FEI WU | Making Art & Reconciling the Expat Experience
Fei Wu is the host of the Feisworld podcast, a documentary filmmaker, & a digital marketer. She left China to finish high school in the US, where she’s lived for almost 20 years now, but lately she’s been revisiting her China roots and supporting her artist mother, whose paintings illustrating Chinese literature classic The Dream of the Red Chamber made her famous and which are now getting a permanent gallery home in Qingdao. We also touch on Fei’s passion promoting palliative care for the sick & dying, which she developed after her father’s long illness and passing when she was a little girl. This topic just became highly relevant to me, too, as my own father died just this past Monday (after the interview was recorded). The first 10 minutes of the show is me talking about that, but the interview with Fei is fun, enlightening, fresh, and optimistic about the power of art to transform. Please enjoy this very special episode of the show.
FEI WU links:
Web: https://www.feisworld.com
BJ Miller show link re Palliative care: feisworld.com/blog/bj-Miller
LISTEN:
SEARCH “If I Knew You Better” in all podcatchers OR listen:
APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/if-i-knew-you-better/id1457785319 / WEB PLAYER: http://ifiknewyoubetter.libsyn.com/website/ LINKS https://www.crazyinagoodway.com/knew-resources
MARC ISERLIS | Marketing & Branding from a Third Culture Perspective
Marc Iserlis is an American "third culture kid" raised by Russian parents in Singapore. Marc attended British school, learned Russian from his parents at home, studied Mandarin, and has worked and traveled both in mainland China and extensively throughout central as well as southern Asia. He has grown up with a very unique perspective on the world and is working hard to best sort out how to bridge the various gaps that exist between our various cultures.
Please SUBSCRIBE to “Big Fish in the Middle Kingdom” and leave a REVIEW at Apple Podcasts / iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/big-fish-in-the-middle-kingdom/id1237037187?mt=2 or search and subscribe wherever YOU get your podcasts!
GUEST:
Marc Iserlis on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marc-iserlis-02848a13/
“BFMK" HOST / SHOW:
“Big Fish in the Middle Kingdom” on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BigFishMiddleKingdom/
Brendan Davis on WeChat: BrendanDavis
Brendan Davis on Twitter: @VeritasInLux
Other links to LISTEN: https://www.crazyinagoodway.com/podcast-links/
CYNTHIA SANTANA: The Poetry of Emotion
#053 - The Poetry of Emotion | Cynthia Santana
Cynthia Santana is from Boston and she pretty much defines the term “free spirit”. She has a background in acting and education, has traveled extensively, and knew she wanted to spend some time living and working abroad. Here in Beijing, Cynthia has become a regular at poetry slams around the city, and she is working to put together her own business that puts her poetry on clothing, using commerce to spread a very positive, loving message. Enjoy!
Please SUBSCRIBE to “Big Fish in the Middle Kingdom” at Apple Podcasts / iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/big-fish-in-the-middle-kingdom/id1237037187?mt=2 or search and subscribe wherever YOU get your podcasts
SPONSOR:
My upcoming e-book LITTLE FISH IN THE BIGGEST POND looks back at the first year of the show and my own favorite China adventures so far. Preorder TODAY to save more than 33% off the pre-launch price! Learn more and preorder at: https://www.crazyinagoodway.com/book/
GUEST:
Cynthia Santana on Instagram: boricuainbeijing
“BFMK" HOST / SHOW:
“Big Fish in the Middle Kingdom” on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BigFishMiddleKingdom/\
Brendan Davis on WeChat: BrendanDavis
Brendan Davis on Twitter: @VeritasInLux
Other links to LISTEN: https://www.crazyinagoodway.com/podcast-links/
LUKE PRIDDY: Teaching and Traveling with Cloud English & Yoli
#052 - Teaching and Traveling with Cloud English & Yoli | Luke Priddy
Luke Priddy is a teacher, traveler, a “maker” and a thinker. He is the founder of Cloud English, a co-founder of Yoli, a GPS treasure hunter, and a self-described “slightly unconventional” guy who finds grace in the middle spaces of life. We had a great talk, and Luke is such a natural interviewer that he even turned the tables and had me answering the questions more than usual. Enjoy.
