Come Along!

In this episode, you'll hear from Alice Sheu, a returning guest of the show. Alice Sheu is harpsichordist, historical organist, and pianist from Taiwan, currently based in the Netherlands. Alice shares with us the upcoming performances for the 2024 Taiwan Early Music Festival: Tears of Zeelandia. There will be several exciting early music performances taking place in September. The performances will feature several fascinating instruments, as well as psalms sung in the Siraya language of the indigenous Siraya people of Taiwan. The theme, Tears of Zeelandia, is informed by the history of Dutch Formosa in Taiwan. It’s been exactly 400 years since 1624, when the Dutch East India Company landed in Taiwan. Have you wondered what music sounded like back then? To tell us more, let's welcome Alice Sheu. Click here to learn more of the 2024 Taiwan Early Music Festival: Tears of Zeelandia

This is part 2 of my conversation with Asia Gilharry from Belize. In the previous episode, Asia shares with us the history, languages, and food of Belize. Today, we will learn about the magnificent nature of Belize, the tight-knit community of Asia’s hometown, Corozal, culture shock Asia experienced as a student in Taiwan, and what she aspires to do as a fresh graduate of International Relations and Diplomacy. Let's jump right back into it.

Do you know Belize and Taiwan have been diplomatic allies for many years? Bilateral relations between Belize and Taiwan have been maintained since 1989. What do you know of the country, Belize? There’s so much to learn about this diverse country in Central America. Today, you’ll hear from Asia Gilharry, who’s from Corozal Town, Belize, and is the president of the Belize Taiwan Association. Asia has been living in Taiwan for around 5 years. She shares with us what brought her to Taiwan and how Belize’s history informs the languages, education, food, and music of this diverse country. Let’s get started. Stay tuned for part 2 coming out next week. Cover photo: Asia dancing at a cultural exchange program in Taiwan. (Photo: The Central American Trade Office)

Welcome to part 2 of my conversation with Yen (CHOU Tung-yen), founder and director of Very Theatre Company & Very Mainstream Studio. Very Theatre Company is based in Taiwan and takes new media as core and focuses on creating interdisciplinary works with strong emphasis on narrative. Their work invites participants to explore and reflect on intimacy, trust, life experiences of the LGBTQ+ community, and so much more. Today we touch on how to create a space where people feel comfortable to share their vulnerability, when digital tech is involved. What are some ways cutting edge technology could foster interpersonal trust? Yen also shares with us what’s next for Very Theatre. Check out the website of Very Theatre

To be honest with you (pun intended), it's hard to put into words how intriguing and fascinating the work of my featured guest and their team is. In this episode, you'll hear from Yen (CHOU Tung-yen), founder and director of Very Theatre Company & Very Mainstream Studio. Very Theatre Company is based in Taiwan and takes new media as core and focuses on creating interdisciplinary works with strong emphasis on narrative. Their work invites participants to explore and reflect on intimacy, trust, life experiences of the LGBTQ+ community, and so much more. Very Theatre Company has participated in many local and international film festivals and one of their immersive VR experiences, Traversing the Mist recently won the Top Prize, the Grand Jury Prize at the NewImages Festival in Paris. Let's hear from Yen. Check out the website of Very Theatre

This is part 2 of my interview with Dr. Stephen Clingman, the author of the exhibition catalogue for the exhibition, William Kentridge, which is currently on view at the Taipei Fine Arts Museum till September 1, 2024. Make sure to listen to part 1 if you haven’t. Towards the end of part 1, we paused at talking about how Kentridge’s animation, such as Ubu Tells the Truth draws people in. In this episode, Stephen shares with us how Kentridge’s work welcomes people to explore the boundary space together, to reflect on the darkness of colonialism and apartheid, and realize how we need both light and shade to see, to really make sense of our world and our relation to it. We also talked about the piece Sibyl, which you definitely should not miss out at the Taipei Fine Arts Museum. Stephen also shares with us the incredible energy of Kentridge’s studio from his visits. Learn more of Dr. Stephen Clingman Learn more of the exhibition, William Kentridge Check out the exhibition catalogue by Clingman

In this episode you’ll hear from Dr. Stephen Clingman, Distinguished University Professor Emeritus of English at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and the author of the exhibition catalogue for the exhibition William Kentridge at the Taipei Fine Arts Museum. During his time in Taipei, Clingman also gave a keynote speech “The World as Animation: William Kentridge’s Art of the Boundary.” We will dive deeper into the works and stories of the South African artist William Kentridge together, including his use of charcoal, approaches to animation, and how the apartheid and post-apartheid era shaped his work. Let’s get started. Stay tuned for part 2 coming up next week. Learn more of Dr. Stephen Clingman Learn more of the exhibition, William Kentridge

