The Audio Blog of Steven Sirski

Steven Sirski

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Places & Travel

The daily musings of an expat in Beijing.

15h ago

SSAB - September 22, 2026

Too soon on the “I don’t hurt!” post-gym sesh! Owie! Up and out for a run early this morning, and wondering how workouts actually change. Is it because you stop doing the things you don’t like? If you continue to work out for a while, then you start to add some variations and if you stop, you’re like, why am I doing this? Thinking all these books… did some math on how much time I spend doing each thing each day and… not sure I’ll ever finish these books! And hey, I found a rehearsal studio! I guess they always existed, but I’ve never used them. Should I pick up the sticks again?? Donate to the show! PayPal link below! https://www.paypal.me/stevensirski?locale.x=en_CA *** Show notes n tracks up on stevensirski.com Transcript and more available on Google Drive: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1om1Geup1o6Adi-A8kTAnCf12Zo7nDkAt?usp=sharing Newsletter over at stevensirski.substack.com Language vlog on http://www.youtube.com/@stevenslanguagevlog Google Stock Tracker Sheet https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1kbpCC2cieuq23zYyr0-WznPRogVX0aS86BF4_vPvgMY/edit?usp=sharing Hope you have a great one!! 00:00 Post Gym Reality Check 00:37 Why I Returned to Teaching 02:53 First Year Classroom Vibes 05:41 Speaking Exam Strategy 09:58 IELTS Memorize Debate 15:00 Sore Legs Morning Run 18:19 Supplements I Actually Use 21:22 How My Training Evolved 27:02 CrossFit Trends and Why 30:27 Book Math and Reading Goals 36:18 Time Budget Reality Check 37:33 Rehearsal Studio Drumming Return 43:52 Wrap Up and Links
1d ago

SSAB - September 21, 2026

I’ve been PSB’d! Passport gone until October 8th! Now the lovely yellow paper is all I got! Class prep and podcasts, will they work? Off to the gym and hitting 75 kgs on the bench! Could I bench my body weight? Squats lagging bigly. Missed a Chinese class! And thinking… 1100 RMB for teaching an infant? Where do I sign up?! Donate to the show! PayPal link below! https://www.paypal.me/stevensirski?locale.x=en_CA *** Show notes n tracks up on stevensirski.com Transcript and more available on Google Drive: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1om1Geup1o6Adi-A8kTAnCf12Zo7nDkAt?usp=sharing Newsletter over at stevensirski.substack.com Language vlog on http://www.youtube.com/@stevenslanguagevlog Google Stock Tracker Sheet https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1kbpCC2cieuq23zYyr0-WznPRogVX0aS86BF4_vPvgMY/edit?usp=sharing Hope you have a great start of week! 00:00 Passport Taken by PSB 00:35 Weekend Recap and Jet Lag 01:56 Visa Questions and PSB Visit 04:43 How China Visa Transfers Work 07:37 Yellow Paper Travel Limits 10:16 Reworking the Language Log 22:03 Missed Chinese Class and Meetings 26:40 1100 RMB Infant Teaching Offer 34:02 Back to the Gym Bench Goals 45:58 Wrap Up and Links
4d ago

SSAB - September 18, 2026

New donation! Thank you! Join the club! Paypal link in the show notes! First week done and it already feels like it’s going faster! Gotta keep the students speaking! So far, so good! Evening orientation for the newbies: don’t talk sht about sht! Up and out this morning for a workout, deadlifts, pull ups and upper body. When can I get my run in? And Beijing has banned drones! Like, even having them in the city! Donate to the show! PayPal link below! https://www.paypal.me/stevensirski?locale.x=en_CA *** Show notes n tracks up on stevensirski.com Transcript and more available on Google Drive: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1om1Geup1o6Adi-A8kTAnCf12Zo7nDkAt?usp=sharing Newsletter over at stevensirski.substack.com Language vlog on http://www.youtube.com/@stevenslanguagevlog Google Stock Tracker Sheet https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1kbpCC2cieuq23zYyr0-WznPRogVX0aS86BF4_vPvgMY/edit?usp=sharing Hope you have a good weekend! 00:00 Quick Housekeeping 00:40 Back in Beijing 01:29 Orientation Rules 02:55 Strikes and Penalties 07:20 Classroom Surveillance 09:19 Learning Student Names 11:07 Course Setup Sustainability 15:40 AI and Office Hours 20:08 Holidays and Scheduling 23:35 Donations and Production 27:50 Gym and Fitness Plans 32:48 Beijing Drone Ban 37:04 Wrap Up and Links And how’s the food at the new uni??
5d ago

