Yaling Jiang is a writer and researcher helping people understand China through real individuals, rather than through headlines or stereotypes. Yaling is a former journalist and translator and founder of the popular newsletter Following the Yuan. She is also the founder of the research and strategy consultancy ApertureChina. Today, Yaling joins us to talk about what it really means to explain China to the outside world—and why seeing Chinese people as individuals matters. We talk about what it’s like to have your country, your culture, and your own identity be misunderstood. We also talk about the growing desire among Chinese women to have more control over the lives they choose to live. We talk about dating, marriage, motherhood, gender expectations and the fear of becoming “leftover”. We explore how younger generations are challenging traditional norms and whether China’s changing social attitudes are pointing toward a more equal future. We also talk about the loneliness of a world that feels increasingly divided, and Yaling’s hope that we can learn to see each other as individuals rather than stereotypes. It’s a conversation about identity, agency, belonging—and the fragile hope that we might find our way back to each other. ____________________ 00:00 Name pronunciation 02:40 Yaling’s mission: human stories about China 11:30 Growing up in a globalized China 14:00 Gender, ambition, and what Chinese women want 18:00 Dating in Shanghai and the numbers problem 23:00 “Leftover women” and changing expectations 32:50 Are gender norms actually changing? 39:00 Marriage, birth rates, and who carries the cost 44:00 Egg freezing as a safety net 49:00 Dating across cultures 55:00 History, race, and the “inferiority complex” 63:00 Asian representation in Western film and TV 71:00 Race and identity from China to the UK 79:00 Being called “banana” 85:00 Assimilation and the trauma of belonging 94:00 Empathy as the takeaway 98:00 Outro ____________________ 下载节目文字版: Episode Transcripts ____________________ If you enjoy this show don't forget to leave a rating and subscribe! 小红书: THD The Honest Drink Follow Us On IG: @thehonestdrink_ Join Us On WeChat: THD_Official 合作: sponsor@thdpod.com Find us on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, 小宇宙, 喜马拉雅, 网易云音乐, 小红书, Bilibili or anywhere you get your podcasts.

Mike Pistilli (麦霹雳) is a fitness professional, social-media influencer, mental health advocate and NASM Certified Personal Trainer. He is known on Chinese platforms as 麦霹雳 or Coach Mike. Having worked across Chinese and Western fitness cultures, Mike brings a practical, positive and unusually candid perspective to health, body image and online influence. Today we talk about China's changing culture around fitness, social media personalities and society. We talk about why fitness has become a new status symbol, and how social-media rules shape what creators can responsibly share. We also discuss happiness and Mike's new VR fitness and mental-health project, FunFitland. Mike explains how his own experience of growing up insecure shaped his coaching philosophy, and why his personal rule is to leave people feeling more positive than when he met them. _______________________ (00:00) Vodka, accents and Mike's one-line introduction (01:02) Being positive by default (06:31) The insecure kid behind the confidence (08:48) Fitness culture in China versus the West (13:19) Why China regulates social-media content (16:10) The pressure to look perfect (37:17) Chinese platforms and different audiences (43:28) The double standard in content creation (54:19) Making healthy food practical in China (01:10:11) The gym as therapy (01:35:40) Why food can slow us down (01:46:36) FunFitland and the future of fitness in VR ____________________ 下载节目文字版: Episode Transcripts ____________________ If you enjoy this show don't forget to leave a rating and subscribe! 小红书: THD The Honest Drink Follow Us On IG: @thehonestdrink_ Join Us On WeChat: THD_Official 合作: sponsor@thdpod.com Find us on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, 小宇宙, 喜马拉雅, 网易云音乐, 小红书, Bilibili or anywhere you get your podcasts.

