BLAKE STONEBANKS: Writing The Future
#038 - Writing The Future - Blake Stonebanks
This week’s guest is Blake Stonebanks. Blake first landed in Kunming, China way back in the late 90s. He studied the language, fell in love with the people and the culture, and with the exception of a few years in New York as a geographic detour, he has been China-based in one way or another ever since. He’s worn a lot of hats, including as an editor in media and currently as a data researcher, and he has his finger on the pulse of what’s now and has lots of ideas of what’s next as well as maybe anyone. He’s also channeling some of those ideas into writing “hard” science fiction that's set in the near-future term. We discuss cultural biases towards data privacy, future studies and their impact on tech and society, and how the distinct differences between East and West drive innovation in sometimes drastically differing directions, among other things. Great talk!
Blake Stonebanks on Twitter:
@blakestonebanks
Blake’s data research agency employer:
(Chinese) http://td-china.com.cn
(English) td-berlin.com
AWA Health (mention the show and get a 20% discount):
4th Floor, THE PLACE mall / Guanhua Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China
137-1618-2745 (Chinese)
186-0083-9624 (English)
Brendan Davis on The China-Hollywood Greenlight podcast:
https://chinahollywoodgreenlight.com/012-brendan-davis-bangbang-pictures-opportunity-china/
Brendan Davis on WeChat:
BrendanDavis
Brendan Davis on Twitter:
@VeritasInLux
BFMK website:
https://www.crazyinagoodway.com
Other links to LISTEN:
https://www.crazyinagoodway.com/podcast-links/
JOHN ARTMAN: Technology & Society in China
#037 - Technology & Society in China - John Artman
This week’s guest is John Artman. John is the Editor In Chief of TechNode and a host of two podcasts himself. TechNode is one of China’s leading technology media outlets as well as a sponsor of live events related to the tech space. John and I discuss his background in radio, the implications of the rise of AI in China, and what he sees for the future in general here.
John Artman on Twitter:
@knowsnothing
TechNode:
http://technode.com
AWA Health (mention the show and get a 20% discount):
4th Floor, THE PLACE mall
Guanhua Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China
137-1618-2745 (Chinese)
186-0083-9624 (English)
Brendan Davis on WeChat:
BrendanDavis
Brendan Davis on Twitter:
@VeritasInLux
BFMK website:
https://www.crazyinagoodway.com
Other links to LISTEN:
https://www.crazyinagoodway.com/podcast-links/
MATTHEW BYRNE: The Arts & Literary Scene in China
#036 - The Arts & Literary Scene in China - Matthew Byrne
This week’s guest is Matthew Byrne. Matt is a transplant from Britain who runs the arts and literary magazine and collective Spittoon. We discuss the next Spittoon event taking place tomorrow, this Thursday, 25th January at 8pm - in Matt’s words, “ ...there will be fantastic English language poetry but also Chinese poetry in translation. A new host will also be announced who has great new ideas, plus there will be a special music / poetry collaboration performance from Spit-Tunes to round off the evening”.
Jan 25 Spittoon Event Location / 地点：
40 Zhonglouwan Hutong
(directly east of the Bell Tower)
旧鼓楼大街钟楼湾胡同40号
Spittoon:
spittooncollective.com
Matthew Byrne WeChat:
fintan14
Alan Watts:
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/32581/alan-w-watts
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/187469/the-way-of-zen-by-alan--watts/9780307784346/
AWA Health (mention the show and get a 20% discount):
4th Floor, THE PLACE mall
Guanhua Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China
137-1618-2745 (Chinese)
186-0083-9624 (English)
Brendan Davis on WeChat:
BrendanDavis
Brendan Davis on Twitter:
@VeritasInLux
BFMK website:
https://www.crazyinagoodway.com
Other links to LISTEN:
https://www.crazyinagoodway.com/podcast-links/
ROSIE LEVINE: Historic Preservation in Beijing
#035 - Historic Preservation in Beijing | Rosie Levine
This week’s show features historical preservationist Rosie Levine. Rosie is from Boston but grew up as a little girl in Beijing before moving back to the States to finish school. Among other efforts, she’s on a mission to help save the hutongs, the classic ancient neighborhoods that are a key part of Beijing’s unique cultural heritage, through her work as Program Director of the Beijing Cultural Heritage Protection Center (CHP), a China-based NGO.
Beijing Cultural Heritage Protection Center (CHP) website:
www.bjchp.org
CHP WeChat public account:
BJ_CHP
Michael Wincott:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000699/
AWA Health (mention the show and get a 20% discount):
4th Floor, THE PLACE mall
Guanhua Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China
137-1618-2745 (Chinese)
186-0083-9624 (English)
Brendan Davis on WeChat:
BrendanDavis
Brendan Davis on Twitter:
@VeritasInLux
BFMK website:
https://www.crazyinagoodway.com
Other links to LISTEN:
https://www.crazyinagoodway.com/podcast-links/
KEITH COLLEA: Artistic Expression and Technical Evolution
#034 - Artistic Expression and Technical Evolution | Keith Collea
This week’s guest is Keith Collea. Keith has such a diverse background that it’s hard to sum up: he has training as an engineer, then military experience, then he shifted into dance and performance art that also incorporated radical video effects elements. This eclectic resume led to mainstream Hollywood filmmaking, and ultimately, to China. Keith is a much-lauded and awarded pioneer in the technology of the arts, and I think his insights into the present and future of cinema in China are as good as gold. Enjoy!
Keith Collea IMDb:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0007205/
AWA Health (mention the show and get a 20% discount):
4th Floor, THE PLACE mall
Guanhua Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing China
137-1618-2745 (Chinese)
186-0083-9624 (English)
Brendan Davis on WeChat:
BrendanDavis
Brendan Davis on Twitter:
@VeritasInLux
BFMK website:
https://www.crazyinagoodway.com
Other links to LISTEN:
https://www.crazyinagoodway.com/podcast-links/
DANIEL ROTHWELL: ‘Boning in Beijing
#033 - ‘Boning in Beijing | Daniel Rothwell
Welcome to the first show of 2018! My guest is Daniel Rothwell, a trombone-playing, ‘zine-writing, drama-educating force of nature from Essex, England. We have a splendid conversation and laugh nonstop; good times. It’s also the last show before I turn FIFTY (yikes!) this Friday, Jan 5, so I talk about that a little, plus the last days of the show FUNdraising drive, and my recent appearance on CGTN, which led to my almost starring in a...cat food commercial? Enjoy!
Daniel Rothwell / LoReLi:
BD on the “Culture Express” Year-End Special on CGTN
https://goo.gl/D59be5
Holiday FUNDRAISING Drive - SUPPORT BFMK via PayPal or WeChat:
https://www.crazyinagoodway.com/donate/
AWA Health (mention the show and get a 20% discount):
4th Floor, THE PLACE mall
Guanhua Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing China
137-1618-2745 (Chinese)
186-0083-9624 (English)
Brendan Davis on WeChat:
BrendanDavis
Brendan Davis on Twitter:
@VeritasInLux
BFMK website:
https://www.crazyinagoodway.com
Other links to LISTEN:
https://www.crazyinagoodway.com/podcast-links/
Bonus Episode: NEW YEAR’S 2017 | Brendan Davis
In this special NEW YEAR’S EVE edition, recorded and posted just hours before the champagne pops in Beijing, I discuss the “inciting incident” in my move to China, the launch and first season of the show, a snapshot of EACH guest, my recent appearance on CGTN, and I talk about what else I’ve been up and what’s coming next in 2018. Many good times were had, and there are many more to come!
BD on the “Culture Express” Year-End Special on CGTN:
https://goo.gl/D59be5
Holiday FUNDRAISING Drive - SUPPORT BFMK via PayPal or WeChat:
https://www.crazyinagoodway.com/donate/
Brendan Davis on WeChat:
BrendanDavis
Brendan Davis on Twitter:
@VeritasInLux
BFMK website:
https://www.crazyinagoodway.com
Other links to LISTEN:
https://www.crazyinagoodway.com/podcast-links/
MIKE WESTER: True Run Media
#032 - True Run Media | Mike Wester
My guest this week is Mike Wester, co-founder of True Run Media, which publishes The Beijinger, Jing Kids, and more. In the episode we talk about Mike's journey from the Boston area to Taiwan, back to the US for grad school, and then his ultimate move to Beijing, a city he's called home for 17 years. Pictured above are Mike with his daughter Eloise and his wife, Toni. Mike and his team have built quite a publishing presence in China, and his thoughtful insights on society reflect a deep passion for quality journalism and the people it impacts - i.e., all of us.
In this episode I also discuss my upcoming special New Year’s show, an appearance I’ll be making on CGTN soon talking about film in China, the podcast’s holiday fundraising drive, and much more. Full details are in the show intro and all the links are available in the show notes below or via the blog post at https://www.crazyinagoodway.com/home/2017/12/27/mike-wester so check it out. Enjoy!
Mike Wester contact:
mwinchina
True Run Media brands:
thebeijinger.com
beijing-kids.com
jingkids.com
TheBeijinger QR code
Beijing-Kids QR code
Jing Shanghai QR Code
Jing Beijing QR code
AWA Health (mention the show and get a 20% discount):
4th Floor, THE PLACE mall
Guanhua Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing China
137-1618-2745 (Chinese)
186-0083-9624 (English)
Holiday FUNDRAISING Drive - SUPPORT BFMK via PayPal or WeChat:
https://www.crazyinagoodway.com/donate/
Brendan Davis on WeChat:
BrendanDavis
Brendan Davis on Twitter:
@VeritasInLux
BFMK website:
https://www.crazyinagoodway.com
Other links to LISTEN:
https://www.crazyinagoodway.com/podcast-links/
KYLE MULLIN: Writing & Reporting in Beijing, China
#031 - Writing & Reporting in Beijing, China | Kyle Mullin
This week’s guest is Kyle Mullin. Kyle is a Canadian journalist who works as a writer and editor at The Beijinger. In the episode we discuss Kyle’s environmentally-conscious focus, which he first discovered as a writer in college. This passion set him on a path that ended up at The Beijinger, where he writes a regular "Beicology” column (Beijing + Ecology) in addition to his food & beverage, music, and other social interests. This is my longest episode ever, but it moves fast and we cover a lot of ground; I loved going even more in-depth with this one and hope to do more like this in the future. Kyle and I discuss writing, our mutual affection for Marc Maron's WTF podcast, plus we do a special year-end look back at some of the big China stories of 2017, and much more.
This episode is sponsored by AWA Health. Whether you’re interested in relieving stress or soothing your lungs and body from being exposed to pollution, AWA Health offers great services to help you deal with the realities of living in the big city. AWA Health is offering a special Holiday VIP package combining an anti-stress flotation therapy session + an anti-pollution halotherapy session in the salt room for only 860RMB. This is normally a 1076 RMB value, so you save over 200 RMB. Book with Angelique directly via the QR code linked below, and tell her you're a "Big Fish in the Middle Kingdom" listener when you do!
Kyle Mullin articles and interview links:
http://www.thebeijinger.com/category/blog-tags/beicology
http://www.macleans.ca/news/world/the-odds-and-evens-of-the-sun-shining-in-beijing-arent-good/
https://thediplomat.com/2017/06/can-china-live-up-to-its-climate-fighting-promise/
https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2013/06/ai-weiwei.html
https://www.thebeijinger.com/blog/2017/12/02/brendan-davis-big-fish-middle-kingdom-podcast
AWA Health (mention the show and get a 20% discount):
4th Floor, THE PLACE mall
Guanhua Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing China
137-1618-2745 (Chinese)
186-0083-9624 (English)
QR code available in blog post @ crazyinagoodway.com
Holiday FUNDRAISING Drive - SUPPORT BFMK via PayPal or WeChat:
https://www.crazyinagoodway.com/donate/
Brendan Davis on WeChat:
BrendanDavis
Brendan Davis on Twitter:
@VeritasInLux
BFMK website:
https://www.crazyinagoodway.com
Other links to LISTEN:
https://www.crazyinagoodway.com/podcast-links/
Special Holiday VIP Offer from AWA Health!
Angelique from AWA health (Episode #030) just sent me this special offer, so I wanted to share it with you. Her original Chinese is below my summary here:
AWA Health is offering a Holiday VIP Special package combining an anti-stress flotation therapy session + an anti-pollution halotherapy session in the salt room for only 860RMB. This is normally a 1076 RMB value so you save over 200 RMB. Book with her directly via the QR code below and tell her you're a "Big Fish" listener when you do!
【 圣诞减压套装隆重上线】太空漂浮都疗法+清肺抗霾盐疗一次性get！ 送上司送客户送朋友送情人一网打尽：）show 品味涨姿势妥妥的！敲黑板、重点来了！原价1076、🎄特价860 ；）我保正亲自接待你的vip）
ANGELIQUE PENG: Health & Wellness in China
#030 - Health & Wellness in China | Angelique Peng
My guest this week is Angelique Peng. Angelique is from Singapore, has studied in London, lived in Los Angeles, and she’s now an entrepreneur in Beijing. She is a partner in AWA Health, and yes, they are a sponsor of the show, but this is not an informercial! In the episode we talk about Angelique’s highly interesting background, her mission with the company, how their sponsorship of the show came to be, and much more. I also give a little shoutout to my long-time friend and certified creative genius, Carl King, who created the music in Big Fish in the Middle Kingdom, and his new show “The Oracle of Outer Space”, as well as the holiday fundraising drive for this very podcast.
Links to everything are in the show notes or can be found as always on my website, crazyinagoodway.com. Enjoy!
Angelique Peng article:
http://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/Cgg7g0wP9TYCPdflr8inYw
AWA Health (mention the show and get a 20% discount):
4th Floor, THE PLACE mall
Guanhua Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing China
137-1618-2745 (Chinese)
186-0083-9624 (English)
QR code available in blog post @ crazyinagoodway.com
Carl King’s “The Oracle of Outer Space!"
