Best Royal Pavilion Podcasts (2025)

1
In the Know - Chinese EVs in 2025 23:57

15h ago23:57

23:57

We noticed a LOT of electric vehicles in our latest trip to China. This episode discusses latest EV trends that are also making headlines in the west.

1
In the Know - The Earring Scandal 22:48

7d ago22:48

22:48

The biggest bombshell over the past two weeks involve the 17 year old actress Huang Yang Tian Tian and a pair of earrings that she wore. This set off a firestorm with everyone focusing on her background and potential corruption. Meanwhile, Zhao Li Ying has a new rumored boyfriend that has sent her fans spinning. Listen to our latest podcast episode…

1
Joy of Life S1 - Ep 46: The Abrupt End 23:17

11d ago23:17

23:17

Fan Xian and company head out on their journey back to the Qing kingdom. Turns out, the 2nd prince was behind everything Fan Xian suffered in the Capital. He threatens Fan Xian into working with him but Fan Xian refuses. However, this results in a shock ending that left fans waiting painfully for season 2.…

1
Joy of Life - S1 - Ep 45: Tying loose ends 22:02

18d ago22:02

22:02

In the penultimate episode of season 1 of Joy of Life, Fan Xian must tie up the loose ends before heading home. That loose end is Shen Zhong. He cleverly sets a trap for Shen Zhong by building a fragile alliance with Shang Shan Hu. Sure enough, with some prompting from Shang Shan Hu, the Empress Dowager strips Shen Zhong of his powers. Before Fan X…

1
In the Know - Battle of the Fans 21:51

23d ago21:51

21:51

Fans of different celebrities (Wang He Di, Bai Lu, Zeng Li etc) have been the center of different stories over the last few days. Listen to hear what's happened, often times without input from the idol/celebrity they represent.

1
Joy of Life - S1 - Ep 44 part 2: Friends? 21:55

25d ago21:55

21:55

Hai Tang Duo Duo invites Fan Xian to her residence after a grocery trip. They have a delightful meal together where Fan Xian finally let's down his guard. After several drinks, he reveals to Hai Tang Duo Duo that he is lonely. He has no friends. He wants to do more in this world than just politics and here he recites the inspiration of this whole s…

1
May 2025 Chinese Drama Update - Love in Pavilion 淮水竹亭, The Demon Hunter's Romance 无忧渡, Serendipity 榜上佳婿and more! 24:50

29d ago24:50

24:50

Here are the dramas that aired in April and are airing now in May The Demon Hunter's Romance 无忧渡 starring Allen Ren Jia Lun and Song Zu Er surprised everyone with its airing as Song Zu Er was soft blacklisted a few years ago. Love in Pavilion 淮水竹亭 is part 2 to the Fox Spirit Matchmaker series starring Liu Shi Shi and Zhang Yun Long. Serendipity 榜上佳…

1
Joy of Life - S1 - Ep 43 + Ep 44 part 1: Changing Allegiances 22:47

1M ago22:47

22:47

In episodes 43 and 44 of Joy of Life, Fan Xian begins to set in motion his plan to seize power within the Overwatch Council and gain favor in the Qi Kingdom. The best way to do so is to form new allegiances with different factions and defeat the formidable Shen Zhong. Fan Xian brings to light the of embezzlement occurring in the kingdom to the Empr…

1
In the Know - The 7 year Itch 17:32

1M ago17:32

17:32

Social media was all abuzz around April 20th because for the 1st time since they started dating 7 years ago, Guan Xiao Tong did NOT wish Lu Han a happy birthday on Weibo. We talk about what the implications are and the speculation around their relationship.

