVID vaccines
China’s reaction to the Japan’s offer to donate vaccines to Taiwan
How China interfered with relief efforts during the 921 Earthquake in Taiwan
The most well-known cases of COVID outbreaks in Taiwan involving the Taipei Wanhua district teahouses and “Grape Mother”

Dr. Michi Fu Straddles Between Living in Taiwan and the U.S. Ep 118

Felicia Lin — Mon, 01 Mar 2021 21:58:23 +0000

A note from Talking Taiwan host Felicia Lin:

Dr. Michi Fu is a professor, psychologist, writer, public speaker and experience creator. She spoke with me about how her mother’s decision to retire in Taiwan led her to decide to take a one-year sabbatical in Taiwan and to apply for Taiwan citizenship- which proved to be an arduous process but well worth it in the end. It has allowed her to more easily travel and straddle between living in the U.S. and Taiwan. As she’s spent more time residing in Taiwan, she’s faced challenges adulting in Taiwan due to limited language and cultural proficiency. We spoke in depth about how she’s dealt with all this by learning to let go of cultural norms and expectations, and found ways to build a community for herself in Taiwan.

While in Taiwan she’s connected with expat communities like the Black lives Matter and Burning Man Taiwan communities, participated in a bilingual version of the Vagina Monologues, and she’s also been invited to participate in the 228 Transitional Justice Project. I found that to be a timely topic of conversation indeed, with the 74^th anniversary of the 228 Incident having just passed.

Also referred to as The 228 Massacre, or The 228 Uprising, 228 is February 28, 1947, the date that the arrest of a cigarette seller in Taipei sparked protests over the corruption and repression of the ruling Kuomintang party at the time. What followed were the disappearance and execution of thousands by the Kuomintang. Some say up to 20 thousand were murdered. It led to the declaration of martial law and it was the beginning of the reign of White Terror in Taiwan that lasted for decades.

CORRECTION: At the 45-minute mark of Michi’s interview when she stated that she had arrived on holiday for her dissertation, she had arrived during the Dragon Boat Holiday for her sabbatical not her dissertation.

Photo above of Dr. Michi Fu is courtesy of Tobie Openshaw

Here’s a little preview of what we talked about in this podcast episode:

Michi’s upbringing and where she grew up
Michi’s connection to Taiwan
The study tour that Michi has co-organized with Dr. Tsuann Kuo (Founder of NATWA II)
How Michi’s perception of Taiwan has changed over time
How she’s met expats who have made Taiwan their home and out be interested in applying for citizenship in Taiwan
The reason why Michi decided to apply for citizenship and residency in Taiwan, and to split her time between the U.S. and Taiwan
What’s involved in the process to apply for citizenship and residency in Taiwan if you have a Taiwan birthright (i.e. parents born in Taiwan, and have residency and citizenship in Taiwan)
What the Yo yo card is and how to use it
Residency status that children of Taiwanese nationals can apply for to stay longer than a passport visa
The number of days required to stay in Taiwan in order to able to apply for citizenship
Michi’s sense of Taiwanese and Taiwanese American identity
Michi’s participation in the 228 Transitional Justice Project
The challenges of learning a language later in life
How Michi sometimes feels like a Third Culture Kid
How Michi has learned from cultural misunderstandings
How Michi has connected with and made friends through the expat community in Taiwan
What Michi misses about the U.S. when she’s in Taiwan
What Michi misses about Taiwan when she’s in the U.S.
What advice Michi has for those considering applying for Taiwan residency and citizenship
What advice Michi has for those considering spending more of the calendar year living in Taiwan
The different cultural expectations of Taiwan and the U.S.
The challenges of adulting in Taiwan with limited language and cultural proficiency
The wage gap for certain professions in Taiwan vs. the U.S.
The things Michi considers in deciding to live in Taiwan full-time
How Michi built her own sense of community by connecting with the expat community and Facebook groups

Black Lives Solidarity Global Initiative: Founders Stefanie Davis and Patrick Springer Ep 84

Felicia Lin — Mon, 06 Jul 2020 13:26:16 +0000

A note from Talking Taiwan host Felicia Lin:

Stefanie Davis and Patrick Springer are the founders of the Black Lives Solidarity Global Initiative, which organized a rally in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement on June 13th in Taipei’s 228 Peace Park. I spoke to Stefanie and Patrick about their experiences living as people of color in Taiwan and the U.S., the activities planned for the rally and their personal views of Black Lives Matter.

Here’s a description of the Black Lives Solidarity Global Initiative rally from their Facebook event page:

We cannot sit around as the stories of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Iyanna Dior, Sandra Bland, Philando Castile, Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown Jr., Pamela Turner, Atatiana Jefferson, and countless others become common occurrences- background noise to the daily news, their lives summarized as sound bites between the weather and sports updates.

