Hello From Hong Kong: Recent Episodes
JonathanJK
Tatiana was a Russian student I taught in my time at an English language centre who was kind enough to come on the podcast and chat with me.
This Podpage link allows the downloading for any device, any platform - here
Timestamps below:
3:29 - Intro to Krasnodar
8:09 - Back To Russia
11:14 - How Do The Sanctions Affect Your Finances
14:31 - Why Did You Come To HK?
15:24 - Why Come To HK To Learn English?
16:41 - Is There A Russian Community Here?
19:36 - Differences In Food Culture
23:26 - Life Changed: How?
25:56 - Environment Shapes Lifestyle
27:31 - How Has Hong Kong Helped You With Spiritualism?
29:15 - 21 Days In Quarantine Was Good
33:26 - When You Go Back To Russia What Will You Do?
38:39 - Do People Get Excited To Meet A Russian?
40:20 - Many People Think Russians Can't Be Spiritual
42:16 - When Do You Plan to Come Back To Hong Kong?
Show Links
Tatiana’s IG
www.jonathanjk.com
Twitter - JonathanJK
Patreon
This Podpage link allows the downloading for any device, any platform - here
I’m on this episode I speak with author/podcaster Alan McGill based in the US. Alan wrote and narrated ‘A Cry in the Moon’s Night’ audio drama. It’s a fantasy story Alan has written and self-published along with producing the podcast version of the same story. The story was listed on Podbean’s Top 10 in Fiction Drama in 2021.
This episode by the way was recorded on New Year’s day for myself and in the ultimate hour of 2021 for Alan. I don’t usually release podcasts so long after they are recorded, but my schedule because of covid as been just one factor in its delay.
Together we talk about the story, its success, of course the inspiration for the story and sequel. But we also talk about some things that surround writing or producing a piece of fiction, so naturally we discuss at length the creative process, receiving and giving feedback. This is because I myself am writing and producing my own audio drama. The conversation ends knowing what is Alan’s next venture with writing. But in the Patreon bonus version we also talk more about editing audio and talk more about sharing criticism with other people’s work. That conversation runs for an extra 30 minutes.
If you’d like to get access to extended conversations and other extras, the Patreon is only an $1 a month and your support is kindly appreciated.
Alan is the second guest on the podcast not living in Hong Kong, but I won’t exclude a guest as I’m in Hong Kong and it still fits inside the theme of this podcast (Me saying ‘Hello’ from Hong Kong). We don’t mention anything about Hong Kong though as that’s not the focus.
Show Links
Alan’s Website
Twitter - Alan McGill
www.jonathanjk.com
Twitter - JonathanJK
Patreon
This Podpage allows the downloading for any device, any platform - here
Show Notes
I’m on location in this episode, and I sit down outside in a country park not far from where I live to soak in some of the atmosphere of the nature. My guest is a phillipine domestic worker and YouTuber living in Hong Kong.
We discuss some of her domestic work here, English as a third language and her YouTube channel.
Show Links
www.jonathanjk.com
Twitter - Hello From Hong Kong
Twitter - JonathanJK
In this episode I sit down with Anne from the Phillippines the day before she is due to leave Hong Kong and go back home after 8 years living here.
YouTube version: https://youtu.be/tnTy8bjU_NU
Anne’s YouTube channel - https://youtube.com/channel/UClfVUHKzIyjT98vT4TGRdJw
We discuss:
4:40 Anne is leaving HK, been here for 8 years, we talk about the restrictions, limitations with a domestic worker visa.
8:30 Typical working hours discussion, how limited it is.
11:40 Can't claim residency. What happens if you have a child here?
14:40 Where have you visited in HK? First year was difficult due to lack of money, and working part time and working public holidays for double pay. Reasons for not being able to stay out and extra perks of Chinese new year.
20:00 what is the minimum wage? and is it a lot of money?
23:40 Agency fees and repaying that money back. Working part time on days off to get more money.
27:30 Not being able to say more to family giving more pressure to dh workers. People back home don't understand how difficult life can be. Employers don't have consideration.
30:00 is there a shortage of women in Phillipeans
34:05 Bonaqua water advert.
34:20 western bosses are more desirable because of their attitudes.
38:20 my view of Chinese homes as an english teacher.
41:10 Perspectives of people back home - raising other people's children. Growing up without parents.
54:10 Cultural traditions and expectations. Does religious beliefs play their part.
59:00 what will you do when you get back? Working on a YouTube channel.
1:01:40 now being the smartest person in the room.
01:10:10 I watched a movie
01:10:00 we're leaving
We catch up with John and listen to his interview with Christian who is running an Indiegogo campaign and gets into detail about what the experience is like.
A mini series digging deep into the lives of those who live in a village on the border with China in Hong Kong.
This episode marks the beginning of a new mini series exploring what life is like on the border with China through the eyes of the villagers living there.
This episode is the full version containing the least amount of editing, (just to remove some errors or unwanted coughs and stutters) and is in both English and Cantonese for those who are bilingual and will understand the full context.
Please note there are chapters available in this episode also.
Timestamps
13:25 - Beginning of Interview
15:08 - Role As Chairman
16:21 - How Did The Chairman Position Come To Be?
17:15 - Duties in Detail
18:39 - How Many Positions Exist Like This in Hong Kong
19:18 - What Do You Need To Do Inside An Abandoned Village
26:45 - Looking After The Land From Development
31:19 - Are Land Developments Here Sensitive?
35:44 - What Did You Do Before Becoming Chairman?