1
Joy of Life - S1 - Ep 42: 4D Chess 23:37

1M ago23:37

23:37

In episode 42 of Joy of Life, Fan Xian is stunned to discover that not only is he a prince, but that his whole life has been nothing more than a lie that was masterminded by Chen Ping Ping. The reason for his move to the Capital, his friendship with Teng Zi Jing, and his trip to the Qi Kingdom was all pushed forward by Chen Ping Ping. He also deduc…

1
In the Know - Stars who need a break 23:40

1M ago23:40

23:40

In 2025, Zhao Lu Si and Zhang Wan Yi have dominated the trending topics on social media, but not all to their benefit. Zhao Lu Si, who publicly announced she was suffering from mental illness late last year, released a new reality show that resulted substantial backlash in China. Zhang Wan Yi has fallen out of favor with Chinese audiences despite h…

1
Joy of Life - S1 - Ep 41: Shocking Secrets 22:56

2M ago22:56

22:56

Fan Xian spends time with Xiao En on his deathbed who reveals shocking secrets to Fan Xian after mistaking him for his grandson.

1
In The Know - Sister Stage 2025 pt 2 24:49

2M ago24:49

24:49

We're back to discuss the remaining 15 ladies for this season's Sister Stage 2025! There are actresses, singers, former idols, hosts, and rappers! Listen to this episode to learn more about these ladies and how they performed during the first round of individual performances!

1
Joy of Life S1 - Ep 39pt 2 + 40: Another Rescue 20:44

2M ago20:44

20:44

With Yan Bing Yun rescued, Fan Xian now needs to work on rescuing Xiao En under Shen Zhong's watch. To do so, he partners up with Shang Shan Hu

1
Apr 2025 Chinese Drama Update - The Glory 雁回时, A Moment But Forever 念无双, Ski into Love 嘘，国王在冬眠, Breaking the Shadows 乌云之上 and more! 19:34

2M ago19:34

19:34

Karen and Cathy discuss the latest dramas that have aired in March and April! Ski into Love 嘘，国王在冬眠 starring Esther Yu Shu Xin and Li Yin was a disappointment ratings wise despite all of the promotions. The Glory 雁回时 starring Chen Du Ling and Xing Yun Lai was a surprise hit for Tencent due to the strength of the plot, not the acting from the leads.…

1
Joy of Life S1 - Ep 38 + Ep 39 pt 1: The Successful Rescue 23:52

2M ago23:52

23:52

Fan Xian and company tail Shen Zhong's sister in order to find where Yan Bing Yun is hidden. After some scheming, the group is successfully able to rescue him.

1
In The Know - Sister Stage 2025 pt 1 28:25

2M ago28:25

28:25

It's that time of year again! We introduce 15 of the 30 sisters for this year's singing competition Sisters Who Make Waves but now renamed as Sister Stage 2025.

1
Joy of Life S1 - Ep 37: The Other Emperor 25:00

2M ago25:00

25:00

Fan Xian is brought forth to meet the Qi Kingdom Emperor who is more than meets the eye. The Emperor proposes that Fan XIan works with him to achieve their own separate goals

1
In the Know - Descent of a fallen idol 23:42

2M ago23:42

23:42

In light of all the recent arrests and scandals, Karen and Cathy take a step back to discuss the public images and personas that Chinese celebrities carefully curate and the different levels of how those images crack or destroyed. Some celebrities simply have a smear on their image, others are soft blacklisted or no longer marketable, or to the mos…

1
Joy of Life - S1 ep 36: New Formidable Foe 21:15

2M ago21:15

21:15

Fan Xian and company meet Shen Zhong, the head of the imperial guard of the Qi kingdom. He is a new formidable foe as he is quite ruthless to his own men and intelligent enough to guess all of Fan Xian's orders in the Qi kingdom.

1
In the Know: More Arrests and a Korean Scandal 19:40

3M ago19:40

19:40

Arrests and scandal have dominated the Chinese trending topics for the past week. First, Wang Da Lu, who was already arrested for evading Taiwan's military service, is now further implicated in the assault of a driver. Then, Taiwanese actor Li Wei has been implicated in the murder of a woman and is now in trial. But the biggest scandal that has bee…

1
Joy of Life - ep 34+35: Chaos at the Border 28:58

3M ago28:58

28:58

Fan Xian and company make their way north towards the Northern Qi kingdom but are met with not 1, not 2 but 4 different parties attacking him. He has to think on his feet in order to ensure he stays alive. In the mix are old acquaintances that want him dead while he meets Shang Shan Hu and Hai Tang Duo Duo of the Qi kingdom…

