sids.campfire

Sid Hewison

sids.campfire is where real conversations unfold - out in nature, around a fire. Host Sid Hewison of sids.ventures sits with people who know something worth sharing: experts in natural science, history, culture, and the land - alongside those with wild, lived stories rooted in nature and human experience. No scripts, no studio polish. Just grounded yarns that stick with you.

Episodes

  1. 5 Aug

    Episode 6 - Fred (Li Yan) - Beijing Hutongs

    Ep 6. The Soul of Beijing: An Uncut Walk Through the Hutongs (with Fred / Li Yan) Welcome back to Sid’s Campfire. This episode comes straight from the archives. Following a temporary visa roadblock with a recent shoot in Bali, Sid digs into the vaults to share his first-ever on-camera interview, captured during a project in China. Sid meets up with Fred (Li Yan), a revered Beijing tour guide who grew up inside the city's labyrinth of historic alleyways, known as Hutongs. While millions of travelers flock strictly to the Great Wall or the Forbidden City, Fred argues that the true pulse and soul of Beijing can only be found rubbing shoulders with locals in these ancient neighborhoods. Recorded completely raw and uncut as they dodge electric scooters and walk the banks of the Grand Canal, this conversation delves into the deep layers of Chinese history, natural science, and local philosophy. Discover how a 13th-century Daoist scholar influenced the layout of the city under Kublai Khan, the hidden architectural symbols that reveal a family's historical social class, and what it truly means to experience a city through its people. While this episode features great visuals of the city if you are watching the video version, the continuous banter and deep historical tracking make it a perfect listen for the audio-only format. For the personal, nitty-gritty details on the production delays and upcoming travel projects, join the community on Patreon. Support the Podcast: https://www.patreon.com/c/sidsventures Explore Tours & Media: https://sids.ventures

About

sids.campfire is where real conversations unfold - out in nature, around a fire. Host Sid Hewison of sids.ventures sits with people who know something worth sharing: experts in natural science, history, culture, and the land - alongside those with wild, lived stories rooted in nature and human experience. No scripts, no studio polish. Just grounded yarns that stick with you.