Status Update: Recent Episodes
Shirley Lin, Tomasz Koper, RTI
Status Update is RTI's most interactive program, and your entries are what make the program exciting! We welcome your participation in the following segments. Letters: Each week, we select letters from our worldwide listeners to read on the air. Watch out for monthly topics on the website. Q&A: Ask anything you are curious about Taiwan or RTI. Shirley Lin and John Van Trieste will use their wits and wisdom to answer your questions. The senders of selected entries read on air will receive special souvenirs.
Guess who's back in the studio!! It is Mr. Hungryforknowledge, Olek and he is going to tell you what he has been up to and help me read some emails.
Plenty of catching up to do with all the emails that piled up while I was absent! (I appreciate them).
I am joined by Sam today, our most valuable intern that helps us big time and together we read some of our listeners' emails.
Hear today's exciting episode about newsletter from the amazing Rti Listeners Club Bangladesh and its contents.
Today's episode presents beautiful drawings and letters from one of our great listeners!
Tune in for a rare appearance of legendary Ching-en, who will share his adventure to Taitung and cat-sitting. This episode also includes a reception report and emails!
Join in on today's episode with no co-host to help Fil steer clear of existential crisis, but luckily there are plenty of emails to read.
Join on this week's status update where we introduce our last of the three new recruitments, who will be bringing their talents to Rti! She will answer some questions about her and help me read emails.
Join Fil and Sharon, as they discuss Sharon's trip, a secret gift and read emails from listeners as usual.
Join Fil and Mary Anne as they discuss the morning of the recent earthquake and a beautifully written letter sent by our fan!
Join Fil as he brings in the newest full time addition to the team Amanda and as they discuss what's going on and read some emails.
Join in on today's episode where Fil is joined by Amber! And besides the usual updates and emails, there are laughs, topics of animals, hiking and how Amber left her favorite colleague lonely at his desk.
Olek, who came back from his holiday, joins Fil for today's episode where they update the world with their lives and read some nice emails.
Join Fil and Sharon as they update what's going on in their lives and read some nice emails.
Join in on discussing how things have changed for Fil and what keeps Sharon up at night.
Chris has his last show as host of Status Update! And for that, he brought in Co-Host At Large Sharon Lin, and future host Fil Leskovsky. We have some fun before reading a few listener letters and sending Chris off. You can follow Chris on Twitter ( or X) @chris_gorin. You can also follow his show The Strait Up Podcast at https://shows.acast.com/the-strait-up-podcast
In this episode, Chris makes an important announcement about a change in host for Status Update. Plus, Fil and Chris read your hand-written letters!
Chris returns from vacation to discuss the end of Taiwan's elections, the trials of his trip, and read some of your listener letters.
Iris Hsu makes her Status Update debut, and we talk about New Year's Resolutions and read your listener letters.
Sharon is back in the saddle as we talk about New Year's Resolutions, and read your letters!
In this episode, Michelle Chiang joins Chris in talking about Christmas memories and movies, plus we read your letters!
Our first episode at our longer length! We talk about dress history and how to waste time at home, and also read your listener letters and YouTube comments!
Join Chris and Sharon as they talk about dog movies and dog camping before reading your listener letters!
This week, Sharon shares her opinion on the film "Inglourious Basterds" by director Quentin Tarantino. And, we read a few of your letters!
This week I have a good laugh with co-host Sharon Lin! We read some of our listener postcards from out Dear Rti postcard drive.
In this episode, we take a little time to read some hand written letters that listeners have sent in, including a few with some interesting artwork.
On Status Update, Brendan Wong and Sharon Lin read letters from our listeners and talk about the heavy rain in Taiwan!
Did you listen to our programs? Have comments or suggestions? Email us your feedback here: rti@rti.org.tw
On Status Update, Brendan Wong and Michelle Chiang read letters from our listeners and talk about purchasing matching shorts!
Did you listen to our programs? Have comments or suggestions? Email us your feedback here: rti@rti.org.tw
On Status Update, Brendan Wong and Chris Gorin read letters from our listeners and talk about attending a recent wedding!
Did you listen to our programs? Have comments or suggestions? Email us your feedback here: rti@rti.org.tw
On Status Update, Shirley Lin and Chris Gorin read a card and a letter where the latter is from a faithful listener of Rti English saying goodbye to Shirley.
On Status Update, Brendan Wong and Chris Gorin read letters from our listeners and talk about our coworkers that are leaving.
Did you listen to our programs? Have comments or suggestions? Email us your feedback here: rti@rti.org.tw
On Status Update, Brendan Wong and Chris Gorin read letters from our listeners and talk about planning birthday parties.