38:55 - Isn’t It Easier To Build Public Housing Outside The Controlled Area?
42:06 - What Do Most Residents Do Here?
43:35 - What Is Hakka?
53:21 [The Chairman Take a A Break] - Side Chat
59:30 - English Explanation of ‘Side Chat’
01:02:36 - What IS Being Preserved Here?
01:09:50 - [Recounting The Last Time I Was Here]
01:11:18 - Media Representation
01:14:16 - How Was The Village Area Created?
01:17:24 - Was There A Difference With The Way The British Handled The Closed Area?
01:21:18 - If There Was No Border What Would Have Happened Here?
01:22:47 - If The Border Did Come Down What Would Happen?
01:28:37 - Chung Ying Street - Half Hong Kong Half China
01:30:04 - The Idea That Paperwork Separates People Is Weird
Thoughts from Maggie (Government Worker)
Show Notes
Each guest gets to make a statement and is then asked 5 questions:
1. How do you feel about what’s happening or whats happened in Hong Kong?
2. Which one incident has given you a lot to think about, have the protests affected you?
3. What does the future hold?
4. Do you want to stay or leave Hong Kong, when would you leave, where would you go if you left?
5. If there's one thing you could change, what would it be?
If you would like to be a guest on the show and you're in Hong Kong, please contact me with the Hello From Hong Kong twitter account. DM’S are open.
Show Links
www.jonathanjk.com
https://twitter.com/HelloFromHK
Thoughts from Cat (Software Engineer)
Show Notes Each guest gets to make a statement and is then asked 5 questions:
-
How do you feel about what’s happening or whats happened in Hong Kong?
-
Which one incident has given you a lot to think about, have the protests affected you?
-
What does the future hold?
-
Do you want to stay or leave Hong Kong, when would you leave, where would you go if you left?
-
If there's one thing you could change, what would it be?
If you would like to be a guest on the show and you're in Hong Kong, please contact me with the Hello From Hong Kong twitter account. DM’S are open.
Show Links
www.jonathanjk.com
https://twitter.com/HelloFromHK
Show Notes
This episode contains both English and Mandarin answers, please check the podcast chapter or go to 7:50 for Mandarin. Each guest gets to make a statement and is then asked 5 questions:
1. How do you feel about what’s happening or whats happened in Hong Kong?
2. Which one incident has given you a lot to think about, have the protests affected you?
3. What does the future hold?
4. Do you want to stay or leave Hong Kong, when would you leave, where would you go if you left?
5. If there's one thing you could change, what would it be?
If you would like to be a guest on the show and you're in Hong Kong, please contact me with the Hello From Hong Kong twitter account. DM’S are open.
Show Links
www.jonathanjk.com
https://twitter.com/HelloFromHK
Show Notes
This episode contains both English and Cantonese answers, please check the podcast chapter or go to 8:51 for Cantonese. Each guest gets to make a statement and is then asked 5 questions:
-
How do you feel about what’s happening or whats happened in Hong Kong?
-
Which one incident has given you a lot to think about, have the protests affected you?
-
What does the future hold?
-
Do you want to stay or leave Hong Kong, when would you leave, where would you go if you left?
-
If there's one thing you could change, what would it be?
If you would like to be a guest on the show and you're in Hong Kong, please contact me with the Hello From Hong Kong twitter account. DM’S are open.
Show Links
www.jonathanjk.com
https://twitter.com/HelloFromHK
Show Notes
今集我和Stella再次來到劉伯的小天地分享他的人生故事和經歷，並感謝Stella幫忙翻譯。
自從有一次我和Stella 行山時在一個荒廢的廁所/休憩室遇到劉伯後， 我的好奇心已經驅使我想進一步了解劉伯如何建造自己的樹屋和小天地。
起初我想跟劉伯談談有關他對某些香港歷史的看法， 但這些話題會留待下一次再跟劉伯詳談。因為劉伯當天很雀躍地先跟我們分享關於他和“借回來”的小天地的關係和歷史。 之後還展示了一些他所收藏的硬幣和分享其背後意義。
如果大家有興趣知道有關劉伯的背景和經歷可以重溫第一回的訪問。
Show Links
Part 1 with Mr Lau
www.jonathanjk.com
https://twitter.com/HelloFromHK
Download from Spotify
Download from iTunes
Show Notes
In this episode Mr Lau returns. As does Stella, she was again kind enough to translate. The three of us sit down together to share more stories from our aged guest.
We discuss the nature of Mr Lau’s self-created space in the forest. I personally was curious and wanted to discuss further about the tree house Mr Lau and the abandoned toilet/rest room where Stella and myself first met him.
My original plan was to speak on a range of historical topics pertaining to Hong Kong. Those other questions will be asked in part 3. Mr Lau had a lot of say about the history pertaining to the borrowed spaces of his and then he shifts the conversation to his personal coin collection and shares his philosophy behind them.
Please check the episode listings for part 1 where we are introduced to Mr Lau.
今集我和Stella再次來到劉伯的小天地分享他的人生故事和經歷，並感謝Stella幫忙翻譯。
自從有一次我和Stella 行山時在一個荒廢的廁所/休憩室遇到劉伯後， 我的好奇心已經驅使我想進一步了解劉伯如何建造自己的樹屋和小天地。
起初我想跟劉伯談談有關他對某些香港歷史的看法， 但這些話題會留待下一次再跟劉伯詳談。因為劉伯當天很雀躍地先跟我們分享關於他和“借回來”的小天地的關係和歷史。 之後還展示了一些他所收藏的硬幣和分享其背後意義。
如果大家有興趣知道有關劉伯的背景和經歷可以重溫第一回的訪問。
Show Links
Part 1 with Mr Lau
www.jonathanjk.com
https://twitter.com/HelloFromHK
Show Notes
In this episode Mr Lau returns. As does Stella, she was again kind enough to translate. The three of us sit down together to share more stories from our aged guest.
