Mosaic of China

Today’s interview is with the artist Nini Sum. We talk about her life and work as the co-founder of IdleBeats, the first independent screen print studio in China, as well as her take on artistic expression and the arts scene in general in China. You’ll notice straight away that she has a very hypnotic way of talking, so this episode should be a nice, slow and relaxing one. Chapters 00:00 - Trailer & Intro 01:00 - Part 1 16:46 - Part 2 24:46 - Outro Instagram: www.instagram.com/oscology Facebook: www.facebook.com/mosaicofchina WeChat: www.mosaicofchina.com/wechat

We're marking the halfway point of Season 1 by releasing a special episode in which Oscar is interviewed by Shannon Martin, Director of Communications at Podbean, to discuss the topic of "Community". Since building real and virtual communities is at the heart of the Mosaic of China project, this is a conversation that we felt was worth releasing as a bonus episode. Hopefully it will not only interest you, but also encourage you to contribute your thoughts and comments on WeChat, or on whichever platform you prefer. Chapters 00:00 - Trailer & Intro 01:13 - Main 15:04 - Outro 16:03 - Easter Egg Instagram: www.instagram.com/oscology Facebook: www.facebook.com/mosaicofchina WeChat: www.mosaicofchina.com/wechat

Srinivas Yanamandra ("Srini") is the Chief Compliance Officer at the New Development Bank (NDB), the only multilateral organisation based in Shanghai. Comprised of the BRICS countries of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, the bank has a unique constitution and culture. Srini and I discuss his position in the organisation, with a particular focus on the similarities and differences between China and India. And our conversation soon stretches into many other areas, including his thoughts on the future of compliance and ethics in the age of Artificial Intelligence. Don't be too intimidated by this introduction, our conversation also includes enough light-hearted conversation to offset the cerebral content. I promise. Chapters 00:00 - Trailer & Intro 01:47 - Part 1 20:48 - Part 2 28:46 - Outro Instagram: www.instagram.com/oscology Facebook: www.facebook.com/mosaicofchina WeChat: www.mosaicofchina.com/wechat

In case you ever feel like complaining about logistics, bureaucracy and red tape in China, spare a thought for Emily Madge, who was part of the team in charge of transporting two beluga whales from Shanghai to Iceland. In today’s episode we discuss this amazing story, as well as track Emily’s experience in the conservation and welfare of marine life in China. With plenty of FISH FACTS thrown in, today’s episode is a great mix of the entertaining and the educational. Big thanks to Emily for being such a good sport. Chapters 00:00 - Trailer & Intro 00:32 - Part 1 16:38 - Part 2 23:39 - Outro 27:23 - Easter Egg Instagram: www.instagram.com/oscology Facebook: www.facebook.com/mosaicofchina WeChat: www.mosaicofchina.com/wechat

This week’s guest is the award-winning Chinese playwright Nick Yu, 喻荣军, who juggles his work as a writer alongside his role as Creative Director at the Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre. In our conversation, we cover Nick’s two contrasting identities: the sophisticated denizen of the Shanghai arts scene, and the son of a village teacher from the heart of the Chinese countryside. Nick is no stranger to controversy, and is famous in the Chinese theatre scene for pushing the limits of what can be put on the stage. So we also discuss his creative process, and the way in which he nurtures his imagination without overstepping the the boundaries of the China culture policy. So this episode should be a must-listen for any creators or artists in china who are struggling with temptation of self-censorship. Chapters 00:00 - Trailer & Intro 02:12 - Part 1 18:01 - Part 2 28:44 - Outro Instagram: www.instagram.com/oscology Facebook: www.facebook.com/mosaicofchina WeChat: www.mosaicofchina.com/wechat

In 2010, Yael Farjun had a chance encounter with someone at the Shanghai Expo, which led her to undertake an amazing research project. We discuss the heroism and humanity of one Chinese man in Vienna, which resulted in an epic migration from Europe to Shanghai. And in so doing, we highlight Shanghai’s unique historical status as a Free Port, and a magnet for people from around the world. Chapters 00:00 - Trailer & Intro 01:33 - Part 1 23:32 - Part 2 28:53 - Outro Instagram: www.instagram.com/oscology Facebook: www.facebook.com/mosaicofchina WeChat: www.mosaicofchina.com/wechat

When I first met today's guest, Sebastien Denes, I liked him immediately. But I did question what kind of content he would be able to bring to this recording. Here was another privileged white male in an executive role on an international career track at a multinational organisation. I have spent a large percentage of my career as an executive headhunter in Asia, and I've seen a thousand people like Sebastien. At least that's what I thought. I was wrong. Chapters 00:00 - Trailer & Intro 01:45 - Part 1 22:50 - Part 2 30:54 - Outro Instagram: www.instagram.com/oscology Facebook: www.facebook.com/mosaicofchina WeChat: www.mosaicofchina.com/wechat

