China Unpacked

Meet Gavin, an American who moved to China to study at Peking University — and ended up building a career inside one of the world’s most competitive digital ecosystems. From mastering the Chinese language to growing millions of followers on Chinese platforms, His story challenges what we’ve been told about the “American Dream” and why he believes more opportunity exists in China today.

We Talked About

-How Gavin chose to enroll in...

Meet Adrien, an American who opened a pizza shop in China’s countryside. By blending local ingredients with Western cooking, his restaurant became a viral sensation, attracting both locals and tourists.

This week on China Unpacked, Adrien opens up about what it’s really like to start a restaurant in rural China — from adapting to local tastes, to earning the trust of a tight-knit village. His story is a reminder that no matter how d...

Meet Jesse, the creator who turned tea into one of the most unexpected cultural bridges between China and the world.

But before Jesse’s Tea House, he did something few foreigners have ever managed to do: he mastered traditional Chinese comedy and built a massive following performing entirely in Chinese.

In this episode of China Unpacked, we sit down with Jesse to unpack his remarkable journey — from studying and performing xiangsheng...

Meet George, the chef on a mission to change the perception of tofu in America.  Trained under a fifth-generation tofu master in China, George is here to prove that everything you know about tofu is wrong.

In this episode of China Unpacked, we’ll taste tofu dishes that will make you go, “I can’t believe it’s tofu!”, we learn George’s secrets to making tofu flavorful, and explore how this humble ingredient’s versatility might ju...

Meet Laurence, the viral creator, rapper, film director, and future entertainment lawyer determined to make Chinese music and entertainment the next global phenomenon.

In this episode of China Unpacked, we dive into Laurence’s multifaceted journey,  from overcoming the challenges of biracial identity to building cross-cultural fashion brands, and explore his vision for taking Chinese creativity worldwide.

We talked about:

• &nb...

Meet Paul, a multi-talented American who created the biggest meme in China, by pure accident

In this episode of China Unpacked, we dive into Paul’s unlikely journey: from growing up in Amish country in the US to moving to China, cracking the code of Chinese social media, and becoming a viral sensation.

We talked about

• How he created the biggest meme in China (and it's not just pure luck!)
• How major brands and companies hijacked his...

Meet Joe Wong, China’s most famous stand-up comedian,  who went from a biochemist in China to roasting Joe Biden at the White House

In this episode of China Unpacked, we unpack Joe’s extraordinary journey, from arriving in the US with zero comedy experience, to battling racism on and off stage, and ultimately becoming one of the most recognizable comedians in the world 

We talked about:

• Why he change career path fro...

Meet Ryan, China’s most viral Donald Trump impersonator.

In this episode of China Unpacked, we dive into Ryan’s journey — from learning English to perfectly mimicking Trump’s voice, going viral on social media, and navigating the pressures of internet fame.

We talked about:

• How Ryan started doing his viral Trump impersonation
• The physical and mental toll of going viral (including gaining 50 pounds!)
• The story of how a group of Ameri...