In Taiwan We Speak

Olek says bye-bye and thanks all the guests and listeners who gave this podcast so much meaning.Find #InTaiwanWeSpeak on: 🎧 Your podcasts 🎙️ YouTube 📸 Social channels

A taciturn woman named Free Church disrupts a warm Scottish celebration, while a Taiwanese goddess unsettles an entire village with her sudden disappearance.These stories reveal both the distance between Scotland and Taiwan and the shared struggles of preserving (and letting go of) estranged cultural norms, languages, and identities once deeply felt as one’s own.In the second part of our conversation, Will Buckingham takes us from Dundee to Tainan, a migration that inspired ‘Tâigael'.📚 Tâigael: Stories from Taiwanese & Gaelic (eds. Will Buckingham & Hannah Stevens | Wind&Bones)📚 Find the book and enjoy free audio stories at taigael(dot)comFind #InTaiwanWeSpeak on: 🎧 Your podcasts 🎙️ YouTube 📸 Social channelsCome back for new episodes every Tuesday at 21:00 (Taipei, GMT+8). Share your feedback and help mainstream the conversation!

Tâigael is a groundbreaking book linking two distant worlds — Taiwan and Scotland. It features four original stories written in native tongues, translated across four languages and five scripts, brought together by two British publishers based in Tainan.The book’s co-editor, Will Buckingham, joins us to share how the idea came to life, why its Tâigí stories use two different writing systems, and how only a Taiwanese-sourced font could make the book’s design possible.📚 Find the book and enjoy free audio stories at taigael.com📚 Tâigael: Stories from Taiwanese & Gaelic (eds. Will Buckingham & Hannah Stevens | Wind&Bones)Find #InTaiwanWeSpeak on: 🎧 Your podcasts 🎙️ YouTube 📸 Social channelsCome back for new episodes every Tuesday at 21:00 (Taipei, GMT+8). Share your feedback and help mainstream the conversation!

Do young people really want to talk about decolonisation — or are they too tired to care? Lahok Ciwko reflects on uncomfortable truths about the microaggressions, racism, and everyday prejudice Indigenous people still face in Taiwan.He shares what it means to “check your privilege”, why laughing off racist jokes isn’t always healing, and why recognising Indigenous land isn’t about guilt — it’s about respect and responsibility.Find #InTaiwanWeSpeak on: 🎧 Your podcasts 🎙️ YouTube 📸 Social channelsCome back for new episodes every Tuesday at 21:00 (Taipei, GMT+8). Share your feedback and help mainstream the conversation!

As the largest Indigenous group in Taiwan, how confident are the Amis about their language revival? Why do some parents still doubt the value of teaching Amis/Pangcah in immersive kindergartens? And what made our guest feel freer in Aotearoa/New Zealand than at home in Taiwan?Listen to our latest episode with Lahok Ciwko — on identity, prejudice, and what it means to be Pangcah today.Find #InTaiwanWeSpeak on: 🎧 Your podcasts 🎙️ YouTube 📸 Social channelsCome back for new episodes every Tuesday at 21:00 (Taipei, GMT+8). Share your feedback and help mainstream the conversation!

What does it mean to be Indigenous in Taipei? Lahok Ciwko, an Amis (Pangcah) youth raised in the capital, shares his story of growing up disconnected from his roots and culture, facing prejudice and microaggressions from all sides, and reclaiming his identity through learning and advocacy. Now at NTU’s Indigenous Students Resource Centre, he helps others do the same.Find #InTaiwanWeSpeak on: 🎧 Your podcasts 🎙️ YouTube 📸 Social channelsCome back for new episodes every Tuesday at 21:00 (Taipei, GMT+8). Share your feedback and help mainstream the conversation!

What happens when AI meets Taiwan’s Indigenous languages? First, it might break its teeth trying to decipher Paiwan’s highly inflected, polysynthetic grammar.In this episode, linguistics researcher Yedda Ljeljeng lja Palemek explores how AI could help advance research on Indigenous languages. At the same time, she raises concerns about Indigenous data sovereignty — a concept yet to enter Taiwan’s legal system — and the potential for AI to reproduce harmful colonial biases.Find #InTaiwanWeSpeak on: 🎧 Your podcasts 🎙️ YouTube 📸 Social channelsCome back for new episodes every Tuesday at 21:00 (Taipei, GMT+8). Share your feedback and help mainstream the conversation!

