Mosaic of China 英语脱口秀

Lexie Comstock is the Founder of Strictly Cookies, and we’ve known each other now for over four years. I thought I knew all about her when we sat down for our conversation. But just like an unexpectedly under-baked cookie, Lexie's story was notable for being surprisingly raw in parts. I was amazed to hear what she had been through in the early days of setting up her cookie empire, and inspired by her continued positivity. 

I apologise in advance for the parts of this interview which make you want to jump up and raid your cupboards for sweet treats. You have been warned.

Lexie Comstock’s object: The packaging from the first food mixer used at Strictly Cookies. 

Lexie Comstock’s favourite WeChat sticker: The hula-dancing rabbit. (Add @oscar10877 on WeChat to join the Group and see the original sticker) 

Lexie Comstock: Her dog Mario, watching while we recorded this episode. 

Lexie Comstock: More gratuitous photos with Mario. 

Lexie Comstock: Some of the cookie flavour combinations she mentions in our chat. From left to right: Matcha and Marzipan; Chestnut and Sichuan Pepper; Yangmei and Coconut. 

One of Lexie Comstock’s favourite China facts: The concept of Panda Diplomacy. 

Another one of Lexie Comstock’s favourite China facts: Shanghai’s new recycling rules. 

Lexie Comstock’s favourite word or phrase in Chinese: 吃饭了吗? (Chīfànle ma? - Have you eaten? / Hello). 

If Lexie Comstock left China, she would miss.... 煎饼 (Jiānbing - savoury pancakes). 

Lexie Comstock’s favourite place to hang out: the monthly costume parties at her friend Adam’s apartment. 

Lexie Comstock’s best purchase in China: Her inflatable bathtub. 

Lexie Comstock’ favourite China-related information source: China Skinny. 

Lexie Comstock’s selfie with Oscar.

Stephane de Montgros first came to China as an engineering graduate, and today is the Director of an events and hospitality company. In our conversation, we trace this circuitous career path, and make observations about the current state of the hospitality and tourism industry in China and beyond. If you’re curious to know about how hotels in China are coping with societal, environmental, and technological changes, then this conversation should be a great starting point.

Apart from these industry observations, Stephane also shares his practical attitude towards entrepreneurialism in China, and his positivity and enthusiasm is truly infectious. 

Stephane de Montgros’ object: An electronic time zone converter from his childhood.

Stephane de Montgros’ favourite WeChat sticker: Himself dancing with a friend outside a restaurant.(Add @oscar10877 on WeChat to join the Group and see the original sticker)

Stephane de Montgros: The “Flight Shaming” trend coming out of Sweden, and some graphics showing the scale and growth of China’s airline industry.

Stephane de Montgros: Some photos from his days as a pool party organiser and club promoter.

Stephane de Montgros’ favourite word or phrase in Chinese: 没问题 (Méi wèntí - No problem).

Stephane de Montgros’ favourite place to hang out: “Shake” in Shanghai.

The music score for 对面的女孩看过来 (Duìmiàn de nǚhái kàn guòlái - Hey, girl opposite, look over here), Stephane de Montgros’ favourite song to sing at Karaoke.

Stephane de Montgros’ favourite China-related information source: The South China Morning Post

Stephane de Montgros’ selfie with Oscar.

Stephane de Montgros first came to China as an engineering graduate, and today is the Director of an events and hospitality company. In our conversation, we trace this circuitous career path, and make observations about the current state of the hospitality and tourism industry in China and beyond. If you’re curious to know about how hotels in China are coping with societal, environmental, and technological changes, then this conversation should be a great starting point.

Apart from these industry observations, Stephane also shares his practical attitude towards entrepreneurialism in China, and his positivity and enthusiasm is truly infectious. 

Stephane de Montgros’ object: An electronic time zone converter from his childhood.

Stephane de Montgros’ favourite WeChat sticker: Himself dancing with a friend outside a restaurant.(Add @oscar10877 on WeChat to join the Group and see the original sticker)

Stephane de Montgros: The “Flight Shaming” trend coming out of Sweden, and some graphics showing the scale and growth of China’s airline industry.

Stephane de Montgros: Some photos from his days as a pool party organiser and club promoter.

Stephane de Montgros’ favourite word or phrase in Chinese: 没问题 (Méi wèntí - No problem).

Stephane de Montgros’ favourite place to hang out: “Shake” in Shanghai.

The music score for 对面的女孩看过来 (Duìmiàn de nǚhái kàn guòlái - Hey, girl opposite, look over here), Stephane de Montgros’ favourite song to sing at Karaoke.

Stephane de Montgros’ favourite China-related information source: The South China Morning Post

Stephane de Montgros’ selfie with Oscar.

I didn't know I was interested in the art of jewellery design until I met Angie. Maybe that's because I didn't think about the precision of the tool-work; maybe it's because I didn't pay attention to the forms and structure of precious metals; or maybe it's because I've never met anyone as unique as Angie Wu. 
 
Angie has a fascinating background, and it was a joy to spend a short time together in her company, and learn about her art and her clientele. I hope you'll enjoy it too. 

Angie Wu’s object: Her first set of calipers.

Angie Wu’s favourite WeChat sticker: The swimming reindeer.
(Add @oscar10877 on WeChat to join the Group and see the original sticker)

Angie Wu’s favourite China fact: The population of Shanghai is more than the population of the whole of Taiwan. (Which is also similar to the population of Australia.)

Angie Wu’s favourite word or phrase in Chinese: 气质 (Qìzhì - The quality of your qì).

Angie Wu’s favourite place to visit in China: 云南 (Yúnnán), especially because of the number of ethnic minorities that can be found there.

One of Angie Wu’s favourite places to hang out: Malabar.