We discuss the nature of Mr Lau’s self-created space in the forest. I personally was curious and wanted to discuss further about the tree house Mr Lau and the abandoned toilet/rest room where Stella and myself first met him.
My original plan was to speak on a range of historical topics pertaining to Hong Kong. Those other questions will be asked in part 3. Mr Lau had a lot of say about the history pertaining to the borrowed spaces of his and then he shifts the conversation to his personal coin collection and shares his philosophy behind them.
Please check the episode listings for part 1 where we are introduced to Mr Lau.
Show Links
Part 1 with Mr Lau
www.jonathanjk.com
https://twitter.com/HelloFromHK
In this episode we sit down and get casual with Gregory Rivers of TVB fame for a 3rd time.
We open with replying to some of the best YouTube comments from our previous two meetings. This is just a casual chat who is a superstar in Hong Kong. We were recording live on location in Pop Corn Mall in TKO. Be aware of the background noise and there is a baby crying in the first few minutes. This episode is also adapted from a YouTube episode to be released at a later date.
Topics Discussed
YouTube Comments Q&A. We talk about languages (because Gregory knows so many), we talk about:
Gregory’s heart condition, showing the reality of one’s life
Wearing dog make-up,
Future concerts planned in Hong Kong,
The Utility of using the Apple Watch,
Engaging online, being careful what to share because of perceptions
Not getting our movie references,
Saving water in Hong Kong,
Asian roles in mainstream culture
Drawing references to Kim Kardashian and so much more.
Previous episodes here:
First guesting
Second guesting
Show Notes
Hello there and welcome to Hello from Hong Kong, this episode sees a return to our normal format, in between finding guests to share their views with regard to the ongoing protests in Hong Kong, I’m still meeting other people for regular conversations, highlighting an individual who wants to share themselves on the podcast. I’ll do my best to do both.
With that said, today we’re going to meet Sofia, a chocolatier living and working in hong kong. She sells chocolate without all the guilt, they are raw, organic, gluten free, plant based with no added sugars and there is no plastic packaging. Her IG is suphias.functional.foods and you can check out all the goodness there.
Together we talk about how she started, what were her motivations, her product over coming some hurdles
Sophias philosophy towards making foods and turns out she makes other things besides. This is a fun conversation, which I might add was recorded on location so there is some background noise and towards the end there is literally a mic drop moment so the audio suffers a bit, but not too much.
I think more suffering comes from eating her chocolate, as soon as you buy them, they’re eaten right away, that’s the true tragedy here.
Anyway, thanks for listening.
Topics covered
Why is the answer to that, to make delicious chocolate?
Can you break down how you came up with the idea and then turned it into a reality?
What were the biggest hurdles to starting?
Because apartment are so small, how do the logistics work? How do you plan your space for example and surely the problem would get worse as you get busier?
You’re a one woman operation if I remember correctly? How many bars can you make, how long does it take?
Where did you learn how to make chocolate bars?
They are homemade but the consistency is well consistent across the differing bars, because some are crunchy and some are soft, how easy is that for you?
Okay let’s talk about the bars, you have 6 flavours, peanut and sesame, crunchy mocha, black sesame and almond, cacao coconut butter, matcha and Goji Berry and cacao banana.
Why those flavours, some seem to overlap also, but having tried a few, they are different enough.
I’m going to read the ingredients of one of my favourite bars, Matcha Goji - cashew, medjool dates, pea protein, almonds, coconut oils, Matcha, sunflower seeds, goji berries, coconut, chia seeds, coconut milk powder, flax seeds, vanilla extract and himalayan salt. All healthy stuff, Now this one costs a little bit more
Now the bars have to be kept chilled in the fridge, can you explain why to the audience listeners.
How do you decide the flavours how much tasting and testing to do you?
Now the packaging is zerowaste, was that by design?
Last time we met, you also told me you have to sell the food in cardboard for legal reasons, can you explain some of that?
One of the criticisms against foodstuffs, especially the new age stuff is the clarify that no added sugars have been added, but mostly because when you check the label, enough sugar exists naturally in the first place. Your bars however don’t taste overly sweet.
Did you learn how to cook yourself or did you go to school?
Where do you see yourself going with the product? At the moment you have to be careful with its storage right so you’re limited to the more eco-friendly shops with fridges.
Why is there typically so much sugar in a bar of chocolate?
Besides your own bars of chocolate, what are your favourite chocolates?
Show Notes
A new mini-series sharing the thoughts of Hong Kong during their protests to get the government to withdraw the extradition bill.
Each guest gets to make a statement and is then asked 5 questions:
How do you feel about what’s happening or whats happened in Hong Kong?
Which one incident has given you a lot to think about, have the protests affected you?
What does the future hold?
Do you want to stay or leave Hong Kong, when would you leave, where would you go if you left?
If there's one thing you could change, what would it be?
If you would like to be a guest on the show and you're in Hong Kong, please contact me with the Hello From Hong Kong twitter account. DM’S are open.
