The Bridge to China
Episodes
She got a full scholarship to study in China
23 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Joined by fellow podcaster Jane Bernard, we discuss moving to China. Do you have to speak Chinese in daily life? And how can someone get a full s...
The new trend of living in hotels
22 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel George has been living in hotels for three years and has given up on settling down. No longer need to change your sheets, or pay for electricit...
The expats who never want to leave China
16 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We interview South African YouTube influencer: Nadine in China. Shenyang is the capital of Liaoning Province and the largest city in Northeast China. ...
A local from Detroit on why China's Harbin feels like home
16 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
American in China, Ben Watson, discusses being a foreign-local in the coldest major city in China. He's been in this country for more than 20 years. H...
The limits of our digital clones
04 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
People are now creating digital AI clones of themselves to answer emails and respond to text messages in their downtime. Would you trust a doctor or i...
An American professor in China
01 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
American professor, country music artist Mark Levine discusses his 18 years in China. We discuss how 50,000 US students who will be coming to live in ...
China, the US and 2023 in retrospect
29 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We have witnessed unexpected changes around the world in 2023. China's economy, according the IMF, is set to grow by 5.4%, outpacing most expectations...
American business opportunities in China
26 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Two advocates of bridge-building between cultures, Jason Smith and Cyrus Janssen talk US businesses and the Middle Kingdom. The two discuss the scope ...
Christmas in China
22 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
More than 100 public events are planned in Beijing alone for Christmas. The dashing winter greens and reds have reached a new apex in China. Simply op...
China’s global development aid strategies
20 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Bridge Podcast is joined by Jerry Grey. We discuss the Belt and Road Initiative and China’s global aid programs. From emergency aid to developme...
China, the US, space & the future of Sci-Fi
18 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We’ve got the latest updates from NASA, and insights into the race to private space stations. From the US to China and across the globe, how are we ...
US-China diplomatic trends
11 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We’re joined by geopolitical analyst Carl Zha. He gives us his takes on the direction of Sino-US diplomacy. Will China buy more US debt? Will the US...
West meets East: Studying abroad in China
11 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
China is ready to invite 50,000 young Americans to China on exchange and study programs in the next five years to increase exchanges between the two p...
Where do Sino-US relations go from here?
06 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
From Gavin Newsom coming to China to cooperate on green energy, to President Xi's trip to San Francisco. We ask American analyst Tomas Pauken II ...
The US, China, and green energy
04 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The US and China issued a joint statement on climate change as President Xi visited San Francisco. The US and China expect to triple solar energy glob...
'Circular Living' is blowing up
01 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Hashtag #ZeroWaste has garnered more than 4.7 million hits on Instagram. The movement to live sustainably has rapidly picked up steam and is set to br...
The most common American social concerns
27 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A controversial article on MSN entitled "18 Reasons Why America Ranks as One of the Worst Places to Live in The World" makes for an interesting discus...
Rethinking spending habits for the holidays
23 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
After years of inflation, how will most Americans afford the holidays? From rethinking the art of gift-giving, to tricks for saving on flights, we tal...
Is the high cost of housing the new normal?
21 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Rent is growing faster than incomes around the US. Median renters need to spend 29.6% of their monthly income on rent. In many cases the cost of buyin...
Discussing Sino-US relations across the Pacific
16 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jason joins Li Jingjing in San Francisco and Danny Haiphong in New York to talk about Sino-US relations. Can APEC warm diplomatic relations? Will the ...
China made a statue of this American hero
14 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We interview an American living in China about his heroic status in the country. After helping to put out the fires in Beibei, Chongqing, local artist...
US exports in China
13 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
From Taco Bell to Dell Technologies and Pepsi, American brands are hot items in China. In this episode, we delve into the significance of APEC, examin...
WorkTok in the age of social media
08 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
From California to Canton, people across the world are embracing working in social media and using media at work. Jason from California and comedian A...
California, China, and the future of green energy
06 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Governor of California Gavin Newsom visited China. Newsom shared smiles and handshakes from Beijing to Shanghai. In seeking friendship, can California...
The China International Import Expo & American businesses
03 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
China has the world’s largest consumer base with half a billion middle class spenders. From November 5th to November 10th, over 60 countries and hun...
China, the US, and the future of space travel
01 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
China and the United States are both set to put boots on the moon within the next decade. Will a friendly scientific rivalry give space exploration mo...