Angie Wu’s best purchase in China: The bed dehumidifier.

Angie Wu: The jewelry series called “Home”.

Angie Wu: Some pieces featuring rough diamonds.

Angie Wu: Some architectural pieces, and some nature-inspired pieces. 

Angie Wu’s selfie with Oscar.

It's time to reflect on the end of the year, and the end of the decade. So as you’re listening to Simon Manetti reflect on his last 10 years of choices and chances in China, take a moment to think about the forces that brought you to where you are today. Some of you might look back on your decade as a series of rational and linear decisions. Well congratulations to you. Personally I relate more to Simon: some rational decision; a few irrational ones thrown in; and otherwise a combination of luck, fate and opportunism.
 
Thank you to Simon for being so open, eloquent, and... relatable.

Simon Manetti’s object: A plain old lamp.

Simon Manetti’s favourite WeChat sticker [1]: a dancing baby.
(Add @oscar10877 on WeChat to join the Group and see the original sticker)

Simon Manetti’s favourite WeChat sticker [2]: a triumphant baby.
(Add @oscar10877 on WeChat to join the Group and see the original sticker)

Simon Manetti’s favourite WeChat sticker [3]: a surprised baby.
(Add @oscar10877 on WeChat to join the Group and see the original sticker)

Simon Manetti’s favourite place to visit in China: Hong Kong (香港).

One of Simon Manetti’s favourite places to hang out: Alimentari.

Simon Manetti’s favourite song to sing at KTV (karaoke): Bee Gees, Stayin’ Alive.

Simon Manetti’s favourite China-related information sources: China Tech Investor and China Tech Talk, from Technode.

Simon Manetti’s selfie with Oscar.

Simon Manetti: He bought his lamp at one of the Friendship Stores in Beijing. 

Simon Manetti: One of his motorcycle trips to Miyun (密云), outside Beijing (北京).

Simon Manetti: When he lived in Ningbo, he would travel to Shanghai via Hangzhou. These days there is a bridge directly over the Bay of Hangzhou.

Simon Manetti: When he worked in the factory in Ningbo, his clients include the actors Sean Connery and Catherine Zeta Jones.

Simon Manetti: When he worked in the factory in Ningbo, he lived off 炒鸡蛋西红柿 (Chǎojīdàn xīhóngshì), the standard Chinese dish of eggs and tomatoes.

Today’s interview is with the artist Nini Sum. We talk about her life and work as the co-founder of IdleBeats, the first independent screen print studio in China, as well as her take on artistic expression and the arts scene in general in China. 

You’ll notice straight away that she has a very hypnotic way of talking, so this episode should be a nice, slow and relaxing one. 

Nini Sum’s object: An example of her screen-print art.

Nini Sum’s favourite WeChat sticker: The llama-like creature, 草泥马！

(Add @oscar10877 on WeChat tojoin the Group and see the original sticker)

Nini Sum’s favourite place to visit in China: Her hometown, 南京 (Nánjīng).

Nini Sum: The IdleBeats Screen-printing Studio.

Nini Sum: The Singularity Festival in Chengdu.

Nini Sum: Some more examples of her artwork.

Nini Sum’s selfie with Oscar.

We're marking the halfway point of Season 1 by releasing a special episode in which Oscar is interviewed by Shannon Martin, Director of Communications at Podbean, to discuss the topic of "Community".   

Since building real and virtual communities is at the heart of the Mosaic of China project, this is a conversation that we felt was worth releasing as a bonus episode. Hopefully it will not only interest you, but also encourage you to contribute your thoughts and comments on WeChat, or on whichever platform you prefer. 

The interview was recorded for Podfest China, an event held for podcasters and fans every Autumn in Shanghai. For more information, see www.podfestchina.com.

Srinivas Yanamandra ("Srini") is the Chief Compliance Officer at the New Development Bank (NDB), the only multilateral organisation based in Shanghai. Comprised of the BRICS countries of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, the bank has a unique constitution and culture. Srini and I discuss his position in the organisation, with a particular focus on the similarities and differences between China and India. And our conversation soon stretches into many other areas, including his thoughts on the future of compliance and ethics in the age of Artificial Intelligence.    

Don't be too intimidated by this introduction, our conversation also includes enough light-hearted conversation to offset the cerebral content. I promise.   

Srinivas Yanamandra’s object: An Apple. A simple apple. 

Srinivas Yanamandra’s favourite WeChat sticker: The schoolgirl with the indescribable reaction.
(Add @oscar10877 on WeChat to join the Group and see the original sticker)

Srinivas Yanamandra: The BRICS countries of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

Srinivas Yanamandra: The New Development Bank (NDB), formerly known as the “BRICS” Bank.

Srinivas Yanamandra: The significance of the apple in symbolising three phases in the evolution of humankind.

Srinivas Yanamandra: “Omne Trium Perfectum”, the Latin phrase meaning everything that comes in threes is perfect. 

Srinivas Yanamandra: Dvaita (द्वैत) is a Sanskrit word that means Dualism, akin to the Chinese concept of Yin & Yang (阴阳).

Srinivas Yanamandra: The advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is bringing the world of ethics and compliance into the mainstream.

Srinivas Yanamandra’s favourite word or phrase in Chinese: Duāng - A neologism first coined by Jackie Chan.

Srinivas Yanamandra’s favourite place to visit in China: 三峡大坝 (Sānxiá dàbà - The 3 Gorges Dam, in Húběi province).

One of the things that still surprises Srinivas Yanamandra about life in China: Its efficiency despite its huge population.

Srinivas Yanamandra’s favourite place to hang out: The Bund in Shanghai.

Srinivas Yanamandra’s selfie with Oscar.