Show Links
www.jonathanjk.com
https://twitter.com/HelloFromHK
Each guest gets to make a statement and is then asked 5 questions:
How do you feel about what’s happening or whats happened in Hong Kong?
-
Which one incident has given you a lot to think about, have the protests affected you?
-
What does the future hold?
-
Do you want to stay or leave Hong Kong, when would you leave, where would you go if you left?
-
If there's one thing you could change, what would it be?
If you would like to be a guest on the show and you're in Hong Kong, please contact me with the Hello From Hong Kong twitter account. DM’S are open.
Show Links
Twitter: Antony Dapiran
Twitter: Hello From Hong Kong
Each guest gets to make a statement and is then asked 5 questions:
How do you feel about what’s happening or whats happened in Hong Kong?
-
Which one incident has given you a lot to think about, have the protests affected you?
-
What does the future hold?
-
Do you want to stay or leave Hong Kong, when would you leave, where would you go if you left?
-
If there's one thing you could change, what would it be?
Show Links
www.jonathanjk.com
https://twitter.com/HelloFromHK
Each guest gets to make a statement and is then asked 5 questions:
How do you feel about what’s happening or whats happened in Hong Kong?
-
Which one incident has given you a lot to think about, have the protests affected you?
-
What does the future hold?
-
Do you want to stay or leave Hong Kong, when would you leave, where would you go if you left?
-
If there's one thing you could change, what would it be?
Show Links
www.jonathanjk.com
https://twitter.com/HelloFromHK
This paragraph was originally posted to Facebook. Titled “Voice from Our Hearts”.
Show Links
www.jonathanjk.com
https://twitter.com/HelloFromHK
Each guest gets to make a statement and is then asked 5 questions:
How do you feel about what’s happening or whats happened in Hong Kong?
Which one incident has given you a lot to think about, have the protests affected you?
What does the future hold?
Do you want to stay or leave Hong Kong, when would you leave, where would you go if you left?
If there's one thing you could change, what would it be?
Show Links
www.jonathanjk.com
https://twitter.com/HelloFromHK
Each guest gets to make a statement and is then asked 5 questions:
How do you feel about what’s happening or whats happened in Hong Kong?
Which one incident has given you a lot to think about, have the protests affected you?
What does the future hold?
Do you want to stay or leave Hong Kong, when would you leave, where would you go if you left?
If there's one thing you could change, what would it be?
Show Links
www.jonathanjk.com
https://twitter.com/HelloFromHK
Show Notes
A new mini-series sharing the thoughts of Hong Kong during their protests to get the government to withdraw the extradition bill.
Each guest gets to make a statement and is then asked 5 questions:
How do you feel about what’s happening or whats happened in Hong Kong?
Which one incident has given you a lot to think about, have the protests affected you?
What does the future hold?
Do you want to stay or leave Hong Kong, when would you leave, where would you go if you left?
If there's one thing you could change, what would it be?
Show Links
www.jonathanjk.com
https://twitter.com/HelloFromHK
Zach - Journalist (Season 2, Episode 5)
In this month’s episode I sit down with my very own housemate, someone I carefully selected amongst millions of potential other room mates to live with me in my humble apartment in Hong Kong. What’s interesting is that Zach hails from Taiwan and is a journalist, so we get his insight into his role here, studying in the Phillipeans and growing up in Taiwan.
Naturally we get into a discussion that involved understanding the differences between the PRC (China) and the RC (Taiwan, but also China), what is it like to live as a Taiwanese in Hong Kong and Zach came here while at the same time many Hong Kong people are leaving Hong Kong for Taiwan itself to escape the politics that are an ever growing presence on life here.
Show Links
www.jonathanjk.com
https://twitter.com/HelloFromHK
In this special episode I sit down with Stella and Mr Lau. Stella was kind enough to join me and help translate and share our guest’s story by Mr Lau in our first dual language episode. This is the full version where we share portions of Mr Lau’s life story. I’m happy Mr Lau could share his time with us.
Some background, Mr Lau came from China to Hong Kong in the 1950s where he started to aspire to work his way through various jobs and achieve his life goals. We talk about what life was like in Hong Kong and along the border, the jobs he held and how he lived before retiring from his last job in the late 1980s.
This is part 1 and hopefully we can speak to Mr Lau again soon.
今次除了我，還有Stella和劉伯跟我一同參與這次節目。這亦是我首個以廣東話及英語廣播的訪問，藉此要多謝Stella當日義務擔任我的翻譯員與劉伯細談他過去的心路歷程和點滴。我亦很感謝劉伯願意抽空跟我們分享他的故事，讓大家知道一些舊香港的事蹟。
劉伯於50年代由中國來到香港。透過訪問可以知道劉伯過往在邊界以及來港後的生活。初到香港，他透過同鄉介紹於現時仍屹立於油麻地的美都餐廳當過清潔及外賣。再輾轉經介紹做過其他工作。最後他在油麻地渡輪公司工作了30多年，直到94年退休享受自由自在的生活。從訪問中，可得知劉伯對工作的熱情和他對人生及生活所追求的目標。
希望大家喜歡劉伯的故事，我們期待劉伯很快跟我們再分享更加多的故事。
Show Links
www.jonathanjk.com
https://twitter.com/HelloFromHK
今次除了我，還有Stella和劉伯跟我一同參與這次節目。這亦是我首個以廣東話及英語廣播的訪問，藉此要多謝Stella當日義務擔任我的翻譯員與劉伯細談他過去的心路歷程和點滴。我亦很感謝劉伯願意抽空跟我們分享他的故事，讓大家知道一些舊香港的事蹟。
劉伯於50年代由中國來到香港。透過訪問可以知道劉伯過往在邊界以及來港後的生活。初到香港，他透過同鄉介紹於現時仍屹立於油麻地的美都餐廳當過清潔及外賣。再輾轉經介紹做過其他工作。最後他在油麻地渡輪公司工作了30多年，直到94年退休享受自由自在的生活。從訪問中，可得知劉伯對工作的熱情和他對人生及生活所追求的目標。
希望大家喜歡劉伯的故事，我們期待劉伯很快跟我們再分享更加多的故事。
Show Links
www.jonathanjk.com
https://twitter.com/HelloFromHK
In this special episode I sit down with Stella and Mr Lau. Stella was kind enough to join me and help translate and share our guest’s story by Mr Lau in our first dual language episode. This is the english version where we share portions of Mr Lau’s life story as translated by Stella. I’m happy Mr Lau could share his time with us.
