It’s fair to say that in almost all cultures, passing gas, farting, is considered embarrassing, distasteful, and well, not cute. And people find it funny, and make jokes about farting. When was the earliest fart joke in history? When we have company, should we fart? Should it depend on whom we are with? Why talking about these rather embarrassing stories actually helps create positive human bond and relatability? Join Sharon and Michelle today and let’s have a blast. This episode may or may not ...
Sep 06, 2023•24 min
Have you ever heard of the term ASMR? It stands for “Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response”, and it’s describing a tingling, relaxing sensation in response to specific triggering audio or visual stimuli. Sharon and today’s guest, Andrea, both find ASMR content relaxing. Guess what, maybe you’ve experienced ASMR accidentally, as they are not too uncommon in movies. Yet, many find ASMR “weird.” What are some reasons behind this? Buckle up, as we’re diving into a world that might be very “new” for s...
Sep 06, 2023•23 min•Ep. 14
A shared experience of many people growing up in Taiwan is that there is much space for improvement when it comes to our history education. Why do some people deem learning about history “not important?” What narratives do we usually get from textbooks? What’s usually missing? Sharon sits down with museum professional, Phaedra Fang, to break down some of the reasons behind this, and chat about why it’s important to know about the history of Taiwan.
Sep 06, 2023•24 min
The ultimate debate. Say no more. Bring it on.
Sep 06, 2023•23 min
Do you remember, or picture, the moment you feel that you’re an adult? The first time you start an internship? First time you got a part time job? There are many things that mark a person’s entering adulthood, and for many, getting a job is definitely one of them. However, not every time you get reasonable compensation for your work. These frustrating situations often happen to people whose expertises is in the Arts. Today, Michelle and Sharon are here to share their experiences and talk about t...
Sep 06, 2023•24 min
Hot take alert. According to my wonderful colleague, Itamar, also known as the “hot take machine” in the office, Taiwanese food is, kind of meh…? What does he mean by this? Many foreign visitors came to Taiwan mainly for the food here. What do you mean? Hold on tight. Let’s hear him out. We will also talk about the history side of many common foods you see in Taiwan nowadays.
Sep 06, 2023•24 min•Ep. 10
Have you ever shared space with others? It could be roommates, housemates, families, partners, etc. Or are you in this situation now? When you share the same space with others, almost anything could be debatable. And guess what, not every adult looking person is here to REALLY communicate. For those who have had bad housemates before…(or even now), the struggle is real. Additionally, people from different cultural backgrounds are likely to have different ways of communicating. Home should be a s...
Sep 06, 2023•24 min•Ep. 9
Ah...New York City. This City is so-well known and much written about. You could probably name (and sing) at least one song about New York City. For many people in Taiwan, NYC is the “dream city.” What makes NYC so special? Is NYC really like how it’s usually portrayed in music, movies, and TV shows? How much of it is stereotypical? What stories of NYC are usually missing? Join Sharon Lin and Emma Benack today as we talk about the hype many people have for New York City. Obviously, us two are no...
Sep 06, 2023•22 min•Ep. 8
Welcome to the year 2023. It’s another new year. Some people make New Year’s resolutions every year. Some not only do so, but also post their lists on social media. Do you make so-called New Year's resolutions? Why or why not? Do people track their progress? Do you think one has to wait till a certain time, say a new year, to start something new? Cozy up and let’s chat more.
Sep 06, 2023•24 min•Ep. 7
The UK is very diverse in many ways. Yet, it's quite common to hear people say that British food is...not good, and boring? Today, with our very own Issy Wells, let's find out more, and how the foodscene is way more diverse than one usually expects, mainly due to the nation's history and modern day immigration.
Sep 06, 2023•23 min•Ep. 6
Hello there, I'm your host Sharon Lin. Welcome back to That’s Debatable. Today Michelle and I are continuing our chat on the upcoming 2023 live action movie of The Little Mermaid, starring Halle Bailey. In today's episode, we talked more about how we learn about race in education, and that there's actually so much we have to unlearn. And hey, by the way, did you know that one of the earliest myths about mermaids was from Africa? Go look up Mami Wata. It's a fascinating story.
Sep 06, 2023•20 min•Ep. 5
This topic has been on my list since Disney dropped the 2023 live action The Little Mermaid teaser, especially overhearing what folks are saying online. The new movie stars Halle Bailey as the lead. Why do some people think a Black actor “could not” play the role of a fictional, fairytale character like the Little Mermaid? What’s the background of “why” some people think the way they do? Why do some people in Taiwan, a society that’s mostly made up of East Asians, find it hard to “accept” Black ...
Sep 06, 2023•29 min•Ep. 4
Taiwan, ah, this lovely, eclectic, resilient, warm, safe, home we have. Honestly, it's a pretty wonderful place to live. However, there are pros and cons to everything. Have you heard of the term "ghost island" (鬼島）used to describe Taiwan? Many Taiwanese people, expecially the younger generation, use the term describing the frustration they face living in Taiwan. "Taiwan is a ghost island," they say, in a frustrated tone. Emily Y. Wu, co-founder of Ghost Island Media , is here with us today. Hey...
Sep 06, 2023•23 min•Season 1Ep. 3
Socks and sandals, do they... go together? If you think, yeah, it's a look. Why? If you think these two items should never go together, why? Are there exceptions? Let's talk about it.
Sep 06, 2023•23 min
Creativity is a huge part of food culture. In Taiwan, people are definately not shy with giving their food a local twist. Boba or bubble milk tea is a well-known drink from Taiwan. You see drink shops selling boba drinks everywhere throughout Taiwan. However, should we put this beloved ingredient on...pizzas? Do they go with cheeze? Sweet and savory at the same time...? Today, Michelle and Sharon are at the (imaginary) table, serving you the boba on pizza debate.
Sep 06, 2023•22 min•Season 1Ep. 1
