This week, Kaiser Kuo hosts a discussion all about China’s best-known gadflies: artist-cum-activist Ai Weiwei and writer, auto racer and blogger Han Han. So join us as we talk about who both of these public figures are and why they’ve gained so much attention both inside China and in the foreign press. We’ll look at how both are perceived domestically and abroad, talk about why they haven’t been silenced the way other equally vocal critics have been, and ask if it even makes sense to speak of them in the same breath. Following this, we close with a quick discussion of the Wangjialing mine rescue you’ve read all about in the newspapers.

It was a great discussion although upon listening back I appear to be suffering from a terminal case of the “you knows.” Time has diluted my radio chops. As always, the podcast is hosted by our friends at Popup Chinese. It’s also available through iTunes.

I’m sitting out next week’s Sinica, but should be back in the week or two after that. Jeremiah Jenne, author of the excellent Jottings from the Granite Studio, will be joining in the meantime.

If only I wasn't so pensive...