Did you listen to our programs? Have comments or suggestions? Email us your feedback here: rti@rti.org.tw
On Status Update, Brendan Wong and Chris Gorin read letters from our listeners and talk about wild hot springs in Taiwan!
Did you listen to our programs? Have comments or suggestions? Email us your feedback here: rti@rti.org.tw
On Status Update, Brendan Wong and Shirley Lin talk about their family's health and how to adjust their attitudes towards that.
On Status Update, Brendan Wong and Shirley Lin talk about their family trips and how family members fly home after the holidays.
On Status Update, Chris Gorin talks about his trip to Kyoto and his home in California, and Shirley Lin read a letter from Sweden.
On Status Update, Brendan Wong and Shirley Lin talk about what they did over the Lunar New Year holiday, and together they read letters written by listeners from the Philippines, Japan and the USA.
On Status Update, Brendan Wong and Shirley Lin update their status, as well as read listeners' letters from Japan and India.
On Status Update, Shirley Lin and Brendan Wong talk about their Chinese New Year holiday plans coming up.
Have a listen to updates from Shirley Lin and another addition to Rti English team, Brendan Wong on Status Update, as well as letters read from listeners who tuned in to Rti English programs in the past weeks.
On Status Update, Chris Gorin and Shirley Lin talk about what they did on the night of the last day of 2022, and together they read listeners' letters from Indonesia, the UK and the Philippines.
On Status Update, Shirley Lin is paired up for the first time with the newest addition to the Rti English team, Chris Gorin to read listeners' letters from Japan, the United States, and Indonesia.
On Status Update, Sharon Lin and Shirley Lin talk about how they don't like rain when it's been raining for two weeks straight in Taipei and then together they read letters from listeners of English programs in Japan.
On Status Update, Shirley Lin pairs up with Michelle Chiang to read listeners' letters from Egypt and Bangladesh. Together, they also update their personal status, with Michelle talking about her first month at RTI.
On Status Update, Tomasz Koper talks about watching the World Cup with friends and gives an update to his visit to the Wine and Spirits Festival, and then reads listeners' letters from Japan and Malaysia with Shirley Lin.
On Status Update, Tomasz Koper gives an update about what he's looking forward to in the upcoming weekend, and then read a letter and a comment from RTI listeners with Shirley Lin.
For Status Update, Shirley Lin updates her status as she settles back into work, and talks about an RTI fan's comment on Facebook together with Tomasz Koper.
On Status Update, Shirley Lin talks about her trip to Shanghai and her daughter's wedding, and then Shirley and Tomasz Koper read letters from listeners in Japan and Indonesia.
In this week's Status Update, Tomasz and Emma talk about home cooking in Taiwan and respond to some of your comments from our social media. Spicy!
As Shirley Lin is about to depart for Shanghai for her daughter's wedding, she and Tomasz Koper chat about what to do during quarantine to pass time, on Status Update.
Tomasz Koper talks with Shirley Lin about how he cannot understand why Taiwanese people only barbeque during the Moon Festival, on this week's Status Update.
On Status Update, Tomasz Koper and Shirley Lin talk about the tradition of having barbeques during the Moon Festival in Taiwan. Then together they read comments about RTI English programs on YouTube.
On Status Update, Tomasz Koper praises the advancement of technology in our times for producing our own music releases. Then Tomasz and Shirley Lin read out letters from listeners of RTI English programs.
On Status Update, Tomasz Koper talks about going to a concert put on by a band who just released their album all by themselves. Then Tomasz and Shirley Lin read listeners' letters from India, Japan and Egypt.
On Status Update, Shirley Lin updates her status on trying to make it to her daughter's wedding in Shanghai. Then Shirley and Tomasz Koper read listeners' letters from Japan and India.
On this week's Status Update, Shirley Lin and Tomasz Koper talk about getting over COVID and back to work for Shirley. Then they read letters from listeners in India and the USA.
On Status Update this week, Shirley Lin and Stas Butler update their recent status, and read listeners' letters from Japan and India.
On Status Update, Stas Butler and Shirley Lin answer listeners' questions including if Taiwanese people like chocolate and what the most popular sweets in Taiwan are. Then Stas and Shirley read listeners' letters from Indonesia, Japan and India.
On Status Update, Shirley Lin shares news that her older daughter in Shanghai could be getting married at the end of the year! Then Shirley and Stas Butler read letters from listeners in Japan and the US.
