BeeNow: Recent Episodes
BeeNow
Regina (Guthrie) Faridnia is an Integrative Health Practitioner and Brainspotting trainer specializing in Native populations. She has a Psychotherapy practice under my LCSW and an Integrative Wellness Practice/Spa.
I'm super excited to release episode 66 of the BeeNow podcast. In this chat, I sat down with an old friend, Maggie Sass, PhD. Aside from being a great conversationalist and friend, Maggie is an EQ research strategy lead at TalentSmart EQ. After 10+ years after graduate school, we decided to reconnect. In this episode, Maggie shares her story and we explore topics related to EQ and self-awareness, and learning to listen to the voices that help. enjoyyy
More about Maggie
Maggie Sass, Ph.D., is an innovative, research-driven design thinker, organizational psychologist, solution architect, consultant, and executive coach working at the convergence of data, emotional intelligence, and leadership development. She is a self-described harmony-seeking challenger who strives to shatter the status quo while staying open to possibilities with a healthy sense of realism. Clients and colleagues characterize her as a dot connector, a silo buster, and a natural mentor who democratizes the process of culture change.
As an EQ research strategy lead at TalentSmart EQ, Maggie draws upon her rich academic background and breadth of experience in assessment and evaluation to translate research into practical, scalable solutions for clients. She has trained and coached executive leaders and their teams worldwide in engineering, education, finance, healthcare, technology, and government and bridged diverse leadership topics, including EI, conflict resolution, communication, change competency, influence, coaching skills, and neuroleadership.
Britni Warner, PhD is the Head of Talent Development and Engagement at Sony. We went to graduate school together and after 10+ years we decided to reconnect. In this episode, Britni and I explore topics related to EQ and self-awareness and how to create magic moments at work.
Hanling Peng is a mental health counselor in Chengdu. Her work is devoted to arouse motivation in her patients to reflect and accept where they come from and who they really are.
It's a hard and romatic work, like accompanying a friend to go to an unknown land in the dark, and only at the end when the sunlight breaks into heart, one can really feel that the journey was all worth it.
Hanling shares how she got started as a therapist, the importance of listening, and the dangers of avoiding negative emotions.
Avoidance removes you
from the real world,
Listening means assuming
you don't know.
Ms. Tingting Chen is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Registered Art Therapist. She grew up in Shanghai and has lived in Hong Kong and United States for over 10 years. She is currently setting up her own private practice in Shanghai.
Tingting has been providing mental health counseling and art therapy services to children, adolescents, and adults. Her experience as a counselor in an inpatient psychiatric unit in the States has helped her to see human resilience even during the most challenging times. Tingting enjoys working with people to help them discover the beauty of imperfection.
In this episode, we explore her journey with home and art therapy.
BeeNow podcast, Episode 60
In this episode, Kitty, known as being happy and outgoing, shares her mental health journey and evolution in China. Her battles with panic attacks started as drowning in deep waters to then building a ship and helping others build theirs (metaphorically). At first, reacting to bodily symptoms then responding to the root cause.
Currently, the show is 10minute episodes with creatives and mental health professionals, covering 3 topics:
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Alone time
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Doing hard things
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Misunderstandings
BeeNow podcast, Episode 58
Ju Chen (Juju) is a former business owner and investor. In pursuit of greater meaning in her life, she dove into the work of emotional wholeness and healing. She wants to see people fully alive in their relationships while being healthy inside. She is now the founder of Puzzle Love to promote healthy self & healthy relationships.
In this episode, we examine what it means to be busy, asking, "why the rush?" We look at what it means to slow down, the value of discipline, and also some ways to quiet the inner critic.
BeeNow podcast, Episode 57
In this episode, Ree and I share stories from our time in Wan Zhou (万州). We tell the story of our cab driver who had to re-adjust his hopes for his children's future because of a policy change. And the story of a sweet old lady who runs a coffee shop with her daughter and how the policy change actually benefited them. The stories reveal the human heart and how economic development affects people in different ways.
