
Chiwi Journal
Conversations between global citizens on culture observation, digital transformation and self-actualisation.
Host Camellia Yang, a Chinese New Zealander, interviews people she met on her digital nomad journey who are on a unique path to creating a better future and shares the lessons and tips they learned.
Season One (1 - 111 episodes) is in Chinese.
Season Two (112 episodes - current) is in English.
Latest episodes

Jan 8, 2023 • 1h 17min
#143: Founders Podcast, Single-person Billion-dollar Business, Lessons Learned from Athletes, Quentin Tarantino with David Senra
My guest today is David Senra. David is the returning guest of Chiwi Journal (episode #131). He hosts the Founders podcast, where listeners can learn lessons from historical and modern figures based on David's selection of a biography of an entrepreneur.
Last time, we focused on the top lessons previous founders can teach current founders and the most inspiring stories among 200+ stories David read. This time, we discussed:
David’s top highlight of 2022 (the sixth year since he ran the podcast) and the reason behind joining the Colossus® network.
What is the concept of a single-person billion-dollar company? How has a podcast host or a game developer set an example of this business model?
How does David stay motivated and engaged in his work as the show grows when there may be more distractions?
David's approach to reading and re-reading biographies, and what we can learn from founders outside the American market?
Founders Podcast has covered many deceased entrepreneurs whose stories have stood the test of time. Which living founders would David like to have a conversation with?
Some stories of how the Founders Podcast has directly impacted or supported the growth and success of its listeners.
What does sportsmanship mean to David, and how does he incorporate the spirit of sportsmanship into his daily life and professional career?
Talk about our favourite director Quentin Tarantino. What are some traits that make him stand out in the movie industry? What current content creators can learn from him to achieve success?
What is the Founder Podcast's role in supporting aspiring entrepreneurs?
How to cultivate children's reading habits?
Books/links mentioned in this episode:
Founders
Follow @FoundersPodcast
David Senra - Passion & Pain
David Senra — Pick The Right Heroes
Insights From History's Greatest Thinkers - David Senra
Devouring Founder’s Biographies, Self-Belief, and the Power of Podcasting with David Senra
Almanack of Naval Ravikant
Pieter Levels
Chung Ju-yung the Founder of Hyundai
Edward O. Thorp, A Man for All Markets
Cities and Ambition - Paul Graham
Johan Cruyff: A Life of Total Football
Michael Jordan: The Life
Joe Rogan #1675 - Quentin Tarantino
Samwell Tarly

Jan 4, 2023 • 58min
#142: Sovereign Individual, The Network State, Media Literacy, Writing Newsletter, Remote Worker and Geopolitics Impact with Doug Antin
My guest today is Doug Antin, the Founder and Author of TSI Global Media, who writes The Sovereign Individual Weekly Newsletter, picking up where The Sovereign Individual left off and exploring the digital transformation in real-time.
Doug is the return guest of my podcast. Last time, we discussed how to become a sovereign individual, digital transformation trends, cultivating multiple income streams and writing a newsletter. In today’s episode, we discussed the following:
A quick review of the past year from a sovereign individual's perspective.
Has the concept of a "Sovereign Individual" evolved in the face of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and blockchain?
How can one find the right community as a sovereign individual?
A brief review of The Network State, a book by Balaji Srinivasan.
How is technology empowering individuals and changing the way we live and work?
How can individuals stay updated with the latest technological and digital transformation developments?
The process of writing The Sovereign Individual Weekly newsletter and the discussion on free and paid content as a creator.
How can we cultivate media literacy in today's abundant information and potential misinformation world?
The current global affairs and how the role of government is evolving in a world where individuals have more power and control over their lives through technology?
How can governments address the increasing conflict between remote workers and local residents?
Two trends to look for in a remote worker who adapts to an asynchronous way of working.
Books and links mentioned in this episode:
The Sovereign Individual: Mastering the Transition to the Information Age by James Dale Davidson and William Rees-Mogg
The Sovereign Individual Weekly
Plumia
The Network State
What do I think about network states?
beehiiv — The newsletter platform built for growth
How to be a Digital Nomad in Portugal?
2024 United States presidential election
[Cash Reserves Definition](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/cash-reserves.asp#:~:text=66 license holder.-,What Are Cash Reserves%3F,also be called cash reserves.)
Follow Doug on Twitter

