BD on "AMERICANS IN CHINA"
To mark the one-year anniversary of my podcast, I'm working on a special live event - details coming soon - as well as preparing to spill a few other pieces of news. So it was nice to see this episode of "Americans in China" that Ioana Gomoi directed that talks a bit about that:
http://chinaplus.cri.cn/…/america…/1659/20180521/133987.html
Thanks to Ioana and her team for the fun piece. More soon!
Brendan Davis interviewed on "12 Minute Convos w/ Engel Jones"
Podcaster and entrepreneur Engel Jones (https://twelveminuteconvos.com/) interviewed me for his fun, very short podcast "12 Minute Convos w/ Engel Jones". Engel is from the island nation of Trinidad & Tobago and has a very unique format for his show. In a (slightly longer than 12 minute) discussion, I ramble about my podcast inspirations ("WTF with Marc Maron", "The Tim Ferriss Show", "Rune Soup", and "How I Built This, with Guy Raz" in particular), meditation, "Sheena Is A Punk Rocker" by The Ramones, prenatal memories, fireflies at night in the American South, and much much more.
We actually don't even really talk too much about China, now that I think about it. Wow.
Anyway, it was big fun for me, and if you check it out, I hope you enjoy it! Search it in your favorite podcatcher, or listen / directly download via the links below.
- BD
Brendan Davis on "12 Minute Convos w/ Engel Jones":
Apple / iTunes:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/12-minute-convos-w-engel-jones/id1098716772?mt=2#episodeGuid=8140cb055c46940b14672c770144b54d
Castbox:
https://castbox.fm/vd/58742774
Direct download:
12 Minute Convos w/ Engel Jones: 1471:Brendan Davis hosts the weekly "Big Fish in the Middle Kingdom" podcast, featuring in-depth interviews... http://traffic.libsyn.com/12minconvos/1471_Brendan_Keith_Davis.mp3?dest-id=367710
"Big Fish in the Middle Kingdom" featured on TheBeijinger.com!
Kyle Mullin of True Run Media, the company behind The Beijinger, Jing Kids, and more, sat down with me for several hours and got the inside scoop on the podcast, my backstory in and prior to Beijing, and much, much more. A link to the fun interview is below. If you're so inclined, check it out!
- BD
"Big Fish in the Middle Kingdom" on The Beijinger
http://www.thebeijinger.com/blog/2017/12/02/brendan-davis-big-fish-middle-kingdom-podcast
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
New LOGO!
I woke up today to a very nice surprise: my friend and previous show guest Ronald Paredes (episode #022) sent me the new LOGO that he designed for me. He is writing a post about all the symbolism he included that I will quote and repost here when that goes live, but for now, let me just say THANK YOU to Ronald for doing such a great job! I think that in this image, he really captured the essence of what I am aiming for with this show, and I couldn't be happier with the result.
Please visit Ronald at his site for more information about this very talented artist, and if you missed his interview, listen to Episode #022 of "BFMK". Enjoy!
- Brendan
AUGUSTA XU-HOLLAND: Acting With Purpose
#018 - Acting With Purpose | Augusta Xu-Holland
This week's guest is Augusta Xu-Holland. Augusta is from New Zealand, and she came to China originally to be involved in the renewable energy sector here. And like many foreigners before her, she found herself presented with opportunities to appear in film and television. But unlike most of the others, Augusta found success attaining larger and larger roles fairly early into her career here, and she is now a very busy professional actress. She also continues her work in the energy field and can increasingly use her growing profile in the arts to serve as an ambassador for her scientific interests.
This was a particularly enjoyable conversation for me on many levels. Regular listeners to the show know that I have a lot of friends and connections to New Zealand, so discovering NZ overlap between Augusta and I was a treat. But speaking strictly in a professional context, Augusta has a real insider's view of well the film and TV industry works here from an actor's perspective, so hearing her take on the ins and outs of the business was very enlightening for me and I think it will be interesting for you as well. As a special treat, Augusta runs through a handy check list of tips, tricks, and advice for people looking to work as talent in China and discusses some of the resources one needs to be familiar with to do so. But even if you're listening to this episode from a couch in Birmingham, Alabama, there's a lot to relate to, so I hope you enjoy it!