BeeNow podcast, Episode 56
"A bunch of tickets took me around Europe, a wanderlust heart showed me around the East and West coast of America, a foodie mouth brings me to Chengdu, a camera leads me to Chengdu’s streets and alleys, my blog shares all kinds of thoughts and stuff, my small little kitchen hosts interesting people from different places. My name is Amiee, nice to meet you~"
In this episode, Amiee shares her journey as an outsider, not knowing much, to finding a sense of home in Chengdu. She talks about her connection with street photography and her process of waiting and observing. We also discuss finding happiness in the mundane, how to get through when feeling blue, quality me-time, homie time, and the value of learning by doing.
What is dilly dallying you ask? Dilly dallying is aimlessly wandering and wasting time. For example, "I hate when people accuse me of lollygagging when I’m quite clearly dilly-dallying." Sometimes you got to dilly-dally to get something done.
BeeNow podcast, Episode 55
My name is Feng Yuan (or Vincent). You will hear my childhood in the podcast - the story is a version I can offer now any way. The past is still diverging like poetry, which is the plaza where everything intertwines. Philosophy, spirituality, time and space, love and hatred, a million possibilities. I've learned to play the game and to be played by the game of the poetic. It's this infinity that has nurtured me to be not my true self, but millions more. And It's my pleasure to share the thrill with you.
In this episode, Vincent and I explore the connection between poetry and sprituality. Vincent says the present is like a sword used to cut through the mind. He shares his childood influences growing up and the impact that family life had on him. He talks about is inspirations with Buddhism, poetry, and philosophy and the struggles of modern life in finding and losing one self. We talk about being bullied, a meaning of freedom, the function of poetry, the need for creativity, what it means to be indepenent, and the difference between good pressure and bad pressure.
BeeNow podcast, Episode 54
Ju Chen (Juju) is a former business owner and investor. In pursuit of greater meaning in her life, she dove into the work of emotional wholeness and healing. She wants to see people fully alive in their relationships while being healthy inside. She is now the founder of Puzzle Love to promote healthy self & healthy relationships.
In this episode, Juju shares her journey to finding her passion from numbness to learning to feel and let go of what's inside. She touches on cultural perceptions on security and being enough, and the importance of trust and belonging.
Stephen DiSalvio - or as I call myself - me. But you should probably call me... Stephen. I grew up in New Jersey - the suburbs of NYC. I'm a complex coordination of compounds directed by my DNA, but mostly I'm just water.
Here's a list of my "achievements" so that you can more easily judge my relative value as a human being: programmer for 4 years, teacher for 2 years, produced 2 albums (search: thoughtpeace), performed stand-up comedy, written lots of poems, overcame lots of anxiety, accepted that I'm going to be alone forever, then fell in love, forgotten more things than I've remembered (like where I'm going with this introduction). Oh yeah, and I played the trombone in high school.
Anyway, I'm a person like you, listen to me say words about my human experiences. Some of them will be interesting... maybe... depending on your perspective. I'd be a terrible salesman. Accepting your weaknesses is important. But they're not really weaknesses, you just don't want to spend that much time on some things. Like how I spent more time making this self-introduction quirky rather than persuasive. So listen to me talk - or cover your ears until Arya starts talking again - either way really. Life is a constantly unfolding process and I won't judge you. And even if I do, so what?
Some questions that we explored:
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What's a hard thing that you did recently?
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Who was your first homie in Chengdu?
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Where does social anxiety come from?
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What's the difference between people-pleasing and just being yourself?
BeeNow podcast, Episode 52
Born in Chengdu, Ms. Wanjie Chen (Jessie) is a seasoned Psychotherapist and devotes herself to helping people build positive relationships with themselves, others, and the world. She’s a clinical counselor at Global Doctor (Chengdu) and Light-up Family Centre where she specializes in Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Satir Family Therapy, and Group Therapy. With a Master’s in Psychology and over 5000 clinical hours, she has been leading many workshops on communication and self-growth in hospitals, schools, and enterprises for over 10 years. Jessie believes that a good relationship is the best nutrition for life.
