South China Morning Post

Tom Vanderbilt, author of “Beginners", talks about learning to be a novice again and why it’s never too late to pick up new skills. SCMP presents the Post Books Podcast, with Literary Editor Charmaine Chan, in conversation with authors worldwide about their craft and their books. In this interview Tom speaks to Charmaine about taking starter steps in mid-life in everything from surfing to singing, to swimming, cycling, drawing and playing chess. From New York, Tom explains why he went back to…

SCMP presents Literary Editor Charmaine Chan, in conversation with authors worldwide about their craft and their books. In this episode she speaks to Hong Kong-based author Larry Feign about The Flower Boat Girl, his historical novel about pirate queen Cheng Yat Sou. Blackbeard has nothing on this Tanka boat woman, who was sold into sexual slavery as a child and kidnapped by the man she ended up marrying. At the height of her power, she commanded 1,800 ships and 80,000 pirates. 

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In this episode, Nicola Twilley and Geoff Manaugh, co-authors of 'Until Proven Safe: The History and Future of Quarantine', lead us through the architecture and mores of medical isolation from 14th-century Europe to present-day China into the dystopian beyond. The SCMP presents the Post Books Podcast, with Literary Editor Charmaine Chan, in conversation with authors worldwide about their craft and their books.

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Voice 1: Welcome back from the commercial break. For our next segment of “This Month in Focus”, we’ll move on to the animal kingdom in our special news roundup. President Joe Biden announced on June 20 that Champ, the older of the family’s two dogs, had died peacefully at home. The German Shepherd was 13.

Voice 2: The Bidens got Champ from a breeder after Biden was elected vice-president in 2008. Champ was a constant presence at both the vice-president’s residence at the…

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Sze-wan: It sounds like a real-life take on “Pinocchio” – a US lobster diver says he was scooped into the mouth of a humpback whale early this month and lived to tell the story. Today we have with us in the studio, Michael Packard, who was swallowed and spat out by the giant creature. Hi Michael, what an ordeal you must have been through!

Michael Packard: Hi Sze-wan, I'm glad to be here, and talk about it! I was diving for lobster off the coast of the northeastern…

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Voice 1: Are you superstitious? If you are, you're not alone. Superstitions or strange things, and even famous people from world leaders to film stars have them.

Voice 2: American millionaire, Cornelius Vanderbilt, had the legs of every bed he slept in placed in dishes of salt to keep evil spirits away. The famous English writer Samuel Johnson never entered a house with his left foot first, because he believed that this brought bad luck to the people who lived there.

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Interviewer: What motivated you to become a paramedic, Sam?

Sam Wong: I'm often asked that question but my friends, and people I meet because they think that it's a very stressful and emotional job, and they can't see themselves doing it. I sometimes ask myself why I do it when I am more mentally and physically exhausted than you ever think possible. But I know the answer. Being a paramedic is exciting, rewarding, emotional, and never dull, and you will always have…

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Ho-ling: It’s great you’re interested in joining Best Thesps, Amisha. Can you tell me why you want to be a member of a theatre group?

Amisha: When I was at secondary school, I acted in three school productions and I loved it. We had a brilliant drama teacher who inspired quite a few of us to get involved in acting. It was great fun taking part in the school play every year, but it was hard work as well. I miss it a lot.

Ho-ling: Right, what sort of roles did you…

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Kate: I’ve been thinking, I really do want to change the cover for our next issue. The photo of the school that we used for the last few years is so dull and old. It doesn’t encourage anyone to pick up the magazine and look inside.

Hina: Is that a good idea? I know Mr Ma took that photograph himself and he might not be too pleased if we stop using it. We don’t want to annoy the principal when it comes to the magazine.

Kate: Don’t be such a worrier! We have to make…

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Tina: Hi, I’m Tina Barriston. Let me spell my surname because it’s a bit unusual. B-A-R-R-I-S-T-O-N. I’m Australian. I live in the town of Parramatta near Sydney in New South Wales.

I’m fifteen years old and my birthday’s November 12, if any of you want to send me a card. I was born in 2006. I have two younger brothers, Morris and Clive.

I’m very sporty and I’m in the New South Wales Girls’ Under 18s football team. I live to play football and my favourite…