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Dashu Mandarin Podcast

李璨理查BEN

Hello, everyone, it's Dashu Mandarin here. We're three Chinese teachers that focus on providing authentic and valuable Chinese learning materials for the Chinese learners of intermediate level and above. In this Podcast, we will talk about all kinds of things concerning China and Chinese culture, society, etc.
You can also watch the video version on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfsNycNoClXZA1FuUJSGT0w
Welcome to join us.

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31 episodes
weekly
Avg 48 min
Chinese

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Monday · 1 hr 4 min
Chinese Podcast EP224: Breakup Changed His Life...How a Star Chinese Teacher was born!
Can a breakup completely change your life? 💔Meet John (王建中), a Chinese teacher with 20 years of teaching experience! But believe it or not, his journey into teaching Chinese began with an unexpected breakup.From working in marketing to becoming a Chinese teacher, John shares how one painful experience changed his career path and eventually led him to discover his passion for teaching.In this episode, the four teachers also chat about love, marriage, relationships, and the ups and downs of life—with plenty of laughter along the way! 😂Check Teacher Jhon's channel here https://www.youtube.com/@UC9RHneALOnf29DgQ5PCyNdg
October 19 · 39 min
Chinese Podcast EP223: Uncle Ben's Most Awkward Trip in China!
Uncle Ben is finally back from his month-long trip to China! 🇨🇳✈️From delicious food and rainy days in Chengdu to meeting students and old friends, he has plenty of stories to share.But one unexpected experience turned his trip into an incredibly awkward adventure! 😳What happened? And how did Uncle Ben end up caught in the middle of someone else's complicated situation?Join the three uncles for a hilarious, unscripted conversation about travel, friendship, relationships, and life's unexpected twists!
October 12 · 45 min
Chinese Podcast EP222: What Do Chinese Teachers Watch Before Bed? Guilty Pleasures Revealed!
Maayot, a Chinese graded reading platform that sends short Chinese stories to learners regularly, making Chinese reading easier to turn into a habit. Check out Maayot here: 👉https://www.maayot.com/Maayot，一个中文分级阅读平台。它可以定期给学习者发送短篇中文故事，帮助学习者更轻松、更持续地进行中文阅读练习。0:00 开场5:29 Maayot 8:40 我们刷哪些不正经的短视频-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Even after a long, exhausting day, taking 5 minutes to scroll through short videos before bed has become a universal decompression ritual. In this unscripted episode of Dashu Mandarin, the three hosts peel back the curtain and reveal what’s really on their algorithm feeds!From viral news to bizzare late-night livestreams, this episode is packed with authentic Chinese vocabulary and hilarious life observations:NYC Mayor Speaks Chinese: A look at the NYC Mayor’s viral Mandarin video and how online Chinese teachers chased the clout!Late-Night Guilty Pleasures: Uncle Cha gets moved by retired dairy cows and globe-trotting cats, while Ben encounters chaotic livestreams, kids flipping tables, and driving simulators!Learning Chinese Through Short Videos: How 10-second action clips can actually serve as incredible material for advanced description practice.
October 6 · 58 min
Chinese Podcast EP221: Busted! Talking Behind His Back... And HE JOINED THE CALL?!
An unscripted episode turned into an absolute surprise! What started as a casual gossip session about our favorite "mysterious 4th member"—Brice (布莱)—took an unexpected turn when HE LOCALLY JOINED THE CALL mid-conversation!In this episode, the uncles dive deep into Brice’s life in Taiwan, only for Brea himself to crash the party and share his side of the story:- The Romance & Reality: How Brice met his Japanese girlfriend Coco, navigating an international relationship, and facing the sudden financial pressures of dating in Taiwan.- The Caught Red-Handed Moment: Brice joins the live call while Uncle Cha is mid-gossip—leading to laughter, awkwardness, and a truly wholesome confrontation!- Stunning Photography & Tears: Brice shows off his secret talent as a talented photographer, sharing incredible visual stories from Vietnam, Japan, and Korea. Uncle Cha’s heartfelt compliments leave Brice visibly moved (and wiping away a tear!).- Learning Chinese & New Projects:Brice breaks down the differences between self-studying Chinese vs. attending language school at NTU, and introduces his newly built Chinese learning tracker app, Edenia.试试布莱的edenia - https://www.edenia.study/From romantic unexpected encounters to genuine moments of vulnerability, this is one of our most chaotic, heartfelt, and entertaining episodes yet!
September 26 · 51 min
Chinese Podcast EP220: Meeting Online Friends in Real Life: Crazy Stories & Awkward Moments!
It’s an unscripted, completely spontaneous episode! Starting with zero preparation and a collective brain freeze, the three hosts dive into a genuinely candid conversation about meeting online friends in real life.What happens when your digital connections step into reality?Ben gets recognized at a Barcelona restaurant by a former student from two years ago!Uncle Richard shares a traumatic experience of being stood up by an online student and how it changed his approach to meeting people.Uncle Can talks about his wife’s online mom group organizing massive offline meetups, and his own story of finding like-minded souls online through children's literature.
September 23 · 53 min
Chinese Podcast EP219: I'll Never Be a Teacher!" ...10 Years Later, Meet Teacher Yunyun!
🎓 "I'll never be a teacher!" ...Famous last words! ⏳ 10 years later, Teacher Yunyun has taught in primary and secondary schools in Thailand, pursued her Master's in Educational Studies in the UK, and helped thousands of students master Mandarin.In this special episode of Dashu Mandarin, Yunyun joins us to address the biggest obstacle facing language learners: The feeling of loneliness. Learn how to break through learning plateaus, build real-life language connections, and discover how maayot serves as your 24/7 language companion!❤️=Maayot, a Chinese graded reading platform that sends short Chinese stories to learners regularly, making Chinese reading easier to turn into a habit. Check out Maayot here: 👉https://www.maayot.com/Maayot，一个中文分级阅读平台。它可以定期给学习者发送短篇中文故事，帮助学习者更轻松、更持续地进行中文阅读练习。=
September 13 · 41 min
Chinese Podcast EP218: I Got Permanent Residency! ...Now I Want to Leave?! (Life in Spain)
In this episode of Dashu Mandarin, Ben shares the big news: He finally got his Spanish permanent residency! But immediately after, a hilarious "7-year itch" moment hit him—is it time to move to Southeast Asia?!We also take an honest, comedic, and deep dive into:The nightmare of European bureaucracy (and paying agents just to get an appointment!)The reality of WFH life, housing prices in Barcelona, and the infamous "Okupas" (squatters)Uncle Richard and Uncle Can’s warm and grounded philosophy on travel, family, and home life
September 5 · 56 min
Chinese Podcast EP217: Teaching Chinese in Japanese? Meet the Most Energetic Teacher in China!
In this special episode of Dashu Mandarin, we are joined by KoKo, a super energetic and uniquely talented Chinese teacher based in Suzhou!Teaching Chinese primarily through Japanese, KoKo shares her fascinating observations on Japanese cultural nuances, personal boundary rules, and how she broke through the "invisible wall" to turn students into lifelong friends—and even "half-family."We also dive deep into the real, raw side of being an independent content creator & online educator.
August 31 · 27 min
Chinese Podcast 216: Why Did China’s Worst Animated Movie Make Millions? | The "Niu Lai" Phenomenon
How did a crudely animated, hand-made movie by a mother-son duo beat Hollywood blockbusters at the Chinese box office?In this hilarious and insightful episode of Dashu Mandarin, the three uncles dive into China's latest viral internet phenomenon: "Niu Lai" (牛来). From crowd psychology and "ugly-appreciation" (审丑) to a deep dive into the flaws of today's film industry, we break down why millions flocked to cinemas just to laugh together. Plus, discover why this low-budget film unexpectedly became the ultimate learning material for Chinese language students worldwide!
August 31 · 44 min
Chinese Podcast EP215: Do Chinese Men Sit Down to Pee? A Hilariously Honest Confession
In this surprisingly candid and hilarious episode of Dashu Mandarin, the three uncles tackle a taboo topic that most men avoid: Why are more Chinese men choosing to sit down when using the bathroom?What starts as a funny, late-night confession quickly evolves into a deep, relatable discussion about aging, physical vulnerabilities, personal boundaries, and the unsung burdens of daily housework. From Ben’s wild "toilet-seat friendship breakup" to a vulnerable confession after surgery, this episode blends pure humor with authentic reflections on modern masculinity and family relationships.
August 18 · 52 min
Chinese Podcast Ep214: What Being a Father in China Really Means?
What does it truly mean to be a father in modern China? Is parenting about unconditional support, or pushing kids through fierce competition?In this episode of Dashu Mandarin Podcast (大叔中文播客), Teacher Can (璨叔) takes the mic to share a deeply personal, unscripted look at Chinese fatherhood, parenting struggles, and raising a child today. From dealing with high academic pressure and kid's myopia to tackling parental anxiety and teaching resilience through a Rubik’s cube—this conversation goes far beyond typical stereotypes.
August 11 · 45 min
Chinese Podcast EP213: From Hotel Manager in Macau to Chinese Teacher in Portugal!
From standardizing hotel management in Macau to teaching Mandarin online in Portugal! 🇲🇴✈️🇵🇹In this special interview episode of Dashu Mandarin, Can Shu and Cha Shu welcome Vanessa (Yingying)—a former hotel administrative professional who spent years in Taiwan and Macau before moving to Portugal with her family. We dive deep into her unique journey: transitioning from the intense hospitality industry to becoming a full-time online Chinese teacher, navigating the challenges of raising bilingual/multilingual kids in Europe, and finding true happiness in a simple, minimalist lifestyle.Vanessa 老师的网站是 Vanessa's websitehttps://iengieng.my.canva.site/mymandarinjourneyYouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@UCQK28JZjC8KWa9_P0SFwizw
August 11 · 55 min
Chinese Podcast EP212: We Asked Each Other Deep Questions... and Things Got Emotional!
What happens when three friends sit down to ask each other deep, unfiltered questions? Things get real, fast! 💬✨In this episode of Dashu Mandarin, what started as a simple Q&A game quickly turned into one of our most intimate and emotional conversations yet. From funny family updates to deep life philosophies, we’re opening up about the moments that shaped us.🔥 Inside this episode:• Can’s reality check on owning a cat & how children’s passions change 🐱• Ben’s independent take on family boundaries, aging parents, and dignity 👴• Cha’s raw confession: A 7-year long-distance love story that survived against all odds ❤️
July 25 · 1 hr
Chinese Podcast EP211: Culture Shock: Why is Life in Europe So Slow Compared to Asia?
Why is installing an air conditioner in Spain a month-long nightmare, while in Asia it only takes 24 hours? In this episode of Dashu Mandarin, Ben, Cha, and Can dish on the ultimate culture shock for Asian expats living in Europe: EFFICIENCY! From waiting weeks for an AC installation and banks closing at 2 PM, to multi-year roadworks and strict social rules—we compare the slow-paced European lifestyle with the ultra-convenient culture of China and Taiwan.Is Europe's slow pace a result of strong worker protections and monopolies, or just pure inefficiency? Let’s talk about it!🌏 In this episode, we cover:- Ben's crazy story of buying & installing an AC in Barcelona- Service efficiency comparison: Spain vs. Taiwan vs. Mainland China- Bank hours, road construction, and public infrastructure speed- Train security checks, train tickets, and social governance (drunk driving & strict laws)
July 17 · 36 min
Chinese Podcast EP210: The Reality of Being a Beijing Wife in the UK: No Mother-in-Law Drama?
What is it really like to move from Beijing to London and navigate a cross-cultural marriage? 🌏In this episode, we sit down with Kerin, a Beijing native now living in the UK, to talk about life, love, and the cultural shocks that actually matter. Forget the textbooks—we are diving into the real, unfiltered stuff: from the "hidden" perks of having a British mother-in-law to the complex reality of raising "third culture" kids.Is it true that British men put their wives before their mothers? And why is the "Mother-in-Law drama" so different in the UK compared to China? Kerin shares her personal journey from being an Chinese teacher in Beijing to an expat navigating a completely new society in London.
July 13 · 53 min
Chinese Podcast EP209: Confessions of Chinese Teachers: Why We’re Suddenly So Obsessed with Money
Let’s be real—we usually talk about life, culture, and Chinese language. But in this episode, we’re peeling back the curtain on something we don’t discuss enough: the "hustle," the desire for financial stability, and how our perspectives on money have shifted as we’ve hit mid-life. From Japanese student gifts to the surprisingly polarizing topic of "skinny injections," this conversation took some unexpected turns. Why is everyone suddenly obsessed with losing weight, and why are we, three "uncles" who are supposed to be focused on teaching, suddenly talking about our earnings and our retirement plans?
July 4 · 54 min
Chinese Podcast EP208: 4 Years of Dashu Mandarin: How This Podcast Saved Us (Literally)
Can you believe it? Dashu Mandarin has officially hit the 4-year mark! What started as three guys casually chatting has turned into over 200 episodes of unfiltered, honest, and sometimes deeply personal conversations about life, teaching, and everything in between. In this special anniversary episode, we’re dropping the "teacher personas" and getting real about what this podcast has actually meant to us. It wasn’t just about creating study material for Chinese learners; it became our safe harbor. Ben, Can, and Cha share the stories behind the scenes—from the "black hole" of work burnout to finding a sense of community and purpose that we didn't know we were missing.
