The Taiwan History Podcast: Formosa Files

Latest Episodes:

Taiwan's Olympic GOAT? Mike Chinoy's New Documentary "Decathlon: The CK Yang & Rafer Johnson Story" – S4-E19 Aug 16, 2024

Show notes

The incredible story of Amis Taiwanese Olympic decathlete Maysang Kalimud, better known as CK Yang (楊傳廣), was one of the first stories featured in the first season of Formosa Files (December 2021).

At that time, John and Eryk bemoaned how little-known this amazing Indigenous Taiwanese athlete is and expressed hopes a movie about him might get made.

Well, we got the next best thing: a riveting documentary about the man who is arguably Taiwan's Olympic "greatest of all time" (GOAT) by CNN legend Mike Chinoy: Decathlon: The CK Yang & Rafer Johnson Story.

FORMOSA FILES IN CHINESE! CH18-「好兄弟」們的放風假期—臺灣的「鬼月」 Aug 13, 2024

Show notes

每年的農曆七月，就是臺灣民俗的「鬼月」。傳說在這個月裡，「好兄弟」們會回返陽間，人們也會準備各式供品讓祂們享用。而這個特別的月裡，也有非常多的禁忌；雖然現代人不一定願意再遵守這些禁忌，但一定都曾聽過身邊的人談論這些奇妙的規矩。不過「鬼月」真的是中華文化傳統當中的習俗嗎？這集podcast就讓兩位主持人來跟大家聊聊「鬼月」的一些歷史小故事與禁忌。

主持人簡介：

Eryk Michael Smith－ICRT南臺灣特派員，長期從事記者採編工作、聲音編輯，也會客串DJ。現居高雄，在臺灣已經居住了接近30年，認為臺灣是自己的家。

Eric Hsu（徐葆權）－彰化北斗人，從大學南漂高雄以來，人生的大部分時間都在高雄渡過。關心臺灣文史與地方文化發展，尤其是自己的兩個家鄉：北斗與高雄。

INTERVIEW – The Island: a personal account of Taiwan’s extraordinary transformation by Mark O’Neill – S4 Aug 08, 2024

Show notes

John chats with veteran Hong Kong-based journalist and author of The Island (2024) Mark O'Neill, who tells us what Taiwan was like in the early 1980s, when he first came to study Chinese.

Despite a mysterious knife attack and various authoritarian elements (such as “mail boxes” for reporting spies and subversives), he loved the country.

Over the next four decades, he made numerous trips back, witnessing and reporting on Taiwan’s transformation from one party rule to an admirable democracy.

The Island is not Mark’s first Taiwan book – earlier works include ones on Buddhist charity Tzu Chi and the National Palace Museum – so he brings both depth and breadth to his entertaining look at the country.

FORMOSA FILES IN CHINESE! CH17-改變臺灣社區的便利商店—另類的「臺灣奇蹟」 Aug 06, 2024

Show notes

臺灣的便利商店密度，幾乎已經可說是舖天蓋地的程度。在城市中，幾乎每兩三個路口就有一間；城市以外的區域，便利商店也是上山下海無所不在。臺灣人個人乃至於整個社區的生活習慣，都因為便利商店而發生了翻天覆地的變化。至於便利商店在臺灣，又有些什麼有趣的故事呢？就讓Formosa Files中文版的兩位主持人來跟大家聊聊。

TSMC - Taiwan's Greatest Modern Company (The Morris Chang story) - S4-E18 Aug 01, 2024

Show notes

The person who did most of the work creating the company people around the world almost immediately associate with Taiwan has no ancestors from this island, was not born here, didn't go to school here, and only came here for the first time when he was almost 40 years old.

But, of course, Morris Chang 張忠謀 didn't create Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) out of thin air, nor was he the sole person who set up the famous Taiwanese microchip powerhouse. He had partners, backers, and more than a little assistance from the Taiwanese government.

As of this recording, the retired Morris Chang has a net worth of over US$3 billion and remains incredibly active, despite celebrating his 93rd birthday in early July. Check out this fascinating story on Formosa Files.

See video from Asianometry on TSMC.