Professor Daniel Graff leads design and AI research at Tongji University’s College of Design and Innovation. He is a Distinguished Research Fellow, educator, and co-author of the 2026 book “Design Thinking with Artificial Intelligence”. With a background spanning design innovation, business, and emerging technology, his work explores how humans design, collaborate, and create alongside artificial intelligence. Today we talk about creativity, critical thinking and the tension between technology and human input. ____________________ 0:00 Intro 3:34 Good Design and Subjectivity 23:01 Phases of AI Adoption 27:37 Work, Jobs, and Disruption 39:10 Efficiency and Creative Risk 54:35 Cultural Responses to AI 1:13:57 Trust, Hallucinations, and Standards 1:22:34 Critical Thinking in the AI Era 1:31:37 Phones, Friction, and Relationships 1:39:30 Education’s Changing Value 1:43:45 Looking Ahead Together ____________________ 下载节目文字版: Episode Transcripts ____________________ If you enjoy this show don't forget to leave a rating and subscribe! 小红书: THD The Honest Drink Follow Us On IG: @thehonestdrink_ Join Us On WeChat: THD_Official Email: contact@thdpod.com Find us on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, 小宇宙, 喜马拉雅, 网易云音乐, 小红书, Bilibili or anywhere you get your podcasts.

Zak Dychtwald is the founder and CEO of BridgeWorks Global and author of the critically acclaimed book, Young China. He runs a cross-geography collaboration lab, helping people in some of the world’s largest companies get along better across national borders, through science and data backed research. Zak is a distinguished speaker having delivered over 100 keynotes to Fortune 500 companies and global investor. Today we talk about the brutal side of competition and collaboration between people, society, business and countries. Zak explains why he founded BridgeWorks and outlines the seven factors preventing effective global collaboration between working people. We compare work culture between Chinese companies and the rest of the world and explore China’s internal competitive intensity, education pressures and scarcity mindset. We also talk about AI’s impact on jobs and what a life is for. ___________________________ (00:00) Whiskey Kickoff (04:00) Risk Tolerance After Kids (07:55) From Young China to Bridgeworks (15:10) Seven Elements of Collaboration (22:29) US vs China Work Styles (31:54) Why China Works So Hard (35:24) Education Pressure (44:00) Tiger Mom Success Formula (54:35) Scarcity Trauma Mindset (01:18:20) AI And Future Of Work (01:28:06) Asian Talent in US (01:35:24) Compete or Die (01:43:19) What is all this hardwork for? (01:49:55) Be Adaptive and Kind ____________________ 下载节目文字版: Episode Transcripts ____________________ If you enjoy this show don't forget to leave a rating and subscribe! 小红书: THD The Honest Drink Follow Us On IG: @thehonestdrink_ Join Us On WeChat: THD_Official Email: thehonestdrink@gmail.com Find us on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, 小宇宙, 喜马拉雅, 网易云音乐, 小红书, Bilibili or anywhere you get your podcasts.

Cyrus Janssen is a YouTuber and speaker on China and the world. Today we talk about countering fear-driven narratives about other countries, being a “global citizen”, and its impact on how we engage or disengage with the rest of the world. We also talk about Chinese brands in America, as cost-of-living pressures rise and US domestic polarization and war continues. Cyrus also describes how he was recently offered $10,000 US dollars to lie to his viewers, and how the money was ultimately traced back to perhaps the most recognizable AI company in the world. ____________________ 下载节目文字版: Episode Transcripts ____________________ If you enjoy this show don't forget to leave a rating and subscribe! 小红书: THD The Honest Drink Follow Us On IG: @thehonestdrink_ Join Us On WeChat: THD_Official Email: thehonestdrink@gmail.com Find us on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, 小宇宙, 喜马拉雅, 网易云音乐, 小红书, Bilibili or anywhere you get your podcasts.