Some background, Mr Lau came from China to Hong Kong in the 1950s where he started to aspire to work his way through various jobs and achieve his life goals. We talk about what life was like in Hong Kong and along the border, the jobs he held and how he lived before retiring from his last job in the late 1980s.
This is part 1 and hopefully we can speak to Mr Lau again soon.
Show Links
www.jonathanjk.com
https://twitter.com/HelloFromHK
Welcome to the podcast, where I sit down with someone related to Hong Kong and share their relationship with the city, with you. In this episode I sit down with the founder of HarmlessHK, a small company that is making and selling a straw that is entirely made of paper. Now I know what you’re thinking, a paper straw is probably going to collapse after the first sip. Well Gabriel rated his straw as having a 2 hour ability to satisfy your consumption of liquids and I put that to the test without his knowledge. There is a youtube video I made in the show notes showing the outcome of that test. Spoilers, it passed.
Together we discuss why his straw is necessary when there are movements underway to remove ourselves from our use of single use items, his motivations for starting his company and how does Gabriel though his company hope to contribute towards helping the environment.
Before we begin, if you enjoy this podcast and many of its episodes, please don’t forget to give it a short review and rating on iTunes. Also if you’d like to support the podcast, consider the patreon which opens up other benefits and allows me to put more time into preparing and getting interesting guests for the podcast. Or just share it, on your timeline, you never know who else will be interested.
Having said all that, Thanks for listening, and Hello from Hong Kong.
Show Notes
YouTube version
HarmlessHK
Testing the straw
Hello From Hong Kong on Twitter
Hello From Hong Kong on Reddit
Welcome to episode 28 with Raphael, the owner of a zero waste store called Edgar’s in Hong Kong.
Together we sit down and chat about zero waste, what it is and how to do it in while shopping and at home. As an aside, its basically about trying to buy things without creating any waste, with recycling NOT being the solution, for most people you have recycling and then normal waste. With zero wasters its about removing waste entirely if at all possible so that you throw less out and recycle less because recycling isn’t the whole answer to our environmental issues.
This does mean doing more work so the sake of conveince to purchase things without taking home various types of plastic and paper to just then dispose of. The convince isn’t there to wholly serve you either, its to the benefit of businesses and corporations who can manufacturer more stuff as easily and as cheaply as possible.
Coincidentally, I have just started a new podcast about helping others get into zero waste, the episodes are much shorter than what you’re used to here with hello from hong kong and if you want to save some money i of course recommend downloading it. Link is in the show notes.
By the way, the environmental bent that one would expect to have with such a podcast is kept to a minimum, the focus is on helping you save money by being more conscious of your spending habits. If you know you’re saving money by the end of the month following the suggestions and ideas, then that’s what’s important, the environment will benefit of course, but you’re not burdened with wondering about the outcomes of living a zero waste lifestyle when considering the environment, what I mean is, how do you know you have lessened your impact on the world at the end of the month if you went zero waste? You can’t really, all you can measure is whether your wallet is getting healthier and that’s what I focus on in the zero waste podcast.
Back to this episode however, we also learn what its like to run a store selling zero waste to people who may have never heard of it before. Its also very informative to hear from Raphaels point of view how he has to over come many of the obstacles with running such a store especially when customers don’t have the benefit of product labels and packaging to help them in their purchase. We also talk about practising zero waste in the home and some of the limitations of these new types of stores at their current stage of development.
That’s about it, I hope you enjoy this one as much as I did, after recording this particular episode Raphael did mention he’d be interested in more collabs and i would like him to make regular guest appearances on my new podcast, so if you enjoy his style, stay tuned for more.
Show Links
My Zerowaste podcast
In this episode I sit down with some long time viewers of my Periscope channel. Two Californians who used to live here in Hong Kong way back in the 1970s. Together we talk about what life was like for them both while here, how they met, how much has Hong Kong changed and much more.
NOTE: I’m not wearing a mic, so my voice is lower than Victoria’s and Jay’s.
In this episode I sit down with Jeff Rotmeyer, the founder and director of ImpactHK, a charity he created that iams to help the homeless of Hong Kong. Jeff’s charity is a no-nonsense approach where people aren’t pressured to come to the aid of the services he provides. It begins with a simple act of kindness by giving something to a homeless person on the street and any future engagement is undertaken by the person who feels they are in need. The hope is, a simple kind act will create trust and then enable those in need, to seek out further assistance on their own volition.
