In the midst of semi-lockdown in Beijing, I got to talk to my CrossFit buddy Alice Xin Liu for this week’s The Beijing Sessions podcast. She’s a translator and writer, and we had a lot to talk about:* Which Chinese books are being translated into English right now? * Why are some writers translated to English and others are not? * Why some Chinese idioms just don’t translate well into English * Why did Alice move from literary translation to commercial translation? Then we spoke about Alice’s formative years with Danwei, a website about Chinese media and Internet; the importance of having a mentor, and mentoring others. And finally, we talk about her experience writing her own work. Check out Alice’s work here:Alice’s Bio - https://www.alicexinliu.com/bio/Alice’s Blog - https://www.alicexinliu.com/blog/Alice’s Twitter - https://twitter.com/axliuAlice’s Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/alicexinliu/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thebeijingsessions.substack.com

Danny Dunn is the lead guitarist of Soul Shake, the hottest professional foreign rock band in Beijing. OK, Soul Shake is possibly the only foreign rock band in Beijing. And as of Wednesday, the entire band’s been in lockdown.Last year I spoke with Soul Shake’s lead, Tom Knight, where he told possibly the most memorable story in the entire run of The Beijing Sessions - a story of a beer promotion gone horribly wrong. Danny remembers.Danny’s from Liverpool, home to another musical act you may have heard of. So we had to talk about Get Back, the incredible three-part Peter Jackson series that streamed on Disney + earlier this year. Like me, Danny’s estimation of Paul grew after watching the series.Danny’s girlfriend is Christine Yang, also a friend of the program. Like Christine, Danny’s vegan - and we talk about that as well. Etc.Last week I wrote about Shannon Bufton, a cycling pioneer in Beijing. I expected to write a pretty straightforward profile, but things got a little complicated after I spoke with Harry Li, a Beijing-based TV commentator, who does not think Bufton is a pioneer.Bufton, 45, is at the forefront of a cycling revival in Beijing. He’s “iconic,” said Harry Li (李陶 Lǐ Táo), a TV commentator. “He brought new kinds of ideas,” said Fù Yìqún 付轶群, a longtime Beijing cyclist. His bikes are a “ridiculously comfortable ride,” according to influential writer and cyclist Andy van Bergen.With a new brand space opening later this month, Bufton is in Beijing for the long haul. But with previously empty mountain roads now teeming with cars and bicycles, and heart disease mostly keeping him off his bike, he’s setting his sights on new frontiers — and fending off a claim that’s downplaying his legacy as one of Beijing’s route pioneers.You can read the feature on SupChina: Shannon Bufton, a pioneer in Beijing cycling, forges ahead This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thebeijingsessions.substack.com

And... we're back. After a longer than expected break, it's volume 2 of The Beijing Sessions. First I start with a little pandemic update (0:57). Will there be a Shanghai-style lockdown in Beijing? We'll see. Then we catch up with musician Djang San (3:22). He's in Lijiang with the Dayan Naxi Guyue Orchestra. We talked about how being one of the only, and perhaps the last, French musician in Yunnan opened up an opportunity to spend his time with the musicians at the orchestra, where he records conversations, jam sessions, everything (6:56). We talk about the unique culture of the Naxi (9:00) and navigating barriers. Then we get into how having a baby during the pandemic convinced him to leave the big city. (17:47) I ask if there are fewer foreign acts for his Beijing Underground compilation? (19:24) Then we talk about how Beijing is an exciting place for art and artists. (22:04)  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thebeijingsessions.substack.com

Hi everyone. No show this week as I'm getting ready to launch a new podcast on the SupChina  podcast network. Get ready for China Sports Insider Podcast with Mark Dreyer and Haig Balian. Check out the Sinica podcast next week for our launch. The Beijing Sessions will be back soon! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thebeijingsessions.substack.com

