Things are finally looking up for international sportswear brands in China in 2023. For the previous few years, almost all brands were suffering due to instability of the market during COVID and the rise in popularity of Chinese domestic competitors. With this as the backdrop to our conversation - recording last year - a big thanks goes to today's guest Kim YoungAh for offsetting these heavier topics with a very lighthearted and cheerful conversation about her career in merchandising at Nike, adidas, Fila, Gap and Crocs. The episode also includes a catch-up interview with: Wendy Saunders from Season 02 Episode 12 https://mosaicofchina.com/season-02-episode-12-wendy-saunders 00:00 - Trailer & Intro 01:27 - Part 1 20:14 - Part 2 27:12 - Outro 29:07 - Catch-Up Interview Subscribe to the PREMIUM version, see the visuals, and/or follow the full transcript for this episode at: https://mosaicofchina.com/season-03-episode-18-kim-youngah Join the community: Instagram https://instagram.com/oscology LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/mosaicofchina Facebook https://facebook.com/mosaicofchina WeChat https://mosaicofchina.com/wechat

In 1996, China acquired a decommissioned Soviet aircraft carrier, with the express intention of using it as the centrepiece of a theme park in the city of 天津 [Tiānjīn]. Today, the 濱海 [Bīnhǎi] Aircraft Carrier Theme Park is still operative, and the enormous ship stands as the backdrop of a pirate stunt show.    Today’s episode is with Frank Abel, who has been coordinating these stunts since 2012, as well as building and maintaining the modified stunt vehicles on display. A veteran stunt man, Frank has a lifetime of tall tales from the worlds of movies and theme parks, both in the U.S. and China. So it was a unique pleasure to include just a few of these in today’s episode.    The episode also includes catch-up interviews with: Murray King from Season 02 Episode 29 https://mosaicofchina.com/season-02-episode-29-murray-king and Emily Madge from Season 01 Episode 14 https://mosaicofchina.com/season-01-episode-14-emily-madge   00:00 - Trailer & Intro 00:42 - Part 1 22:21 - Part 2 31:52 - Outro 34:55 - Catch-Up Interview [1] 38:26 - Catch-Up Interview [2]   Subscribe to the PREMIUM version, see the visuals, and/or follow the full transcript for this episode at: https://mosaicofchina.com/season-03-episode-17-frank-abel   Join the community: Instagram https://instagram.com/oscology LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/mosaicofchina Facebook https://facebook.com/mosaicofchina WeChat https://mosaicofchina.com/wechat

By now you've probably heard about Burning Man, the festival that in recent years attracts over 80,000 participants to the deserts of Nevada. But did you know that there's an equivalent event in China called Dragon Burn (龙焰)?   Today's guest on the Mosaic of China podcast is Francesca Valsecchi, a professor at Tongji University in Shanghai and one of the active participants behind Dragon Burn. In our fun and wide-ranging chat, we discuss how she combines these two worlds under the principles of communality, immediacy and de-commodification.   The episode also includes a catch-up interview with: Alex Shoer from Season 02 Episode 11 https://mosaicofchina.com/season-02-episode-11-alex-shoer  

00:00 - Trailer & Intro

01:58 - Part 1

25:19 - Part 2

38:32 - Outro

40:55 - Catch-Up Interview  

Subscribe to the PREMIUM version, see the visuals, and/or follow the full transcript for this episode at: https://mosaicofchina.com/season-03-episode-16-francesca-valsecchi Join the community: Instagram https://instagram.com/oscology LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/mosaicofchina Facebook https://facebook.com/mosaicofchina WeChat https://mosaicofchina.com/wechat

I don't often talk about my career before podcasting. But in today's special bonus episode, I had the excuse to do just that with Francis Kremer from the China Flexpat podcast. In our chat, recorded back in April 2022, we discuss some of the aspects of podcasting that intersect with my old life as a headhunter and career coach. I hope that some of it is useful, particularly if you're interested in switching careers, or building a personal brand. A big thanks to Francis for giving me permission to share this on the feed for Mosaic of China. The original full episode can be found at: https://podcasts.apple.com//podcast/87-self-marketing-and-improving-long-term-job-chances/id1514659021?i=1000556861365

