The Soapbox: when the college allowance gets cut

Liangzhu offers rare evidence of early state formation in China, and safeguarding a 5,000-year-old civilization means more than preserving artifacts. The next generation also needs to feel what life was like then, so experts are using drone light shows and virtual reality in creative and careful ways. The real challenge is protecting the past while making it discoverable. On the show: Steve, Fei Fei, Yushan.

AI tools can review scans, faces, and even your tongues. In China, a machine can tell you what's wrong with your body in minutes after a quick scan of your tongue. But healthcare AI also raises real questions about its promises, its blind spots, and the moments when a screen could save someone or cause harm. On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushan.

Zhongkao, China's high school entrance exam, is a milestone nearly every Chinese student must face. But now, some cities and counties are weighing a bold idea: let students move straight into senior high school. Could scrapping Zhongkao ease students' academic pressure? And are students, parents, and schools ready for such a big change? On the show: Fei Fei, Yushan & Yushun 

A new café seating policy from Starbucks has reignited a debate here in China about what coffee shops are for. Are they simply places to buy coffee, or public-facing spaces where people can work, study, meet friends, or take a break? / Duolingo is now offering lessons in the Shanghai dialect (19:04). On the show: Fei Fei, Steve & Yushun

China's long-distance coach industry is staging a comeback, with electric buses, smarter route planning, and services tailored to traveler needs driving the revival. How is the humble coach finding new ways to win passengers back in a country where where high-speed rail and budget flights dominate? On the show: Fei Fei, Steve & Yushun

A freshman's allowance gets slashed mid-semester, setting off a small family negotiation over weekly payments, a trial period, and a bonus tied to exam results. What looks like a simple money dispute runs deeper, raising questions about dependence, trust, and whether college is where young people should learn to manage money or just spend it. On the show: Steve, Yushan & Yushun

What if we could understand disease and predict whether a treatment will work before spending years and billions of dollars testing it? China has made computational medicine a national priority, betting that AI, supercomputing, and massive biological data can transform drug discovery by 2030. Can computing truly lead us to better cures, and what doors does this emerging field open for the next generation of scientists? On the show: Steve, Yushan & Yushun

From "Flash Step" to "no heartburn," catchphrases are taking China's internet by storm. People are copying the moves, sharing the jokes, and joining the fun. Let's unpack the buzzwords, explore the cultural references, and see what gets lost in translation. On the show: Fei Fei, Yushan & Yushun

Zhongkao, China's high school entrance exam, is a milestone nearly every Chinese student must face. But now, some cities and counties are weighing a bold idea: let students move straight into senior high school. Could scrapping Zhongkao ease students' academic pressure? And are students, parents, and schools actually ready for such a big change? On the show: Fei Fei, Yushan & Yushun

From "Flash Step" to "no heartburn," catchphrases are taking China's internet by storm. People are copying the moves, sharing the jokes, and joining the fun. But there's often more to these viral trends than meets the eye. Let's unpack the buzzwords, explore the cultural references, and see what gets lost in translation. On the show: Fei Fei, Yushan & Yushun