Beyond Borders Tue, 10 Mar 2026 08:40:08 -0400 https://beyondborderspod.buzzsprout.com en-us © 2026 Beyond Borders yes e291df43-2f04-5ffe-b0d7-e5ef6c601109 Lisa Chang episodic false Beyond Borders: Exploring unique stories of creative individuals around the world.


My name is Lisa Chang. I’ve always enjoyed in-depth conversations with my friends from different places, cultures, and professions. I love peeking inside their head and ride along with their train of thoughts and stories. There are always inspirations, surprises, and laughter. 


In 2023, I decided to create 1 season of podcast where each episode features a recorded conversation between me and a friend. It would be so wonderful if the stories of my creative, hardworking, and kind-hearted friends could be heard more. And that’s what you’ll find on this podcast.


I love the idea that languages are tools for storytelling. With over 1 billion English speakers on this planet and the technology to connect us all, I want to share the far away stories I’ve heard with you.


Let's explore unique stories of creative individuals around the world together.


Cheers!

]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) Lisa Chang https://storage.buzzsprout.com/h87rlr6hwtrn39cih4bm4ib4sdnz?.jpg Beyond Borders Yuns | Singapore, Taiwan, and Money Yuns | Singapore, Taiwan, and Money Yuns was born and raised in Singapore. Before moving to Taipei with her husband, she used to be a practicing dentist and created her own podcast chatting everything about Singapore. In this episode, we compare life in Singapore and Taiwan:

- How Singaporeans view money. 
- How affordable is public housing in Singapore.
- Pressure to get into good school at the age of 12.
- The definition of success.
- Pace of life in Singapore and Taiwan
- Gap between rich and poor

🏠 Yuns' podcast, The 406 Podcast:
Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/449ARIw
Spotify: https://bit.ly/3oOTwJq

🎥 To watch the subtitled version of this episode:
https://youtu.be/syI43gccMDo

🎞️ Check out some behind-the-scene photos here:
https://instagram.com/beyondborderspod

🎬 Timestamps: 
(00:00) Highlight
(00:18) Yuns’ podcast
(00:54) What’s a block in Singapore
(01:22) Lisa visited SG 1st time
(02:58) Obvious & subtle differences
(03:38) The Southeast Asian identity
(06:59) How SG ppl become bilinguals
(08:47) Children of immigrants
(11:36) Gap between rich and poor
(13:01) Public housing quotas
(17:35) Stress to enter good schools
(19:17) The definition of success
(22:38) Society expects you to be who?
(25:09) Why moving to Taiwan
(27:38) The Gold Card Visa
(29:28) SG National Service training in Taiwan
(31:43) Male Chinese Supremacy 
(33:46) Applying for APRC in Taiwan
(34:05) Taiwan is enjoyable?
(35:52) The concept of money in Taiwan
(41:21) Taiwan’s huge following in SG
(43:44) Salary comparisons
(47:07) How affordable is public housing in SG?
(51:19) Singaporean’s advice on money
(52:44) The metropolitan area in Taipei

🎵 Music:
french toast by Floyd Wonder

]]> Yuns was born and raised in Singapore. Before moving to Taipei with her husband, she used to be a practicing dentist and created her own podcast chatting everything about Singapore. In this episode, we compare life in Singapore and Taiwan:

- How Singaporeans view money. 
- How affordable is public housing in Singapore.
- Pressure to get into good school at the age of 12.
- The definition of success.
- Pace of life in Singapore and Taiwan
- Gap between rich and poor

🏠 Yuns' podcast, The 406 Podcast:
Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/449ARIw
Spotify: https://bit.ly/3oOTwJq

🎥 To watch the subtitled version of this episode:
https://youtu.be/syI43gccMDo

🎞️ Check out some behind-the-scene photos here:
https://instagram.com/beyondborderspod

🎬 Timestamps: 
(00:00) Highlight
(00:18) Yuns’ podcast
(00:54) What’s a block in Singapore
(01:22) Lisa visited SG 1st time
(02:58) Obvious & subtle differences
(03:38) The Southeast Asian identity
(06:59) How SG ppl become bilinguals
(08:47) Children of immigrants
(11:36) Gap between rich and poor
(13:01) Public housing quotas
(17:35) Stress to enter good schools
(19:17) The definition of success
(22:38) Society expects you to be who?
(25:09) Why moving to Taiwan
(27:38) The Gold Card Visa
(29:28) SG National Service training in Taiwan
(31:43) Male Chinese Supremacy 
(33:46) Applying for APRC in Taiwan
(34:05) Taiwan is enjoyable?
(35:52) The concept of money in Taiwan
(41:21) Taiwan’s huge following in SG
(43:44) Salary comparisons
(47:07) How affordable is public housing in SG?
(51:19) Singaporean’s advice on money
(52:44) The metropolitan area in Taipei

🎵 Music:
french toast by Floyd Wonder

]]> Lisa Chang Buzzsprout-12756141 Mon, 01 May 2023 18:00:00 +0800 3350 full false Gelek Phunchok | My Home Leh, Ladakh Gelek Phunchok | My Home Leh, Ladakh Gelek Phunchok comes from Ladakh, the high altitude region in the northern part of India. Most of us have only seen the spectacular scenery of Ladakh from the Indian blockbuster movie “3 Idiots,” but never have a chance to chat with a person coming from there.

In this episode, Gelek talks about how Tibetan Buddhism influences their lifestyle and culture, the changes happening in his hometown Leh, over the past 30 years; the culture shocks he had living in Delhi and Taipei, and last but not least, the most touching moment in the story of Gelek and his dear wife Cindy from Taiwan. 

🎥 To see the video of this episode:
https://youtu.be/9qc89lZT5os

🗺️ Gelek’s travel agency, Dlonpo Travels:
https://m.facebook.com/DlonpoTravels
https://instagram.com/dlonpotravels_ladakh

🍲 Gelek’s restaurant, Sky Wok Ladakh:
https://m.facebook.com/SkyWokLadakh
https://instagram.com/skywokladakh

📸 Check out some behind-the-scene photos here:
https://instagram.com/beyondborderspod

🎬Timestamps:
(00:00:00) Highlight in this episode
(00:00:24) Welcome Gelek!
(00:00:45) What’s Leh, Ladakh like?
(00:01:48) Snow and Ladakh
(00:04:13) Plants in Ladakh
(00:06:30) Everybody had to farm in old days
(00:08:11) Travel between Leh and the next city
(00:12:11) Culture shocks outside of Ladakh
(00:15:50) Leh and Taipei 
(00:17:05 ) Your society expects you to be?
(00:18:09) Changes happening in Leh
(00:19:30) How to get into universities in India
(00:22:36) Facilities in Taipei
(00:24:27) People are friendly but...
(00:25:15) Family name as house number
(00:32:44) Nuclear family vs joint family
(00:34:09) Prayer room in Buddhist family
(00:36:31) Gelek’s businesses and career path
(00:40:26) 3 Idiots and the tourism in Ladakh
(00:50:07) Owning a restaurant during COVID
(00:54:44) Why we don’t fish in Ladakh
(00:57:34) How to build houses in Ladakh
(01:01:19) A typical work day for Gelek
(01:06:41) Parents travel abroad the first time
(01:10:53) Marrying someone outside of Ladakh
(01:12:59) When Gelek’s mom met Cindy
(01:15:20) Meeting the Taiwanese relatives
(01:17:02) Showing love and respect in Ladakhi
(01:18:55) The long journey to get married
(01:20:06) A simple Ladakhi word to learn

]]> Gelek Phunchok comes from Ladakh, the high altitude region in the northern part of India. Most of us have only seen the spectacular scenery of Ladakh from the Indian blockbuster movie “3 Idiots,” but never have a chance to chat with a person coming from there.

In this episode, Gelek talks about how Tibetan Buddhism influences their lifestyle and culture, the changes happening in his hometown Leh, over the past 30 years; the culture shocks he had living in Delhi and Taipei, and last but not least, the most touching moment in the story of Gelek and his dear wife Cindy from Taiwan. 

🎥 To see the video of this episode:
https://youtu.be/9qc89lZT5os

🗺️ Gelek’s travel agency, Dlonpo Travels:
https://m.facebook.com/DlonpoTravels
https://instagram.com/dlonpotravels_ladakh

🍲 Gelek’s restaurant, Sky Wok Ladakh:
https://m.facebook.com/SkyWokLadakh
https://instagram.com/skywokladakh

📸 Check out some behind-the-scene photos here:
https://instagram.com/beyondborderspod

🎬Timestamps:
(00:00:00) Highlight in this episode
(00:00:24) Welcome Gelek!
(00:00:45) What’s Leh, Ladakh like?
(00:01:48) Snow and Ladakh
(00:04:13) Plants in Ladakh
(00:06:30) Everybody had to farm in old days
(00:08:11) Travel between Leh and the next city
(00:12:11) Culture shocks outside of Ladakh
(00:15:50) Leh and Taipei 
(00:17:05 ) Your society expects you to be?
(00:18:09) Changes happening in Leh
(00:19:30) How to get into universities in India
(00:22:36) Facilities in Taipei
(00:24:27) People are friendly but...
(00:25:15) Family name as house number
(00:32:44) Nuclear family vs joint family
(00:34:09) Prayer room in Buddhist family
(00:36:31) Gelek’s businesses and career path
(00:40:26) 3 Idiots and the tourism in Ladakh
(00:50:07) Owning a restaurant during COVID
(00:54:44) Why we don’t fish in Ladakh
(00:57:34) How to build houses in Ladakh
(01:01:19) A typical work day for Gelek
(01:06:41) Parents travel abroad the first time
(01:10:53) Marrying someone outside of Ladakh
(01:12:59) When Gelek’s mom met Cindy
(01:15:20) Meeting the Taiwanese relatives
(01:17:02) Showing love and respect in Ladakhi
(01:18:55) The long journey to get married
(01:20:06) A simple Ladakhi word to learn

]]> Buzzsprout-12642557 Thu, 13 Apr 2023 18:00:00 +0800 4874 full false Andrew Hsu | Potters are Rockers Andrew Hsu | Potters are Rockers Andrew Hsu is a potter in Taipei, Taiwan. In this episode, he shares:

  • How languages and clay are tools to express oneself.
  • Andrew's spiritual journey to aesthetics and pottery.
  • His workshop, management, and people connecting.
  • Self-doubt before doing a lecture series on ceramics.
  • His admiration for Seth Rogen and Edmund de Waal.
  • Pottery making and filmmaking.


Andrew's workshop, Versammeln Pottery Workshop:
https://instagram.com/versammeln37
https://www.facebook.com/versammeln

To see the video of this episode:
https://youtu.be/Swu_BvXzRMA

Check out some behind-the-scene photos here:
https://instagram.com/beyondborderspod

]]> Andrew Hsu is a potter in Taipei, Taiwan. In this episode, he shares:

  • How languages and clay are tools to express oneself.
  • Andrew's spiritual journey to aesthetics and pottery.
  • His workshop, management, and people connecting.
  • Self-doubt before doing a lecture series on ceramics.
  • His admiration for Seth Rogen and Edmund de Waal.
  • Pottery making and filmmaking.


Andrew's workshop, Versammeln Pottery Workshop:
https://instagram.com/versammeln37
https://www.facebook.com/versammeln

To see the video of this episode:
https://youtu.be/Swu_BvXzRMA

Check out some behind-the-scene photos here:
https://instagram.com/beyondborderspod

]]> Buzzsprout-12458747 Tue, 28 Mar 2023 16:00:00 +0800 4206 full false