Peking Hotel with Liu He

Associate professor David Moser talks about how he has been a bridge between the U.S. and China. After so many decades, he’s disappointed in both countries. But China remains his “drug of choice.”Subscribe to our Substack newsletter at pekinghotel.substack.comPodcast music: Mélodie, Kobi Salomon, Artlist Classics, Edvard Grieg, Ezequiel Jait, Artlist Original MusicAbout Peking HotelThe Peking Hotel podcast and newsletter are digital publications in which Liu He interviews China specialists about their first-hand experiences and observations from decades past. The project grew out of Liu’s research at Hoover Institution collecting oral history of China experts living in the U.S. Their stories are a reminder of what China used to be and what it is capable of becoming. Get full access to Peking Hotel at pekinghotel.substack.com/subscribe

What’s it like for a foreigner to perform Xiangsheng—China’s traditional crosstalk comedy—on the biggest stage in the Sinophone world, the CCTV Spring Festival Gala?In 1999, David Moser did just that. Now an Associate Professor at Beijing Capital Normal University, David had already spent a decade in China by then, studying Xiangsheng under Master Ding Guangquan, translating books, and helping seed China’s underground jazz scene.Yet, despite his intimidating list of talents, when you meet him, you can’t help but call him ‘Lao Mo’ (老莫). He’s a jolly, funny, dynamic friend to spend time with. I will say no more than that this is the most entertaining chat I’ve done for Peking Hotel. I hope you feel the same too.For quick navigation to the specific sections:* What is it like to perform Xiangsheng in front of a billion Chinese people?* A musician wanders into the Sinophone world through tongue-twisters and translation* Translating one of the first books on AI in China with half-baked Chinese* When Ancient Greek meets Ancient Chinese* Apprenticing under Ding Guangquan, a Xinagsheng MasterMusic: High Rollin, Stefano Mastronardi, Artlist Original MusicSubscribe to our Substack newsletter at pekinghotel.substack.comAbout Peking HotelThe Peking Hotel podcast and newsletter are digital publications in which Liu He interviews China specialists about their first-hand experiences and observations from decades past. The project grew out of Liu’s research at Hoover Institution collecting oral history of China experts living in the U.S. Their stories are a reminder of what China used to be and what it is capable of becoming.Get full access to Peking Hotel at pekinghotel.substack.com/subscribe Get full access to Peking Hotel at pekinghotel.substack.com/subscribe

Prof. Judith Shapiro reflects on how the environment used to be a cause for which Chinese civil society was allowed to fight, until that too became sensitive.Host: Liu HeSubscribe to our Substack newsletter at pekinghotel.substack.comAbout Peking HotelThe Peking Hotel podcast and newsletter are digital publications in which Liu He interviews China specialists about their first-hand experiences and observations from decades past. The project grew out of Liu’s research at Hoover Institution collecting oral history of China experts living in the U.S. Their stories are a reminder of what China used to be and what it is capable of becoming. Get full access to Peking Hotel at pekinghotel.substack.com/subscribe

Before her career switch to researching environmental politics, Prof. Judith Shapiro spent a whirlwind decade teaching, writing, and living in and about China as it awakened from the Mao era. Get full access to Peking Hotel at pekinghotel.substack.com/subscribe

Democracy scholar Larry Diamond discusses why democratisation in China and Hong Kong failed, and how activists can keep the global movement against autocracy going as the U.S. turns isolationist.Follow our Substack at Peking HotelAbout usThe Peking Hotel podcast and newsletter are digital publications in which Liu He interviews China specialists about their first-hand experiences and observations from decades past. The project grew out of Liu’s research at Hoover Institution collecting oral history of China experts living in the U.S. Their stories are a reminder of what China used to be and what it is capable of becoming. Get full access to Peking Hotel at pekinghotel.substack.com/subscribe

Ian Johnson, an award-winning journalist and Pulitzer Prize winner, discusses the complexities surrounding Falun Gong and its portrayal by the Chinese government. He highlights the spiritual revival in post-Mao China, revealing how disillusionment led to a surge in religious movements. Johnson shares personal anecdotes from his reporting journey and reflects on the challenges journalists face in addressing the controversial narrative of Falun Gong, calling for a nuanced understanding of cultural issues in the media.

Susan Shirk, a research professor at UC San Diego and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, shares her expertise on the evolution of U.S.-China relations. She discusses key diplomatic shifts from past administrations and analyzes the pessimistic sentiment regarding political change under Xi Jinping. Shirk also highlights the importance of diplomacy for future relations and explores potential internal conflicts within the Communist Party. Her personal insights into China’s elite politics provide a compelling view on the changing landscape.

Susan Shirk discusses more events that happened during her time in the Clinton Administration, including NATO's accidental bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade, Falun Gong protests in Beijing, and Jiang Zemin's visit to the U.S.Substack: https://pekinghotel.substack.comInstagram: peking.hotelAnd please tell your friends about us! https://pekinghotel.substack.com/p/do-you-enjoy-reading-peking-hotel Get full access to Peking Hotel at pekinghotel.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of Peking Hotel, China scholar Susan Shirk discusses how she joined the Clinton administration, negotiated the WTO deal, and lost faith in the U.S. ability to improve human rights in China. Get full access to Peking Hotel at pekinghotel.substack.com/subscribe

Liu He speaks with Ian Johnson, a longtime China journalist and the author of the recent book "Sparks," about his first experiences in China, his reflections on foreign reporting, and his own career covering the country.The Peking Hotel podcast and newsletter are digital publications in which Liu He interviews China specialists about their first-hand experiences and observations from decades past. The project grew out of Liu’s research at Hoover Institution collecting oral history of China experts living in the U.S. Their stories are a reminder of what China used to be and what it is capable of becoming.Please follow us on Substack, Instagram, LinkedIn.欢迎关注百京饭店中文版！ Get full access to Peking Hotel at pekinghotel.substack.com/subscribe