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Barbarians at the Gate

Barbarians at the Gate
China
Chinese History
Artificial Intelligence
Cultural Revolution
United States
Sima Qian
Beijing
Qing Dynasty
Shanghai
Rail Travel
Cultural Diversity
Chinese Culture
Youth Tourism
High-Speed Trains
Green Trains
Hong Kong
Covid-19
Culture Shock
Taiwan
Empress Dowager Cixi

A semi-serious deep dive into Chinese history and culture broadcast from Beijing and hosted by Jeremiah Jenne and David Moser.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes114Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
HistoryPlaces & TravelSociety & Culture

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Artwork for Barbarians at the Gate

Latest Episodes

China’s last emperor (Puyi), his empress (Wanrong), and concubine (Wenxiu) spent two years sequestered in the Forbidden City before their expulsion in 1924. Around them were holdover dowagers, scheming eunuchs, corrupt officials, and two foreign teac... more

In this Barbarians at the Gate x China Books Review crossover, Jeremiah Jenne is joined by CBR Associate Editor Alexander Boyd to discuss the latest addition to the China Archives: W. Somerset Maugham's On a Chinese Screen (1922), a collection of vig... more

It’s the summer travel season, and one of the most popular sites here in Beijing is the Palace Museum at the Forbidden City. To talk about China’s most famous imperial palace, we are joined by Matthew Hu Xinyu, Trustee of the Beijing Cultural Heritag... more

We are honored to have Professor Neysun Mahboubi, Director of the Penn Project on the Future of U.S.-China Relations, a program that provides a platform for talented U.S.-based China scholars to contribute academically informed analysis on the most i... more

Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

Matthew Hu
Trustee of Beijing Cultural Heritage Protection Center; also associated with Courtyard Institute; speaks on preservation and Beijing history
Beijing Cultural Heritage Protection Center; Courtyard Institute
Episode: Barbarian Remix: The Secrets and History behind Beijing's Forbidden City
Neysun Mahboubi
Director of the Penn Project on the Future of U.S.-China Relations at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
Episode: Neysun Mahboubi on the past, present, and future of US-China Academic Exchanges
Jesse Appell
Cross Talk performer, stand-up comedian, Fulbright scholar
Independent comedian/Educator
Episode: This Was Funnier in China: Jesse Appell's Cross-Cultural Comedy Journey
Michael Wester
The man behind True Run Media and organizer of Burger Fest in Beijing
True Run Media / The Beijinger Magazine
Episode: The Business of Burgers in Beijing: What Fast Food Festivals Reveal About China's Economy
Matt Coss
Relatively young scholar and PhD candidate focused on second language acquisition and Chinese pedagogy
Michigan State University (MSU)
Episode: Barbarians Remix: Do you really need to learn to write characters to study Chinese?
Mark Rowswell
Da Shan, renowned Chinese-language performer
Freelance performer; cultural ambassador
Episode: The Many Lives of Da Shan: Mark Rowswell on Chinese Poetry, Performing Live, and Staging Shawshank in Mandarin
Lee Moore
Author of China's Backstory
Unsung Voices Books
Episode: Lee Moore's China Backstory: Why Saying "History Proves" Actually Means "I Haven't Done the Reading"
Emily Hahn
A writer and adventurer known for her work during the 1930s in China and her book 'China to Me'
The New Yorker
Episode: Barbarians at the Gate x By Their Own Compass: Emily Hahn's Shanghai
Thomas Bird
Travel journalist and author of many guidebooks
Episode: Lost in Thailand: The New Chinese Diaspora from Bangkok to Addis Ababa

Hosts

Jeremiah Jenne
Host of Barbarians at the Gate
David Moser
Host (solo episode); Co-host

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 69 ratings
  • Truly wonderful

    I just laughed so much about Edmund Backhouse. I’ve read the book so I did enjoy the coy account of the empress’ pudenda. Still chuckling.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Foundress of nothing
    United Kingdom6 months ago
  • David and Jeremiah are two old grizzled veterans of China watching. I've always enjoyed their discussion about the history and life in China.