Together we sit down and touch on the many topics surrounding homelessness in Hong Kong. Hopw Impact HK started, their philosophy, how many are homeless in HK and the media narratives surrounding homeless people.
Show Links
www.impacthk.org
In this episode I sit down with Jenny and Grace of the HummingFish foundation to discuss how their charity works with farmers to create a sustainable farming practice for coffee growing.
What interested me most is knowing that there are charities in Hong Kong that help other countries and I’d neer know about them in the mainstream media.
I met Jenny at a coffee day at PMQ and her responses to my questions were really interesting that I asked them to come on the podcast.
Together we get in depth with knowing about what they do, what is Timor Leste all about, how wasn’t coffee growing sustainable in the first place and against their efforts is the ever approaching threat of global warming and what will that do to coffee production, not just in Timor Leste but the world.
Links:
http://hummingfish.org
In this episode I’m sat down with a Hong Kong local by the name of Eunice, she’s a student nurse with an open mind to discuss taboo subjects pertaining to Hong Kong, especially with regard to gender. Eunice has some questions for me and together we sit down for an hour to discuss them.
The episode was filmed live with an audience from Periscope. Towards the end I have an audio issue and the quality is changed slightly, so please be aware of the shift in audio.
In this episode we sit down with Parker Chen, someone who left the finance industry to work in photography.
Talk about his early life, the pressure of the finance industry for him and those he knew, what his parents thought and how he’s made the transition.
Show Links
Support the show - www.ko-fi.com/jonathanjk
https://www.pscp.tv/Jonathanjk/1zqKVLomzjVJB
https://www.fastcompany.com/3046257/why-finance-and-insurance-workers-among-the-unhappiest-employees
https://byrslf.co/how-a-4-am-phone-call-made-me-quit-finance-and-changed-my-life-forever-e79f06509bef
https://www.themuse.com/advice/why-lawyers-and-bankers-are-leaving-their-jobs-and-where-theyre-going
http://www.adamgrant.net/originals
Show Links
www.coastermag.com
Subscribe and watch on YouTube.
Hello to those interested in Hong Kong. I recently put out a message on reddit asking if anybody wanted to collaborate with me on the podcast.
One of the comments on reddit introduced themselves as the president of the craft beer assiociation here in Hong Kong. So I sat down with Sandra and talked about all things beer.
For those that don’t know, I don’t drink beer. I found making this episode a treat, it has much to do with Sandra’s outward personality and engagement with the topic, this enthusiam is really something to share and I’m really happy she reached out and wanted to be on the show. I hope you like this one as well, I did. Together we talk of course about beer, mainly craft beer and home brewing scene in Hong Kong and the Asia region.
We touch on the perceptions of being a woman in the beer industry, name drop coaster magazine a few times, the perception of craft beer in HK, and we also touch on the best way to drink and bottle a beer. Again I don’t drink and I found this episode highly informative. Of course you probably do drink, so I hope you enjoy this episode.
This episode comes with a free drinking game. Drink every time I make a bad joke, have fun!
Support the Show
www.ko-fi.com/jonathanjk
Welcome to episode 22 of Hello from Hong Kong, I want to preface this episode by saying it’s an older discussion I’ve had sitting on the Periscope archive for over a year now. I’ve just uploaded the video version to YouTube and this month’s episode is with Jill and John from Clyde, New Zealand. Jill by the way is a Horticultural Scientist. You can find her on Twitter @apricotqueen
The episode that should have come out has some technical quirks I’m trying to resolve and if they are, it’ll be released for July, stay tuned for that one as it’s about craft beer pertaining to the Hong Kong region.
I met Jill and John while making a live-stream in a high end supermarket and the three of us weren’t really shopping as our primary purpose for visiting. I took advantage of the situation and invited them to the show, they accepted and we sat down for nearly an hour talking about the quality and selection of international food in Hong Kong compared to other parts of the world, especially with New Zealand. We talked about Japanese food, the frustration of exporting produce to China, clearing up some of the misconceptions from China, tourism in New Zealand and what’s the deal with Manuka honey?
As we converse, we also take questions from the live audience on Periscope so be aware of that.
Support the Show
www.ko-fi.com/jonathanjk
www.patreon.com/jonathanjk
In this episode, I sit down and chat with Trianne about upcycling, at the beginning I actually talk about the effectiveness of instagram before getting into the green meaning topic of upcycling and other quick discussions around living a greener life.
https://www.upcyclethat.com
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upcycling
00:20 - Is Instagram Effective?
01:36 - Who do you reach on Facebook?
02:29 - What is upcycling?
03:08 - An example of upcycling.
03:20 - Why did you start upcycling?
06:16 - How do you communicate upcycling?
08:21 - Where do the ideas come from?
10:54 - Raising awareness.
12:45 - Who are you?
13:15 - What else have you upcycled?
15:24 - When did you start upcycling?
15:49 - What's next to upcycle?
17:08 - On Raising awareness
18:25 - What does it take to upcycle?
20:03 - What other countries are doing.
22:24 - What else do you do?
23:00 - What can Hong Kong do?
24:05 - Doing more isn't easy.
In this episode I'm take the podcast to Mongolia, and we meet and get to know Edwin and Dulguun, both who live and work in the capital of Ulan-Bator.
Together we discuss how Edwin came originally as a peace core volunteer, Dulguun grew up in the country and the city, so she has kept her nomadic roots and through her we learn a little bit about the nomadic lifestyle and eating wolf. Yes, you read that correctly.