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/carlking/the-oracle-of-outer-space-animated-tv-show-pilot?ref=discovery&term=Oracle%20of%20outer%20space%20
https://www.facebook.com/oracleofouterspace/
http://carlkingdom.com
SUPPORT BFMK via PayPal or WeChat:
https://www.crazyinagoodway.com/donate/
Brendan Davis on WeChat:
BrendanDavis
Brendan Davis on Twitter:
@VeritasInLux
BFMK website:
https://www.crazyinagoodway.com
Other links to LISTEN:
https://www.crazyinagoodway.com/podcast-links/
MIKE SHAW: From Boston to Beijing
#029 - From Boston to Beijing | Mike Shaw
This week’s episode features Mike Shaw. Mike is a vegan PR professional from Boston who is fascinated by the extraordinary potential of the global expat community, and he aims to do something about it. In this episode we talk a lot about what it’s like to be here bearing witness to China’s ascendancy at this historic moment in history, and how global people like us can find our way in and find a purpose. As expats, we are at the leading edge of that, which is not always without its growing pains, but as wiser men than me have said: you buy the ticket, you take the ride.
We also touch on a few more esoteric topics, like the rise of the petro-yuan and the unique place that Boston has in the psyche of former Bostonians, withersoever dispersed around the globe. And towards the end, Mike shares the very cool love story of how he met and finally came together with his wife across three continents. It’s something special, and I think the more romantically inclined among you will especially appreciate it. Ultimately, this episode is a love letter to Boston and it is also a testimony to the incredible diversity of China, and how much Mike - and I - love being here and carving out our own new paths in ways that we really couldn’t do anywhere else in the whole world. Enjoy.
Mike Shaw contacts:
https://twitter.com/zax2000
https://plus.google.com/+MikeShaw-zax2000
AWA Health (scan the QR code, mention the show, and get a 20% discount):
4th Floor, THE PLACE mall
Guanhua Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing China
137-1618-2745 (Chinese)
186-0083-9624 (English)
Brendan Davis on WeChat:
BrendanDavis
Brendan Davis on Twitter:
@VeritasInLux
BFMK website:
https://www.crazyinagoodway.com
Other links to LISTEN:
https://www.crazyinagoodway.com/podcast-links/
SUPPORT BFMK via PayPal or WeChat:
https://www.crazyinagoodway.com/donate/
New SPONSOR: AWA HEALTH!
Hi everybody - especially Beijing peoples!
Just a quick note to let you know that "Big Fish in the Middle Kingdom" now has it's first sponsor: AWA Health. I will have more to say on the next episode of the show, but for now, a little overview...
Located inside The Place mall in Beijing, AWA Health is a spa with a twist. AWA offers various unique treatments, mostly involving SALT. These include massage, cryotherapy, anti-pollution salt therapy, and - my new favorite thing - floating anti-stress therapy. I went earlier tonight to float for an hour, and it was probably the most relaxing 60 minutes I've spent in years.
For "Big Fish in the Middle Kingdom" listeners, co-owner Angelique is offering a 20% discount on your initial float session. Use the QR code below to contact her and mention my name OR "Big Fish" to check it out. :D
LIVE Event: "BECOMING AN ENTREPRENEUR FOR LIFE"
Bonus Episode, Nov 25, 2017 - “Becoming an Entrepreneur For Life” | Entrepreneur’s Organization (EO), Beijing Sanlitun chapter
Today I am happy to share another special LIVE episode with you, a panel presentation on the topic of "Becoming an Entrepreneur For Life”. The event was sponsored by the EO Beijing Sanlitun chapter, and was recorded from the naked HUB in Sanlitun.
For more information on the numerous speakers and sponsors, please search them using the information below. Enjoy!
Speakers:
Mike Wester (host) - Founder & CEO, True Run Media
Claudia Masueger - Founder & CEO, CHEERS Wines
Katherine Lui - Founder & Managing Partner, CanAsia Consulting
Christopher Dobbing - Founder & CEO, Cambridge Masks
Stacy Palestrant - Founder & CEO, Elite Scholars of China
AJ Warner - Co-Founder & Board Member, Touchdown!
Sponsors:
EO Beijing Sanlitun
naked HUB
Gung-Ho Pizza
CHEERS Wines
Awa Health
EO Beijing Sanlitun contact (AJ Warner):
email - ajwarner@touchdown.org.cn
WeChat - ajwarner
Entrepreneurs' Organization:
https://www.eonetwork.org
Ronald Paredes (“BFMK” logo):
WeChat, Instagram, Facebook - mundosanto
Brendan Davis on WeChat:
BrendanDavis
Brendan Davis on Twitter:
@VeritasInLux
BFMK website:
https://www.crazyinagoodway.com
Other links to LISTEN:
https://www.crazyinagoodway.com/podcast-links/
SUPPORT BFMK via PayPal or WeChat:
https://www.crazyinagoodway.com/donate/