Talking Taiwan

A note from Talking Taiwan host Felicia Lin:   I spoke at length with Eric de Fontenay, the Founder of MusicDish about topics ranging from the artists who will be performing at this year’s Taiwan CMJ Music Showcase, the Asian music scene, Mandopop, J-pop and K-pop. It was a fun and fascinating conversation. Listen to hear preview clips from the artists who will be performing at the Taiwan CMJ Music Showcase, which will be held at the legendary New York City venue, Webster Hall and to learn more about the Asian music scene.   Here’s a little preview of what we talked about in this episode:   What is the CMJ Music Marathon The panels and events that will be happening during the CMJ Music Marathon (October 15- October 18) Bands that will be performing at the Taiwan CMJ Music Showcase: Joanna Wang, Miss Ko and DJ Noodles Sound clips from the artists that will be performing at the Taiwan CMJ Music Showcase How all three artists being represented in this year’s Taiwan CMJ Music Showcaseare all female Taiwan’s music and its place in the Asian music scene How Mandopop compares to J-pop and K-pop How China is developing its music scene The influence and popularity of K-pop Comparisons between the music scene in Taiwan and China How Eric started MusicDish and got involved with the Taiwan music scene The Spring Scream Concert that is held annually in Southern Taiwan The first MP3 lawsuit The Hsu-nami Partners and supporting organizations of the Taiwan CMJ Music Showcase     Related Links:   MusicDish website: www.MusicDish.com   Facebook group dedicated to Mandarin music www.facebook.com/groups/musicdishchina, on   Music Dish on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MusicDish_China  https://twitter.com/MusicDish   Asian In New York website: http://www.asianinny.com/

A note from Talking Taiwan host Felicia Lin:   Jenny Wang spoke with me about Taiwan Week 2013, which is a week of events leading up to the Keep Taiwan Free Rally aka the UN for Taiwan (UN4TW). This year marks the 20th anniversary of UN4TW movement in New York. Listen to hear about all the fun daily events being planned for Taiwan Week.     Here’s a little preview of what we talked about in this podcast episode:   What is Taiwan Week and how it got started What is the purpose behind Taiwan Week The connection between Taiwan Week and the UN for Taiwan Rally What activities and events are being planned for Taiwan Week The challenges in organizing Taiwan Week The kickoff concert event on Friday, September 6 and all events leading up to Saturday, September 14th, the day of The Keep Taiwan Free Rally The photo shoot with the Third Prince (三太子哪吒) Who the Third Prince is     Related Links:   Taiwan Week 2013 Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/528492097224586/     See What Happened at Taiwan Week 2012: http://youtu.be/k9Lm-fPRy1Q   Keep Taiwan Free website: www.KeepTaiwanFree.org   Twitter  https://twitter.com/Keep_TW_Free   Taipei Times article about the Third Prince (三太子): https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2013/02/21/2003555342

A note from Talking Taiwan host Felicia Lin: Our guest on this episode of Talking Taiwan is Elena Liao, the owner of Té Company. She won last year’s Entrepreneur Challenge and Competition (ECC). To learn more about the ECC listen to the previous episode about the Entrepreneur Challenge and Competition. The name of her company, comes from the word “Té,” for “tea” in Taiwanese Hokkien.   Elena, the owner of Té in New York. Elena, founder of Té Company, is an avid tea drinker and a dedicated food enthusiast living in New York City. She was born and raised in Taiwan, then moved to the US in her early teens.    Like most Taiwanese families, drinking oolong tea was part of her daily ritual growing up. Living in the food mecca of New York City, Elena was surrounded by foodies alike celebrating hand crafted espresso and the complex bouquet of artisanal wine.   As her appreciation and knowledge for fine culinary craft blossomed, she found herself increasingly drawn to the delicate flavors of oolong teas. The childhood tea drinking tradition became more than a passtime. It became a culinary exploration, which led her to study oolong tea’s history and artistic craftsmanship.   Elena’s love of tea was first nurtured by her family and her passion for it shines through in this interview. Our conversation turned out to be a deep dive into the world of tea. She spoke to me about artisanal teas, how tea can be aged like wine, and even used in cooking and baking.   Here’s a little preview of what we talked about in this podcast episode:   What the name of her company Te comes from Her participation in the Entrepreneur Challenge and Competition (ECC), which is organized by TAP-NY and the Taiwanese Merchants Association How she prepared her proposal for the ECC What advice she would give to anyone preparing to go through a competition like the ECC What she things is the one thing you need to succeed in participating in a competition like the ECC What she did with the money she won from the ECC How she got on the path to starting Te Company The research she’s done about tea to prepare herself to be a tea merchant Her visits with tea framers in Taiwan tea leaves are picked in Taiwan How white, green, yellow, oolong and black tea can all be made from a single plant How tea is similar to wine or whiskey How tea ceremony can affect the taste of tea What is espresso tea The difference between drinking tea from a tea bag vs. loose leaf tea How tea can be aged How Elena comes up with new tea blends The difference between ice tea and hot tea How she uses oolong tea in cooking and baking What’s next for Te Company     Related Links: Te Company’s website: http://www.te-nyc.com   Taiwanese American Professionals- New York (TAP-NY): https://www.tap-ny.org/