PREORDER my e-book LITTLE FISH IN THE BIGGEST POND here:
https://www.crazyinagoodway.com/book/
Please SUBSCRIBE to “Big Fish in the Middle Kingdom” at Apple Podcasts / iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/big-fish-in-the-middle-kingdom/id1237037187?mt=2 or search and subscribe wherever YOU get your podcasts
SPONSOR:
Stackry “Big Fish in the Middle Kingdom” sign-up link: http://bit.ly/BigFish2018 or (if bit.ly doesn’t work for you) https://www.stackry.com/?utm_source=Big_Fish&utm_medium=Campaign&utm_term=10%25
Use the offer code BIGFISH at the checkout, and save 10% off your first shipment!
BD’s “My Stackry Unboxing Video": https://youtu.be/FvEWXxzZm3I
GUEST:
Luke Priddy -
Yoli Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/yoli/yoli-fund-your-dream-lifestyle/
For Yoli tutors: Yolichat.com
Website: Cloudenglish.net
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CloudEnglish
BDC (Brendan Davis Consulting): https://www.crazyinagoodway.com/brendan-davis-consulting/
“BFMK" HOST / SHOW:
“Big Fish in the Middle Kingdom” on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BigFishMiddleKingdom/
Brendan Davis on WeChat: BrendanDavis
Brendan Davis on Twitter: @VeritasInLux
Other links to LISTEN: https://www.crazyinagoodway.com/podcast-links/
JEFF TOWSON: Finance, Healthcare, and Investing in China
#051 - Finance, Healthcare, and Investing in China | Jeff Towson
This week’s guest is Jeff Towson. Jeff has a very eclectic career, ranging from finance to healthcare and media. He is a professor of finance at Peking University, an investor, and a popular blogger and influencer online on topics most often related to business in China. I’ve enjoyed and have learned a lot from reading his articles and watching his videos, which you can find at his website linked below. Enjoy!
Please SUBSCRIBE to “Big Fish in the Middle Kingdom” at Apple Podcasts / iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/big-fish-in-the-middle-kingdom/id1237037187?mt=2 or search and subscribe wherever YOU get your podcasts
SPONSOR:
Stackry “Big Fish in the Middle Kingdom” sign-up link: http://bit.ly/BigFish2018 or (if bit.ly doesn’t work for you) https://www.stackry.com/?utm_source=Big_Fish&utm_medium=Campaign&utm_term=10%25
Use the offer code BIGFISH at the checkout, and save 10% off your first shipment!
BD’s “My Stackry Unboxing Video": https://youtu.be/FvEWXxzZm3I
GUEST:
Jeff Towson online: http://jefftowson.com
Articles: http://jefftowson.com/my-writing/
Videos: http://jefftowson.com/resources/
Books: http://jefftowson.com/one-hour-china/
BDC (Brendan Davis Consulting): https://www.crazyinagoodway.com/brendan-davis-consulting/
LITTLE FISH IN THE BIGGEST POND e-book PREORDER page: https://www.crazyinagoodway.com/book/
“BFMK" HOST / SHOW:
“BigFish in the Middle Kingdom” on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BigFishMiddleKingdom/
Brendan Davis on WeChat: BrendanDavis
Brendan Davis on Twitter: @VeritasInLux
Other links to LISTEN: https://www.crazyinagoodway.com/podcast-links/
CHELSEY MARK / MAI XIAO LONG: Acting, Emceeing, Comedy, and More
#050 - Acting, Emceeing, Comedy, and More | Chelsey Mark / Mai Xiao Long
“I want people to know what it takes to be happy.”
In a sentence, that sums up talking with Chelsey Mark. Chelsey - known as Mai Xiao Long in Chinese - is from a family of actual Canadian legends. His father was a long-term Member of Parliament, his grandfather helped build the Canadian railroads, but Chelsey came to China to find his calling. He’s been here 18 years, and as he says in the interview, he moved here a boy but it made him a man. He started in music, became an in-demand emcee, and from 2007-2012 he was the official host of NBA China’s coverage. Chelsey has done seemingly hundreds of great, high-profile interviews and entertainment gigs, whether hosting, singing, dancing, acting, rapping, playing an instrument, doing comedy, or leading a motivational event. In terms of public performance, there isn’t much that he hasn’t done, and I imagine he’ll be very successful in everything he does next. Enjoy!
