THE CHINESE FORMOSA FILES PODCAST NOW HAS ITS OWN FEED! CLICK HERE TO BE REDIRECTED
The History of Taiwan - Formosa Files
Rated #1 by FeedSpot - Taiwan Podcasts

The best podcast about the history of Taiwan

FORMOSA FILES, the best podcast about the history of Taiwan, is sponsored by The FRANK CHEN FOUNDATION (陳啟川先生文教基金會) www.frank-chen.org.tw

Hosted by John Ross (author, co-founder of publisher Camphor Press) and Eryk Michael Smith (writer, broadcaster, journalist). Both Ross and Smith have lived in Taiwan for well over 20 years and call the island home.

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Bad Manners & Book Crimes: How an American Op-Ed Sparked Taiwan’s Self-Awareness Movement – S5-E15

Recent Episodes

May 28, 2025

Bad Manners & Book Crimes: How an American Op-Ed Sparked Taiwan’s Sel…

In 1963, a 32-year-old American grad student in Taipei wrote a newspaper editorial complaining that Taiwanese people were great at treating friends kindly, but kind of awful in public. Within days, he had unintentionally launched a nationwide student movement for civility, morality, and self-awa…

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May 22, 2025

EXTRA FOR HARDCORE LISTENERS! Hear the entire story of Japanese docto…

For those of you who want more specific info, here is the entire conversation John Ross enjoyed with Dr. Jimmy Lee on the remarkable life of Dr. Takagi Tomoe, one of colonial Taiwan’s most influential figures.

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May 21, 2025

Takagi Tomoe: The Japanese Doctor Who Devoted Himself to Taiwan – S5-…

In 1902, Dr. Takagi Tomoe arrived in newly-colonized Japanese Formosa as a seasoned Japanese medical expert sent here to battle bubonic plague – one of the many tropical sicknesses that killed thousands of local people each year. Takagi had a rare sense of empathy. Unlike many of his peers, he enco…

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May 15, 2025

S5-E13 - 1962: Taiwan’s Bloody Year You’ve Never Heard Of

This week, Formosa Files digs into two wild and almost totally forgotten killings from Taiwan’s Cold War years. First up: a soldier named Li Wei, a former POW, sets his army barracks on fire in the middle of the night and opens fire on his fellow soldiers. The whole thing gets swept under the rug. …

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May 7, 2025

S5-E12 – Names… Too Many Names!

Your name carries history, identity, and sometimes in Taiwan, salmon? In this episode, we explore Taiwanese/Chinese naming traditions: family names, generational names, courtesy names, and how colonization, politics, and even sushi promotions have shaped them. From the chaos of post-war name change…

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May 7, 2025

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT! 重要公告

The Chinese podcast hasn’t disappeared; it’s now got its own feed. FORMOSA FILES中文版的節目沒有消失!我們成立了新的頻道( SPOTIFY 、 APPLE ),並將所有的中文版 podcast 章節移動過去。之後FORMOSA FILES中文版將以新的頻道繼續為各位聽眾朋友帶來有趣的臺灣歷史故事。 Those who wish to keep listening to Eryk speak bad Chinese to Eric… find it on SPOTIFY, APPLE, YT, and …

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Reviews

Bringing Taiwanese history to your earphones: The Formosa Files podcast

"The Formosa Files podcast is a highly accessible yet in-depth look at key events over the past 400 years, presented by John Ross and Eryk Michael Smith. The division of air-time is roughly equal. Oft…"

Steven Crook | Oct. 29, 2023

Outstanding podcast!

"As informative as it is entertaining, been following it for more than a year, way before I came to live and study in Taiwan. Awesome podcast, great work!!!"

Marcel Oppliger | June 22, 2024

Ugh…

"I had been enjoying the weekly treat to interesting, sometimes delightful stories from Taiwan’s past. If I wanted to listen to American war propaganda, I would have tuned into one of those from US be…"

tptkto3 | July 23, 2023

Best and only English podcast about Taiwan's real history

"This podcast is highly entertaining and probably most accurate about Taiwan's history before the year 2000. If you are interested in Taiwan or living in Taiwan, it is a weekly must to listen."

Formosanbs | Sept. 6, 2022

Informative and entertaining

"A great source of Taiwan history for English speakers. The hosts have a great rapport and keep the storytelling interesting. Great job with the research and broader historical context , too, that are…"

cryptic phrasing | May 25, 2023

Ecliptic History at its Best

"Looking for a better understanding of Taiwan as an English speaker who sees it in the news but is otherwise ignorant… this podcast is for you! Looking to understand history not just as a narrative b…"

greasemandan | March 30, 2023

Great podcast

"Please keep up the great work"

AnthonyWBaker | March 5, 2023

Taiwanese spymaster, 'murder of century,' Nixon groveling to Mao, and more from Formosa Files Formosa Files co-founder shares popular stories told on the Taiwan historical podcast

"In an interview on June 1, Smith, who is also the ICRT Southern correspondent, talked about the inspiration for the show and its very first episode about a fake Formosan. He also shared excerpts of t…"

Keoni Everington | Oct. 29, 2023

The best English podcast about Taiwan history

"In order to prepare for my long-planned trip to Taiwan I tried to find relevant materials regarding Taiwan history both in written and audio forms. Luckily came cross this podcast in time! It provi…"

IceTulipNL | Feb. 1, 2024

Linda Gail Arrigo interview was fantastic!

"Hi, how can I obtain your unedited full length Linda Gail Arrigo interview? zanardi50@yahoo.com Thanks!"

Bill Lee | Feb. 10, 2024

Thank You for this fantastic podcast!

