The Civic Wellness Podcast with Ulysses Hsu

Snakes and The Broken Pot

Burnt sugar and steam fog a kitchen window in Houston, Texas, where a mother and child melt syrup into fragile, amber cranes and off-center dragons. Thousands of miles away, deep in the mist-shrouded peaks of Taiwan, a Rukai chieftess runs her fingers along a weathered, chipped family ceramic vessel. In this episode, we travel from the quiet warmth of a diaspora kitchen to the ancient, ancestral heart of indigenous Taiwan to explore a silent crisis: the mass extinction of the world’s languages. Through the intimate lens of family traditions, we trace the history of Taiwanese Hokkien—a language once criminalized and suppressed under colonial rule—and sit with the elders of the Rukai, Atayal, and Kanakanavu tribes who are fighting to keep their mother tongues alive.

Retired Indigenous Teacher from Taiwan Speaks on Corporal Punishment

In this powerful episode, I sit down with a retired Atayal teacher from Taiwan to explore her perspective on corporal punishment through the lens of Indigenous values and lived experience. As a proud member of the Atayal people, one of Taiwan’s major Indigenous groups, she reflects on how discipline, respect, and teaching have evolved in her community — and why she believes certain traditional practices must be reexamined.We discuss:Her background as a lifelong educator in rural TaiwanThe cultural meaning of discipline in Atayal traditionsHer views on the impact of corporal punishment on children todayHow Indigenous and modern values intersect in classroomsThis episode is part of my ongoing series comparing disciplinary practices across cultures, with a focus on education, child welfare, and cultural preservation.📍 Recorded in Taiwan as part of my field research on corporal punishment and Indigenous education.👇 Subscribe for more cross-cultural stories and insights from educators, scholars, and communities around the world.#CorporalPunishment #Atayal #TaiwanIndigenous #Education #Podcast #CulturalAnthropology #ChildWelfare #IndigenousVoices

Teach, Not Punish w/ Dr. Joan Durrant Exploring Positive Discipline Methods [FULL]

“Why do we still hit children—and what if we didn’t have to?”In this powerful episode, I sit down with Dr. Joan Durrant, child-clinical psychologist, global advocate, and Executive Director of Positive Discipline in Everyday Parenting (PDEP). Drawing from decades of research at the University of Manitoba and global work in over 30 countries, Dr. Durrant unpacks the myths behind corporal punishment and reveals how we can raise children with empathy, respect, and long-term resilience.💬 What We Talk About:– Why parents use spanking—and why it doesn’t work– The science of positive discipline: What actually helps children grow– Global efforts to end corporal punishment, from Sweden to South Africa– How culture, trauma, and policy intersect in parenting practices– Real-life stories of transformation from the PDEP program👩‍⚕️ About Dr. Joan Durrant:Dr. Durrant is a Professor Emerita at the University of Manitoba and an internationally recognized expert on children’s rights and non-violent parenting. She developed the Positive Discipline in Everyday Parenting program, now implemented by Save the Children and other NGOs worldwide. She has advised UNICEF, the World Health Organization, and national governments on child protection and policy reform.🎧 This episode is for:– Parents seeking non-violent, respectful discipline strategies– Educators, psychologists, and social workers– Advocates working to protect children from harm– Anyone interested in global child rights and justice🌍 Let’s reimagine parenting—not through fear, but through connection, communication, and compassion.🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell for more episodes on parenting, policy, and child well-being.#PositiveDiscipline #JoanDurrant #ParentingPodcast #CorporalPunishment #ChildRights #PDEP #NonViolentParenting #ChildPsychology #GlobalHealth #RaiseThemRight

Taiwan Indigenous Mayor talks about Corporal Punishment

In this rare and powerful interview, a 70-year-old chief from Taiwan’s Paiwan tribe shares his deeply rooted support for corporal punishment based on his cultural upbringing and decades of experience as an educator and community leader. Reflecting traditional Indigenous and conservative values, he argues that physical discipline, when used correctly, builds character, respect, and responsibility among youth.🎙️ Topics Discussed:His personal experiences growing up with corporal punishmentWhy he believes physical discipline remains necessaryThe role of tradition and cultural identity in educationGenerational shifts and changing views on disciplineThis interview sheds light on the complex and often controversial role of corporal punishment within Taiwan’s Indigenous communities, offering a rare traditional viewpoint that contrasts with modern education trends.📍Filmed in southern Taiwan, this conversation is part of a broader exploration into the intersections of culture, discipline, and identity among Taiwan’s Indigenous populations.🔔 Subscribe to explore more Indigenous voices, cultural stories, and debates around education and tradition.#PaiwanTribe #TaiwanIndigenous #CorporalPunishment #TraditionalDiscipline #CulturalPreservation #IndigenousVoices #TaiwanDocumentary

From Paddling to Reform: Why This Asst. Principle Changed Everything

🎙️ In this episode, I sit down with Assistant Principal and advocate Jeffrey Burton, who once served as the designated paddler at his rural Arkansas school. What began as a role he thought would bring order quickly turned into a moral and cultural reckoning.We discuss:His personal journey from administering corporal punishment to challenging itThe deep cultural roots of paddling in conservative, rural Southern communitiesHow race, religion, and tradition influence school discipline in AmericaWhy “quick fixes” like swats fail students long-termWhat schools can learn from empathy-based approachesAs part of my research comparing corporal punishment in Texas and Indigenous Taiwanese communities, we explore how culture shapes what’s considered acceptable discipline—and what it takes to break cycles that no longer serve students.🔔 Subscribe for more episodes on education reform, youth mental health, and cross-cultural research.#CorporalPunishment #EducationReform #JeffreyBurton #SchoolDiscipline #Paddling #ChildAdvocacy #RestorativeJustice #SouthernSchools #TaiwanResearch #PodcastInterview