Reaching an Ideal Life Through Food | Food Talk Vol. 44

In this episode, Tianle, host of Food Talk, and Sijia of 100 Ways of Living join forces for a special crossover dialogue. It is also the first time Tianle has spoken on a podcast about how she went from being a media professional with a degree in international journalism to a public-interest worker dealing with agriculture and food, and about the ideal life and work as she understands and puts them into practice.

Of course, the topic of this conversation is still food. From “carrot sashimi” to “our farmers’ secret sour soup recipe”, what exactly is the relationship between a good life and good produce? What do ecological agriculture and organic agriculture truly mean? How does one manage a working life in which you don’t order a takeaway and still cook at home? How can modern city dwellers stay attuned to food and the environment amid the fast pace of urban life, and support healthy, environmentally friendly ways of living through more meaningful consumer choices?

Food is the thread that connects us to nature, and the starting point from which we change ourselves and our future. We hope this episode will offer you fresh perspectives and inspiration for action – and when you make your New Year’s resolutions, remember to add “eating well”, that small yet vital item, to the list.

We also look forward to continuing our journey with listeners and readers in 2025: starting from food, seeing one another, and getting to know the world.

This Episode’s Hosts

Sijia

Host of the 100 Ways of Living podcast. A Sichuanese soul settled in Dublin, she is a self-declared “brick hauler” in the data world who has been lugging bricks day in, day out for a decade. Her dream is to one day sail ashore on her own words and chase the podcast dream full-time.

Chang Tianle

Founding Editor of Foodthink and Convener of the Beijing Organic Farmers Market

Timeline

00:00 Opening: Sijia introduces Season 5’s theme, “Lighting Up Life with Green”, and welcomes this episode’s guest, Tianle.

02:30 Career pivot: Tianle shares how she moved from being a news-media professional to working at an NGO.

08:00 Reflections on international NGOs: working in international development abroad, the lessons learned, and the career choices that followed her return to China.

09:30 NGO versus NPO: a closer look at the differences between non-governmental organisations and non-profit organisations, and how Foodthink operates.

15:10 Team culture and food: how Foodthink’s team builds a sense of togetherness and responsibility by taking turns cooking.

25:00 Ecological smallholder farmers and organic agriculture: what sets ecological agriculture apart from conventional agriculture, and how to support ecological smallholder farmers.

31:00 Choosing produce and everyday habits: a chat about daily eating habits and the importance of supporting local farmers.

40:30 Shattering the special-supply myth: examining the reality behind special-supply produce and the challenges within and beyond the industry.

47:00 Cutting food waste: how planning ahead and flexible cooking skills can make a real difference.

55:00 Rethinking lifestyle choices: lifting quality of life through healthy eating and eco-friendly actions while balancing work and responsibilities.

59:30 Closing: encouraging listeners to focus on what they care about and the sense of purpose they seek, and to find the work and way of life that truly fit them.