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

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In this episode, Food Talk host Tianle joins Sijia from “100 Ways of Living” for a special crossover conversation. This marks the first time Tianle discusses her journey on the podcast—how she transitioned from a media professional with a degree in international journalism to a public interest worker dedicated to agriculture and food, and her personal philosophy on an ideal balance between work and life.

Naturally, the heart of the conversation remains food. From “carrot sashimi” to “the secret sour soup recipes of farmers”, what exactly is the relationship between a “good life” and “good ingredients”? What is the true significance of agroecology and organic farming? And how does one actually maintain a lifestyle of cooking for work and eschewing takeaways?

Furthermore, they explore how modern city dwellers can stay mindful of food and the environment amidst the frantic pace of urban life, and how to support a healthy, eco-friendly lifestyle through more meaningful consumption.

Food is our bond with nature and the starting point for changing ourselves and our future. We hope this episode offers you new perspectives and inspiration for action. As you make your wishes for the new year, remember to include the small but vital goal of “eating well”.

We look forward to continuing this journey with our listeners and readers in 2025—starting from food, seeing one another, and understanding the world.

The Hosts

Sijia

Host of the “100 Ways of Living” podcast. A Sichuan native based in Dublin and a “corporate drudge” in the data sector, ten years into the daily grind. Dreaming of one day making a living through her voice and pursuing her podcasting dream full-time.

 

 

 

Chang Tianle

Founding Editor of Foodthink and organiser of the Beijing Organic Farmers’ Market.

 

 

 

 

Timeline

00:00 Introduction: Sijia introduces the Season 5 theme, “Lighting Up Life with Green”, and welcomes guest Tianle.

02:30 Career Transition: Tianle shares her journey from news media to the NGO sector.

08:00 Reflections on International NGOs: Experiences and thoughts on international development abroad, and the choices leading to her return to China.

09:30 NGOs vs NPOs: An in-depth analysis of the similarities and differences between Non-Governmental Organisations and Non-Profit Organisations, and the operational model of Foodthink.

15:10 Team Atmosphere and Food Culture: How the Foodthink team fosters a sense of community and responsibility through a rotating cooking schedule.

25:00 Understanding Agroecological Smallholders and Organic Farming: An introduction to the differences between agroecology and conventional agriculture, and how to support small-scale ecological farmers.

31:00 Choosing Ingredients and Lifestyle: A discussion on personal dietary habits and the importance of supporting local farmers.

40:30 Debunking the “Special Supply” Myth: An exploration of the authenticity of “special supply” ingredients, along with challenges and reflections from within the industry.

47:00 Reducing Food Waste: Tips on minimising waste through planning and flexible cooking techniques.

55:00 Reflections on Lifestyle and Choice: How to improve quality of life through healthy eating and eco-friendly actions while balancing work and responsibility.

59:30 Closing Remarks: Encouraging listeners to focus on their own interests and values to find their ideal work and lifestyle.

In 2011, the Beijing Organic Farmers’ Market was established, seeing a steady growth in volunteers and participating farmers.
Scene from the Farmers’ Conference held at the China Agricultural University in 2019.
Bringing together farmers, consumers, scholars, and restaurateurs to discuss the food system.
New Year group photo, 2020.
During the pandemic in 2021, the Farmers’ Market continued to provide high-quality food to the citizens of Beijing.
Staff at Foodthink take turns cooking for the team’s shared meals.
Work is important, but so is eating well. There is always food available during meetings at Foodthink and the Farmers’ Market.

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Images provided by the guest

Podcast Production Team

Music: B Nong

Planning & Production: 100 Ways of Living

Editing: Xiao Jing

Contact: xiaojing@foodthink.cn

Published by Foodthink