We had a nostalgic session with Phil Wang of Wong Fu Productions and Bopomofo Cafe. Phil shares his honest take of what it was like to create viral Youtube videos in the early 2000s, and what Wong Fu has evolved to since. We also go in depth about Bopomofo, his personal dream of creating a space where the community could gather over ABC inspired food and drinks. Mapo tofu tater tots, anyone?  Be sure to check out Wong Fu's latest videos on YouTube, or stop by Bopomofo the next time you're in California.  Please support the Taiwanren project by leaving a review and subscribing. 讓我們一起加油! IG: @taiwanren.co Email: cindy@taiwanren.co

We meet with Steve Chen, the co-founder of YouTube, to talk about what his life has been like since he moved his family back to Taiwan. Steve shares his latest initiatives for bridging Taiwan with the rest of the world, and what he believes it will take for Taiwan to become the Silicon Valley of Asia. Please support the Taiwanren project by leaving a review and subscribing. 讓我們一起加油! IG: @taiwanren.co Email: cindy@taiwanren.co

Amy Fan, the co-founder of Twentyeight Health, is pioneering accessible sexual and reproductive healthcare for women in the US. Learn how Twentyeight Health is shaping the healthcare landscape, what type of support women need today, and our personal sex ed experiences growing up as Asian immigrants.  Stefanie Ng from K50 Ventures is our special co-host for this episode <3 Please support the Taiwanren project by leaving a review and subscribing. 讓我們一起加油! IG: @taiwanren.co Email: cindy@taiwanren.co

We kick off our final season, Pioneers, with Lypid. Jen-Yu and Michelle created an alternative fat using plant-based oils so that we can enjoy our favorite pork belly dishes in new ways. Learn the science behind how this is done, and the interesting challenges of getting an alternative food company off the ground. You can try Lypid fat on menus at Louisa Coffee, WesBurger, and more!  Lillian Lin from Yun Hai Taiwanese Pantry is our special co-host for this episode <3 Please support the Taiwanren project by leaving a review and subscribing. 讓我們一起加油! IG: @taiwanren.co Email: cindy@taiwanren.co

In the final episode of our 'Food' season, we chat with restaurant owner and chef Eric Sze. Eric is all in on not only Taiwanese food, but also the Taiwanese spirit. Learn about how he started selling noodle packs to running full fledged restaurants in New York City, even through Covid. The next time you're in town, make sure to drop by 886 or Wenwen for an authentic taste of home. Please support the Taiwanren project by leaving a review and subscribing. 讓我們一起加油! IG: @taiwanren.co Email: cindy@taiwanren.co

Olivia co-founded Twrl, a brand new way to enjoy milk tea: guilt-free in the comfort of our own homes. We chat with Olivia to learn how Twrl milk tea gets made and the uphill challenge of launching a drink in a new category. You can try Twrl by purchasing on https://twrlmilktea.com/ or Amazon!  Please support the Taiwanren project by leaving a review and subscribing. 讓我們一起加油! IG: @taiwanren.co Email: cindy@taiwanren.co

What's it like to run a vegan restaurant in Taiwan? Mai shares her unlikely entrepreneur journey with us while educating us on the greater significance of veganism and why food is, in fact, political. Please support the Taiwanren project by leaving a review and subscribing. 讓我們一起加油! IG: @taiwanren.co Email: cindy@taiwanren.co

Jessica, Erica, and Austin are siblings that run a third generation family business. They began as a restaurant called Liang's Village in California, and has since expanded to selling frozen food online through Mama Liang's. Tune in to hear how the Liang family learned to work together to carry on their grandmother's legacy. Please support the Taiwanren project by leaving a review and subscribing. 讓我們一起加油! IG: @taiwanren.co Email: cindy@taiwanren.co

In this collaboration with Bu Zhi Dao, we will be releasing a short ELI5 series on Web3 topics. Ray Tong, a long-time crypto investor, breaks down the concept of Web3, stablecoin, the metaverse, and popular buzzwords. Meet Ray and other experts at Taipei Blockchain Week! To purchase tickets for this event, please go to www.taipeiblockchainweek.com. To join BZD, sign up at https://buzhidao.tw. Please support the Taiwanren project by leaving a review and subscribing. 讓我們一起加油! IG: @taiwanren.co Email: hello@taiwanren.co

In this collaboration with Bu Zhi Dao, we will be releasing a short ELI5 series on Web3 topics. Tiffany Lai kicks off this series by introducing us to the very first Taipei Blockchain Week and and breaking down the 'Dao' of Bu Zhi Dao. To purchase tickets for this event, please go to www.taipeiblockchainweek.com. To join BZD, sign up at https://buzhidao.tw. Please support the Taiwanren project by leaving a review and subscribing. 讓我們一起加油! IG: @taiwanren.co Email: hello@taiwanren.co

