Firelight Chats

In this post-typhoon episode of Firelight Chats, Sharlene Ku innocently smiled her way to the Spacelab to chat with Kane & Mocha by the fireside about life, acting, death, and a full-spectrum rainbow of topics betwixt and between. Happily exploring about topics and expressing through language that some might deem sensitive, listener discretion is advised.

Sharlene starts off by sharing stories about her starring role as A-Shui in the upcoming film, The First Kiss of the Night, including her curiosity about betel nut, how she was cast in the film, and the kiss scene on the beach. Other topics include Sharlene's childhood memories, cultural identity, gender & sexual identity, serendipitous revelations, therapeutic epiphanies, piercings, tattoos, BDSM, family issues, inspirational people, learning to not give too many f bombs, future plotting & planning, and much more. 

Sharlene Ku is an actor and graduate of Fu Jen Catholic University. She/they spent their early years in Fremont, California before moving back to Taipei. Those wishing to join the participatory cinema experience can find more through the current Kickstarter campaign.

In this episode of Firelight Chats, Mian Mian Lu burst like a typhoon into the Spacelab to chat about her first feature film, Mickey on the Road (迷走廣州), a coming-of-age story about two female protagonists. Mian Mian shares behind-the-scenes stories about her motivations for writing this story, particular scenes, casting, fundraising, being nominated for and attending the Golden Horse 2020 ceremony, being misunderstood, and the unique challenges of filming in both China and Taiwan.

The director also shares personal stories about growing up in Taiwan under martial law, studying Chinese opera theory in Taiwan, running off to NYC, living in Bushwick, her "I'm not Chinese, b*tch!" story, being a lone wolf at grad school, and living & working in Oregon as a new American. Mian Mian also gives a sneak peak into her next film and makes an open call to any writers & producers who might be interested in helping the project come to full fruition.

Mian Mian Lu is a Taipei-born, avant-garde film director who studied at the New York Film Academy and Taipei National University of the Arts. She currently lives in Eugene, Oregon with her American husband and has begun development on her forthcoming 2nd feature film, which will split filming between the United States and Taiwan.

In the episode of Firelight Chats, Ryan Axelson crashed into the Spacelab to chat with Kane & Mocha by the fireside about his time in Taiwan. As this particular 3-year stint comes to a close, Ryan shares his "Why Taiwan?" story, his first encounter with Kane at the Christmas Gold Card party, his boys' experience with the Taiwanese education system, the bicycle crash that left him with titanium implants, the Taiwanese healthcare and hospital system, his favorite trips around the islands, his favorite places and foods, the perfect location for his Taiwan tattoos, spiritual journeys, spirit animals, and his hopes to try chewing on some binlang (betel nut) before he departs.

As two lovers of culture and travel, Ryan & Kane also indulge in stories about his recent trips to Uzbekistan and Indonesia. Among the topics covered were the silk road, Marco Polo, Emir Timur, cultural relics, goat polo, resource extraction, anointing the queen of Fruits, sun bears and orangutans named Bachelor & Rambo, and deeply emotional reunions with his host family and friends after 32 long years.

Ryan Axelson is a Taiwan Gold Card holder, proud father of a pair of twin boys, a MTATW, a sales & CRM professional, and the founder of a sales & management consulting company called Brass Carrot. A native of San Diego, California, Ryan and his family will soon be returning to the Bay Area for the next chapter of their lives.

In this midsummer episode of Firelight Chats, J Triangular returned to the Spacelab to chat with Kane & Mocha by the fireside about her Taiwan-based feature film, The First Kiss of the Night, which recently wrapped up filming on the first of three segments. Even with only 16 scenes filmed thus far, J takes us on journey of neon dreamscapes, betel nut girls, Taoist exorcisms, addictions, Shaolin & Krav Maga fight scenes, clitoris tattoos, Winnie the Pooh piñata decapitations, and more.

J also shares behind-the-scenes stories and insights about the inspiration behind the title change, the casting process, showcasing non-binary characters, the importance of location scouting, on-set exercises, participatory cinema, the biggest challenges, mini movies within movies, and the prospects of multiple radical endings.

J Triangular is the first official return guest (Ep016) of the Firelight Chats podcast. Originally from Colombia, J has been living and working out of Taiwan for the past several years. Filming will resume in September and those interested in participating & supporting are encouraged to contribute to the Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign.

In this peaceful episode of Firelight Chats, Christine Chien (CC) meditated her way to the Spacelab to chat about the meaning of the time between life and death with Kane & Mocha by the fireside. CC shares stories about moving to Canada at 15 years old, reading "Rich Dad, Poor Dad," her first attempts at passive income, founding a private equity commercial real estate company that eventually acquired and managed over 1100 multifamily units, earning a fortune, and eventually freeing herself of everything.

This episode highlights the value of mentorship, spiritual journeys, keeping it simple, finding your passion, facing your fears, and powering through vulnerability. Towards the second half of the episode, CC shares background stories and inspiring snippets from each of the four other authors in the book: Darren (王俊凱), Andre (江振誠), Shawn/Xuan (劉軒), & Janet (謝怡芬).

Christine Chien is an entrepreneur, author, life coach, and spiritual practitioner. Born and raised in Taipei, she studied abroad in Vancouver and is a graduate of the University of British Columbia. Her recent book, 我活著我的人生嗎, can be found at bookstores throughout Taiwan.