The exhibition, William Kentridge is open and will be on till September 1, 2024 at the Taipei Fine Arts Museum. The exhibition is a collaboration between the Taipei Fine Arts Museum and the Royal Academy of Arts (RA) in London and it is also William Kentridge’s first time showing in Taiwan. In this episode you’ll hear from the curator of the exhibition, Adrian Locke, of the Royal Academy of Arts in London. William Kentridge was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 1955. Kentridge’s art is shaped by apartheid and grounded in the politics of the post-apartheid era, and in science, literature, and history. Kentridge’s parents were prominent lawyers for their defence of victims of apartheid, which has a deep influence on him. Kentridge’s charcoal drawings, films, and animation are also informed by his experience in acting. Let's hear from curator Adrian Locke. Learn more about the exhibition here.

In this episode, we’ll get to know more of the actor and director, Ulrike Arnold. Ulrike is from Germany, and was in Taiwan not long ago for the 2024 Taiwan Traditional Theater Festival. She performed in the theater production “Forgery of Zhong Kui, a Portrait of the Demon Queller” from April 12-14. It’s Ulrike’s first time performing in Taiwan. In Germany, she performs with the State Theater of Nuremberg. What’s the theater scene like in Germany? What was Ulrike’s first impression of Zhong Kui (鍾馗), an intriguing figure in East Asian mythology? We also talked about stories of older women in theater and film, the Bechdel test, and more. You can follow Ulrike Arnold on IMDb and here.

This is part 2 of my interview with Taiwanese painter Peihang Benoît (Pei). Pei recently just wrapped up her solo exhibit 7 RUE DES FOSSÉS SAINT-JACQUES at TGK+ Galley in Taipei. Through the exhibit, Pei welcomes you to her space and her way of portraying, and telling stories of domestic life, life of a parent, a woman, a human who longs for a joyful life. We also chatted about her previous exhibit on Barbie, where Pei shared her thoughts on the human form and how stories of her personal life, where there’s vulnerability, struggling moments, and doubts, like all of ours, inform her as a painter. Let's dive right in. Website of Peihang Benoît: https://peihangbenoit.com/ Pei at TGK+ Gallery: https://www.tkgplus.com/exhibitions/130/overview/

It's Sharon and I am back from my travels! My last stop was Paris, France, which is so fitting for this episode featuring Taiwanese painter, Peihang Benoît. Peihang or Pei has a solo exhibit currently on at TKG+ Gallery in Taipei, titled 7 RUE DES FOSSÉS SAINT-JACQUES. It’ll be on till April 20, this Saturday! Make sure to go check it out before it closes. Peihang's works have been exhibited in the Saatchi Gallery, Macau Art Museum, Museum of Tokyo University of the Arts, National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, and many places in the U.K., China, Japan, South Korea, Germany and many other countries. Peihang currently lives in Paris, and I got to chat with her during her visit in March for her solo exhibit 7 RUE DES FOSSÉS SAINT-JACQUES. What does the title entail? How has Peihang's multicultural upbringing and education influenced her work? How has motherhood informed Peihang as an artist and as a person? Let's get to know more of Peihang Benoît. Stay tuned for part 2 coming up next week. More information of the exhibit: https://www.tkgplus.com/exhibitions/130/overview/

This is part 2 of my interview with Palestinian filmmaker and artist Jumana Manna on her film Foragers. Foragers is featured in this year's Taipei Biennial which will be on till March 24. In this episode, we'll dive more into what Jumana’s neighbors and family went through, which are the stories that inspired the film. Jumanna also touches on the displacement of Palestinians from their villages, controversial laws like the Law of Return, and the ongoing violence from the Israeli military in Gaza. You can watch Foragers every afternoon (except for Monday) at the Taipei Fine Arts Museum as part of the Taipei Biennial. More info: https://www.taipeibiennial.org/2023/content/screenings-afternoonprogram Check out Jumana’s website to keep following her work: https://www.jumanamanna.com/

For today's show, I got to chat with Palestinian filmmaker and artist Jumana Manna on her film Foragers. Foragers is featured in this year's Taipei Biennial which will be on till March 24. You can watch Foragers every day except Monday in the cinema room at the Taipei Fine Arts Museum. Foragers is a film about the practice of Palestinians foraging for wild edible plants like Za'atar and Akkoub. Yet, this long-existing Palestinian tradition is deemed "illegal" according to the laws of the current state of Israel. We'll get to know more of why Jumana wanted to create the film and the stories behind it. Let's welcome, Jumana Manna. Stay tuned for part 2 of the interview coming up next week. You can watch Foragers every afternoon (except for Monday) at the Taipei Fine Arts Museum as part of the Taipei Biennial. More info: https://www.taipeibiennial.org/2023/content/screenings-afternoonprogram Get to know more of Jumana’s work: https://www.jumanamanna.com/

Today, I’m bringing you part 2 of my interview with the magical hairdresser, Danny Beuerbach. Make sure to listen to the previous episode if you haven't. Danny was at the 2024 International Book Exhibition in Taipei not long ago, with his project “Book a look and read my book.” During the exhibition, many visitors enjoyed Danny's service while reading a book together. It's a heart-warming scene to see. If this project is planting a seed in people, what does Danny hope it could grow into? Hope you enjoy this episode that's filled with personal stories, vulnerability, and empathy of Danny Beuerbach. Danny’s Instagram: @bookalook_and-read_my_book Danny’s website: https://dannybeuerbach.de/

The 2024 Taipei International Book Exhibition was just over yesterday. I was there and hope you got a chance to visit as well. Did you make your way to the German booth? Some of you book lovers might have noticed a fun activity at the booth of the project by German hairdresser Danny Beuerbach called “Book a look and read my book.” During the international book exhibition in Taipei, Danny offered discounted or even free haircuts to visitors who read out loud from a book of their choice. Before the exhibition started, Danny stopped by the studio to have a chat with me. Let’s get to know more about The Magical Hairdresser himself. Stay tuned for part 2 coming out next week. Danny’s Instagram: @bookalook_and_read_my_book Danny’s website: https://dannybeuerbach.de/

Today, I’m bringing you part 2 of my interview with Jason Hsu, founder of Switch Taipei, a group that's dedicated to creating a LGBTQAI+ friendly community in Swing Dance, especially Lindy Hop, in Taiwan. Jason is also dedicated to raising cultural awareness through dance. Last week, we wrapped up our conversation on approaching “improvisation.” Today, Jason is sharing more with us, such as: How do the 2 dancers in a partner dance know what to do next? How to raise people’s awareness when approaching the concept "vintage?”  You can follow Jason's work here: https://www.switchtaipei.com/ Instagram @switchtaipei_pridevoice Podcast: Pride Voice/Swing大小事

Picture a partner dance. What image would you think of? Who is usually the leader or follower in the dance Lindy Hop, for example? Today, we have Jason Hsu, founder of Switch Taipei, a group that's dedicated to creating a LGBTQAI+ friendly community in Swing Dance (especially Lindy Hop) in Taiwan. Lindy Hop originated from the African American community, and this month, February, is also Black History Month in the United States. Jason would also share with us why it's important to know the history of dances you're learning. Everything is connected to everything. Shall we dance? You can follow Jason's work here: https://www.switchtaipei.com/ Instagram @switchtaipei_pridevoice Podcast: Pride Voice/Swing大小事

Welcome to part 2 of my interview with Taiwanese writer, the one and only, Kevin Chen (陳思宏). Where does Kevin usually write? What is his writing process like? In the fast-paced world filled with technology now, what is our relationship like with the written word? Also, what could readers expect from Kevin Chen in 2024? Without further ado, let's jump right back in. Don't forget to head to @rtienglish on Instagram for more video highlights. See you there!

Have you heard of the book Ghost Town鬼地方, written by Taiwanese writer Kevin Chen (陳思宏)？If you haven't, put this book and this writer on your radar. Kevin Chen's Ghost Town was included in the New York Times list of “33 Works of Fiction and Poetry Coming This Fall” in 2022, and has won many other international awards as well. Ghost Town first came out in 2019, and has since been translated to 12 languages, including English, German, French, Japanese, Thai, Korean, Greek, and more to come. His many other works are also well-loved by readers in Taiwan and worldwide. Today, we're doing a personal dive into the world of Kevin Chen. Kevin and I share a lot in common: We both graduated from the English Department of Fu Jen Catholic University in Taiwan, both are logophiles (lover of words), both have a lot to say about the word 鬼 "Ghost" in a Taiwanese context, and we both struggle to keep houseplants alive. Kevin's words are like keys, leading his readers to the fantastical world he created. Before entering, maybe, remember to knock on the door.  Stay tuned for part 2 of our interview coming up next Monday! Head to @rtienglish on Instagram for more video highlights!

The Taiwan Pavilion at the upcoming 2024 Venice Biennale is going to be fantastic. People of the world, you should not miss it. Today, here’s part 2 of my interview with curator of the Taiwan Pavilion, Abby Chen (陳暢). Make sure to listen to the previous episode if you haven't. Artist Goang-Ming Yuan (袁廣鳴) has prepared a great show of resilience, of home, and of course, of Taiwan for you, in an accessible and intimate way as well. Let’s hop right back in with curator Abby Chen. Don’t forget to head to our instagram @rtienglish for more video highlights. The Taiwan Pavilion will be at the Palazzo delle Prigioni from April 20 to November 24, 2024!

This April 20 to November 24, the Taiwan Pavilion will be at the Palazzo delle Prigioni at the 2024 Venice Biennale, which is often referred to as one of the most important contemporary visual art exhibitions in the world. What can we expect from Taiwan this year? Why is it at this location? What’s the curatorial approach? Artist Goang-Ming Yuan (袁廣鳴) and curator Abby Chen (陳暢) will be putting on a great show for you. Get yourself ready! Stay tuned for part 2 of this interview coming up next Monday on Come Along! Also, check out @rtienglish on Instagram for video highlights. See you there! Read more on the 2024 Taiwan Pavilion here.

Today, we’re heading to Bombay, India, through the exhibit Lines Between the City by artist Amol K. Patil, and curator Han-Fang Wang. Lines Between the City will be on at TKG+ gallery in Taipei till January 27. Check out their website for more information. This exhibit is informed by a demolished wall from a gentrified chawl in Bombay, and charts a daily route which the dwellers travel to navigate the city. And through this path, visitors are invited to ponder on issues of caste, class, and labor conditions in current day India and also, places they call home now. This interview was recorded remotely, with Amol calling in from Amsterdam, where he’s currently doing a residency. Let’s get started.

Hey you, it’s Sharon. Welcome back to my show Come Along, or if you’re new here, welcome. Also, welcome to a new year! I'm pretty sure we'd all like to see a strong, beautiful start to a new year. I got you. For today, I'm bringing you part 2 of my interview with Nader Ihmoud and Tariq Suboh of the Palestine National Baseball Team! They were here in Taiwan for the 2023 Asian Baseball Championship from December 3- December 10. Make sure to listen to the previous episode if you haven't. This interview is filled with warmth, laughter, solidarity, and important stories you have to know of. Stay tuned on our YouTube channel, click Podcast-Come Along for a video of this full interview! And checkout our Instagram @rtienglish for more highlights. Today's episode, we are picking up where we left off. We wrapped up our conversation for part 1, talking about the game between Team Palestine and Team Taiwan on December 5 where Team Taiwan won the game at 19-0 (well, Team Taiwan is pretty good). Yet, it's more than just about the scores. What Team Palestine demonstrated in that game, I think, is the very definition of not only sportsmanship but also the beauty of humanity. And in that game against Team Taiwan, there were many unforgettable highlights from Team Palestine as well! Today, we're picking up our chat with the outstanding performance of their starting pitcher Yunis Halim! You remember that brilliant catch at the top of the 5th inning? That's him! That's our guy! Also, we have to talk about what the baseball scene is like in Palestine, under the oppressive occupation of the state of Israel, and many important connotations that come with this. This is just the beginning for the Palestine National Baseball Team. Their story will continue. Without further ado,hit play, and let's get back to our chat!

Welcome back to Come Along, or if you’re new here, welcome. It’s Monday and we’re starting off the week strong and beautiful, just like what my 2 wonderful guests and their team embody. Let’s give a warm welcome to Nader Ihmoud and Tariq Suboh of the Palestine National Baseball Team! They were here in Taiwan for the 2023 Asian Baseball Championship from December 3-10, 2023. In this episode, Nader and Tariq shares with us how the Palestine National Baseball Team came about, who the coolest guy on the team is, the first ever home run of the team in an international game by Tariq Suboh, their first win against Team Hong Kong, and of course, the game against Team Taiwan. Stay tuned for part 2 coming out next Monday, and trust me, you wouldn’t want to miss it. Also, head to our Instagram @rtienglish for video highlights. Listen till the end and head to this episode's page on Radio Taiwan International's website for a special music broadcast. The soundscape you’ll hear is from Radio Alhara of Palestine, titled Christmas In Mourning, which was broadcasted on Christmas eve at 8pm Bethlehem time. Click here for more information. Stay warm, and I’ll see you next week for part 2 of my interview with Nader and Tariq.

Today we're bringing you part 2 of my interview with Alice Sheu and Iris Bouman. We are once again diving into the world of European early music with our 2 guests, harpsichordist Alice Sheu from Taiwan and mezzo-soprano Iris Bouman from the Netherlands. Make sure to listen to part 1 “Early music during Shakespeare's time, in Taiwan!” if you haven’t. In this episode, we'll have a peek into what daily life is like as early musicians. What takes up most of their time? What sorts of sources would they go look for? Old text? Museum collections? And how to, for example, rearrange a piece of 17th century music into modern scores? What is it like maintaining a harpsichord so it's fit and ready to be played? Alice and Iris are here to share with us. Guess what, there will be exciting early music performances to look forward to in 2024 in Taiwan, in light of the 400 year anniversary of Fort Zeelandia in Tainan, southern Taiwan. It was built in the Dutch Formosa period in Taiwan. Without further ado, hit play and let's continue to nerd out together. Follow Alice’s work here, and Iris’ work here. Stay tuned for their upcoming performances!

Today, December 11, is a day of global strike for solidarity with the people of Gaza, of Palestine and to pressure government officials, especially ones of the US, to call for a permanent ceasefire. This global strike was started by 2 journalists from Gaza, Bisan and Motaz. I’ve been following their work for some time now, and have deep respect for their work, and what they’ve demonstrated for our humanity. This is an episode I’m making in solidarity with the people of Palestine on this global strike day. I thought what I would say to wrap up today’s episode would be something like, “next week we will continue with our regular programming with this and that…” But I think no, this is exactly why I started my show Come Along. Through talking about historic sites, culture, and topics under the arts and humanities, I hope we could hear stories from all walks of life, of people we’ve never thought we’d meet, from places we didn’t know existed. Hope you feel all the warmth and love I’m sending out via this episode. Huge shoutout to all the brave journalists of Gaza, especially Bisan, Motaz, and Plestia. And thank you, listener, for tuning in. See you next week.

On today’s Come Along, we are diving into the world of European early music (once again!) with our 2 guests, harpsichordist Alice Sheu from Taiwan and mezzo-soprano Iris Bouman from the Netherlands. I highly recommend you to also check out previous episodes on Come Along with Dutch harpsichordist Pieter-Jan Belder, and the one with the Gleam Ensemble, to get to know more of the European early music scene in Taiwan. In this episode, Alice and Iris talk about the beautiful concert in October in Taipei, Lachrimae, featuring music from the time of Elizabeth I and Shakespeare, especially the composer John Dowland, with Alice on the Virginal, Iris singing (mezzo-soprano), and Chun-Yuan Yang on the viola da gamba. They also share behind-the-scenes work as early music musicians, like Iris’ Baroque gesture workshop in Taipei, collaborating with the Gleam Ensemble, and Alice’s work on harpsichord conservation at the National Music Museum in South Dakota in the U.S. We nerd out a lot during our chat, and hope you enjoy it as much as we do! Stay tuned for part 2 of our interview next Monday where they tease us about exciting programs in Taiwan in 2024 for the 400th anniversary of Fort Zeelandia in Tainan City, during the Dutch Colonial period in Taiwan. Alice Sheu is a harpsichordist, historical organist, and pianist from Taiwan, currently based in the Netherlands. Alice holds a Masters in harpsichord performance from the Royal Conservatory of The Hague in the Netherlands and a Ph.D. in (computational/physical) chemistry from the University of Chicago. Alice is the organizer of the Fitzwilliam Festival Taiwan earlier this year in January. Follow Alice’s work here. Iris Bouman is a mezzo-soprano from the Netherlands. Iris has a masters diploma in early singing from the Conservatory of Amsterdam. She sings with the Netherlands Bach Society and Amsterdam Baroque Choir and she’s also a soloist of The Hague baroque ensemble Musica Poetica. Follow Iris’ work here.

Today, we will continue our chat with the powerful, wonderful, Palestinian artist Samia Halaby, who was here in Taipei for the 2023 Taipei Biennial. At the end of the previous episode, we touched on the Nakba in 1948. Today we will follow Samia’s memories of the effects of the Nakba on Palestinians, and more. In this episode we will talk about Samia’s documentary drawings of the 1956 Kafr Qasim massacre, and her olive trees series in light of the long term oppression on Palestinians by the state of Israel, and the current situation in Gaza, and her kinetic paintings using computer programing, her beautiful insights on being an optimist, and so much more. I choked up many times during this conversation. This is a rich interview and there are also videos of this conversation on RTI's YouTube and Instagram @rtienglish. Make sure to check them out. If you’re in Taiwan, do not miss out on the 2023 Taipei Biennial. It’ll be on till March 24 of 2024. It's brilliant! See you there! Samia, thank you again.

On today’s Come Along, I’m joined by the legend, the one and only, Samia Halaby, who is turning 87 very soon! Halaby is a pioneer of abstract art, and seriously, just go look her up. She’s from Palestine and is currently based in New York City. You can find Halaby’s work in museums and galleries all around the world including the Guggenheim Museum (New York City), the Institut du Monde Arabe (Paris), and of course the Palestinian Museum in Birzeit, Palestine.  In this episode we’ll talk about Halaby at this year’s Taipei Biennial, her beginnings and journey so far in abstract art, her beautiful childhood in Palestine, and the Nakba in 1948. A full video of the interview is also available on RTI’s Youtube. Make sure to check out the video and stay tuned for part 2 as we will continue our conversation next Monday. Alright, without further ado, hit play and let’s welcome, Samia Halaby.

Hey you, welcome back to my show, Come Along. Today we’re bringing you part 2 of my interview with 2 curators of this year’s Taipei Biennial, Reem Shadid and Brian Kuan Wood. Make sure to check out the previous episode if you haven’t! This year, the Taipei Biennial will be from November 18, 2023-March 24, 2024 at the Taipei Fine Arts Museum. Make sure to check out the 2023 Taipei Biennial official website and their welcoming page to stay up to date. In today’s episode, we will be sharing some artists of this year that we’re excited about. Including Samia Halaby (Palestine/New York), Li Yi-Fan (李亦凡) (Taiwan), Hsu Tsun-Hsu (許村旭)(Taiwan), Ting Shuo Hear Say (Taiwan) and many more! And there’s even an installation in the museum’s bathroom to look forward to?! Hit play and join our chat. See you at this year’s Taipei Biennial!

Hello there, it’s your host Sharon Lin and welcome back to Come Along. Today’s show is super exciting as you’ll hear from 2 of the curators of this year’s 2023 Taipei Biennial, Reem Shadid and Brian Kuan Wood. This year, the Taipei Biennial will be from November 18, 2023-March 24, 2024 at the Taipei Fine Arts Museum. This is one of the biggest, if not the biggest art event happening in Taipei in 2023-2024. This year the Taipei Biennial brings together over 50 artists from all around the world, including from Palestine, Indonesia, Germany, Lebanon, Spain, Mexico, Sri Lanka, and of course Taiwan, and the list goes on. Trust me, you wouldn’t want to miss it! Make sure to check out the 2023 Taipei Biennial official website and their welcoming page. In this episode, Reem and Brian will share with us how the team nailed down this year’s theme, Small World, and a bigger picture of what people could expect from this year’s exhibit and programs. Stay tuned for part 2 of our conversation coming out next Monday where we will name drop some artists we’re excited about with you. Stay tuned! And follow us on @rtienglish on Instagram for upcoming interview highlights. Without further ado, hit play and let’s welcome Reem Shadid and Brian Kuan Wood.

Hey there, it’s Sharon and welcome back to Come Along. For today’s show, I sat down with Alejandra Sánchez Mack, chief curator of the art exhibit, Our Second Home. The exhibit took place at the first floor gallery at Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall in September of 2023. Go follow @oursecondhome.taiwan on Instagram to learn more! It showcased artworks from 15 artists from Guatemala, Belize, Mexico, Paraguay, and Taiwan. The exhibit is organized by the Embassy of Guatemala in Taiwan, Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Central America Trade Office. Go check out a previous episode on Our Second Home where I interviewed artists from the exhibit. What brought Alejandra to Taiwan from Guatemala? What informs her curatorial work? What’s the Latin American art scene like in Taiwan now? How could art connect people from different cultures? Hit play and join our chat.

A place hits different when you’re a resident living there vs being a visitor. Today I sat down with Mick, who was born in Taiwan and had spent several years in Thailand during his childhood, about his experience. What is it like growing up in Thailand as a Taiwanese kid? What curriculum did the international school Mick went to offer? What was it like picking up Thai as a foreigner? Mick recently also traveled back to Thailand, a place where he once called home, as a visitor. What is “home?” We also compared some differences between school life in Thailand and Taiwan from our own experiences. Hit play and join our chat.

Hello there, it’s your host Sharon Lin. Today, we’re heading together to the National Human Rights Museum. Currently, there are 2 branches of the Museum open to the public: the Jingmei White Terror Memorial Park, in New Taipei City, Taiwan, and the other branch, the Green Island White Terror Memorial Park, located on Green Island, one of Taiwan’s outlying islands. You can head to a previous episode of Come Along where I introduce you to Green Island. In this episode, you’ll hear from the museum’s director, Hong Shi-fang (洪世芳). In our interview, he shared with me what visitors could see, unforgettable stories from political victims of the White Terror, educational programs the public could join, and more! There will be more related episodes coming soon on Come Along and That’s Debatable. Stay tuned! Check out the official website of the National Human Rights Museum for more information.

