This week, Amanda and Hanna touch on the freedom of speech meltdown that happened in the U.S. following in the wake of the Charlie Kirk assassination. Then Amanda sits down with Michael Geier, the cinematographer for one of Taiwan's most successful documentaries to-date, "Invisible Nation" (or 看不見國家), to discuss the role of entertainment, and especially film, in informing a more engaged public. Read along with us: The Kimmel Show ups and downs: 1. Jimmy Kimmel to return after suspension over Charlie Kirk comments (Nardine Saad, BBC), 2. Missed Kimmel’s return? Here’s a transcript of the monologue (Luciana Lopez, CNN), 3. Kimmel pulls no punches as he sends defiant message to Trump (Ian Youngs, BBC), 4. Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension is an alarming new low for the US culture wars (Jesse Hssengar, The Guardian)

NIO and Moe are back to perhaps toe the line with food opinions!  We're so sorry for making you hungry this episode!  Follow Moe on IG @moodidude and NIO @niofletcher!

This week, we’ll be listening to a song that brings back a lot of memories for many people in Taiwan: Bike (腳踏車) by Jason Wang (王識賢). This song is all about riding a bike and waiting for the lover. Let’s ride along together with this song.

Welcome to another episode of Status Update!  I am back from my vacation and it is time to catch up with what i've missed! So we start with some letters right away and move on to the loads of emails waiting for me.  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.

David Perez returns for the second part of his story! This time, we join him in the spotlight as we learn what it is like to step onto the stage here in Taiwan. Beyond running a Mexican food business and dealing with day-to-day challenges of life, David talks about facing down stage fright, finding ways to connect with his audiences, and discovering just how powerful laughter can be. In this episode, he shares the highs and lows of performing in a language different from his own, including one unforgettable, bittersweet moment that became a true turning point in his journey as an entertainer. It’s a conversation about vulnerability, perseverance, and the magic that happens when one chases after one's dreams. Listen in to find out more!

This year marks the 32nd edition of the Women Make Waves International Film Festival (台灣國際女性影展). As the festival is about to start next month, Chen Huei-Yin, the festival's curator, is back at Rti again after a year! How do women filmmakers of our generation untangle societal constraints through the practice of cinema?  This week, Huei-Yin talks about the topic this year, "A Room with a View," and film recommendations for first-timers. If you would like to share your feedback, please send your words or voice notes to: wanson@rti.org.tw You can also find Wanson on Instagram (@wansonscafe) and YouTube (阿善Café/Wanson's Café)

Taiwan has a deer island, land crab patrol, and now university campus geese etiquette lessons! 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. In this episode we talk about:  – Removing Jerusalem cherry plants from Taiwan’s deer island  – Land crab patrol  – Campus geese etiquette lessons  – Mixed signals when dog training ...and so much more. 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!

Autumn is about here... what feelings does it stir up for you?