SSAB - September 17, 2026

How about this: we record right now so we don’t have to fight through the jet lag? Fell asleep right after recording yesterday’s episode and up at… 2 am again! Never did eat my guobaoriu! Finished The Stand! Finally! Looking at the condition of the book, looks like I should just get rid of it. What’s next? How were those books for the gf? Can she read them? Yes… but understanding is still a bit difficult. Got a new APP to read Chinese books… reader-made, not professional. And doing some calculations on the life of an expat… how long and where do you end up? Donate to the show! PayPal link below! https://www.paypal.me/stevensirski?locale.x=en_CA *** Show notes n tracks up on stevensirski.com Transcript and more available on Google Drive: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1om1Geup1o6Adi-A8kTAnCf12Zo7nDkAt?usp=sharing Newsletter over at stevensirski.substack.com Language vlog on http://www.youtube.com/@stevenslanguagevlog Google Stock Tracker Sheet https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1kbpCC2cieuq23zYyr0-WznPRogVX0aS86BF4_vPvgMY/edit?usp=sharing Hope you have a great one!! 00:00 Early Recording Plans 00:37 Beijing Expat Update 00:50 Teaching Schedule Breakdown 01:55 Course Prep Confusion 02:34 Office Hours Frustrations 05:12 Tomorrow Class Activities 06:48 Jet Lag Battles 10:19 Chinese Class Complaints 12:21 HSK 5 Semester Goal 15:02 Course Goals And Exams 21:52 Language Log Season Plan 23:27 Finishing The Stand 26:18 Books And Time Budget 28:49 Girlfriend Reading Practice 31:49 Tomato App For Chinese 35:09 Expat Life Calculations 37:55 China Visa Age Limits 42:37 Money And Content Real Estate 46:45 Final Thoughts And Outro
6d ago

SSAB - September 16, 2026

Quick! Record now before my food shows up and I fall asleep! Jet lag strikes and up at 2 am! Went for a walk and no one was out. Last first class done, now onto the second. Meetings a go go and what are the office hours really? And when is class prep or grading time? FREE apparently. Off to the gym in the morning for the first workout in a very long time and then a run in the afternoon… now my chest hurts. It’s smoggy outside. And did China steal the blueberry? I don’t often buy them here any more since they are kinda expensive, 25 RMB for a small clamshell box of them. Neat how they do the growing, however, in coconut fibre. https://www.wsj.com/business/driscolls-berry-farms-china-competition-b0b49f04?mod=itp_wsj&mod=djemITP_h Donate to the show! PayPal link below! https://www.paypal.me/stevensirski?locale.x=en_CA *** Show notes n tracks up on stevensirski.com Transcript and more available on Google Drive: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1om1Geup1o6Adi-A8kTAnCf12Zo7nDkAt?usp=sharing Newsletter over at stevensirski.substack.com Language vlog on http://www.youtube.com/@stevenslanguagevlog Google Stock Tracker Sheet https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1kbpCC2cieuq23zYyr0-WznPRogVX0aS86BF4_vPvgMY/edit?usp=sharing Hope you have a great one!!
Sep 15

