Big Fish in the Middle Kingdom

This week's guest is Manya Koetse. Manya is a sinologist & japanologist from Amsterdam and the founder & editor-in-chief of What’s on Weibo, which is an independent blog that sheds light on trends in China by closely following its social media, the latest digital developments and changing media landscape. Among the trending topics we discussed as we recorded last week are the results of the 19th National Party Congress, especially the end of term limits for the President; the visit of Kim Jong-Un to Beijing, and what the Sino-NK diplomatic thaw means for US-China relations; and the so-called “Halalification” of China, among others. Good show! Check it out! 

 

Get all the links and other info via the BLOG post: https://www.crazyinagoodway.com/home/2018/4/4/manya-koetse

Nigula Babayeva has quite a tale. She was working as an auditor at a Big 4 accounting firm in her native Azerbaijan, but she wanted more adventure in her life. She applied for a scholarship to an international MBA program in Beijing, and while she waiting for a decision from the school, she had a near-death experience, nearly drowning in the Caspian Sea. The very next day Nigula found out she was accepted, so she bought a one-way ticket, moved, and THEN told everyone back home she was leaving. She’s been here two years now, and along the way - from her former job running social media at restaurant / crossfit gym mashup GLO, to her current day job as, again, an auditor, Nigula has also applied her lifelong love of athletics to become a serious martial arts practitioner. She won 3rd place in her very first international wushu competition and hasn’t looked back. Nigula trains jiu-jitsu with world-renowned competitor and coach Paulo Tavares, among her other pursuits. Good talk, great story. Enjoy!

 

BLOG: https://www.crazyinagoodway.com/home/2018/3/28/nigula-babayeva

 

Hi everyone! This short video episode is another bonus - our next regular show drops this Wednesday - to encourage newer listeners to check out some of the cool episodes in the archives.

BLOG: https://www.crazyinagoodway.com/home

LISTEN: http://bigfishmiddlekingdom.libsyn.com or wherever you got THIS episode!

While I am on the road in Zhengzhou this week I have another short solo show for you. There were three different guests I hoped to bring you from here but we just couldn’t make the scheduling work, so I’ll bring them to you via Skype another time. 

 

For this one, we have:

• a recap of cool recent shows you might’ve missed but should really check out, and why
• a little bit of a “highlights” travelogue from Zhengzhou
• some notes about upcoming shows and future plans for the podcast

 

I'll be back with one (or more) regular episodes of the show next week. Thanks for listening, and see you then!

 

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 wherever YOU get your podcasts

 

Other links to LISTEN: https://www.crazyinagoodway.com/podcast-links/

This week’s guest is Zach Cagle. Zach originally moved to China from Atlanta to study, but a love of cooking for friends and a challenge from a buddy led to his creating Zax BBQ, in Zhengzhou. Zax BBQ has been honored by TripAdvisor as not only the best foreign restaurant in Zhengzhou - a modern city of 8-10 million people - but as THE best restaurant in Zhengzhou. Having eaten there the last two nights in a row, I can definitely see why. Zach and I have a free-wheeling and wide-ranging conversation about America and China and everything in-between that occurs to us in the time allotted. Enjoy!   Check out the BLOG post for all links at: https://www.crazyinagoodway.com/home/2018/3/14/zach-cagle  

This week’s guest is Kevin Geiger. Kevin is a founding partner of creative development company Magic Dumpling. Kevin has a pioneering, lifelong background in animation and VR, working on and off at Disney for many years both in Burbank and China, as well as building two versions of Magic Dumpling between Disney stints. He also owns a children’s book company called Peewee Frog that is doing some really cool stuff. 

Among all the great points that Kevin makes based on his extensive experience and perspective working here is the main, macro one - namely, that China IS changing, but that it won't change for YOU. We also discuss the point that you can’t view China and attempt to solve any challenges you may be having in dealing with or understanding it through an outside lens, especially a western one. To interact successfully and satisfyingly here, you have to gain some real local perspective and develop an alternate set of instincts that are relevant for this reality as it is, not what you imagine it to be. Lots of food for thought in this episode, and many good words to heed before diving into anything over here. 

But it's not all serious; in fact, it's mostly a fast, fun and (hopefully) funny talk, and I hope you enjoy it. Links to check out all of Kevin's very cool enterprises are in the show notes; if you're a China-curious creative, this episode is especially a don't-miss. 

