The European Union has reaffirmed support for Taiwan’s international participation, stating that U.N. General Assembly Resolution 2758 does not mention Taiwan. In response, Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry said the EU’s position underscores the high priority that like-minded democratic partners place on Taiwan and peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

This week, hosts Amanda and Hanna are tackling a few recent topics (the Ed Sheeran tour debacle, and Anthropic's media disaster or strategy ahead of it's IPO release), before getting into two topics Amanda has wanted to pop off about for a long time: The slow death of physical media with Sony’s announcement that they’ll no longer be producing game discs, and the "old-igarchy" in the USA with Mitch McConnell's shocking reappearance into American politics, for better and seemingly much, much worse. Read along with us! News Salad: 1. All supporting acts withdraw from Ed Sheeran’s tour in solidarity with Macklemore (Adrian Horton, The Guardian), 2. Anthropic IPO won't be slowed by safety uproar (Axios),  3. AI fears send cybersecurity stocks higher (Axios) Sony vs digital ownership: 1. Physical disc production ending in January 2028 for new games releasing on PlayStation consoles (Sony announcement), 2. PlayStation wants to prove in court that you don't own your digital game...

How do you remain compassionate toward someone in distress while making sure their fear, anger, or uncertainty does not influence you or the words you interpret? In earlier episodes, English–Chinese court interpreter Angel Kao took us through the unexpected journey that led her into Taiwan’s courts and revealed why the work demands far more than fluency. From unfamiliar legal terms and intense concentration to responsibilities and risks that often remain unseen, her story introduced us to a profession where even the smallest detail can matter. If you missed those conversations, listen to parts one and two to hear how Angel found her way into the profession—and what really happens behind the scenes of a courtroom assignment. Today, Mary Anne Sioco turns to the deeply human side of court interpreting. Angel reflects on the delicate balance between empathy and neutrality, explains why cultural context can change the meaning behind seemingly simple words, and considers whethe...

Because of the of the cultural importance of her work, and the depth of Kushner’s reporting, this episode has been published longer than our typical shows to keep as much of our conversation as possible! Today we're sitting down with independent journalist Jacob Kushner to discuss his piece for Now Voyager magazine which does an empathetic deep-dive into the ultra-influential writer Sanmao! If you haven't heard of her, you likely don't read Chinese. Her most popular work, Stories of the Sahara, is so popular that the publishers have lost count of how many millions of copies have been sold, and that's not even getting into how her work influenced music, travel, and culture. In this interview we discuss what Kushner found investigating the veracity behind Sanmao's stories, the cultural impact, and how much it actually matters whether the stories are true grappling with a central question: how should we understand a complex author's works, including parts we disagree with, while...

Which of the following was used as currency by people in medieval England, even making it on to some of the family crests? A) Shells B) Rats C) Eels Keep listening to Formosa Fauna to find out. (Hint! It's not A.) 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. Whether it's Formosan black bears venturing closer towards people, eels being mysterious, 30+ years of observations of Taiwan's marine life becoming available to the public, or construction at the Taichung Port threatening dolphin habitats, this episode is sure to keep your appetite for knowledge satiated. 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!

What happens when a singer, raised in choir music and opera, decides to forge her own path? In this episode, I'm joined by Dory, also known as Dodo, a member of the a cappella group The Wanted and a solo artist with a unique approach to music. In our first episode, we discussed how Dory discovered her passion for music, learned harmonies from a young age, and became part of an internationally performing a cappella group. Dory explains how The Wanted creates music using only their voices and why strong rhythm and teamwork are essential in a cappella. We will also explore her solo project, the source of inspiration, and the creative freedom she finds with loopers, vocoders, and layered harmonies. Dory shares personal stories behind her songs, touching on themes of illness, love, and hope for the future. So join us and find out what goes on behind the scenes in the world of a cappella and vocals. Dorry Chien is a Taiwanese a cappella vocalist, arranger, and creator known as a...