Nov 11, 2022 • 49min
#141: Build_Cities, The Network State and Startup Cities Ecosystem with Angelo Alessio
My guest today is Angelo Alessio. He is the co-founder and protocol architect at buildcities.network, which allows anyone in web3 to overlay their digital communities on top of existing cities.
We discussed:
What is the build_cities? What are the four phases of building this protocol for startup cities? ****
How build_cities can facilitate an online community for meetups and crowdfunding IRL?
What are the three types of startup cities?
In build_cities, why keep the current city maps rather than disrupt the old ones to build something from scratch?
How does Angelo meet his co-founders and work remotely building this project?
What is the biggest lesson Angelo learned from his US army time?
How do we define an MVC (Minimum Viable City)? Is there a city blueprint IRL build_cities would like to follow?
Share some other projects in the Network State dashboard
The biggest roadblock that prevents building build_cities.
How can people get involved in build_cities?
Links mentioned in this episode:
Join build_
Follow Angelo on Twitter
Interview: Building Web3 Cities
Startup Communities: Building an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in Your City
How is Making Friends Changing?
Startup Cities Map
build_cities State of the Union
CityCoins
The Network State
What do I think about network states?
Tour of the Innovation Den, Coeur d'Alene
It's illegal to hurt a robot in this town
The Network State Dashboard
Build Cities: A Protocol for Network States with Angelo Alessio
Build Cities with CityDAO

Oct 18, 2022 • 1h 3min
#140: AI 2041, Sci-fi Writers in Web3, Chaoshan Culture and Chinese Philosophy & Metaphysics with Chen Qiufan
My guest today is Chen Qiufan, also known as Stanley Chan. He is an award-winning Chinese science fiction writer, columnist, and scriptwriter. Chen's fiction, described as "science fiction realism", focuses on individuals' internal struggles during times of accelerated change. And recently, he collaborated with Kai-Fu Lee to co-write and publish a novel called AI 2041: Ten Visions for Our Future.
We discussed:
How did Qiufan and Kai-fu come up with the idea to co-write a sci-fi book, and what are some AI-related technologies mentioned in the book?
How can we prepare for the future facing God-like AI technology such as DeepFake?
What moral and ethical code should we consider when we can bring dead people “alive” using AI tools?
What are some concerns about using AI arts creations tools like MidJourney?
Should artists and writers be worried that AI will replace them in the future?
How writers can embrace new technologies and build a new way to communicate with readers?
What’s Chen Qiufan’s philosophy regarding creating his sci-fi stories compared with Liu Cixin (Three Body Problems)?
A brief introduction to Chinese Chaoshan culture and Chinese New Year rituals.
Do Chinese people have religions? What’s the relationship between religion and science?
How ancient Chinese books and schools of thought inspired sci-fi creation?
Briefly discuss psychedelic and human consciousness.
What’s the meaning of life from a sci-fi writer’s perspective?
Books and Links mentioned in this episode:
Chen Qiufan website
A sci-fi vision of life in 2041
AI 2041 by Dr. Kai-Fu Lee and Chen Qiufan
Ai Superpowers: China, Silicon Valley, and the New World Order
Chinese writer Su Shi
Joe Rogan interviews Steve Jobs
Midjourney
NEARCON BETA 2022
AI 2041 - TRLab
The Subtle Art NFT Collection
The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin
Chaoshan Culture
Waste Tide
The Large Hadron Collider
I Ching
Opium Wars
Stanley Kubrick
Gaia DAO

Aug 15, 2022 • 1h 7min
SPECIAL EPISODE: Eric Jorgenson with 1729writers on Writing Almanack Series and Building Leverage
This is the special episode featured a guest speaker Eric Jorgenson at 1729writers Cohort 2.
1729writers is a group of writers inside of the 1729 online community. We explore issues related to the Network State, seek truth, wealth and health and share our ideas and thoughts in public.
It’s a great pleasure to have Eric attend one of our weekly community calls and discuss his process of writing the Almanack of Naval Ravikant and the Almanack of Balaji Srinivasan, the framework of leverage and productizing oneself, followed by the Q&A sessions with the community members.
I hope you enjoy the show.
Topic covered:
The behind scene story of writing the Almanack of Naval Ravikant and Almanack of Balaji Srinivasan
How to overcome the different types of writers’ block?
What’s the leverage framework, and why is it so important?
How to gain insane leverage from advanced delegation?
How to achieve peak performance with an ultralworking framework?
How to balance using Twitter to add value to your life and career?
How to stay motivated to be a high-agency person?
Books/links mentioned in this episode:
Eric Jorgenson website
1729writers Articles Collection
Naval Ravikant: The Angel Philosopher - Farnam Street
Naval Ravikant - The Joe Rogan Experience
The Network State
Almanack of Naval Ravikant
Almanack of Balaji Srinivasan
Jorgenson’s Soundbox Episode 38: Robert Hayes and Chris Ho of Athena
The Three-Body Problem
Ultraworking

