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/
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM BEIJING!
I just posted a super short audio and video bonus episode showing you a couple of the holiday items that came my way in Beijing this year, including the "Christmas apple” (what? details below). We have ONE more regularly-scheduled episode coming up this year on Thursday, plus a big wrapup / retrospective of Season 1 of the podcast with a look ahead to Season 2 in 2018. Next year looks to hold some amazing new developments for me personally and professionally here on China, in both the podcasting and film worlds, and I can’t wait to give you a little preview of all that on New Year’s Eve.
But for now: have a great holiday if you get one, and I’ll see you again on Thursday!
"Christmas Apples":
the long version - http://www.latimes.com/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-christmas-china-apple-20131225-story.html
the short version - https://www.quora.com/Why-do-Chinese-people-give-red-apples-for-Christmas-gifts
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/
FEI WU: From Beijing to Boston
#028 - From Beijing to Boston | Fei Wu
My guest this week is Fei Wu, a “reverse laowai” who made the move FROM China TO the US. Fei is a native-born Beijinger who has now been living in the US for 17 years. Fei and I had a great talk. We discuss her origins in Beijing, her move to Maine to finish high school - where she became both the captain of the boys' hockey team AND the prom queen - and then her move to Boston for college and the cool life and business she’s built for herself there ever since. We also dive deep into WHY we both love podcasting, and oh, yeah: besides all of that, Fei is a third degree black belt, proving that not all podcasters are desk jockeys like myself. Links to Fei’s World and more are in the show notes below and in the blog post as always.
This episode also introduces our NEW sponsor, AWA Health! AWA Health is a unique facility, the first of its kind in Beijing, that among other specialities offers anti-stress flotation therapy. Listeners of the show get a 20% discount just by mentioning the show or my name when you book. Check the links below to get more information, and extract the QR code to contact the owner directly and book your session today.
And I’m pleased to be helping in a small way to support The Beijinger’s 7th Annual Hot Pepper Eating Contest, a fundraiser for the Maovember charity. I’ll be there shooting some footage for CrazyHot, a feature documentary film I’m helping produce that is the deepest dive ever undertaken into the origins, uses, foods, chilehead culture, and the medical future of ultrahot peppers from around the world. If you will be in Beijing on December 2 or would just like to make a donation to some very worthy causes, follow the links below to learn more.
Fei Wu and Fei’s World podcast:
http://feisworld.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)
The Beijinger’s 7th Annual Hot Pepper Eating Contest:
https://www.thebeijinger.com/blog/2017/11/29/gut-rupturing-peppers-prizes-chili-pepper-eating-contest
Maovember:
www.maovember.com
Punjabi:
http://punjabichina.com/
CrazyHot Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/CrazyHotTheFilm/
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/
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
AJ WARNER: Entrepreneurship and Education
#027 - Entrepreneurship and Education | AJ Warner
My guest this week is AJ Warner. AJ is the co-founder of Touchdown!, a leading Chinese higher education consultancy, as well as being the current President of the Beijing Sanlitun chapter of the Entrepreneur’s Organization (EO). In this episode, we discuss AJ’s interesting background, his earlier adventures in Asia by way of Japan and Korea, and his move to the Middle Kingdom in the mid-aughts (2005) and everything that has followed from there.
Also, this Saturday I will release a special BONUS episode of a live EO event focusing on the idea of becoming an “entrepreneur for life”, which AJ was kind enough to invite me to. More on that coming soon!
Links to contact AJ or me or to learn more about EO or the show are below. Enjoy!
AJ Warner email:
ajwarner@touchdown.org.cn
Touchdown! website:
http://www.touchdown.org.cn
AJ Warner WeChat:
ajwarner
Entrepreneurs' Organization:
https://www.eonetwork.org
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/
CORO URDANETA: Interior Architecture in China
#026 - Interior Architecture in China | Coro Urdaneta
My guest this week is architect Coro Urdaneta. Much like previous guest Ronald Paredes, Coro left the upheaval in Venezuela to seek a better life for herself. Her first stop was Miami in the US, but China was next, and in 6 short years Coro has established herself very well in Beijing with her work designing the interior architecture of Moka Bros, the Q-Mex Taqueria, La Social, Mosto, and many other local F&B standouts.
In “small world” news, I happened to meet her youngest brother Rafael last night while out and about. The expat community here in Beijing is very close-knit, and the more I dive into it, the smaller it becomes as well.
Links to contact Coro or me or to find out more about the show are below. Enjoy!
CoroMoto website:
coromotoad.com
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/
JOHN DIETZ: BangBang in Beijing
#025 - BangBang in Beijing | John Dietz
This week’s episode features John Dietz. John is the Founder of Bangbang, a Beijing-based VFX and full-service film company. John has worked on almost 20 Chinese films and has collaborated with some of China’s most successful directors, including Xu Zheng, Jiang Wen, Guan Hu, Han Yan, John Woo, Sun Zhou, Deng Chao, Lu Chuan, and Eva Jin, among others. In the West, he’s worked on over 20 Hollywood films including the Harry Potter franchise, Hunger Games, and X-Men: Wolverine.
John is respected and trusted by VFX and technology practitioners throughout Asia and around the world, and it was wonderful to have him on the show. The time slot wasn’t long enough for all we had to say, so this might be the first of a series of chats between us. To be continued!
John Dietz on WeChat:
jdietz
John Dietz email:
jdietz@bangbangasia.com
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/
MAOVEMBER 2017!
This week’s episode was a special treat, a group roundtable discussion recorded live from XL Bar in Beijing for the kickoff of Maovember 2017. It features Jim Boyce, Mike Wester, and Claudia Masueger of the Maovember Steering Committee as they tell us what that is; more on them in just a moment.
L-R: Claudia Masueger, Mike Wester, Brendan Davis, Jim Boyce
But what is Maovember, you might ask? Well, you’ve heard of MOvember (right?) - it’s a month-long fundraising drive during November done in cities and towns around the world where people undertake various challenges and get their friends to sponsor them, with the proceeds going to local charities. The classic challenge is for men to grow their mustaches out, or not shave in general, for a month, but it’s branched out from there so that everyone can participate. In this down and dirty episode, we learn about the origins of the Beijing version of Movember and meet three of the gang of organizers behind the event...
Our guests are all multi-faceted folks, but the short version of their bios is that Jim Boyce is a food and wine writer and cultural commentator here who posts on his popular Beijing Boyce blog; Mike Wester is the head of True Run Media which publishes the top expat magazine and website The Beijinger; and Claudia Masueger is the CEO of Cheers Wines, making fine wine fun and affordable in China.
Claudia is also a Returning Champion on “Big Fish”, having been my guest for a full interview on lucky Episode #013. I will do full-length interviews with Mike and Jim as well when they let me, and you can check out Claudia’s interview wherever you got your hands on this one right here. Everyone is so generous with their time and resources in contributing to make Maovember a big success, that I want to do a little unpaid plug for everyone involved...
Please visit the guest’s links below, of course, and especially check out Maovember.com to learn more about Bread of Life and the Library Project, the two local charities that Maovember benefits. Bread of Life is a bakery that employs disabled people, and the Library Project, which furnishes reading rooms in needy schools. These folks are doing selfless, amazing things to improve the quality of life of people who need it, and I’m glad to have also been convinced to join the cause this month. No more shaving or beard trimming for me until December 1 - yikes!
There are several surprises in this one, and I’ll spoil it maybe just a little and let you know that the name Maovember is NOT a political reference, actually, but it instead refers to a unit of currency. Check out the episode for more information, and to learn how to participate or for web links to learn more about the event, the charities benefited, or my guests, please visit the links in the show notes below.
Thanks and cheers!
