I had the pleasure of meeting Kou Aizhe, a renowned podcast producer behind the immensely popular Chinese podcast, GushiFM, which translates to “Story FM” in English. Similar to the podcast This American Life, GushiFM focuses on sharing authentic stories of everyday people in China.

As a Mandarin language learner, I discovered Aizhe’s work years ago. Although still a bit advanced for me, I use it to enhance my listening comprehension and learn more about China. His work has received extensive praise, including recognition in the New York Times.

During our morning discussion, we delved into topics such as censorship, political correctness, monetization, and their impact on Gushi FM. As an aspiring writer and photographer, I gained valuable insights into the unique challenges of sharing authentic stories in China.

We also explored the idea of expanding Gushi FM‘s audience to the Western world. I suggested considering video interviews, akin to the Joe Rogan Experience and Soft White Underbelly, with English subtitles. With subtitles, I believe many of his stories could resonate with American audiences.

After our meeting, I hurried to the bus station to catch a ride to Chengde, a city four hours outside of Beijing. Unfortunately, I missed the last bus, but I managed to secure a ride with a dubious underground bus broker. After some haggling over the price, as is customary in China, I hopped onto his e-bike and we made our way to the van.