The Divide - 2025-08-12
2025-08-12
Aug 11, 2025•Season 1Ep. 50
The Divide
"The Divide" is a show that explores the things dividing us as human beings. In a world where differences often seem insurmountable, this show delves into the complexities of our diverse societies, shining a light perspectives and experiences that create divisions.
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Episodes
The Divide - 2025-08-05
2025-08-05
Aug 04, 2025•Season 1Ep. 49
The Divide - 2025-07-15
2025-07-15
Jul 14, 2025•Season 1Ep. 48
Beyond the Screen: Cyberbullying, Silence, and the Fight for Digital Rights (feat. Mrinalini Dayal and Amanda Manyame)
In Taiwan, nearly 5% of adolescents—roughly 54,000 students—experienced cyberbullying in the past year, with some facing such intense online abuse that it led to self-harm or suicide attempts. As internet use among teens grows more pervasive, so too does the emotional toll of life online, especially for young people from marginalized groups. In this episode, we explore the human cost of a fragmented, unequal digital world. Host Iris speaks with Amanda Manyame from Equality Now and Mrinalini Daya...
Jun 17, 2025•Season 1Ep. 47
Meet the people defending your digital rights you aren't even aware of (feat. Richard Whitt and eQualitie's Jason)
Did you know that Big Tech might know you better than you know yourself? Or that the AI tools designed to “serve” you may actually serve corporate interests instead? And that authoritarian regimes around the world are cutting off access to information through internet surveillance and digital censorship? In this episode, we meet two people fighting for your rights in the digital realm—rights many don’t even realize they’re losing. Richard Whitt of the GliaNet Alliance is building a coalition of ...
Jun 14, 2025•Season 1Ep. 46
Erasure and resistance: June 4th, academic freedom, and the U.S. visa ban (feat. Yaqiu Wang)
On this 36th anniversary of the Tiananmen Massacre, the U.S. is moving to aggressively revoke Chinese student visas. What should a country do when its academic freedom is exploited by the Chinese Communist Party to advance its military capabilities?And 36 years after the bloody crackdown on students in Beijing, has the Chinese government successfully erased the memory and legacy of the June 4th protests? In this episode, Chinese human rights advocate Yaqiu Wang reflects on the human cost of the ...
Jun 04, 2025•Season 1Ep. 45
Digital authoritarianism goes global (feat. Michael Caster)
Last week, we heard from Michael Caster, head of the Global China Program at Article 19, who walked us through China’s legal architecture—from its Cybersecurity Law to the growing power of the Cyberspace Administration of China, or CAC—and how these institutions are being exported across the Indo-Pacific. We also discussed how Beijing’s approach is not just about controlling information but about shaping the global narrative on digital governance. If you missed it, it’s definitely worth going ba...
May 31, 2025•Season 1Ep. 44
You don’t have to be in China for China to block your internet (feat. Michael Caster)
China isn’t just censoring the internet within its borders — it’s exporting its model of digital control around the world. From data localization to surveillance mandates, Beijing’s cybersecurity laws are becoming a blueprint for authoritarian governance. In this episode, Michael Caster of Article 19, an international organization that ropels the freedom of expression movement locally and globally, talk about the organization’s recent report “Cybersecurity with Chinese Characteristics: Digital G...
May 24, 2025•Season 1Ep. 43
Uncensoring Venezuela: how one app fights Maduro’s grip on news (feat. Valentina Aguana)
On Wednesday, May 14th, the United Nations Human Rights Office released a statement urging the Venezuelan government to immediately cease holding its opponents or those perceived as such in isolation and incommunicado detention, after the office conducted a fact-finding mission investigating the country's practice of enforced disappearances. In November of last year, eight international organizations, including Reporters Without Borders and the Committee to Protect Journalists, released a report...
May 17, 2025•Season 1Ep. 42
Should we regulate science and technology innovation? (feat. Yongsuk Jang)
As countries race to form new trade alliances in response to tariffs imposed by great powers, what roles do international organizations like the OECD-the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development-play in shaping the global economic order today? In this episode, Dr. Yongsuk Jang, chair of the OECD’s Committee for Scientific and Technological Policy, speaks about the role of science, technology, and innovation (STI) in global governance, national security, and economic growth....
May 10, 2025•Season 1Ep. 41
'The CCP has never run up against somebody like Jimmy Lai.' (feat. Mark L. Clifford)
Friends with Jimmy Lai for decades, Mark L. Clifford now finds himself bearing witness to Hong Kong's persecution of him, as prosecutors use their correspondence as evidence of “conspiracy to collude with foreign forces.” In this episode, the author of The Troublemaker: How Jimmy Lai Became a Billionaire, Hong Kong's Greatest Dissident, and China's Most Feared Critic shares his reaction to the charges against Lai — and reflects on whether he thinks his biography does justice to his friend’s life...