Augusta Xu-Holland online:
www.augustaxuholland.com
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm7468083/
Brendan Davis on Twitter:
@VeritasInLux
BFMK website:
https://www.crazyinagoodway.com
BFMK Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/BigFishMiddleKingdom/
Other links to LISTEN:
https://www.crazyinagoodway.com/podcast-links/
SUPPORT BFMK via PayPal or WeChat:
https://www.crazyinagoodway.com/donate/
BFMK PayPal direct DONATION link:
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=K5W6EANCYSQHU
JEFF POWELL: Chef de China
#017 - Chef de China | Jeff Powell
This week’s guest is Jeff Powell: owner and chef of Frost here in Beijing, but that only scratches the surface of his impressive career. In addition to being a master chef and an executive consultant in his industry, Jeff is also a father, a family man, and a very nice guy. In the interview, he’s incredibly open about the challenges and the downsides of his time here as well as generous with sharing valuable business information that will be applicable to almost anyone trying to build or launch an endeavor of their own here, too, so there’s lots to enjoy and learn from.
Jeff’s background includes a stint as Sous Chef at the world-famous Stars restaurant in San Francisco for Jeremiah Tower, who is widely acknowledged as the father of California & New American Cuisine and a man who Anthony Bourdain called “the first celebrity chef”. An interesting twist on the narrative is that while Jeff was cooking his way to glory in San Francisco, he also became a well-known rave DJ! But eventually he moved to China, and that’s where his life truly changed. During his time here, Jeff has had great successes, learned tough lessons, and learned loads to share that I found to be very moving as he told his story.
As they say in the restaurant business, we get seriously into the weeds a bit regarding the restaurant industry, but we jump around a lot too, from the professional to the personal, so I hope you enjoy the ride.
Links to find out more about Jeff’s restaurant Frost or to learn more about me, the show, or to show your support in any way are included in the show notes below. Now, please enjoy my interview with Jeff Powell!
Jeff Powell’s Frost:
http://www.thebeijinger.com/blog/2017/06/26/xingfucun-thaw-frost-returns-comfort-food-troubled-neighborhood
Jeremiah Tower interview:
http://www.bonappetit.com/story/jeremiah-tower-last-magnificent-interview
SUPPORT BFMK via PayPal or WeChat:
https://www.crazyinagoodway.com/donate/
BFMK PayPal direct DONATION link:
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=K5W6EANCYSQHU
Brendan Davis on Twitter:
@VeritasInLux
BFMK website:
https://www.crazyinagoodway.com
BFMK Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/BigFishMiddleKingdom/
Other links to LISTEN:
https://www.crazyinagoodway.com/podcast-links/
JENNIFER HSIUNG: Comedy & Family
Jennifer Hsiung - Comedy & Family
This week’s guest is Jennifer Hsiung. Jennifer is a Canadian born to Taiwanese parents; she lives and works in Beijing as a TV anchor and reporter, a budding standup comedian, and - as she is 7 months pregnant at the time of posting this - is a very busy mother of “two and a half” kids.
Jennifer first came to China on a cultural exchange trip, but her big break after she moved to the mainland was when she became a sports reporter for CCTV during the 2008 Beijing Olympics. That opportunity led to many others as a reporter and news anchor, and Jennifer is now a host of the popular show “Culture Express” on CGTN, formerly CCTV English International, where she interviews prominent guests from the arts and entertainment world. She is also part of the growing standup comedy scene in China, which we discuss in detail.
This episode is as real as it is comedic. Jennifer brings a very interesting perspective to the show; as someone who is a foreigner from North America, but is of Asian ancestry, she has unique insights into both worlds that are worth hearing, and she has a way of making the truth funny that I think you’ll really enjoy.
If you DO enjoy it, please SUBSCRIBE to the show if you are new here, tell a friend or two about us, and check out the links below to get in touch or learn more!
"BFMK" Website:
https://www.crazyinagoodway.com
Jennifer Hsiung links:
https://www.facebook.com/JenExpress
https://www.youtube.com/user/pumpkinvive88
Weibo / WeChat: JenniferHsiung熊邦欣
Carl King (composer):
www.carlkingdom.com