In this episode, Jessie shares her personal journey in becoming a psychotherapist in China. We discuss how the 2008 Sichuan earthquake shaped her life purpose, her work with supporting parent-child relationships, and the importance of belonging and coming back to oneself.
BeeNow podcast, Episode 51
Born in Chengdu, Coco Min Zhu is freelancer illustrator. She collaborates with both editorials and commercial brands making comics, graphic novels, patterns, posters, commercial illustrations etc. Her clients include TAIKOOLI, STARBUCKS, L'OREAL, NESTLE, TENCENT, YANLORDI etc. In 2018, she created her own design brand called Shameless.
In this episode, Coco and I talk about childhood, growing up, and her journey in becoming a designer and comedian. We also explore the importance of confidence, finding inspiration, and the meaning of home.
BeeNow podcast, Episode 50
Robert is an investor and entrepreneur. In 2016 he founded DiQuJia, a Chengdu-based interior design company that provides full-service solutions that are modern and affordable for urban young people. He believes decoration can be a fun thing.
Robert and I met some years ago at Startup Weekend where he was mentoring teams. At first contact, I could feel his warmth and generosity and it makes me happy to have this chat about space.
BeeNow podcast, Episode 49
Henry He is a local Sichuan who lived half of his life aboard. He was a hospital-based counselor, mental health educator, and registered clinical nurse (Psychiatry) in Australia for over 10 years. Henry is also the founder of The MINDCARE Project, a mental health service platform in Chengdu, which provides educational programs, training, workshops on stress management, mental health awareness, depression/anxiety prevention, and mental health first-aid. He believes real health is not only someone’s physical health or financial/social status but also the level of happiness in his/her inner world.
In this episode, Henry and I explore the aspects of mental health, the complexities of the parent-child relationship, and how to acknowledge internal pressures.
The parent-child relationship is complex and involves a deep and mutual understanding. We're reminded of a bold quote about parenting which is: "a lot of parents will do anything for their kids, except let them be themselves." And the truth is that parents really are doing their best and it's a difficult job.
Finally, a question was raised: how do we acknowledge the underlying feeling that is present?
BeeNow podcast, Episode 48
Born and raised in Chengdu, Ree is a Mandarin teacher at Rainbow Mandarin. Aside from her passion for culture-exchange, she also makes jewelry and likes to explore her life in a fun way. She believes there is no problem that a tasty meal can‘t solve.
In this episode, Ree and I talk about self-acceptance and share stories of belonging, parents, and how nobody is perfect. The conversation also raised a question on what it means to take something seriously. We're reminded of a saying in American Rock n Roll which is, "take the work seriously but don't take yourself seriously."
BeeNow podcast, Episode 47
Max Denny is a chill creative who has been living in Chengdu since 2017. He is a university teacher, drummer for several local bands including Mirror Garden, Apollo 20, and Cornerstone. He is also co-founder of the mobile cocktail bar Road Dog Cocktails (醉狗鸡尾酒).
In this episode, Max and I talk about life in Chengdu with homies, intuitions, and creative projects. We share childhood stories and explore the value of having obsessions in life. Also, a question was raised: given that memory can be shady and unreliable, how do we stay honest with ourselves in the moment?
And the conversation wouldn't be complete without touching on mushroom intelligence.
"Music is how we decorate time."
-Max
BeeNow podcast, Episode 46
Harri Sheffer is a Design Strategist from London, who now calls Chengdu her home. She believes in the power of creativity, community, coffee, and cats. Harri is the Co-Founder of the Chengdu Women in Business Network, a partner at Chengdu-Expat, and a board member of the British Chamber of Commerce SW China. She is also the Creative Director of Studio Hu 糊画设计工作室, a design firm that specializes in branding and design strategy.
In this episode, Harri talks about good and bad design, staying inspired, and the role of empathy when working with people. We also talk about the importance of play and how making a mess can promote creativity.
