Rephonic
Artwork for This Is The Way: Chinese Philosophy Podcast

This Is The Way: Chinese Philosophy Podcast

Richard Kim and Justin Tiwald
Confucianism
Mencius
Moral Development
Zhuangzi
Confucius
Chinese Philosophy
Xunzi
Ethics
Analects
Daodejing
Zhu Xi
Ritual Theory
Virtue Ethics
Reflection and Extension
Self-Cultivation
Daoism
Philosophy
Filial Piety
Neo-Confucianism
Buddhism

This Is The Way is a podcast on Chinese philosophy, exploring philosophical themes by reflecting on significant Chinese texts and through interviews with scholars of Chinese thought. We aim to offer discussions that are informative and accessible to a broad audience.Please email us at: ChinesePhilosophyPodcast@gmail.com and follow us on X @ChinesePhilPod

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes34Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Education

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for This Is The Way: Chinese Philosophy Podcast

Latest Episodes

Many of us value autonomy in decision-making: we want to make our own choices and think for ourselves. But we also know that in many areas of life, it is well advised to have greater faith in people who know more than we do, in experts such as doctor... more

YouTube

What's the best way to fight corruption: harsh laws and fear of punishment or rituals and moral transformation? In this episode we discuss a deep disagreement that takes its inspiration from the political philosophies of the Confucian philosopher Xun... more

YouTube

When you hear sad music and feel some sadness in response, is that because the music has successfully carried the sadness of the musician to you as the listener? Or is it better to say that the sadness is in you, released by the music but not "carrie... more

YouTube

Is music an extravagance in a world of scarcity or a necessary expression of our humanity? We explore Mozi’s consequentialist condemnation of elaborate musical performances and Xunzi’s argument that music, proper guided, plays a critical role in tami... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Overthink
OverthinkEllie Anderson, Ph.D. and David Peña-Guzmán, Ph.D.
History of Philosophy: India, Africana, China
History of Philosophy: India, Africana, ChinaPeter Adamson, Jonardon Ganeri, Chike Jeffers
The Ancients
The AncientsHistory Hit
Global News Podcast
Global News PodcastBBC World Service

Recent Guests

Daniel Bell
Professor of Political Theory
University of Hong Kong
Episode: Episode 33: Carrots, Sticks, and Rituals
Meilin Chinn
Professor specializing in Chinese philosophy, aesthetics, environmental philosophy; writes on music and early Chinese philosophy
Santa Clara University
Episode: Episode 32: Music Has in It neither Grief nor Joy
Eirik Lang Harris
Leading authority on Shen Dao and author of a significant translation
Colorado State University
Episode: Episode 29: Shen Dao on Law
Lisa Indraccolo
Associate Professor at Tallinn University in Estonia, specialist in classical Chinese thought.
Tallinn University
Episode: Episode 26: The White Horse Dialogue: Language, Logic, and Categories in Early China
Dr. Stephen C. Walker
A scholar in Philosophy of Religion and Classical Chinese Philosophy.
University of Chicago
Episode: Episode 24: Robber Zhi—Honor Among Thieves?
Jenny Hung
Expert in Buddhist philosophy and metaphysics, and professor at University of Hong Kong Science and Technology
University of Hong Kong Science and Technology
Episode: Episode 20: Confucianism vs. Buddhism (first "live show")
Steve Angle
Expert in Neo-Confucianism and East Asian philosophy
Wesleyan University
Episode: Episode 18: Neo-Confucian Metaphysics
Erin Cline
Professor of Interfaith Studies and Dialogue at Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Episode: Episode 14: Women in the Analects
Pauline Li
Professor of Theological Studies at St. Louis University
St. Louis University
Episode: Episode 12: Play

Hosts

Richard Kim
Host of This Is The Way: Chinese Philosophy Podcast
Justin Tiwald
Co-host of This Is The Way: Chinese Philosophy Podcast

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 71 ratings
  • Exceptional philosophy podcast

    What a great idea - a philosophy podcast dedicated to expanding on Chinese philosophical ideas in light of English-language philosophical traditions. The mutual respect between the hosts is a plus, too, it’s like eavesdropping on intelligent people having a conversation about complex and deep ideas. The guests are great, too. Really enjoying it!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JB Coleman
    United States6 months ago
  • Timely

    Love this engaging podcast. I’d just written about historian Fernand Braudel’s longue durée perspective on history, when I listened to episode 1 Detachment. Pure coincidence, but it corresponds beautifully with the morning mushroom and the view from heaven. Keep up the great work!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Me Still Here
    United Kingdom6 months ago
  • Please provide translations you read from in show notes

    I love this podcast! Thank you for enriching my life with it!

