Shows / The Taiwan History Podcast: Formosa Files
The Taiwan History Podcast: Formosa Files
Formosa Files is the world's biggest and highest-rated Taiwan history podcast. We use an engaging storytelling format and are non-chronological, meaning every week is a new adventure - and, you can just find a topic that interests you and check out that episode...skip stuff that isn't your thing. The hosts are John Ross, an author and publisher of works on Taiwan and China, and Eryk Michael Smith, a journalist for local and global media outlets. Both Ross and Smith have lived in Taiwan for over…
Episodes
The Taiwan History Podcast: Formosa FilesThe Orangutan Craze – S1-E13
As one of the four "Asian Tigers," Taiwan's economy roared in the 1980s, but free-flowing money came with downsides such as the exploitation of wild animals…
- The Taiwan History Podcast: Formosa Files
The "Made in Taiwan" Miracle – S1-E12
U.S. economic aid to Taiwan ceased in 1965. Mostly agrarian Taiwan needed to come up with new ways to make money... and it did! From manufacturing Barbie dolls…
- The Taiwan History Podcast: Formosa Files
All Hail the Duck King! – S1-E11
Uprisings were exceptionally common over the 212 years of Qing Dynasty rule on Taiwan... but only one rebellion actually took the capital (Tainan) and led to…
- The Taiwan History Podcast: Formosa Files
The Qing Empire Doesn't Really Want Taiwan – S1-E10
After the heirs of Koxinga surrender to the Qing, the imperial court isn't sure what to do with the island -- but a wily admiral convinces Emperor Kangxi to…
The Taiwan History Podcast: Formosa FilesThe Empire's Last Soldier – S1-E9
He was the last Pacific WWII holdout and a native Taiwanese from the Amis tribe... here's the remarkable story of a Japanese colonial soldier who didn't get…
- The Taiwan History Podcast: Formosa Files
POWs, Bombing Raids, and Kamikazes – S1-E8
Initially relatively spared, as WWII in the Pacific reaches a climax, Taiwan is hit hard by advancing Allied forces. POWs in camps across the island await…
The Taiwan History Podcast: Formosa FilesLuzon or Formosa? - Taiwan Dodges WWII Invasion – S1-E7
World War II in the Pacific is coming to a close... American military top brass meet with the President to pick the island from which to launch the final…
- The Taiwan History Podcast: Formosa Files
Big Crises on Tiny Islands – S1-E6
The Korean War is over, and Mao turns again to the mission of invading Taiwan. To do that, his forces will need to first take some tiny islands just off the…
The Taiwan History Podcast: Formosa FilesRioters Ransack the Taipei U.S. Embassy (1957) – S1-E5
A U.S. officer shoots dead a 'Peeping Tom' allegedly spying on the officer's wife as she took a shower. The subsequent trial and verdict lead to the incredible…
- The Taiwan History Podcast: Formosa Files
Mao Really Wants Taiwan - and a Taiwanese Spy Almost Gave it to Him! – S1-E4
Only one Taiwanese person is known to have survived the famed Long March of Chinese communists led by "Chairman" Mao. Hear the story of Cai Xiaoqian (蔡孝乾) from…
The Taiwan History Podcast: Formosa FilesThe Fall of Fort Zeelandia – S1-E3
The Dutch put up a good fight... but a traitor seals their fate. Here's the end of the story of how the Dutch lost Taiwan.
- The Taiwan History Podcast: Formosa Files
Koxinga VS. The Dutch - Round One – S1-E2
Pirate Warlord Koxinga's successful invasion of Taiwan changed everything. Here's part one of the tale of an epic, nine-month struggle with the Dutch in…
The Taiwan History Podcast: Formosa FilesS1-E1 - The White Formosan
How could a 'very white' European man get away with showing up in London in 1703 and claiming to be from Formosa? In this first episode of FORMOSA FILES, we…