7 snips
Aug 6, 2022 • 1h 15min
#138: Jordan Peterson, Myth & Metaphor, Embodiment Cognition and Fitness Landscape with Tom Morgan
My guest today is Tom Morgan. Tom is the return guest, and we discussed Joseph Cambell, Carl Jung, Jorden Peterson and Iain McGilchrist in episode #129.
Today, we talked about…
Commentary on David Fuller's article about Jordan Peterson from two people who are relatively familiar with JP's works.
Revisit the Hero Journey coined by Joseph Campbell.
Why is it dangerous to apply pattern recognition skills to things we don't fully understand?
How shall we deconstruct myth and live between myth and metaphor?
How to improve embodiment cognition to make sense of ourselves and the world?
Why is the fitness landscape essential, and how can we use that to achieve our human potential?
How to get along with the monologue of the voice within your head?
How can we leverage the force from the heart to follow our bliss?
The importance of setting up family interviews and getting memories on papers or tapes.
Anecdotes about Sir John Morgan
"I would not give a fig for the simplicity on this side of complexity, but I would give my life for the simplicity on the other side of complexity."
- Oliver W. Holmes
Books and links mentioned in today’s episode
What Happened to Jordan Peterson?
Intellectual dark web
Live Not By Lies
Hero Journey
Biblical Series XIII: Jacob’s Ladder
The Gulag Archipelago by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
Mike Hill
John Vervaeke
Channel McGilchrist
Philosophy for life by Jules Evans
Radical Wholeness by Philip Shepherd
How the World Really Works by Vaclav Smil
SCOTT ALEXANDER book review
Sam Harris & Peterson Debate the "Truth"
The Most Interesting Man in Finance
The Voice Telling You It's Time To Move
21 Useful Ideas. 1 Big One.
Fitness landscape
Focusing by Eugene T. Gendlin
The Secret Life of Plants

Jul 27, 2022 • 55min
#137: Breaking Rules, Solitary Socialite, Future Possibility Folders, Daydreaming and How to Live with Derek Sivers
Kia Ora, Nihao and hello! Welcome to the Chiwi Journal Podcast. I’m your host Camellia Yang.
My guest today is Derek Sivers. Derek has been a musician, producer, circus performer, entrepreneur, TED speaker, and book publisher. He’s an author of four books, Anything You Want, Your Music and People, Hell Yeah or No, and How to Live.
In today’s episode, we talked about…
The benefit of keep moving across the world and breaking the rules.
How do different cities shape one’s identity and expand one’s worldview?
How to say goodbye to old identities that no longer serve you?
The pros and cons of being a solitary socialite.
Why shouldn’t you wait for inspiration to come?
How to be a considerate content creator?
The good side of daydreaming and building future possibility folders
How to approach our life?
How do physical locations matter to your morale?
Why do people like to use stereotypes to pre-judge others, and why is it so hard to break?
Learning Mandarin and Portuguese.
Books/links mentioned in this episode
You don’t have to be local
Moving for good
Solitary socialite
Daydreaming is my favorite pastime
Possible futures
Anything You Want
Derek Sivers TED Talks
Your Music and People
Hell year or no
How to Live
Cities and Ambition - Paul Graham
The Michel Thomas Method to learn language
Practice Portuguese: Learn European Portuguese
Fernando Pessoa
Philosophy: a Complete Introduction - by Sharon Kaye
Mark Manson - Life Advice That Doesn't Suck
The Subtle Art NFT Collection - BookCoin™
Check out Derek Sivers' website and introduce yourself :)

Jun 23, 2022 • 1h 5min
#136: Bilingual Content Creator, Picking English Names, Publish Consistent Content and Live A Productive Life with Bear Liu
My guest today is Bear Liu. Bear is a product designer and design mentor. He hosts an award-winning podcast show called BearTalk, focused on sharing his learnings and ideas in design and personal experiences in reading and parenting.
In this episode, we talked about:
How do Chinese people pick up their English names?
From working at a ‘tier 18’ city in China as a designer and building a business in web2 to migrant to New Zealand to raise a family —- Bear’s story as an immigrant.
How to navigate life while moving to a new country, finding a new job and welcoming a newborn at the same time?
Why is it essential to have a role model to learn and mimic, especially in difficult life moments?
What does it feel like to start a tech podcast in 2012 and win an award from Apple?
What motivates Chinese speakers to create content in English? What emotional journey did we go through?
How create content online can change people’s life?
Two tips on being a productive content creator that can keep publishing content consistently.
What tools do we use as bilingual content creators? How to find our audiences, and how to measure success?
How to start a content creator journey while still working full-time and having a family to look after?
What’s the NO.1 lesson to pass on to the next generation?
Books/links and creators tools mentioned in this episode:
Bear’s website
New Zealand Silver Fern Visa
Les Mills: Taking Fitness to the Next Level
Total Recall: My Unbelievably True Life Story by Arnold Schwarzenegger
Grammarly: Free Online Writing Assistant
Notion
Readwise
Libby App
Drafts | Where Text Starts
Dao De Jing: A Philosophical Translation
I Ching
Conversation with Bear Liu in Chinese