From inflation to shrinkflation and skimpflation
30 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We are familiar with inflation. Now, new terms are being coined to deal with our new realities. Shrinkflation and skimpflation have entered the conver...
California’s governor Gavin Newsom visits China
23 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Gavin Newsom is set to visit China. He will discuss cooperation on green energy across the Pacific. Will California and China move the needle forward ...
Is American hospice care broken?
23 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Elderly Americans are literally being wheeled off the hospital property and dumped on the sidewalk. One caller, who worked at a hospital, claimed “s...
Visiting every province in China
20 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jason shares his exciting experiences of visiting 3/4 of all provinces and regions of China. Just this year, he visited Xinjiang, Xizang, Inner Mongol...
The Belt and Road and the developing world
18 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Bridge interviews geopolitical economist Ben Norton. We ask him about the Belt and Road Initiative. He explains the state of the global economy an...
Big business is big on China
16 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Western brands are rapidly growing in China. Popeyes is eyeing the growing Chinese middle class with the announcement of 1,700 new stores in the works...
What is the Belt and Road?
11 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Belt and Road Initiative expert Zoon Ahmed Khan is with the Center for China and Globalization and a research fellow at the Belt and Road Institute in...
Prioritizing happiness in a fast-paced world
10 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jason argues that in a world that is proud of its badge of productivity, taking time for fun offers a route to our well-being. Beibei outlines her the...
Hangzhou and the 19th Asian Games
08 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Tickets to most games were sold out by August. 12,417 athletes from 45 countries and regions are taking part. So, what are the Hangzhou Asian Games an...
Golden Week energizes Chinese tourism
01 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
China’s Golden Week means more spending. Eight days off means that trains, flights and hotels are all booked across the country. Venues will be slam...
Modernity & China’s Mid-Autumn Festival
29 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
For every Mid-Autumn festival, families and friends gather to savor moon cakes and re-tell the story of Lady Chang’e and why she lives on the moon. ...
Food trends: East & West
27 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What do you find bizarre or maybe even off-putting about food from another culture? Alex and Jason explore the shocks from tasting foreign food. Hoste...
Returning to America after two decades abroad
26 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Senior Fellow at the Center for China and Globalization, Mario Cavolo just visited the US after living in China for 24 years. He offers some side-by-s...
Does the Chinese system work? An interview with French entrepreneur Arnaud Bertrand
19 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Arnaud Bertrand is an entrepreneur and CEO of Me and Qi, and former CEO of HouseTrip. A well-known commentator on economics and geopolitics with more ...
Malls in the era of online shopping
15 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In the age of Amazon, JD, and Taobao, why do people still go out to mammoth shopping centers? New research suggests that the business is evolving. The...
Growing fears of a microplastics catastrophe
13 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Microplastics are now being found in the remotest parts of our earth. The half-life of microplastics is hundreds of years long, according to the Royal...
Debunking bad takes with Jerry Grey
11 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jerry Grey, long time British-Australian resident of China, takes on some bad takes on China from the west. From doubts of safety to cries of collapse...
Recycling renewable technology
06 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Electronic vehicles seem too good to be true. But, what do we do with the batteries when they reach the end of their lives? Solar panels harness the p...
The era of well-groomed males
04 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Generational divides may suggest that younger men are taking presentation to a new level. According to CNN and Statista, “the global male grooming m...
A British-Australian describes life in China
30 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
James Wood has a background in information technology. Before moving to China's mainland, he lived in Japan, Thailand and Taiwan. Now living in Fuzhou...
The Maui fires and climate change
28 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Some are calling the Maui fires the worst natural disaster in US history. With Canadian fires polluting New York city, recent flooding in Northern Chi...
Doomscrolling and climate change
25 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Will using paper straws save our oceans? Does caving to single-use plastics make you feel dispirited? If you spend hours reading the headlines, you mi...
Has AI been stealing from you?
23 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Artists in the US are suing companies responsible for AI. Has AI been stealing from our artists? Can Hollywood writing be replaced by robots? What wil...
Voice of a local on the Lahaina fire
17 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The fire, the aftermath and a community in calamity, we invite a resident of Maui, Polina Marian onto the show. She discusses the fire, and how the co...
Ancient cooling technology becoming hot again
15 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
With the world sweltering under the summer sun, it's time for a more creative take on what it means to stay cool and how. Did the ancient Chinese get ...
