*UPDATE* TO TEA TOGETHER podcast is taking a short intermission for Summer 2021. We'll be right back in the Fall with more amazing content and guests. During this time, our host, Will Liu– will be pursuing a 9-week Teashop Research project, observing artisanal/Chinese teashops across Canada and the U.S.  Stay tuned! As we will be having some amazing guests on the podcast when we resume again in the Fall! 

Dean Wahle is the founder and designer of the clothing brand Matik Boston. Dean is currently a rising-junior at Wake Forest University studying computer science. In this episode, we brew some Yunnan black and iron goddess tea to discuss the motivation, mindset, and process of pursuing a passion in entrepreneurship and clothing design. Dean shares the origin story of Matik Boston and his clothing production journey that started in the junior year of high school. When Dean started his journey in clothing production, he was so inspired by Kanye West and the streetwear culture, he decided to learn everything by doing!  We also share our insights on The Alchemist, written by Paul Coelho, as the book has been a huge inspiration for Dean in pursuing his Personal Legend. Throughout quarantine, Dean had much time to self-reflect and he shares how he has become more spiritual and begun incorporating mindful practices such as meditation and tea in his life.       MATIK X TO TEA TOGETHER Apparel Collaboration As part of the release for this episode, MATIK BOSTON and TO TEA TOGETHER has collaborated on an apparel line selling t-shirts and hoodies. The design philosophy of this collaboration depicts Steve (Matik mascot) pouring himself tea from a gaiwan. However, the tea is overflowing from the teacup because Steve is an AI robot that learns as he goes. Brewing tea is new to Steve therefore, he is bound to make mistakes. PURCHASE MATIK X TO TEA TOGETHER MERCH: https://matikboston.com/

Dan is the editor-in-chief and publisher of the Tea Journey Magazine, one of the largest and most authoritative tea publishers on artisanal tea and in the tea industry. Dan is also the founder and podcast host of the Tea Biz Blog and Tea Biz Podcast, offers insight in real-time for beverage professionals scanning daily news items about their trade. With over 40 years working in the journalism space, having managed multiple magazines and publishing companies including STIR Coffee and Tea International, Natural Food Network, and Speciality Coffee Retailer to name a few. Dan is a veteran journalist to say the least. Now, Dan has shifted his focus to the tea industry and is using his ample experience to grow Tea Journey Magazine and the Tea Biz Blog and Tea Biz Podcast.  In this episode, Dan shares his insight on the tea industry and what many tea farmers, large and small, need to focus on– which is to produce more artisanal quality tea. Furthermore, Dan shares his experience from running coffee to liqueur to tea magazines and what makes tea such a unique industry to report and publish on. Finally, Dan discusses with us his personal experience with tea specifically, the importance of going from unconscious to conscious tea drinking and putting finer quality tea in perspective compared to commodity tea.  This episode is simply a MUST LISTEN for tea industry professionals and for any tea enthusiast wanting to learn more about the tea industry and tea culture as a whole!  Subscribe to Tea Journey Magazine: https://teajourney.pub/ Check out Dan's work at Tea Biz: https://tea-biz.com/ 

Shinzo Shiratori is a tea blogger from "Tea Reviews with Shinzo" @ sinkingleaf.com and main manager at Xizihao Daughter Tea– a Taiwanese tea boutique retailer specializing in puerh teas. Having developed an interest for Buddhism from an early age in Japan, Shinzo became more involved in tea practice when his family later moved to Vancouver and discovered how practicing and learning tea had deepened his relationship with his Tibetan Buddhist practice. Some key highlights from today's conversation involves the discussion of the concept of "cha-qi" or the "lifeforce of tea". Further discussion includes the correlation between Buddhism and meditation with tea. Lastly, the conversation ends with insights on how tea culture is currently taking new shapes and forms as people from all over the world are expressing various representation of tea and involving the practice of tea in their life. Tea Reviews with Shinzo: https://sinkingleaf.com/

What are the biggest sustainable issues among students on Wake Forest campus? How do we make change as individuals?  On our 2nd episode of SustainabiliTEA, Roxie sits down with some of campus’s top sustainability leaders to discuss all things sustainability from public policy to sustainable clothing to campus sustainability concerns! Tune-in to this conversation with representatives from campus organizations; Greeks Go Green, Office of Sustainability, Sustainability Leadership Group, and Wayward Fashion. 

On this exciting episode, Wake Forest middle-distance runner Aleeya Hutchins and personal trainer Virginia Wooten join us on our podcast again to discuss the importance of mental health and fitness while discussing challenges and overcoming these challenges as female atheletes and fitness trainers.  Aleeya Hutchins is currently a sophomore at Wake Forest who is on the track & field team. She is also the host of "Tap In" where she have conversations with other student-athletes and professional athletes on their experiences and as athletes.  Virginia Wooten is currently a sophomore at Wake Forest who just recently attained her ACE certification for personal training and is putting that to good use. She and her friend has started the campus's only female weightlifting club, "Athenas", where she is bringing women together to strengthen and feel like their most confident selves! 

Elyse Petersen is the Founder of Tealet, a transparent supply chain for independent tea producers to share information and do efficient trade with the international tea market. She began her studies in tea in Hawaii and Japan and has now works with tea growers, tea producers, tea artists, and tea businesses throughout the globe. With her experience as a food scientist and Peace Corps volunteer (international development) her focus is on uplifting the sustainability and economic potential for independent tea producers through high quality tea production.  In this episode, she speaks on the economic, social, and agricultural issues of sustainability surrounding the world of tea. She also shares her insight on where the future of artisanal tea is heading as a growing culture and growing industry.  Follow Elyse on her platforms: Twitch – https://www.twitch.tv/tealettea Instagram – @tealettea  Checkout her websites: Tealet – https://tealet.com/ Tea and Its People – https://teaanditspeople.com/

Welcome to our new sub-series we are starting with Catherine Guo and Weihan Wang called "Asian-American & Asian in America" The essence of this series is to celebrate and share our Asian heritage by discussing topics and issues that shape our identity as Asian-Americans and Asians living in America. Through our conversations over gongfu tea, we hope to bridge the cultural gap between American-born Chinese and international Chinese students. Please tune-in to our first episode from this series as the 3 of us share our unique experiences and forming our identities in America.  *One episode each month will be dedicated to this series. Follow us on IG: https://www.instagram.com/toteatogether/ https://www.instagram.com/caguooo/ https://www.instagram.com/wangweihan_/

In our Part 2 episode with Roxie and Virginia, our conversation gets deep. We share from our own perspectives and experiences what confidence is, how to develop confidence, embracing the hardships and difficult emotions instead of suppressing them, and practicing gratitude. The episode finishes with a special message in which we all share how tea has affected each of our lives and why tea is the ultimate facilitation to meaningful conversations. 

In this episode, Virginia Wooten and Roxie Ray from Wake Forest join us to discuss what sustainable fashion is and why it's important. From the intensive wastes and resources used within the "fast fashion" industry, sustainable fashion explores the ways of limiting one's negative impact and simultaneously, providing itself as an avenue for self-expression. Self-expression through thrifting cultivates individualness, agency, and most of all, it is fun! Tune-in to this episode as we also discuss how to visually express yourself authentically and creatively with confidence. Brew some tea! We are celebrating the diversity of tea culture as Virginia, Roxie, and Will all brew teas from their own unique culture.  Check them out on IG: Virginia Wooten – @virginiawooten Roxie Ray – @roxie_ozra