Please SUBSCRIBE to “Big Fish in the Middle Kingdom” at Apple Podcasts / iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/big-fish-in-the-middle-kingdom/id1237037187?mt=2 or search and subscribe wherever YOU get your podcasts
SPONSOR:
Stackry “Big Fish in the Middle Kingdom” sign-up link: http://bit.ly/BigFish2018 or (if bit.ly doesn’t work for you) https://www.stackry.com/?utm_source=Big_Fish&utm_medium=Campaign&utm_term=10%25
Use the offer code BIGFISH at the checkout, and save 10% off your first shipment!
BD’s “My Stackry Unboxing Video": https://youtu.be/FvEWXxzZm3I
GUEST:
Chelsey Mark links - Western:
Website: https://www.maixiaolongchelseymark.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MaixiaolongChelseyMark/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/chelseymaixiaolong
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maixiaolongchelseymark/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChelseyMarkMXL
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelseymarkmaixiaolong/
Chelsey Mark - China Social Media:
Weibo 微博: https://weibo.com/maixiaolongchelsey
Public WeChat 微信公众号: maixiaolongcm
BDC (Brendan Davis Consulting): https://www.crazyinagoodway.com/brendan-davis-consulting/
LITTLE FISH IN THE BIGGEST POND e-book PREORDER page: https://www.crazyinagoodway.com/book/
“BFMK" HOST / SHOW:
“Big Fish in the Middle Kingdom” on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BigFishMiddleKingdom/
Brendan Davis on WeChat: BrendanDavis
Brendan Davis on Twitter: @VeritasInLux
Other links to LISTEN: https://www.crazyinagoodway.com/podcast-links/
FEI WU: Chinese Podcasting & Mastering XimalayaFM
#049 - Chinese Podcasting & Mastering XimalayaFM | Fei Wu
This weeks’ guest is Fei Wu. Fei is a “returning champion” guest, our very first who has now done two full episodes. I wanted to have her back on to specifically discuss everything she’s been up to lately related to China. In this episode we talk a lot about the dominant Chinese audio platform called XimalayaFM and Fei’s upcoming efforts to help bridge the gap for international podcasters and consumers to use and enjoy it. Note that I say “platform” and not “app”, because in the very Chinese way of doing things, Ximalaya isn’t “just” a podcast app. It’s a media universe unto itself, and if you want to be a big deal in China you’ve gotta get on it. Since Fei is a Chinese person who speaks the language but has lived more than half her life in the US and has run a successful English-language show for 3.5 years now, I think she’s pretty much an ideal person to help open that platform up to a more international audience.
On a personal note, Fei has definitely inspired me to find an intern and get “Big Fish in the Middle Kingdom” up to date and active on Ximalaya again, but I need help. So if you are bilingual English-Chinese, have some spare time, and want to either earn college credit OR get an inside view at how we make the podcast donuts here, please get in touch!
SHOW NOTES:
[1:30] - B. Davis appeal for bilingual INTERN
[1:50] - BDC launch info
[2:15] - B. Davis e-book PREORDER announcement
[3:30] - “BFMK” PATREON announcement
[6:30] - Fei Wu trip to Zhuhai, China
[11:00] - Fei’s Mom contributes to Zhuhai charity auction
[12:45] - Zhuhai Red Cross efforts
[14:30] - XimalayaFM introduction & efforts
[17:00] - Fei on becoming a larger mix of cultures
[19:00] - Fei’s upcoming course to master XimalayaFM in ANY language
[22:00] - scope of XimalayaFM (500+ Million users; inclusive, WeChat-paradigm platform)
[26:30] - overcoming barriers to entry with XimalayaFM
[27:00] - XimalayaFM offerings
[28:00] - opportunity for English podcasts on XimalayaFM
[29:45] - creating themed sub-channels to collect “like” content
[31:30] - post-production demands of Fei’s World podcast
[32:00] - Fei’s XimalayaFM show format will be a beta at launch
[34:30] - being China-smart re cultural differences
[35:15] - Brian Koppleman (“The Moment” podcast; “Billions” TV show co-creator) as inspiration
[36:15] - change is good, embrace it
[37:30) - Fei’s documentary film about her journey in podcasting
[39:00] - how Fei’s World has transformed her, and some of her guests as well
[39:30] - Fei on the importance of self-care; wrap-up
[40:30] - B. Davis outro
Please SUBSCRIBE to “Big Fish in the Middle Kingdom” at Apple Podcasts / iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/big-fish-in-the-middle-kingdom/id1237037187?mt=2 or search and subscribe wherever YOU get your podcasts
SPONSOR:
Stackry “Big Fish in the Middle Kingdom” sign-up link: http://bit.ly/BigFish2018 or (if bit.ly doesn’t work for you) https://www.stackry.com/?utm_source=Big_Fish&utm_medium=Campaign&utm_term=10%25
Use the offer code BIGFISH at the checkout, and save 10% off your first shipment!