We cannot sit idly by and watch as police brutality against innocent black and brown bodies continues to go unchecked around the world.

It is time for us to take a stand and make our voices known that we demand action against racism both abroad and at home. That injustice against one of us, is an injustice to all.

Join us in a legal and peaceful rally Saturday, June 13th, at 228 Peace Memorial Park in Taipei as we come together to lend our support and our voices to those around the world fighting for equality and for others right to simply breathe.

Here’s a little preview of what we talked about in this podcast episode:

• What brought Stefanie and Patrick to Taiwan and how long they have been here
• The racism that they have experienced in Taiwan and how it compares to what they’ve experienced in the U.S.
• How they talk to their students about race and nationality
• Patrick’s bar Arts & Crafts (in Taichung)
• How the Black Lives Solidarity Global Initiative (BLSGI) came about
• The events and activities planned at the June 13 BLSGI rally
• The Taipei Is Listening Forum
• How the BLSGI rally has put Taiwan on the map as one of the countries that has had a rally about the injustices happening to Black people in the U.S.
• The feedback they’ve received about the rally
• What Stefanie and Patrick hope that people take away from the experience of being at the rally or what they learned at the rally
• Common stereotypes that people have about Black people
• Facts and statistics that demonstrate some of the discrimination that Blacks in the U.S. experience
• The shooting of Atatiana Jefferson and arrest of Sandra Bland
• Where the funds raised at the rally went
• Patrick and Stefanie’s personal experiences with Black Lives Matter
• What advice Stefanie or Patrick have for non-Black people who want to understand the Black experience or who want to be allies
• What Black Lives Matter means to Stefanie and Patrick
• Facts and statistics based on US data and research that were shared at the BLSGI rally:

• More than 1/2 of young Black Americans know someone, including themselves, who has been harassed by the police.
• Black students are 3 times more likely to be suspended than white students for similar infractions.
• Black drivers are 30% more likely than white drivers to be pulled over by the police.
• For every $100 earned by white families -> Black families earn $57.30.
• Blacks Americans make up 13% of the nation’s population.
• Blacks Americans make 40% of prison populations.

What Led to Taiwan’s Same Sex Marriage? Ep 83

Felicia Lin — Mon, 29 Jun 2020 01:59:18 +0000

A note from Talking Taiwan host Felicia Lin:

In 2017 I interviewed Professor Wen Liu about the historic news of May 24, 2017, that Taiwan’s Constitutional Court had ruled that marriage is not strictly defined as being between a man and a woman. This paved the way for same sex marriage to be legalized in Taiwan in 2019. Since the Stonewall uprising, which began on June 28, 1969, led to the international gay rights movement, June has become recognized as worldwide Pride month. In recognition of Pride month, I’d like to re-share my interview with gender studies Professor Wen Liu.

Here’s a link to the original post of this interview: https://staging.talkingtaiwan.com/gender-studies-professor-wen-liu-talking-taiwan-ep-58/

Here’s a little preview of what we talked about in this podcast episode:

The May 24th ruling by the Constitutional Court in Taiwan that same-sex marriage could be legalized
Mr. Chi Chia-wei who’s lawsuit led to the May 24th ruling
The history of the same-sex marriage battle and family law in Taiwan
Major turning points in Taiwan’s LGBTQ movement
The history behind Taiwan’s gay pride parade
How Taiwan compares to other Asian countries on LGBTQ issues
The next steps after the May 24th ruling
The marriage equality bill, civil partnership bill, multiple family bill
Other work that needs to be done in Taiwan for the LGBTQ community

Taiwan Pride Parade of the World: Speaking with Organizer Darien Chen Ep 82

Felicia Lin — Sun, 28 Jun 2020 10:22:21 +0000

A note from Talking Taiwan host Felicia Lin:

On June 28, 2020, Taiwan Pride Parade for the World will be held in Taipei at 3pm to celebrate Pride Month and the anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall riots. While in-person Pride events have been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it will likely be one of the few if only in-person Pride events to be held in the world during Pride Month. I spoke with the organizer of Taiwan Pride Parade for the World, Darien Chen about what motivated him to organize the event.

Darien also told me about how he participated in Mr. Gay World as Mr. Gay Taiwan and how he hopes that the parade will give people around the world hope and keep the torch and spirit of Pride alive.

