Mosaic of China

Latest Episodes:

The Dragon Burner (Francesca VALSECCHI, Dragon Burn) Mar 14, 2023

Show notes

By now you've probably heard about Burning Man, the festival that in recent years attracts over 80,000 participants to the deserts of Nevada. But did you know that there's an equivalent event in China called Dragon Burn (龙焰)?
Today's guest on the Mosaic of China podcast is Francesca Valsecchi, a professor at Tongji University in Shanghai and one of the active participants behind Dragon Burn. In our fun and wide-ranging chat, we discuss how she combines these two worlds under the principles of communality, immediacy and de-commodification.
The episode also includes a catch-up interview with:
Alex Shoer from Season 02 Episode 11
https://mosaicofchina.com/season-02-episode-11-alex-shoer

00:00 - Trailer & Intro

01:58 - Part 1

25:19 - Part 2

38:32 - Outro

40:55 - Catch-Up Interview

Subscribe to the PREMIUM version, see the visuals, and/or follow the full transcript for this episode at:
https://mosaicofchina.com/season-03-episode-16-francesca-valsecchi
Join the community:
Instagram
https://instagram.com/oscology
LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/company/mosaicofchina
Facebook
https://facebook.com/mosaicofchina
WeChat
https://mosaicofchina.com/wechat

Mosaic of China with Oscar Fuchs: Bonus Episode from China Flexpat Feb 07, 2023

Show notes

I don't often talk about my career before podcasting. But in today's special bonus episode, I had the excuse to do just that with Francis Kremer from the China Flexpat podcast. In our chat, recorded back in April 2022, we discuss some of the aspects of podcasting that intersect with my old life as a headhunter and career coach. I hope that some of it is useful, particularly if you're interested in switching careers, or building a personal brand.
A big thanks to Francis for giving me permission to share this on the feed for Mosaic of China. The original full episode can be found at: https://podcasts.apple.com//podcast/87-self-marketing-and-improving-long-term-job-chances/id1514659021?i=1000556861365

Chapters
00:00 - Trailer & Intro
02:40 - Main
Subscribe to the PREMIUM version, see the visuals, and/or follow the full transcript for this episode at:
https://mosaicofchina.com/season-03-bonus-china-flexpat
Join the community:
Instagram
https://instagram.com/oscology
LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/company/mosaicofchina
Facebook
https://facebook.com/mosaicofchina
WeChat
https://mosaicofchina.com/wechat

Mosaic of China with Oscar Fuchs: Bonus Episode on ’Codependency’ Jan 17, 2023

Show notes

We've reached the halfway point of Season 03. And following in the tradition from previous seasons, we're marking the occasion with a special bonus episode, and an extra special bonus guest. This particular guest has been a long time coming!
The timing of this episode couldn't be better. Not only does it coincide with the New Year and the run-up to Spring Festival in China, it also coincides with an inflexion point in China as it pivots from Zero-COVID to a new period of openness and opportunity. What kind of emotions does this massive change generate in those of us who have spent the last three years in China? Well... it's complicated.
Chapters
00:00 - Trailer & Intro
01:33 - Main
18:31 - Outro
20:12 - Easter Egg
Subscribe to the PREMIUM version, see the visuals, and/or follow the full transcript for this episode at:
https://mosaicofchina.com/season-03-bonus-codependency
Join the community:
Instagram
https://instagram.com/oscology
LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/company/mosaicofchina
Facebook
https://facebook.com/mosaicofchina
WeChat
https://mosaicofchina.com/wechat

The Incurable Optimist (’DAJIANG’, Tourette’s Advocate) Dec 20, 2022

Show notes

Yes, today's episode is all about what it's like to live in China with Tourette syndrome (妥瑞症). But what it's really about is neurodiversity. Some people still have a defensive attitude towards those of us with mental and neurological conditions, treating them as victims deserving of our fear, pity or even derision. But Dajiang's story reminds us that we should instead focus on dignity, happiness, and mutual understanding.
This doesn't mean that all of us should celebrate our deficiencies, nor use them as excuses to avoid self-improvement. But at the same time, we don't need to 'see past' someone's disorders; we don't need to 'tolerate' someone's conditions. Listening to their stories and understanding their distinct points of view is not a sacrifice. It's a privilege. So a big thanks to Dajiang for being the last new guest of 2022, and ending the year on an uplifting note.
The episode also includes catch-up interviews with:
Michelle Qu from Season 02 Episode 20
https://mosaicofchina.com/season-02-episode-20-michelle-qu
and
Sabrina Chen from Season 01 Episode 26
https://mosaicofchina.com/season-01-episode-26-sabrina-chen
00:00 - Trailer & Intro
01:27 - Part 1
27:10 - Part 2
35:24 - Outro
38:27 - Catch-Up Interview [1]
44:15 - Catch-Up Interview [2]
Subscribe to the PREMIUM version, see the visuals, and/or follow the full transcript for this episode at:
https://mosaicofchina.com/season-03-episode-15-dajiang
Join the community:
Instagram
https://instagram.com/oscology
LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/company/mosaicofchina
Facebook
https://facebook.com/mosaicofchina
WeChat
https://mosaicofchina.com/wechat