You can’t learn a language in a vacuum — and the Paiwan language proves it. Words like ‘pai’, ‘manu’ and ‘avan’ carry layers of meaning that are inseparable from cultural and social context and resist simple translation.In this episode, Yedda Ljeljeng lja Palemek, a researcher of Paiwan linguistics, guides us through the rich complexity of her Indigenous language. Yedda shows how Paiwan — along with other Austronesian languages — challenges common assumptions about language and reveals new possibilities for linguistic theory.Find #InTaiwanWeSpeak on: 🎧 Your podcasts 🎙️ YouTube 📸 Social channelsCome back for new episodes every Tuesday at 21:00 (Taipei, GMT+8). Share your feedback and help mainstream the conversation!

Born with only a Chinese name — despite Paiwan tradition — Yedda Ljeljeng lja Palemek found a turning point when her teacher called her Yedda. She embraced it, and after Taiwan recognised the right of Indigenous people to remove Chinese names from their IDs, she reclaimed it as her sole legal name.That name followed her on a powerful journey — from reconnecting with her family’s heritage to learning, researching, and revitalising the Paiwan language, and leading national projects as CEO of the Indigenous Peoples Cultural Foundation.Find #InTaiwanWeSpeak on: 🎧 Your podcasts 🎙️ YouTube 📸 Social channelsCome back for new episodes every Tuesday at 21:00 (Taipei, GMT+8). Share your feedback and help mainstream the conversation!

Through her grandmother’s extraordinary life — from Atayal to Japanese, and the so-called “mountain compatriot” — Eri Liao traces the complex history of her family and her people. Her grandmother’s words, “You must dance, you must sing,” became Eri’s life compass and led her to leave the prestigious Columbia University for a life of music.Listen to the final part of our interview with Atayal-Japanese singer Eri Liao on your podcast platforms or YouTube.Find #InTaiwanWeSpeak on: 🎧 Your podcasts 🎙️ YouTube 📸 Social channelsCome back for new episodes every Tuesday at 21:00 (Taipei, GMT+8). Share your feedback and help mainstream the conversation!

Atayal folk songs are like… techno, says singer Eri Liao. In this part of our interview, Eri talks about Atayal lullabies, Aza Roots’ new album, the joys and clichés of being labelled a “musical Indigenous”, and what’s often missed about Indigenous vocal traditions. She also reflects on the coexistence of peace and the threat of war on her home island.Find #InTaiwanWeSpeak on: 🎧 Your podcasts 🎙️ YouTube 📸 Social channelsCome back for new episodes every Tuesday at 21:00 (Taipei, GMT+8). Share your feedback and help mainstream the conversation!

One day, Eri Liao woke up and decided that Brazil’s iconic ‘Águas de Março’ needed to live in her ancestral Atayal language. In this episode, the Atayal-Japanese singer shares how she not only translated but also localised the lyrics — and why she keeps Atayal at the heart of her genre-blending music, even on the stages of Tokyo.Find #InTaiwanWeSpeak on: 🎧 Your podcasts 🎙️ YouTube 📸 Social channelsCome back for new episodes every Tuesday at 21:00 (Taipei, GMT+8). Share your feedback and help mainstream the conversation!

Ever heard a song that feels like a memory you’ve never lived? Singer Eri Liao, half Indigenous Atayal and half Japanese, opens our new episode with her original ‘Taragay 漂亮’. Sung in Atayal, Japanese, and Mandarin, it’s as vivid and heartfelt as the heritage she carries. Here, Eri invites us into her story.Find #InTaiwanWeSpeak on: 🎧 Your podcasts 🎙️ YouTube 📸 Social channelsCome back for new episodes every Tuesday at 21:00 (Taipei, GMT+8). Share your feedback and help mainstream the conversation!

The unique dialect of the Matsu Islands became a national language of Taiwan in 2019. Eva Tsao (曹辰瑩), its first government-certified teacher, is on a mission to help it survive in a Mandarin-dominated world.In the final part of our interview, Eva reflects on teaching Matsu in schools — from curriculum reform to daily classroom challenges. Can this language bridge generations and thrive into the future?Find #InTaiwanWeSpeak on: 🎧 Your podcasts 🎙️ YouTubeFor engaging updates and video snippets, follow us on: 📸 Social channelsCome back for new episodes every Tuesday at 21:00 (Taipei, GMT+8). Please give us feedback and share the podcast with others to help mainstream the conversation.

Why do many people mistake the Matsu language for Hakka? Matsu teacher and YouTuber Eva Tsao (曹辰瑩) explores what makes this lesser known national language of Taiwan so distinct — and unfamiliar, even to Taiwanese ears.She also shares how the language connects her to the past, why it varies across the islands, and the one must-know phrase every visitor should learn before stepping foot on Matsu.Find #InTaiwanWeSpeak on: 🎧 Your podcasts 🎙️ YouTubeFor engaging updates and video snippets, follow us on: 📸 Social channelsCome back for new episodes every Tuesday at 21:00 (Taipei, GMT+8). Please give us feedback and share the podcast with others to help mainstream the conversation.

“I am from Matsu (我是馬祖儂),” declares our guest, taking us on a journey through her island home, its unique dialect, and an identity shaped by both distance and history.Educator and YouTuber Eva Tsao (曹辰瑩) didn’t grow up speaking Matsu — but learning it changed her life. Today, she teaches the language and runs Chami’s Store (掐米亞店), a YouTube channel full of stories and voices from the islands. We talk heritage, humour, and why Matsu is so much more than its military past.Find #InTaiwanWeSpeak on: 🎧 Your podcasts 🎙️ YouTubeFor engaging updates and video snippets, follow us on: 📸 Social channelsCome back for new episodes every Tuesday at 21:00 (Taipei, GMT+8). Please give us feedback and share the podcast with others to help mainstream the conversation.

Are cochlear implants a solution or just one part of the picture? In the final part of our series, we dive into how technology — from video calls to implants — can help or hinder Deaf children’s access to language.We question viral implant activation videos, unpack the dangers of language deprivation, and look at how Taiwan’s health insurance policies may be shaping the Deaf community in troubling ways.Our guests: Dr. Jean F. Andrews, professor emerita of Deaf studies and Deaf education at Lamar University (U.S.), and Dr. Fanghuai Ku, founder of the Signing Village WorkshopFind #InTaiwanWeSpeak on: 🎧 Your podcasts 🎙️ YouTube 📸 Social channelsCome back for new episodes every Tuesday at 21:00 (Taipei, GMT+8). Share your feedback and help mainstream the conversation!

Did you know many Deaf children in Taiwan already learn American Sign Language (ASL) fingerspelling? Dr. Jean Andrews and Dr. Fanghuai Ku unpack Deaf education in a globalised world — how Deaf people acquire multiple languages, and why Taiwan is ahead of the curve in some areas.We explore how Deaf culture is passed down, the vital role of Deaf educators, and why a janitor might end up being the best communicator in a Deaf school.Find #InTaiwanWeSpeak on: 🎧 Your podcasts 🎙️ YouTube 📸 Social channelsCome back for new episodes every Tuesday at 21:00 (Taipei, GMT+8). Share your feedback and help mainstream the conversation!

Is sign language an afterthought, or the foundation of Deaf education? Dr. Jean Andrews walks us through different perspectives on Deaf education, making a strong case for the roles American Sign Language (ASL) and Taiwan Sign Language (TSL) should play in Deaf schools.We explore the bilingual-bimodal model, ASL versus Signed English, and examine what Taiwan is getting right — and wrong — since recognising TSL as a national language in 2019.Find #InTaiwanWeSpeak on: 🎧 Your podcasts 🎙️ YouTube 📸 Social channelsCome back for new episodes every Tuesday at 21:00 (Taipei, GMT+8). Share your feedback and help mainstream the conversation!

Like any spoken language, a sign language carries the soul of its people — their shared culture, identity and everyday struggles. In this episode, we explore the Deaf communities of Taiwan and the U.S., examining how sign languages shape belonging and call for visibility.Our guest is Dr. Jean Andrews, a renowned American scholar with decades of global research in Deaf studies and Deaf education.Find #InTaiwanWeSpeak on: 🎧 Your podcasts 🎙️ YouTubeFor more updates, follow us on: 📸 Social channelsCome back for new episodes every Tuesday at 21:00 (Taipei, GMT+8). Please give us feedback and share the podcast with others to help mainstream the conversation.

“There’s a foreigner on the phone!” That’s what young Eleng Kazangiljan exclaimed, only to discover it was her own Paiwan language. Growing up in a Taigi-speaking environment, she missed the opportunity to learn her mother’s tongue—but is now passionately reclaiming it. In this episode, Paiwan activist and scholar Eleng Kazangiljan joins host Oleksandr Shyn to explore the profound impact of language loss in their lives. Eleng also teaches us some essential Paiwan words and phrases. Find #InTaiwanWeSpeak on: 🎧 Your podcasts 🎙️ YouTube For engaging updates and video snippets, follow us on: 📸 Social channels Come back for new episodes every Tuesday at 21:00 (Taipei, GMT+8). Please give us feedback and share the podcast with others to help mainstream the conversation.

What does environmental justice mean for Indigenous peoples? Paiwan activist and scholar Eleng Kazangiljan shares powerful stories of resilience and pushback from Pinuyumayan lands in Taiwan to Hawaii, spotlighting efforts to protect ancestral domains from unchecked development and exploitation. From the critical need for Indigenous consent to the concept of land stewardship, Eleng highlights the vital role of activism in achieving climate justice. Don’t miss this insightful conversation—tune in now! Find #InTaiwanWeSpeak on: 🎧 Your podcasts 🎙️ YouTube For engaging updates and video snippets, follow us on: 📸 Social channels Come back for new episodes every Tuesday at 21:00 (Taipei, GMT+8). Please give us feedback and share the podcast with others to help mainstream the conversation.

With a musical opening by our guest, Eleng Kazangiljan, this episode explores the breathtaking homelands of the Paiwan people in Pingtung County. Eleng, a Paiwan activist and doctoral candidate in judicial science at the University of Arizona, shares her personal insights into the histories that shaped her community. Eleng describes her hometown through its complex history of migration and relocation, which made her community unique. She also reflects on her time in Hawaii, drawing parallels between the cultural practices of Hawaiians and Taiwan’s Indigenous peoples, highlighting their shared Austronesian roots. Find #InTaiwanWeSpeak on: 🎧 Your podcasts 🎙️ YouTube For engaging updates and video snippets, follow us on: 📸 Social channels Come back for new episodes every Tuesday at 21:00 (Taipei, GMT+8). Please give us feedback and share the podcast with others to help mainstream the conversation.

In the final part of our interview with Christopher Joby, we ask: what lies ahead for the Siraya? Taiwan’s government has yet to recognise the Siraya nation officially, making their cultural and linguistic revitalisation a challenging but crucial journey. We discuss how early colonial pressures shaped this struggle and explore what official recognition might mean for Taiwan’s Indigenous communities today. Tune in to learn more! Find #InTaiwanWeSpeak on: 🎧 Your podcasts 🎙️ YouTube For engaging updates and video snippets, follow us on: 📸 Social channels Come back for new episodes every Tuesday at 21:00 (Taipei, GMT+8). Please give us feedback and share the podcast with others to help mainstream the conversation.

In a true Rosetta Stone moment, the discovery of a bilingual Gospel of St. John — written in both Dutch and Siraya — has catalysed the revival of the Siraya language, which was long considered dormant. What linguistic insights does this rare text reveal, and what questions remain unsolved? Join Christopher Joby as he recounts the journey behind his historic find and its impact on Siraya language revitalisation in the second part of our interview. Find #InTaiwanWeSpeak on: 🎧 Your podcasts 🎙️ YouTube For engaging updates and video snippets, follow us on: 📸 Social channels Come back for new episodes every Tuesday at 21:00 (Taipei, GMT+8). Please give us feedback and share the podcast with others to help mainstream the conversation.

What was life like for the Siraya and other Indigenous peoples in Taiwan before European arrival? This episode offers a glimpse into Taiwan’s pre-colonial landscape, where Indigenous cultures flourished long before the Dutch East India Company established its foothold. Join historian Christopher Joby, a scholar of Dutch colonial history and missionary work in Taiwan, as he takes us back 400 years to explore Taiwan’s overlooked histories that continue to shape its identity today. Find #InTaiwanWeSpeak on: 🎧 Your podcasts 🎙️ YouTube For engaging updates and video snippets, follow us on: 📸 Social channels Come back for new episodes every Tuesday at 21:00 (Taipei, GMT+8). Please give us feedback and share the podcast with others to help mainstream the conversation.

“Mihumisang!” is a popular greeting in the Bunun language, but there’s a catch: don’t say this to an older person! Why is that? In the final part of our interview with digital creator Umav Ispalakan, she uncovers the nuances of Bunun greetings and shares valuable phrases for anyone eager to learn this language. Whether you’re a language enthusiast or simply curious about Bunun culture, Umav’s insights will be both enlightening and practical. Find #InTaiwanWeSpeak on: 🎧 Your podcasts 🎙️ YouTube For engaging updates and video snippets, follow us on: 📸 Social channels Come back for new episodes every Tuesday at 21:00 (Taipei, GMT+8). Please give us feedback and share the podcast with others to help mainstream the conversation.

What challenges do Indigenous youth face in a world full of misunderstanding? In this episode, Umav Ispalakan sheds light on this question, sharing her work to bring forward Indigenous stories and the injustices her communities face through her online platforms and podcast. With roots in the Bunun and Tayal nations, Umav is not only an activist but a mentor. She trains Indigenous youth in content creation and podcasting, empowering them to share their stories and advocate for respect. Her goal: to make Indigenous voices heard and valued. Find #InTaiwanWeSpeak on: 🎧 Your podcasts 🎙️ YouTube For engaging updates and video snippets, follow us on: 📸 Social channels Come back for new episodes every Tuesday at 21:00 (Taipei, GMT+8). Please give us feedback and share the podcast with others to help mainstream the conversation.

In this episode, we talk with Umav Ispalakan, an Indigenous activist and creator with roots in both the Bunun and Tayal nations. Umav shares how her mixed background sometimes confused those around her but ultimately made her more resilient and proud of who she is. She also reveals the story behind reclaiming her Bunun name and making it official long before it was mainstream — a powerful act of pride inspired by her father’s encouragement. Find #InTaiwanWeSpeak on: 🎧 Your podcasts 🎙️ YouTube For engaging updates and video snippets, follow us on: 📸 Social channels Come back for new episodes every Tuesday at 21:00 (Taipei, GMT+8). Please give us feedback and share the podcast with others to help mainstream the conversation.

In 2019, Taiwan Sign Language (TSL) gained official national language status, a milestone aimed at promoting its use and accessibility for the Deaf community. However, Fanghuai Ku, founder of the Signing Village Workshop, voices concerns that many Deaf children are placed in hearing schools, isolating them from the Deaf community and impacting their sense of identity and confidence. Join us as we discuss this issue and explore unique aspects of TSL grammar, including its distinct word order, with Fanghuai, whose organisation works to create inclusive, Deaf-friendly educational solutions. Find #InTaiwanWeSpeak on: 🎧 Your podcasts 🎙️ YouTube For engaging updates and video snippets, follow us on: 📸 Social channels Come back for new episodes every Tuesday at 21:00 (Taipei, GMT+8). Please give us feedback and share the podcast with others to help mainstream the conversation.

In this episode, Fanghuai Ku, founder of the Signing Village Workshop and a CODA (Child of Deaf Adults), shares his unique experiences growing up in a Deaf family and how it shaped his experiences. He addresses common misconceptions, such as whether all deaf people can read lips or if cochlear implants are a simple solution for deaf children. We also explore the current state of Deaf inclusivity in Taiwan and the challenges the Deaf community faces today. Find #InTaiwanWeSpeak on: 🎧 Your podcasts 🎙️ YouTube For engaging updates and video snippets, follow us on: 📸 Social channels Come back for new episodes every Tuesday at 21:00 (Taipei, GMT+8). Please give us feedback and share the podcast with others to help mainstream the conversation.

Did you know that Taiwan Sign Language (TSL) is part of the Japanese Sign Language family and is entirely distinct from the sign languages used in China, the US, and other parts of the world? In this episode, we are joined by Fanghuai Ku, founder of the Signing Village Workshop and a CODA (Child of Deaf Adults), who is proficient in both TSL and American Sign Language. Join us as we delve into the fascinating genealogy of TSL, its dialectal variations, and its significance for Taiwan’s Deaf community. Find #InTaiwanWeSpeak on: 🎧 Your podcasts 🎙️ YouTube For engaging updates and video snippets, follow us on: 📸 Social channels Come back for new episodes every Tuesday at 21:00 (Taipei, GMT+8). Please give us feedback and share the podcast with others to help mainstream the conversation.

In the final part of our interview, Mulihay Talus shares how the devastating impact of Typhoon Toraji in 2001 motivated her to join Alian Radio FM96.3, Taiwan’s public Indigenous radio station. As programme coordinator, Mulihay’s mission is twofold—ensuring timely relief during disasters in Indigenous homelands, while promoting and preserving Indigenous cultures and languages. But how does the station represent all 16 of Taiwan’s Indigenous tribes? Tune in to find out! Find #InTaiwanWeSpeak on: 🎧 Your podcasts 🎙️ YouTube For engaging updates and video snippets, follow us on: 📸 Social channels Come back for new episodes every Tuesday at 21:00 (Taipei, GMT+8). Please give us feedback and share the podcast with others to help mainstream the conversation.

“My mother tongue is Amis, but my tribal language is Sakizaya,” says Mulihay Talus. Like many Sakizaya, whose ancestors sought refuge among the Amis—Taiwan’s largest Indigenous group—Mulihay grew up without her native language, only beginning to learn Sakizaya as an adult. Now, as an activist and media worker, Mulihay is dedicated to revitalising her language. She explains that while Sakizaya and Amis are closely related, they remain distinctly different languages. At the end of this episode, Mulihay also teaches us some useful Sakizaya phrases. Find #InTaiwanWeSpeak on: 🎧 Your podcasts 🎙️ YouTube For engaging updates and video snippets, follow us on: 📸 Social channels Come back for new episodes every Tuesday at 21:00 (Taipei, GMT+8). Please give us feedback and share the podcast with others to help mainstream the conversation.

The Sakizaya people were once thought to have perished in a war with the Qing. However, 150 years later, in 2007, Taiwan officially recognised them as a distinct Indigenous group, thanks to the tireless efforts of Sakizaya activists like Talus Takas. In this episode, we speak with Mulihay Talus, the daughter of the late activist Talus Takas, who continues her father’s legacy by championing the preservation of Sakizaya culture and the revitalisation of its language. As an activist, educator, and media worker, Mulihay shares the remarkable history of her people and explains to us the significance of the Fire God Festival, a powerful ritual that honours the ancestors who perished in the flames of that historic battle. Find #InTaiwanWeSpeak on: 🎧 Your podcasts 🎙️ YouTube For engaging updates and video snippets, follow us on: 📸 Social channels Come back for new episodes every Tuesday at 21:00 (Taipei, GMT+8). Please give us feedback and share the podcast with others to help mainstream the conversation.

Did you know that in Taigi, some words must be pronounced through the nose? This subtle nuance differentiates words like soa (sand) from soaⁿ (mountain). Nasal vowels are just one of the fascinating aspects our guest Lîm Sim-An shares about his language. He also challenges the preconception that Taigi is a ‘backward language’, showing us how it can be modern, fashionable, and even cute—introducing to us some adorable words you might use in conversation with Taiwanese speakers. Don’t miss the second half of our interview with Lîm Sim-An, app developer and creator of the Taro Taiwanese Dictionary. Find #InTaiwanWeSpeak on: 🎧 Your podcasts 🎙️ YouTube For engaging updates and video snippets, follow us on: 📸 Social channels Come back for new episodes every Tuesday at 21:00 (Taipei, GMT+8). Please give us feedback and share the podcast with others to help mainstream the conversation.

Have you heard of a Taiwanese dictionary that once topped Duolingo on the App Store? In this episode, we welcome Lîm Sim-An, the creator of Taro Taiwanese Dictionary. Inspired by his own journey of reconnecting with his native language Taigi, Sim-An built an app to help others on the same path. “I think my grandma would be proud,” he shares as he reflects on his work and its deeper message: “There are no ‘backward’ languages, only languages whose development has been hindered.” Tune in now to hear Sim-An’s story! Find #InTaiwanWeSpeak on: 🎧 Your podcasts 🎙️ YouTube For engaging updates and video snippets, follow us on: 📸 Social channels Come back for new episodes every Tuesday at 21:00 (Taipei, GMT+8). Please give us feedback and share the podcast with others to help mainstream the conversation.

In the final part of our interview with Indigenous curator Biung Ismahasan, we dive into what it means to curate art that honours Indigenous cultures while embracing cross-border Indigenous solidarity. Biung leaves us with some meaningful Bunun words full of elder wisdom. Find #InTaiwanWeSpeak on: 🎧 Your podcasts 🎙️ YouTube For engaging updates and video snippets, follow us on: 📸 Social channels Come back for new episodes every Tuesday at 21:00 (Taipei, GMT+8). Please give us feedback and share the podcast with others to help mainstream the conversation.

Several years ago, Biung Ismahasan donated his kidney to save his father from the grip of alcoholism, extending his life by several years. After his father’s passing, Biung honoured him in the way he knew best—by gathering their community at his father’s tomb and staging a powerful art performance titled “Takiunun” (‘kidney’ in the Bunun language). In this deeply personal episode, we talk with Biung about his late father, the impact of alcoholism on their lives, and the power of art in preserving memories and healing grief. Find #InTaiwanWeSpeak on: 🎧 Your podcasts 🎙️ YouTube For engaging updates and video snippets, follow us on: 📸 Social channels Come back for new episodes every Tuesday at 21:00 (Taipei, GMT+8). Please give us feedback and share the podcast with others to help mainstream the conversation.

Biung Ismahasan is an Indigenous art curator and scholar from the Bunun nation of Taiwan. In this episode, he speaks about the profound impact typhoon Morakot had on his homeland Namasia, and discusses how this tragedy has shaped his curatorial work. Find #InTaiwanWeSpeak on: 🎧 Your podcasts 🎙️ YouTube For engaging updates and video snippets, follow us on: 📸 Social channels Come back for new episodes every Tuesday at 21:00 (Taipei, GMT+8). Please give us feedback and share the podcast with others to help mainstream the conversation.

In this episode, we sit down with Rebecca Lin, a British-Taiwanese scholar who, after spending most of her life in Leicester, UK, has returned to her mother’s homeland of Taiwan. Join us as Rebecca shares her transformative journey of discovering the rich cultural and linguistic diversity of Taiwan while reconnecting with her own roots. We also delve into Formosan Futures, an art exhibition highlighting Taiwan’s Indigenous heritage that Rebecca curated. Stay with us until the end of the episode, where Rebecca presents the song “Kavulungan” by Paiwan musician Giyu Tjuljaviya, with an English translation provided by Han-Ling Wu (吳翰霖). Find #InTaiwanWeSpeak on: 🎧 Your podcasts 🎙️ YouTube For engaging updates and video snippets, follow us on: 📸 Social channels Come back for new episodes every Tuesday at 21:00 (Taipei, GMT+8). Please give us feedback and share the podcast with others to help mainstream the conversation.

“Even if we only speak one word or sing one song, the language will continue.” This is how our guest Kaisanan Ahuan speaks of Taokas, his ancestral language that was once considered dormant. In the final part of our interview, we talk with activist Kaisanan Ahuan about the revitalisation process his language is undergoing. He also teaches us some useful words in Taokas. We invite our audience to learn them with us. Find #InTaiwanWeSpeak on: 🎧 Your podcasts 🎙️ YouTube For engaging updates and video snippets, follow us on: 📸 Social channels Come back for new episodes every Tuesday at 21:00 (Taipei, GMT+8). Please give us feedback and share the podcast with others to help mainstream the conversation.

Taokas is one of the Indigenous peoples of Taiwan’s central-western plains. Along with other tribes of this area, such as Pazeh, Kaxabu, Papora, and Babuza, they were driven eastwards into the mountains by newcomers eyeing their land. Today, activists from these communities are joining forces to revive their languages and identities. They draw inspiration from the Kingdom of Dadu, a supra-tribal alliance that once resisted Taiwan’s first colonisers, albeit unsuccessfully. Tune in as we hear from Taokas activist Kaisanan Ahuan about his people’s fight for recognition. Find #InTaiwanWeSpeak on: 🎧 [Your podcasts](https://pod.link/1716502013) 🎙️ [YouTube](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHMAirY2XP7UBd8R8yGUhZapZHawcGn_j&si=ksOzhi_gWGgKFr75) For engaging updates and video snippets, follow us on: 📸 [Social channels](https://linktr.ee/in_taiwan_we_speak) Come back for new episodes every Tuesday at 21:00 (Taipei, GMT+8). Please give us feedback and share the podcast with others to help mainstream the conversation.

“Intermarried and disappeared.” This is what some textbooks say about the Taokas, one of many unrecognised Indigenous groups of Taiwan’s western plains. This used to puzzle Kaisanan Ahuan as a student, but now he is actively advocating for the recognition of his people. “We are still here,” he says, as he shares his people’s forgotten history of anti-Dutch resistance, wars, and forced migration. Find #InTaiwanWeSpeak on: 🎧 Your podcasts 🎙️ YouTube For engaging updates and video snippets, follow us on: 📸 Social channels Come back for new episodes every Tuesday at 21:00 (Taipei, GMT+8). Please give us feedback and share the podcast with others to help mainstream the conversation.

“Tjakudayi”—a Paiwan expression of helplessness and the name of a performance that TAI Body Theatre will bring to Paris this year. The Indigenous-led contemporary dance troupe is one of many performing groups representing Taiwan at this year’s Cultural Olympiad, organised by Paris alongside the Olympics. In this episode, Lin Chihyu, the troupe’s executive producer, tells us about their performance and the challenging conversations they had before eventually deciding to participate. Find #InTaiwanWeSpeak on: 🎧 Your podcasts 🎙️ YouTube For engaging updates and video snippets, follow us on: 📸 Social channels Come back for new episodes every Tuesday at 21:00 (Taipei, GMT+8). Please give us feedback and share the podcast with others to help mainstream the conversation.

Despite persistent anti-Taiwanese discrimination on UN platforms, Tuhi Martukaw works to empower Taiwanese Indigenous youth to participate. It was the UN that once inspired Tuhi to learn her own people’s history, often overlooked in Taiwanese schools. Join us for the last part of our insightful conversation with activist and journalist Tuhi Martukaw, where she discusses the challenges Indigenous Taiwanese still face both at home and abroad, and what needs to be done to help Indigenous youth confidently speak their language and embrace their identity. Find #InTaiwanWeSpeak on: 🎧 Your podcasts 🎙️ YouTube For engaging updates and video snippets, follow us on: 📸 Social channels Come back for new episodes every Tuesday at 21:00 (Taipei, GMT+8). Please give us feedback and share the podcast with others to help mainstream the conversation.

Several years ago, Tuhi Martukaw initiated a working group for Indigenous youth, inspiring them to participate actively in discussions that directly affect their communities. “Nothing about us without us,” says Tuhi, as her native Pinuyumayan community is once again resisting a development project launched without their consent. Where does Taiwan stand in ensuring local Indigenous decision-making? And what is it like to seek international recognition as both Indigenous and Taiwanese? Join us as we delve into these issues with Tuhi Martukaw, an activist, journalist, and one of Taiwan’s representatives at the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. Listen to #InTaiwanWeSpeak on podcast platforms of your choice. Also, follow Radio Taiwan International on socials and YouTube for updates and short video snippets! Come back for new episodes every Tuesday at 21:00 (Taipei, GMT+8). Please give us feedback and share the podcast with others to help mainstream the conversation.

Tuhi Martukaw comes from a small yet vibrant Indigenous community of just over 14,000 people living in Taitung County. Historically, her nation was mistakenly called #Puyuma after one of its constituent groups. Today, Tuhi’s people are revitalising their culture and identity, united under the new self-chosen name — #Pinuyumayan. In the season’s premiere, activist, journalist and TV presenter Tuhi Martukaw (Jocelyn Ting-Hui Hung Chien) takes us on a journey through her homeland. Tune in now to hear about the vibrant traditions and celebrations her nation is reviving and a swing so tall you can see the Pacific. Listen to #InTaiwanWeSpeak on podcast platforms of your choice. Also, follow Radio Taiwan International on socials and YouTube for updates and short video snippets! Come back for new episodes every Tuesday at 21:00 (Taipei, GMT+8). Please give us feedback and share the podcast with others to help mainstream the conversation.

Have you ever thought that Chinese tones are difficult to learn? Wait until you hear about Tâi-gí's tone-changing system. Also known as tone sandhi, this system might seem extremely complex, but it helps the language sound melodic — one of Tâi-gí's truly unique features. Want to learn more about tone change, as well as some useful Tâi-gí phrases? Listen to the last part of our conversation with Kí Phín-tsì (紀品志), a Tâi-gí linguist, translator, and co-creator of the Bite-Size Taiwanese podcast. New episodes are released every Tuesday at 21:00 (Taipei, GMT+8). For engaging updates and video snippets of #InTaiwanWeSpeak, follow Radio Taiwan International on socials and YouTube ⁠here⁠. Give us feedback and share the podcast with others to help mainstream the conversation.

“A light-hearted, fun and occasionally funny.” Such was the Bite-Size Taiwanese podcast that taught everyday Tâi-gí to its audience. The project is no longer active, but its legacy continues to inspire many to take up learning Tâi-gí and those who speak it — to educate others. In this part of our interview, Kí Phín-tsì (紀品志), one of the podcast’s creators, talks about the project’s history, as well as his own story of becoming a Tâi-gí linguist and educator. New episodes are released every Tuesday at 21:00 (Taipei, GMT+8). For engaging updates and video snippets of #InTaiwanWeSpeak, follow Radio Taiwan International on socials and YouTube ⁠here⁠. Give us feedback and share the podcast with others to help mainstream the conversation.