The New Normal: Recent Episodes

The Great Human Connection

We all have crazy stuff happen to us sometimes, some of us realize that these story must be shared”. The New Normal will help you beef up the good parts, draw out the details, and share it with the world. We want your “You’ll never guess what happened to me” stories; the ones you tell your friends.

The New Normal is the virtual fireside chat, a dinner table discussion with friends, an off the cuff down to earth real good time. Whether hilarious, heartbreaking, or a bit crass we want to hear from you. We will put you on our virtual stage for the world to benefit.

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Becoming friends with food is not easy for many, especially when living and traveling abroad.  Food sensitivities and allergies are only part of the story.  Balancing the complexity of international travel, business dining,  cultural traditions, and nutrition options can be challenging.  Find out how some community members have handled their dietary limitations.

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Sara F. Costa speaks out about her life views as a mother, professional writer, multi-lingual poet, and world traveler.  This episode explores the importance of living life with purpose, passion, and creativity.

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This episode explores the importance of storytelling.   Three very diverse persons from different continents share their personal passion for documenting; recording the intriguing, mundane, strange, and extraordinary.  Storytelling has been around for centuries and will continue long into the future.  After listening to Gail Zohar you might ask, “which of your untold stories must be heard’?

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This episode explores the opportunities and challenges of finding the balance between friendship and romance in the unique landscape of international communities.  Finding and maintaining love is never easy, especially when diversity of culture are involved.   Then, mix in a bit of Covid-19 and all bets are off, or are they?  Find out if love can conquer all obstacles?

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This episode explores the unique experience of being a “Trailing Spouse” in 2020 amid the Covid-19 pandemic.  Moving across borders to support the career of a partner not only meant leaving family and friends for a season but in some cases, it was a matter of life and death.  Listen to how two families managed the complexity of international job assignments.

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This week the New Normal explores the importance of connection through learning a language.  Matthew Casto guides the conversation around the power of learning language and the importance of having fun in the process.

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Born in different countries from the ex-USSR, Tim & Muhammet, both discover a love for culture and a passion for wine/food where they least expected.  As their paths cross in Beijing, China they become steadfast friends and embark on building a Georgian Legacy.

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This New Normal Episode discusses the recent trends in the exercise and nutrition industry.  It debates the idea of fitness moving towards online platforms.  For many, fitness is a form of human connection and the idea of virtual exercise platforms is counterproductive.  The guests share their feelings about the importance of human connection through fitness.

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At some point in every human being’s journey the opportunity to be a mentor arrives.  Embracing the call is an important and necessary step in completing the ‘Circle of Life.  This podcast explores how one woman has built a tradition of selfless service into the fabric of her family and together it has blossomed into their community.

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Welcome to Episode Three of The New Normal - Join us today as we discuss with Steven Lynch, a public speaker and professional athlete, and John Kalburg, a basketball coach and player, how sports build community and teach life lessons. We converse on the subjects of how you can know yourself better through athletics and it allows you to connect with others in a way that forms a community. 

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Peter and PP are authors, musicians, educators, and community builders. They write screenplays, novels, and short stories and translate screenplays for the US and Chinese markets. Peter teaches screenwriting at Beijing Film Academy and is passionate about his role as an educator and mentor. PP is a classically trained pianist from a family of musicians and artists going back to the Qing Dynasty. Join us this week to hear about their stories!

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The Great Human Connection introduces its new podcast series called the New Normal.  World-famous radio talk show host Gail Zohar interviews Todd Kuhns and Jarome Matthew, both respected professionals residing in Beijing, China.  This episode explores the power of technology and the importance of documenting the events of 2020.