"What a wonderful podcast about Taiwan's history, culture and more! Love how informative yet entertaining all the episodes are, discussing the various topics about Taiwan in a very enjoyable way. Wh…"

Emese B | Feb. 15, 2024

Wonderfully informative!

"This is a well researched podcast on the history of Formosa which is present day Taiwan. Covering over 300 years of the island’s history, it is wide ranging in its scope and for someone who is Taiwan…"

Aus Twilight Fan | Feb. 23, 2024

Amazing podcast! Very entertaining.

"This is THE podcast I listen to in my car while commuting to work daily. It teaches us about history and interesting facts about the island of Taiwan in a casual and fun way. Both hosts are very know…"

Alexandre | Feb. 27, 2024

Insightful and well written podcasts on Taiwan-related history

"I like all the podcasts I've listened to...This one is interested me because I didn't know that CKS, and the US for that matter, were so keen to forment a rebellion in Tibet 1959-60. Fascinating."

Gary Heath | March 2, 2024

Fascinating

"I almost can’t believe this podcast exists — it’s the only English-language show I’ve encountered that covers this material, and it’s good to boot! Listening to the Formosa Files has added depth and …"

Alex | April 8, 2024

A Thorough Historical Look INTO Taiwan

"I love this podcast! I love Taiwan and I really want to live there but until I can, I really feel like John, Eryk and I are meeting for coffee (well they'd prob have beer!) and are friends of mine w…"

Virginia Vaquero (and her little dog Fluff! who also listens) | April 11, 2024

Love your podcast

"謝謝這邊提供一個英文窗口讓全世界認識台灣,也認識台灣歷史!"

NestaLin | April 26, 2024

Excellent history of a famous movuec

"Great fantastic, very detailed history! Thanks"

William jones | May 31, 2024

Interesting Taiwan History

"This podcast is one of the most enjoyable ways to learn Taiwan history. The topics are varied and the hosts have a chemistry that keeps things moving along. You'll never be bored and it's amazing how…"

vtcafe | May 22, 2024

Outstanding podcast!

"As informative as it is entertaining, been following it for more than a year, way before I came to live and study in Taiwan. Awesome podcast, great work!!!"

Marcel Oppliger | June 22, 2024

Amazing achievements of Taiwanese that I had no idea of

"Excellent, vivid, in-depth, well researched."

Roberto | June 24, 2024

Excellent program

"“Formosa Files” is well-done, informative, and consistently fascinating"

Scott Savitz | July 1, 2024

Interesting Taiwan History

"This podcast is one of the most enjoyable ways to learn Taiwan history. The topics are varied and the hosts have a chemistry that keeps things moving along. You'll never be bored and it's amazing how…"

vtcafe | July 8, 2024

Excellent podcast.

"Speakers and topics are terrific."

Dona | July 10, 2024

My go-to podcast on Taiwan

"This is now my go-to podcast on both the history of and current happenings in Taiwan. I listen to each episode with great interest, and used it to plan my travels in Taiwan this past November 2023. I…"

Yueh Chuang | July 18, 2024

Appreciation of Formosa Files podcast

"I have listened to the podcast for several years and learned a lot about Taiwan history. I look forward to each episode and enjoy them greatly. Thank you."

Peter Hanson | Aug. 14, 2024

A big Thank You

"Really appreciate your efforts to tell us so many untold stories about my homeland, every episode I listened to so far is jaw dropping moments to know more about the hidden history of the island. In…"

德國家庭主婦 | Aug. 10, 2024

Great show

"Really enjoy this podcast and the range of the topics in particular. It’s nice to learn about Taiwanese history beyond solely the other side. The interviews are especially interesting."

oldstylegreats | Aug. 15, 2024

Great show

"I backpacked around Taiwan for a month and this show was great in helping me learn about Taiwan before my trip. The fact that it is in both English and mandarin is so great. I really appreciate this …"

shootthemoonmom | Oct. 5, 2024

Enjoyable Taiwanese History

"Hosts Erik Michael Smith and John Ross are longtime residents of Taiwan. Although Taiwan is often in the headlines, especially now, few Americans know much about its history and its relationship to m…"

agpbl | July 27, 2024

Why 119 in Taiwan?

"Just listened to show number CH14 on “numbers in Taiwan”. I haven’t verified this but your query on why 119 is used in Taiwan instead of 911 like in the US. As your show had pointed out on many occas…"

nvs3gf | July 18, 2024

Best Podcast on Taiwan

"Great hosts who know their subject well. Interesting, informative, and history worth learning."

Kimball O’Hara | Sept. 26, 2024

I absolutely love listening to Eryk and John's educational talks about Taiwan and its rich history

"After living and working here for almost a decade, the podcast has been an invaluable resource. Formosa Files has given me a deeper understanding of the culture, language, and many of the lesser-kno…"

Nick | Oct. 16, 2024

Excellent Show

"Very informative. Love listening to the shows."

wdsp69 | Oct. 17, 2024

Amazing

"Read the title"

I love my thoughts on | Nov. 5, 2024

Interesting Taiwan History

"This podcast is one of the most enjoyable ways to learn Taiwan history. The topics are varied and the hosts have a chemistry that keeps things moving along. You'll never be bored and it's amazing how…"

vtcafe | Nov. 12, 2024

👍

"Who knew history was so interesting ❤️‍🔥"

Jambuchi | Jan. 27, 2025

Interesting but bumpy

"These are interesting pieces of history but the scripts and delivery by the hosts are rough. Would also be great if subject matter experts could be brought in from time to time for freeform interview…"

mrlan888 | Feb. 16, 2025