Before we get into the interview I want to take a minute and tell you about our sponsor, Stackry. Stackryis the global leader in international parcel forwarding from the US to anywhere in the world. The way it works is that you shop at any US retailer, have your packages shipped to your Stackry address, and once everything has arrived, Stackry consolidates your stuff and ships it to you anywhere in the world, even China, saving you up to 80% of the shipping costs versus shipping things directly from the store. Stackry provides free storage, same day consolidation of your packages, and a tax-free US address for you to use. I have an update on my own Stackry story: I see from the Stackry website that I’ve had one big batch of items delivered to their warehouse in New Hampshire, and I have one last order on it’s way to them. As soon as everything arrives, Stackry will do their packing consolidation magic and get everything moving towards me here in Beijing. I’ll update you as my Stackry story continues, and it’s really easy to use their site and get yours started, too. Sign up TODAY via the link below, and use the offer code BIGFISH at the checkout to save 10% off your first shipment. 

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

Stitcher: http://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=174877&refid=stpr

SPONSOR:
Stackry “Big Fish in the Middle Kingdom” sign-up link: http://bit.ly/BigFish2018

Use the offer code BIGFISH at the checkout, and save 10% off your first shipment!

GUEST:

Kevin Geiger links:

Personal website - www.kevingeiger.com

Linkedin profile - www.linkedin.com/in/kevingeiger

Magic Dumpling's website - www.magicdumpling.com

Peewee Frog's website - www.peeweefrog.com

VR/AR/animation blog - https://www.awn.com/blogs/reality-bites

HOST / SHOW: 
please LIKE “Big Fish in the Middle Kingdom” on Facebook: 

Brendan Davis on WeChat: BrendanDavis 

Brendan Davis on Twitter: @VeritasInLux 

Other links to LISTEN: https://www.crazyinagoodway.com/podcast-links/

This week's guest is Alan Paul. Alan is a former Guitar World and Wall Street Journal writer from the US who somehow became a notable Beijing-based blues musician. Alan wrote a memoir called Big in China about his crazy musical experiences here, and tells the story of how it all began - thanks to a broken guitar, a Chinese repairman who was also a secret musical wizard, and their shared love of Stevie Ray Vaughn. And in a strangely related note, Alan also has a huge connection to legendary Southern rock group the Allman Brothers Band. From writing about and interviewing them over a 25 year period, Alan became an insider in their world, and he talks a lot about his best-selling Allmans book One Way Out. The story of how it came to be, in part, because of Allmans drummer Butch Trucks’ discovery of and respect for Alan’s China book is pretty awesome. Great talk.

"Big Fish in the Middle Kingdom" is sponsored by STACKRY. Stackry is the global leader in international parcel forwarding from the US to anywhere in the world. The way it works is that you shop at any US retailer, have your packages shipped to your Stackry address, and once everything has arrived, Stackry consolidates your stuff and ships it to you anywhere in the world, even China, saving you up to 80% of the shipping costs versus shipping things directly from the store. Stackry provides free storage, same day consolidation of your packages, and a tax-free US address for you to use. Sign up TODAY via the link below, and use the offer code BIGFISH at the checkout to save 10% off your first shipment.

Lastly, the "Big Fish in the Middle Kingdom" Facebook group has really been growing lately, and the show is now also available on the Stitcher platform! Apple Podcasts and iTunes downloads and subscriptions are still as important as ever, but I’d also really like to have a nice showing on Stitcher our first few weeks if possible, so please check out the Facebook group, SUBSCRIBE in Apple Podcasts and/or Stitcher if you want to help the show find new fans, and thanks in advance!

 

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 Stitcher: http://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=174877&refid=stpr

 

SPONSOR: 

Stackry “Big Fish in the Middle Kingdom” sign-up link: http://bit.ly/BigFish2018  Use the offer code BIGFISH at the checkout, and save 10% off your first shipment!

 

GUEST: 

Alan Paul LINKS: 

www.facebook.com/alanpaulauthor 

www.alanpaul.net/blog 

One Way Out: The Inside History of the Allman Brothers Band 

Big in China audio book: http://amzn.to/2FaeKcm 

Big in China Band 

Friends of the Brothers band

 

HOST / SHOW: 

please LIKE “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/

This week’s show, and show notes, are both longer than usual - but with very good reason! Hang on, it’s going to be a fun and occasionally wild ride...