A note from Talking Taiwan host Felicia Lin:   In this episode of Talking Taiwan I spoke with Crystal Tang, TAP-NY’s Professional Chair and Jacqui Wu, TAP-NY’s Co-President about the second annual Entrepreneur Challenge and Competition (ECC). The ECC is organized by the Taiwanese American Professionals - NY (TAP-NY) and the Taiwan Merchants Association. Crystal and Jacqui talked about the ECC’s selection process and the impressive lineup of judges who are successful, prominent Taiwanese American entrepreneurs and business leaders.   The ECC is an opportunity to showcase the Taiwanese American entrepreneurial spirit. This year the organizers have added a nonprofit category. Eight finalists will be chosen for the final event, which will be open to the public. At the final event, there will be cash prizes of up to $10,000 for winners, and an audience favorite will be chosen.     Here’s a little preview of what we talked about in this podcast episode:   What the Entrepreneur Challenge and Competition (ECC) is- the competition opens June 1, with business plans due on July 31 How written proposals are selected for the second round The third round, which consists of eight proposals selected in the second round will be open to the public There will be cash prizes for contestants of up to $10,000 The two organizations organizing the ECC, the Taiwan Merchants Association and Taiwanese American Professionals - NY (TAP-NY) How the ECC was created by Bob Wu, the founder of TAP-NY The ECC judges, which include prominent Taiwanese American entrepreneurs and business leaders: Andrew Yang (Venture for America) Will Peng, Yao Huang, Dorothy Jean, Benny Wang (Timehop) The changes and improvements they’ve made to ECC for this second year of the competition, including the addition of a separate category for nonprofits On September 14th the top eight finalists will present to the judges and the audience There will be an audience favorite who will be awarded $1,000 Last year’s ECC winner, Elena Liao   Related Links:   Entrepreneur Challenge and Competition (ECC) website: www.competition.tap-ny.org   Entrepreneur Challenge and Competition (ECC) Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/435405363234006/   Taiwanese American Young Professionals – NY website: http://www.tap-ny.org   Jacqui Wu was born in Hawaii and grew up in Taiwan. After graduating from Taipei American School, she moved to Ann Arbor to attend the University of Michigan Ross School of Business, where she earned her Bachelors of Business Administration. Jacqui began her career at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP in the Dispute Analysis & Investigations group, which focused on the accounting aspects in litigation and fraud investigation. She recently moved into investment banking and joined Sevara Partners LLC, a start-up boutique investment bank focused in mergers & acquisitions, restructuring advisory and capital raising. Jacqui is excited to be working with TAP to build a community of “expatriate” Taiwan-folk to pay homage to their Taiwanese roots and meet other foodies who appreciate delicacies like stinky tofu and chicken gizzard. Crystal Tang was born in New Jersey and lived there until moving abroad to Hong Kong in 8th grade. While she was abroad she had the opportunity to visit family in Taiwan multiple times a year and has come to think of it as home. After finishing high school, Crystal moved to New York where she attended Barnard College, studying Art History and Visual Arts. During undergrad, she was involved with the Taiwanese American Students Association and also participated in the Formosa Foundation’s Ambassador Program. Crystal currently works as a Regional Director at Teach For America where she oversees recruitment and outreach efforts in New York.  

A note from Talking Taiwan host Felicia Lin: Ho Chie Tsai is a founding Board Member who also wears many hats in the Taiwanese American community. As a frequent speaker on the collegiate conference circuit and youth summer camp programs, a past Program Director and current Board Member of the Taiwanese American Foundation, and a founder of the Taiwanese American Professionals chapter in San Francisco, he hopes to inspire a renewed sense of pride in personal identity and to increase activism and involvement within the greater Asian American community. Ho Chie holds an Electrical Engineering BS degree from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, a Bioengineering MS and an MD degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago. In his spare time, he works as a pediatrician.