Joy of Life S2 - Ep 28 - Bank Creation and the End of the Honeymoon
03/2/2026 | 20 mins.
News travels fast to the Capital about these new bonds that Fan Xian is trying to sell. The Emperor makes no comment but instead orders the Chrysanthemum viewing festival be moved up to whenever Fan Xian is available. This sends a huge signal to others in the Capital and they decide whether or not to buy Fan Xian's bonds. Listen to our latest podcast episode on episode 28 of Season 2 of Joy of Life!
In the Know - Chinese Pop Culture News - (Il)legal Activity?
30/1/2026 | 20 mins.
There were a few stories that dominated the headlines these week. Two female celebrities were exposed to have engaged in activities with questionable legality. Zhang Yu Qi is accused of having one of her children born via surrogacy which is illegal in China. Jin Chen might have been involved in a hit and run. Listen to our latest podcast episode on the scoop!
Joy of Life S2 - Ep 27 - Investor Pitch
26/1/2026 | 28 mins.
Fan Xian takes Wan'Er to Cang Mountain for a honeymoon but it turns into an investor pitch as he tries to sell Qing kingdom bonds in order to plug the 20mm taels of silver debt from the Imperial Treasury.
In the Know - Chinese Pop Culture News - Fan Engagement via Weibo
23/1/2026 | 16 mins.
The annual voting period for the upcoming Weibo night is underway. We explain how exactly do fans stay engaged and how that reflects fandom popularity
Joy of Life s2 - Ep 26pt 2: The Hall of Joy
20/1/2026 | 21 mins.
After the wedding, Fan Xian and Wang Qi Nian heads to the Hall of Joy, the business created by his mother Ye Qing Mei.
Karen and Cathy explain cultural and historical references episode by episode in popular Chinese historical dramas as well as Chinese pop culture news. The podcast is in English with proper nouns and phrases spoken in Mandarin Chinese. Currently, they are discussing Season 1 of Joy of Life. Completed dramas/movies include: The Story of Yanxi Palace, The Longest Day in Chang'An, The Story of Ming Lan, Empresses in the Palace, Royal Nirvana, Palace (2013 film), and Mulan (2020 Disney movie) among others.