    Podchaser
    5
    Laszlo Montgomery
    5 years ago
  • Entertaining and informative

    I absolutely love this podcast! Please keep making it. My interest in China and Chinese culture increases every time I listen. Thanks so much!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    elzedess
    United Kingdom5 years ago
  • Fascinating perspectives on contemporary China, from American educators who have worked and lived in China for years. An inside view that's an eye-opening corrective to simplistic conspiracy-tinged China bashing, without sparing the Chinese establishment from first-hand critique.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Catforaday
    6 years ago
  • Can’t recommend this enough!

    I was lucky enough to be able go on a guided tour with Jeremiah when I visited Beijing in 2017. He came very highly recommended by a friend and boy, did he not disappoint! The amount of depth and nuance he managed to convey to our group of completely clueless tourists in just a few hours was absolutely amazing and eye-opening. And now that the podcast is back, it keeps offering a similarly striking glimpse into what is going on with China today and I’m looking forward to each new episode!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    nfelger
    Germany6 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners appreciate the diverse guest mix and accessible explanations.
Shows depth and nuance on Chinese history, with engaging storytelling.
The hosts bring personal travels and on-the-ground reporting that add credibility.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#190
Italy/History
Apple Podcasts
#191
Singapore/History
Apple Podcasts
#206
Hong Kong/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

China Books Review x Barbarians at the Gate: The Private Life of Chairman Mao
Q: What was Li Zhisui's role and why is his time as Mao's doctor disputed?
The guests explain the timeline disputes, Li's diary behavior, and how the book was compiled and edited, highlighting questions about its accuracy and propaganda concerns.
China Books Review x Barbarians at the Gate: The Private Life of Chairman Mao
Q: Alexander, how are you doing today?
Discussion begins with a warm greeting and sets up the crossover with China Books Review to discuss The Private Life of Chairman Mao.
The Business of Burgers in Beijing: What Fast Food Festivals Reveal About China's Economy
Q: How did Burger Fest start and how has it evolved over the years?
It began as a pragmatic, ad-based festival tied to restaurant advertising, then evolved into a city-wide festival machine with multiple cities hosting events, increasingly featuring out-of-town vendors and large-scale stages.
Curating Chinese Internet Culture for Global Audiences with What's on Weibo founder Manya Koetse
Q: How do you feel about the criticisms you receive regarding your coverage of China on What's on Weibo?
Manya acknowledged receiving both pro- and anti-China criticism, indicating her independence in reporting trending topics reflects the current online discourse, which blends positivity and critique of China.
Curating Chinese Internet Culture for Global Audiences with What's on Weibo founder Manya Koetse
Q: What trends have you observed in the changing demographics of social media users in China?
Manya noted that platforms like WeChat are widely used among different demographic groups, while Bilibili and KuaiShou attract younger, rural users interested in specific content, contrasting with Weibo's older, more balanced demographic focused on news and celebrity culture.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Interests
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Frequently Asked Questions About Barbarians at the Gate

What is Barbarians at the Gate about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful, history-forward look at Chinese history and culture, with hosts guiding conversations that blend scholarly context, archival detail, and contemporary perspective. Recent episodes spotlight Mao-era narratives, cross-cultural humor in China, food festival economies, and the arts of Chinese literature and performance, often featuring guests who illuminate non-Western viewpoints or bridge cultural gaps. The show stands out for its mix of rigorous historical inquiry, lively storytelling, and a willingness to challenge simplifications about China's past and present. Listeners who enjoy nuanced analysis, accessible history, and culturally informed storytelling are likely to find it especially engaging.

Across episodes, the show freq... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Barbarians at the Gate?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Barbarians at the Gate:

1. Sinica Podcast
2. Pekingology
3. ChinaTalk
4. The China History Podcast
5. Ones and Tooze

How many episodes of Barbarians at the Gate are there?

Barbarians at the Gate launched 10 years ago and published 114 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Barbarians at the Gate?

Recent guests on Barbarians at the Gate include:

1. Matthew Hu
2. Neysun Mahboubi
3. Jesse Appell
4. Michael Wester
5. Matt Coss
6. Mark Rowswell
7. Lee Moore
8. Emily Hahn

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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