Chapters 00:00 - Trailer & Intro 02:40 - Main Subscribe to the PREMIUM version, see the visuals, and/or follow the full transcript for this episode at: https://mosaicofchina.com/season-03-bonus-china-flexpat Join the community: Instagram https://instagram.com/oscology LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/mosaicofchina Facebook https://facebook.com/mosaicofchina WeChat https://mosaicofchina.com/wechat

We've reached the halfway point of Season 03. And following in the tradition from previous seasons, we're marking the occasion with a special bonus episode, and an extra special bonus guest. This particular guest has been a long time coming!   The timing of this episode couldn't be better. Not only does it coincide with the New Year and the run-up to Spring Festival in China, it also coincides with an inflexion point in China as it pivots from Zero-COVID to a new period of openness and opportunity. What kind of emotions does this massive change generate in those of us who have spent the last three years in China? Well... it's complicated.   Chapters 00:00 - Trailer & Intro 01:33 - Main 18:31 - Outro 20:12 - Easter Egg   Subscribe to the PREMIUM version, see the visuals, and/or follow the full transcript for this episode at: https://mosaicofchina.com/season-03-bonus-codependency  Join the community: Instagram https://instagram.com/oscology LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/mosaicofchina Facebook https://facebook.com/mosaicofchina WeChat https://mosaicofchina.com/wechat

Yes, today's episode is all about what it's like to live in China with Tourette syndrome (妥瑞症). But what it's really about is neurodiversity. Some people still have a defensive attitude towards those of us with mental and neurological conditions, treating them as victims deserving of our fear, pity or even derision. But Dajiang's story reminds us that we should instead focus on dignity, happiness, and mutual understanding.   This doesn't mean that all of us should celebrate our deficiencies, nor use them as excuses to avoid self-improvement. But at the same time, we don't need to 'see past' someone's disorders; we don't need to 'tolerate' someone's conditions. Listening to their stories and understanding their distinct points of view is not a sacrifice. It's a privilege. So a big thanks to Dajiang for being the last new guest of 2022, and ending the year on an uplifting note.   The episode also includes catch-up interviews with: Michelle Qu from Season 02 Episode 20 https://mosaicofchina.com/season-02-episode-20-michelle-qu and Sabrina Chen from Season 01 Episode 26 https://mosaicofchina.com/season-01-episode-26-sabrina-chen 00:00 - Trailer & Intro 01:27 - Part 1 27:10 - Part 2 35:24 - Outro 38:27 - Catch-Up Interview [1] 44:15 - Catch-Up Interview [2] Subscribe to the PREMIUM version, see the visuals, and/or follow the full transcript for this episode at: https://mosaicofchina.com/season-03-episode-15-dajiang Join the community: Instagram https://instagram.com/oscology LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/mosaicofchina Facebook https://facebook.com/mosaicofchina WeChat https://mosaicofchina.com/wechat

The environment is one of those topics that we all know we need to talk about, but at the same time desperately want to avoid. None of us want to be lectured on all the things we're doing wrong, and none of us need yet another reminder about how the human race is mismanaging its impact on the planet.   So it's a breath of fresh air to have a conversation with someone who is not only passionate about the environment but also... fun. In today's episode, Alizée Buysschaert talks about the way she personally challenged herself to reduce 90% of the waste that she produced every day. And how this challenge led to a number of personal and professional reinventions.   The episode also includes catch-up interviews with: Katherine Wong from Season 02 Episode 04 https://mosaicofchina.com/season-02-episode-04-katherine-wong and Angie Wu from Season 01 Episode 18 https://mosaicofchina.com/season-01-episode-18-angie-wu 00:00 - Trailer & Intro 01:30 - Part 1 24:41 - Part 2 32:07 - Outro 35:07 - Catch-Up Interview [1] 39:55 - Catch-Up Interview [2] Subscribe to the PREMIUM version, see the visuals, and/or follow the full transcript for this episode at: https://mosaicofchina.com/season-03-episode-13-alizee-buysschaert Join the community: Instagram https://instagram.com/oscology LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/mosaicofchina Facebook https://facebook.com/mosaicofchina WeChat https://mosaicofchina.com/wechat