In this evening episode of Firelight Chats, Angel Huang descends into the Spacelab to chat and laugh about education, film, and her many life adventures with Kane & Mocha by the fireside. They light the night and the wild with stories about studying abroad in rural America, the 4Ds, attending some of Taiwan's most prestigious schools, being overprotected, learning to take risks, regrets and lessons learned, ballroom dancing, surfing, and wanting to be an eagle.

Angel also shares stories about joining a tech startup in the Bay Area, working in Beijing during the COVID pandemic, producing Taiwan's first unscripted reality series for Netflix, and developing her own animated short film. Towards the end of the episode, Angel is challenged to a FireLightNing Round of random and rapid questions, finishing off with a poignant story that brings her story full circle.

Angel Huang is a graduate of Taipei First Girls High School (TFG), National Chiao Tong University (NCTU), and Taipei National University of the Arts (TNUA). She has lived in Colorado, SF, Beijing, and is now living and working in her home city of Taipei. She is currently working on an experimental short animation about education, work, finding your door & unlocking it.

In this jazzy episode of Firelight Chats, Benjamin Holt wailed his strings to the Spacelab to jam hard like a newly freed man with Kane & Mocha by the fireside. They dive head first into adjectives, comedy, frigid winters, Halifax explosions, Jimi Hendrix, kinds of blues, gospel music, country poppin', freelance hustlin', Deep Ellum, road trip tourin', education, the beauty of diversity, wild times, love & heartbreak, keeping it cool, showing up, being a professional, the Taiwan music scene, giving more than you take, and baring your heart & soul for the world to taste.

Weaved into the episode are juicy musical vignettes from Benjamin's diverse repertoire with a full length track rounding out the experience. Like a true jazz improviser and educator, Ben nails the FireLightNing Round of rapid questions and shares some words of wisdom and encouragement with the younger generation of musicians.

Benjamin Holt is originally from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada; studied, lived, and hustled in Dallas, Texas; and is currently living and working in Taiwan. He is a Gold Card holder, professional musician, proud resident of Da Ping Lin, his new Big D in Xindian, and can be found performing alongside some of Taiwan's brightest stars all around the island(s) and beyond.

In this late night episode of Firelight Chats, Jamie Wang joked her way to the Spacelab to chat life, death, and all the tragicomedy in between with Kane & Mocha by the fireside. The lights dimmed and flames sparked, Jamie shares her thoughts and intimate stories about love, sex, inspiration, education, studying abroad, food, culture, mental health, parental & societal pressure, confusing things, philosophy, pushing boundaries, and finding her voice, confidence, and self.

From sensitive parts to risky topics, Jamie provides a masterclass in carefully navigating all the beautifully messy contours of the human condition with aplomb, vulnerability, laughter, truth, balance, and ultimately, a deeply undeniable spirit.

Jamie Wang is stand-up comedian originally from Shanghai. She has been living on and off in Taipei for the past 6 or 7 years, where she is completing her master degree in philosophy at National Taiwan University. While she's still here, you can find her performing at Two Three Comedy, Taiwan's greatest bilingual comedy club.

In this Tomb Sweeping episode of Firelight Chats, Sam Yarborough invisibly soared his way to the Spacelab to chat comedy with Kane, Mocha, and two special ladies by the fireside. Sam shares stories about drinking his way into a top Canadian university, dropping out of law school, beach bumming in Busan, touring all around Taiwan in a surf bus, getting heckled and losing the crowd, becoming buddies & partners with Taiwan's most famous comedian, performing around Asia, woke culture, ChatGPT, his comedy Mt. Rushmore, and opening a comedy club in the capital city.

In a spirited FireLightNing Round of rapid questions, Sam does his best to outwit his friends at the Formosa Improv Group and almost sings Seal's Kiss from a Rose. Before dropping the mic, he offers some encouraging advice to young aspiring comics in Taiwan.

Sam Yarborough is the funny man behind Two Three Comedy, Taipei's first, only, and greatest bilingual comedy club. The next big show, featuring the great Ron Josol, will take place on Saturday, April 15th, and just to ready oneself properly for the show, it is recommended to practice coming in to the club every day until and after that.

In this early morning episode of Firelight Chats, Chef Enrico Negrini grilled his way to the Spacelab to chat food, surf, life, and death with Kane & Mocha by the fireside. In this oceanic chat, the pair connect on topics like learning to adapt, war stories from the kitchen, control & balance, mental health, discovering surfing, Fiorentina steaks, the Chef's Table, philosophy of service & helping others, the Taiwanese restaurant scene, working at Michelin-starred restaurants, the power of community, the importance of fire, the necessity of salt, and dreams of opening a small omakase joint when his hair is fully grey.

To cap off the episode, they attempt to engage in a FireLightNing Round of rapid questions, but it may or may not have transformed into a natural continuation of their philosophical banter. The two masters of their respective crafts pay respect to each other like two stoic martial artists, bowing deeply and knowing full well that their paths will soon cross again.

Chef Enrico Negrini is the maestro behind three of Taipei's most talked about Italian restaurants: DiVino, DiVino Enoteca, and Fo.Co.So. Hailing from both Brazil and Italy, he now lives in Taipei with his wife, two dogs, and can be found surfing early in the morning at his favorite beach in Wanli.