    As a layman, I’ve understood the practical value of Classical Chinese philosophy better from this podcast than from any other source.

    I have struggled, however, to locate some of the English translations from which you read.

    For instance, in the case of the Zhuangzi, I heard you say you were reading from a translation from someone whose name sounded like “Paul Shalber(t)”?

    I tried many combinations of that name (including askin... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Eye-Opening Podcast!
    United States9 months ago
  • Accesible, clear and interesting

    Really enjoying these podcasts. Thoughtful and nuanced discussions that are accessible for the general listener with some philosophical interest. Impressive guest list so far too. I find the links in the show notes really useful. While I like the varied approach, I wonder if, in time, there might be room to provide a kind of introduction to the Zhuangzi, the Analects, the Mozi etc.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sechuaninamillion
    Hong Kong2 years ago
  • Thank you

    Thank you for this! It fills a void in my life. I hope you continue to produce these.

    B

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Turtle Maa
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Overall, the show is considered a demanding but rewarding philosophy podcast with broad appeal.
The show notes and readings are valued, though some want more references to translations in show notes.
Guests are seen as high-quality and well-chosen, with strong scholarly grounding.
Audience appreciates live and Q&A moments that enrich the discussion.
Listeners praise accessible, thoughtful debates that connect dense texts to modern questions.

Top Education Podcasts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 33: Carrots, Sticks, and Rituals
Q: What are the main differences between the legalist and Confucian approaches to governance, especially regarding the role of laws versus moral cultivation?
Legalists emphasize clear rules, publicity, and rewards/punishments to secure compliance, while Confucians emphasize rituals and moral cultivation to transform hearts and society over time.
Episode 33: Carrots, Sticks, and Rituals
Q: And anyway, do you sometimes see yourself as adopting a more legalistic stance or approach when raising your kids or teaching your students as opposed to a more Confucian approach?
They discuss how punishment and rewards can motivate behavior, but acknowledge that rituals and social practices can cultivate genuine virtue and long-term motivation; the balance depends on context and aims.
Episode 32: Music Has in It neither Grief nor Joy
Q: Hi, I was wondering, so we're hurting the first passage. You were saying like how the music is separate from the emotion. Do you think taking away the instruments and just focusing on the voice, do you think a person's voice gives attaches more emotion to the song?
The question highlights how voice tone and delivery can carry emotional meaning even if instrumental components are pared away; speakers discuss whether voice might convey emotion more directly, while Ji Kang's view would separate sound from fixed emotional content, emphasizing listener dispositions and the social/linguistic context in which music is interpreted.
Episode 18: Neo-Confucian Metaphysics
Q: What is one idea or conceptual point or practice that comes from the Chinese text that you have studied for so long, which you would recommend to people, that you think might help them live a better human life?
Zhu Xi emphasizes reverential attention as a practice for moral self-cultivation and a means to appreciate the interconnectedness of life.
Episode 23: Confucianism on the Assessment of Character
Q: How do you assess character?
You look at the means a person employs, observe their basis of actions, and discover where they feel at ease.

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 This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show surveys Chinese philosophy through text-based discussions and guest expert insights, often pairing the hosts' readings with scholarly perspectives. Recent episodes explore topics like music in early Chinese thought, debates between Mohism and Confucianism, reverential reading practices in Confucianism, Shen Dao's legalism, and dialogues from Zhuangzi and the Analects, with frequent guest appearances from philosophers and sinology scholars. The format blends rigorous textual analysis with accessible, conversational exploration of how these ideas illuminate modern questions about ethics, governance, culture, and everyday life. A standout facet is the live or audience-enhanced discussions and the ongoing engagement with guest scholar... more

Where can I find podcast stats for this podcast?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for this podcast. 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 this podcast and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does this podcast get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for this podcast, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for this podcast?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for this podcast, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does this podcast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers this podcast 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 this podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. Overthink
2. History of Philosophy: India, Africana, China
3. The Ancients
4. Global News Podcast
5. Not Just the Tudors

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 2 years ago and published 34 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 this podcast?

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 this podcast?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for this podcast from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for this podcast?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of this podcast. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Daniel Bell
2. Meilin Chinn
3. Eirik Lang Harris
4. Lisa Indraccolo
5. Dr. Stephen C. Walker
6. Jenny Hung
7. Steve Angle
8. Erin Cline

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days