Quick audio note

A small behind-the-scenes update: I used to record this podcast with a clip-on mic plugged into my phone, sitting in my walk-in closet. My husband felt sorry for me and surprised me with a real microphone for my birthday in early February. So now I’m recording at my desk, like a proper adult. I’m still learning the settings, though, so you may hear a few little volume jumps or pops. Sorry if it’s distracting. I’m working on it, and I’ll keep improving the sound.

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Why do Koreans treat cold like it’s a force that can sneak into your body, especially when you’re sick? In this companion episode to my Substack essay, I linger in the everyday details: flu season anxiety, the reflexive “no ice, please,” and the quiet Korean belief that recovery is not just a diagnosis. It’s an environment.

We talk about “cold energy” (찬기), gi-un (기운), and the logic behind the hot pack, the heated blanket, and that mysterious undershirt (내복) your Korean mom insists is non-negotiable.

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