BeeNow podcast, Episode 45
Having lived in Chengdu for more than 8 years, Vas is a local veteran who has been involved with a number of local, community events and runs his own weekly event, Chengdu Film Society. He ran Berlin Haus for 2 years and recently closed that chapter of his life.
In this episode, Vas shares his journey with building Berlin Haus, which was has been a work and entertainment space for local creatives. Berlin Haus has been a go-to spot for comedy nights, music nights, movie nights, and other nights and days as well. We go into the "fuck yeah" moments and the "fuck no" moments of running a small business, the learnings, and why Berlin Haus finally came to a close.
BeeNow podcast, Episode 44
Momo Estrella is a design executive based in Shanghai since 2010. He has worked across corporate, consulting, and startup setups in leadership roles where he has defined the foundations and set the capabilities to sustain human-centered innovation. He has worked at companies like EF Education First, Imagination, Publicis Sapient, IDEO. He currently serves as the Design Director / Head of UX at IKEA.
In exploring design, creativity, and leadership, I couldn't ask for a better guest. In this chat, Momo talks about his journey as a designer, the importance of staying inspired, how to deal with mental blind spots, and a perspective on human-centered leadership. We also explore the unavoidable dimensions of creativity like confidence, listening, failure, and the unknown.
We also address an ageless question, "how do you connect with your real inner self?"
BeeNow podcast, Episode 43
Nicole TooMuch has performed bitterly hilarious standup across China for several years. She takes a deeper look into the grim parts of life and teases out the fun. She also teaches Chinese and studies Psychology.
I met Nicole through Chengdu Comedy and now she teaches me Chinese. With her dark humor, I couldn't ask for a better guest for the podcast.
In this episode, Nicole shares why happiness is boring and the importance of questioning everything. She goes into why she does standup comedy and why it's a wonderland for those of us who are broken inside.
We explore what it means to be independent, to have a purpose, and why babies deserve to get punched in the face.
BeeNow podcast, Episode 42
From his colorful second-hand clothes to his crafty storytelling, it's no mystery that Edd is a unique cat. In this chat, Edd talks about the importance of taking the time to make a home your own. He shares the tale of installing a bum gun in his bathroom with a golden hose.
We riff on funny encounters with locals and share a few visa stories, one where Edd proudly fishes through the trash bin looking for a receipt at the Chinese visa office in Hong Kong. He also answers an essential question: how do you want to leave China?
BeeNow podcast, Episode 41
Born and raised in Chengdu, Xiaolong Chen has been teaching drama since 2017. He did not set out to be a drama teacher but with a twist of fate, he became one and he is now part of this new and emerging field in Chinese education. He says, "I am not the most creative person but as a drama instructor, I'm constantly inspired by the originality I see from my students."
Xiaolong and I met last year at an adult drama class in Chengdu. We got to know each other over the many months but never really got to sit down and chat outside of class. In this episode, we got to explore how educational drama can impact identity and creativity within a person. He also shares his personal journey in finding himself as an educational drama teacher.
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BeeNow exists to help people develop purpose, leadership, and life balance so that they can grow through chaos.
Stress management training
Mindfulness+creativity workshops
Emotional health coaching
Leadership/team building
www.BeeNow.co
BeeNow podcast, Episode 40
Born in Chengdu, Yin Wang left for NYC when he was 9 years old. He was a graphic designer in NYC for 8 years before deciding to go on a backpacking trip through Europe and Asia. After about a year of traveling, he ran out of money and ended up back in Chengdu. He met Jonny and they upstarted Shed Studio, a full-service media company, Yin being the Creative Director.
In this passionate conversation, Yin shares his startup journey, creative process, and inspirations during his travels. He shares how he was struck with a moment of purpose on the beach in Turkey. He gets real with the magic, mysteries, and inevitable shit when forming new ideas; how to deal with the inner critic; and giving/receiving feedback in a team.
BeeNow podcast, Episode 39
This episode is with my good friend Katie Mansfield.