The Compost Evangelist (Alizée BUYSSCHAERT, Zero Waste Shanghai) Dec 13, 2022

Show notes

The environment is one of those topics that we all know we need to talk about, but at the same time desperately want to avoid. None of us want to be lectured on all the things we're doing wrong, and none of us need yet another reminder about how the human race is mismanaging its impact on the planet.
So it's a breath of fresh air to have a conversation with someone who is not only passionate about the environment but also... fun. In today's episode, Alizée Buysschaert talks about the way she personally challenged herself to reduce 90% of the waste that she produced every day. And how this challenge led to a number of personal and professional reinventions.
The episode also includes catch-up interviews with:
Katherine Wong from Season 02 Episode 04
https://mosaicofchina.com/season-02-episode-04-katherine-wong
and
Angie Wu from Season 01 Episode 18
https://mosaicofchina.com/season-01-episode-18-angie-wu
00:00 - Trailer & Intro
01:30 - Part 1
24:41 - Part 2
32:07 - Outro
35:07 - Catch-Up Interview [1]
39:55 - Catch-Up Interview [2]
Subscribe to the PREMIUM version, see the visuals, and/or follow the full transcript for this episode at:
https://mosaicofchina.com/season-03-episode-13-alizee-buysschaert
Join the community:
Instagram
https://instagram.com/oscology
LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/company/mosaicofchina
Facebook
https://facebook.com/mosaicofchina
WeChat
https://mosaicofchina.com/wechat

The Hotpot Homo (XIE Xiao, SHQFF & CINEMQ) Dec 06, 2022

Show notes

There are two themes of today’s show: the first is location, and the second is queer identity. There exist derogatory stereotypes about both, which could be described as either xenophobic or homophobic. Today's conversation touches on the intersectionality of these stereotypes in China, and the way in which we can either casually dispel them or defiantly embrace them. In either case, we can have fun joking about them and stripping them of their venom.
As well as being involved in queer cinema projects such SHQFF and CINEMQ, today's guest Xie Xiao participates in many other queer voluntary groups in China. And he has many stories that reflect his own personal background, as well as those of the people with whom he engages in the China LGBTQ+ community.
The episode also includes catch-up interviews with:
'Cocosanti' from Season 02 Episode 05
https://mosaicofchina.com/season-02-episode-05-cocosanti
and
Sebastien Denes from Season 01 Episode 11
https://mosaicofchina.com/season-01-episode-11-sebastien-denes
00:00 - Trailer & Intro
02:06 - Part 1
22:56 - Part 2
30:37 - Outro
33:18 - Catch-Up Interview [1]
37:55 - Catch-Up Interview [2]
Subscribe to the PREMIUM version, see the visuals, and/or follow the full transcript for this episode at:
https://mosaicofchina.com/season-03-episode-13-xie-xiao
Join the community:
Instagram
https://instagram.com/oscology
LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/company/mosaicofchina
Facebook
https://facebook.com/mosaicofchina
WeChat
https://mosaicofchina.com/wechat

The Sleep Coach (Rumbiey MUCHENJE, Purposely Healthy) Nov 29, 2022

Show notes

Is there anything more pathetically banal than talking about sleep? We all do it, so… who cares? Until recent years, that's what many of us would have said. But these days there's a growing recognition that sleep quality lies at the root of our holistic wellbeing, and is deserving of further investigation.
That's where we encounter a brand new problem. Since issues with sleep do indeed speak to a broader holistic imbalance, how do we even start to deconstruct the cocktail of behavioural, hormonal, environmental, medical and emotional factors that might be at play? And once diagnosed, how then do we avoid the modern temptation to seek quick fixes, and truly develop new habits and long-term solutions? Step in Rumbiey Muchenje to discuss the world of sleep coaching in China, and the story that took her from adolescence in Harare to ‘Sleepless in Shanghai’.
The episode also includes a catch-up interview with:
Astrid Poghosyan from Season 01 Episode 04
https://mosaicofchina.com/season-01-episode-04-astrid-poghosyan
Chapters
00:00 - Trailer & Intro
01:32 - Part 1
40:13 - Part 2
48:11 - Outro
51:02 - Catch-Up Interview
Subscribe to the PREMIUM version, see the visuals, and/or follow the full transcript for this episode at:
https://mosaicofchina.com/season-03-episode-12-rumbiey-muchenje
Join the community:
Instagram
https://instagram.com/oscology
LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/company/mosaicofchina
Facebook
https://facebook.com/mosaicofchina
WeChat
https://mosaicofchina.com/wechat

