Layla Chen is an English content creator and solopreneur.  She was formerly a trained actor in theatre and film in the UK. Currently, she provides online training and coaching in English pronunciation, voice and public speaking to native Chinese around the world.  She graduated from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama at the University of London with a masters in screen acting.  She was also selected to be a leading international figure in the Forbes Global Alliance in 2024.  Today...

Today we talk about the psychology of texting, jumping to conclusions, and if we’re destined to repeat the same failures in life.  We talk about text message etiquette, the psychology behind quick responses, slow responses and no responses, and “closing the loop” with people we have unintentionally ignored.  We talk about jumping to conclusions and making assumptions about others and their intentions.  We explore the idea of accepting oneself as is versus constantly struggling to change in...

Ethan Robertson is the host of Wheelsboy 车轮哥, a channel dedicated to offering independent reviews of Chinese cars. His videos have over a million subscribers and are available on YouTube and all mainstream Chinese platforms.  Today we talk about the electric vehicle (EV) industry in China, including the rise of Chinese EV brands, the challenges they face globally, their competitiveness, shortcomings, environmental impact and the future outlook of the industry.  Ethan provides insights into...

Dr. Brian Wong is a Rhodes Scholar, geopolitical strategist, tech advisor, author and Assistant Professor in Philosophy at the University of Hong Kong.  His research examines the intersection of geopolitics, political and moral philosophy, and technology.  Brian co-founded and now advises the Oxford Political Review and currently serves as a Fellow and Advisor at the Oxford Global Society, an independent think-tank.  He is also a Fellow at the Centre on Contemporary China and the World and is...

Cymri Chang is a Creative Producer and friend of the show.  Today we discuss the human race, whether it's as a species, a political race or literally racing in the Olympics.  We talk about if continuing the human species is important to us.  We present cases for and against humanity and its impact on itself and all other living things.  We talk about ancestry tests and recount our experience on the day of 9/11.  We talk about the US presidential election and candidates like RFK Jr and Kamala...

Jorge Castellanos is a stand-up comedian and was a member of the sketch comedy group Mamahuhu, a popular YouTube series.  He is also the owner of the Shanghai bar called BnC.  He has performed with some of the biggest comedians like Mark Normand, Kyle Kinane and Jim Gaffigan.  Today we talk about Jorge’s experience as a comedian in China, navigating censorship, and insights from hosting famous American comedians when they visit China for the first time.  We talk about Mamahuhu and its impact...

Danny Hu is the CEO of WeCycle and started the largest triathlon community in China.  His platform, STC大铁, has gone from a few hundred people to over 100k members and has helped organize 300+ triathlons and other active events across China.  Today, in the spirit of the Olympics, we talk to Danny about how he got convinced to enter his first triathlon.  We talk about how he taught himself how to swim, his approach to living and his keys to a healthy lifestyle.  We discuss his business around...

Daniel Bateman (白德翰) is a content creator of his own social media channel @baidehan focused on being British, business and lifestyle in China.  He is also the host of the "Panda Profits Podcast" and the founder of Brit Bridge, a global consultancy and marketing company.  Today we talk about the book "The Game" by Neil Strauss and how it helped Daniel gain confidence in approaching women, dating, and conducting business.  We talk about the awkwardness of starting conversations with strangers...

Ben Cavender is the Managing Director and Head of Strategy with the China Market Research Group (CMR).  He helps Fortune 500 companies strengthen their brands positions and presence in China's consumer market.  He frequently speaks internationally on innovation, technology, economics and consumer trends.  He is frequently quoted and interviewed by news outlets including The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, New York Times, Economist, Forbes, Business Insider, BBC, CNN, CNBC, and Channel...

Tilman Rieger is a conflict mediator, interpersonal and cross-cultural communication expert. He is the founder of 8C Consulting and an expert in the fields of nonviolent communication, transactional analysis, positive intelligence and team building. Today we talk about psychological safety in groups, at work and in society. We learn about creating environments where individuals feel safe to take risks, make mistakes and speak honestly and critically to each other without becoming defensive....

Justin Hourn is the head coach and co-founder of Refuge Martial Arts.  He is a BJJ black belt, former Australian national wrestling team athlete, international kickboxer, Tedx speaker and youth health & fitness speaker.  Today we talk about fitness trends, wellness, purpose and overcoming adversity.  We talk about purposely not preparing for things so we can react genuinely in the moment.  We talk about keeping fit as we age and the shift from intense workouts like CrossFit to a focus on...