Katie Mansfield is a Ph.D. candidate in Expressive Arts and Conflict Transformation with the European Graduate School in Switzerland. She and I first met as classmates in the gigantic Swiss Alps. Katie's research focuses on the power of embodied, expressive arts-based learning for building resilience. She works as the lead trainer for the Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resilience (STAR) program within Eastern Mennonite University’s Center for Justice and Peacebuilding.
She has now been working or studying peacebuilding for about 15 years, after eight years working for a multi-national bank (now hard to imagine). She has also studied Personal Embodiment at the Tamalpa Institute, completed teacher trainings in yoga and JourneyDance and is a certified practitioner of Integrative Energetic Medicine.
Our chat explores Katie's journey as an Expressive Arts practitioner in helping people "face the horror and love the wonder." The questions we cover include:
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How can the arts be used to address conflict, bridge cultures, and heal trauma?
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What are the neuro-biological effects of Expressive Arts?
With a trauma-informed approach, Katie applies techniques that foster self-regulation and co-regulation in the brain to ultimately cultivate resilience. Other topics in the chat include how to encourage creativity and transform the inner critic. She also performs a few poems for us.
Our chat was recorded via squash.
BeeNow podcast, Episode 38
Jerome Gross has been a longtime friend and teacher in yoga and healing. He sat down with me from his living room in San Diego for a quick chat. In this episode, Jerome shares his journey as a healing practitioner and his unique process in helping people resolve physical and emotional pain.
Much of Jerome's teaching is about trusting the self and recruiting the body's ability to heal itself. The conversation explores the body's stress response and the inner workings of the nervous system.
Jerome Gross currently describes himself as a mind-body health and fitness coach and therapist. He is a fitness trainer, yoga instructor, and hypnotherapist. He works with clients individually and in groups using a process he calls Enlightened way of Being.
More at BeeNow.co
BeeNow podcast, Episode 37
Shing-Shing currently lives in Chengdu and works at a tech training unicorn company. She discovered her multi-passion for education, business, and technology after college. With lessons along the way, she started the "internal" journey through meditation.
In this episode, Shing-shing shares her recent experience with a 10day meditation course called Vipassana, which is one of India's most ancient techniques of meditation. The term Vipassana means seeing things as they are, and the technique highlights the mind-body connection by maintaining attention to physical sensations.
Shing shares her health journey, why she decided to try Vipassana, her challenges with the course, and her new-found awareness in the midst of modern life.
Learn more about Vipassana at www.dhamma.org
BeeNow podcast, Episode 36
Billy Wong is Co-founder of the branding agency Brandjoy, specialized in brand identity and interior design. He is also a functional movement practitioner as part of his fitness training. He has been practicing breathwork and cold shower daily to strengthen his immune system for the past 3 years. He is alive and strong in Cape Town, South Africa, previously living Chengdu.
Billy and I became fast friends with our shared passion for design and mindfulness. In this episode, Billy shares his fitness journey and how he got introduced to the Wim Hof Method, which is a combination of meditation, breathing exercises, and exposure to cold that help regulate stress levels.
He talks about how Wim Hof makes the mind calm and sharp. With more oxygen going to the cells, the lizard brain quiets down and the mind becomes less reactive. The conversation also goes into the power of completing challenges with groups, and the mindset of adapting your fitness routine to where you're at. He also tells stories with ice baths and how old people can be surprisingly fit.
BeeNow podcast, Episode 35
Michael Vargas has an interesting background that spans across Clinical Psychology and theater improv, and he facilitates workshops on leadership and innovation.
In this episode, we explore the concept of psychological safety and what it looks like in the workplace. Michael highlights the power of "showing up" in order to learn faster in connection with others. He also shares how the principles of improv gave him invaluable life lessons.