Maovember official site:
http://www.maovember.com
Jim Boyce / Beijing Boyce:
http://beijingboyce.com
Mike Wester / The Beijinger:
https://www.thebeijinger.com
CHEERS Wines:
www.cheers-wines.com
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheers_Wines
XL Bar:
https://www.thebeijinger.com/directory/xl-bar-and-restaurant
Brendan Davis on WeChat:
BrendanDavis
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/
MARCUS MEDINA: From Cal-Mex to QMex
My guest today is Marcus Medina. Marcus is a chef from California by way of Mexico, Manhattan, and many stops in between. He’s also the food mastermind behind QMex and it’s sister restaurant here in Beijing, QMex Taqueria. If you’re a long-time listener to the show, you might swear I’m on the PR payroll for QMex, but it’s honestly my favorite restaurant in Beijing. I have always loved Mexican food, and being from California, where Marcus first developed his style, I especially love and relate to the flavors he brings to his dishes. There’s also the fun fact that my very first guest on the show, Loren Heinold, is a partner in the restaurant and gets some of the credit for me being able to enjoy it in the first place, so there’s that.
This interview was recorded just before the lunch rush earlier today on the patio outside of QMex, so there’s a little street noise but it’s not obtrusive. I liked how alive it made it feel so much that this interview is very unedited, which is impressive considering just how much both Marcus and me like to talk! My average interview probably has about 150 edits, mostly to remove random noises or unproductive tangents, or to shorten pauses between thoughts and keep a consistent pace, but Marcus and I found a groove right off the bat that rocked along so well that the edits are mostly to wait for a passing delivery cart or loud conversation to pass.
I have known Marcus just a little before doing this interview but when we sat down with no distractions and got into it, it felt like I'd really found a kindred spirit. At a surface level that makes sense, since we each have the gift of easy conversation and we both have California as a home in common - his my birth, mine by choice - and that goes a long way to explaining it. But as we talked, I realized that I related to Marcus’s story on a different, much more philosophical level too...
He talks about his love for New York, but how he probably stayed a little too long in NY. I can relate, since I feel like I stayed a little too long in LA. We both have lots of love for the places that helped redefine us, but if you’re driven by the spirit of adventure, staying in one place too long is about as close to death as you get with your eyes still open, and one thing you will never say about Beijing is that it’s stagnant.
Speaking of stagnation: I want the show to grow and expand as organically as possible, but to do this, I need YOUR help. Moral support is great, and is sincerely appreciated, but that doesn’t pay the bills. If you like the show, please subscribe to us in iTunes / Apple Podcasts, on Google Play or Castbox, and give us a good rating or even a review. And if you REALLY like it, please visit the SUPPORT page on the website, which is crazyinagoodway.com, and you can make a one-time donation as you see fit. There are links to both PayPal and WeChat Pay, and any amount truly makes a difference. THANK YOU as always for your comments and positive feedback and moral support, and if your support becomes material as well, then that’s amazing.
QMex on WeChat: qmex_mexican_grill *** Marcus Medina interview on FM Lifestyle:
http://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/m1Fs0gSUAx7B5nZJPz_dDw *** Brendan Davis on WeChat: BrendanDavis *** 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
RONALD PAREDES: The War of Art
#022 - The War of Art | Ronald Paredes
This week’s show features artist and graphic designer Ronald Paredes. In it, we discuss the situation back in Ronald’s home country of Venezuela, what it’s been like to move and live in Nanjing for 11 years, his art and design background, charity and non-profit work and much more. Ronald has a serious passion to explore creativity in all its forms, and in his current and upcoming projects, he doesn’t shy away from the artist’s mission to explore life’s most meaningful, if painful, truths.
Note that some episodes are like a packed PowerPoint full of bullet points on a highly focused topic, and those will continue. But sometimes, the interview ended up feeling much more like a conversation between friends, and I think this one is more in that category - in a good way. Ronald and I have talked a good bit on WeChat previously and it was late when we recorded this, so it didn’t seem right to artificially amp it up too much.
I also took a gentler approach to the edit again, leaving more of the natural pauses than I typically do in order to preserve as much of the natural feel as possible this time, because we had WICKED Skype issues. It’s hard to hear Ronald introduce himself up top, I had to cut out some otherwise great chunks that just didn’t clean up enough to be legible, and it still gets a little distorted or “hashy” in places, but Ronald is a thoughtful observer of life and I think the interview is worth saving and posting, so I hope you enjoy.
