Episodes

6 days ago
6 days ago
To many, the image of an airline pilot conjures up thoughts of confident commanders in crisp tailored uniforms, living a life of excitement, romance and adventure. But what about the life of an airline captain in China?
In today's episode with Michael Hundegger, we have a good-humoured conversation about the culture of commercial aviation in China. Yes, there's still the romance and the adventure. Of course there's also the procedures, the strict hierarchy, and the grunt-work. But more than that, there's a fascinating window into the nature of authority, discipline and education in China.
The episode also includes a catch-up interview with:
Vittorio Franzese from Season 02 Episode 27
https://mosaicofchina.com/season-02-episode-27-vittorio-franzese
00:00 - Trailer & Intro
00:54 - Part 1
22:29 - Part 2
32:20 - Outro
36:06 - 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-21-michael-hundegger
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Tuesday May 09, 2023
The Gemstone Buff (Christina CHAO, Gemologist)
Tuesday May 09, 2023
Tuesday May 09, 2023
There's a field of academic study that sits at the intersection of geology and fashion, and that's gemology: the study of gemstones. Identifying, categorising and grading gemstones is a specific skillset, but valuation can be more subjective, particularly when it comes to regional variances such as with the inordinate popularity of jade in China.
Christina Chao is a gemologist and jewellery designer in Shanghai, who is passionate about translating the science of gems into the art of jewels. And as she describes in today's episode, that's a skill she often puts into practice when advising nervous men looking for engagement rings for their girlfriends. Or indeed nervous podcasters who don't know the first thing about gemstones.
The episode also includes a catch-up interview with:
Vy Vu from Season 01 Episode 08
https://mosaicofchina.com/season-01-episode-08-vy-vu
00:00 - Trailer & Intro
02:40 - Part 1
25:46 - Part 2
35:34 - Outro
39:11 - 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-20-christina-chao
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Tuesday Apr 25, 2023
The Wine Devotee (Bertrand CRISTAU, XiaoLing Estate)
Tuesday Apr 25, 2023
Tuesday Apr 25, 2023
In the 1840s, French missionaries attempted to enter Tibet, and kept getting pushed back to an area at the Northwestern tip of modern-day 云南 [Yúnnán] Province. Today, this region preserves an astonishing and unique mix of Tibetan, Chinese, French and Catholic traditions.
As part of that legacy, there are now villages of Catholic Tibetans that have perpetuated the art of winemaking first bequeathed to them over almost two centuries ago. And in today's episode, Bertrand Cristau explains how he first discovered this region, and how he ended up working together with the villagers to make prize-wining Himalayan wine.
The episode also includes a catch-up interview with:
Vladimir Djurovic from Season 02 Episode 13
https://mosaicofchina.com/season-02-episode-13-vladimir-djurovic
00:00 - Trailer & Intro
01:45 - Part 1
17:15 - Part 2
26:41 - Outro
29:48 - 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-19-bertrand-cristau
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Tuesday Apr 11, 2023
The Sportswear Strategist (KIM YoungAh, adidas)
Tuesday Apr 11, 2023
Tuesday Apr 11, 2023
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
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Tuesday Mar 28, 2023
The Stunt Man (Frank ABEL, Binhai Aircraft Carrier Theme Park)
Tuesday Mar 28, 2023
Tuesday Mar 28, 2023
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
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Tuesday Mar 14, 2023
The Dragon Burner (Francesca VALSECCHI, Dragon Burn)
Tuesday Mar 14, 2023
Tuesday Mar 14, 2023
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
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Tuesday Feb 07, 2023
Mosaic of China with Oscar Fuchs: Bonus Episode from China Flexpat
Tuesday Feb 07, 2023
Tuesday Feb 07, 2023
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
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Tuesday Jan 17, 2023
Mosaic of China with Oscar Fuchs: Bonus Episode on ’Codependency’
Tuesday Jan 17, 2023
Tuesday Jan 17, 2023
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
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Tuesday Dec 20, 2022
The Incurable Optimist (’DAJIANG’, Tourette’s Advocate)
Tuesday Dec 20, 2022
Tuesday Dec 20, 2022
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
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Tuesday Dec 13, 2022
The Compost Evangelist (Alizée BUYSSCHAERT, Zero Waste Shanghai)
Tuesday Dec 13, 2022
Tuesday Dec 13, 2022
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
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