The Taiwan History Podcast: Formosa Files

By: John Ross and Eryk Michael Smith
  • Summary

  • Now streaming season five, the world's biggest and highest-rated Taiwan history podcast, Formosa Files, releases ENGLISH episodes every THURSDAY, as well as one short CHINESE episode on WEDNESDAYS. Formosa Files: The Taiwan History Podcast uses an engaging storytelling format and is non-chronological, meaning every week is a new adventure. John Ross is an author and publisher of works on Taiwan and China, while Eryk Michael Smith is a writer and journalist for local and global media outlets. Both hosts have lived in Taiwan for decades and call the island home. Email: formosafiles@gmail.com
    John Ross and Eryk Michael Smith
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Episodes
  • S5-E10 – Taiwan in the “Teens” (1911-1919)
    Apr 24 2025

    This early part of the twentieth century was filled with revolutions and wars (including the First World War). Formosa, however, was a relatively stable Japanese colony. But not entirely stable. We’ll tell you about Chinese revolutionary Luó Fúxīng (羅福星), who was executed in Taiwan for trying to rid this island of the Japanese. And we’ve got some good info on the often-overlooked Tapani Incident – the largest Han Chinese (with Indigenous allies) revolt against Japan… and it happened two decades into Japanese rule!


    Find links, pics and more at formosafiles.com

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    28 mins
  • FORMOSA FILES IN CHINESE! CH54-永和勵行中學殺人事件—臺灣1962年兩大連續殺人案(2)
    Apr 23 2025

    1962年,在當時的臺北縣永和鎮發生了一件轟動全臺的連續殺人案。一位(被)退休的老師持槍進入勵行中學,造成七死三傷的慘案。然而這件案件最引人注目的,卻反而是兇手的身分以及他在案發後的詭異行徑。這集的 Formosa Files 中文版 Podcast,就讓兩位主持人來跟大家聊聊這起喧騰一時的殺人事件。


    主持人簡介:

    Eryk Michael Smith-ICRT南臺灣特派員,長期從事記者採編工作、聲音編輯,也會客串DJ。現居高雄,在臺灣已經居住了接近30年,認為臺灣是自己的家。

    Eric Hsu(徐葆權)-彰化北斗人,從大學南漂高雄以來,人生的大部分時間都在高雄渡過。關心臺灣文史與地方文化發展,尤其是自己的兩個家鄉:北斗與高雄。

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    19 mins
  • S5-E9 – Magistrate Mass Murder and Gangsters in Government
    Apr 17 2025

    After the “execution-style” murder of Taoyuan Magistrate Liu Pang-yu and half a dozen others at Liu’s official residence in November 1996 by assassins deemed connected to the underworld, Taiwan’s authorities began getting serious about trying to rid its ranks of those with ties to organized crime – but it’s no easy task. A report from that same year found that at least a third of elected officials were part of a system termed “Black Gold,” or put simply: gangsters in government.


    Links, pics and more at formosafiles.com

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    30 mins
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The best Taiwanese History podcast in English

This podcast is very unique in many ways. It's in English. It tells Taiwanese history from Taiwanese's perspective and it's honest! They also started the Chinese-speaking episodes. A good opportunity to polish my Chinese.

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