May 01, 2025•Season 1Ep. 40
Color, courage, and cantonese: How Jimmy Lai turned Apple Daily into Hong Kong’s boldest newspaper (feat. Mark L. Clifford)
When Apple Daily first came out in 1995, it instantly became the most popular newspaper in Hong Kong. Before Jimmy Lai pivoted from retail to the media business, no one was printing newspapers in color, and Cantonese had never been used in the press. In this episode, the author of The Troublemaker: How Jimmy Lai Became a Billionaire, Hong Kong's Greatest Dissident, and China's Most Feared Critic, shares his observations of the pro-democracy media mogul’s character and discusses Lai’s personal sa...
Apr 23, 2025•Season 1Ep. 39
Will the European Union continue to support Ukraine? (feat. Lutz Güllner)
As European countries rallied behind Ukraine following a heated exchange between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House in early March, the world is left wondering how the Russo-Ukrainian war will unfold. In this episode, Head of the European Economic and Trade Office in Taiwan Lutz Güllner talks about European security, information manipulation, and his office's priorities in Taiwan.
Apr 15, 2025•Season 1Ep. 38
Under watch: How spyware threatens press freedom (feat. Jonathan Rozen)
According to a 2024 survey conducted by the International Women's Media Foundation, more than 31 % of journalists have experienced online violence. The American Press Institute found that these statistics illustrate a troubling trend that many journalists grapple with every day, disproportionately affecting women journalists of color and LGBTQ plus journalists. In this episode, Jonathan Rozen of the Committee to Protect Journalists shares his insights on how spyware and surveillance are increasi...
Apr 08, 2025•Season 1Ep. 37
Why Vietnamese youths are choosing Taiwan over other countries to study abroad? (feat. Giang Nguyen)
In this episode, Taiwan Fellow and journalist Giang Nguyen shares his observation on the increasing trend of Vietnamese students studying in Taiwan, and what he thinks are the factors driving the change.
Mar 18, 2025•Season 1Ep. 36
Is Hong Kong the frontline of democracy and authoritarianism? (feat. Mark Sabah)
Today marks the one-year anniversary of the trial of Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai, who was charged with conspiring to collude with foreign forces. Authorities in Hong Kong and Beijing appear determined to detain Lai indefinitely, while the European Parliament, the United States, and other nations have expressed support for the Apple Daily founder. In this episode, Mark Sabah from the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation discusses the trial's repercussions, the response from the Hong...
Dec 17, 2024•Season 1Ep. 35
When politicians are awarded for repression: Italy's decline of press freedom (feat. Barbora Bukovská)
The Trans-Atlantic American think tank, the Atlantic Council, recently bestowed the Global Citizen Award on Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, a recognition intended to honor the "highest expression of global citizenship." However, questions arise: Is Meloni truly deserving of this prestigious award? In this episode, human rights attorney Barbora Bukovská, Senior Director for Law and Policy at Article 19, a freedom of expression organization, discusses the current state of media freedom in I...
Oct 30, 2024•Season 1Ep. 34
When a US destroyer, a Canadian frigate, and a Chinese aircraft carrier sail through the Taiwan Strait: How to deter China's military provocations? (feat. Seth Cropsey)
On October 20, a U.S. 7th Fleet Destroyer and the Royal Canadian Navy conducted a bilateral transit through the Taiwan Strait. Just two days after this transit, China conducted live-fire drills from its territory closest to Taiwan. In this episode, Seth Cropsey discusses the escalating military tensions in the Taiwan Strait, particularly in light of recent Chinese military exercises.
Oct 25, 2024•Season 1Ep. 33
Why does Tsai Ing-wen choose Czechia? (feat. Marcin Jerzewski)
Former President Tsai Ing-wen is visiting Europe for the first time since her presidency ended in May, choosing the Czech Republic, France, and Belgium as her destinations. Why has she selected these three countries, and what impact might her visit have on Taiwan-Europe relations? In this episode, Marcin Jerzewski, head of the Taiwan Office of the European Values Center for Security Policy, discusses the significance of Tsai Ing-wen's first international trip post-presidency and explores the sha...
Oct 18, 2024•Season 1Ep. 32
Chinese dumping, conservative interest, and hidden debts: Thailand’s economic challenges (feat. Shawn Crispin)
Thailand is grappling with significant economic challenges, such as high household debt and a downturn in tourism resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the country's small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are struggling due to hidden debts and the impact of Chinese dumping. This week, Shawn Crispin of Asia Times discusses the critical tasks Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra must prioritize if she aims to rejuvenate Thailand’s sluggish economy.
Oct 10, 2024•Season 1Ep. 31
Thailand's tumult: political shifts, ties with China, and a new leader who comes from old power (feat. Shawn Crispin)
In 2020, Thailand was gripped by significant protests demanding monarchy reform, met with severe police crackdowns. Four years later, despite an electoral victory, the Move Forward Party was dissolved by a constitutional court order in August. Following this, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, daughter of former self-exiled Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, became the youngest Prime Minister in Thailand's history. These developments raise the questions: Have the pro-democracy protests been in vain? What a...