Julie Sun is a brand marketer and content creator who creates English content on Instagram and TikTok as, “Julie your China friend”, explaining Chinese culture and dating to foreigners. Having worked in international marketing across the world, her sociological research has brought her traveling to over 30 countries, often by herself. Now she uses her voice to introduce modern China to a Western audience, providing an honest perspective on Chinese society, dating and everyday life. Today we talk about modern society and the search for our place in it. We talk about when after receiving countless messages from foreign men asking her to help them find a Chinese wife, Julie found herself researching China's matchmaking industry—and what she discovered raised difficult questions about love, practicality, immigration, family expectations, and whether the search for the "perfect partner" has become one of the defining struggles of our generation. We talk about differences between Western and Chinese communication styles, criticism and social norms around hugging, staying friends with exes, and saying “I love you”. We also get into marriage customs like cai li or dowry, financial independence, and the quarter-life crisis. 00:00 Cheers and Drinking Again 00:29 Julie Introduces Herself 01:23 Taxi Driver Blowups 04:38 Stress and System Pressure 06:52 Life in London 07:44 Why She Makes Content 10:07 China Interest Shifts 11:55 English Content in China 14:40 Why Chinese Criticize 19:05 Thank You and I Love You 21:01 Workplace Negativity 24:02 Western Lecturing Abroad 25:36 Matchmaking DMs 30:15 Love Versus Practicality 32:34 Marriage Market Experience 39:31 Perfect Standards and Choice 44:31 Self Centered Social Media 46:07 Zheng Yuan Explained 46:35 Soulmates vs Checklists 49:35 Dating Book Breakdown 50:23 Cai Li and Dowries 52:10 China vs West Commitment 56:10 Exes and Opposite Friends 59:49 Hugging Culture Shock 01:02:38 Career First Relationships 01:07:19 Financial Independence Debate 01:13:30 China Soft Power Rising 01:24:29 Quarter Life Crisis Talk 01:28:32 Dating Preferences Identity 01:32:06 Final Message and Farewell ____________________ 下载节目文字版: Episode Transcripts ____________________ If you enjoy this show don't forget to leave a rating and subscribe! 小红书: THD The Honest Drink Follow Us On IG: @thehonestdrink_ Join Us On WeChat: THD_Official Email: thehonestdrink@gmail.com Find us on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, 小宇宙, 喜马拉雅, 网易云音乐, 小红书, Bilibili or anywhere you get your podcasts.

Eric Hovagim is an American content producer, industrial engineer and political commentator who, in his own words, moved to China in late 2025 to escape "the American Century of Humiliation”. He worked in New York City, producing a handful of videos that helped get Zohran Mamdani elected mayor in 2025. Recently, Eric has been producing content for popular commentator, Hasan Piker. He was previously also part of a climate-policy think tank in the US and an engineer on the Hyperloop team. Today, we talk about why Eric is here in China and what he hopes to learn. He shares his frustrations with the state of affairs in the US and the crisis of the American dream. He argues the need for revolutionary change and optimism as we talk about what he’s observing in China that he could one day bring back to America. We also talk about societal fear, AI concerns, Eric’s self-identification as a socialist and what annoys him about being here. We share plenty of laughs in an otherwise serious discussion, and we might also have offended all French people. _________________ 下载节目文字版: Episode Transcripts ____________________ If you enjoy this show don't forget to leave a rating and subscribe! 小红书: THD The Honest Drink Follow Us On IG: @thehonestdrink_ Join Us On WeChat: THD_Official Email: thehonestdrink@gmail.com Find us on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, 小宇宙, 喜马拉雅, 网易云音乐, 小红书, Bilibili or anywhere you get your podcasts.