If you've been to Costco lately, you may have noticed A-Sha Dry Noodle products on the shelves. Learn the incredible story of how Young Chang, the President and CEO of A-sha Foods USA, broke the mold with dry noodles. Young lets us in on his Midwestern upbringing, the early day challenges of launching a Taiwanese product in the US, and what's next for A-Sha.  Please support the Taiwanren project by leaving a review and subscribing. 讓我們一起加油! IG: @taiwanren.co Email: cindy@taiwanren.co

We kick off our brand new FOOD season with Lisa and Lillian of Yun Hai Pantry. Lisa had the incredible vision of bringing high quality Taiwanese ingredients to homecooks in the US, while Lillian educates us in an exclusive soy sauce tasting. Are you hungry yet?  Please support the Taiwanren project by leaving a review and subscribing. 讓我們一起加油! IG: @taiwanren.co Email: hello@taiwanren.co

Yasss queen! We hang out with Miss Shu Mai, one of LA's top Asian American drag performers, to talk about her drag journey, common misconceptions of drag, and how drag has ultimately brought her closer to Taiwan.    Please support the Taiwanren project by leaving a review and subscribing. 讓我們一起加油! IG: @taiwanren.co Email: cindy@taiwanren.co

💆🏻For all our skincare addicts 💆🏻 We sit down with Grace Wan of Wan Cosmetics in San Francisco. Grace educates us on clean beauty, Taiwanese manufacturing, and the next movement for Taiwanese beauty. Please support the Taiwanren project by leaving a review and subscribing. 讓我們一起加油! IG: @taiwanren.co Email: cindy@taiwanren.co

We chat with Colin Hodge, the co-founder of Snowball For Good, and Aurora Chang, the organization's first researcher, about ethical consumerism. They would like to share practical (and easy!) ways for you to support democratic values, starting with your weekly boba purchase.    Please support the Taiwanren project by leaving a review and subscribing. 讓我們一起加油! IG: @taiwanren.co Email: cindy@taiwanren.co

We listen and dissect some jams with Bo Haan, an LA based Taiwanese-American musician. Bo shares his journey to becoming an entertainer, his musical influences growing up (David Tao, anyone??), and practical tips for anyone who wants to break into the industry.    Please support the Taiwanren project by leaving a review and subscribing. 讓我們一起加油! IG: @taiwanren.co Email: cindy@taiwanren.co

Live from the sunny Wax Apple studio in LA, Juliana shares how she got started on her eclectic shop of cultural objects -- including feather dusters and massage tools. We chat about why it's important to cherish pieces of the past, and what Juliana has learned on this journey.  Do you ever miss ah-gong or ah-ma? Take a tour of the Wax Apple, and you might find a piece of home.    Please support the Taiwanren project by leaving a review and subscribing. 讓我們一起加油! IG: @taiwanren.co Email: cindy@taiwanren.co

Jane and Denner sit with us to share the incredible journey of Empress Hot Sauce. Listen to us sample a ton of hot sauce while we discuss how the perfect sauce is made, the evolution of Taiwan's food scene, and expats' appreciation for Taiwan. ASMR anyone?   Please support the Taiwanren project by leaving a review and subscribing. 讓我們一起加油! IG: @taiwanren.co Email: cindy@taiwanren.co

We chat with Joey from The News Lens, an independent media company that covers stories across Asia. Joey shares why we need to balance idealism with practicality, how media consumption is changing, and his company's ultimate goal.   Please support the Taiwanren project by leaving a review and subscribing. 讓我們一起加油! IG: @taiwanren.co Email: cindy@taiwanren.co

This is a special episode dedicated to our family and friends in Taiwan who are experiencing Covid lockdown for the first time. We chat with Tony from the podcast, 通勤十分鐘 On The Way to Work, to share our own 2020 lockdown experience, mental health tips, and work from home suggestions.   大家一起努力! #團結防疫守台灣 #台灣加油 IG: @taiwanren.co Email: cindy@taiwanren.co

We chat with Vic and Maggie, the co-founders behind Furbo. Vic and Maggie talk about how they turned an Indiegogo campaign into a full-fledged business, what makes their team successful, and business frameworks that Taiwanese companies should adopt.   Please support the Taiwanren project by leaving a review and subscribing. 讓我們一起加油! IG: @taiwanren.co Email: cindy@taiwanren.co