On Status Update this week, Shirley Lin talks about her in-laws getting a foreign caregiver in their home for the first time. Shirley and Stas Butler then read letters from the US, India, Japan and a Ukrainian student in Taiwan.
On Status Update, Stas Butler talks about his trip to Maokong for some tea and Shirley Lin laments about her latest injury, before reading letters from India and the UAE.
On this week's Status Update, Shirley Lin and Staś Butler talk about the team building event the English Service had over the weekend and read letters from Sweden, USA, Japan and India.
On Status Update, Tomasz Koper gives an update on the spicy hot chicken wings eating contest he took part in last week. Shirley and Tomasz then read letters from listeners in India, Japan and the US.
On Status Update, Tomasz Koper talk about an upcoming food eating contest he's taking part in that promises to be satisfying and spicy.
On Status Update this week, Tomasz Koper and Shirley Lin read letters from listeners in Japan and India of RTI English programs.
On Status Update, Shirley Lin talks to Tomasz Koper about her two day one night getaway to Jiaoxi, Yilan, and together they read letters from listeners in the United States.
On this week's Status Update, Tomasz Koper and Shirley Lin read letters from listeners in the United States, Japan, Morocco, and India.
On Status Update, Tomasz Koper and Shirley Lin talk about the recent spike in COVID-19 cases in Taiwan before they get to reading letters from dear listeners of RTI English programs.
On Status Update, Tomasz Koper talks about staying at home more as domestic COVID cases surge in Taiwan, while Shirley Lin admits to going out more after staying home too much for the last couple of weeks.
On Status Update, Tomasz Koper and Shirley Lin talk about RTI working in shifts utill the end of May because of a spike in COVID cases in Taiwan.
On this week's Status Update, Tomasz Koper talks about his booster shot and Shirley Lin regrets not having made better use of the Children's Day and Tomb Sweeping Festival long weekend.
On this week's Status Update, Tomasz Koper and Shirley Lin talk about getting together with friends over the Children's Day and Tombsweeping Day long weekend, as well as read letters from RTI listeners.
On Status Update, Tomasz Koper and Shirley Lin read listeners' letters from Japan and UAE, as well as talk about the popularity of pet strollers in Taiwan.
On Status Update, Shirley Lin and Tomasz Koper talk about a new exercise Shirley has taken up and an electronic music experience Tomasz went to.
Shirley Lin and Tomasz Koper read letters from listeners of RTI English programs as well as Tomasz's participation in the rally for Ukraine on Taipei streets, on Status Update.
On Status Update, Shirley Lin and Tomasz Koper talk about the fun going to the movies in Taiwan with relaxed COVID restrictions.
Shirley Lin and Tomasz Koper talk about Shirley's visits to the physical therapist in her neighborhood because of her recent foot accident, and read listeners' letters from Egypt and Australia , on Status Update.
On Status Update, Shirley Lin updates her health condition from a minor accident about four weeks ago. Together with Tomasz Koper, they read letters from Japan and answer a question about E-sports in Taiwan.
On Status Update, Tomasz Koper and Shirley Lin talk about a turn for some good weather in Taipei and read letters from England, USA and Egypt.
Some people say it's great to work from home. Others find themselves busier workng from home than at the office. Tomasz Koper and Shirley Lin share their thoughts on the issue at the Chinese New Year episode of Status Update.
Shirley Lin and Tomasz Koper update their weeks leading up to the Lunar New Year holiday on Status Update.
It was Tomasz Koper and Shirley Lin's first time doing Status Update LIVE. Tune in to hear your letters from the Philippines, Japan and the USA being read on air.
On Status Update, Shirley Lin and Tomasz Koper reminisce on a slight disappointment they had over the Taipei 101 year-end fireworks show for 2021, while someone else new in the English service felt differently watching it for the first time.
Tomasz Koper and Shirley Lin talk about what they plan to do as they ring in the new year with their friends, on Status Update.
Shirley Lin talks about feeling more comfortable around the new cat in the house, while Tomasz Koper talks about his new show that's coming up in January, on Status Update.
Shirley Lin learns from Tomasz Koper that adults need full eight hours of sleep, except that Tomasz was feeling more tired from sleeping that much on his first try. Hear their conversation on Status Update.
On Status Update this week, Tomasz Koper and Shirley Lin talk about who cooks at home and their signature dishes.
Shirley Lin talks about her weekend retreat away from the city with other married couples, on Status Update.
Shirley Lin speaks of the rise of Taiwan's movie industry from watching a tremendously funny Taiwanese movie at the theaters last week, on Status Update.