Are the poor in America being left behind?
14 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Inflation tops the chart of issues plaguing America, with 77% of Republicans and 52% of Democrats saying it is a ‘very big problem’ according to r...
Intersection of global peace and literature
09 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Author, journalist, and key opinion leader Nury Vittachi joins us on the show. He discusses how children's literature can incubate the next generation...
Is workplace harassment worsening for women?
07 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
According to a new 2023 publication by Deloitte, amid glimpses of progress, problems regarding working women’s mental health are still waiting to be...
The US job market, too few workers or not enough pay?
04 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
While there are 9.5 million jobs with no qualified applicants in the US, there are 5.6 million working age Americans who have given up on getting a jo...
Some good news in combatting anti-Asian hate?
03 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
While a new survey shows an increase in anti-Asian hate and discrimination, we also see some small victories in the battle against anti-Asian hate in ...
The future and industry in China: An inside peak
02 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Lee Barrett is an engineer and social media influencer with hundreds of thousands of followers. A citizen of the UK living in China, he makes videos t...
Deforestation is accelerating global warming
31 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What is the state of Earth's old growth forests? While countries like China and Vietnam are both reforesting at impressive rates, it is not enough to ...
Has tipping in the US become a nightmare?
28 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
UK’s Express calls tipping in the US a tourist’s ‘nightmare.’ Why has it spiraled out of control? And how do people show appreciation for good...
Can China’s Poverty Alleviation Tactics work globally?
26 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Professor Michael Dunford is a Visiting Professor at Chinese Academy of Sciences. We discuss China’s economic history. He explains China’s fight t...
Paying your bills by triage
24 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
With prices climbing and homelessness on the rise in the US, the economy feels increasingly unfair for poor Americans. What can those less well-off do...
What gets you ahead, talent or hard work?
21 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A new article on the BBC by David Robson, author of The Expectation Effect, explains how people’s perception of your innate talent might be more imp...
How do we make peace cool again?
19 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
CODEPINK co-founder Jodie Evans joins our show. We ask her about their “China is not our Enemy” campaign. She explains how we can all work to help...
Why do Americans pay more for the same medicines?
17 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Studies show that 1 in 5 elderly Americans are going without their proper medication due to costs. While some use the wrong medicine or simply go with...
Asians in America: New study finds lack of sense of belonging
14 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Two massive surveys of Asians in America point to trouble for Asians in melting into the pot of Americana. Only 22% of Asian Americans surveyed felt a...
American politics and Sino-US relations
12 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Thomas Pauken II, author of “US vs CHINA: From Trade War to Reciprocal Deal” joins us on the show. A geopolitical consultant, we ask him about Sin...
Food insecurity is on the rise (Yes, even in America.)
10 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Hunger is on the rise in the USA. Two new surveys by Propel and Greater Foster Food Bank show that hunger has reached historic heights in America this...
No new houses in parts of America?!
07 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
If you are dreaming of building a house in Arizona, it may just stay a dream. Arizona has decided to put a halt to building new homes due to a lack of...
From block chain to the Belt and Road: How is the world changing?
05 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We interviewed former private researcher to Australian Prime Minister Rudd and economic analyst, Warwick Powell. Powell is an adjunct professor at the...
What can we do about our diminishing attention spans?
03 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Studies show that our attention spans are shrinking. Dr. Gloria Mark tells CNN that in 2004, they measured the average attention on a screen to be 2½...
Yes, it's so easy to travel to China again!
30 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A new set of articles by the UK's The Times explain why it is now time to take a trip to China. COVID tests are gone and travel visas are easier than ...
Why Gen Z is demanding higher pay than ever before?
21 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The dangers of voice cloning
19 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Can exercise help conquer addiction?
16 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
China’s evolving role in today’s world
13 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Podcaster Carl Zha joins The Bridge. We ask him about China’s Belt & Road Initiative, poverty alleviation, and how to improve Sino-US relations....
New global trends in solar energy
12 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The global race to carbon neutrality has begun. One new idea, according to the BBC on May 23rd, is using car parks for mandatory solar energy farms. C...
Rebuilding connections in a disconnected world
09 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The US Surgeon General outlined steps to tackle an epidemic of loneliness in the US. Just days later China Youth Daily also released a study indicatin...