There are two themes of today’s show: the first is location, and the second is queer identity. There exist derogatory stereotypes about both, which could be described as either xenophobic or homophobic. Today's conversation touches on the intersectionality of these stereotypes in China, and the way in which we can either casually dispel them or defiantly embrace them. In either case, we can have fun joking about them and stripping them of their venom.   As well as being involved in queer cinema projects such SHQFF and CINEMQ, today's guest Xie Xiao participates in many other queer voluntary groups in China. And he has many stories that reflect his own personal background, as well as those of the people with whom he engages in the China LGBTQ+ community.   The episode also includes catch-up interviews with: 'Cocosanti' from Season 02 Episode 05 https://mosaicofchina.com/season-02-episode-05-cocosanti and Sebastien Denes from Season 01 Episode 11 https://mosaicofchina.com/season-01-episode-11-sebastien-denes 00:00 - Trailer & Intro 02:06 - Part 1 22:56 - Part 2 30:37 - Outro 33:18 - Catch-Up Interview [1] 37:55 - Catch-Up Interview [2] Subscribe to the PREMIUM version, see the visuals, and/or follow the full transcript for this episode at: https://mosaicofchina.com/season-03-episode-13-xie-xiao Join the community: Instagram https://instagram.com/oscology LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/mosaicofchina Facebook https://facebook.com/mosaicofchina WeChat https://mosaicofchina.com/wechat

Is there anything more pathetically banal than talking about sleep? We all do it, so… who cares? Until recent years, that's what many of us would have said. But these days there's a growing recognition that sleep quality lies at the root of our holistic wellbeing, and is deserving of further investigation.   That's where we encounter a brand new problem. Since issues with sleep do indeed speak to a broader holistic imbalance, how do we even start to deconstruct the cocktail of behavioural, hormonal, environmental, medical and emotional factors that might be at play? And once diagnosed, how then do we avoid the modern temptation to seek quick fixes, and truly develop new habits and long-term solutions? Step in Rumbiey Muchenje to discuss the world of sleep coaching in China, and the story that took her from adolescence in Harare to ‘Sleepless in Shanghai’.   The episode also includes a catch-up interview with: Astrid Poghosyan from Season 01 Episode 04 https://mosaicofchina.com/season-01-episode-04-astrid-poghosyan Chapters 00:00 - Trailer & Intro 01:32 - Part 1 40:13 - Part 2 48:11 - Outro 51:02 - Catch-Up Interview Subscribe to the PREMIUM version, see the visuals, and/or follow the full transcript for this episode at: https://mosaicofchina.com/season-03-episode-12-rumbiey-muchenje Join the community: Instagram https://instagram.com/oscology LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/mosaicofchina Facebook https://facebook.com/mosaicofchina WeChat https://mosaicofchina.com/wechat

There are some people who view video gaming at best as a time-wasting distraction, and at worst as a vice. But in listening to today's episode with the game designer Simon Chapuis, even detractors will understand the passion, creativity and teamwork that it takes to usher a game from conception to market. Simon's career has taken him from France to Germany, to Spain and finally to China, where he is now a Senior Game Designer at Ubisoft in the city of Chengdu. His story not only illustrates the dynamic and international nature of the gaming industry, but also the complexity and pressure that can accompany this collaborative endeavour. The episode also includes a catch-up interview with: Ajay Jain from Season 02 Episode 21 https://mosaicofchina.com/season-02-episode-21-ajay-jain Chapters 00:00 - Trailer & Intro 01:31 - Part 1 25:51 - Part 2 33:50 - Outro 36:04 - Catch-Up Interview Subscribe to the PREMIUM version, see the visuals, and/or follow the full transcript for this episode at: https://mosaicofchina.com/season-03-episode-11-simon-chapuis Join the community: Instagram https://instagram.com/oscology LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/mosaicofchina Facebook https://facebook.com/mosaicofchina WeChat https://mosaicofchina.com/wechat