We also get some insight into gender equality, how women are treated, talk about marriage rites, touch on gay culture, the Russian influence and history and the Korean links to Mongolia.
If you're thinking of travelling to Mongolia maybe you'd be interested in knowing how easy is it to get around Mongolia just using English and the cost of living in this country.
At the very end we also share the secret to retiring early.
Amazon
In this brief episode sort of like a conclusion to the previous meeting we had together in episode 8, we find out why is Nate moving back to the US, we also talk briefly about the quality of the jazz scene in Hong Kong and New York, where Nate has gigged and we discuss a bit about canto pop dying and why?
Show Links
Visage One - https://www.timeout.com/hong-kong/music/visage-one-1
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=nate+wong+music+
I'm back with Gregory Rivers (河國榮) and we basically pick up where we left off when we last met in 2016. It's been that long, but seems shorter since Gregory was in episode 13.
In this episode I do some housekeeping, so skip the first 6 minutes if you don't want to listen to me and just get to the meat. Gregory starts around the 7 minute mark and we discuss where did Gregory learn Cantonese?, Who does he work with in HK now? We talk about online shopping in Hong Kong (It's a bit pants), discuss Australia's BIG things and how famous Gregory is in Mainland China along with cultural Appropriation and the difficulties with promoting oneself today.
Subscribe on iTunes.
Show Notes
For a while I thought ‘Sam’ was an actual person. It wasn’t after I met one of the members of the company that Sam is actually just part of the name for the business run by Anita and Maggie of Sam the Local. A personal guide service for tourists to Hong Kong.
Together we get to know Anita and Maggie some more and discuss how their business operates in front of a live audience.
We also talk about what its like to be female and broadcasting.
Show Links
Sam the Local on Twitter
On Periscope
Website
Show Notes
This is episode 14 of hello from Hong Kong, in this episode I sit down with Dany a very open minded and forthright lady who hails from Cameroon. Danny has travelled and lived in four different continents and together we discuss what's that like for someone is isn’t typically seen as a world traveller. Together we get into the discussion of race having lived on four continents and understand a little bit better how she differed and had to conform to the narratives within each of her homes.
I found Dany took her hardships in her stride, compared to say the 'difficulties' that white travellers face so it's an important perspective to share.
By the way, you are treated to two introductions before we get into the main discussion, this is a long episode.
Show Links
Unregistered Podcast
My Patreon
In this episode we sit down at the courtesy of The Mahjong in Hong Kong to chat with Melody Leung, a competitive natural body builder. Together we discuss Melody's early days, hitting failure in competitions, we talk about philosophy and goals, the causes and effects of both positive and negative influences on the body.
SHOW LINKS
The Mahjong
Patreon
Show Notes
In this episode I sit down with Gregory Rivers, an Australian actor living and working in Hong Kong for the past 30 years. Gregory Rivers has made himself a career as the go to man to represent a white character in a drama or TV show. It helps that Gregory is fluent in Cantonese.
We start talking about the errors in Rivers’ wikipedia page, his time spent learning Cantonese and issues using it for work. Did you know Yale University produces more accurate translation material than Hong Kong University when it comes to producing cantonese language books. Gregory shares his earliest days working as an actor; the pressure of his first job, the various roles he’s been in over the years, dealing with his fame on the street and not taking it too seriously.
Topics soon switch to the local economy for locals and tourists and Gregory’s 30 history with Hong Kong.
For more information go here - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregory_Charles_Rivers
SHOW NOTES
In this episode I sit down with Ken Choi of X-Game surf shop in Chai Wan
Chai Wan is on the far eastern side of Hong Kong Island, it use to be a large industrial sector and now a lot of the buildings have been converted into coffee shops, unique fashion stores and niche shops like Ken's desiring lower rent and more space than they would get in the more central parts of the island.
Together we discuss Ken's personal history with surfing, he was a bronze medal winner at the 1982 Asian Games for Team Hong Kong/Great Britain and we discuss the state of surfing culture in Hong Kong. During the discussion I take questions from a live audience on Periscope and I reference some articles which are included in the show notes.
SHOW LINKS
How surfing suddenly became cool in Hong Kong, and its ’70s expat roots)
Surf's up as Hong Kong catches the wave | ThingsAsian)
Interview: Hong Kong surfing expert, Ken Choi, on the Hurley Surf Cup 2009
Lee Lai-shan - Only gold medal winner, in windsurfing for team Hong Kong, Great Britain in 1996).
We start with an introduction to Mikee, a Phillipean woman studying for a PHD while living in Hong Kong.
We get to know Mikee through dIscussing what it is to be a transgendered woman, we question the types of surgery available, discuss Hong Kong attitudes to trans people, the possibility of developing cancer from hormone treatment, transitioning into a woman and so much more.
You can find me on Periscope @jonathanjk, my Youtube channel is 'jonathanjk'.
SHOW NOTES
Hello from Hong Kong and welcome to episode 10, in this episode we meet Jodie of Simple Kitchen. SImple Kitchen is a small business that provides food to those in need. Jodie’s ‘Kitchen’ delivers food parcels free of charge to the elderly so as to help Hong Kong’s old people not make an unfair and difficlut choice between spending money on food or their rent.
We discuss some of the issues Jodie through Simple Kitchen deals with when helping the aged, we touch on some of the government assitance available, Jodie’s motivations and her future plans.