Today we talk about the “3 Body Problem”, AI and finding jobs.  We talk about the controversy over the Western adaptation of the show from the original Chinese science fiction novel “The Three-Body Problem” and where the limits might be for cultural appropriation.  The conversation shifts to the topic of AI and we debate how much we should really think about it in our daily lives.  We also talk about job hunting and share stories from some of our early jobs and the lessons we learned doing...

King Kwesi is a vlogger, street interviewer and English teacher from Ghana, living in China. His YouTube Channel documents his experiences as an African interacting in Chinese society. Today we talk about his background from Ghana, growing up in a polygamous family, and his experience living in China as an African. We talk about why he started the YouTube channel, his perspective on China’s development and how he feels about certain comments and attacks he gets for his videos. We discuss...

Andrea Fenn is an award-winning digital strategist and the CEO of Adiacent, a global digital transformation company. He was a founding member of the APAC social media team at Ogilvy, a researcher of Chinese social media at Leiden University, and a former journalist for CNN and China Daily.  He has lived 18 years in China working with the country’s evolving digital landscape.  Today we talk about the birth and rise of China’s digital age.  We talk about when the first Western social media...

Dylan Briley is the Head Chef at Crush, former Sous Chef at Mr & Mrs Bund, and former chef at Goga in Shanghai.  He is also an artist, culinary consultant and DJ.  Today we talk about digital addiction, self-hate and his experiences working in the restaurant industry, both in the US and China. He recounts a pivotal moment when he had a heart attack while working at a restaurant in Shanghai and shares a story of the time he ruined a steak for an American President.  We discuss the...

Yimin Wang is a personality development and leadership coach.  He is one of the highest certified people development coaches in China, the CEO of Sense Consulting and the Global Partner of Lumina Learning.  Today we explore the Lumina Spark personality assessment which measures your various personality traits and qualities.  We talk about the concept of paradox in personality, where individuals can exhibit seemingly contradictory traits in different situations.  We talk about the importance...

James Hsu is an entrepreneur, podcaster and advisor.  He helps people through the mental and emotional side of entrepreneurship and on the topic of authenticity.  Today we talk about the struggle to be ourselves and pretending to be someone we're not, both in social situations and at work.  We talk about how we are affected by politics and news.  We talk about why James decided he can't work in large companies, and some difficult lessons about people and relationships being an entrepreneur....

Dawn Wong is a Stand-Up Comedian in Shanghai.  Today we talk about stand-up comedy in China.  We discuss script vetting, cancel culture and the differences between doing comedy for Chinese and Western audiences.   We talk about gender equality, her influences growing up, and her thoughts on Asian men’s taste in women.  We also talk about how female comedians are perceived in China vs the West, cultural differences in humor, and how crowds react when you have a really bad set...

Richard Brubaker is the Sustainability & Corporate Social Responsibility Chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai, Adjunct Professor of Sustainability and Social Innovation, Founder of Collective Responsibility and host of the Sustainable Ambassador and Mission Driven podcasts.  Today we talk about the state of the world through the lens of sustainability.  We get into climate, urbanization, food security, water, energy and the truth about recycling.  We talk about...

Today we try a bilingual episode speaking Chinese with our guest Julia Shen.  We talk about gender roles, relationships, masculinity, marriage and compare certain interesting behaviors between Chinese and Western culture.  We try to find definitions for Chinese words that may not exist in the English language, and learn some new Chinese sayings at the same time.  We talk about Julia's experience as our realtor and her observations from helping foreigners of various nationalities find homes in...

Today we talk about the flaws in our understanding of the distant past and do some reflecting as we look ahead this year.  We talk about creating and capturing more memories, getting healthier, building habits, guilt and motivation.  We talk about work sabotaging health, failed fitness attempts and seeking progress through habit stacking, incremental progress, self-forgiveness and self-compassion.  We talk about the books Atomic Habits and Finish, and discuss what we want to do differently...

Today we compare our views on artificial intelligence and the human condition.  We talk about the evolution of society and how AI will change the way we all play the game.  We talk about the nature of the 'game' itself.  We talk to ChatGPT, debate its current usefulness and explore positive and negative societal consequences of humanity's advancing capabilities. ____________________ 下载节目文字版: Episode Transcripts ____________________ If you enjoy this show don't forget to leave a rating and...

Happy 2024!  Today we listen to some of our favorite songs and talk about the memorable moments in our lives they remind us of.  This is the second volume of our "Life's Mixtape" series in which we combine music listening with podcasting. ____________________ 下载节目文字版: Episode Transcripts ____________________ If you enjoy this show don't forget to leave a rating and subscribe! 小红书: THD The Honest Drink Follow Us On Instagram: @thehonestdrink_ Join Us On WeChat: THD_Official Email:...