Michael has a Master's degree in Clinical Psychology, 15 years of improv experience and over eight years of group facilitation experience, beginning with leadings groups at substance abuse and mental health facilities. He currently works as a consultant running workshops for corporations, nonprofits and schools on topics around culture, innovation, and leadership. Some of his previous clients include Kaiser Permanente, Dropbox, Genentech, Teradata, Limelight Health, ACLU San Diego. You can learn more about him at www.leadbyimpact.com
-- For more about BeeNow and to check out more episodes, please visit BeeNow.co
BeeNow podcast, Episode 33
In this episode, Dieter and I record a phone chat to discuss the latest on the public health state and ways to stay focused and adaptive with the uncertainties.
Feb. 7: Free Online nCov Healthcare Seminar Should I Stay or Should I Go Now?
Follow the Chengdu-Expat MiniProgram for all the latest updates
BeeNow podcast, Episode 32
Sandra Chukwudumebi Obiora is many things. Aside from winning Chengdu Poetry Slam, she is a lover of God, a PhD student, a Language Enthusiast, an Audio Technician, a Motivational Speaker, an Artist, a Writer, a Lover of tennis and all things Japanese anime…, and among them all, she is a poet, ambitious, and a genuine lover of good writing, art, and photography. Check out Sandra's website at apoetsbrain.com
In this episode, Sandra shares her journey as a poet, her inspirations, and the creative process. For her, poetry is a way of looking at things and recognizing that there is more to life than just ourselves - it's about seeing how gloriously small we are.
Part of the magic of Sandra's process is that when a strong feeling passes through her experience she refuses to ignore it. Our conversation also explores the relationship between creativity and spirituality and the bottomless void that dwells within every person.
BeeNow podcast, Episode 31
Vas is the owner of Berlin Haus: Bar & Events and one of the Chengdu Film Society organisers. He graduated from university with a BA degree in Film Studies & Photography + Video. Having lived in Chengdu for 8 years, Vas is a veteran expat and brings a variety of cultural, creative and entertaining events to Berlin Haus for the local community.
Damon helps run Chengdu Film Society and has been involved with movie clubs in one way or another since university.
In this episode, we discuss The joker and how the character of Joker reflects the state of mental health and society.
We also shared on the question: Is there a movie that you watched again and again as a kid?
BeeNow podcast, Episode 30
Garrett H. Jones is an American entrepreneur who has lived in Chengdu for over 12 years. He co-founded Extravagant Yak Tibet Travel Company in 2012 and a marketing and translation company, Perfect English Academic and Business Solutions, in 2019. His wife and four kids think Chengdu is the coolest place to live on the planet.
In this episode, Garret talks about writing as an act of focus and staying in conversation with self. Staying in dialogue is what makes the writing process a living and breathing thing. He describes the magic of journaling as a way for mental clarity and wellbeing. Morning Pages is a recommended journaling practice which is from a book titled "The Artist's Way." (See below.)
Garrett shares his earliest memories with writing as well as his journey of growth in China over that past 15years. He touches on the creative energy in Chengdu that has attracted great writers such as Hemingway and others. Chengdu's long love affair with words is something he can feel and appreciate.
On good writing, Garrett says, "The best kind of writing is when you can see what's written." Let your words paint a picture to engage the reader's imagination.
We explore how to get into a flow state when writing and Garrett shares ways to jumpstart the writing process. for example, consider the following story prompts for you to finish:
She jumped then immediately regretted it ... Your child walks in the house from digging in the dirt outside and says he found something. He shows you and your eyes go wide ... a man stands at the front of the plane and tells everyone to remain calm ...
Recommended readings:
Big Magic Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert
The Artist's Way A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity by Julia Cameron
BeeNow Podcast, Episode 29
Quinton Sutton is a young Drama teacher from South Africa who has been living and working in Chengdu for 4 years. He teaches a monthly hilarious Improvisation class where players learn the essential skills for everyday life eg. Confidence. Empathy, social skills, listening and most importantly individuality.
In this warm and refreshing chat, Quinton shares on what is improvisation in drama and how it connects people to their individuality as well as to other people. We explore the role of listening and the magic of letting go. What does it mean to be present with others in a room and be seen? What does it mean to explore a character in real-time?
For those of us who keep coming back to Quinton's drama classes, maybe it is the energy of play and connection with others that makes it so great. It is a creative space to be confidently present with others in a relaxed environment.
BeeNow Podcast, Episode 28
簡介：Dr. Sophia Kidd, art critic, independent curator, performance artist, Sichuan University Associate Research Fellow 康書雅博士: 批評家、獨立策展人、現場藝術家、四川大學副研究員
In this episode, we explore the multi-disciplinary nature of her work and how she draws inspiration from frictions and contradictions. Sophia talks about her Mind Valley quest, which is to create more flow states of mind. She also shares her listmaking method and other ways of connecting with a higher purpose and emotional wellbeing.
BeeNow Podcast, Episode 27
Ryan Friesen is an English teacher and part-time guide for Chengdu Food Tours from Winnipeg, Canada. His interest in Sichuan food brought him to Chengdu and it's a big reason why he has been here for 4-5 years.
A friend, foodie, and storyteller, Ryan joins me for a chat. He shares his journey from being bored selling insurance to finding a passion for Sichuan cuisine. We share Sichuan poop stories, one where he gets gassy on the bus. We've all been there.
He also shares on experiencing growth as a foreigner in China. What does life balance look like with workloads, hobbies, relationships, and the essential "me" time? Maybe sometimes finding balance means being ok when there is no balance.
He also talks about how his pet hedgehog riddles him with questions about human emotions, wondering how we might more readily control stress in our greater evolution.
BeeNow Podcast, Episode 26
Tim Biglowe is a stand-up comedian who arrived in Chengdu at the beginning of 2019. He's from England and he loves writing in the third person. He truly is one of a kind. While stocks last. Batteries not included. Terms and conditions apply.
He wrote that introduction himself .. in the third person.
In this episode, Tim and I talk about his journey as a comedian - how he got started and the growth along the way. We explore his writing process and how he found happiness in his method. He also shares on the welcoming vibe in Chengdu's comedy scene where anyone can get on the mic and try new material.
We also touch on what it's like to live in a big city. As he puts it: "the best thing about living in cities is leaving them."
BeeNow Podcast, Episode 25
Jacob Wanuch is an English teacher from Canada. He's an amateur writer and a recreational artist.
A call to create inspired Jacob towards China; that and paying the bills. He shares his journey as a writer and staying inspired as a creative. With Chengdu's flourishing literary scene, there is no shortage of inspiration and passion projects. Finding balance and not getting burned out is an ongoing dance.
The conversation also touches on self-reflection and wellbeing when we are compelled to create.
BeeNow Podcast, Episode 24
Barclay Bram is a PhD candidate at Oxford University’s School of Overseas and Global Area Studies. He is doing ethnographic work on mental health in China. He is also a writer and photographer whose work has appeared in the London Review of Books, Wired, Vice, Dazed, etc.
The conversation explores the complexities of mental health and the connection between the mind and body. He goes on to talk about mindfulness as a modern phenomenon and as a tool that does not serve everyone all the time, which speaks to the heart of mindfulness itself that is to not hold our concepts too tightly.
Barclay shares his recent visit to AliBaba during the shopping holiday 11/11 and seeing an explosion of sales numbers spinning on a giant display monitor.
The abundance that is present in China and elsewhere in the world is a beautiful thing. Still, it is worth raising the importance of compassion in a transactional world, asking critical questions like do we really need more stuff? and are we actually building more empathy in the world? Openly exploring such questions shapes the future as we are all unfinished and growing.
BeeNow Podcast, Episode 23
Wenwen is Co-founder of LookAfter, a psychological health center in Chengdu. With Tim as a senior counselor at LookAfter, the three of us discussed the state of mental health in china. We explored ways of diagnosis and treatment, the need for qualified mental health professionals, and the existing government support that enables mental health education.
