Foreign Minister and acting Special Presidential Envoy Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) is currently leading an industry delegation to the Marshall Islands, one of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies. On Wednesday, April 8, he shared the delegation's progress, including an inspection of the Marshall Islands’ new parliament building site, along with wishes for the project to proceed smoothly.

This week, hosts Michelle, Amanda and James discuss a rise in "outsourced" tombsweeping, a mid-air slapfight, and an art exhibition in Kaohsiung that's causing a stir in more ways than one.

Tomasz is back at RTI to nerd out about his history with table-top role-playing games from Poland to China to Taiwan!

5 April marks the Tomb Sweeping Day, or the Qingming Festival, in Taiwan this year! On this national holiday, families visit ancestral graves to clean tombs, offer food and incense, as well as burn joss paper to honour ancestors. This week, let’s learn some Tâi-gí words related to Tomb Sweeping Day.   ●Words to Know: 1. 清明 tshing-bîng (n.) Tomb Sweeping Day 2. 墓仔埔 bōng-á-poo (n.) cemetery  3. 培墓 puē-bōng (v.) to sweep the tomb 4. 墓紙 bōng-tsuá (n.) tomb paper 5. 祖先 tsóo-sian (n.) ancestor   ●Idiom / Proverb of the week: 清明無轉厝，無祖；過年無轉厝，無某。 Tshing-bîng bô tńg tshù, bô tsóo; kuè-nî bô tńg tshù, bô bóo. (If you don’t return home for Qingming, you have no ancestors; if you don’t return home for New Year, you have no wife.)

Today's episode features only emails that show Rti some love and gratitude. Some listeners have received a monitor certificate and some are asking interesting questions.  If you would like to contact us and have your message read on air, please send a letter to P.O. BOX 123, 199 Taipei, Taiwan, or email us at English@rti.org.tw. You can also reach us on social media: Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram at @Rtienglish.

We’ve followed Dan Orlovsky’s journey full circle—from a simple craving for the taste of home, to building Kaohsiung’s only Israeli restaurant, Loracorlo, and navigating the realities of running a business across cultures during uncertain times. Now, in this final chapter, we go beyond the surface and take an honest look at what it really takes to keep a restaurant running—not just in theory, but in reality. Dan opens up about the behind-the-scenes challenges, the constant pressure of sustaining a business, and the moments that truly tested his commitment to the dream he set out to build. More importantly, we explore the mindset that kept him going. What does it take to push through uncertainty, setbacks, and exhaustion? What drives someone to keep moving forward when things get tough? Dan also shares his advice for those thinking about starting a business in Taiwan, along with his vision for the future—bringing this journey not just full circle, but forward. If you’...

Yes hello, Hou Hsiao Hsien? Can I get another huge downer of a movie please? Thank you. Happy birthday, by the way.

Which animal found in Taiwan carries a powerful neurotoxin, and is still somehow eaten as a delicacy in certain parts of the world? Formosa Fauna is back this week to entertainingly teach 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. In this episode:  - New Zealanders pool money together to rescue dog lost in remote area  - Taiwan’s conservation policies  - Toxicity in the animal kingdom  - Scientist of the week 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!

Welcome to the second part of our interview with Joyce! Last week, we discussed her early influences and the music experiences that launched her journey as a songwriter, as well as the realities of pursuing a music career and the various elements that accompany it. Today, we will talk about her latest album, "Talent Flower," and how she developed the concept. We’ll also discuss her collaboration with multiple artists on the album and the meanings behind their work. Key themes include the exchange of talent for love and luck, coping with emotions, and the stories behind some of her songs. JOYCE 就以斯 is a Taiwanese singer-songwriter who has been making waves in the indie music scene since 2019. With her dreamy vocals and introspective lyrics, she has quickly gained a loyal following. Her music often explores themes of love, loss, and the search for meaning in life.  To know more about Joyce and her music, please visit:  YouTube IG Spotify