Raffe is the owner of Cantina Agave, the very first Mexican restaurant in Shanghai. Today he is joined by some old friends, BT and Dino on the podcast, as we celebrate Cantina’s 18th anniversary and the launch of his new restaurant, Vice. We talk about why he’s stayed in Shanghai and discuss the constant pressure to keep up with this unique city, the challenges of running F&B amid unpredictable rules and high turnover, and how the city shifted from “wild east” days to stricter, safer, more equal enforcement. We compare Shanghai’s convenience and safety with rising costs, crime, and lenient enforcement in the U.S., especially LA, and talk about perspective, media-driven fear, and cultural adaptation. We talk about a renaissance in Shanghai’s dining scene, social media’s impact, and Cantina’s clientele flipping to 70% local Chinese. We also end the episode with a blindfolded taco taste test that doesn’t go as planned. ____________________ 下载节目文字版: Episode Transcripts ____________________ If you enjoy this show don't forget to leave a rating and subscribe! 小红书: THD The Honest Drink Follow Us On IG: @thehonestdrink_ Join Us On WeChat: THD_Official Email: thehonestdrink@gmail.com Find us on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, 小宇宙, 网易云音乐, 喜马拉雅, 小红书, YouTube, Bilibili or anywhere you get your podcasts.

Daniel Dumbrill is a geopolitical commentator and entrepreneur. He is known for his in-depth analysis of China, Western media, and East-West relations. He has been an early outspoken voice defending against misleading Western narratives in global affairs. ____________________ 下载节目文字版: Episode Transcripts ____________________ If you enjoy this show don't forget to leave a rating and subscribe! 小红书: THD The Honest Drink Follow Us On IG: @thehonestdrink_ Join Us On WeChat: THD_Official Email: thehonestdrink@gmail.com Find us on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, 小宇宙, 网易云音乐, 喜马拉雅, 小红书, YouTube, Bilibili or anywhere you get your podcasts.

YI is the owner of fine jewelry brand YI Collection and former stylist for Vogue China. Today we talk about “love bombing”, attraction, sex and the city…literally. We talk about the differences in what men and women might be attracted to and the games we play when we’re in the chase. We talk about rejection, self-worth, appearance vs personality, and judging faces. YI shares her mindset after leaving a relationship of eight years, her views on independence, loneliness, monogamy, white expat men, and dating strategies like negging and acting dumb. We discuss ethnicity and identity as Chinese-Americans, changing beauty standards, and the importance of health and fitness in maintaining marriages and relationships. We also talk about squat toilets. ____________________ 下载节目文字版: Episode Transcripts ____________________ If you enjoy this show don't forget to leave a rating and subscribe! 小红书: THD The Honest Drink Follow Us On IG: @thehonestdrink_ Join Us On WeChat: THD_Official Email: thehonestdrink@gmail.com Find us on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, 小宇宙, 网易云音乐, 喜马拉雅, 小红书, YouTube, Bilibili or anywhere you get your podcasts.

Dr. Steve Vinay Gunther is a renowned Australian Gestalt psychotherapist and founder of the acclaimed Northern Rivers Gestalt Institute in Australia. He is also the author of the bestselling book “The Woman In Your Life - A Man’s Guide to a Happy Relationship”. He has been in practice for over 40 years with an accomplished career in psychology, working with individuals, couples and families from all over the world. Today, Dr. Gunther shares why his focus shifted to China and we get into a deep conversation about relationships. We talk about what prevents us from sustaining healthy relationships and when to walk away. We cover failed marriages, self-awareness, listening for “grains of truth” and men’s difficulty identifying and expressing deeper feelings. We talk about shame, “un-virtues” and why running away from pain doesn’t work. We also discuss the over-simplification of therapy in this digital age, the dangers of using AI for emotional guidance, and a wholistic way of perceiving our own existence called systems thinking. We explore relationships from at least three levels, the relationship with ourselves, the ones we love, and society. Join us as we uncover some hard truths. www.gestalt2027shanghai.com ____________________ 下载节目文字版: Episode Transcripts ____________________ If you enjoy this show don't forget to leave a rating and subscribe! 小红书: THD The Honest Drink Follow Us On IG: @thehonestdrink_ Join Us On WeChat: THD_Official Email: thehonestdrink@gmail.com Find us on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, 小宇宙, 网易云音乐, 喜马拉雅, 小红书, YouTube, Bilibili or anywhere you get your podcasts.

