Best HSK 1 Podcasts (2025)

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

Play Pause

1d 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

3d 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

5d 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

5d 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

8d 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

12d 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

15d 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

17d 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

18d 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

19d 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

22d 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

24d 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

27d ago3:04

3:04

By Outlier Linguistics

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

1M 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

1M 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…

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Episode 16 - Foundations- A Trip With My Family 2:53

1M ago2:53

2:53

📖 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 16 – Foundation: A Trip with My Family Fresh mountain air, a shady picnic spot, and the …

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Episode 15 - Foundations: My Favorite Breakfast 2:53

1M ago2:53

2:53

📖 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 15 – Foundation : “My Favorite Breakfast” The hiss of an egg crêpe on the pan. The warmt…

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Episode 14 - Advanced- Chinese Idiom 成語：一箭雙鵰 | 成语：一箭双雕 5:42

1M ago5:42

5:42

📖 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 14 – Advanced: Chinese Idiom 成語：一箭雙鵰 | 成语：一箭双雕 Sometimes, one well-aimed action hits mor…

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Episode 13 - Basic- Chinese Idiom 成語：水滴石穿 3:44

1M 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 13 – Beginner: Chinese Idiom 成語：水滴石穿 | 成语：水滴石穿 A wilting mint plant. A few drops of wate…

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Episode 12 - Intermediate: Chinese Idiom 成語：一箭雙鵰 | 成语：一箭双雕 4:51

1M ago4:51

4:51

📖 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 12 - Intermediate: Chinese Idiom 成語：一箭雙鵰 | 成语：一箭双雕 Moving house can change more than jus…

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Episode 11 - Foundations: Chinese Idiom 成語：水滴石穿 3:14

1M ago3:14

3:14

📖 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 – Foundation: 水滴石穿 (Dripping Water Wears Through Stone) Can a tiny habit change your lif…

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Episode 10 - Foundations: Chinese Idiom 成語：一箭雙鵰 | 成语：一箭双雕 3:18

2M ago3:18

3:18

📖 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 10 – Foundations: Chinese Idiom 成語：一箭雙鵰 | 成语：一箭双雕 Have you ever done just one thing and …

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Episode 9 - Foundations: The weather I like 3:31

2M ago3:31

3:31

📖 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 9 – Foundation: Weather and Feelings How does the weather affect your mood? In this foun…

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Episode 8 – Intermediate: The same dish reveals a different flavor in every place 5:45

2M ago5:45

5:45

📖 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 8 – Intermediate: The Same Dish Reveals a Different Flavor in Every Place Have you ever …

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Episode 7 - Basic: Weather and Feelings 3:25

2M ago3:25

3:25

📖 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 7 – Basic: Weather and Feelings How does the weather affect your mood? In this Basic-lev…

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You Can Speak Chinese, but Can You Understand the Reply? (And Other Listener Questions) 32:54

2M ago32:54

32:54

Jared and John are back with a full episode dedicated to answering listener questions covering everything from language learning strategies to cultural quirks. They explore the challenges of using sarcasm in Mandarin, how to prepare for a trip to China if you're not yet fluent, and whether watching Chinese TV shows actually helps improve listening …

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Episode 6 - Foundations: I Went on a Trip to the Zoo 2:52

2M ago2:52

2:52

📖 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 6 – Basic: I Went on a Trip to the Zoo Do you remember your last trip? In this Basic-lev…

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Episode 5 – Mastery: Traveling Taught Me to Live Within the Unknown 7:52

2M ago7:52

7:52

📖 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 5 – Mastery: Traveling Taught Me to Live Within the Unknown Travel isn’t always about de…

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Episode 4 – Advanced: The Rhythm of the Seasons and Life 6:18

2M ago6:18

6:18

📖 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 4 – Advanced: The Rhythm of the Seasons and Life Seasons don’t just change the weather—t…

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Episode 2 – Basic: Night Market 2:56

2M ago2:56

2:56

📖 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 2 – Basic: Night Market For many people, night markets are more than just a place to eat…

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Episode 3 – Intermediate: My Eating Habits 4:49

2M ago4:49

4:49

📖 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 3 – Intermediate: My Eating Habits As kids, many of us loved fried chicken and fries. Bu…

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Episode 1 – Foundations: The Food I Like 2:53

2M ago2:53

2:53

📖 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 Welcome to the Get Listening Mandarin Podcast! This is a free graded series to help you build li…

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How to Learn to Read Chinese: Developing Fluency Now (Replay) 58:49

3M ago58:49

58:49

In this replay of a fan-favorite episode, John and Jared discuss the concept of fluency now as opposed to some distant time in the future and how reading will get you there.Guest interview is with Olle Linge of Hacking Chinese and Chinese language enthusiast extraordinaire. He offers the Chinese learning tips that he wishes someone had told him bac…

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Fun First, Fluency Follows: Karl Vilhelmsson’s Chinese Strategy 32:24

3M ago32:24

32:24

What happens when a Swedish physics student decides to go all-in on Chinese? Meet Karl Vilhelmsson, a particle physics student at Stanford’s SLAC lab and a self-described language adventurer. From a middle school classroom in Stockholm to immersive conversations with a Taiwanese friend and a solo Chinese language-only trip to Suzhou, Carl shares ho…

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Too Many Chinese Videos, Too Little Progress? Lets Fix That 25:14

3M ago25:14

25:14

Chinese learners today are surrounded by video, TikToks from tutors, YouTube explainers, online courses, sitcoms, and AI-powered tools promising to boost your progress. But with so much content, it's easy to feel overwhelmed or stuck in passive learning. In this episode, we dive into how to actually learn Chinese through video. Jared and John discu…

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Burnout, Breakthrough, and Fluency: Chaniece’s Story 51:40

4M ago51:40

51:40

Chaniece Chen didn’t just study Chinese, she built her own major, battled burnout in an intensive language program, and came back for more. In this episode, Jared talks with Chaniece about her 12-year journey in China, from struggling with tones to thriving in Shanghai as a translator, community organizer, and content creator. Chaniece opens up abo…

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Crutch or Catalyst? The Truth About Pinyin 27:40

4M ago27:40

27:40

You’re reading Chinese, and there it is, pinyin over every character. It feels helpful, even comforting. But is it actually holding you back? In this episode, Jared and John explore how pinyin can become a crutch that cripples your Chinese progress and keeps you from truly mastering characters. They revisit Jared’s blog post from years ago, Pinyin …

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Starting Over in China: Chimsy’s Story of Risk, Grit, and Growth 49:19

5M ago49:19

49:19

In this episode, Jared sits down with Chimsy—marketer, meme connoisseur, and host of the China University Podcast—to dive deep into his unconventional journey from Costa Rica to China. What started as a challenge to prove a dismissive restaurant owner wrong turned into a life-changing adventure of language, culture, and self-discovery. Chimsy share…

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Are AI Tutors the Future of Language Learning? 36:55

5M ago36:55

36:55

AI tutors are everywhere—but are they actually good for learning Chinese? In this episode, Jared and John take a deep dive into the fast-evolving world of AI-powered language learning tools. They explore how these AI tutors work and why tools that work well in English often fall short in Chinese. You'll learn: - The surprising limitations of AI whe…