With only a few weeks left until the year-end local elections, the Taipei mayoral race is heating up. Current Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安), who is seeking re-election, said on Wednesday that he would begin taking leave from his mayoral duties the following day to focus on campaigning.

Hanna and Amanda talk Blexas, Blouth Carolina, Blansas, and all the other unexpected victories from the United States' 2026 midterm elections, ending the episode with the last bit from our interview with Tom Wilson. Read along with us: Texas Turns Blue in Stunning Rebuke of Donald Trump, Elon Musk and GOP The FBI Anti-Corruption Squad Was Circling Susan Collins — Until Trump Got in the Way Trump’s personal push of Darline Graham in South Carolina comes back to bite his party Republicans suffer historic Senate upset as Dem flips deep-red state for first time in nearly a century Ohio Governor Results 2026 Tom Wilson's work: 1. Field notes from Douliu’s urban resilience drill (Tom Wilson, Taiwan Insight), 2. What New Zealand and Taiwan Can Learn From Each Other About Disaster Resilience (Tom Wilson, New Bloom Magazine)

Kai is back!  This time, she's joined by her dive buddy Danny to chat about one of Michelle's favorite things: diving!

What happens when a simple question “What brings you joy?” is not so simple to answer? In Part One, Mary Anne and Patty compared their striving styles assessment results, discovering where their perspectives overlap, where they differ, and what those results may reveal about the things that motivate them. Now, their conversation moves from understanding who they are to considering what makes life feel more meaningful and enjoyable. Following the Real Talk: Unmapped framework of Feel, Discuss, and Commit, they explore joy in their presonal relationships and whether it is something we naturally recognize or something we need to make room for more intentionally. Tune in for an honest and thoughtful conversation that may leave you looking at the sources of joy in your own life a little differently. If you missed Part One, listen to it first to hear the discussion that set this next conversation in motion...and to get to know Mary Anne and Patty a little better along the way.

Xiaoliuqiu is Taiwan’s only offshore coral reef island. Which of the following is true about it?   a) You can be imprisoned for up to one year for touching a sea turtle on Xiaoliuqiu   b) Xiaoliuqiu is a tourist paradise known for its attractions allowing tourists to interact with sea turtles Keep listening to find out. Formosa Fauna is back this week to entertainingly educate you about animals both in Taiwan and abroad! Spend the next 20 minutes listening to this episode and feeding your noggin with fun facts about the animal kingdom so you can become smarter than all of your friends. Beyond news out of Xiaoliuqiu, animal welfare advocates have sent 12,000 petitions to the Central Election Commission, seeking to hold a referendum on banning metal snares used to catch wild boars. Want to share your own story and have it read on air? Send your story (photos welcome) to tristan@rti.org.tw! See you every week for Formosa Fauna Fridays!

We are back for our second episode featuring a talented singer-songwriter from Thailand! Last week, Mut Matthew shared his experiences at Taiwan's songwriting camp and talked about how his musical roots inspired his journey. Today, we will focus on his latest album, *LET EVERYTHING BE DONE IN LOVE*, and more!  We will begin with a video clip of the song "Flower Dance" and explore the album's message. Matthew will also provide behind-the-scenes insights into some of his songs and discuss his next steps. Enjoy! Mut Matthew is a Thai indie pop singer-songwriter known for his emotionally driven songwriting, soulful vocals, and uplifting live performances. His music blends indie and alternative pop, flowing from funky, playful tracks to deeply emotional ballads. Through vibrant performances, he creates music that resonates with audiences across cultures. Since launching his solo project in 2024, Matthew has built momentum through showcase performances, festival appearances, and ...