Taiwan’s Central News Agency (CNA) reported on Thursday, October 22, that foreign-funded factory expansion and a generational shift in job preferences are creating a serious structural labor gap in Vietnam. Mature AI technology from Taiwan is helping Taiwanese businesses break through the labor bottleneck.

This week, Amanda and Hanna are tackling: a new kind of oil deal that no one seems excited for, and an update on what’s going on with the Cockroach party. Then, we’ll close out with a little bit about the nobel prizes, and one winner who made us chuckle. 

In Session 3 of Geek Out!'s anniversary special play-through of Kids on Bikes, Rti's Tomasz, Hanna, Tristan, and Amanda follow the trail and find out exactly what's haunting them!  Listen to find out!

Typhoon Champi is hitting Taiwan from this Friday to Saturday. A Typhoon in October is atypical and quite surprising! Therefore, this week, we’ll learn a few words about typhoons in Tâi-gí again.  ●Words to know: 1. 風颱 hong-thai (n.) typhoon 2. 虹 khīng (n.) rainbow 3. 痟狗湧 siáu-káu-íng (n.) rogue waves 4. 透風 thàu-hong (adj.) windy 5. 落大雨 lo̍h-tuā-hōo (phr.) it rains heavily 6. 風颱尾 hong-thai-bué (n.) tail of a typhoon ●Idiom of the week: 九月颱，無人知；九月颱，慘歪歪。  Káu-gue̍h thai, bô lâng tsai; káu-gue̍h thai, tshám uai-uai. (Typhoons in the ninth month—nobody can predict them; typhoons in the ninth month—what a terrible disaster!)

Taking a step toward something meaningful is one thing. Understanding what that experience is trying to teach us is another. In the previous episode of Real Talk: Unmapped, Mary Anne explored how curiosity can become commitment through small, manageable experiments. This time, she turns to what happens afterward: how do we evaluate an experience without judging ourselves too quickly? And how can we tell the difference between genuine disinterest and the natural discomfort of trying something unfamiliar? Mary Anne also clarifies the difference between the full, paid Striving Styles Personality Assessment and a shorter personality quiz created by Dr. Anne Dranitsaris for O, The Oprah Magazine. The free quiz (available here) offers listeners an accessible introduction. Like any personality tool, however, it is best treated as a starting point for reflection rather than a final answer about who we are or what we should become. As this first Real Talk: Unmapped journey comes to a...

Which of the following is not real:  A) Climbing fish  B) Tofu cat litter  C) Bone-eating birds  D) None of the above. They’re all real. The answer is D. 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. A fish known for its ability to survive on land could be making a comeback in Kinmen, pom pom crabs that look like tiny underwater cheerleaders carry anemones around and refuse to put them down, and bearded vultures with a main diet of bones. 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!

Today, I’m speaking with Feng E, the Taiwanese ukulele virtuoso who first gained fame at just ten years old. Since then, he has evolved from a young internet sensation into one of the most exciting and technically inventive ukulele players in the world, performing internationally and demonstrating just how versatile the ukulele can be. Feng E doesn’t just play the ukulele; he is expanding what people expect from the instrument. His playing combines rhythm, melody, and soloing in a way that makes the ukulele feel larger, more dynamic, and akin to a full band. He is also venturing into new territory with his upcoming album, *Grand Tour*, which draws inspiration from classical music, bluegrass, cinematic scoring, and his own original compositions. In this first part of our conversation, we delve into the craft behind the music: how Feng E transitioned from ukulele to guitar, his approach to rhythm and solos in live performances, and what lies ahead with his U.S. solo tour and *...