Episodes

  • Europe's AC dilemma

    Europe's AC dilemma
    Jul 2 2026
    Temperatures have soared past forty degrees across Europe. Schools have sent children home. Outdoor work has been banned. A famous landmark closed its doors. A continent built for cold winters now bakes under relentless heat. Air conditioning seems obvious, but the solution is more complicated than installing more units. On the show: Fei Fei, Steve & Yushan
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    27 mins
  • How to change your mood in 60 seconds

    How to change your mood in 60 seconds
    Jul 3 2026
    You know that nagging feeling that follows you through the day: what if a sixty-second mental move could dissolve it? Behavioral scientists have uncovered a practice called mental subtraction. It's not about positive thinking. It's a subtle repositioning that lets relief surface on its own. Will it work for you? / Burgers, burgers everywhere (15:30). On the show: Steve, Yushun & Xingyu
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    22 mins
  • Can ancient hacks beat modern heat?

    Can ancient hacks beat modern heat?
    Jul 7 2026
    We are in the thick of summer, cranking the AC and reaching for anything cold. But for thousands of years, people survived blazing heat without a single modern convenience. China's traditional playbook was full of clever, low-tech fixes that kept things bearable. As temperatures keep rising, can these ancient hacks actually be smarter than our energy-guzzling gadgets? / Can you wear last year's sunscreen (12:29)? On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushan
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    18 mins
  • Are we meeting ourselves to death?

    Are we meeting ourselves to death?
    Jul 6 2026
    The average worker spends more than an entire workday each week in meetings. Calendars are overflowing, focus is fractured, and meaningful work keeps getting pushed aside. Meetings are necessary at times, but the real question is whether we are simply holding too many or whether we have forgotten what a good one actually looks like. / Do you need more oxygen (18:28)? On the show: Steve, Yushun & Xingyu
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    25 mins
  • Do you need a 3D printer?

    Do you need a 3D printer?
    Jul 8 2026
    Chinese malls are rolling out something new: 3D printing stations that let anyone design and print a custom object in under ten minutes. It's easy to dismiss as a fun distraction, but there's a serious push to bring this technology into our homes. The real question isn't about how well the machines work, but whether we'd use one if we had it. / How safe is your delivery meal (17:09)? On the show: Steve, Yushan & Ding Heng
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    24 mins
  • The joint degree reputation reversal

    The joint degree reputation reversal
    Jul 9 2026
    For years, Chinese-foreign cooperative programs were seen as backup options for students who missed their top choice universities. Inflated tuition fees only fueled the perception that families were buying degrees from easy schools. But attitudes are changing. These programs are raising their game with cutting-edge majors and better quality. So are they finally shedding that reputation, and is the dual degree now worth the price? On the show: Fei Fei, Steve & Yushun
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    24 mins
  • Lights, camera... football?

    Lights, camera... football?
    Jul 10 2026
    What happens when the movies are no longer the main attraction? Across China, cinemas are reinventing themselves as all-in-one entertainment destinations, hosting everything from live sports and concerts to gaming, cafés, and restaurants. We explore how the big screen is finding a whole new role. / Are you napping wrong (18:19)? On the show: Steve, Yushan & Yushun
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    24 mins
  • Tick tock goes the checkout clock

    Tick tock goes the checkout clock
    Jul 13 2026
    For decades, hotels worldwide have followed the same rule. Check in after two in the afternoon, check out before noon the next day. Most travelers never question it. But some Chinese hotel chains are now tearing up that script, letting guests keep their room for a full twenty-four hours from check-in. Travelers love the idea. Yet for hotels, the reality is more complicated. On the show: Steve, Yushan & Yushun
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    21 mins