New Podcast BaeJing Hopes to Use Beijing as a Window to Learn More About the World

Although we ourselves work in the written media, we're big fans of podcasts. So when we heard there was a new Beijing-focused podcast on the horizon, of course, we were excited. Created by long-time Beijing residents Anya and Saga, the BaeJing Podcast will look at different Beijing themes and issues and see what they can teach us about the world at large. With their pilot episode out and their first real episode coming out very soon, we chatted with Anya and Saga about their favorite podcasts, their unorthodox recording setups, and cats. 

Tell us a little bit about yourselves.
Anya: I was born and raised here in Beijing, so chatting with people about the city I call home is pretty much my favorite thing to do. The most important thing you need to know about me though is that I have a fluffy white cat called Caspian, who features heavily on the podcast and our logo. 

Saga: I am a Swedish-American who grew up in London and China. I have been living in China since I was 10, and for me, it's a second home. After this podcast, my only other dream is to successfully start a jianbing business in Sweden. Might have to learn how to make them first, though.

What inspired you to start the BaeJing podcast?
Saga: When I was a teenager I was interviewed by a journalist for the Swedish National Radio. I accidentally locked myself in the room where the interview was going to take place. He had to get the librarian to save me. When the crisis was over and the recording was complete, we started chatting about his job as a radio journalist. Before then I had never really thought about sound as an efficient medium. However, once I started listening fanatically to podcasts it was set: at some point, I would start my own.

Anya: Once I'd met Saga, it didn't take very long until we were sitting on the rooftop of our Chaoyangmen apartment discussing how we would love to have our own podcast. I’ve worked on BBC Radio 4 shows and fell in love with the radio then. Ziggy and I are both huge geeks about podcasts and bonded over our mutual love (and possibly a confusing crush on) of Jad Abumrad from Radiolab. Eventually, we decided that we wanted to contribute to the radio realm with our own take on Beijing, and over one too many glasses of wine, BaeJing was born! 

What sort of topics will you be talking about?    
Anya: Anything that grabs us. Frankly, we have no boundaries as to what will be covered. We have already confirmed a few local celebrities for future recordings (stay tuned, please!) as well as bird-watching professionals and women who’ve been affected by the aftermath of the single child policy. So, shameless plug, if you have a story, any story that you think we can get soundbites for, we want to hear it. 

Where do you record your podcasts/what’s your set up?
Saga: Usually in the most uncomfortable place with the least background noise. We tend to favor make-shift studios under blankets, cramped inside of closets or under a bed. It's just another day for my boyfriend when he hears a serious, one-sided discussion going on from inside a closet. That's the BaeJing Podcast in action.

Which other podcasts do you enjoy/get inspiration from?
Anya: One thing I can say for both of us, for sure, is that we love NPR and WNYC Studios. Their content is incredible and their topics give us major FOMO, so to speak. We are also beyond obsessed with The Guilty Feminist, which if you haven’t listened to yet, you absolutely must. Deborah Francis-White makes us feel like we can take on the podcasting world even if we do call ourselves BaeJing and decide not to take anything we do too seriously. On a personal note, I also listen to the TLS Podcast, start my day with BBC World Service, and am currently binging Stay Tuned with Preet.

Saga: There are some extremely well-produced American podcasts that tell incredible stories. Radiolab was my gateway drug to podcast listening, Love and Radio is also good, and This American Life also has some excellent episodes. If I am feeling particularly brooding and want to cut out the frilly production I usually listen to anything from BBC Radio 4. I especially like News Hour Extra, Start of the Week, Front Row, and anything that you can either get your teeth into or fall asleep to.

What’s your plan for the future? Do you see BaeJing expanding beyond podcasts onto other platforms?
Saga: At some point, we would like to take our podcasts live; it would be fun to have our discussions take place in front of an audience. It makes the podcast come to life for listeners back home. But we have never really thought of taking it onto some other platform. Maybe a feature film? BaeJing Baes go to Hollywood, it kind of has a ring to it? Maybe we'll stick to podcasting for now. 

Can you give us a sneak preview of the topics you have coming up?
Saga:We may or may not be talking about the clothing industry in China, Chinese literature, the dog meat trade and Chinese philosophical self-help ... but, of course, we wouldn't like to reveal any BaeJing secrets!

Subscribe to the BaeJing Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, and all other popular podcast services, follow them on social media (Twitter, Instagram) or get in touch at beijingbaes@hotmail.com.

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Photos courtesy of BaeJing (logo created by LiubaDraws)