Unpaid Plug time: Auphonic.com saved this episode, and consistently improves so many others. I started using their service a few shows in, and their algorithms are basically magic. Their service made THIS episode usable (since the Skype demons tried their damnedest to ruin it) but for a better example of what their wizardry when the signal is better (but imperfect) to start with, check out (for example) the Steve Barr episode, which was recorded in a hotel room on my iPhone, but sounds like it’s in a studio
And if you find value from the podcast, please consider SUPPORTING the show by a share, a direct referral, likes and comments on posts, a contribution of some kind (Paypal, WeChat, and bills large and small all accepted) via the various links and means below. Cheers!
Ronald Paredes on WeChat, Instagram, Facebook:
mundosanto
Ronald Paredes website:
http://www.mundosanto.co/
Ronald Paredes documentary:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vT7Z2tJWlcY&t=357s
Brendan Davis on WeChat:
BrendanDavis
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:
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GREGORY JOSEPH ALLEN: Acting on Stage & Screen in China
This week’s guest is stage and screen actor Gregory Joseph Allen. Greg brought a lifetime’s worth of acting training and experience with him when he moved here some years ago from California, and in addition to his own work he now uses his skills and background to teach young actors in Beijing.
Some guests had a very specific goal in mind when they made their first foray to the Middle Kingdom, but Greg talks about moving to China on more of an exploratory impulse and finding his new calling here. I’ve noticed that if you’re lucky, and stick with it through the rough spots, China can do that to you, or maybe I should say, allow you to change yourself in unexpected ways. Good times.
Greg took me back to an upbringing not too unlike parts of my own. We both have fond memories of the now-extinct practice of all the kids in high school (and a few older kids) ”parking” in a big supermarket lot somewhere after a football game or other big school event, and in plain site of everyone, openly drinking beers and being rowdy (but not seriously violent) as they hung out. It was a different world and time, but fun to reminisce about.
We talk about the differences between city versus country upbringings in the US, and how our mix of experiences informed who we are today and how we relate to China. Having seen enormous growth myself in my lifelong journey first across the US, then to Europe and Africa, and now finally to the Far East, I can relate to things here with a much different lens than if I had been either raised here OR never traveled as I did starting from way back home. Greg’s experience is his (of course) but there are a lot of syncs and parallels between us, which really helped me relate to his story even though it’s not exactly my own.
I really appreciated hearing about Greg’s approach to teaching, namely: how he doesn’t just give out gold ribbons for participation, but actually expects students to make the effort to EXCEL, and he rewards excellent work with appropriate recognition while still encouraging those struggling to find their footing. There is an art to doing this that I tried to find when teaching as well, and I still remember today the teachers I had who succeeded at it with me, so I know what a positive difference that makes.
We talk candidly about our thoughts regarding the norms and changing landscapes here as well as back home - economic, political, societal and cultural, etc - and we also get politically specific, in a new twist for the show. Overall I’d say that it gets pretty damn real, and I beeped a few choice words to keep our “Clean” rating, but I left it alone as much as possible in order to own what I think and to allow Greg the same courtesy. You don’t have to agree with either of us to appreciate the show, but let me know what you think regardless.
On a technical note: I used a slightly looser hand with this edit wherever I could, letting it breath a little more naturally, mostly because I thought Greg’s dramatic or thoughtful pauses added to the honesty of his story. He is a trained storyteller, after all, so I think it flows well but doesn’t feel too long (again, in my opinion). As I keep developing the show, I will keep tweaking my approach. Again - let me know, and I hope you enjoy.