The Game Designer (Simon CHAPUIS, Ubisoft) Nov 22, 2022

Show notes

There are some people who view video gaming at best as a time-wasting distraction, and at worst as a vice. But in listening to today's episode with the game designer Simon Chapuis, even detractors will understand the passion, creativity and teamwork that it takes to usher a game from conception to market.
Simon's career has taken him from France to Germany, to Spain and finally to China, where he is now a Senior Game Designer at Ubisoft in the city of Chengdu. His story not only illustrates the dynamic and international nature of the gaming industry, but also the complexity and pressure that can accompany this collaborative endeavour.
The episode also includes a catch-up interview with:
Ajay Jain from Season 02 Episode 21
https://mosaicofchina.com/season-02-episode-21-ajay-jain
Chapters
00:00 - Trailer & Intro
01:31 - Part 1
25:51 - Part 2
33:50 - Outro
36:04 - Catch-Up Interview
Subscribe to the PREMIUM version, see the visuals, and/or follow the full transcript for this episode at:
https://mosaicofchina.com/season-03-episode-11-simon-chapuis
Join the community:
Instagram
https://instagram.com/oscology
LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/company/mosaicofchina
Facebook
https://facebook.com/mosaicofchina
WeChat
https://mosaicofchina.com/wechat

The Mongolian Teacher (Tsogtgerel BUMERDENE) Nov 15, 2022

Show notes

The country of Mongolia is sandwiched between Russia and China, and there are ethnic Mongolian areas in all three countries. So when talking about Mongolian people in China, it's not always clear whether you're talking about ethnic Mongolians from the Chinese province of Inner Mongolia [内蒙古 - Nèiménggǔ], or Mongolian nationals from across the border.
Today's episode is with Tsogtgerel ("Tsogi") Bumerdene, a Mongolian national living in China, who wears this mantle of identity every day. But more than that, she's an artist, designer, teacher and mother. So we cover all of these facets in our casual yet wide-ranging conversation.
The episode also includes catch-up interviews with:
DJ BO from Season 02 Episode 23
https://mosaicofchina.com/season-02-episode-23-dj-bo
and
Abe Deyo from Season 01 Episode 07
https://mosaicofchina.com/season-01-episode-27-abe-deyo
Chapters
00:00 - Trailer & Intro
00:56 - Part 1
16:15 - Part 2
25:42 - Outro
29:34 - Catch-Up Interview [1]
33:36 - Catch-Up Interview [2]
Subscribe to the PREMIUM version, see the visuals, and/or follow the full transcript for this episode at:
https://mosaicofchina.com/season-03-episode-10-tsogtgerel-bumerdene
Join the community:
Instagram
https://instagram.com/oscology
LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/company/mosaicofchina
Facebook
https://facebook.com/mosaicofchina
WeChat
https://mosaicofchina.com/wechat

The Rope Artist (’LAODAI’) [CLEAN Version] Nov 08, 2022

Show notes

Sometimes big themes can be tackled through the guise of performance art. In previous episodes of the Mosaic of China podcast, we have explored how drag performers can teach us to embrace our own weirdness, and how clowns can teach us to embrace our own fallibility. These stories may be specific to China, but they apply to us all.

In today’s very special episode, we explore how the world of Rope Art has made its way from Japan to China. And we discover how this art form can make us think about the themes of communication, connection and consent.

The episode also includes a catch-up interview with:

Yang Yi from Season 01 Episode 21

https://mosaicofchina.com/season-01-episode-21-yang-yi

Chapters

00:00 - Trailer & Intro

01:50 - Part 1

24:57 - Part 2

33:03 - Outro

36:39 - Catch-Up Interview

Subscribe to the PREMIUM version, see the visuals, and/or follow the full transcript for this episode at:

https://mosaicofchina.com/season-03-episode-09-laodai

Join the community: