Mandarin Monkey Podcast

Learn upper-beginner Mandarin with real stories from UK life. We talk about meeting Hong Kong neighbors, Cantonese vs Mandarin, Center Parcs, bikes, bowling, mini golf, and family costs. You get natu…

This is a bonus Tuesday episode of the Mandarin Monkey Podcast. We talk about summer holidays in the UK, why we want our kids to spend time in Taiwan, and what happened when a glamping hot tub got wa…

We left the kids with Grandpa and went camping in the Cotswolds.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Surviving storms, wind, and wasps
• Setting up camp like amateurs
• Watching a movie in our tent with a projec…

Think learning Mandarin is all flashcards and peaceful study sessions? Try doing it with three kids, zero time, and a brain that forgets half the vocab by lunch. In this episode, we talk about the re…

Dive into another lively episode of the Mandarin Monkey podcast, where we celebrate the power of life's small victories and recount some unforgettable weekend adventures. From the thrill and challeng…

In this episode, we dive into the joys and chaos of family travel, focusing on our experiences in Taiwan. From navigating holidays with kids to finding moments of peace in the middle of it all, we re…

In this episode, Tom and Ula dive into the messy, hilarious, and honest journey of personal growth. From embracing the cringe that comes with putting yourself out there creatively, to exploring how A…

In this episode of the Mandarin Monkey Podcast, Tom and Ula get reflective about some of life’s biggest questions—what does wealth really mean, and is it the same as happiness? The pair open up about…

In this episode, we get personal. We talk fatherhood, the shifting idea of what it means to be a ‘man,’ and how dads today are navigating emotion, law, and family. From our own experiences to the bro…

In this episode of the Mandarin Monkey Podcast, Tom and Ula take listeners on a conversational journey covering everything from rescuing snails to the surprising genre of cozy fantasy. They share per…

In this episode, we dive into the joys and pains of podcast production, the growing importance of bilingualism in career paths, and how AI is quietly reshaping language learning and job interviews. W…

In this episode of the Mandarin Monkey Podcast, Tom and Ula dive into some of the strangest bans and laws from around the world, from chewing gum in Singapore to government-approved reincarnation in …

Looking for a fun way to learn Mandarin while exploring the world’s strangest places? In this episode, we take you on a global journey to the weirdest tourist attractions from haunted doll islands to…

Today on the Mandarin Monkey Podcast, we dive into the beautiful Cotswolds and share our experiences camping in two stunning locations. But things took an unexpected turn when we crossed paths with a…

To celebrate 400 episodes of Mandarin Monkey, we’re not getting sentimental, we’re getting strange. Join us as we break down 40 of the weirdest, most useful, and most culturally revealing Mandarin wo…

Think your job is strange? In this episode, we explore 20 of the world’s weirdest real-life occupations — from snake milkers and underwater pizza delivery drivers to professional cuddlers and scream …

In this episode, we explore 20 of the most ridiculous, real world records ever set — and learn how to talk about them in Mandarin. From smashing toilet seats with your head to balancing snails on you…

From baby mop outfits to chopstick fans and silent karaoke mics — the world has no shortage of strange inventions. In this episode, Tom and Ula explore 20 bizarre gadgets from around the globe and br…