The Taiwan History Podcast: Formosa Files

John Ross and Eryk Michael Smith
  • 5.0 (74)
  • HISTORY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Now streaming season five, the world's biggest and highest-rated Taiwan history podcast, Formosa Files, releases ENGLISH episodes every THURSDAY, as well as one short CHINESE episode on WEDNESDAYS. Formosa Files: The Taiwan History Podcast uses an engaging storytelling format and is non-chronological, meaning every week is a new adventure. John Ross is an author and publisher of works on Taiwan and China, while Eryk Michael Smith is a writer and journalist for local and global media outlets. Both hosts have lived in Taiwan for decades and call the island home. Email: formosafiles@gmail.com

  1. 3D AGO

    S5-E8 - Taiwan’s Stock Market Bubble – And the Crash of 1990

    Shortly after the Lunar New Year of 1990, the Taiwan Stock Exchange (the Taiex) hit a peak of almost 12,500. Eight months later it had fallen to a low of about 2,500 – an 80% collapse, and one of the worst stock market crashes of all time! In this week’s Taiwan history Formosa Files episode, we’re looking at the “Great Stock Market Bubble” of the late 1980s, when too many people had a lot more money than sense. Taiwan’s financial sector in the late 1980s was so crazy that the Republic of China (Taiwan) got a nickname: “the Republic of Casino”. Links, pics and much more at formosafiles.com

    28 min
  2. FORMOSA FILES IN CHINESE! CH52-臺灣戰後至今的人口問題—節育與「催生」政策

    4D AGO

    FORMOSA FILES IN CHINESE! CH52-臺灣戰後至今的人口問題—節育與「催生」政策

    臺灣在戰後很快的成為「復興基地」，接收了百萬播遷來臺的中國軍民，但仍需儲備「反攻大陸」所需的兵力；再加上農業社會需要大量人力，政府於是鼓勵生育，臺灣人口也隨之快速增加。然而在八十年後的今日，臺灣的生育率卻是世界倒數，人口也開始節節下降。這集的 Formosa Files 中文版 Podcast，就讓兩位主持人來跟大家聊聊，臺灣人口的故事與挑戰。 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。

    20 min

  3. APR 4 · BONUS

    S5 - Mini Episode – Communist Parties in Taiwan (and a re-run on the gruesome tale behind Tomb Sweeping Festival 清明節)

    Taiwan is enjoying a four-day break for Qing Ming Jie, usually called Tomb Sweeping Festival (or Day) in English. Formosa Files is taking a bit of a break as well, but Eryk thought you might be interested in a short history of communist parties in Taiwan, so he recorded a mini episode on that topic. After seeing red, stay with the episode for a re-release of the (or at least one of the) origin story of the Tomb Sweeping Festival - an edit from (Not So) "Happy Holidays - S2-E28."

    19 min
  4. FORMOSA FILES IN CHINESE! CH51-不名譽的「榮譽白人」—SA295號空難與臺斐關係

    APR 2

    FORMOSA FILES IN CHINESE! CH51-不名譽的「榮譽白人」—SA295號空難與臺斐關係

    臺灣自從1971年退出聯合國以來，在國際上逐漸面臨被孤立的困境。無獨有偶的，此時在非洲也有另一個被國際孤立的國家：南非。雖然非常具有爭議性，但兩個國家確實攜手合作了很長的一段時間，臺灣人當時在南非甚至還被授與「榮譽白人」，直到曼德拉上台後轉與中國建交為止。而就在兩國關係還相當密切的1987年，在印度洋上發生了一起空難，卻引發外界無限的陰謀論遐想。這集的 Formosa Files 中文版 Podcast，就讓兩位主持人來跟大家聊聊，「榮譽白人」與這起空難的故事。 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。

    17 min

  5. MAR 27

    S5-E7- First “Bits and Pieces” Episode of Season 5

    If we left in all the material we discover when researching topics, our episodes would be many hours long, so we try to force ourselves not to go down too many rabbit holes. But it’s a problem: we find so many “goodies” that are too good not to share! Our solution: a “Bits and Pieces” episode every now and then. In this first one for Season Five, we’ll look again at Taiwan’s falling population, female dentists, the old custom of throwing teeth on a roof (or burying them), the surprising number of Taiwan-Russia connections, and more.  For more, go to formosafiles.com

    21 min
  6. FORMOSA FILES IN CHINESE! CH50-原漢族群的界線「土牛溝」—不斷後退的臺灣「番界」

    MAR 26

    FORMOSA FILES IN CHINESE! CH50-原漢族群的界線「土牛溝」—不斷後退的臺灣「番界」

    臺灣從荷蘭、明鄭時期以來，不斷的有漢人來此開墾。然而在開墾的過程中，難免會與原住民發生爭端與衝突。而在漢人開始大舉來臺的清代，雖然政府透過各種方式想要避免漢人與原住民發生爭執，但似乎總是成效不佳。甚至在清代中後期以至於日治時期，為了開發臺灣的樟腦資源與擴張帝國治理的邊界，臺灣原漢族群的界線也隨之快速後退。這集的 Formosa Files 中文版 Podcast，就讓兩位主持人來跟大家聊聊，清代時的臺灣「番界」，「土牛溝」的故事。 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。

    12 min

  7. MAR 20

    S5-E6 – A 22-year-old Russian (spy?) Visits Taiwan in 1875

    Pavel Ivanovich Ibis, or Paul Ibis, a 22-year-old Russian naval officer (he was born in today’s Estonia) embarked alone on a dangerous and adventurous journey – on foot – through Taiwan in the winter of 1875. At the time, much of the island was under Qing rule; a prefecture of Fujian Province. So, what was he doing here? He left very detailed accounts of places, people and customs, and Paul Ibis seems to have had a genuine “anthropological” interest in this island. But was he also possibly a spy? Or at least gathering data for his superiors in the then-still powerful Russian Empire under Tsar Alexander II? (And, yeah, that was the Tsar who sold Alaska to the US in 1867.)  Visit formosafiles.com for more.

    29 min
  8. FORMOSA FILES IN CHINESE! CH49-臺灣最知名的黑人牙膏—人手一管的種族歧視（？）

    MAR 19

    FORMOSA FILES IN CHINESE! CH49-臺灣最知名的黑人牙膏—人手一管的種族歧視（？）

    如果要說到臺灣人過去最熟悉的牙膏品牌，「黑人牙膏」絕對是名列前茅。即使後來因為可能有種族歧視的意味而全面改名為「好來牙膏」，商標的顏色也幾度調整，但依然還是臺灣各大賣場架上最常見的牙膏品牌。這集的 Formosa Files 中文版，就讓兩位主持人來一起聊聊這個歷史意外悠久的牙膏品牌，以及它背後的一些歷史爭議故事。 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。

    11 min
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    5
    out of 5
    74 Ratings

    About

    Now streaming season five, the world's biggest and highest-rated Taiwan history podcast, Formosa Files, releases ENGLISH episodes every THURSDAY, as well as one short CHINESE episode on WEDNESDAYS. Formosa Files: The Taiwan History Podcast uses an engaging storytelling format and is non-chronological, meaning every week is a new adventure. John Ross is an author and publisher of works on Taiwan and China, while Eryk Michael Smith is a writer and journalist for local and global media outlets. Both hosts have lived in Taiwan for decades and call the island home. Email: formosafiles@gmail.com

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