We hang with Brandon, better known by his stage name @BlasianTW, a half-Taiwanese and half Black comedian based in Taiwan. Brandon shares what it's like to grow up as a visible minority, how the Taiwanese community can become more accepting, and how he got started in comedy. Check out Brandon's skits on IG, YouTube, TikTok and more.  Please support the Taiwanren project by leaving a review and subscribing. 讓我們一起加油! IG: @taiwanren.co Email: cindy@taiwanren.co

We meet with Jeffrey, the founder of WeMo Scooter, which provides electric scooter sharing throughout Taiwan. Jeffrey shares what makes hardware startups difficult, his noble mission for Taiwan, and what it's like to start a company at 35. Try a WeMo scooter the next time you're in town (we promise it's better than Bird).  Please support the Taiwanren project by leaving a review and subscribing. 讓我們一起加油! IG: @taiwanren.co Email: cindy@taiwanren.co

We chat with Lara and Esther, the sister duo behind Meimeiwawa, about growing up in the TW entertainment industry, the media's portrayal of women, and how they're challenging the status quo with their independently produced films and music.  You can watch Tomorrow Star on KKTV, friDay, LineTV and LiTV in Taiwan. It will be available soon on Amazon Prime, Roku, myVideo, and MOD. Please support the Taiwanren project by leaving a review and subscribing. 讓我們一起加油! IG: @taiwanren.co Email: cindy@taiwanren.co

Working professionals - TUNE IN! We meet with Laura, a professor at Harvard Business School, about her book, EDGE: Turning Adversity into Advantage. Laura shares the secret to recognizing implicit bias, and make it work in your favor. Life changing tips, so bring a notebook. We also chat about how to deal with multiple identities, letting go of bitterness, and why working hard is simply not enough.  You can purchase EDGE via Amazon or Indiebound.org. To learn more about Project EMplify, go to www.projectemplify.org. Please support the Taiwanren project by leaving a review and subscribing. 讓我們一起加油! IG: @taiwanren.co Email: cindy@taiwanren.co

We chat with Anting, the founder of Teach for Taiwan, a non-profit organization that aims to provide equal opportunity to all Taiwanese children. Anting shares what kind of impact TFT has had on its fellows, why she ultimately returned to Taiwan, and her lessons on leadership.  To visit TFT, go to www.teach4taiwan.org. To learn more about Project EMplify, go to www.projectemplify.org. Please support the Taiwanren project by leaving a review and subscribing. 讓我們一起加油! IG: @taiwanren.co Email: cindy@taiwanren.co

Francesca is a tour scout, travel blogger, and career coach. Tune in to find out her favorite off the beaten path experience in Taiwan and how she reinvented herself after leaving the law.  Check out Francesca's travel guides on https://www.attorney-on-a-journey.com/ or follow her IG @attorney_on_a_journey.  Please support the Taiwanren project by leaving a review and subscribing. 讓我們一起加油! IG: @taiwanren.co Email: cindy@taiwanren.co

We talk with Jamie Lin, one of the most prominent figures in Taiwan's startup landscape. Jamie reveals how the startup scene has changed over the last 20 years, and why startups are more valuable than ever. Jamie also shares incredible insights on how Taiwan can continue to prosper, and why it is the perfect startup hub across the Asian region. Please support the Taiwanren project by leaving a review and donating to the cause on Patreon. 讓我們一起加油! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/taiwanren IG: @taiwanren.co Email: cindy@taiwanren.co

Parents and educators, this one's for you. We meet with Ron, the director of Tinkerseeds Children's Workshop and advocate for progressive education. What do today's kids need to learn? What do Taiwanese parents think? What does educational reform look like in Taiwan, and what can we expect next? Find out with us. Please support the Taiwanren project by leaving a review and donating to the cause on Patreon. 讓我們一起加油! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/taiwanren IG: @taiwanren.co Email: cindy@taiwanren.co

We cover all aspects of social innovation with Audrey Tang, Taiwan's Digital Minister, starting from the Sunflower Movement back in 2014. Tune into hear about Taiwan's creative Covid-19 response, collaborative efforts between citizens and government, and what makes our democracy a special one. Please support the Taiwanren project by leaving a review and donating to the cause on Patreon. 讓我們一起加油! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/taiwanren IG: @taiwanren.co Email: cindy@taiwanren.co

Meet Emily, the co-founder of Ghost Island Media, a podcast network based in Taiwan. Emily shares what kinds of stories need to be told, the podcast boom in Taiwan, and the meaning behind 'ghost island'.  Please support the Taiwanren project by leaving a review and donating to the cause on Patreon. 讓我們一起加油! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/taiwanren IG: @taiwanren.co Email: cindy@taiwanren.co

We meet with Jay Lin, one of the leading LGBTQ advocates in Taiwan. Jay shares his own coming out story, how he went from running a film festival to launching an entire media platform, and the catalyst for legalizing same sex marriage in Taiwan.  Please support the Taiwanren project by leaving a review and donating to the cause on Patreon. 讓我們一起加油! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/taiwanren IG: @taiwanren.co Email: cindy@taiwanren.co

Introverts, this one's for you! Meet Jill, the author of Quiet Is a Superpower. Jill shares her incredible stories of how she used her introvert strengths to succeed as the first female in Taiwan's sports agency. She weighs in on how introversion differs across cultures, and how she learned to adapt. Plenty of tips for introverts and extroverts alike - listen now to find out :) You can purchase Quiet Is a Superpower on indiebound.org or Amazon. If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and subscribe. 讓我們一起加油! IG: @taiwanren.co Email: cindy@taiwanren.co

We chat with Shawna Yang Ryan, author of the beloved novel, Green Island. Shawna takes us through pivotal events in modern Taiwanese history (she just has a way of bringing things to life). We also discuss Shawna's writing journey and hopes for Taiwan. Basically a PBS special you won't want to miss :) You can purchase Green Island on indiebound.org or Amazon. If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and subscribe. 讓我們一起加油! IG: @taiwanren.co Email: cindy@taiwanren.co

Meet Matt, who started with an orchestra of one (and 20+ instruments), but now leads a full orchestra of talented artists from Brisbane, Australia. Matt talks about his struggle growing up Asian Australian, and how music helped him reconnect with his Taiwanese roots. From that reconnection came his award-winning song, Make Everything (which I added to the end of this episode cus you *need* to hear it). Check out more of Matt's work on YouTube or Spotify. If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and subscribe. 讓我們一起加油! IG: @taiwanren.co Email: cindy@taiwanren.co

We catch up with Mel from AsianBossGirl, a podcast series for the modern Asian American. We discuss podcasting, "taboo" topics, and ways to keep up with Asian American content.  Listen to AsianBossGirl on any podcasting platform. If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and subscribe. 讓我們一起加油! IG: @taiwanren.co Email: cindy@taiwanren.co

Meet Casey, the founder of Miss Modi, a shop that designs and curates handcrafted jewelry. Casey's not only introducing Asian female designers to the US, she's also making our most beloved cultural items more wearable. Find your favorite snacks like taiyaki, XLB, and boba immortalized as earrings, necklaces, and bracelets on missmodi.com. If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and subscribe. 讓我們一起加油! IG: @taiwanren.co Email: cindy@taiwanren.co

We chat with Michael from Camphor Press on how he's making Taiwanese stories more accessible. Michael shares some of his favorite books, from titles covering the Dutch era to the lives of migrant workers, and why he thinks Taiwan is a great place to live. Find your next book at www.camphorpress.com. If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and subscribe. 讓我們一起加油! IG: @taiwanren.co Email: cindy@taiwanren.co

We get real with Andrew, the co-founder of Boba Guys. Join us as we discuss why Boba Guys can't be imitated,  vulnerability among Asians, and what you can do to support the Chinatown community.  If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and subscribe. 讓我們一起加油! IG: @taiwanren.co Email: cindy@taiwanren.co

Meet Jenny, the co-director of Keep Taiwan Free, a coalition that safeguards human rights and democracy. Discover their mission, how she got involved, and how you too can join the democratic movement. 

Meet Robert Chen, the Founder of Alechemist Beers. The company's mission is to make local beers from local ingredients. They not only support local farmers, but also collaborate with communities to put culture in a bottle. Drink up!

Meet Rachel Chen, the creator behind Ah Ma Studio where you'll be served one of a kind pearl earrings. Learn about the magic of YouTube (not sponsored, I wish), or what inspired Rachel to fashion earrings into delicate bok choys. Her most touching moments since starting the shop? Find out with us. Support Rachel by visiting her shop, AHMA Made, on Etsy. Treat yoself.

Meet Brian Wang, the food influencer behind @tw.food.addict. Living the dream we all want. Want to know the most bookmarked restaurant in Taipei? Top 3 must eat dishes? Or how about that time Gordon Ramsay followed his account. In all seriousness, find out what inspired Brian to become a Taiwanese food expert, and how he's bringing local food stories to the forefront. Follow Brian on IG @tw.food.addict if you want to be tempted by all the noms.

Meet Mandy Lee, the author of Lady & Pups food blog and The Art of Escapism Cooking.  Mandy's favorite recipe in her book might surprise you. What prompted her to start her food blog in the first place? And, since many of us won't have the same opportunity to publish a book (sad but true), what did she learn from the process?  Follow her on IG @ladyandpups or support her by purchasing the book! It's a visual feast, promise.