Here’s a little preview of what we talked about in this podcast episode:

How Darien competed as the first Mr. Gay Taiwan at Mr. Gay World
His involvement in the first Gay Pride Parade in Taiwan
His involvement with the NTU (National Taiwan University) gay student club GayChat
What motivated Darien to organize Taiwan Pride Parade for the World
The challenges and obstacles he faced in trying to organize the event
How Taiwan will be the only place in the world that will be able to host a live in-person Gay Pride Parade in June (worldwide Pride Month), on the anniversary of the June 28, 1969 Stonewall riots
That there are several Pride parades/events organized at the local level in Taiwan’s various counties
Activities planned on the day of the event
If there will be a live stream of the event
Darien’s co-organizer Mamasan drag queen Magnolia La Manga
How this rally will compare to the annual Gay Pride Parade that takes place in Taiwan in October
What the annual Gay Pride Parade that takes place in Taiwan in October is like and how it compares to the Gay Pride March in New York and other major cities
Taiwan Pride Parade for the World marks the 50th anniversary of first Gay Pride Parade that was held in Chicago, Illinois on June 27, 1970

Sunflower Movement: Reflecting Back from the Civil Unrest of 2020 Ep 78

Felicia Lin — Mon, 01 Jun 2020 14:21:23 +0000

A note from Talking Taiwan host Felicia Lin:

As protests and civil unrest arise across the U.S., and tension has mounted, Talking Taiwan’s host Felicia Lin was reminded of a time in which she found herself in the midst of intense protests in 2014, in Taipei, Taiwan, after the occupation of the Legislative Yuan in what has become known as the Sunflower Movement.

The post Sunflower Movement: Reflecting Back from the Civil Unrest of 2020 Ep 78 appeared first on Talking Taiwan Podcast.

Jazz Trombone Player Peter Lin: A Mix of East and West Ep 73

Felicia Lin — Mon, 04 May 2020 15:58:41 +0000

A note from Talking Taiwan host Felicia Lin:

Peter Lin, is a trombone player, leader of the jazz band, The Lintet, and music teacher. He is a man who wears a lot of different hats! In March of 2018, Peter talked about his career as a professional musician, the difference between being a bandleader versus a sideman, and how he met jazz legend Slide Hampton. We also talked about the Lintet’s first upcoming album, and the connection between Jeremy Lin, Linsanity, and The Lintet- all of which incidentally are not related to me.

Peter shared why he describes jazz as democratic, and a barometer of the United States’ social climate. In his first album, The Lintet introduces Taiwanese music to jazz listeners and jazz music to the Taiwanese.

Two years later, we’ve invited Peter back onto Talking Taiwan to let us know what he’s been up to, how he’s been dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, and to share some advice for how musicians can get through these tough times. Our follow up interview is coming up on the next episode of Talking Taiwan.

Here’s a little preview of what we talked about in this podcast episode:

How Peter got started playing the trombone
How he decided to become a professional musician
Where the band’s name The Lintet came from
What Peter does as a bandleader
How jazz has historically reflected the social climate and race relations in the U.S.
How The Lintet incorporates Taiwanese and Chinese songs done in jazz style at his performances and on their first album
The twofold purpose The Lintet’s album to introduce Taiwanese to jazz music and to introduce jazz listeners to Taiwanese and Chinese music
Peter’s observation that more Taiwanese people are becoming interested in jazz

Here’s a sound clip from one of the Lintet’s 2018 Lunar New Year performances. It’s a rendition of a classic Teresa Teng song:

China’s Coronavirus Pandemic Lack of Transparency: An Interview with Scott Simon Ep 72

Felicia Lin — Mon, 27 Apr 2020 11:07:33 +0000

A note from Talking Taiwan host Felicia Lin:

Scott Simon, Professor in the School of Sociological and Anthropological Studies and Co-holder of the Research Chair in Taiwan Studies at the University of Ottawa spoke with us about an article he wrote for the Macdonald-Laurier Institute which served to sound a warning to the global community about China’s lack of transparency. In the case of the COVID-19 pandemic, several media sources have reported that Chinese authorities alerted the WHO on December 31, 2019, about several cases of pneumonia of unknown cause. China then announced its first death from the Coronavirus on January 11, 2020.

In our conversation, Scott also offered an anthropological perspective on the Coronavirus pandemic by discussing the term anthropocene, which is defined as the period of time during which human activities have had an environmental impact on the Earth regarded as constituting a distinct geological age. He also offered thoughts on what should be taken into consideration as the world begins to look at when to end lockdowns.

Here’s a little preview of what we talked about in this podcast episode:

• The March 16th incident in which China flew one of their military jets very close to Taiwan’s airspace at night
• Chinese aggressive behavior since the COVID-19 outbreak towards Taiwan’s outer islands, Taiwan’s main island, Japan and Guam
• Chinese military’s operations during the global COVID-19 pandemic
• How do we really know about what’s going on in China and the PLA
• Does China have its COVID-19 outbreak currently under control
• China’s lack of transparency
• How China has tried to rewrite history and dispute that COVID-19 originated from China
• How China has blocked Taiwan’s WHO membership
• How Taiwan and the WHO have differed in their early responses to COVID-19
• The Free and Open Indo-Pacific foreign policy spearheaded by Japan
• Coronavirus cases on the USS Theodore Roosevelt
• Scott’s perspective as an anthropologist on the COVID-19 pandemic and what considerations should be made as lockdowns are lifted
• How the Western world failed to see the possible impact of the Coronavirus

