Best HSK 1 Podcasts (2025)

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Learning Chinese Through Life, Not Lessons: How Matthew McGuire Did It 30:14

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5m ago30:14

30:14

What began as a teenage crush became a lifelong journey into Chinese for Matthew McGuire, an Australian creator and accent coach. In this episode, Jared sits down with Matthew to discuss how he learned Mandarin without textbooks, grammar drills, or writing practice. Instead, he immersed himself in love dramas, shadowed dialogue, and built a Chinese…

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Episode 53 - Basic: Asking For Directions 🗺️ 3:06

5h ago3:06

3:06

📖 Want the transcript (and more)? Join our free Outlier Mandarin Community to get full transcripts of every episode — plus a space to ask questions and connect with other learners. 👉 https://start.outlier-linguistics.com/join-community-podcast-transcripts Episode 53 - Basic: Asking For Directions 🗺️ Ever gotten lost in a new city and didn’t know ho…

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Episode 52 - Foundations: My Best Friend 👯‍♂️ 2:07

1h ago2:07

2:07

📖 Want the transcript (and more)? Join our free Outlier Mandarin Community to get full transcripts of every episode — plus a space to ask questions and connect with other learners. 👉 https://start.outlier-linguistics.com/join-community-podcast-transcripts Episode 52 - Foundations: My Best Friend 👯‍♂️ In this warm and simple story, Christine shares …

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Episode 51 - Basic: The Time When I Was Late For Work 🚌 2:22

1h ago2:22

2:22

📖 Want the transcript (and more)? Join our free Outlier Mandarin Community to get full transcripts of every episode — plus a space to ask questions and connect with other learners. 👉 https://start.outlier-linguistics.com/join-community-podcast-transcripts Episode 51 - Basic: The Time When I Was Late For Work 🚌 Have you ever been late because the bu…

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Episode 50 - Foundations: Basketball Is My Favorite Sport🏀 1:50

5h ago1:50

1:50

📖 Want the transcript (and more)? Join our free Outlier Mandarin Community to get full transcripts of every episode — plus a space to ask questions and connect with other learners. 👉 https://start.outlier-linguistics.com/join-community-podcast-transcripts Episode 50 - Foundations: Basketball Is My Favorite Sport🏀 What’s your favorite sport? In this…

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Episode 49 - Basic: How To Order Food 🍜 2:23

11d ago2:23

2:23

📖 Want the transcript (and more)? Join our free Outlier Mandarin Community to get full transcripts of every episode — plus a space to ask questions and connect with other learners. 👉 https://start.outlier-linguistics.com/join-community-podcast-transcripts Episode 49 - Basic: How To Order Food 🍜 Do you know how to order food politely in Mandarin? In…

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Episode 48 - Foundations: I Want To Ask For Directions 🗺️ 1:32

4d ago1:32

1:32

📖 Want the transcript (and more)? Join our free Outlier Mandarin Community to get full transcripts of every episode — plus a space to ask questions and connect with other learners. 👉 https://start.outlier-linguistics.com/join-community-podcast-transcripts Episode 48 - Foundations: I Want To Ask For Directions 🗺️ Have you ever gotten lost and didn’t…

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Episode 47 - Intermediate: On My Way To Work🚗🛑 5:18

1d ago5:18

5:18

📖 Want the transcript (and more)? Join our free Outlier Mandarin Community to get full transcripts of every episode — plus a space to ask questions and connect with other learners. 👉 https://start.outlier-linguistics.com/join-community-podcast-transcripts Episode 47 - Intermediate: On My Way To Work🚗🛑 Have you ever left home early, only to still en…

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10 Things AI Will Never Do Better Than a Chinese Learner 26:53

7d ago26:53

26:53

With AI advancing at lightning speed, many are wondering: Do I still need to learn Chinese? Jared and John say yes, and in this episode, they break down 10 ways your Chinese skills remain AI-proof. These are the kinds of things no app, bot, or translation tool can truly replace. Along the way, you'll hear stories about phone conversations that left…

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Episode 46 - Basic: How Did I Know My Best Friend 👯‍♀️ 2:31

11d ago2:31

2:31

📖 Want the transcript (and more)? Join our free Outlier Mandarin Community to get full transcripts of every episode — plus a space to ask questions and connect with other learners. 👉 https://start.outlier-linguistics.com/join-community-podcast-transcripts Episode 46 - Basic: How Did I Know My Best Friend 👯‍♀️ In this heartwarming beginner episode, …

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Episode 45 - Foundations: Describing Directions 🧭 2:18

18d ago2:18

2:18

📖 Want the transcript (and more)? Join our free Outlier Mandarin Community to get full transcripts of every episode — plus a space to ask questions and connect with other learners. 👉 https://start.outlier-linguistics.com/join-community-podcast-transcripts Episode 45 - Foundations: Describing Directions 🧭 Do you ever get turned around when you’re ou…

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Episode 44 - Advanced: Pedestrians and Cars: Competing for Space in the City 🚶‍♀️🚗🚲 5:20

20d ago5:20

5:20

📖 Want the transcript (and more)? Join our free Outlier Mandarin Community to get full transcripts of every episode — plus a space to ask questions and connect with other learners. 👉 https://start.outlier-linguistics.com/join-community-podcast-transcripts Episode 44 - Advanced: Pedestrians and Cars: Competing for Space in the City 🚶‍♀️🚗🚲 In this ad…

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Episode 43 - Intermediate: Eco-Friendly Shopping 🌱 4:24

22d ago4:24

4:24

📖 Want the transcript (and more)? Join our free Outlier Mandarin Community to get full transcripts of every episode — plus a space to ask questions and connect with other learners. 👉 https://start.outlier-linguistics.com/join-community-podcast-transcripts Episode 43 - Intermediate: Eco-Friendly Shopping 🌱 Have you ever wanted to buy something but a…

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Episode 42 – Basic: Taking a Taxi in Chinese 🚕 2:29

24d ago2:29

2:29

📖 Want the transcript (and more)? Join our free Outlier Mandarin Community to get full transcripts of every episode — plus a space to ask questions and connect with other learners. 👉 https://start.outlier-linguistics.com/join-community-podcast-transcripts Episode 42 – Basic: Taking a Taxi in Chinese 🚕 Need to get around the city? In this beginner-l…

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Episode 41 – Basic: I Went to the Market to Buy Fruit 🍎 1:59

22d ago1:59

1:59

Want the transcript (and more)? Join our free Outlier Mandarin Community to get full transcripts of every episode — plus a space to ask questions and connect with other learners. 👉 https://start.outlier-linguistics.com/join-community-podcast-transcripts Episode 41 – Basic: I Went to the Market to Buy Fruit 🍎 What do you usually buy at the market? I…

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Episode 40 – Intermediate: My First Time at the Gym 🏋️‍♀️ 3:44

28d ago3:44

3:44

📖 Want the transcript (and more)? Join our free Outlier Mandarin Community to get full transcripts of every episode — plus a space to ask questions and connect with other learners. 👉 https://start.outlier-linguistics.com/join-community-podcast-transcripts Episode 40 – Intermediate: My First Time at the Gym 🏋️‍♀️ Do you still remember your first tim…

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A Czech Perspective on Learning Chinese: Renata Mirkova’s Story 47:02

11d ago47:02

47:02

In this episode, Jared sits down with Renata Mirkova, a Chinese language educator from the Czech Republic whose journey into Mandarin began not with a grand plan, but almost by accident. What started as a university entrance decision led her to master Chinese, live in China, and now teach both Czech and Chinese across cultural boundaries. Renata sh…

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Episode 39 - Basic: Describing Directions/Positions 3:08

19d ago3:08

3:08

📖 Want the transcript (and more)? Join our free Outlier Mandarin Community to get full transcripts of every episode — plus a space to ask questions and connect with other learners. 👉 https://start.outlier-linguistics.com/join-community-podcast-transcripts Episode 39 - Basic: Describing Directions/Positions Where is it? In this beginner-level episod…

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Episode 38 - Foundations: Ordering Food 1:35

14d ago1:35

1:35

📖 Want the transcript (and more)? Join our free Outlier Mandarin Community to get full transcripts of every episode — plus a space to ask questions and connect with other learners. 👉 https://start.outlier-linguistics.com/join-community-podcast-transcripts Episode 38 - Foundations: Ordering Food What do you like to eat? In this beginner-level episod…

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Episode 37 - Intermediate: My Best Friend From College 4:30

28d ago4:30

4:30

📖 Want the transcript (and more)? Join our free Outlier Mandarin Community to get full transcripts of every episode — plus a space to ask questions and connect with other learners. 👉 https://start.outlier-linguistics.com/join-community-podcast-transcripts Episode 37 - Intermediate: My Best Friend From College Do you still remember how you met your …

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Episode 36 - Basic: My Favorite Leisure Activities 2:06

1M ago2:06

2:06

📖 Want the transcript (and more)? Join our free Outlier Mandarin Community to get full transcripts of every episode — plus a space to ask questions and connect with other learners. 👉 https://start.outlier-linguistics.com/join-community-podcast-transcripts Episode 36 - Basic: My Favorite Leisure Activities What do you like to do in your free time? I…

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Episode 35 - Foundations: How I Go to School Every Day 2:07

24d ago2:07

2:07

📖 Want the transcript (and more)? Join our free Outlier Mandarin Community to get full transcripts of every episode — plus a space to ask questions and connect with other learners. 👉 https://start.outlier-linguistics.com/join-community-podcast-transcripts Episode 35 - Foundations: How I Go to School Every Day How do you get to school or work each d…

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Episode 34 - Intermediate: Travel Lets Me See a Different Way Of Life 6:28

1M ago6:28

6:28

📖 Want the transcript (and more)? Join our free Outlier Mandarin Community to get full transcripts of every episode — plus a space to ask questions and connect with other learners. 👉 https://start.outlier-linguistics.com/join-community-podcast-transcripts Episode 34 - Intermediate: Travel Lets Me See a Different Way Of Life When you travel, do you …

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Episode 33 - Basic: 成語：一箭雙鵰 | 成语：一箭双雕 3:49

1M ago3:49

3:49

📖 Want the transcript (and more)? Join our free Outlier Mandarin Community to get full transcripts of every episode — plus a space to ask questions and connect with other learners. 👉 https://start.outlier-linguistics.com/join-community-podcast-transcripts Episode 33 - Basic: 成語：一箭雙鵰 | 成语：一箭双雕 yī jiàn shuāng diāo Have you ever gone out to do just on…

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The 7 Worst Ways to Learn Chinese (And What to Do Instead) 33:04

1M ago33:04

33:04

After 300 days of secretly studying Chinese, one guy surprises his partner with phrases like “the cheesecake is grieving” and “the purple elephant eats passion for breakfast.” It’s a bit humorous, but it also highlights a bigger issue: extreme learning methods that feel productive but fall flat in practice. In this episode, Jared and John dive into…

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Episode 32 - Mastery: Practicing Walking with the Seasons 7:09

1M ago7:09

7:09

📖 Want the transcript (and more)? Join our free Outlier Mandarin Community to get full transcripts of every episode — plus a space to ask questions and connect with other learners. 👉 https://start.outlier-linguistics.com/join-community-podcast-transcripts 🎙️ Episode 32 - Mastery: Practicing Walking with the Seasons Some moments aren’t recorded by c…

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Episode 31 - Intermediate: 成語：水滴石穿 Shuǐ dī shí chuān 5:09

1M ago5:09

5:09

📖 Want the transcript (and more)? Join our free Outlier Mandarin Community to get full transcripts of every episode — plus a space to ask questions and connect with other learners. 👉 https://start.outlier-linguistics.com/join-community-podcast-transcripts Episode 31 - Intermediate: 成語：水滴石穿 Shuǐ dī shí chuān We often use the idiom 「水滴石穿」(shuǐ dī shí…

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Episode 30 - Basic: A Special Travel Experience 3:09

1M ago3:09

3:09

📖 Want the transcript (and more)? Join our free Outlier Mandarin Community to get full transcripts of every episode—plus a space to ask questions and connect with other learners. 👉 https://start.outlier-linguistics.com/join-community-podcast-transcripts Episode 30 – Basic: A Special Travel Experience Short trip, big memories. In this beginner-level…

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Episode 29 - Mastery: Chinese Idiom 成語：一箭雙鵰 | 成语：一箭双雕 6:57

2M ago6:57

6:57

📖 Want the transcript (and more)? Join our free Outlier Mandarin Community to get full transcripts of every episode—plus a space to ask questions and connect with other learners. 👉 https://start.outlier-linguistics.com/join-community-podcast-transcripts Episode 29 – Advanced: 一箭雙鵰 (One Arrow, Two Eagles) Sometimes you aim at one target…and another …

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Episode 28 - Advanced: A Graduation Trip That Brought Change 5:50

2M ago5:50

5:50

📖 Want the transcript (and more)? Join our free Outlier Mandarin Community to get full transcripts of every episode—plus a space to ask questions and connect with other learners. 👉 https://start.outlier-linguistics.com/join-community-podcast-transcripts Episode 28 – Advanced: A Graduation Trip That Brought Change If travel is a mirror, then graduat…

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Episode 27 - Intermediate: Different Seasons Bring Different Feelings About The Weather 5:55

1M ago5:55

5:55

📖 Want the transcript (and more)? Join our free Outlier Mandarin Community to get full transcripts of every episode—plus a space to ask questions and connect with other learners. 👉 https://start.outlier-linguistics.com/join-community-podcast-transcripts Episode 27 - Intermediate: Different Seasons Bring Different Feelings About The Weather Differen…

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Fluency Now with Marko Jovanovic: No Classes, Just Progress 50:09

2M ago50:09

50:09

Can you become fluent in Chinese without teachers, classes, or even Chinese speakers around you? For Serbian software engineer Marko Javoanovic, the answer is “yes” by focusing on “fluency now”. In this episode, Marko shares how he started learning Japanese out of a love for anime but quickly pivoted to Chinese when he realized there were far more …

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Episode 26 - Basic: First Time Cooking 3:20

