THE WALL DANCERS
Novara Media (April 12, 2026)
Why Is the West Becoming Obsessed With China? A conversation with Aaron Bastani
Face Off (April 7, 2026)
The Economist Drum Tower (March 31, 2026)
A conversation with Economist China correspondent Sarah Wu on life inside the Chinese internet
The Baffler (March 19, 2026)
Chatham House (March 16, 2026)
KQED Close All Tabs (February 26, 2026)
Lessons for U.S. Netizens from Behind China’s Great Firewall. A conversation with Morgan Sung and Maya Cueva.
Sinica Podcast (February 25, 2026)
A conversation with Kaiser Kuo on China’s internet, its creative spirits and the art of the possible.
Literary Hub (February 19, 2026)
NPR All Things Considered (February 18, 2026)
NuVoices (February 18, 2026)
KJZZ Phoenix (February 17, 2026)
JF Books Talk (February 16, 2026)
The Wire China (February 15, 2026)
An interview with Rachel Cheung about the expansion of China’s Great Firewall, and the creativity and resilience that exists behind it.
Asian Review of Books Podcast (February 12, 2026)
POLITICO Magazine (February 7, 2026)
An interview with POLITICO Magazine on what you’re getting wrong about China and AI.
WIRED (February 5, 2026)
An interview with WIRED’s Made in China Newsletter on the rise and fall of the world’s largest gay dating app
Asia Society Book Talk (February 5, 2026)
Bloomberg’s Odd Lots Podcast (February 3, 2026)
The Surprising Similarity Between the US and Chinese Internets. A conversation with Joe Weisenthal and Tracy Alloway.
Reuters (January 31, 2026)
An interview with Reuters Culture current on finding freedom in China’s digital margins.
TEACHING
Hong Kong University Culture Writing Seminar (November 17, 2025)
I delivered a lecture to the students of a Culture Writing seminar at Hong Kong University’s journalism school on writing about technology as culture.
Trinity University Lecture: China’s Involuted Generation (September 21, 2023)
I spoke with the students and faculty of Trinity University’s Asian Studies department on China’s involuted youth.
Oxonian Review Seminar: A Conversation with Yi-Ling Liu (February 27, 2023)
I spoke with the editors of the Oxonian Review on freelancing, writing and editing international stories.
Chinese University of Hong Kong Journalism School Talk (November 4, 2022)
I spoke with journalism student at CUHK’s journalism school about the art of pitching China stories to international news outlets around the world
CHINA, TECHNOLOGY & AI
I spoke on a panel discussion organized by the Asia Society Policy Institute’s Center for China Analysis on China’s AI landscape, alongside Barclay Bram, Afra Wang and Jessica Batke.
Asia Society Policy Institute, China’s Youth: The Age of Anxiety (May 19, 2025)
I spoke on a panel discussion organized by the Asia Society Policy Institute’s Center for China Analysis on China’s youth at a moment of global uncertainty, alongside Barclay Bram, Biao Xiang, and Li Zhang.
The Spectator’s Chinese Whispers Podcast: Life on the Margins (March 18, 2024)
I spoke with The Spectator about Li Ziqi and the rise of rural influencers in China
Endless Thread (WBUR-FM) (February 11, 2022)
I join Ben Brock Johnson on the Endless Thread Podcast of WBUR-FM to discuss Li Ziqi, China’s quarantine queen
Future Tense Panel (December 8, 2021)
I join a conversation with Foreign Affairs Editor Daniel Kurtz-Phelan and Future Tense Editorial Director Andrés Martinez to discuss discuss where China is heading, and what these recent events mean for the future of China’s internet, technological competitiveness, and ties with the West.
Yale Law School Information Society Project and the Poynter Fellowship (December 6, 2021)
How do Chinese netizens understand themselves, their identities, and the world? In this talk, I will explore the mores and metaphors of online life in China.
Arizona State University Talk (February 11, 2021)
I gave a talk to the Arizona State University on what it means to live “Inside the Walled Garden” and understanding the Chinese internet.
Story Collider Podcast (January 8, 2021)
I spoke with Erin Barker on the Story Collider podcast about the effect of Covid on relationships and mental health in China.
New America Fellows Welcome Program Panel (October 21, 2020)
Alongside New America ‘20 fellow Jennifer Daskal and New America President Anne-Marie Slaughter, I discuss the fall of the free & open internet, and where we’re headed next.
New America Fellowship Conversation with Awista Ayub (September 2020)
I spoke with Awista Ayub, Director of the New America Fellows program, about my book project on the Chinese Internet.
The Arts of Travel (May 25, 2020)
I discuss my recent article for the New York Times Magazine on Blued, the world's largest gay social networking app & the limits of LGBTQ tolerance in China.
Harper’s Podcast (April 30, 2020)
I discuss the origins of the Hong Kong protests, the protestors’ evolving demands and the ways that the COVID-19 outbreak has continued to shape the direction of the movement.
The Bookworm Literary Festival (March 20, 2019)
In association with SupChina, I led a discussion with founding members of China’s first hip-hop radio show, rappers, musicians and experts on the past, present and future of Chinese hip-hop.
The Overseas Press Club Awards Ceremony (March 14, 2017)
I spoke at the Overseas Press Club Fellowship Awards ceremony, after accepting the Fritz Beebe Fellowship, endowed by Anne and Larry Martz.