Nick Cheng went from the British Navy to the stages of Beijing's comedy clubs. His persona on stage is Longhu, the Comedian in Heels - "the a*****e I wished I could be  when I was younger," he says in this revealing interview.One of Nick's great passions is about using comedy as an antidote to low self-esteem, something he's struggled with throughout his life. His comedy is pure joy, a combination of shanties, stories about marrying his husband, navigating China's unique culture.He's on tour next week with comic Carl Rappa. They'll be in Chengdu on Friday Oct. 22 and Chong Qing on Oct. 23. Check out Nick's Facebook page or Twitter page for more info. While you're at it, follow me on twitter at twitter.com/haigbalian. The Beijing Sessions Facebook page is growing. Join in the fun at https://www.facebook.com/thebeijingsessions/If you're enjoying the show, please consider giving the show a five star rating and leaving a comment! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thebeijingsessions.substack.com

"I don't like to play the game, and I don't want to play the game," photographer Feng Yu told me near the end of our interview. Utterly brave and supremely talented, her portraits of celebrities like Jackie Chan, Ai Weiwei, Michael Phelps, Stephon Marbury, Juliette Binoche have been published in magazines like Marie Claire, Esquire, Cosmopolitan, Harper’s Bazaar, and Men’s Health. You can see her work at http://www.yu-photography.com and http://www.fromherstories.comI also speak with Harry Reid and Tony Tse (21:04), two former executives with advertising giant Ogilvy & Mather. Company insiders recently published a book on their foray into China called In The Name of Redness. Harry and Tony take us to the late 70s and early 80s in Beijing, just as the country was opening up. Follow me on twitter at twitter.com/haigbalianThe Beijing Sessions Facebook page is growing. Join in the fun at https://www.facebook.com/thebeijingsessions/If you're enjoying the show, please consider giving the show a five star rating and leaving a comment! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thebeijingsessions.substack.com

I’ve wanted to do a food episode ever since I started this podcast, and finally I get to do it. Christine Yang is a full time content creator, and she’s a full time vegan.  She combines both of those passions in her channel called A Little Vegan 叮姐.You can find links to her work here:  https://m.weibo.cn/1874719943/4661729588151831What’s really cool about Christine is that her videos are so positive. They’re about finding alternatives, discovering restaurants, discovering meals. The energy in the room goes up 10 times when Christine is in the room.  ***If you’re on an iPhone, don’t forget to subscribe on Apple podcasts. If you’re on Android, The Beijing Sessions is on Spotify.  And follow me on Twitter. I'm at twitter.com/haigbalian This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thebeijingsessions.substack.com

Tom Knight is the founder and leader of Soul Shake, the band that rocks Beersmith - a fancy beer and burger joint in Beijing's CBD -  five times a week. The conversation went to places I didn't expect. There's real joy in seeing Tom and Soul Shake perform, but behind that joy there's a lot of work, and a lot of pressure. Tom was open about the challenges of working in an industry where you're young, away from home, constantly under pressure, and constantly in and around bars. If you stick around to the end, there is some breaking news.***Your assignment, listener: tell someone you know about this show. And follow me on Twitter. I'm at twitter.com/haigbalian This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thebeijingsessions.substack.com

After a longer than usual monologue, I got to talk to Dalton Grant Jr (3:45). He wants Floating World, the company he co-founded in Beijing, to be the Pixar of China. If anyone can do it, Dalton can. He's worked on Cars, DuckTales, Shrek 2, and many other projects you've probably heard about. Then I publish a couple of pieces from Beijing's International Winter Sports Expo at Shougang Park. These were aired on Beijing Radio, but I thought it gave a sense of how the winter sports industry in China is exploding. Check out Floating World Animation on their website. And follow me on Twitter.  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thebeijingsessions.substack.com

Today I talk to Huihan Lie, the founder and CEO of MyChinaRoots (7:35). Has the success of  the documentary The Six inspired more people to dig into their roots?  What makes China unique when it comes to genealogy? How has technology changed the game? And what are his ambitions for the company? But first, I catch up with comic Cale Holmes. He's opening for Joe Wong this weekend. Links:https://www.mychinaroots.comMyChinaRoots Discord ServerCale Holmes on TwitterComedy Club China This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thebeijingsessions.substack.com