Shirley Lin talks about the final stages in preparing her apartment for the new addition to the family: the cat, on Status Update.
Shirley Lin and John Van Trieste talk about how life in Taiwan is on the track of being back to normal from the COVID-19 pandemic, on Status Update.
Shirley Lin talks about visiting a stray cats' halfway house with her son, on Status Update.
On Status Update, Shirley Lin shares her friend's luck at being quarantined at a hotel facing the sea!
On Status Update, Tomasz Koper talks about his three weeks at RTI and many places he still needs to visit in Taiwan.
Shirley Lin talks about how the recent nonstop rain every day for two weeks has dampened her and her son's spirit a little bit, on Status Update.
John Van Trieste and Shirley Lin talk about getting back in shape with sports centers and gyms opening up again, on Status Update.
As Taiwan successfully contains the COVID-19 outbreak, more and more outdoor events are attracting people to get out of their houses. Tune in to Status Update to learn more.
John Van Trieste and Shirley Lin discuss how they're going to spend their stimulus vouchers, on Status Update.
On Status Update, John Van Trieste discusses his thoughts about going to Palau to get his vaccine. That's because of a travel bubble between Taiwan and its Pacific ally, Palau.
On Status Update, Shirley Lin and John Van Trieste share their woes about exercising during COVID.
On this week's Status Update, Shirley Lin updates her 30th wedding anniversary celebration with a stay at a five-star hotel and fine dining in Taipei.
John Van Trieste and Shirley Lin talk about how things are different now with two long time, much loved colleagues gone, on Status Update.
On Status Update, Shirley Lin talks about her 30th wedding anniversary on the very day of the show!
John Van Trieste and Shirley Lin talk about their concerns despite the government's decision to lower the nation's Level 3 COVID alert to Level 2, on Status Update.
On this week's Status Update, Shirley Lin and John Van Trieste talk about how Shirley finally got vaccinated.
On Status Update this week, Shirley Lin and John Van Trieste talk about ways to get lunch during COVID restrictions at RTI.
John Van Trieste and Shirley Lin talk about the excitement around the Tokyo Olympics with some Taiwanese athletes sure to take part, on Status Update.
John Van Trieste and Shirley Lin talk about things to do to pass their time cooped up at home, on Status Update.
Shirley Lin and John Van Trieste share the different ways they entertain themselves at home while on semi-lockdown in Taiwan, on Status Update.
Shirley Lin and John Van Trieste discuss about ways to get food during a Level 3 COVID alert, on Status Update.
On this week's Status Update, Shirley Lin gives an update on her decluttered living room, thanks to COVID rules.
On this week's Status Update, Shirley Lin updates her status with her latest trip to the Cingjing Farm in Nantou County, central Taiwan.
On Status Update, Stas Butler talks about his first ever watching a baseball game in Taipei with John Van Trieste and Shirley Lin.
John Van Trieste, Stas Butler and Shirley Lin talk about Taiwan's KTV scene, as well as read listeners' letters from India, the UK and Japan.
On this week's Status Update, Stas Butler updated his status of his latest hiking adventure to Mount Bilu in Hualien.
Join Shirley Lin and John Van Trieste on Status Update as they recollect (or not) the big earthquake on Thursday, December 10.
On this week's Status Update, John Van Trieste and Shirley Lin each updates their recent status with readings of letters from the UK and Indonesia.
Join Shirley Lin and John Van Trieste on Status Update as they talk about their exercise habits and read letters from India, Sweden, and England.
Join Status Update with John Van Trieste and Shirley Lin as they talk about all the languages that John has tried to master and read letters from Latvia and India, among others.
Shirley Lin describes the non-traditional Mid-Autumn Festival dinner she had at her in laws and read listeners' letters from Japan and India, on Status Update with John Van Trieste.
Hear John Van Trieste and Shirley Lin talk about a new aquarium that just opened in Taoyuan, and read letters from Bangladesh, India, the UK and the US.
Tune in to Status Update to hear John Van Trieste and Shirley Lin talk about RTI English Service's new endeavor: live streaming Hear in Taiwan!
Tune in to Status Update for a special interview with a broadcaster visiting from Brigham Young University in Utah, USA.
John Van Trieste and Shirley Lin read letters from Finland, Japan and Indonesia, besides talking about Shirley's first experience in yin yoga on Status Update.
John Van Trieste and Shirley Lin solicit ideas from the listeners for decorating/painting the English Service office!
John Van Trieste and Shirley Lin talk about getting anxious because of signs of a second wave of imported COVID-19 cases in Taiwan.
