The Bridge

Everything is on the table in this episode as BeiBei and John connect on various topics ranging from cats, chickens, to environmental themes (including an episode of Earth Matters with Bill Kurtis). Heyang is looking to add music, and is fascinated to hear "In A Faraway Land" a revered Chinese folk song, sung by John Denver.

BeiBei and John kick off 2021 with a serious discussion on sushi, steaks and...eel pizza...BeiBei's latest foodie adventure. John recalls his travels to Trinidad and the Caribbean food and fare, including shark sandwiches and street food. The conversation goes to the life of being a father, and some of the ways that John has parented his kids in the early years, that has paid off for them as adults.

It's officially 2021, and the time of the year when many people make resolutions for the new year. However, neither John nor Heyang are onboard with resolutions, but are fans of strategy and short-term goals. Eventually, the conversation reveals a few step-by-step actions that can be taken to create a new direction, and somehow ice cream, Bailey's liqueur and peanut brittle becomes one of the more important topics of the show.

On New Year's Eve, John Denver would have turned 77 years old. John & Heyang welcome John's brother Ron Deutschendorf to the show to talk about his brother's legacy as an international musical legend, humanitarian and environmental activist.

As the world economy is constantly in flux, is the concept of retirement still viable in the 21st century? John & Heyang discuss the changes that have some people working longer than they thought, and the importance of finding what you want to do, as opposed to what you have to do.

Just a few days before New Year's Eve, Cimcie is back on track with some observations about favorite (and lucky) foods, Heyang shares her thoughts about similar experiences in China and John is celebrating his birthday with Heyang and Cimcie, and shares some thoughts on growing older, and younger at the same time. Then the conversation goes to the finer aspects of hot dogs, coleslaw and black-eyed peas. Finally, Cimcie shares about one of the more unique ways of celebrating New Year's Eve, where in Key West, they drop a drag queen named Sushi off a building in a giant high heel shoe. For real.

As 2020 begins to wind down, John & Heyang crank up the volume on music that moves them in many different ways. Heyang offers up songs from Taylor Swift, Oasis, Jolin Tsai and John drops the needle on The Four Tops, REO Speedwagon and the show concludes with Sir Paul McCartney and "Let It Be."

The last thing John thought he'd ever discuss on The Bridge was bikinis; actually men's bikinis, a subject that BeiBei brings to the show. As it turns out, she's fascinated by the "cold diving" that takes place in China in a frozen lake, as men wearing really small swimsuits take the polar plunge. On their last show together of 2020, the conversation ranges from BeiBei's inability to stick to working out and how the negative voices inside stop us from reaching our goals, but they finally find common ground when it comes to common sense, in making our lives better, one book at a time.

It's the day after Christmas, and BeiBei is all business with her observations on everything from learning new English words like "plethora" and "scrumptious" are on display, and she's still trying to convince John to change his eating habits. Then it's time for some music as BeiBei introduces listeners to "Nine Million Bicycles" by Katie Melua and John introduces BeiBei to his hometown band Chicago, with "25 or 6 to 4."

When John posted a call-out on Facebook for Christmas music requests, the team was inundated with suggestions from listeners. The show kicks off with "Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer" by John Denver that Cimcie sung on as a child as part of the choir back-up. Then it's a virtual holiday concert with music from everything from "I'll Be Home for Christmas" to "O Holy Night" to "Do They Know It's Christmas" to "Let It Snow." A full hour of music and memories on The Bridge.