The Honest Drink

Cyrus Janssen is a Youtuber, geopolitical analyst, speaker and investor.  He is well known for his Youtube channel where he shares insights on China and his videos have nearly 50 million views.  As an American, he hopes to help the world better understand China while dispelling misunderstandings about the country.  Today we talk about his long awaited visit back, the state of US-China relations, his coverage of Huawei's Meng Wanzhou arrest and trial, and how Americans think about China.  We talk domestic problems in both countries, why the US is losing global influence, the Taiwan situation and decoupling.  We also discuss the hopes of common sense prevailing to avoid an apocalyptic war and his urgent message that when the US and China work together the world wins, and if they don't, we all lose. Cyrus' Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@CyrusJanssen/featured _____________________ This episode is powered by Nespresso!  We've been loving our Nespresso Vertuo POP coffee machine _____________________ If you enjoy this show don't forget to leave a rating Follow Us On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehonestdrink_/ Join Us On WeChat: THD_Official Find us on: Spotify, Apple, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Ximalaya, 小宇宙, 网易云音乐, Bilibili or anywhere else you get your podcasts.

Jason Smith is host of The Bridge Podcast, a show focused on building bridges between East and West by going beyond the headlines to find common ground amongst perceived opposites in the world.  He seeks to bridge his American home with his Chinese home through dialogue and understanding and is also a social media influencer with nearly 1 million fans.  Today we drink some baijiu from Inner-Mongolia and talk about Jason's recent travels, we talk about the term "laowai" and if it's derogatory to foreigners.  We discuss anti-Asian hate crimes.  Jason talks about growing up in a family of Jehovah's Witnesses, the importance of having diversity of ethics and opting out of a culture of politicization.  We also discuss tempering our impulse to have opinions about everything, fixing problems through finding common ground, Chinese movies and why provocative questions can be useful. Connect with Jason on Twitter: @shangguanjiewen  _____________________ This episode is powered by Nespresso!  We've been loving our Nespresso Vertuo POP coffee machine _____________________ If you enjoy this show don't forget to leave a rating Follow Us On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehonestdrink_/ Join Us On WeChat: THD_Official Find us on: Spotify, Apple, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Ximalaya, 小宇宙, 网易云音乐, Bilibili or anywhere else you get your podcasts.

Pete Rogers is a coach and speaker on mental health, parenting, EQ and leadership.  He is the Director of Counseling at Community Center Shanghai (CCS) and the founder of Rogers Consulting Group, "where EQ meets IQ".  He works with International school students and their parents with mental health related issues such as stress, anxiety and sadness.  His work seeks to help children and parents create emotionally healthy and vibrant families.  In addition he helps professional teams with post-traumatic growth, charismatic communication, moving through conflict and exceptional leadership.  He is passionate in accelerating the growth of better families, schools and companies. Today we talk about emotional trauma, anxiety and grief in a child's formative years, whether we're helping or hurting the relationship with our children, generational trauma, emotional intelligence and how parenting is really hard...even for bad parents. Connect with Pete: www.r-c-g.com _____________________ This episode is powered by Nespresso!  We've been loving our Nespresso Vertuo POP coffee machine _____________________ If you enjoy this show don't forget to leave a rating Follow Us On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehonestdrink_/ Join Us On WeChat: THD_Official Find us on: Spotify, Apple, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Ximalaya, 小宇宙, 网易云音乐, Bilibili or anywhere else you get your podcasts.

Josef Gregory Mahoney is Professor of Politics and International Relations at East China Normal University, Executive Director of the International Center for Advanced Political Studies and Associate Editor of the US-based Journal of Chinese Political Science.  The winner of multiple research awards he was formerly a university professor in the United States and public health officer with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). He appears frequently on global news broadcasts, Chinese state media and is a regular contributor to South China Morning Post.  He also serves as Senior Research Fellow with the Institute for the Development of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics. Today we talk about his disillusionment working in US government health services, his blacklisting as a professor in the US, his view of political polarization in America as a self-acknowledge Leftist, the difference between personal and private property, modern day slavery, why the CCP is not a monolith like many assume, the US strategy to contain China, climate change, Oil, de-dollarization, whether people are getting dumber and his optimism that the younger generations will fix the world… because they just might have to.   _____________________ This episode is powered by Nespresso!  We've been loving our Nespresso Vertuo POP coffee machine _____________________ If you enjoy this show don't forget to leave a rating Follow Us On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehonestdrink_/ Join Us On WeChat: THD_Official Find us on: Spotify, Apple, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Ximalaya, 小宇宙, 网易云音乐, Bilibili or anywhere else you get your podcasts.

