166 episodes
The Taiwan History Podcast: Formosa Files John Ross and Eryk Michael Smith
-
- History
-
-
5.0 • 8 Ratings
-
NEW: Full-length ENGLISH episodes every THURSDAY (and other days too) - One short CHINESE episode on TUESDAY.
The history of Taiwan (1600 C.E. - 2000) told through interesting stories in a non-chronological order. John Ross is an author and publisher of works on Taiwan and China, while Eryk Michael Smith has worked as a writer and journalist for several media outlets in Taiwan. Both hosts have lived in Taiwan for well over 20 years and call the island home.
Email: formosafiles@gmail.com
-
[ENCORE] S4 - The Inn of the EIGHT Happinesses 八福客栈 vs. The Inn of the Sixth Happiness
Gladys Aylward and Ingrid Bergman: The former, a British-born Christian missionary to China and Taiwan, the latter a three-time Academy Award winner. However despite very different lives, the two will forever be connected after a book about Aylward was turned into a Hollywood movie starring Bergman. Formosa Files has the whole story in this week's encore episode, including: Why the film wasn't shot in Taiwan, and why Gladys thought Bergman was a "wicked woman."
Go to formosafiles.com for pics, extras, and more. -
FORMOSA FILES IN CHINESE! CH07-被刻意遺忘的暴動事件—524美國大使館暴動
LISTEN TO THE STORY OF THE RIOTERS RANSACK THE TAIPEI US EMBASSY IN CHINESE!
1957年（民國46年）5月24日，發生了一起令人匪夷所思的暴動事件。數千名群眾在持續一個下午的抗議示威後，侵入當時在臺北的美國大使館，破壞使館設施、毆打使館人員。究竟為什麼在戒嚴時期會有這麼大規模的暴動？又為何發生在當時的美國大使館？請聽Formosa Files中文版podcast為您一一道來。
重要單字：allow to, widow, martial law
--
主持人簡介：
Eryk Michael Smith－ICRT南臺灣特派員，長期從事記者採編工作、聲音編輯，也會客串DJ。現居高雄，在臺灣已經居住了接近30年，認為臺灣是自己的家。
Eric Hsu（徐葆權）－彰化北斗人，從大學南漂高雄以來，人生的大部分時間都在高雄渡過。關心臺灣文史與地方文化發展，尤其是自己的兩個家鄉：北斗與高雄。 -
BONUS episode: The Adventures of Frank Bessac
During the Mao Zedong years, China was off-limits to Western researchers. Some came to Taiwan as a substitute, among them American anthropologist Frank Bessac. John chats with Michael Aldrich, author of “Old Lhasa: A Biography,” about Bessac’s work in Taiwan. They also recount his adventures in China, including an epic, ill-fated, months-long escape from Xinjiang to Tibet in 1950. Listen and you’ll see why John and Michael consider Frank Bessac (1922–2010) to be the epitome of the generation that earned the title “the Greatest Generation.”
Visit formosafiles.com for links to books, and more. -
S4-E12 - The Dalai Lama Visits Taiwan (1997)
John chats with Michael Aldrich, author of “Old Lhasa: A Biography,” about relations between Taiwan and Tibet (specifically the Tibetan government-in-exile in Dharamshala, India). Despite Taipei and Dharamshala sharing a common foe, this relationship was for decades a difficult one. A turning point came in 1997 with the tremendously successful landmark visit of the Dalai Lama. And, we hear (via a translation read by Eryk) from Taiwan Tibet Office chief Kelsang Gyaltsen, about the warm Taiwan–Tibet relations enjoyed today.
Pics and more info at formosafiles.com -
FORMOSA FILES IN CHINESE! CH06-最低調沉默的第一夫人—前第一夫人蔣方良女士
LISTEN TO THE STORY OF FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE IN CHINESE!
臺灣，或說中華民國史上的第一夫人（以及想成為第一夫人的人），大多都是新聞報導關注的焦點，甚至如蔣宋美齡般成為世界知名的人物。然而在第一夫人的行列中，卻有一位稍顯黯淡無聲的夫人－蔣方良女士，即前總統蔣經國先生的夫人。且這名身居高位卻低調沉默的第一夫人，甚至不是中國人，而是來自「敵方」的俄國人……
重要單字：infidelity, infiltrate karma
--
主持人簡介：
Eryk Michael Smith－ICRT南臺灣特派員，長期從事記者採編工作、聲音編輯，也會客串DJ。現居高雄，在臺灣已經居住了接近30年，認為臺灣是自己的家。
Eric Hsu（徐葆權）－彰化北斗人，從大學南漂高雄以來，人生的大部分時間都在高雄渡過。關心臺灣文史與地方文化發展，尤其是自己的兩個家鄉：北斗與高雄。 -
S4-E11 - Bird Droppings on Rocks: the surprising history of hotly contested South China Sea islands
On Saturday May 18th, 2024, a group of local lawmakers will visit Taiping Island 太平島, a tiny strip of coral and sand in the Spratly Islands more than 1,500 km away from the southern tip of Taiwan. As anyone who reads the news knows, numerous islands, reefs, shoals, and even barely visible rocks scattered across the vast South China Sea are considered flashpoints for World War III, as China, Taiwan, Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and even tiny Brunei each claim some degree of sovereignty. So, which claimant really owns the Paracels? Who do the Spratly Islands really belong to? In this week's island hopping adventure, we simplify some complicated history; plus, John gets worked into a mild frenzy over guano fertilizer while Eryk gets a tad too territorial.
We've got maps, pics and more at formosafiles.com
Customer Reviews
Wonderfully informative!
This is a well researched podcast on the history of Formosa which is present day Taiwan. Covering over 300 years of the island’s history, it is wide ranging in its scope and for someone who is Taiwan born who is already well versed in Taiwanese/Formosan history I have discovered plenty of new tidbits. Highly recommend listening to this podcast and not just if you’re interested in history, but especially the many episodes that cover the conflict with the mainland.