FORMOSA FILES IN CHINESE! CH16-改版再改版的車牌號碼—臺灣車牌的故事 Jul 30, 2024

Show notes

臺灣的機車密度世界第一，若再加上其它大小車輛，大概也是世界數一數二的程度。而在臺灣，各種車輛都免不了要掛車牌，也讓車牌成為臺灣的日常街景。然而臺灣的車牌實際上經歷多次改版，街上也時常可以看到懸掛舊式車牌的車輛。而從開放車牌自選號甚至競標以來，也讓車牌有些不一樣的意義與「價值」。究竟這個最日常的風景，會有些什麼樣的故事？在這集裡，就讓Formosa Files中文版的兩位主持人來跟大家聊聊臺灣車牌的一些小故事。

Taiwan Goes to the Olympics as “Formosa” - and other Olympic stories - S4-E17 Jul 25, 2024

Show notes

Did you know we once went to the Olympics under the name “Formosa”?

At the upcoming 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, Taiwan will once again compete under the ridiculous name of “Chinese Taipei.” It’s a silly name that makes little sense... even if you are the PRC. Is there another Taipei that isn’t Chinese?

And, actually, we train our athletes in Kaohsiung, plus a good number of them are Indigenous people – so literally, they are NOT Chinese.

But most here feel participation is more important than names, and many also feel the world sees through these dumb attempts by Beijing to cover up the reality of Taiwan’s existence as a country.

This week: the story of Taiwan’s participation in the Olympics and Asian Games, and the name changes along the way.

Good luck to the “Formosan Kaohsiung” team in Paris this year!!

Visit formosafiles.com for links, pics and more.

Plus: We have a new podcast on books about Taiwan and East Asia: Bookish Asia by Plum Rain Press.

FORMOSA FILES IN CHINESE! CH15-歷史這個東西好無聊？！—那就來聊聊歷史吧！ Jul 23, 2024

Show notes

一講到「歷史」，很多人就覺得是好無聊的東西。從小到大的都被老師吩咐要「背起來」，然後又都是跟自己八竿子打不著的「歷史事件」、「歷史人物」。你也覺得是這樣嗎？來聽聽兩位主持人聊聊「歷史」吧！

主持人簡介：

Eryk Michael Smith－ICRT南臺灣特派員，長期從事記者採編工作、聲音編輯，也會客串DJ。現居高雄，在臺灣已經居住了接近30年，認為臺灣是自己的家。

Political Assassination Attempts, 1928-1970 - S4-E16 Jul 18, 2024

Show notes

Japanese princes, Taiwanese activists, a Korean martyr, American generals and presidents, Chiang Kai-shek and his son Chiang Ching-kuo.

It’s an action-packed episode with an amazing cast of characters. These little-known Taiwan-related assassination attempts and plots will surprise you.

And, we hope, also please you that they failed. As Eryk passionately points put at the end of the episode, assassination, even of a "bad guy" target, can lead to a worse replacement and the unleashing of chaos.

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Go to formosafiles.com for pics, links and more.

FORMOSA FILES IN CHINESE! CH14-數字居然也有故事？—日常生活裡的數字故事 Jul 16, 2024

Show notes

細心一點的聽眾朋友可能會在日常當中發現，「4」這個數字在生活中很容易被「消失」，尤其在樓層數和車牌號碼裡，很多時候都看不見「4」；但在國外，不見的卻常常是「13」這個數字。除此之外，在我們的生活裡還有許多數字，當然就又有許許多多的疑問。例如說，大家有沒有想過，為什麼臺灣電話的區碼是從臺北的「02」開始，沒有「01」？在這集裡，就讓Formosa Files中文版的兩位主持人來跟大家簡單聊聊一些數字的小故事。

ps. 因為天氣太熱，請原諒兩位主持人被曬昏的瘋言瘋語；若有得罪，敬請見諒！

主持人簡介：

Eryk Michael Smith－ICRT南臺灣特派員，長期從事記者採編工作、聲音編輯，也會客串DJ。現居高雄，在臺灣已經居住了接近30年，認為臺灣是自己的家。

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