Taiwan’s Response to the Coronavirus: An Interview with Dr. Brian Chang Ep 70

Felicia Lin — Tue, 14 Apr 2020 08:38:24 +0000

A note from Talking Taiwan host Felicia Lin:

Since Taiwan has received a great deal of recognition globally for its successful containment of COVID-19, I’ve been looking to interview a medical professional about Taiwan’s response and handling of the Coronavirus. Special thanks to Dr. Han Mingrong (韓明榮) for his help in connecting me with Dr. Brian Chang who is located in Taipei, Taiwan.

I spoke with Dr. Chang about the early steps that Taiwan took to contain the Coronavirus outbreak, and how having dealt with SARS in 2003, the government and the general public in particular was prepared to deal with COVID-19. Note to listeners: my interview with Dr. Chang was pre-recorded. I spoke to him on April 2nd, 2020, which was around the time of the ching ming jie or tomb sweeping weekend in Taiwan. I really appreciate the fact that Dr. Chang took the time out of his busy schedule to speak with me. Right after we spoke, he had planned to travel down to southern Taiwan to observe the tomb sweeping weekend.

Dr. Chang is the acting Secretary General of the Taiwan Medical Association and the Honorary Secretary of the World Organization of Family Doctors of the Asia Pacific Region. He is a specialist in family medicine and community medicine. Dr. Chang has been a Director in a public health center for 11 years.

Here’s a little preview of what we talked about in this episode:

How Taiwan is currently dealing with the Coronavirus
How Taiwan’s experience with SARS prepared it and its people to deal with COVID-19
What were the earliest steps that Taiwan took to contain the spread of COVID-19
How the government of Taiwan clearly communicated and educated its public about that precautions they needed to take regarding COVID-19
How the public in Taiwan initially reacted when the Coronavirus hit
How Taiwan’s government instilled confidence in the people of Taiwan
How Taiwan’s government handled the spread of false news and rumors
Dr. Chang’s recommendations of when to wear kn95 mask
How the government created educational videos (public service announcements) to inform the public
The biggest challenges for Taiwan currently in containing the spread of COVID-19
Fines enacted by the government of Taiwan for the violation of self-isolation rules
What the U.S. can learn from Taiwan’s handling of COVID-19
What kind of aid Taiwan is currently offering to help other nations dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic
What is our best hope to develop a vaccine or to find a cure?
What medical advice Dr. Chang has for people who are currently under lockdown and trying to stay healthy

Taiwan Community Archives | Talking Taiwan Podcast

Yun Hai Taiwanese Pantry: Our Talk with Founder Lisa Cheng Smith Ep 135

A note from Talking Taiwan host Felicia Lin:

Here’s a little preview of what we talked about in the podcast:

Related Links:

Why the Surge in Taiwan’s Coronavirus Cases? An Interview with Courtney Donovan Smith Ep 134

A note from Talking Taiwan host Felicia Lin:

Here’s a little preview of what we talked about in this podcast episode:

Related Links:

Dr. Michi Fu Straddles Between Living in Taiwan and the U.S. Ep 118

A note from Talking Taiwan host Felicia Lin:

Here’s a little preview of what we talked about in this podcast episode:

Related Links and Terms:

Black Lives Solidarity Global Initiative: Founders Stefanie Davis and Patrick Springer Ep 84

A note from Talking Taiwan host Felicia Lin:

Here’s a little preview of what we talked about in this podcast episode:

Related Links:

What Led to Taiwan’s Same Sex Marriage? Ep 83

A note from Talking Taiwan host Felicia Lin:

Here’s a little preview of what we talked about in this podcast episode:

Related Links:

Taiwan Pride Parade of the World: Speaking with Organizer Darien Chen Ep 82

A note from Talking Taiwan host Felicia Lin:

Here’s a little preview of what we talked about in this podcast episode:

Related Links:

Sunflower Movement: Reflecting Back from the Civil Unrest of 2020 Ep 78

A note from Talking Taiwan host Felicia Lin:

Jazz Trombone Player Peter Lin: A Mix of East and West Ep 73

A note from Talking Taiwan host Felicia Lin:

Here’s a little preview of what we talked about in this podcast episode:

Related Links:

China’s Coronavirus Pandemic Lack of Transparency: An Interview with Scott Simon Ep 72

A note from Talking Taiwan host Felicia Lin:

Here’s a little preview of what we talked about in this podcast episode:

Related Links:

Taiwan’s Response to the Coronavirus: An Interview with Dr. Brian Chang Ep 70

A note from Talking Taiwan host Felicia Lin:

Here’s a little preview of what we talked about in this episode:

Related Links: