Shows
Big Asian EnergyJamie Zhu On How to Thrive as an Asian-Australian Influencer in Today's Social Media Space: Unpacking Fame and Cultural NuancesExploring the world of fame and influence as an Asian heritage individual in today's society brings unique challenges and opportunities. It's a journey of resilience, where one navigates cultural nuances and stereotypes while making a mark on the global stage.
We are thrilled to have Jamie Zhu, a social media sensation known for his funny prank videos and engaging content, join us for a candid discussion. Jamie recounts his unconventional journey from being a semi-pro soccer player to forging a successful career in the digital realm, shedding light on the challenges and thrills of creating v...2023-12-0655 min
Water Margin Podcast: Outlaws of the MarshAnnouncement: End-of-Podcast Q&AHey everyone. We are rapidly approaching the end of the Water Margin Podcast, with just 7 episodes to go. It’s been an incredible journey and I am grateful for all your support along the way. Once we finish the narrative, I plan to do one last episode to wrap up the podcast, talk about future plans, and answer any questions you may have about the Water Margin. So if you have questions, go ahead and start sending them to me at john@chineselore.com. If you want to wait until the narrative is over and you know how it al...2022-03-2700 minWater Margin Podcast: Outlaws of the MarshWater Margin 073: SackThe Xie brothers' relatives mount their jail break, and then we rejoin the Liangshan outlaws outside the Zhu Family Manor.
2020-11-0228 min
Chinese Lore PodcastWater Margin 073: SackThe Xie brothers’ relatives mount their jail break, and then we rejoin the Liangshan outlaws outside the Zhu Family Manor.
2020-11-0228 min
Chinese Lore PodcastWater Margin 071: RematchAfter getting a bloody nose in their initial attack, the Liangshan forces take another crack at razing the Zhu Family Manor.
2020-10-1227 minWater Margin Podcast: Outlaws of the MarshWater Margin 071: RematchAfter getting a bloody nose in their initial attack, the Liangshan forces take another crack at razing the Zhu Family Manor.
2020-10-1227 min
Chinese Lore PodcastWater Margin 070: MazeOur heroes storm to the gates of the Zhu Family Manor, intent on teaching the people inside a lesson.
2020-10-0527 minWater Margin Podcast: Outlaws of the MarshWater Margin 070: MazeOur heroes storm to the gates of the Zhu Family Manor, intent on teaching the people inside a lesson.
2020-10-0527 min
Romance of the Three Kingdoms PodcastAnnouncement: 2 Podcast InterviewsI recently did two interviews on other podcasts. The first is the Mandarin Slang Guide podcast, where we talked about some common Chinese expressions that had their roots in the characters and stories of the Three Kingdoms era. The second one is Journey to the West: The Podcast, where we had a long chat about classic Chinese novels and their cultural significance, including the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, the Water Margin, and of course, Journey to the West. Have a listen, and also check out the other episodes on those podcasts, too. If you like what I'm doing...2020-08-2301 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms PodcastAnnouncement: Ask Me Anything on Dec. 16If you have questions about the how's and why's of this podcast, or my thoughts on podcasting in general, post them at the Ask Me Anything hosted by WhatPods on December 16 at https://whatpods.com/show-development/ama/john-zhu.
2019-11-2201 min
Romance of the Three Kingdoms PodcastAnnouncement: Ask Me Anything on Dec. 16
If you have questions about the how's and why's of this podcast, or my thoughts on podcasting in general, post them at the Ask Me Anything hosted by WhatPods on December 16 at https://whatpods.com/show-development/ama/john-zhu.
2019-11-2001 minWater Margin Podcast: Outlaws of the MarshAnnouncement: Ask Me Anything on Dec. 16If you have questions about the how’s and why’s of this podcast, or my thoughts on podcasting in general, post them at the Ask Me Anything hosted by WhatPods on December 16 at https://whatpods.com/show-development/ama/john-zhu.
2019-11-2001 min
Chinese Lore PodcastAnnouncement: Ask Me Anything on Dec. 16If you have questions about the how’s and why’s of this podcast, or my thoughts on podcasting in general, post them at the Ask Me Anything hosted by WhatPods on December 16 at https://whatpods.com/show-development/ama/john-zhu.2019-11-2001 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms PodcastUpdate: Videos on Three Kingdoms WarlordsI recently collaborated with the YouTube channel Invicta History on three videos about Three Kingdoms warlords. The videos were sponsored by Creative Assembly as part of the promotion for its new game Total War: Three Kingdoms. My role in the project was to provide research and record the narration for the videos. We covered Dong Zhuo, Cao Cao, and Liu Bei. It was a fun project. All three videos are out now, so have a look.
2019-05-2001 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms PodcastUpdate: Appearance on "Total War" PodcastBack in February, I took part in a podcast conversation on the Invicta History YouTube channel with the host, Julien, and Peter Stewart, a writer from the team producing the coming “Total War: Three Kingdoms” game. We chatted for more than an hour, geeking out over the history of the Three Kingdoms period, the novel based on it, and how all of that is handled in the game. It was a fun conversation, and it was interesting for me to hear how the team worked to capture the essence of the story in the game. Have a listen.
2019-05-0200 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms PodcastUpdate: Water Margin Podcast Launch; Three Kingdoms MiscellanyAn announcement about my new podcast project, and an update on a couple things I've been doing with the Three Kingdoms Podcast.
2019-01-0703 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms 154: Looking Back, Looking AheadA reflection on this four-year ride, and a glimpse of things to come.
2018-05-1416 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms Supplemental 020: Carousel of CharactersA rapid-fire look at a bunch of supporting players in the novel.
2018-05-0929 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms 153: Podcasts Under Heaven …One hundred and fifty-three episodes later, we have finally reached the “long divided, must unite” part of the novel.
2018-05-0713 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms Supplemental 019: FoodA look at what they ate and drank during the Three Kingdoms era.
2018-05-0225 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms 152: Mutual Loathing and AdmirationWhile their respective states are sizing each other up for conquest, the Jin and Wu commanders at the borders are getting along famously.
2018-04-3027 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms 151: How Quickly They ForgetSure I just lost my kingdom, but look at all the fun stuff they have in the Wei capital!
2018-04-1628 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms Supplemental 018: Sima Yi, Fact and FictionWe look at the architect of the Sima clan's rise to power.
2018-04-1215 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms 150: Ulterior MotivesEveryone has a hidden agenda, except maybe for the guy suspected of hatching an insurrection. (Note: Special guest narrator this week)
2018-04-0925 min
MAKE MOVESDaniel Zhu – Founding Member of Stance Social Media & Broadcasting, Digital-Creative & BBoyS2 Ep.13: Daniel Zhu – Founding Member of Stance Media and Broadcasting, digital-creative, BBoy, and visual storyteller. Daniel discusses: Running a social media company dedicated to motion sports: hip hop dance, breaking, tricking, & parkour Being an outsider who fell in love with breaking The idea of BBoy culture being underground + maintstream simultaneously How music shapes dance The ways Bboy cultures brings people together Where BBoy culture is going The parallel between breaking and skateboarding The role respect plays in gaining access to the best breaking High profile figures like Joe Rogan and Tim Ferris taking not...2018-04-0859 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms 149: We Ain't No Fortunate SonsA Shu commander tries to live up to his father's legacy, while a Shu prince refuses to follow his father's example.
2018-04-0228 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms Supplemental 017: Sun Quan, Fact and FictionA dive into the real life of the guy who ran the family business for 50-plus years.
2018-03-2815 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms 148: Ain't No Mountain High EnoughWhile Jiang Wei scrambles to mount a last-ditch defense, his old nemesis searches for a way to go around his roadblock.
2018-03-1927 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms Supplemental 016: Learning to DelegateMeet two statesmen who really mastered the art of saying, "That's not in my job description."
2018-03-1411 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms 147: The Empire Strikes BackTired of Shu's perpetual encroachment on its borders, Wei decides to take the fight to its nemesis.
2018-03-1227 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms 146: Pyrrhic VictoryJiang Wei finally gets the better of Deng Ai, but even that ends up backfiring.
2018-03-0527 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms 145: Even More Chaos at CourtDiscord between lord and vassal simmers in the court of Shu, while things boil over in the court of Wei.
2018-02-1928 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms 144: Chaos at CourtWhile the Shu and Wei continue to slug it out in the West, the kingdom of Wu deals with internal unrest at the highest level.
2018-02-1228 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms 143: How the Southeast Was Won, AgainSima Zhao takes the emperor on a buddy road trip to put down another insurgence in a particularly troublesome part of the kingdom.
2018-02-0527 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms 142: Mildly Wild WestOh look: Another Northern campaign by the kingdom of Shu. Yawn.
2018-01-2227 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms Supplemental 015: Zhuge Liang, Fact and FictionWe say so long to the novel's pivotal player and wonder if he was really the genius the book made him out to be.
2018-01-1733 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms 141: I Would Give My Left Eye for Google Maps!A couple generals down South stir up trouble for Sima Shi. Now if only their forces knew the way to his camp ....
2018-01-1528 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms 140: A Familiar ScriptJiang Wei's Northern invasion meets the same fate as Zhuge Liang's, while Sima Shi borrows a few pages from Cao Cao's playbook for how to deal with imperial puppets who don't know their place.
2018-01-0827 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms 139: Chaos in the SouthThings go well for the kingdom of Wu and its political leader ... until they bite off more than they can chew.
2017-12-2529 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms 138: North by NorthwestAided by an unexpected defection, Jiang Wei restarts the Northern campaigns by setting his sights first on the Northwest.
2017-12-1800 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms 137: Coups Are Back in VogueIt's been a while since someone made a play to seize power from within. That changes this week.
2017-12-1129 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms 136: King in the NorthA new threat emerges on Wei's northeastern borders, and he is just as bad at battle strategy as Jon Snow.
2017-11-2729 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms 135: Pursuit of ImmortalityWhile Zhuge Liang sails off into eternal fame, the Wei emperor Cao Rui goes in search of eternal youth.
2017-11-2030 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms 134: The Shu Hits the FanThe death of its indispensable man is just the start of the Riverlands' troubles.
2017-11-1329 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms 133: When It Rains ...A stunning turn of events in the showdown between Zhuge Liang and Sima Yi.
2017-10-3031 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms 132: Intellectual Property Theft Does Not PayAgain and again, Sima Yi is made to rue the day he stole Zhuge Liang's invention.
2017-10-2326 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms Supplemental 014: It's Just A Flesh WoundWe delve into the story of the one-armed assassin and the guy who kicked his butt AFTER being assassinated.
2017-10-1810 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms 131: Wooden Oxens, Gliding Horses, and CopycatsZhuge Liang and Sima Yi match wits over the latest in wheelbarro
2017-10-1628 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms 130: Goin' Down the Only Road I've Ever KnownAfter another promising Northern campaign gets short-circuited, Zhuge Liang prays to his former lord for the strength to carry on, because he's made up his mind and he ain't wasting no more time.
2017-10-0229 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms 129: You Called Me Back for This?!!Just as he was getting into a groove, Zhuge Liang is rudely interrupted in the field by an urgent dispatch from his emperor.
2017-09-2527 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms Supplemental 013: Getting SneakyA brief explanation of the story behind the most famous secret crossing in Chinese history.
2017-09-2006 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms 128: Smackdowns and Smack TalkYou've seen Zhuge Liang kill someone with just his tongue. Now watch him kill someone with the written word.
2017-09-1829 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms 127: A Familiar ScriptZhuge Liang's third Northern expedition gets off to a promising start, but what else is new?
2017-09-0428 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms 126: Putting the "Three" in Three KingdomsDid you know that we had actually been rolling with just two official kingdoms all this time? Well, Sun Quan will fix that this week.
2017-08-2828 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms 125: Smoke and MirrorsZhuge Liang toys with Cao Zhen time and again on his second Northern expedition.
2017-08-2128 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms Supplemental 012: Liu Bei, Fact and FictionWe delve into the life and career of the real Liu Bei to see if he is really as virtuous as the novel made him out to be (spoiler alert: No one can be as virtuous as the novel made Liu Bei out to be).
2017-08-0935 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms 124: Losing An Arm and A PillarZhuge Liang prepares to take another shot at Wei, but one old friend will not be joining him.
2017-08-0728 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms 123: The Price of Ignoring Good AdviceWhile Zhuge Liang picks up the pieces after his aborted Northern campaign, a Wei commander falls for a trick from the South.
2017-07-3129 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms 122: If You Know that I Know that You Know that I'm Bluffing ...When his campaign takes a drastic turn for the worse, Zhuge Liang is forced to resort to a desperate gamble.
2017-07-2430 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms 121: The Worst-Kept SecretMeng Da totally misses the point of a SECRET rebellion. Can Zhuge Liang's advice help him pull it off anyway?
2017-07-1029 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms 120: The Enemy WithinWhile the Wei forces have their hands full with Zhuge Liang along the border, a new threat lurks deep inside their territory
2017-07-0329 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms 119: Gluttons for PunishmentWei forces sent to stop Zhuge Liang first try to out-talk him, and then try again to outsmart him.
2017-06-2629 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms 118: Yes, Let's Try to Outsmart Zhuge LiangMatching wits with Zhuge Liang sounds like a horrible idea, but that won't stop multiple Wei officers from trying.
2017-06-1227 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms 117: Go North, Old ManZhuge Liang sends a 70-something general and a tax collector to lead the way for his Northern expedition.
2017-06-0528 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms Supplemental 011: Zhang Fei, Fact and FictionWe dive into the differences between the fictional and real-life Zhang Fei and ask, "Who really whipped that corrupt bribe-seeking government official?"
2017-05-3108 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms 116: Haute Cuisine with Zhuge LiangHow do you appease the angry souls of the damned? Feed them buns that look like human heads and tell them death is no escape from imperial subjugation, apparently.
2017-05-2929 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms 115: Stop ... Being ... So ... Nice!After a couple more displays of over-the-top kindness, imperial subjugation is starting to look kind of decent after all for Meng Huo.
2017-05-1528 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms 114: HomewreckersZhuge Liang strolls into Meng Huo's house and makes himself at home.
2017-05-0828 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms 113: So What Doesn't Kill You Around Here?Zhuge Liang's army marches deeper into the heart of darkness and forgets to read the part in the travel guide about bringing bottled water.
2017-05-0129 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms 112: Gift-Wrapped VictoriesZhuge Liang catches Meng Huo twice more with hardly any effort.
2017-04-1728 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms 111: Catch and ReleaseZhuge Liang continues his campaign to win not only battles, but also barbarian hearts and minds.
2017-04-1029 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms 110: That Was EasyZhuge Liang barely breaks a sweat while cruising through level 1 of his Southwestern quest.
2017-04-0328 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms 109: Troublesome NeighborsWhile Shu and Wu become best buds again, trouble pops up from the North and the Southwest.
2017-03-2030 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms 108: Battle of the NerdsAn episode that starts with five armies bearing down on Shu somehow ends with nothing more than a showdown between pedants at a banquet.
2017-03-1331 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms Supplemental 010: Cao Cao, Fact and FictionA huge episode where we bid farewell to our favorite villain by delving into his real-life counterpart's life, career, and legacy.
2017-03-0843 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms 107: Doleful, Doh-ful, and Du FuLiu Bei gets sad, Cao Pi botches an invasion, and we read a poem by one of China's greatest poets.
2017-03-0632 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms 106: Do I Smell Smoke?The tide of battle -- and history -- turns in the span of one night.
2017-02-2032 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms 105: Can't Get No RespectIn his most desperate hour, Sun Quan puts his faith in Lu Xun, but will his officers obey orders from a man they see as a pedant and a coward?
2017-02-1331 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms 104: Out with the Old, In with the NewLiu Bei's team of old warhorses takes another hit, but two young stallions are waiting in the wings. This episode is brought to you by special guest Kaiser Kuo, host of the Sinica Podcast.
2017-02-0624 min
Sinica PodcastJohn Zhu retells the Three Kingdoms storyIn the last three years, John Zhu has embarked on a mission to build a bridge between Chinese and Western cultures by retelling one of China’s great classics in accessible audio episodes. He has released over 100 chapters of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast. Three Kingdoms, as it is sometimes called, is one of China’s four great novels, along with Water Margin, Journey to the West, and Dream of the Red Chamber. Together, they have exerted an influence in China similar to the extraordinary impact on language and culture of the King James Bible and Shakespeare in the...2017-02-0257 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms 103: See, What Happened Was ...With Liu Bei bearing down on them, the Southlands try to tell him that they didn't really mean to kill Guan Yu; it was all a simple misunderstanding. We swear!
2017-01-2330 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms 102: Oh Great, Who Died Now?No, not him, too!! Another major character bites the dust.
2017-01-1629 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms 101: The Most Boring EpisodeYou would think the end of a 400-year dynasty would have more action than this, but it's all just decrees, counter-decrees, speeches, humble brags, and an unusually strong gust of wind.
2017-01-0930 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms 100: Cao Zhi and the BeanstalkCao Cao's third son finds out what passes for brotherly love in his family.
2016-12-2631 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms 099: Tears for a VillainCao Cao grapples with mortality and legacy.
2016-12-1930 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms Supplemental 009: Guan Yu, Fact and FictionWe bid farewell to the Lord of the Beautiful Beard and talk about that time when Cao Cao stole the woman Guan Yu was going to steal from someone else.
2016-12-1416 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms 098: Back from the DeadGuan Yu's ghost finds inner peace ... and then starts killing and spooking people.
2016-12-1231 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms 097: War of AttritionDefeated and leaking troops by the minute, Guan Yu makes a desperate dash for safety.
2016-11-2829 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms 096: Sneak AttacksWhile Guan Yu is busy fighting Cao Cao's forces, Lü Meng and Dongwu try to catch him unawares.
2016-11-2127 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms 095: Anesthesia Is for WussesAfter an arrow causes a festering wound, Guan Yu signs up for a bleeding-edge surgical operation.
2016-11-1429 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms 094: Bringing a Coffin to a Knife FightWith Guan Yu bearing down on a couple of his key cities, Cao Cao dispatches a general who pledges his life to victory and shows he means it.2016-10-3128 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms Supplemental 008: Hands Off My ShortbreadWe delve into the relationship between Cao Cao and his secretary Yang Xiu, a man with a keen understanding of his boss's mind ... and a death wish.2016-10-2710 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms 093: The Man Who Didn't Want to Be KingAfter punching Cao Cao in the mouth, Liu Bei tries his best to keep his men from declaring him king, to no avail.2016-10-2428 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms 100th Episode Q&AWe've made it to 100 episodes! So let's throw it open to some questions.2016-10-1748 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms 092: Cao Cao's River of WoeCao Cao can't even get a good night's sleep as he tries to dislodge Liu Bei from the banks of the Han River.2016-10-0328 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms 091: Mighty Man of PowerHuang Zhong performs more heroic deeds, then Zhao Yun says to Cao Cao, "Hey, remember me?"2016-09-2627 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms 090: Take That, Young Punks!With the battle for Hanzhong in full swing, Liu Bei sends a senior citizen to chase off some rowdy kids.
2016-09-1928 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms 089: They Chose ... PoorlyYou are a court official. Cao Cao just put down a coup, and now he's asking whether you helped put out the fire started by the rebels or just stayed home. What would you say?2016-09-0528 minRomance of the Three Kingdoms Podcast3 Kingdoms 088: Digression and PrognosticationsWe make virtually no progress in the narrative this week as we get tangled up in mysticism, superstition, and oh yeah, another conspiracy to overthrow Cao Cao.2016-08-2927 min
Tech in ShanghaiEP7: Jenny Zhu of OpenLanguage In this episode of the Tech in Shanghai podcast we speak with a local podcast celebrity, Jenny Zhu. Born in Shanghai to a hard-core Communist military family, and schooled in Singapore and Australia since 14 years of age, Jenny is a pioneer in online, podcast-based language learning. Jenny was on the founding team of Chinese pod, a wildly popular podcast for learning mandarin. After a successful exit from that venture, she founded OpenLanguage, and language learning platform for multiple popular languages. In speaking with Jenny we get a unique perspective on entrepreneurship from someone who was...2014-11-091h 02