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Barbarians at the Gate

Barbarians at the Gate
China
United States
Cultural Revolution
Chinese History
Rail Travel
Cultural Diversity
Beijing
Youth Tourism
High-Speed Trains
Green Trains
Culture Shock
Nostalgia
New Qing History
Qing Dynasty
Covid-19
Shanghai
Bozeman, Montana
Titanic
Harvard University
Chinese Identity

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

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes101Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Places & TravelHistorySociety & Culture

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Artwork for Barbarians at the Gate

Latest Episodes

It’s high season in Thailand. The weather is perfect. But look around the hotel lobbies and the night markets, and you’ll notice something missing: the tour buses.

For the last decade, Thailand bet the house on Chinese mass tourism. Now, that wager ... more

Following a tumultuous 2025, we gallop into the Year of the Horse. Tradition says it should be a year of dynamism and progress, but which way is the stampede heading?

To help us read the tea leaves, we welcome back our occasional co-host, Zhang Yaju... more

Champions Day in the city of Shanghai, November 1941.

The world was at war, but the clubhouse at the Shanghai Race Club (now People's Park) was packed with owners and punters cheering on the pony. The funeral of Shanghai's richest widow, Liza Hardoo... more

How does a teenage girl from Beijing’s hutongs end up ruling the world’s largest empire—without ever technically sitting on the throne? In this episode, Jeremiah traces the improbable ascent of Empress Dowager Cixi, who entered the Forbidden City as ... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
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Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Yajun Zhang
Global strategist and media innovator
Episode: Perilous Prognostications for China in 2026 with Yajun Zhang
James Carter
Professor at St. Joseph's University, expert on late imperial and modern China
St. Joseph's University
Episode: Barbarians Remix: Horse Racing, History, and the Final Champion's Day in Old Shanghai
Alexander Boyd
Associate Editor of the China Books Review
China Books Review
Episode: Barbarians at the Gate x China Books Review: From Heaven Lake
John Alekna
Historian of information, technology, and politics in modern China
Peking University
Episode: Barbarians Remix: Seeking News, Making China
Brendan O'Kane
Translator, literary scholar
Episode: Calling all China Nerds
Jeffrey Wasserstrom
Chancellor's Professor of History at the University of California at Irvine and author on Chinese history
University of California at Irvine
Episode: Barbarians Remix: The Year of the Boxers with historian Jeffrey Wasserstrom
Jacob Dreyer
Writer residing in Shanghai since 2008, known for his work in the New York Times and Nature, exploring the societal impacts of technology.
New York Times; Noema Magazine
Episode: Is America Beginning to Look More Like China?
David Chaffetz
Independent scholar with a lifelong passion for Middle Eastern and Inner Asian history.
Episode: Raiders, Rulers, and Traders: The Horse and the Rise of Empires
Steve Schwankert
Author of "The Six", a book on the Chinese survivors of the Titanic.
Episode: The Six: Recovering the Lost Story of the Titanic's Chinese Survivors

Hosts

Jeremiah Jenne
Host known for insightful commentary on Chinese culture and history.
David Moser
Co-host specializing in language and cultural discussions related to China.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 59 ratings
  • 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
    4 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 Kingdom4 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
    5 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
  • Finally back!

    You guys are finally back! I’ve missed your show!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Kang Wende
    Germany6 years ago

Listeners Say

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

The hosts' expertise is often highlighted, with many praising their ability to communicate complex topics in an accessible manner.
Listeners appreciate the mix of humor and informative content, making it an engaging experience for those interested in Chinese history and culture.
The podcast has been well-received for its ability to connect historical narratives with contemporary issues, driving interest and discussion among listeners.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#243
Hong Kong/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
Curating Chinese Internet Culture for Global Audiences with What's on Weibo founder Manya Koetse
Q: Can you talk about your journey and how you started What's on Weibo?
Manya shared that her journey began when she spent a year in Japan during high school, which sparked her interest in Asia, leading her to study Japanology and eventually start What's on Weibo to follow trends in Chinese social media.
Let Only Red Flowers Bloom with NPR Correspondent Emily Feng
Q: Were there ever points where you begin to actually get a little bit more of what some people call cognitive empathy for the government itself?
In the case of Emma, she showed some understanding of the government's anti-corruption policies while disagreeing with how her individual case was handled.
Let Only Red Flowers Bloom with NPR Correspondent Emily Feng
Q: What does it mean to be Chinese?
It embodies a tension between modern-day ethno-nationalist state and the historic multi-ethnic state under the Qing dynasty.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Barbarians at the Gate

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

This podcast offers an engaging exploration of Chinese history and culture, featuring discussions that encompass a diverse range of topics including historical figures, significant cultural events, and contemporary societal shifts. The hosts bring their expertise to each episode, often incorporating conversations with scholars and experts from various fields, which adds depth and insight into the themes discussed. While maintaining a semi-serious tone, the content is accessible to both those familiar with China and newcomers interested in learning more about its rich heritage.

Where can I find podcast stats for Barbarians at the Gate?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Barbarians at the Gate. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Barbarians at the Gate and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Barbarians at the Gate get?

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What are the audience demographics for Barbarians at the Gate?

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How many subscribers and views does Barbarians at the Gate have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Barbarians at the Gate has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Barbarians at the Gate?

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

1. Sinica Podcast
2. The History of China
3. Face-Off: The U.S. vs China
4. Pekingology
5. ChinaTalk

How many episodes of Barbarians at the Gate are there?

Barbarians at the Gate launched 10 years ago and published 101 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Barbarians at the Gate?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Barbarians at the Gate?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Barbarians at the Gate from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Barbarians at the Gate?

Recent guests on Barbarians at the Gate include:

1. Yajun Zhang
2. James Carter
3. Alexander Boyd
4. John Alekna
5. Brendan O'Kane
6. Jeffrey Wasserstrom
7. Jacob Dreyer
8. David Chaffetz

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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