Greg’s reel:
http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMjgwMTc2ODc4NA==.html?spm=a2h3j.8428770.3416059.1
The Queen show at Live Aid that Greg referenced:
https://youtu.be/A22oy8dFjqc
http://ultimateclassicrock.com/queen-live-aid/
Brendan Davis on WeChat:
BrendanDavis
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
MARTIN BARNES: Mountains of Imagination
“I used to introduce myself in the wrong way, and I used to talk about the mechanics, because I felt like that’s what people needed to know, and that that’d make me appear to be an expert. But I don’t need to know how my 4G works for me to buy a smartphone. I want to know: what are the results I get? And so I realized by my mistakes, I need to show the audience in my message. So my message went from WHAT I do, to WHY I do it.”
- Martin Barnes
Today’s guest is Martin Barnes. Martin is from South London and came to China 14 years ago. He has a very eclectic background and has worn a lot of hats professionally, mostly centered around art and design. He’s created logos, t-shirts - including a run back in the day with past show guest Dominic of Plastered8 - and done loads of work for advertising agencies, major car companies, etc.
His current company though, Mountains of Imagination, is based on designing presentations - you know, the need to stand up in front of a person or a group and drive a PowerPoint as you talk - in a way that you not only most effectively tell your story, but that you ENJOY yourself while doing it, too. The genius of this approach, as I saw for myself firsthand when I heard Martin speak at a event a few weeks ago, is that if you can prepare properly and relax enough to enjoy yourself while speaking, then your audience can relax enough to enjoy listening to you, and the story you’re sharing will stick in a way that isn’t possible otherwise.
This simple insight has proven to be a very successful one for Martin to build a company and a career around, but it’s the life lessons he learned leading up to this moment in his life that he shares in the interview that I think hit home the strongest with me. There’s a relevance in Martin’s methods to communicating that can positively impact ALL endeavors and transactions, both in business and in life. I think this is a very special one, and I hope you enjoy it.
On a personal level, I had a few takeaways that I’d like to share, too...
The first is about WeChat. I’m going to do a totally unpaid plug for WeChat - not that they need it here in Asia, but those of you listening from places where it hasn’t become the norm yet: my advice it to get it - it’s free - and learn it, live it, love it. I have friends & family back home that I’m basically their only WeChat friend, and we use it ALL THE TIME. Get it. Then add me! My WeChat ID is just my name, BrendanDavis, with no space between Brendan and Davis. Easy.
But the conversation also got me thinking about opportunity. As we talk about in the episode, opportunities are everywhere, but the ones in China are particularly significant. And interestingly, it’s the very things that often drive people from more Western cultures a bit crazy here that are the same things that CREATE massive opportunity for innovation.
For my industry, it’s the awareness that China will never be Hollywood. And I don't think for a second that it wants to be. It just wants to be...itself. But it's still discovering what that means. Luckily, I think I can help. Which is why I’M here. :D
On a more universal note, my take on things it that as an outsider, we need for our contributions to bring enough value that we are worth the extra effort it takes for locals to deal with and take care of us (between language issues, cultural difficulties, the higher pay we expect and the higher expectations that go along with that) and vice versa.
Anyway, speaking of opportunity and in the spirit of asking for what you want and need, and since you never know who's listening who might need exactly what I have to offer, I'm going to be super candid here and share that the personal benefit of hearing Martin’s lessons was that it gave me extra fuel to help me work out the business plan for the new company I want to build here - and the show is one small part of that.
I’m proud of the growth in both quality and audience that we’ve had so far, and with support, I can continue to make it better and better and also expose it to a much wider audience, which is essential to make this what I see that it can be.
So if you're a potential sponsor or partner for the show, please reach out and let's discuss what that could look like. And in the meantime: if you feel that you receive value from the show, you can help support it with a share, a like, a comment, or a donation to the cause. Support links to Paypal and WeChat Pay are in the show notes and on the website, crazyinagoodway.com. It's fast, it’s easy, and it would really make a difference. Thanks!
Okay, now on with the show. This one is long and in-depth, and highly practical but fun and philosophical, too. Enjoy it!
Martin Barnes & Mountains of Imagination:
http://www.mountainsofimagination.com
Start With Why by Simon Sinek:
https://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_how_great_leaders_inspire_action
https://startwithwhy.com/
Brendan Davis on WeChat:
BrendanDavis
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