May 29, 2022 • 48min
#135: Global Natives, Nomad Passport, Subscription Living and Plumia Country with Lauren Razavi
My guest today is Lauren Razavi. Lauren is a writer, speaker and strategist working at the intersection of technology, business, policy, and human behaviour. She is the author of the book Global Natives and writes the Counterflows newsletter about borderless living. Lauren was an early adopter of remote work and has lived as a digital nomad since 2013. Currently, she is Executive Director of Plumia, the mission to build an internet country for digital nomads, at the Y Combinator alumni company SafetyWing.
In this episode, we discussed:
Lauren’s digital nomad journey as an early adopter since 2013.
Who coined the term a digital nomad? How digital nomad lifestyle has evolved from subculture to mainstream?
How do individuals design lifestyles based on the remote working trend?
Why we should rethink global mobility? How policymakers should adjust their strategy to build up a remote working and digital nomads friendly environment?
A brief introduction of Plumia and Nomad Border Pass (Nomad Passport)?
The history of Leagues of Nations and our current passport system.
What makes a good nomad hub?
What are the biggest challenges facing digital nomads? How to make new friends with fellow nomads and locals in a new city?
The rise of subscription living and slow travel.
Why we should read Global Natives book and advocate for global mobility for our human progression’s sake?
Books/links mentioned in this episode:
Global Natives
The Digital Nomad by Tsugio Makimoto
The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss
Nomadlist.com by Pieter Levels
Tony Blair Institute for Global Change
Plumia: building a borderless future through a country on the internet
SafetyWing - Insurance for Nomads, by Nomads
Plumia 10-Year Roadmap
League of Nations
DIGITAL NOMADS Madeira Islands
Gonçalo Hall, a person behind the First Digital Nomad Village in Ponta do Sol, Madeira
Hacker Paradise
So you want to be a Sovereign Individual?
2022 State of Digital Nomads
Subscription Living: Zoku
Counterflows Newsletter

Apr 7, 2022 • 1h 12min
#134: Sustainable Travel, Writing Books, Spiritual Growth, Energy Healing and Meditation with Bianca Caruana
My guest today is Bianca Caruana. Bianca is a storyteller, podcast host, sustainability & equality advocate and writer at The Altruistic Traveller. Bianca and I had a serendipitous encounter in Aveiro (Thanks to Pieter Levels’ Nomadlist.com), and we immediately clicked because we shared similar backgrounds and spiritual growth journeys.
In this episode, we discussed...
How to be a sustainable traveller and leverage your skillsets to travel around the world without costing a big fortune?
What’s the wake-up call for us to trust and surrender to the universe instead of trying to control our life?
How to do our own personal reverse engineering to find out who we are NOT in order to know who we really are on a deeper level?
How to overcome the fear of judgment, transform from our old identities and embrace a new life?
How does adapting to be a digital nomad lifestyle help us find a sense of belonging and feel seen?
Why should you write books and poetries to keep a record of your life and express your feelings?
A couple of serendipitous stories on life is only making sense when you look back and connect the dots
What’s the Vipassana meditation? What could you get from it?
How to find the meditation method that suits you?
The benefits of sacred plant medicine and what to pay attention to when experiencing psychedelic trips?
How to cultivate empathy?
Books/links mentioned in this episode:
Bianca’s blog The Altruistic Traveller
Bianca's Podcast
The Altruistic Traveller instagram
Workaway
Trusted House Sitters (get 25% off)
The Invisible Third Culture Adult: A book about meaning and identity
Chiwi Journal Vol 1&2
The Rookery Nook and Brontë Parsonage
Vipassana Meditation
National Anthem: Malta - L-Innu Malti
Qigong
Tao Te Ching
I Ching
Transcendental Meditation® Technique
Understand Myself
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.