The CDC announced Friday, August 14, that it will hold a meeting in late August to decide whether to extend free testing and entry bans related to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Currently, both would expire at about the end of the month.

After reading the positive news I turn to This Week in Good History to celebrate the birth of hip-hop at a Bronx back-to-school party in 1973, and the creativity, resilience and unity that turned two turntables into a global cultural movement. This episode's headlines: 105-year-old Ohio woman celebrates birthday with motorcycle ride. Portugal’s last circus elephant begins new chapter at Pangea sanctuary. Kazakhstan’s Saiga antelope population tops 4.6 million in remarkable conservation comeback. Taiwanese indigenous camellia oil wins 3-star “exquisite” at London Great Taste Awards. Four-legged surfers make waves in California. Taiwan approves Siraya as 17th Indigenous group.

Sheryl and Chet pop in to talk about their newly opened maker space Odd Jobs and Magic!  Have a listen and check them out at www.instagram.com/oddjobsandmagic.official/!

How will you express your care for your homeland through music? Today, we're listening to Goodnight! Formosa! (晚安台灣) by the beloved punk rock band Fire Ex. Let's learn a few lines from the song so that you can sing along to this warm and heartfelt track.

The idea of 'buying' a new beginning is easy. We can purchase the running shoes, the beautiful planner, or the perfect outfit in minutes. But what happens after we bring them home? Why does becoming the person we pictured take so much longer? In the final chapter of this three-part series, host Mary Anne Sioco moves beyond what our belongings represent and asks what they reveal about the way we pursue change. From clothes saved for a more confident future to journals waiting for thoughts important enough to fill them, some of our most hopeful purchases remain caught between preparation and action. Once the excitement of a new purchase fades, how do we decide which possibilities deserve our time and attention? And which ones we’re ready to leave behind? Join Mary Anne for a lighthearted yet revealing reflection on the difference between purchasing change and pursuing it...and why the things waiting in our closets and on our desks may be asking us a question only we can answer.

This week, Wanson is joined by writer and director Jade Lien (連亞珏). Jade is the filmmaker behind Paradise L05T (一路玩到世界毀滅) and The Litterateur (文學家), which have been selected by film festivals in Taiwan and abroad. As a writer herself, how did she adapt her stories into animation short films? Stay tuned to find out!  You can find Wanson on Instagram (@wansonscafe) and YouTube (阿善Café/Wanson's Café)

What business does an American family have adopting a Taiwanese dog? Well, they have several stellar reasons to adopt this dog, Xiaohua. Tristan pumps the breaks on the usual fun facts and animal news for this episode to bring you her personal account of being a "flight volunteer," also referred to by some as "flight guardian." Between Super Typhoon Bavi, a 14-hour flight, and staying in a less-than-great New York City neighborhood, plenty went wrong and right. 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. 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!

Hello and welcome to today’s episode! I’m excited to be joined by the indie rock band AlexIsWhirl. In this episode, we will discuss how they formed as a band, the story behind their name, and when they first started playing their instruments. They will also share what it took to win their recent Battle of the Bands in Taiwan and their perspective on the local music scene. Stay tuned for an insightful look at their songwriting, rehearsing, and live performances in Taipei! Alexiswhirl is a Taiwan-based indie/alternative rock band blending raw guitar riffs, catchy melodies, and modern indie textures with an energetic live sound. Their music moves between driving guitars, atmospheric moments and darker, more introspective songwriting, creating a sound that is both melodic and unapologetic. Formed with a love for live music and original songwriting, Alexiswhirl have quickly built a reputation for energetic performances and a growing collection of original material. Their debut E...