Frank Tsai is the largest single organizer of public lectures and talks in Shanghai.  He is the founder and CEO of China Crossroads, hosting the largest number of public talks on "China and the world" where he invites senior figures in academia, politics, business and foreign affairs.  He is an American formerly working at Control Risks, the top global political risk consultancy and at The Economist Intelligence Unit.  He also has a background teaching geopolitical risk analysis, international media and American politics.  Today we talk about the Chinese and American system of centralized power vs decentralized power, freedom of speech and association, we talk about the ideology behind the tensions between the two countries, risks living in a foreign country with the potential of war, how China's communist party views the West and our experience living as Chinese-Americans in different societies and to what degree we're affected by Asian stereotypes. _____________________ This episode is powered by Nespresso!  We've been loving our Nespresso Vertuo POP coffee machine _____________________ If you enjoy this show don't forget to leave a rating Follow Us On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehonestdrink_/ Join Us On WeChat: THD_Official Find us on: Spotify, Apple, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Ximalaya, 小宇宙, 网易云音乐, Bilibili or anywhere else you get your podcasts.

Zak Dychtwald is the author of "Young China" and the founder and CEO of the Young China Group, a think tank focusing on the evolving East and West millennial mindset and the effects of China's young generation on the global marketplace, workplace and international politics.  He is a fluent mandarin speaker from northern California, TED talker, writer for the Harvard Business Review and speaks at forums and summits across the world on the topic of a people-first approach to China.  Today we talk about the existing culture of pressure on China's youth and the pushback we are seeing on what it means to live "a good life".  We talk about generational identity, burnout, trauma, priorities and the redefinitions of success.  We discuss "China speed" and how the country's remarkable and rapid growth has defined an entire generations psychology, worldview, sense of self and expectations.  We talk about unrelenting pressure from family and society to be successful.  We talk about the concept of freedom and which freedoms matter more and which matter less when it comes to living unshackled by a narrow set of expectations. _____________________ If you enjoy this show don't forget to leave a rating! Follow Us On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehonestdrink_/ Join Us On WeChat: THD_Official Find us on: Spotify, Apple, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Ximalaya, 小宇宙, 网易云音乐, Bilibili or anywhere else you get your podcasts.  

Larry Wang is a career, talent and leadership development facilitator.  He has been supporting career and talent needs in China for over 30 years.  He is the author of "The New Gold Mountain", "Know The Game , Play The Game" and "How To Develop Yourself As a Future Executive, Today".  He works with both private individuals and top executives in the worlds most recognizable companies and shares his insights with programs such as Harvard, Wharton and Beida.  Today he reflects on his personal moment of "awakening" during his first trip to China in the mid 80's and how that's led to a life of purpose.  We talk about his PLSD Approach, a methodology he designed to help people create more opportunities and improve faster within their daily jobs.  He also shares his takeaways from his former role of running one of China's leading recruitment agencies and the issues of human capital in China.  We talk soft skills, finding your career path, risk, success and having peace with your life.   _____________________ If you enjoy this show don't forget to leave a rating! Follow Us On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehonestdrink_/ Join Us On WeChat: THD_Official Find us on: Spotify, Apple, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Ximalaya, 小宇宙, 网易云音乐, Bilibili or anywhere else you get your podcasts.

Today we talk about video game addiction, how AI will impact society, medicine and compare Chinese and American healthcare systems.  We also discuss the fading distinction between reality and digital reality and pose the question of, if there's a better reality between the two?  We go on to talk about mass brain-washing, how often false narratives are pushed by the media, the imbalance in availability of dissenting perspective and the nature of public discourse in the West about China.  We also get into a debate over the academy award winning film "Everything Everywhere All at Once".    _____________________ If you enjoy this show don't forget to leave a rating! Follow Us On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehonestdrink_/ Join Us On WeChat: THD_Official Find us on: Spotify, Apple, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Ximalaya, 小宇宙, 网易云音乐, Bilibili or anywhere else you get your podcasts.

Tilman Rieger is a conflict mediator, executive coach, interpersonal communication expert and cross-cultural consultant.  He is the founder of 8C Consulting and an expert in the fields of compassionate/nonviolent communication, transactional analysis and positive intelligence.  Simply put, today we talk about how to more effectively communicate, collaborate and negotiate with others.  We talk about ego states and personality types, conflicts between Asian and Western cultural etiquette or norms for respectful behavior.  We get into the concept of self-awareness, taking ownership over your emotions and reactions, compassion, understanding needs and our inner saboteurs that make life harder. _____________________ If you enjoy this show don't forget to leave a rating! Follow Us On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehonestdrink_/ Join Us On WeChat: THD_Official Find us on: Spotify, Apple, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Ximalaya, 小宇宙, 网易云音乐, Bilibili or anywhere else you get your podcasts.

Today we talk about toxic masculinity and what it's supposed to mean being masculine. We talk about getting more emotional as we age and how we seem to cry much easier now.  We talk about paying the bill on dinner dates and the traditional expectations between the genders of who pays, we discuss how these social norms may be changing and in the context of Western and Chinese society.  We also talk about Arics wedding and how he didn't allow a "Hangover" situation. _____________________ If you enjoy this show don't forget to leave a rating! Follow Us On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehonestdrink_/ Join Us On WeChat: THD_Official Find us on: Spotify, Apple, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Ximalaya, 小宇宙, 网易云音乐, Bilibili or anywhere else you get your podcasts.