“Keep it Quiet” is the name of the semi-public bar at Yongfoo Elite, the private members club located in the diplomatic quarter of Shanghai. So I’m especially grateful that its GM, Lori Li, broke her own rules to speak to me in this week’s episode. As well as spilling the beans on the club itself, Lori and I talk about Shanghai’s status as a world centre of style and fashion, and she walks us through the changing interpretation of what luxury means in China. You may think you know how Chinese people view luxury, but like everything in China, these trends have a habit of changing very quickly. So I hope that this interview helps to keep you updated on the latest interpretation. Chapters 00:00 - Trailer & Intro 02:30 - Part 1 19:55 - Part 2 27:59 - Outro Instagram: www.instagram.com/oscology Facebook: www.facebook.com/mosaicofchina WeChat: www.mosaicofchina.com/wechat

This week’s episode is with Noah Sheldon, who has been making photos and films of workers in China over the last decade or so. We discuss some of the factory conditions that aren’t covered in much of the world’s reporting on the issue. We talk about the condition of the average migrant worker in China. And we focus in on the lives of one or two people that Noah has encountered as part of his work. To see some of the work mentioned in our conversation, see www.noahsheldon.com. Chapters 00:00 - Trailer & Intro 02:40 - Part 1 17:15 - Part 2 23:23 - Outro Instagram: www.instagram.com/oscology Facebook: www.facebook.com/mosaicofchina WeChat: www.mosaicofchina.com/wechat

Today I’m speaking with Vy Vu. Apart from how much I love the economy of her name, I also love the story of how someone who was feeling lost in Shanghai can ultimately become part of a fitness movement that’s spreading across China and the world. You’ll hear about how FitFam is not just about making people in China fit, it’s also about making them confident, and making them into future leaders. We also talk about how to manage a volunteer organisation, and then how to grow it without compromising on its founding principles. Our conversation is a good advert in general about the benefits of living and working overseas, and how you can go from knowing no-one in a new city to being in a position which helps define who you are. Chapters 00:00 - Trailer & Intro 02:48 - Part 1 19:55 - Part 2 27:06 - Outro Instagram: www.instagram.com/oscology Facebook: www.facebook.com/mosaicofchina WeChat: www.mosaicofchina.com/wechat

Today’s episode is a special one, I’m usually trying to introduce aspects of the lives people lead in China without going over too much familiar territory to China experts. But with today’s episode, my role is reversed. My guest today is Michael Zee, who is a social media influencer with a global fan base on Instagram. However, Instagram is very difficult to access from within China, so there might be listeners to this in China who haven’t ever seen Instagram, let alone come across Michael’s account. Michael’s background is as an educator, and there are other parts of his story that will lead you to conclude, as I did, that it’s no accident that he has become the biggest and best Food Instagrammer in China today. We discuss the fluctuating nature of national cuisines, the cultural connections between Shanghai and Liverpool, and the glamorous (and decidedly unglamorous) life of a full-time social media influencer in China. Chapters 00:00 - Trailer & Intro 02:23 - Part 1 20:26 - Part 2 29:37 - Outro Instagram: www.instagram.com/oscology Facebook: www.facebook.com/mosaicofchina WeChat: www.mosaicofchina.com/wechat

“Failure is three meals a day”. You may have heard other tech entrepreneurs talk about how they embrace the idea of failure. But it has never sounded as genuine as when uttered by today’s guest, Gina Li. In our discussion, Gina tells the story of growing up on the Silk Road, embarking on a career in Hip-Hop, and eventually stumbling into the world of innovation and product design. If Gina defines her life as failure served up like three meals a day, then… I’ll have what she’s having. In our discussion we talk about the essence of product design, and how it is allowing China to rediscover its roots as a world leader in technology and innovation. We also discuss two examples of the products that Gina’s company, Beach IoT, has reimagined: the digital telescope and… the cotton candy machine, of course. Chapters 00:00 - Trailer & Intro 01:52 - Part 1 21:11 - Part 2 32:05 - Outro Instagram: www.instagram.com/oscology Facebook: www.facebook.com/mosaicofchina WeChat: www.mosaicofchina.com/wechat