BD’s “My Stackry Unboxing Video": https://youtu.be/FvEWXxzZm3I
GUEST:
Fei’s World site: https://www.feisworld.com
Fei Wu's XimalayaFM course: Feisworld.com/course
BDC (Brendan Davis Consulting): https://www.crazyinagoodway.com/brendan-davis-consulting/
LITTLE FISH IN THE BIGGEST POND e-book PREORDER page:
“BFMK" HOST / SHOW:
“Big Fish in the Middle Kingdom” on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BigFishMiddleKingdom/
Brendan Davis on WeChat: BrendanDavis
Brendan Davis on Twitter: @VeritasInLux
Other links to LISTEN: https://www.crazyinagoodway.com/podcast-links/
JESSE APPELL: The Comedy Scene in China
“I always sum up China in two words: cognitive dissonance.” - Jesse Appell
Boston native Jesse Appell has launched a successful business and speaks Chinese like a local, but that’s not all he’s accomplished during his time in Beijing. Jesse is one of only a handful of Westerners who is trained in the Chinese comedy art of xiangsheng, or crosstalk. It’s a discipline with a storied history here, and Jesse won a prestigious Fulbright Scholarship to come study under a true master of the art, Ding Laoshi. But that was just the start of his career in China.
Jesse’s primary focus nowadays is on running the US-China Comedy Center here in Beijing. At the Center, they feature both single language and bilingual improv and standup comedy shows. Jesse founded the Center just about a year ago, but it’s already become a focal point for the growing comedy scene here. To give you an idea of what these shows are like, in the show notes I am including links to several examples of Jesse in action, which are subtitled and really funny regardless of your native language.
As a writer, Jesse has also been working hard to crack the elusive cross-cultural comedy code for movies. He has been developing a buddy picture that’s designed to truly appeal to both markets, and from what he says about it here, I think he might be onto something.
This episode gets very deep into the worlds of comedy, creativity, and filmmaking, so it’s especially worth checking out if you work in those worlds, aspire to, or just enjoy them and want to learn more. But Jesse’s thoughts about the obstacles to true communication are keenly observed, and should be interesting to anyone trying to understand the other cultural better. I hope you enjoy it!
Lastly, another quick reminder that we are still a featured show on the Castbox.fm website and the Castbox podcast app! Castbox works in your web browser, iOS, and they have an especially nice new app for Android devices. Please check us out on Castbox, and subscribe to the show wherever you listen to us.
US-China Comedy Center:
www.uschinacomedy.com
WeChat:
Uschinacomedycenter
Weibo:
@艾杰西
Jesse Appell - Chinese standup (subtitled):
https://youtu.be/UA2P-q9MxXk
"Chinese Mitch Hedberg" routine
http://m.youku.com/video/id_XNzU3ODkyNDgw.html
Xiangsheng overview:
https://youtu.be/7QxW-KBE6EA
"BFMK" site:
https://www.crazyinagoodway.com/
Brendan Davis on Twitter:
@VeritasInLux
Carl King (composer):
http://carlkingdom.com
Apple Podcasts:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/big-fish-in-the-middle-kingdom/id1237037187?mt=2
CastBox:
http://castbox.fm/u/4711710
Ximalaya:
http://m.ximalaya.com/82109155/album/8651374