Reasons to visit Xinjiang
05 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Our friend Fernando of Fermube joins the show to discuss his three-month journey into Xinjiang. Host Jason, who recently got back from Xinjiang, discu...
Chinese science fiction is reaching for the stars
02 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
China held its annual Science Fiction Convention in Beijing’s Shougang Park. Chinese sci-fi story telling is stratospheric with new movies like The ...
What jobs will retain humans in the age of AI?
31 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Which careers are safer from the obsolescence created by AI? A new research by Goldman Sachs shows that three skill sets are most likely to keep you r...
Is the Chinese postpartum tradition of ‘Sitting the Month’ going global?
29 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Here comes a new trend in the west with ancient Chinese roots: taking a month for the mother to heal and to bond with the new baby. An article on...
Getting a medical degree in China
25 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We interview a Jamaican about her journey into Wuhan to get a medical degree. She discusses the application process, financing, campus life and how to...
Is paying for social media the new norm?
24 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Elon Musk and the New York Times had a fight in front of the Twitter world about paying for social media? From April 1st, ‘legacy blue ticks’ have...
We discuss protecting ourselves from spiking interest rates
23 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Fed keeps raising interest rates. We take a look at some of the advice being given in the financial world. Why has the Fed been raising interest r...
It’s time to ask who is helping at home as we celebrate Mother’s Day
14 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It’s Mother’s Day. New research suggests men are doing less to keep the home clean and tidy. Beibei, a mother, and Jason, not, take time to reflec...
A British influencer in China shares her insights from YouTubing her way around the world
10 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Nico in China has tens of thousands of fans around the world on YouTube. While she has travelled to dozens of countries in multiple continents, she ha...
Why are there more countries trading in currencies other than the dollar now?
08 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The list of countries trading in currencies other than the dollar is growing by the day. According to Reuters, China is now trading less than half of ...
We talk about consumer waste around the world with the author of Toxic Capitalism
05 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Sir Gilbert Van Kerckhove from Ghent, Belgium, has lived in China for four decades. While working in the country, he led the initiative to build Shang...
Podcast Meets Podcast: One podcaster in China interviews three more
04 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Bridge Podcast goes meta as we invite the hosts of The Honest Drink Podcast to join our show. Jason asks Justin, Howie and Aric about their collec...
Podcast Meets Podcast: We playfully invite a fellow podcaster on as a guest
26 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We are joined by a podcaster, who interviews folks who are making their mark in China. Oscar Fuchs is host of Shanghai's 'Mosaic of China' podcast. We...
How many leave days are people around the world entitled to?
24 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Men in Japan and China are entitled up to four weeks of paternity leave, but many don’t take them. US citizens are entitled to neither maternity nor...
How Earth Day is celebrated around the world
21 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
From raging fires to smoldering mountains of trash and plastic oceans, our world feels out of control. Earth Day is here. In this episode we rapid fir...
How did China end poverty while fighting climate change? Today’s guest author explains
19 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s guest David W. Ferguson has written several original books on contemporary China. His latest book takes a deep dive into the strategies used...
Are more Americans turning away from higher education?
17 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A college education used to be part of realizing the American dream for young Americans. But with the crippling Student Loan Crisis, college enrollmen...
Can a new recycling process save our Earth from a fashion nightmare?
14 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
New technology promises to recycle hundreds of thousands of tons of textiles by 2030. The damage that the fashion industry brings to our planet i...
How did China lift 800 million people out of poverty?
12 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s guest Michael Crook is a British/Canadian who was born in Beijing in 1951 to parents who met in China. Michael grew up on a university campu...
Why is police violence worsening in the US and what can be done?
10 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Statistics show that US police kill "Far more civilians than any other wealthy country." A Colorado sheriff recently received an honorary award after ...
The US is finally getting High Speed Rail: get ready for a trip to Vegas
07 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Is the US finally going to enter the High-Speed Rail game? A new article on KTLA says a line will connect a county outside LA with Los Vegas. With Spa...
China's Tomb Sweeping Day and Chinese culture diversity
06 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As China observes annual Tomb Sweeping Day, we explain the tradition of burning joss money. From China to Amazon, the sacred money is going global. We...
Are some US states considering allowing child labor?
29 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
There are 500,000 kids working in agriculture in the US where “Unlimited Hours” are legal. For more than a century, Americans have fought to limit...