1
Mar 2025 Chinese Drama Update - The First Frost 难哄, Filter 滤镜, Si Jin 似锦, Northward 北上 and more! 22:21

3M ago22:21

22:21

Karen and Cathy discuss the latest dramas that have aired in Feb and early March! The First Frost 难哄 starring Bai Jing Ting and Zhang Ruo Nan was one of the most highly anticipated romance dramas. Filter 滤镜 starring Tan Jian Ci and Li Lan Di has been a surprise critical darling. Zhang Ling He rounds out the trio of romance dramas with The Best Thin…

1
Joy of Life - S1 Ep 33: The Road to the Qi Kingdom 19:52

3M ago19:52

19:52

In episode 33, Fan Xian is tasked with Operation Hong Xiu Zhao by the Emperor as his mission to the Qi Kingdom. Fan Xian says his goodbyes and begins his journey north with the formidable prisoner, Xiao En. Fan Jian gifts Fan Xian his own personal guard led by the hilarious Gao Da who takes big issue with the thieving Wang Qi Nian. Fan Xian must ke…

1
In The Know - Separation and Arrests 20:44

3M ago20:44

20:44

It's been a busy week in the Chinese entertainment world. Chen Xiao and Chen Yan Xi officially announced their divorce after 8 years of marriage. This is after several years of speculation of trouble in paradise, most notably Chen Xiao's absence from Chen Yan Xi's father's funeral back in December. Other celebrities have also been arrested includin…

1
Joy of Life - S1 Ep 32: Work Trip 22:55

3M ago22:55

22:55

Fan Xian is essentially forced to lead the diplomatic envoy to the Qi Kingdom and exchange Xiao En for Yan Bing Yun. Even though he didn't want to go, the Emperor threatens his marriage to Wan'Er to get him to comply.

1
In The Know - Da S / Barbie Hsu and Box Office Returns 27:16

4M ago27:16

27:16

The top trending topic over the past 2 weeks has been the shocking death of Da S or Barbie Hsu. The Taiwanese actress shot to fame in the early 2000s in the Romance Idol drama Meteor Garden and has stayed in the public eye ever since. She died while on vacation in Japan in early February, shocking everyone. The online speculation and vitriol toward…

1
Joy of Life S1 - ep 31: Kicked Out 22:10

4M ago22:10

22:10

The Princess Royal is ultimately kicked out of the capital for overstepping her boundaries. We say goodbye (for now) to this fan favorite - an unapologetically ruthless and ambitious woman.

1
Feb 2025 Chinese Drama Update - Moonlight Mystique, Perfect Match, Kill My Sins and more! 25:37

4M ago25:37

25:37

A fresh slate of dramas began airing around the Lunar New Year holidays with some surprise hits and duds. Bai Lu led Moonlight Mystique (白月梵星) with co-star Ao Rui Peng to middling success. Drifting Away (漂白) starring Guo Jing Fei and Zhao Jin Mai was a surprise hit for iQiYi. Angelababy, after being soft blacklisted for over a year, returned with E…

1
Joy of Life S1 Ep 30 - The Comet Falls 23:04

4M ago23:04

23:04

The Princess Royal believes she was able to throw suspicion of treachery back onto Fan Xian and is ready to take over the Overwatch Council, only to realize that her ally, Zhu Ge, is caught in Chen Ping Ping's trap.

1
In The Know - Welcome to the Year of the Snake! 27:53

4M ago27:53

27:53

Happy Lunar New Year and welcome to the Year of the Snake! We will talk about this year's annual spectacle that is the Spring Festival Gala! While not as drama-filled as last year's show, the event was still an extravagant affair with a dizzying cast of celebrities and stars from China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Heck, One Republic even performed this …

1
Joy of Life S1 ep 29: Flying Under the Radar 28:20

4M ago28:20

28:20

Fan Xian gets some help from Wan'Er in sneaking back into the palace to replace the key he stole from the Empress Dowager's palace. Fortunately, he is able to avoid detection. Meanwhile, he makes a ruckus in the capital by exposing the Princess Royal's traitorous activity

1
In The Know - Upcoming Chinese Movies for the Lunar New Year Holidays 21:40

4M ago21:40

21:40

We share 6 movies that are hitting Chinese movie theaters for Lunar New Year next week. They include Legend of the Condor Heroes: The Gallants, starring Xiao Zhan and Zhuang Da Fei. Creation of the Gods 2: Demon Force, NeZha 2, Detective 1900, Operation Hadal, and Boonie Bears: Future Reborn.

1
Joy of Life - S1 - Ep 27 pt 2 + Ep 28: Mom's Mysteries 22:31

4M ago22:31

22:31

After successfully stealing his mother's key from the Empress Dowager's residence, Fan Xian finally opens his mother's mysterious case. The details reveal significant answers to Fan Xian and his mother's origins.

1
In the Know - Chinese Pop Culture News: Weibo Night and Empresses in the Palace Reunion 36:40

4M ago36:40

36:40

On January 11, 2025, the Chinese entertainment stars largely attended two events. The annual Weibo Night, including headliners such as Zhao Li Ying, Xiao Zhan, Wang Yi Bo, Wang He Di, Yu Shu Xin, Ni Ni, and many many more, had the stars walking the red carpet and making slight jabs at Weibo. Shen Teng was crowned Weibo King while Zhao Li Ying took …

1
Joy of Life - S1 - Ep 27 pt 1: A Star is Born 34:02

5M ago34:02

34:02

In our favorite episode of Joy of Life, Fan Xian stuns the world with his output of hundreds of poems during his drunken monologue during the foreign banquet in episode 27. Seeing through the trap set by Zhuang Mo Han, Fan Xian immediately recites hundreds of poems including many of the most famous poems in the Chinese canon. Listen to our latest p…

1
In the Know - Chinese Pop Culture News: A Chaotic New Year 33:30

5M ago33:30

33:30

The end of the holidays and into the new year saw quite a bit of chaos on social media. First was the revelation that Zhao Lu Si, who was filming a drama, was very ill and in the hospital. More stories came out afterwards about her illness, different causes and other trauma she suffered int he past. Afterwards, relatively unknown actor Li Ming De b…

1
Joy of Life - S1 - Ep 26: The Banquet 22:55

5M ago22:55

22:55

Fan Xian is invited a grand diplomatic banquet. He's tapped to showcase his literary skills in front of legendary scholar Zhuang Mo Han, something Fan Xian is worried about. Zhuang Mo Han comes forward and calls out Fan Xian for plagiarizing, causing drama at the banquet.

1
Jan 2025 Chinese Drama Update - Guardians of Da Feng, Flourished Peony, The Blossoming Love and more! 24:43

5M ago24:43

24:43

Welcome to 2025 and the new slate of dramas that will kick off the new year! Dylan Wang He Di's highly anticipated drama Guardians of Da Feng began airing to much fanfare but hasn't met expectations. Yang Zi and Li Xian reunite in the upcoming Tang Dynasty drama Flourishing Peonies after their 2019 smash hit Go Go Squid. Zhang Bin Bin launches the …

1
In The Know - Chinese Pop Culture News: 2024 Men's Winners, Losers and Everything in Between 20:26

5M ago20:26

20:26

Our final episode of 2024 features our discussion on the Chinese actors that were the winners, losers and everything in between this year. Ding Yu Xi saw success this year with Love Game in Eastern Fantasy while Zhang Wan Yi and Bai Jing Ting saw their popularity wane. Listen in for our commentary!

1
In The Know - Chinese Pop Culture News: 2024 Women's Winners, Losers and Everything in Between 27:58

5M ago27:58

27:58

Check out our entirely subjective view of the 2024 Chinese actresses. Listen to our take on who were the winners, losers, up and comers, the controversial and more!

