Michael Wester, the founder and CEO of True Run Media, talks about Safe and Sane, his WeChat group that has kept the city's massive expat population safe (and sane) with timely information about all things COVID-19. (00:37)

Then, American musician Eric Allen comes on The Point to talk about his eponymous new album, an intimate tour of Americana and wartime China. (20:20)

If you're in Beijing, Eric's album release show will be at Jianghu Bar on January 23.  Check this link for more details. https://www.thebeijinger.com/events/2021/jan/eric-allen-album-release-party

Eric Selley is a vice principal by day. By night, he tells jokes. A Beijing mainstay, Eric drops by to talk about why Beijing just feels colder than his native Canada (00:38), how the standup audiences in China have been evolving (4:27), what he means when he calls himself a 14A comic (6:42), why he loves fellow Canadian comic Norm Macdonald (7:44), why apolitical humour is a positive in China (9:58), fielding school recruiters while on stage (11:40), getting better as a comic in a place with relatively few comics (12:50), the ceiling for western comics in Beijing (14:36). 

https://www.instagram.com/ericjselley

Edson Oouyeah came to China over a decade ago. He drops by to talk about the purpose of walls (17:28), illegally crossing the USA/Mexico border as a child (18:13), crowd control (21:00), a guide to the Beijing standup scene (21:55), what comedian Joe Wong taught him about making it in China (22:36). 

Music: Twisted Bandits All Around Me by NoMBe; Life After Death by DJ Freedem

Eric Selley is a vice principal by day. By night, he tells jokes. A Beijing mainstay, Eric drops by to talk about why Beijing just feels colder than his native Canada (00:38), how the standup audiences in China have been evolving (4:27), what he means when he calls himself a 14A comic (6:42), why he loves fellow Canadian comic Norm Macdonald (7:44), why apolitical humour is a positive in China (9:58), fielding school recruiters while on stage (11:40), getting better as a comic in a place with relatively few comics (12:50), the ceiling for western comics in Beijing (14:36). 

https://www.instagram.com/ericjselley

Edson Oouyeah came to China over a decade ago. He drops by to talk about the purpose of walls (17:28), illegally crossing the USA/Mexico border as a child (18:13), crowd control (21:00), a guide to the Beijing standup scene (21:55), what comedian Joe Wong taught him about making it in China (22:36). 

Music: Twisted Bandits All Around Me by NoMBe; Life After Death by DJ Freedem

Ember Swift is a musician who has made her home in China for over 12 years. Her new album is Mid-March Meltdown. 

She's also the first ever guest of The Point. 

In this episode, we talk about why the new album is the best body of work she has ever created (1:00), the inspiration  for her first single (4:18), Ember's experience on Mama Miya, a massive talent contest in China (11:00), hitting the Chinese rock charts with her song Laowai (17:45), singing in a tonal language and being an outsider (21:16), and staying in China during the early days of the pandemic (27:48). 

Ember Swift is a musician who has made her home in China for over 12 years. Her new album is Mid-March Meltdown. 

She's also the first ever guest of The Point. 

In this episode, we talk about why the new album is the best body of work she has ever created (1:00), the inspiration  for her first single (4:18), Ember's experience on Mama Miya, a massive talent contest in China (11:00), hitting the Chinese rock charts with her song Laowai (17:45), singing in a tonal language and being an outsider (21:16), and staying in China during the early days of the pandemic (27:48).