 

My guest today, for the first show in the Year of the Dog, is none other than internationally esteemed writer and lecturer Peter Levenda. Mr. Levenda has a truly massive and very influential body of work, including his groundbreaking China business book “The Mao of Business”, and he is considered to be something of a legend in certain circles. For roughly 40 years, Levenda has taken a very rational, scientific and historical approach to researching topics that are most commonly viewed through a conspiracy theory lens, and he’s won the respect of mainstream scientists, academics, and fans around the world as a result. 

 

Lately, Levenda is most well-known for his work with former rockstar @TomDeLonge of Blink182 and his “To The Stars” initiative, which is responsible for facilitating the recent high-level US Government disclosures regarding the UFO phenomenon, as reported on the front page of The New York Times and other newspapers around the world. This is an outgrowth of Levenda's earlier work writing extensively on post-WW2 issues related to the fate of various bad guys who escaped Germany and their subsequent roles in the founding of the US space program and other intrigues. But what’s most relevant to OUR show today is Levenda’s passionate interest in and pioneering role doing international trade with China, beginning in 1984.

 

Among other topics, we discuss: his early studies doing translations of Chinese alchemical texts as he earned his Master’s degree, and their relationship to Cabalistic material; his 34+ year career working with and traveling in China, and his impressions of how the country has grown and evolved as he has met and worked with people from all walks of life here; the disconnect between the “virtual China” that most outsiders conceive of versus the reality of the place; China’s sense of itself and how approaching it with a colonial, antagonistic attitude is a recipe for disaster; how China’s own space program will likely distinguish itself in the near future; the broader power dynamics at play in the East versus the West and what a smart China strategy should consider; and much more. We also cover the “To The Stars” project somewhat as well as other random tangents that pop up here and there, so it’s a relative buffet of Levenda goodness. 

 

This one gets very philosophical yet is extremely practical too. Peter is not only learned, he is also dryly funny and we had a wonderful chat. With all due respect to my other guests, I have to say that this is possibly my favorite episode of the show so far, so I really hope you’ll give it a listen and that you enjoy it if you do!

 

Also - we have a NEW, international sponsor this week! Stackry is the global leader in international parcel forwarding from the US to anywhere in the world.  The way it works is that you shop at any US retailer, have your packages shipped to your Stackry address, and once everything has arrived, Stackry consolidates your stuff and ships it to you anywhere in the world, even China, saving you up to 80% of the shipping costs versus shipping things directly from the store. Stackry provides free storage, same day consolidation of your packages, and a tax-free US address for you to use. I’m building my very first Stackry shipment from the US to China right now; it’s really easy to use their site and get started. Sign up TODAY via the link below, and use the offer code BIGFISH at the checkout to save 10% off your first shipment. 

 

Alright! This is a giant intro, but it’s a pretty epic show. All the links are also available on the blog page at crazyinagoodway.com. Now, please enjoy my interview with Peter Levenda.

 

SPONSOR:

Stackry “Big Fish in the Middle Kingdom” sign-up link: http://bit.ly/BigFish2018

Use the offer code BIGFISH at the checkout, and save 10% off your first shipment!

 

GUEST:

Peter Levenda website: http://peterlevenda.com |  Peter Levenda on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Peter-Levenda/100012276609499 |  Peter Levenda on Twitter: @Peter_Levenda

 

“To The Stars” website: https://coi.tothestarsacademy.com

The New York times article referenced in the show:  "Glowing Auras and ‘Black Money’: The Pentagon’s Mysterious U.F.O. Program"  https://nyti.ms/2kB62aH

 

HOST / SHOW:

Brendan Davis on WeChat: BrendanDavis |  Brendan Davis on Twitter: @VeritasInLux |  Other links to LISTEN: https://www.crazyinagoodway.com/podcast-links/

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!

All links available at https://www.crazyinagoodway.com/home/2018/2/14/blake-stonebanks

This week we have another special BONUS video episode, with just me. In it, I give you an update about what’s been going on and what’s coming up next, and I also share some cool things that I’ve seen, done, or taken part in lately.

 

Find more episodes or say hi on the website at https://www.crazyinagoodway.com and I’ll see you next week!