Matt Chen is a Chinese American entrepreneur, social media content creator, and builder of Daily Hanzi, an app helping people learn to read Chinese. Currently at 24 years old he’s decided to ditch his aerospace engineering degree and restart his life by moving to China. Focused on bridging East and West through content about language, culture and identity he hopes to reconnect with his Asian heritage while improving his own Chinese literacy, finding a different path for himself in a new world. Today, we talk about Matt’s experience growing up in the US as an ABC and compare it to our own experience from an older generation. We talk about his choice to move to China just ten months ago, his revelation during a job interview with a US defense contractor, and what’s behind the “A Very Chinese Time In My Life” trend happening in America. We also talk about the broad anxiety amongst his younger generation, finding purpose, and balancing digital and analog life. Happy Chinese New Year! ____________________ 下载节目文字版: Episode Transcripts ____________________ If you enjoy this show don't forget to leave a rating and subscribe! 小红书: THD The Honest Drink Follow Us On IG: @thehonestdrink_ Join Us On WeChat: THD_Official Email: thehonestdrink@gmail.com Find us on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, 小宇宙, 喜马拉雅, 网易云音乐, 小红书, Bilibili or anywhere you get your podcasts.

We are joined by friends of the show Charles Zeng, owner of Charlie’s Burger, and James Wu visiting from the U.S. Today we debate the pros and cons of having kids or not. James shares his reasoning on his and his wife’s decision not to have kids. We talk about societal pressures, its impact on marriage and our thoughts on using physical force when it comes to disciplining our kids. We talk about chasing happiness, comparing kids to chocolate, and our biggest fears when it comes to growing old. We talk about the midlife crisis, aging and managing anger day to day. ____________________ 下载节目文字版: Episode Transcripts ____________________ If you enjoy this show don't forget to leave a rating and subscribe! 小红书: THD The Honest Drink Follow Us On IG: @thehonestdrink_ Join Us On WeChat: THD_Official Email: thehonestdrink@gmail.com Find us on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, 小宇宙, 喜马拉雅, 网易云音乐, 小红书, Bilibili or anywhere you get your podcasts.

Today we welcome in the new year as we film a special episode facing the camera. We play “agree or disagree” and discuss several relatable topics, from the effectiveness of New Year’s resolutions to whether romance is dying. We also rank our worst personal habits to leave behind from the past year. This episode is packed with introspection, light-hearted debates, and a drive to live better in 2026. ____________________ 下载节目文字版: Episode Transcripts ____________________ If you enjoy this show don't forget to leave a rating and subscribe! 小红书: THD The Honest Drink Follow Us On IG: @thehonestdrink_ Join Us On WeChat: THD_Official Email: thehonestdrink@gmail.com Find us on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, 小宇宙, 喜马拉雅, 网易云音乐, 小红书, Bilibili or anywhere you get your podcasts.

Rico Zhang is a Chinese-Australian Director known for his technical filmmaking, award-winning music videos and bold aesthetic world-building. His most recent project was Dongji Rescue 东极岛 (2025), a film based on the true story of Chinese fisherman from Dongji Island who risked their lives to rescue over 300 British POWs after a Japanese transport ship was torpedoed by the U.S. Navy in WWII. Today Rico shares the challenges working on Dongji Rescue, finding cultural identity in his filmmaking in China and the West, and we discuss the complexities of being an ABC in today’s world. We talk about the impact of cultural influence, and how the evolving global landscape shapes identity. Rico also reveals his fascinating physical ability to not get drunk and the importance of focusing on commonalities rather than differences. ____________________ 下载节目文字版: Episode Transcripts ____________________ If you enjoy this show don't forget to leave a rating and subscribe! 小红书: THD The Honest Drink Follow Us On IG: @thehonestdrink_ Join Us On WeChat: THD_Official Email: thehonestdrink@gmail.com Find us on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, 小宇宙, 喜马拉雅, 网易云音乐, 小红书, Bilibili or anywhere you get your podcasts.