Podcast
The Audio Blog of Steven Sirski
Hosted by Steven Sirski · EN
The daily musings of an expat in Beijing.
64episodes
Episodes
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SSAB - June 2, 2026
1w ago00:45:10Tap to summarizeStill knackered! No run done today, but late day kettlebell work. hot and humid, smoggy too!Job application continues and a reminder why I want to build something up online! BA! MA! Transcripts! Name changes, etc.!New method of social media marketing is to create multiple accounts for your different brands. OMG, when does it end??And Household registration done! Don’t forget! Twenty four hours!! Thirty more days! What will you do, Steve?!Donate to the show! PayPal link below!https://www.paypal.me/stevensirski?locale.x=en_CA***Show notes n tracks up on stevensirski.comAnd on Notion: https://stevensirski.notion.site/SSAB-The-Audio-Blog-of-Steven-Sirski-00acfe344e164bfab191d3cddf6952b2?pvs=4Newsletter over at stevensirski.substack.comLanguage vlog on http://www.youtube.com/@stevenslanguagevlogGoogle Stock Tracker Sheethttps://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1kbpCC2cieuq23zYyr0-WznPRogVX0aS86BF4_vPvgMY/edit?usp=sharingHope you have a great one!! 00:00 Back in Beijing Update01:52 Heat Humidity and Housing Costs04:31 Gold Silver and Missed Trades11:12 Exhaustion Workouts and Sleep13:36 Job Application Costly Paperwork16:27 Name Mismatch Transcript Trouble20:43 Rubio Name Hack and Workarounds25:55 YouTube Views and Livestream Strategy29:26 Gary Vee Multiple Accounts Plan38:51 Visa Countdown and Registration40:02 Who Really Thinks China Future44:05 Wrap Up and Links
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SSAB - June 1, 2026
1w ago00:48:16Tap to summarizeNew month, new city, new country! Yes, I’m back in Beijing. How was the trip back?Taipei > Shanghai > Beijing, 3hr layover in Pudong… I WOULD’VE been bored but I had something to keep me entertained: reconnecting to the outside world!Did I focus overly much on my content creation talk? Maybe, but I think that was because I was getting really tired along the travels. Wasn’t sleeping all the best and wasn’t working out all that much.Dropped 3kg! Workout in today but need to get a new sports watch! The old one literally fell apart!And Thai fest over the weekend, settling back into Beijing. What next?Donate to the show! PayPal link below!https://www.paypal.me/stevensirski?locale.x=en_CA***Show notes n tracks up on stevensirski.comAnd on Notion: https://stevensirski.notion.site/SSAB-The-Audio-Blog-of-Steven-Sirski-00acfe344e164bfab191d3cddf6952b2?pvs=4Newsletter over at stevensirski.substack.comLanguage vlog on http://www.youtube.com/@stevenslanguagevlogGoogle Stock Tracker Sheethttps://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1kbpCC2cieuq23zYyr0-WznPRogVX0aS86BF4_vPvgMY/edit?usp=sharingHope you have a great start of month!!00:00 Back to Beijing00:35 Visa Run Recap02:32 Travel Language Reality05:17 YouTube Monetization Push11:08 Taipei Wrap Up14:47 Unpacking Rituals18:05 Shanghai Layover Blues19:28 VPN Meltdown22:40 China Work Limits24:03 Income Stream Frustrations25:05 YouTube Versus China Apps25:43 Online Work Access Debate26:45 Flights And Chatting29:16 VPNs That Actually Work31:55 Airport Internet Meltdown33:26 Entering China Visa Talk36:09 Fitness Travel Routine41:47 New Watch Content Ideas43:43 Beijing Plans And Streams45:25 Thai Festival Reality Check46:55 Wrap Up And Links
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SSAB - May 29, 2026