SSAB - September 15, 2026

Better record this now because jet lag a startin’! How ya feeling? Yesterday’s episode was ROUGH! Class is in! And how does it feel to be back? How are the students? What’s it like? Learning some new APPs: Tencent Docs and WeChat groups, but much more freer than last year. And are you seeing any changes? Not much… other than a new elevator and sign: don’t pee in the stairwell! Donate to the show! PayPal link below! https://www.paypal.me/stevensirski?locale.x=en_CA *** Show notes n tracks up on stevensirski.com Transcript and more available on Google Drive: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1om1Geup1o6Adi-A8kTAnCf12Zo7nDkAt?usp=sharing Newsletter over at stevensirski.substack.com Language vlog on http://www.youtube.com/@stevenslanguagevlog Google Stock Tracker Sheet https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1kbpCC2cieuq23zYyr0-WznPRogVX0aS86BF4_vPvgMY/edit?usp=sharing Hope you have a great start of semesters! 00:00 Back in Beijing Jet Lag 03:05 Flights Luggage and Winter Plans 04:57 First Day Teaching Again 07:15 Campus Commute and Facilities 14:38 Office Hours and Tracking 20:19 Assignments and AI Rules 23:44 Content Strategy Substack Shift 26:31 Student Boundaries and Participation 36:25 New Apps and Apartment Changes 41:12 Wrap Up and Links
Sep 14

SSAB - September 14, 2026

Hello from Beijing! Back to the city and into my humble abode… again. Still. How was the trip? How was the food? It was decent but has been better. Same with the snacks. No brownies this time. They seem to be giving free beer on domestic flights these days. Watched Suits, Succession, and Narcos. Are you a YouTuber? And, do you like being back? Donate to the show! PayPal link below! https://www.paypal.me/stevensirski?locale.x=en_CA *** Show notes n tracks up on stevensirski.com Transcript and more available on Google Drive: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1om1Geup1o6Adi-A8kTAnCf12Zo7nDkAt?usp=sharing Newsletter over at stevensirski.substack.com Language vlog on http://www.youtube.com/@stevenslanguagevlog Google Stock Tracker Sheet https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1kbpCC2cieuq23zYyr0-WznPRogVX0aS86BF4_vPvgMY/edit?usp=sharing Hope you have a great one!! 00:00 Back in Beijing 00:38 Air Canada Flight Recap 01:54 Carry On Seat Drama 03:58 Souvenirs and Books 06:01 New Job Starts Tomorrow 07:51 Arrival Customs Tips 09:39 Canada to China Itinerary 11:28 Headache and Airport Shopping 14:26 In Flight Shows and Editing 17:24 Vlogging Without B Roll 22:02 Are You a YouTuber 30:58 Do I Like Being Back 38:42 Closing and Links
Sep 12

SSAB - September 11, 2026

End of week and end of my time in Canada! I can’t believe it’s over and… I can’t believe I couldn’t get it to work. Packing almost done, next up, getting stuff ready to sit for another year. When will I come back? Another recording done! Let it Crash! Or something like that. And are you ready to get back to Beijing? Back to China? Donate to the show! PayPal link below! https://www.paypal.me/stevensirski?locale.x=en_CA *** Show notes n tracks up on stevensirski.com Transcript and more available on Google Drive: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1om1Geup1o6Adi-A8kTAnCf12Zo7nDkAt?usp=sharing Newsletter over at stevensirski.substack.com Language vlog on http://www.youtube.com/@stevenslanguagevlog Google Stock Tracker Sheet https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1kbpCC2cieuq23zYyr0-WznPRogVX0aS86BF4_vPvgMY/edit?usp=sharing Hope you have a great weekend! See you in Beijing! 00:00 Last Night in Canada 01:44 Goodbyes and No Visitors 02:22 Book Gifts Gone Wrong 04:51 Three Days of Transit 07:16 Teaching Prep and Creative Labor 11:00 Packing Lists and China Snacks 11:52 Why China Again 17:24 Cymbals Album and Microphone ROI 23:20 Online Teaching Dream Failed 28:17 Content Strategy and Language Vlog 31:30 Final Packing and Loose Ends 36:10 Not Ready for Beijing 42:00 Wrap Up and Links

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The Audio Blog of Steven Sirski (Trailer)

The Audio Blog of Steven Sirski

The daily musings of an expat in Beijing.

Creator

Steven Sirski
Years Active

2021 - 2026
Episodes

1.4K
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© Steven Sirski
Show Website

The Audio Blog of Steven Sirski