Taiwan Talk

As the Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund (ICDF) marks its 30th anniversary, Deputy Secretary General Peifen Hsieh joins Taiwan Talk to discuss Taiwan's distinctive approach to international development. She shares firsthand stories from projects in Paraguay and Eswatini, explains why local involvement and buy-in is essential, and looks at how TaiwanICDF is helping communities build resilience for the future. Hosted this week by Tim Berge.

Taiwan aims to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, but how close is it to meeting its renewable-energy goals?

Made in Taiwan: TC Brown Returns After Five Decades

Two decades after first coming to Taiwan as a visiting journalist and later returning as a scholarship student, Kenton X. Chance is back in a new role: Ambassador of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

Academia Sinica Scholar Paul Katz enjoys a deep fascination with Taiwan's ghost culture — from local folklore to the beliefs that still shape everyday life. We talk about how he first got drawn into the subject, what makes Taiwan's supernatural traditions distinct, and why these stories continue to matter in a modern, secular society. A fascinating dive into the island's spiritual undercurrents in time for Ghost Month… Hosted by ICRT's Hope Ngo

Jason Ma is the current Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Los Angeles and has represented Taiwan some of the world's most consequential postings. He unpacks what sets multilateral EU diplomacy apart from the bilateral, high-stakes dynamics of DC, and why, at the end of the day, the adage "all politics is local" holds particularly true. Hosted by ICRT's Hope Ngo.

On July 1, a shipment of Irwin mangoes from Tainan and black-leaf lychees from Taichung cleared customs in Manchester, marking Taiwan's first official export of these fruits to the United Kingdom for 2026. Getting the fruit from Taiwan to UK supermarket shelves was not easy. In this edition of Taiwan Talk, Sunray Fresh General Manager Kris Tang talks to Hope Ngo about the challenges the importer faced to get the fruit from Taiwan's farms onto British tables.

Resilience has become Taiwan's watchword — but what does it actually mean when the threat could be a typhoon, an earthquake, or an enemy encroachment? Enoch Wu, founder of Forward Alliance and a former National Security Council official, has spent five years turning that question into a training program for ordinary citizens. We talk about what whole-of-society defense really requires — and whether volunteer readiness can hold up without more state support. Hosted by I-C-R-T's Hope Ngo.

Japan-based Akira Itoh is a "drone evangelist" who has written extensively about the birth and development of Taiwan's budding UAV industry. Itoh has tracked Taiwan's progress as it endeavors to create a drone hub from near-scratch. He also shares his thoughts on why delivering on a 'non-red' supply chain may not be as simple as it sounds. Hosted by I-C-R-T's Hope Ngo.

Content creator Sonya Chang is the mind behind "Sonya Bites Life.". We dig into her process, what keeps her inspired, and how she turns everyday moments into content that once won her a Zagat Foodie Award for her prominent role in the U.S. Pacific Northwest culinary scene. A candid look at creativity, consistency, and finding your voice online. Hosted by ICRT's Hope Ngo.