The Little Red Podcast
littleredpodcast.bsky.social
The Little Red Podcast
@littleredpodcast.bsky.social
Bringing you China from beyond the Beijing beltway. Hosted by Louisa Lim and Graeme Smith with support from the Australian Centre on China in the World at the ANU.
Six years ago, China was engulfed by a controversy that struck at the heart of the nation—forget the South China Sea, human rights abuses, a looming economic crash. Food critic Chua Lam, otherwise known as the Food God, called for the end to the PRC’s beloved dining craze: hot pot. (1/2)
November 26, 2025 at 10:28 PM
How far will AI and technology go in China? @dariimpio.bsky.social gives us a sneak peak. Find out in our latest episode: www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_iv...
November 23, 2025 at 9:37 PM
In our latest episode, we explore China’s rapid adoption of AI. Alex Colville @colvap.bsky.social and Daria Impiombato @dariimpio.bsky.social delve into China’s motivations in developing AI and international skepticism of China’s capability.

Listen to the full episode: omny.fm/shows/the-li...
November 19, 2025 at 10:09 PM
With news breaking of Shi Yongxin’s recent arrest, find out the background to this story in our recent episode on the revival of Buddhism in China.

Listen to the full episode: omny.fm/shows/the-li...
November 16, 2025 at 11:04 PM
In the latest episode in our series on belief, we’re looking at the CCP’s faith in Artificial Intelligence. China has embraced AI like no other nation, laying out a plan for AI that would see 70 percent adoption across six sectors - including governance – within the next two years. (1/3)
November 4, 2025 at 9:26 AM
The resurgence of shamanism in China has taken many different forms, but none quite as surprising as a shaman-inspired theme park. In this excerpt from our latest episode, Feng Qu tells the story of Chang Chun’s Shamanistic Joy Park and its untimely ending following government disapproval. (1/2)
October 31, 2025 at 7:07 AM
Listen to the full episode: omny.fm/shows/the-li... (2/2)
October 29, 2025 at 5:54 AM
Our latest episode in our series on belief in China examined the revitalisation of shamanism. Guests Feng Qu and Mayfair Yang detail what Shamanistic practices look like today, how it is considered in comparison to other beliefs in China, and what the future holds for shamanism. (1/2)
October 29, 2025 at 5:54 AM
In our episode on shamanism in China, we explore regional differences in shamanistic practices. Feng Qu reflects upon practices in Northeastern China, while Mayfair Yang compares northern shamanism with practices in Wenzhou in southeastern China.

Listen to the full ep: omny.fm/shows/the-li...
October 25, 2025 at 4:01 AM
In our most recent episode, we looked into the resurgence of shamanism across China, bringing ancient practices into the contemporary era. Guests Feng Qu and Mayfair Yang contemplate what shamanism looks like today, from its geographic spread to current associations with the practice (1/2).
October 19, 2025 at 7:52 AM
In the latest episode in our series on belief, we’re exploring the surprising revival of shamanism in China, which has made a comeback despite Mao's best efforts at eradication. Ritual healers and spirit mediums are tapping into online believers and a public thirst for authentic spirituality. (1/3)
October 8, 2025 at 10:47 AM
Our episode on China’s incel community explored discourse on gender expectations in Chinese society. @qianhuang.bsky.social from the University of Groningen weighs in on how state and incel perspectives differ on articulating women’s roles.

Listen to the full episode: omny.fm/shows/the-li...
September 30, 2025 at 8:22 AM
Listen to the full episode here: omny.fm/shows/the-li... or on our new YT channel: www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYwD...
September 21, 2025 at 6:41 AM
In our most recent episode, we examine the history and development of incel culture on China’s internet. Guests Ling Tang, @qianhuang.bsky.social and Yihuan Zhang provide insights into where online misogyny takes place and give us an introduction to terminology from China’s manosphere.
September 21, 2025 at 6:41 AM
In our episode on the Chinese manosphere, guests @qianhuang.bsky.social and Ling Tang answer the question, is there a Chinese Andrew Tate? How does Chinese online misogyny compare to Tate’s arguments?

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September 13, 2025 at 9:43 AM
How does the Chinese manosphere compare to the Western one? In our latest episode, guests @qianhuang.bsky.social and Ling Tang weigh up on similarities and differences between incel discourse across cultures.

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September 4, 2025 at 8:22 AM
In the latest in our series on belief, we’re examining the emergence of incels in the world’s largest manosphere. China’s growing incel community is fuelled by state-approved nationalism and simple demographics—by one estimate, 30 million Chinese men won’t find a life partner. (1/3)
August 21, 2025 at 10:23 AM
Listen to the full episode: omny.fm/shows/the-li... (2/2)
August 18, 2025 at 8:41 AM
In our most recent episode, guests Gareth Fisher and Chien-Peng Chung contemplate the intersection of Buddhism and power in both China today and in the past. (1/2)
August 18, 2025 at 8:41 AM
What does President Xi Jinping think about Buddhism? With the rise of Buddhism in China, this question looms large. Back in 2014, Xi gave a speech at UNESCO speaking to the impact of Buddhism on China, the first time a PRC leader had given a pro-religious speech. (1/2)
August 8, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Continuing our series on belief in China, we look at the revival of Buddhism, which is being embraced by citizens and the Chinese state. While temple visits increase, the state is funding temples and martial arts academies from Nepal to Tanzania. (1/3)
July 23, 2025 at 11:46 AM
From our latest episode, a different opinion on the status of ideology, specifically Marxism, in today’s China. Alison Sile Chen Zhao questions how prominent Marxism ever was to the PRC to start with.

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July 16, 2025 at 9:19 AM
What does Marxism mean in today’s China? How can the Chinese Communist Party’s ideology be described in 2025? Professor @chenggang-xu.bsky.social of Standford University attempts to answer this question in this excerpt from our latest episode.

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July 14, 2025 at 7:43 AM
With China's rare earth strategy proving significant to ongoing trade wars, we reflect on a 2023 episode exploring the topic. Beijing's 2023 ban on the export of two rare metals represented the latest front in the global battle to control chipmaking technology. (1/3)
July 4, 2025 at 7:52 AM
In the latest in our series on belief, we’re looking at China’s official belief system—Marxism. In recent years, netizens have argued China has entered the ‘garbage time’ of history, a phrase borrowed from the dying minutes of a basketball game, which now references a crisis of trust ... (1/3)
June 27, 2025 at 7:37 AM