CONNECTED Podcast

‘The Membranes’: Chi Ta-wei on His Taiwanese Queer Sci-Fi Classic 30 Years On | CONNECTED Podcast

Good sci-fi says as much about the present as the future. When “The Membranes”, one of Taiwan’s best-known Queer sci-fi novels, was published in 1996, it explored gender, the climate crisis and data privacy. 30 years and 10 translations later, these themes are as relevant as ever. And they have resonated with a new wave of international readers. Author Chi Ta-wei reveals his storytelling inspirations, his plans for a sequel and how time has changed his relationship with the book’s characters and themes. Presenters: Tomasz Koper and Billie Sweetman Prefer video? Watch the conversation on our YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLD2nK6pyrNCyoXDu5raWYjHmGydh3Oc5k]#StayConnected — follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/connected.taiwanplus]#TaiwanPlus｜https://www.taiwanplus.com [https://www.taiwanplus.com]

Taiwan’s Brain Drain: Why Nurses and Engineers Are Leaving | CONNECTED Podcast

Taiwan’s brain drain problem is very real. High-tech engineers, software developers and nurses are among those who continue to leave Taiwan for better pay, more attractive workplace cultures and safer futures abroad. Recruitment consultant Zeno Fu explains why so many young people in Taiwan do not see a future at home. Prefer video? Watch the conversation on our YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLD2nK6pyrNCyoXDu5raWYjHmGydh3Oc5k]#StayConnected — follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/connected.taiwanplus]#TaiwanPlus｜https://www.taiwanplus.com [https://www.taiwanplus.com]

Why Music Is So Hard for AI to Understand | CONNECTED Podcast

Humans themselves struggle to describe music, emotion and meaning. So how can artificial intelligence ever truly understand it? We speak with Li Su, a research fellow at Taiwan’s Academia Sinica, about whether AI can actually create meaningful music, why music is more difficult to crack for AI than language and whether the future of AI music is genuine creativity, or endless waves of slop. #StayConnected — follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/connected.taiwanplus]#TaiwanPlus｜https://www.taiwanplus.com [https://www.taiwanplus.com]

Microdrama Producer: Vertical Series Are Fast, Addictive and Very Profitable | CONNECTED Podcast

Ever heard of microdramas? The 2–3 minute vertical video series have already surpassed traditional film box office revenues in countries like China. How does the industry behind these addictive reels operate? Tune in for our conversation with a microdrama producer Cameron Wen. Prefer video? Watch the conversation on our YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLD2nK6pyrNCyoXDu5raWYjHmGydh3Oc5k]#StayConnected — follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/connected.taiwanplus]#TaiwanPlus｜https://www.taiwanplus.com [https://www.taiwanplus.com]

A Taiwan Airline’s ‘Toxic’ Working Environment

Working as cabin crew is tough – especially on one of Taiwan’s main carriers, EVA Air. We hear a behind-the-scenes account from crew member Helen Lee. She describes a system that actively penalizes staff for taking sick leave and shifts responsibility for wellbeing from the company onto individuals. She and other crew members even allege that the airline, its policies and practices were key factors leading to a colleague’s death. Helen also tells us why she stayed with EVA in spite of its ‘toxic’ work culture. She explains how the airline’s union (of which she is a member) has made real change in working conditions but still has a long way to go. Prefer video? Watch the conversation on our YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLD2nK6pyrNCyoXDu5raWYjHmGydh3Oc5k]#StayConnected — follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/connected.taiwanplus]#TaiwanPlus｜https://www.taiwanplus.com