2M ago3:20

3:20

📖 Want the transcript (and more)? Join our free Outlier Mandarin Community to get full transcripts of every episode—plus a space to ask questions and connect with other learners. 👉 https://start.outlier-linguistics.com/join-community-podcast-transcripts Episode 26 – Basic: First Time Cooking A warm, everyday story: Mom’s on a trip, so Dad and I mak…

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Episode 25 - Mastery: Chinese Idiom 成語：水滴石穿 5:33

2M ago5:33

5:33

📖 Want the transcript (and more)? Join our free Outlier Mandarin Community to get full transcripts of every episode—plus a space to ask questions and connect with other learners. 👉 https://start.outlier-linguistics.com/join-community-podcast-transcripts Episode 25 – Mastery: Chinese Idiom 成語：水滴石穿 Not every change is loud. Some are so quiet you only…

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Episode 24 -Advanced - Taking Care of Myself by Starting to Cook 6:28

2M ago6:28

6:28

Episode 24 – Advanced: Taking Care of Myself by Starting to Cook Big life changes don’t always start with big decisions. Sometimes they begin with a pot of soup after work. In this advanced-level episode, Christine reflects on rebuilding her rhythms through cooking: slowing down after long days, choosing seasonal ingredients, inviting friends over …

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Episode 23 - Intermediate: Traveling is a way of observing life 5:20

2M ago5:20

5:20

Episode 23 – Intermediate: Traveling is a way of observing life Why do you travel? For photos, for food—or to see the world with new eyes? In this intermediate-level episode, Christine shares a reflective story from her trip to Chiayi (嘉义), a quiet yet culturally rich city in southern Taiwan. Instead of rushing through tourist spots, she slows down…

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Episode 22 - Basic- The Weather in Spring 3:11

2M ago3:11

3:11

Episode 22 – Basic: 春天的天气 (The Weather in Spring) Warm sunshine, soft breezes, and flowers beginning to bloom—spring is finally here! In this beginner-level episode, Christine shares a light story about noticing the changes of spring: putting away winter clothes, hearing birds outside, and enjoying a walk under blue skies. You’ll learn and practice…

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Does It Matter Where You Learn Chinese? Yes And Here’s Why 30:36

2M ago30:36

30:36

Ever wonder how the place you study Chinese can shape your accent, comprehension, and even identity as a learner? In this episode, Jared and John dive into the importance of where you learn Mandarin in China and how different regions can affect your speaking and listening skills. From Beijing’s “pirate R’s” to the relaxed tones of Taipei and the “h…

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Episode 21 - Mastery: My Eating Habits 7:21

2M ago7:21

7:21

Episode 21 – Mastery We eat every day—but what if eating could also be a doorway to understanding ourselves? In this mastery-level episode, Christine reflects on relearning how to eat: from rushed coffee-as-a-meal to cooking at set times, noticing seasonal ingredients, and letting dinner become a quiet dialogue with the self. Along the way, food be…

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Episode 20 - Advanced - Chinese Idiom 成語：水滴石穿 5:38

2M ago5:38

5:38

Episode 20 – Advanced: 水滴石穿 (Dripping Water Penetrates Stone) Have you ever wondered whether your small daily efforts actually make a difference? In this advanced-level episode, Christine shares a reflective story about quiet perseverance—journaling a few words a day during the pandemic, and realizing later how those scattered thoughts formed a dee…

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Episode 19 - Intermediate- The Breath of Spring 6:25

2M ago6:25

6:25

Episode 19 – Intermediate: The Feeling of Spring（春天的氣息） Sometimes we love a season not just for the weather, but for how it makes life feel. In this intermediate episode, Christine reflects on spring as a fresh start—morning walks, new notebooks, gentle sunlight, and the quiet motivation to reset goals and habits. Beyond blooming flowers, spring be…

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Episode 18 - Basic: My First Trip with Friends 3:04

3M ago3:04

3:04

By Outlier Linguistics

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Episode 17 - Foundations: It's Raining Today 2:45

2M ago2:45

2:45

📖 Want the transcript (and more)? Join our free Outlier Mandarin Community to get full transcripts of every episode—plus a space to ask questions and connect with other learners. 👉 https://start.outlier-linguistics.com/join-community-podcast-transcripts Episode 17 – Foundation: It's Raining Today A gray morning, the gentle sound of raindrops, and t…

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From Bubble Tea to Boxing Rings: How Freddy Buechel Found His Voice in Chinese 31:55

3M ago31:55

31:55

What happens when you move abroad at age 10 and suddenly find yourself in daily Chinese class? For Freddy Buechel, it was the start of an adventure that took him from Singapore to Taiwan, back to the U.S., and eventually to Shanghai for a full-on study abroad immersion. In this episode, Freddy shares his winding journey of learning Chinese across m…