This podcast episode is actually a small part of a larger project I have undertaken through Periscope whereby I am helping the homeless in Hong Kong. All related videos/scopes can be found here: YouTube
If you like what you hear, maybe you’d lke to support me with my podcasts, videos and periscopes - you can find out how here - https://www.patreon.com/jonathanjk?ty=h
SHOW LINKS
Simple Kitchen
SSA policy
Oxfam
Hong Kong's working homeless: High rents push working people onto the streets
SHOW NOTES
This was originally a Periscope, hence the reference to other people.
In this episode I sit down with Nate Wong and fellow members of his band for some conversation and some live music.
There are 3 songs.
In this interview where we discuss influences, types of music Nate Wong plays, advantages of speaking two languages, his future and the local jazz scene in Hong Kong.
SHOW LINKS
You can find Nate Wong also in these places:
Youtube
Noah Boys album - iTunes (HK Store)
The video version of this can be found on youtube here
PROMOTION
If you like what you hear, please consider a donation on Patreon here.
In this episode I sit down with Josh Stemlie and TEDx instructor and an educator in Hong Kong.
Together we talk about the homeschooling pros and cons in Hong kong, such as motivations, methods, perceptions, benchmarking young learners and how does one get into university?
Using Youtube and/or Khan Academy while homeschooling.
Differences between homeschooling and private tutoring.
We also touch on what life is like in Hong Kong, dealing with the local language and culture and much much more.
You can find Josh's website here and on Twitter here.
LINKS
Periscope Video of the interview.
Sam's Tailors in Hong Kong
SHOW NOTES
In this episode we talk with Manu Welwani and Roshan Welwani of Sam’s Tailors in Hong Kong.
This episode is edited in the middle as it took a while for Roshan to finish with a customer. I edited out the 20 minute wait.
- With Manu, we learn how Manu learnt his trade in London in order to become well known with a background tailoring for the military and applying his trade in Hong Kong.
Manu also talks about how he made some suits for David Bowie.
- With Roshan, we start with some random questions from the live audience and then talk about the power of a suit, a passion for tailoring, those who wear suits such as Colonel Gaddafi and Angela Merkel.
Please note this is a podcast modified from a periscope with the audio taken from an iPhone for my talk with Manu and later with Roshan with the audio taken from an iPad with my Apogee Microphone.
Notes
Munchies in Hong Kong is an organic A La Carte doughnut shop, this episode gives the spotlight to Munchies. I sit down with business owners Michelle and Kim to discuss the businesses goals and achievements, their high standards, sourcing of ingredients and the culture and ambitions of the awesome food that are doughnuts, cookies and ice-cream.
Show Links
Intro and Outro music by Sorted Food
Munchies HK
In this episode I speak with Penguin 6 a.k.a Andrew Leyden. Andrew is the most famous Hong Kong Periscoper and probably has the largest following in China. While Andrew isn’t periscoping, he’s an iOS developer and a legal consultant.
Together we discuss meeting the expectations of a viewing audience while being a well known periscoper.
We get down on record why Andrew came to Hong Kong, enjoying Hong Kong, it vs Singapore, the difference in vibe periscoping in Hong Kong compared to other parts of the world.
We also talk about air pollution in Hong Kong, some of the apps he’s written as a developer, Periscope vs Meetkat, limitations with Periscope and Periscope development, taking part in the 2014 protests during the Umbrella Movement.
Monetisation from Periscope is also discussed, changes in lifestyle and the periscope perspective vs the mainstream news perspective.
At the 40 minute mark there is a live Q&A with viewers on Periscope on a wider range of topics, such a 9/11, retiring and food in Hong Kong,
The Interview was held live in PMQ with construction and piano playing in the background.
SHOW NOTES
Penguinsix on Twitter.
Deadzone missles are flying
Episode 4 is with my good friend James, a student of linguistics.
We discuss how we first met, his first time and year in Hong Kong, learning Cantonese or the Mandarin languages, where to eat chicken testicles in Hong, James’s thesis, how the news about the 2014 protests filtered through to James while living in the UK, Hong Kong beer, desire to travel in Hong Kong and mainland China and paying for it, flat hunting, expectations for living again in Hong Kong and advice for others.
James can be found on Twitter and Periscope: Bitmapkid.
I can be found on Periscope and Twitter with JonathanJK.
Music:
Beyond 05: 光輝歲月
Thanks for listening.
I sit down with 'Tom' (fake name naturally) and touch on a few aspects of the dating culture in Hong Kong (though not exclusive to Hong Kong).
In this episode we touch on ‘Scruff’ a gay dating app, the long term implications of dating online and self selection, level of expectations, instagram as a dating app, what is dating for Tom, porn and the punctum,
To kick off the first proper episode, I have invited John Ho, a local Hong Kong entrepreneur and an aggressive user of Periscope, a brand new live streaming app for your phone.
Together we discuss the opportunities and motivations to be a periscoper and how to sustain the use of Periscope as it gets ever more popular, we also dip into the boundaries of personal privacy issues. We take a moment to talk about the upsides and downsides of living in Hong Kong and why Wan Chai is one of John’s favourite places in Hong Kong.
We also talk around the topic of politics, the types of English spoken here and why this podcast was created in the first place. This was a live podcast and there is a Q&A at the end of our discussion. I hope you enjoy this first guest of Hello From Hong Kong.
Music by https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJlnCRn1yHg
Dubstep Dance | Hong Kong | Tolegen Nurzhan
An explanation of the newest podcast from Hong Kong and for Hong Kong.
www.jonathanjk.com
You can find me on Twitter, IG and YouTube @ JonathanJK