Hey you, today we’re picking up where we left off with jazz musician, Roger Lin. Make sure to listen to part 1 if you haven’t. In this episode, we’ll talk more about improvisation in jazz, Roger’s recording his first album“Whisper of the Isolated Ones”in 2020, which was nominated for The Best Jazz Album and The Best Jazz Composition for the 12th Golden Indie Music Award in 2021, the highest award for jazz category in Taiwan, and his experience as a Taiwanese person in jazz in the U.S. Let’s hop right in. Follow Roger Lin’s work: https://www.rogerlinmusic.com/

Roger Lin is a jazz guitarist, composer, and improviser from Taiwan. He’s currently based in Brooklyn, NY, in the U.S. Roger has performed in many venues in and around Brooklyn, Massuthusetts, Japan, and of course, Taiwan. He's played with musicians Simone Wilson, Moshe Elmakias, and Phil Grenadier. Today, he’ll share with us his time at Berklee College of Music, jazz composition, his debut album in 2020 “Whisper of the Isolated Ones" and what's next for him. Stay tuned for part 2 coming out next week! Follow Roger Lin’s work: https://www.rogerlinmusic.com/

Hey there, if one of your childhood dreams is becoming a marine biologist, this episode is for you. On today’s Come Along, we will be talking to marine biologist, Dr. Aziz J. Mulla, who’s been working in Taiwan for nearly 10 years. What was the spark for him to step into this field? Furthermore, Dr. Mulla is a coral reef ecologist. How is it like doing research on corals? How much time does he spend in the lab vs in the ocean as a marine biologist? What does scientific diving entail? What are some fascinating traits about the waters surrounding Taiwan? This is an episode you wouldn't want to miss. Hit play and let’s find out! Dr. Aziz J. Mulla is originally from the U.K. and has been a postdoctoral scholar at Academia Sinica and is currently working at National Taiwan University. He’s also been a scientific diver for many years. Follow Dr. Aziz J. Mulla's work: Twitter @AzizJMulla and Instagram @zeezymulla Make sure to check out Instagram accounts @sharonlin_human and @rtienglish for more highlights! Also check out this episode on my other show That's Debatable where Dr. Aziz J. Mulla talks about human's impact on the ocean.

Hi there, it’s your host Sharon Lin. On September 8, I went to the opening of a wonderful exhibit, Our Second Home, an exhibition of Guatemalan and Latin American Artists in Taiwan. It will be on till September 19, 2023, at the first floor gallery of Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. The exhibit showcases artworks from 15 artists from Guatemala, Belize, Mexico, Paraguay, and Taiwan. The exhibit is organized by the Embassy of Guatemala in Taiwan, Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Central America Trade Office. In this episode, you’ll hear from the chief curator, Alejandra Sanchez, and artists: Mar Zavala (Mexico), Randy Carcamo (Belize), and Javier Leon (Guatemala). Make sure to check out our Instagram @rtienglish for more highlights! Also, head to their Instagram @oursecondhome.taiwan for more content about the artists. Huge thank you to everyone who spared some time chatting with me that day. Hope you enjoy this episode. The artists featured in Our Second Home are as follows: Guatemala: Jonathan Ardon, Carlos Lopez Ayerdi, Javier Leon, Daniela Davila, Jerusha Sanchez, Alejandra Laguardia Belize: Karina Bol-Torres, Taylor Bood-Usher, Randy Carcamo Mexico: Raúl Gasque, Celina Hoyos, Marcos Monroy, Mar Zavala Paraguay: Nathalia Balmoriz Taiwan: Johnny Chen

Hey you, it’s your host Sharon Lin. Welcome to part 2 of my interview with curator Huang Yulun (黃郁倫) of the National Museum of Prehistory in Taitung. Make sure to listen to part 1 of our chat in case you missed it. We’ll have a closer look at the Museum’s Austronesian Hall, curated by Yulun, and learn about the stories behind several powerful displays visitors could see. We also touched on Taiwan’s role in the communities of Austronesian languages. Enjoy!

Hey you, it’s your host Sharon Lin. Today, we’re heading to the National Museum of Prehistory in Taitung (on the east coast of Taiwan). I’m joined by one of the Museum’s curator Huang Yulun (黃郁倫), who’s here to tell us more about the new look of the Museum after their major renovation earlier this year. What’s the significance of the Museum's current location? (Hint: It’s related to important archaeological discoveries nearby!) What exhibits and collections can visitors see? Let’s find out. Stay tuned for part 2 coming out next week! Check out latest news from the National Museum of Prehistory on their official website. Make sure to check out our Instagram @rtienglish for more photos and videos of the National Museum of Prehistory.

Have you ever been to a live drag show? Have you ever met a drag queen? If you’re thinking, “Who are drag queens? What do they do?” This episode is for you! Today, we have an up-and-coming drag queen Beauxba Tea in the studio. Beauxba Tea has performed in several venues including Café Dalida, 23 Comedy, and Ganymede in Taipei and more to come. What inspired Beauxba Tea to do drag? From creating your persona, to figuring out looks and music for each themed performance, we’ll get to know more about the behind the scene work of drag performances and what drag means to the LGBTQ+ community, from Beauxba Tea’s experience. Grab a cuppa and let’s chat with Beauxba Tea! You can follow more of Beauxba Tea’s work on Instagram @beauxbatea

What do you know of the country, Tuvalu? What images come to your mind? Maybe you’d think of Tuvalu’s diplomatic relations with Taiwan (It’s been over 40 years!). Yet, what is daily life in Tuvalu like? Today, I’m honored to have the Ambassador of Tuvalu to Taiwan, Bikenibeu Paeniu, here on Come Along. We would also get to know more of the exciting career of Ambassador Bikeni, who has served as Tuvalu’s Prime Minister three times. During his first term, at the age of 33, he was also the youngest ever Prime Minister of Tuvalu. Let’s get to know more of Tuvalu with the Ambassador!

Have you wondered what it is like being a theater actor? Imagine being on stage, lights up, everything is live, and you only have one shot. What is it like? Today, I’m joined by Ruei-Siang Chen, who’s been in many theater productions since his university days, to learn more about what the path is like. After finishing a BA in English, Ruei-Siang went on to study theater in graduate school. How was the transition? Are there some unforgettable audition experiences? What are some challenges as an actor? Let’s find out.

Hey you, it’s your host Sharon. Today, we’re continuing our chat with Taipei 101 COO of Tower Management, Michael Liu, about all things Taipei 101 and more. Make sure to check out part 1 if you haven’t. On today’s show, we’ll learn more about many ingenious designs that make Taipei 101 safe, efficient, and green. Michael will also touch on several events unique to Taipei 101, and tease us a bit about the upcoming New Year’s Eve fireworks!

This building needs no introduction, it used to be the tallest building in the world, it’s an iconic landmark of Taiwan, of East Asia, and there is so much more to learn about! It’s Taipei 101! Joining me in the studio is Taipei 101’s very own Chief Operating Officer of Tower Management, Michael Liu! What was it like planning and building such a skyscraper? What’s it like visiting the observatory where you can see all of Taipei (and more)? And folks, do you know Taipei 101 is actually a green building, having both the LEED and WELL certificates? Without further ado, let’s hop right in. Stay tuned for part 2 coming out next week!

Hey you, it’s your host Sharon. Today, we’re heading to an iconic National Park in Taiwan. It’s the Taroko National Park, located in Hualien, Taiwan! If you search for images online, you’ll find pictures with breath-taking gorges, hiking trails, winding rivers. How did the park get its name “Taroko?” What natural forces created such a landscape of Taroko National Park? Could you get here without a car (quick note: yes!)? Pack up your things. It’s time to go!

Have you ever been to any outlying island of Taiwan? Today, Sharon is taking you to one– Green Island. Green Island is a volcanic island, and well-known for its vibrant underwater wildlife. If you’re a nature lover, Green Island is a great destination for you! This island is also an important landmark for Taiwan’s history, as it used to be where the KMT government sent political dissidents for imprisonment during the White Terror. Make sure to visit the Green Island White Terror Memorial Park when you're there. Let’s hop on a short plane ride (how Sharon got there) and see what this beautiful island has to offer.

Today on Come Along, I’m joined by an old friend of mine, Eric Wang. Eric and I met during our elementary school years. Not long after elementary school, he himself moved away from Taiwan to Brinbane, Australia. What was it like to leave Taiwan at such a young age? Being so far away from family and old friends, how to handle vulnerable moments when you miss them so much? What was building a new life in a foreign country like? Where is “home?” Make yourself a nice cup of tea, or any beverage of your choice, and let’s hear about Eric’s journey together.

Hey there, it’s your host, Sharon Lin. On today’s Come Along, I got to chat with Crescens Dupuis, French interior designer and artist who’s been working and living in Italy for around 20 years, about his land art project: Corpo Geologico, which he has been doing for the past 10 years. Corpo Geologico involves stones and photo-taking, and it is still an ongoing project. Corpo Geologico was showcased as an exhibit at the Gemmellaro Archaeological Museum (Museo Geologico G. G. Gemmellaro) in Palermo, Italy in 2019. Crescens’ work has brought him to the US, Ivory Coast, the UK, Lebanon, and many more. Now, Taiwan is on the list, too! Why did he start such a land art project? What significance do the stones and the locations they were put hold? What’s next for Crescens as an artist? Let’s find out.

Hello there, it’s your host, Sharon. Have you wondered what university life is like in Taiwan, especially that of an English major? How are disciplines in the Arts perceived by the Taiwanese society in general? Also, when you decided you wanted to switch to another path that’s seemingly unrelated to your university major, what was the transition like? Today, I invited my friend, Emily, who ended up stepping into the world of interior design after her English major days, to chat with us about the challenges and unexpected surprises of this journey.