Hear John Van Trieste talk about his trip to the zoo for a new exciting exhibit, on this week's Status Update.
Join Shirley Lin and John Van Trieste on a program filled with reading listeners' letters and comments about RTI programs they hear.
John Van Trieste and Shirley Lin read letters from Japan and India among others, on Status Update.
John Van Trieste and Shirley Lin read listeners' letters on this week's Status Update. John also talk about his trip to Southeast Asia and compare the differences between Taiwan culture and that of the country he visited.
Shirley Lin and Jake Chen, sitting in for John Van Trieste who was on vacation, talked about Jake's weekend getaway to Taitung in eastern Taiwan. They also read letters mainly from India and the UK, on Status Update this week.
What would be the top traditional profession that is still live and well in Taiwan? Tune in to Status Update.
John Van Trieste and Shirley Lin talk about how the old fashioned ways three lovely Taiwanese foods are made or sold are still live and well, on Status Update.
Shirley Lin and Jake Chen (in place of John Van Trieste) talk of shops and vendors that are still selling items or foods the traditional way, on Status Update.
Jake Chen, in place of John Van Trieste, and Shirley Lin talk about some of the traditional professions in Taiwan that are still very much alive, on the first Status Update for 2019. Can you guess which profession we're hinting at from the picture?
John Van Trieste and Shirley Lin talk about the best place to go for some peace and quiet at the end of the year, on Status Update.
John Van Trieste and Shirley Lin introduce three other places in Taiwan to wind down and have some quiet before the year comes to an end, on Status Update.
John Van Trieste and Shirley Lin introduce three more places to de-stress before starting afresh on new year, on Status Update.
John Van Trieste and Shirley Lin take you on a leisure journey around some quiet places in Taiwan for the month of December, on Status Update.
John Van Trieste and Shirley Lin talk about the interesting things that you would notice about posters that you'd see everywhere around election time in Taiwan, on Status Update.
Do you know why numbers are so important to candidates during Taiwanese elections? Find out from John Van Trieste and Shirley Lin on this week's Status Update.
John Van Trieste and Shirley Lin chat about other unique things such as uniforms, chops and candidates' visits you'd see around Taiwan's election time, on Status Update.
November this year is election month. John Van Trieste and Shirley Lin will tell you ten things you'll see when Taiwan holds its elections, on Status Update.
John Van Trieste and Shirley Lin discover they both have been to the same hot spring spa in Beitou, on Status Update.
John Van Trieste and Shirley Lin announce the most explosive of all Taiwanese rituals and celebrations, on Status Update.
John Van Trieste and Shirley Lin excitedly share about some of the more raucous festivals being observed in Taiwan, on Status Update.
John Van Trieste and Shirley Lin introduce three rituals/celebrations that are more pertained to minority groups in Taiwan, on Status Update.
Tune in to Status Update to hear John Van Trieste and Shirley Lin chat about the special characteristics of certain Taiwanese rituals and celebrations on Taiwan Top Ten.
John Van Trieste and Shirley Lin announce the most scenic stop ever on the Taipei metro system, on Status Update.
John Van Trieste and Shirley Lin talk about three more MRT stops in Taipei with a view, on Status Update.
John Van Trieste and Shirley Lin introduce three more scenic Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) stops in Taipei worth checking out, on Status Update.
John Van Trieste and Shirley Lin excite you with talking about ten stops on the Taipei transit system that offer the best scenic views, on Status Update.
John Van Trieste and Shirley Lin elaborate on the most essential item to be had on any offering table during ghost month in Taiwan, on Status Update.
John Van Trieste and Shirley Lin chat about three more things that Taiwanese worshippers put on their offering tables during ghost month, on Status Update.
It's ghost month in Taiwan and John Van Trieste and Shirley Lin delight you on what you can find on an offering table for the deceased, on Status Update.
What can you find on the worshipping altar during the ghost month? Find out from John Van Trieste and Shirley Lin on Status Update.
John Van Trieste and Shirley Lin read more letters and FB comments from listeners on Status Update. Make sure you tune to future live streaming from the English service.
John Van Trieste and Shirley Lin announce the winner for top commenter/most memorable comment on RTI Facebook page, at this week's Status Update.
Find out from John Van Trieste and Shirley Lin the different services that they offer at Taiwanese convenience stores, on Status Update.
Find out from John Van Trieste and Shirley Lin about more things that you can accomplish at convenience stores in Taiwan, on Status Update.
John Van Trieste and Shirley Lin start on a fun introduction of 10 convenient things you can do at Taiwanese convenience stores, on Status Update.