June 26 · 52 min
Chinese Podcast EP207: "Adding" My Way to Burnout: Why I Can't Stop Working
Learn Chinese with fun stories, articles, and videos at https://dashumandarin.com/ 📖✨ —no boring textbooks! 🚫📚Ready to break through your Chinese learning plateau? Explore Uncle Can's Level-Up Training System. Check out our approach and watch a real video breakdown on the landing page to see if it’s the right fit for your goals:👉 https://eazymandarinlican.carrd.co/===🌹 If you love the Dashu style, you can book a Chinese lesson with one of the Dashus.👉 Book a Lesson with Canhttps://mandarinr3zb.setmore.com/mandarin👉 Book a Lesson with Benhttps://chinesewithben.simplybook.it/v2/#book👉 Book a lesson with Richardhttps://towering-flea-6d4.notion.site/Speak-Chinese-Naturally-Through-Real-Life-Immersion-f593956870cc4235bc5c1451f2a6285d====▬ Join our membership today! 今天就加入会员！▬Membership Benefits 会员福利 :⬛Level 1 小鲜肉 Benefits⬛➡ Get Access to a Telegram Group 加入我们的 Telegram 会员群➡ Get the PDF transcripts of our Podcast 获取我们部分播客的汉字版PDF➡ Support us to create more free contents to all Chinese learners请大叔们喝咖啡，支持大叔持续创作出更多免费又精彩的汉语学习内容！⬛Level 2 小馅肉 Benefits⬛➡ Unlock ALL our Membership Videos!！解锁全部会员视频！！！⬛Level 3 小仙肉 Benefits⬛➡ All the benefits of the previous levels 所有前一级别的福利➡ Get Access to a Discord Group 加入我们的 Discord 会员群➡ Weekly meetup with us 每周与大叔们线上见面(Every Sunday at 19.30 Beijing time! 北京时间每周日晚上19:30. Suggested level: HSK 4 and above）⬛How to Join? 如何加入？⬛You can either join our membership via YouTube or Patreon.可以通过YouTube或Patreon加入我们！Link of Patreon 链接: https://www.patreon.com/dashumandarin/membership⬛Most Common Chinese Sayings 最实用的汉语谚语⬛Check our video lessons! 欢迎购买我们的谚语视频合集！https://www.patreon.com/collection/676141?view=expanded ▬ Discounts Code ▬汉语学习资源折扣码！▬▬⬛Du Chinese⬛ - 中文分级阅读网站 Graded Chinese Reader Website➡https://www.duchinese.net/lessons A must have App for reading and listening to fun Chinese stories [Apply the coupon code: "DASHU10" to get 10% discount ] ⬛Skritter ⬛- Practice all the key vocabularies of each episode of our podcast!! ➡https://skritter.com/?ref=dashu&coupon=DASHU10学汉字神器 Super App for learning Chinese & Japanese characters [Apply the coupon code: "DASHU10" to get 10% discount ] ⬛找网上中文老师 ⬛- Find Online Chinese tutorshttps://chinesewithben.simplybook.it/v2/#book或者 Italki➡https://www.italki.com/en/i/ref/BeeHcA [Sign up with the link above to get 5 USD for online Chinese classes ] ⬛Buy Chinese Textbooks / Comprar Manual Chino / 买汉语课本⬛➡ https://chinoeasy.com/dashu[Apply coupon code ´DASHU´ to enjoy 30% off discount / Aplique el código de cupón ´DASHU´ para disfrutar del 30% de descuento使用折扣码“DASHU”来享受7折购书]
June 20 · 37 min
Chinese Podcast EP206: Don’t Start with a Chinese Book: Chinese Reading Tips
Many Chinese learners want to start reading “real Chinese books” as soon as possible, but this can often be frustrating — too many new words, long sentences, and not enough confidence.很多中文学习者都想尽快开始读“真正的中文书”，但是对很多学生来说，这件事很容易让人感到挫败：生词太多，句子太长，读不下去，也很难建立信心。In this episode, we talk about why graded readers can be a smarter way to start Chinese reading.在这一期节目里，我们聊一聊为什么分级阅读可能是开始中文阅读的更好方式。With shorter texts, controlled vocabulary, and level-appropriate content, graded reading can help learners build confidence, improve reading fluency, and stay consistent.通过更短的文本、更合适的词汇量和适合自己水平的内容，分级阅读可以帮助学习者建立阅读信心，提高阅读流利度，也更容易长期坚持。We also talk about Maayot, a Chinese graded reading platform that sends short Chinese stories to learners regularly, making Chinese reading easier to turn into a habit.我们也会聊到 Maayot，一个中文分级阅读平台。它可以定期给学习者发送短篇中文故事，帮助学习者更轻松、更持续地进行中文阅读练习。Check out Maayot here:了解 Maayot：https://www.maayot.com/
June 12 · 1 hr 2 min
Chinese Podcast EP205: We’re in Our 40s and Still Don’t Know What We Want
Are we in control of our lives, or are we just being pushed along?In this episode of Dashu Mandarin, three Chinese teachers in their 40s sit down for a painfully honest conversation about fate, free will, and the choices that shaped them.🔸 One of us got “forced” into chasing a girl in high school — and later realized he didn’t even like her.🔸 Another grew up in China’s intense exam system, became a “learning machine,” and now lives in Spain… but still can’t relax.🔸 And the third? He decided to stop blaming the system and started learning piano and guzheng in his 40s.We talk about:Chinese education and the “gaokao” mentalityWhy it’s so hard to start new hobbies as adultsThe guilt of relaxing when you grew up in a hardworking culture

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