2w ago00:57:16Tap to summarizeWell, you’ll either love the way I travel… or hate it.One more night in Taipei, I promise! Why??Went to Taipei 101… wasn’t going to go up the tower but… gotta get the content done. And met an apparently famous Singaporean YouTuber.Live streams done, walking down Taipei, Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial.And, Steve, given all this hubbub, do you have a philosophy of travel?Donate to the show! PayPal link below!https://www.paypal.me/stevensirski?locale.x=en_CA***Show notes n tracks up on stevensirski.comAnd on Notion: https://stevensirski.notion.site/SSAB-The-Audio-Blog-of-Steven-Sirski-00acfe344e164bfab191d3cddf6952b2?pvs=4Newsletter over at stevensirski.substack.comLanguage vlog on http://www.youtube.com/@stevenslanguagevlogGoogle Stock Tracker Sheethttps://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1kbpCC2cieuq23zYyr0-WznPRogVX0aS86BF4_vPvgMY/edit?usp=sharingHope you have a great end of month!!00:00 Taipei Delay Confession00:27 Meet Steven And The Podcast02:30 Why I Never Posted Travel Footage04:19 My New Four Day Travel System05:33 No Deadlines One More Night06:48 Taipei 101 Content Grind08:03 Monetization And Producer Shoutouts09:27 Booking Back To Beijing14:24 Travel Fatigue And Visa Plans17:17 Tomorrow Shanghai Then Train19:14 Nonlinear Posting And Livestream Risks23:45 Famous YouTuber Encounter27:41 Apple Store Creator Tech Memory29:39 Guns and Dance Practice32:11 Making Travel Pay on YouTube34:01 Go and It Works Out37:19 Money Mindset and Insurance40:12 Everything Is Content42:16 Taipei First Impressions44:21 Heat, Rain, and Shade47:28 Food, Walkability, and Transit50:16 Poverty and a Buffet Surprise53:01 Would I Return to Taipei53:51 Ferries and Energy Saving ATMs55:41 Hostel Wrap Up and Sign Off
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SSAB - May 28, 2026
2w ago00:47:48Tap to summarizeOne more night in Taipei! Hostel change, no problem with that. Didn’t sleep well last night… maybe too much coffee and… can you sleep with the taste of garlic in your mouth?May have to get going tomorrow anyway, what’s the cost of staying another night?? BIG MONEY!Workout in! Body weight at the park, and waving to my new friend who has a beer at 8.30 am!To the National Palace Museum I go. How was it? Got some content done. Was thinking of some of the origin stories of things like Qu Yuan, Mr. Zongzi Guy for Dragon Boat… origin of boat racing is to stir up the pond so it doesn’t congeal or something??-Some stuff I remembered, others I didn’t-The Big Draw was the Tibetan Dragon Canon and the Kangyur-The Big Disappointment was no jadeite cabbage, though there was a meat stone and two smaller cabbagesHow’s the food been? Better or worse than the Mainland? Anything special? Beer’s been kinda ordinary. Meander hostel gave us a food voucher for every day we booked, so tried a few local shops. All were pretty good. Been buying food at 7-11 and the local markets instead.Have I got a hair cut yet? And should I sell my hair?And the sound of a Taiwanese busker in the subway, gave him 100 NTD.Donate to the show! PayPal link below!https://www.paypal.me/stevensirski?locale.x=en_CA***Show notes n tracks up on stevensirski.comAnd on Notion: https://stevensirski.notion.site/SSAB-The-Audio-Blog-of-Steven-Sirski-00acfe344e164bfab191d3cddf6952b2?pvs=4Newsletter over at stevensirski.substack.comLanguage vlog on http://www.youtube.com/@stevenslanguagevlogGoogle Stock Tracker Sheethttps://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1kbpCC2cieuq23zYyr0-WznPRogVX0aS86BF4_vPvgMY/edit?usp=sharingHope you have a great trip!!00:00 Taipei Stay Or Go00:58 Flights And Hostel Costs05:05 Livestream Data Dilemma07:47 Travel Rhythm Lessons13:04 Cramped Hostel Tales14:33 Hotpot And Night Walks19:28 Morning Workout And Laundry21:38 National Palace Museum Visit24:47 Museum Highlights And Exhibits31:42 Getting There And Photo Story37:48 Food Finds And Beer Review42:37 Haircut And Selling Hair43:29 Wrap Up And Busker Outro
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SSAB - May 27, 2026
2w ago00:39:07Tap to summarizeFingerprints done, that’s a load off! How much did it cost?!Did you enjoy yesterday’s episode? Didn’t get it published till this morning… I was SO TIRED!Am I done with Taipei? Maybe not just yet. But the weather is about to turn.Run done, 7km, tomorrow, go again or take a rest? Looking forward to getting back to my old routine.And more people working online and travelling in their spare time… or most of the time.Donate to the show! PayPal link below!https://www.paypal.me/stevensirski?locale.x=en_CA***Show notes n tracks up on stevensirski.comAnd on Notion: https://stevensirski.notion.site/SSAB-The-Audio-Blog-of-Steven-Sirski-00acfe344e164bfab191d3cddf6952b2?pvs=4Newsletter over at stevensirski.substack.comLanguage vlog on http://www.youtube.com/@stevenslanguagevlogGoogle Stock Tracker Sheethttps://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1kbpCC2cieuq23zYyr0-WznPRogVX0aS86BF4_vPvgMY/edit?usp=sharingHope you have a great one!! 00:00 Rooftop intro in Taipei00:30 Digital nomad dreams01:51 YouTube money and taxes04:16 Fingerprints and fees08:11 Deadlines and next steps11:11 Audio editing and distractions13:20 Stay in Taipei or leave15:54 Visa runs and budgeting19:51 Routine fitness and content ideas23:31 Weather flights and hostels34:14 Food talk and wrap-up37:34 Outro and credits38:05 Hostel chatter aftercut
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SSAB - May 26, 2026
2w ago01:42:46Tap to summarizeSteve, if you’re not going to do cultural stuff, why are you still in Taiwan?Off to the museum today, how as it? Cheap!Fingerprints, apostille and visa applications, how is it going?How is the hostel? YOUNG! Lots of recent grads taking a few weeks off before finding or starting a job. They talk about going to all the places I’ve been!And an interview with another expat, Russ, from the USA! Hear what level of Chinese he’s at already! What was his key to success??Donate to the show! PayPal link below!https://www.paypal.me/stevensirski?locale.x=en_CA***Show notes n tracks up on stevensirski.comAnd on Notion: https://stevensirski.notion.site/SSAB-The-Audio-Blog-of-Steven-Sirski-00acfe344e164bfab191d3cddf6952b2?pvs=4Newsletter over at stevensirski.substack.comLanguage vlog on http://www.youtube.com/@stevenslanguagevlogGoogle Stock Tracker Sheethttps://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1kbpCC2cieuq23zYyr0-WznPRogVX0aS86BF4_vPvgMY/edit?usp=sharingHope you have a great one!! 00:00 Taipei Trip Setup01:37 Fingerprint Job Paperwork02:26 Apostille Explained Frustrations04:30 Why Taiwan Content Practice07:41 Livestream Math Costs09:38 Hostel People Stories14:17 More Fingerprint Logistics19:35 Museum Peace Park Visit22:29 Gold Silver Tael Rabbit Hole27:39 Teasing Russ Interview Topics34:26 Meet Russ At The Bar35:18 Russ APRC And Health Insurance37:12 Russ Taiwan Timeline Return39:22 Why Taiwan Geography Access40:53 Why Taiwan Happened42:04 Mandarin Accents Talk42:38 Residency And Citizenship43:38 Taiwan Pay Reality Check45:52 Stay Or Return US47:27 Public Health To Data48:28 Broken Systems And Faxes50:17 Coding Stack And Workarounds52:08 Taiwan Work Culture Shock54:24 Freelance Clients In AI Era56:12 Vibe Coding Security Risks01:00:26 Taipei Itinerary And Hikes01:03:01 Beyond Taipei Day Trips01:03:14 Taroko to Hehuanshan01:03:51 Tainan Colonial History01:04:03 Outer Islands Overview01:04:36 Cold War Bunkers01:04:57 Island Defense Geography01:06:27 Exploring Tunnels Yourself01:07:24 Beating Taipei Humidity01:08:10 Arcaded Sidewalk Architecture01:09:11 City Life vs Outdoors01:10:35 Driving Taiwan vs China01:11:56 Cycling Around Taiwan01:14:35 Bike Routes and Road Safety01:16:55 Weather and Solo Touring01:18:07 Spiders Snakes and Strays01:20:00 Deer Bears and Wild Pigs01:22:13 Dogs and Safety01:22:26 Taiwan Bucket List01:23:00 US Job Logistics01:24:20 Chinese Level Check01:25:11 Why Chinese Gets Rusty01:26:50 Learning Journey Abroad01:29:20 Motivation and Tones01:32:04 Study Resources and Hanzi01:34:48 Favorite Words and Slang01:37:05 Taiwanese Language Basics01:39:21 Bopomofo vs Pinyin01:42:03 Wrap Up and Thanks
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SSAB - May 25, 2026
2w ago00:47:15Tap to summarizeFukuoka - why did you stay? Thinking about the costs.To Osaka, thinking it would be better to fly out, it just cost me more.To Taipei, why didn’t I come here earlier?How long will I stay?AND HF! The size of a spider in Taiwan!Donate to the show! PayPal link below!https://www.paypal.me/stevensirski?locale.x=en_CA***Show notes n tracks up on stevensirski.comAnd on Notion: https://stevensirski.notion.site/SSAB-The-Audio-Blog-of-Steven-Sirski-00acfe344e164bfab191d3cddf6952b2?pvs=4Newsletter over at stevensirski.substack.comLanguage vlog on http://www.youtube.com/@stevenslanguagevlogGoogle Stock Tracker Sheethttps://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1kbpCC2cieuq23zYyr0-WznPRogVX0aS86BF4_vPvgMY/edit?usp=sharingHope you have a great start of week!00:00 Weekend Travel Debacle02:00 Capsule Hotel Chaos05:44 Bad Sleep And Sickness07:53 Budget Plan Breakdown12:09 Flights Fares And Fees14:27 Why I Chose Taipei17:44 Japan Crowds And Prices20:35 Rethinking Travel Style21:48 Content Grind And Earnings23:06 Recording Runs And New Ideas25:30 Language Audiobook Concept27:01 Ximending Vibes27:34 Why It Feels Japanese28:05 Taiwan History Tangent29:45 Hostel Prices Regret31:32 Rooftop Reset Routine33:04 Fingerprinting Fiasco34:55 Russ Saves The Day36:32 Strike Three Reflections38:12 Hostel Characters41:24 Slower Travel Era42:01 Donations And Producer Credits44:25 Staying Put In Taipei45:57 Wrap Up And Links
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SSAB - May 22, 2026
3w ago00:35:44Tap to summarizeRecording this one quietly because I’m not sure if this is a cult! 9Hours capsule hotel… complicated set up. Different floors, reception, storage, capsules… all through one elevator per gender.Still in Fukuoka, will I be able to make it out tomorrow, or will I have to leave another way?Busan ferry SOLD OUT!Manila at midnight? Is it safe?Taipei, what do you say? Can we make it tomorrow, eh?And what did I do in my last day in Fukuoka? Walked around, livestreamed, went to an art gallery, and to the ruins of the Fukuoka castle. Donate to the show! PayPal link below!https://www.paypal.me/stevensirski?locale.x=en_CA***Show notes n tracks up on stevensirski.comAnd on Notion: https://stevensirski.notion.site/SSAB-The-Audio-Blog-of-Steven-Sirski-00acfe344e164bfab191d3cddf6952b2?pvs=4Newsletter over at stevensirski.substack.comLanguage vlog on http://www.youtube.com/@stevenslanguagevlogGoogle Stock Tracker Sheethttps://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1kbpCC2cieuq23zYyr0-WznPRogVX0aS86BF4_vPvgMY/edit?usp=sharingHope you have a great weekend!
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SSAB - May 21, 2026
3w ago00:40:31Tap to summarizeSteve! Enough with the content talk, how is Japan?? Have you done anything else?!YES!Staying one more night in Fukuoka, debating whether it’s a good idea to take the boat to Busan, stay a day or so, and then fly to Taipei. I feel like I’d be repeating myself. Of course, I could just always return to Beijing.Went to the Fukuoka Asian Art Museum… lots of China/Taiwan stuff. It’s Museum Week and it was free to go. Good thing, cause it rained today. Tried to make an origami crane and couldn’t for the life of me follow the instructions. It was neat because they had you take a picture of yourself and then printed them out on fake money. The idea was that your face would join the ranks of other people who made cranes on dollar bills and be part of the exhibit. Mine didn’t work.Thought about going to the Toy Museum, but it was 45 minutes away and didn’t indicate it was free during this special week. MOS Burger for lunch… not worth it. TRIED to be healthy by going to the vegetable market but they needed the physical card so… no go.Then did a bit of a walkaround with a live stream, yet another shopping district. But, really, how many shrines can you see anyway?Then tried one of the wait-in-line restaurants with only two tables and a bar in it… 1780 for the bowl of noodles (it was good), plus 380 for a single person table charge! Better than the Icharin I mentioned yesterday (I think I did), but $17 for a bowl of noodles?!And should I hit up one of the gyms while I’m here?!Donate to the show! PayPal link below!https://www.paypal.me/stevensirski?locale.x=en_CA***Show notes n tracks up on stevensirski.comAnd on Notion: https://stevensirski.notion.site/SSAB-The-Audio-Blog-of-Steven-Sirski-00acfe344e164bfab191d3cddf6952b2?pvs=4Newsletter over at stevensirski.substack.comLanguage vlog on http://www.youtube.com/@stevenslanguagevlogGoogle Stock Tracker Sheethttps://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1kbpCC2cieuq23zYyr0-WznPRogVX0aS86BF4_vPvgMY/edit?usp=sharingHope you have a great one!! 00:00 Recording Setup Banter00:45 Fukuoka Plans Busan Or Taipei02:26 Audio Settings Mishap04:25 Livestreaming Shrines And Temples07:13 Temple Gate Close Call09:43 Gym Versus Culture Debate15:37 Asian Art Museum Highlights19:05 Origami Money Crane Struggles22:53 Rain Relocation And Photo Gallery Idea26:53 Food Finds Mos Burger And Noodles33:39 Pricey Noodles And Japan Portions38:55 Wrap Up Links And Support
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SSAB - May 20, 2026
3w ago00:38:35Tap to summarize520! Did you forget? What if you’re in another country?The lady at the front desk speaks Chinese, from Xiamen. Lives and works in Fukuoka now.Hostel is nice, got to make good use of it today cause I slept most of it.Did venture out a little bit, through the Kawabata shopping lane and stopped by a cafe that smelled really good. Carried on and somehow (again) found the red light district, which was literally just across the bridge from the rather large Canal City shopping mall.Did some live streams, and thinking, How do touring musicians do this?How’s the pcast sounding so far? I noticed the noise gate was kicking in so you can’t hear all of the background noise.And how are you feeling?Donate to the show! PayPal link below!https://www.paypal.me/stevensirski?locale.x=en_CA***Show notes n tracks up on stevensirski.comAnd on Notion: https://stevensirski.notion.site/SSAB-The-Audio-Blog-of-Steven-Sirski-00acfe344e164bfab191d3cddf6952b2?pvs=4Newsletter over at stevensirski.substack.comLanguage vlog on http://www.youtube.com/@stevenslanguagevlogGoogle Stock Tracker Sheethttps://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1kbpCC2cieuq23zYyr0-WznPRogVX0aS86BF4_vPvgMY/edit?usp=sharingHope you have a great one!! 00:00 Hostel Check In00:29 Street Podcast Setup01:29 Podcast Evolution03:51 Wu Er Ling Greetings04:17 Girlfriend Motivation06:47 Chinese At Reception09:11 Feeling Sick In Fukuoka09:55 Kawabata Food Crawl12:53 Shrine And Red Lights14:45 Snack Bar Theory18:46 Beard And Hair Plans20:16 Canal City Fountain21:14 Gimbal And Livestreams25:32 Document Or Reveal29:48 Touring Creator Life34:21 West Africa Dream Trip36:09 Rest And Next Stop37:31 Closing And Links
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