Round Table China

From synchronized leg sweeps to perfectly timed camera spins, Tuanbo, China's group livestream phenomenon, is taking the digital world by storm. Blending the precision of K-pop choreography with live entertainment, this trend is generating new careers across the industry, from dynamic on-screen performers to behind-the-scenes stylists, lighting technicians, and camera operators. This rapidly expanding format is energizing China's massive livestream economy. / Why is the Gen Z gaze setting off older folks (13:41)? On the show: Heyang, Steve Hatherly & Yushan

Robots tighten screws with flawless accuracy, pour coffee at just the right temperature, and crack jokes that feel unexpectedly human. Some even promise companionship that might ease a heavy heart. At the 2025 World Robot Conference in Beijing, these machines have stepped out of laboratory doors and into our homes, workplaces, and private moments. The debate has shifted: their capabilities are proven, but the intimacy we'll grant them remains an open question. On the show: Heyang, Steve Hatherly & Yushan

Remember the "she-cession" during the pandemic? Now the US risks a "she-exit" as return-to-office mandates collide with a childcare system in crisis. Meanwhile, China's numbers tell their own story. Women's workforce participation dropped after COVID and still hasn't recovered. Two countries, one troubling question. Are we seeing unique challenges, or just the same old barriers dressed up in new ways? / Motivational Monday (20:36)! On the show: Heyang, Steve Hatherly & Yushan

Welcome to the World Games 2025 in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province! This vibrant southwest city, famed for its easygoing charm, is now the global stage for thrilling competition, green innovation, and futuristic tech. From groundbreaking sports to sustainable arenas, Chengdu delivers an unforgettable Games. On the show: Heyang, Steve Hatherly & Yushan

With the digital preservation of the Potala Palace, and the growing popularity of Xizang style carpets, incense and handmade paper among young consumers, Xizang has found ways to keep its timeless culture up-to-date and trendy. In this episode, we explore the part of Xizang where heritage meets creativity.

From smart ranching to vegetable greenhouses, from cold-chain logistics to cross-border trade… We take a look at Xizang's industrial transformation and see how the plateau is leaping into a new era of development.

Heart to Heart - please send your audio questions to [email protected]. / As China's family businesses prepare for a new generation to take the helm, successors face a sobering reality: companies grow, stall, or fall. With a shifting business climate, complex political relations, and economic uncertainty ahead, the pressure is on. Are they ready to steer through it all (11:36)? On the show: Heyang, Steve Hatherly & Yushan

AI and pig farming sounds improbable. Yet in China, algorithms now track livestock from birth to market. Voice recognition, thermal scans and facial monitoring turn farms into data hubs. As demand for safe, sustainable meat grows, this technology is not just changing how pigs are raised, it's redefining livestock farming itself. On the show: Heyang, Steve Hatherly & Yushan

Shenzhen is breaking new ground by rolling out a policy which accepts failure as part of the research process, even when state funding is at stake. It pushes back against the old belief that only success matters, opening up space for bold ideas to take root. Could this policy redefine how innovation happens in China? On the show: Heyang, Steve Hatherly & Li Yi

Apprenticeships promise skills and opportunity—but in today's economy, where milk tea shops and factories alike rely on trainees, the line between education and exploitation is increasingly blurred. Are these programs building tomorrow's workforce, or just masking cheap labor? We also explore the role of apprenticeships in developing skilled labor. On the show: Heyang, Steve Hatherly & Li Yi