Oct 04, 2024•Season 1Ep. 30
Who will hold China accountable for its human rights abuses? (feat. Orville Schell)
When diplomats at the United Nations pressed China to address allegations of human rights abuses in Xinjiang, Chinese state-run media launched a fervent counter-attack, accusing the US and EU of "politicizing and applying double standards to human rights issues." In this episode, Mr. Orville Schell talks about China's historical relationship with nationalism, how Stanford University is finding itself in a legal battle with the Chinese Communist Party, and the possibilities of influencing China's...
Sep 27, 2024•Season 1Ep. 29
The tangled US-China relations: when neither engagement nor isolation is the right answer (feat. Orville Schell)
U.S.-China relations have cooled significantly in recent years, defying the expectations of U.S. foreign policy strategists since the 1970s, when there was a prevailing belief that engagement and trade would gradually bring the two countries closer and encourage China to become more open and less authoritarian. That didn't happen. In this episode, historian Orville Schell, the Arthur Ross Director of the Center on U.S.-China Relations at the Asia Society, delves into the complexities of U.S.-Chi...
Sep 20, 2024•Season 1Ep. 28
The struggle for press freedom in Myanmar (feat. Adam Bemma)
In February 2021, when Myanmar's military junta staged a coup, they opened fire on civilians and arrested and killed journalists who sought to inform the world about the unfolding events. Fast forward to today, the regime’s brutal treatment of its own people persists, but so does the reporting by Myanmar's media outlets. Journalists continue to operate under extremely dangerous conditions, delivering uncensored news both within and beyond the country's borders. This week, Adam Bemma from the ind...
Sep 12, 2024•Season 1Ep. 27
Caught in the crossfire: The ongoing plight of the Rohingya (feat. Adam Bemma)
In February 2021, Myanmar's military junta staged a coup d'état, dissolving the reformist parliament and imprisoning State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi. Since then, the country has plunged into a bloody civil war and the Rohingya community's plight continues. In this episode, Adam Bemma, a media development consultant for the Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB), discusses Myanmar's complex political landscape, the history of violence against the Rohingya, and the media's role in reporting on the situ...
Sep 06, 2024•Season 1Ep. 26
Are we doing enough to support Ukraine? (feat. Benjamin L. Schmitt)
Although the United States and the European Union have implemented extensive sanctions against Russia following its invasion of Ukraine, Russia continues to find its ways to finance its military efforts. Why has it not depleted its funds for weapons acquisition, and who is sustaining the Russian economy? In this episode, Dr. Benjamin L. Schmitt, an astrophysicist and energy security expert from the University of Pennsylvania, explores the difficulties of enforcing sanctions and discusses why it ...
Aug 30, 2024•Season 1Ep. 25
Europe's energy crisis: when your adversary holds your lifeline (feat. Benjamin L. Schmitt)
Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has served as a wake-up call for Europe. Countries are now recognizing the risks of depending heavily on Russia's energy exports, finding themselves constrained by Russia's dominance in their energy markets. In this episode, Dr. Benjamin L. Schmitt from the University of Pennsylvania's Department of Physics and Astronomy and the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy discusses Europe's energy security vulnerabilities and addresses the unethical practices of man...
Aug 23, 2024•Season 1Ep. 24
How can states counter China's economic coercion? (feat. Bethany Allen)
The deployment of the THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) missile defense system in South Korea in 2016 triggered a series of sanctions from China. Since then, Seoul has been cautiously avoiding a repeat of such incidents, even going so far as to arrest its own citizens on the charge of threatening national security. In this episode, Bethany Allen, author of 'Beijing Rules: How China Weaponized Its Economy to Confront the World,' continues to discuss China's use of economic coercion and ...
Aug 16, 2024•Season 1Ep. 23
Is Beijing buying out your freedom? (feat. Bethany Allen)
When China imposed sanctions on Australian wine, meat, and lobster following Australia's inquiry into the origins of the coronavirus in 2020, countries worldwide realized in horror that they had been held hostage by Beijing's use of economic coercion, a term popularized by China’s strategic application of economic measures to achieve its political goals. This week, journalist and author Bethany Allen discusses her book "Beijing Rules: How China Weaponized Its Economy to Confront the World." She ...
Aug 09, 2024•Season 1Ep. 22
What would make a country safer: diplomacy or deterrence? (feat. Mariana Budjeryn)
When scholars, security experts, politicians, and activists all warn that "democracy is under threat," it's clear this is no longer merely a hyperbolic slogan. The situations such as Russia's invasion of Ukraine, conflict in Gaza, and coercion threats in the Taiwan Strait illustrate the challenges states face in managing security risks and deterring hostile adversaries. Today, weapons of mass destruction still represent the ultimate form of deterrence. In this episode, Dr. Mariana Budjeryn, a re...
Aug 02, 2024•Season 1Ep. 21
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