Today’s guest is Jorge Luzio, who works for Coca-Cola as the Greater China Marketing Director for Sprite and Fanta. He’s originally from Venezuela, and has had an international marketing career with Coca-Cola in Caracas, Bogota, Atlanta and Mexico City before coming to China. Digital marketing in China is a real science, and today’s recording is a masterclass. Jorge discusses how he and his team mix anthropological and societal insights with digital functionality to reveal fascinating insights about the Chinese consumer. He also addresses the uniqueness of the overall marketing landscape in China: the dominance of Tencent and Alibaba; the unparalleled acceptance of digital payments; the boundless availability of big data; and the digital savviness of the creative talent who are tasked to analyse it. Chapters 00:00 - Trailer & Intro 02:56 - Part 1 24:32 - Part 2 30:47 - Outro Instagram: www.instagram.com/oscology Facebook: www.facebook.com/mosaicofchina WeChat: www.mosaicofchina.com/wechat

Today’s interview is with Astrid Poghosyan, an Armenian violinist and the first non-Chinese management employee in the 140-year history of the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra. Astrid is the youngest guest in Season One of the podcast, but she has achieved a lot in the nine years that she has been here in China. Astrid and I talk about her passion for music, her passion for Armenia, and her life as an unofficial ambassador for both those parts of her identity. Astrid was in the first batch of graduates who could stay on in China after completing their studies. Before that, graduates needed to leave the country and work elsewhere for a couple of years before searching for employment back in China. Her application number under the new Visa regime was "001", and at the time she became a focus of debate on Chinese social media on the value of allowing young foreigners to stay and work in Shanghai. So it's a pleasure to release this recording, and give her the final word on this debate. Chapters 00:00 - Trailer & Intro 01:44 - Part 1 20:41 - Part 2 29:24 - Outro Instagram: www.instagram.com/oscology Facebook: www.facebook.com/mosaicofchina WeChat: www.mosaicofchina.com/wechat

My guest this week is Eric Olander, who has been a journalist in China off and on since 1989. His most recent incarnation has been with the China Africa Project, in which he reports on China’s huge and growing influence across that continent. And through that lens, Eric can talk eloquently and knowledgably about many aspects of journalism today, including issues of bias; censorship; his relationship with the public online; the relationship between officials and the online media; and the way in which China's soft power is being felt in places like Africa and beyond. Since Eric has so many interesting things to say, it was very difficult to keep the interview short. So apologies for going a bit long on this episode, I hope you'll agree it was worth the few extra minutes. Chapters 00:00 - Trailer & Intro 02:22 - Part 1 26:08 - Part 2 40:47 - Outro Instagram: www.instagram.com/oscology Facebook: www.facebook.com/mosaicofchina WeChat: www.mosaicofchina.com/wechat

This week’s recording is with Maple Zuo, an up-and-coming comedian based in Shanghai. Maple has amazing energy, which I hope you can hear in this conversation. We start off by talking about her comedy set, and how her approach is different in English versus Chinese. But we then veer into some unexpectedly dark territory, so there’s part of this chat which might not be suitable for all audiences. We discuss some interesting details about her family background growing up in Inner Mongolia. Thankfully the things she mentions have no bearing on the situation there today. Chapters 00:00 - Trailer & Intro 01:30 - Part 1 21:33 - Part 2 32:22 - Outro Instagram: www.instagram.com/oscology Facebook: www.facebook.com/mosaicofchina WeChat: www.mosaicofchina.com/wechat

At the time of recording, Philippe Gas was the President & General Manager of the Shanghai Disney Resort. Philippe is one of the most charming business leaders I’ve met, and in this interview, we talk about his experiences in the five or so years that he has been with Disneyland in Shanghai, from the tail-end of the construction phase to today, where the Resort has been open for around 3 years. Among other things, we talk about how Philippe managed local and international stakeholders, about the Chinese consumer and their tastes on everything from Snow White to Star Wars, and most importantly how the Disney organisation has itself managed to adapt to the needs of the China market. Philippe and I recorded this in my apartment in Shanghai, so the sound quality isn’t as good as the interviews that I’ve done in the studio. But I hope it doesn’t distract you from what was otherwise a great conversation. Chapters 00:00 - Trailer & Intro 01:59 - Part 1 28:38 - Part 2 36:33 - Outro Instagram: www.instagram.com/oscology Facebook: www.facebook.com/mosaicofchina WeChat: www.mosaicofchina.com/wechat

Hello, I’m Oscar. In this trailer, I introduce the podcast: why I’m doing it, it’s limitations, the guests lined up for Season 1, the interview format, the visual element and it’s integration with social media. Mercifully, this introduction episode is the most you’ll ever hear my voice. In all future podcast episodes, I’ll be leaving the guest to do most of the talking. Instagram: www.instagram.com/oscology Facebook: www.facebook.com/mosaicofchina WeChat: www.mosaicofchina.com/wechat