We also explored effective ways of dealing with stress, staying aware of unconscious emotions, and the calming effects of mindful eating. Also included in the conversation were critical topics such as trauma, emotional resilience, and daily skills for better mental health.
Penney Percival, also known as Lady P, is here to understand, not to be understood. Trying to live the best life humanly possible, with harm to none, and aligning her thoughts, feelings, and actions. A work in progress.
On this episode, we talk about the upcoming Poetry Slam in Chengdu, her inspirations towards China, and her journey as a creative. We also discussed stepping back from mental habits and finding ourselves again and again in the now.
BeeNow Podcast, Episode 21
The Journey Within is a unique wellness course being offered by Jen and Arya in Chengdu. This podcast episode is an open chat while providing some details about the course. If you like to sign up or have any questions, please contact us through the QR code below.
BeeNow Podcast, Episode 20
Dieter Vanonckelen is a Belgian entrepreneur with a portfolio of startups in Chengdu including Chengdu-Expat, The Beer Nest, Munchwich, Startup Weekend, Dilaoban, and More Magazine. He is a connector of people and ideas, and a startup enthusiast with his share of failures. In midst of all this, he also runs Marathons.
After living a year in South America, he obtained his Masters in Sinology (the study of Chinese language, history, customs, and politics) at Leuven University. He has now been living in China for 10 years. Something I admire about Dieter is his optimism and a broad view of growth that he sees in Chengdu.
On this episode, we talk about having humility as a guest in China, as foreigners. He shares on the reality of entrepreneurship, having patience, learning by doing, and our concepts of success (and failure). He encourages expats to try stuff and help create the ecosystem that we're all looking for. And yes, beer was also discussed.
BeeNow Podcast, Episode 19
"Courage is a love affair with the unknown." - Osho
Ma'ayan is an Israeli entrepreneur operating in China since 2013. Among her portfolio of startups, she is the Co-founder of the 'Chengdu Woman in Business Network' and 'Home Base' a company working towards developing a more eco-friendly fashion industry. She also teaches Yoga and is passionate about the world's spiritual traditions which advocate holistic wellbeing.
On this episode, we talk about mindset, self-awareness, vulnerability, and the value of difficult times. As was discussed, stress is unavoidable but its sources we can examine and adjust. She emphasizes the vitality of staying in the present and connecting with the body. She also addresses one of my favorite questions: does a drop in the ocean need a map to get home?
BeeNow Podcast, Episode 17
"There is a voice that doesn't use words, listen." - Rumi, Persian poet
Osama Zayed is on an exploration journey that started a few years ago in Egypt. He considers the world as West and East and right now he is in the oriental world of the East. He humbly thinks that China has a totally different perspective. For him, learning Chinese is a step toward understanding how people perceive life here, and maybe help him understand how people as a whole perceive life.
On this episode, we talk about aligning with the Taoist principle of Wu Wei during his recent trip to Hong Kong. As he puts it "Wu Wei means not forcing stuff." We explored how the inner voice can guide us through complexity and what it means to be aligned with it; how to allow our senses to connect with the natural world - to be in sync with nature.
He shares how he has learned discipline through rock climbing. In exploring the relationship between intuition and culture, he raises a question: where does mythology come from? and why is it even there?
The BeeNow podcast explores art, health, and culture.
BeeNow Podcast, Episode 14
A joy to chat with Yilin, world traveler and Chengdu local. We talked about the connection between Taoism and Chinese mythology and how personal experience can be refreshingly boring.
Erik Ackner is an experienced entrepreneur, mentor, and an avid cyclist. In Chengdu's startup community, he is known for throwing up big events like Startup Weekend and Startup Grind. Erik activates people to make cool things and his enthusiasm is contagious. When I asked him, "what drives you to do so much?" He said, "because it's fun!"
Since his recent return back to Berlin, I had a chance to sit down with Erik to talk about his personal journey as an entrepreneur, his ideas on work-life balance, mentorship, and a simple method to achieve greater focus. Zebras and unicorns also entered the conversation.