1
In The Know - Chinese Pop Culture News: 2024 Drama Recap 31:55

5M ago31:55

31:55

As 2024 winds down, Karen and Cathy share the most viewed dramas and most popular dramas, winners, and losers of the second half of the year. Then we discuss the top dramas of 2024, some interesting trends, and finally our top dramas of the year! Listen to hear the stats and our thoughts on the Chinese dramas of 2024.…

1
Joy of Life - S1 - Ep 25: A Rough Day at Work 23:23

6M ago23:23

23:23

Fan Xian steps in to save Chen Ping Ping from a coup within the Overwatch Council but it turned out to be nothing more than a test. Meanwhile, he is also called into partake in diplomatic peace talks with an envoy of the Northern Qi kingdom that leaves him very confused as to how these negotiations work. Listen to our latest podcast episode on Fan …

1
In The Know - Chinese Pop Culture News: Marriage, Death and Drunken Rants 21:51

6M ago21:51

21:51

While 1 former EXO member got married in December (Huang Zi Tao), another former member, Lu Han, went on weird rants while livestreaming. Meanwhile, Chen Xiao and Chen Yan Xi divorce rumors continue to run rampant and we also highlight the death of legendary Taiwanese writer, Qiong Yao.

1
Joy of Life - S1 - Ep 24: A Group of Eclectic Women 30:33

6M ago30:33

30:33

In a delightful episode 24, Fan Xian visits the palace for the first time to meet the women of the Qing Emperor's harem. These ladies watched Wan'Er grow up and want to meet him. He is shocked to find the ladies all weird but personable in their own way. He is summoned to visit his future mother-in-law where she reveals that she was the mastermind …

1
Dec 2024 Chinese Drama Update - Brocade Odyssey, The Land Of Warriors, Deep Purple 18:12

6M ago18:12

18:12

2024 comes to a close with new dramas that aired in late November and new ones announced in December. Brocade Odyssey 蜀锦人家 starring Tan Song Yun and Zheng Ye Cheng marks a return to period romance dramas for Tan Song Yun after 3 years. Meng Zi Yi stars in Deep Purple 九重紫. These two add to the growing list of dramas depicting women building business…

1
Joy of Life - S1 - Ep 23: Mixed up Kidnapping 20:54

6M ago20:54

20:54

Fan Xian wraps up his visit from Tai Ping Yard but returns to Wan'Er telling him that her father's men accidentally kidnapped the Crown Prince. Fan Xian and company hurry back to the capital to speak with the Chancellor. The result? The Chancellor no longer suspects Fan Xian of any involvement in his son's death.…

1
In the Know - Chinese Pop Culture News: A welcome return and new romance buzz 22:33

7M ago22:33

22:33

After a 3 year hiatus, Chinese vlogger and global phenomenon Li Zi Qi set the internet ablaze by releasing 3 new videos. She chose lacquerware for her return which holds a unique significance to her. We discuss her background and influence not just in China but globally too. Elsewhere, a new romance might be blooming with Gu Li Na Zha and Zhang Yun…

1
Joy of Life - S1 - Ep 22: Spring Outing 22:44

7M ago22:44

22:44

Fan Xian takes Wan'Er and several others out on a spring outing/picnic to enjoy a change of scenery but both Wan'Er and Fan Xian have ulterior motives while they are out.

1
Nov 2024 Chinese Drama Update - Love Game in Eastern Fantasy, The Story of Pearl Girl, Romance in the Alley, Fangs of Fortune, Kill Me Love Me 25:03

7M ago25:03

25:03

November has a new slate of dramas with the 95 flowers Esther Yu Shu Xin and Zhao Lu Si headlining a drama each. Yu Shu Xin stars in Love Game in Eastern Fantasy 永夜星河 with co-star Ding Yu Xi. Zhao Lu Si is back with her The Long Ballad co-star Liu Yu Ning in The Story of Pearl Girl or 珠帘玉幕. The surprising winner though is the 70s, 80s drama, Romanc…

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