The Tao

Daoism music for battle

The Five Elements of Taoism - Introduction

The Five Elements of Taoism_Earth

What Would Confucius Do? What for that matter would Laozi not do? This week on Sinica, Kaiser and Jeremy ask these and other questions of Sam Crane, Professor of Contemporary Chinese Politics at Williams College and author of the new book Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Dao. And given that this show explores uniquely Chinese ideas of how to live a life through right action, and how ancient Chinese philosophy might be applied to contemporary American ethical challenges, we are also delighted to be joined by Jeremiah “Honorable Mencian” Jenne, scholar of Qing history, popular China blogger, and now Director of the IES immersion program.

Sinica Podcast: Daoism for the Action-Oriented

Today, traditional insurance faces mounting pressures from new technologies and market entrants, and digital transformation has become an imperative rather than an option. Kamiel Bouw, Global Head of Insurance for Citi Treasury and Trade Solutions, joins the show today.  He brings extensive experience navigating this evolving landscape, where efficiency, data-driven approaches, and customer-centricity have become paramount. 

With traditional insurers working to adopt new technologies within legacy infrastructure, Buow describes how Citi has positioned itself  to strategically  support these organizations capture opportunities while enhancing customer experience.
Throughout the interview, Buow explores several transformative themes reshaping the insurance industry. He uses real life case studies to emphasize the tremendous opportunity in digitizing payment processes — both for premium collections and claims payments — highlighting how instant payments can create superior customer experiences while providing operational benefits. 

Buow also discusses how Treasury functions must evolve beyond their traditional role as financial settlement centers to become innovation leaders, engaging across enterprise-wide initiatives and providing expertise in risk management and end-to-end payment flows. 

Listen to the podcast to gain unique insights into emerging technologies like digital assets and tokenization and their growing role in insurance, and how organizations can start with small, focused use cases to drive learning and foster broader adoption of this new tech. 


How Citi is helping insurers compete in an always on digital payments landscape

Educated meets The Queen's Gambit in this extraordinary memoir by International Master and Chess.com co-founder Danny Rensch, who describes his upbringing in an abusive cult – and how chess ended up saving his life

Born into the Church of Immortal Consciousness, Danny Rensch spent his childhood navigating the isolated confines of a cult. Despite psychological manipulation, physical abuse, and neglect, he persevered. An international chess master and world-class commentator, Rensch’s remarkable journey led him to being the face of Chess.com, one of the largest online gaming platforms in the world. 

With unflinching honesty, Rensch recounts his life, starting from the moment he discovered chess in the summer of 1995, all the way up to being at the center of the most explosive cheating scandal in chess history.

He chronicles the traumas of being “special” in a cult that forced separation from his mother. Mentored by an alcoholic, Russian chess master, he found solace alongside suffering in his obsession for an ancient game, and chess became his only escape. Rensch rose through the chess ranks until a medical emergency nearly took him out of the game forever. And it almost did, until Chess.com came along.

Deeply heartfelt, keenly reflective, and haunting, Dark Squares is the never-before-told story of Danny Rensch’s resilience, survival, and his enduring love for the game that saved him. 

Dark Squares By Danny Rensch

In this officially licensed collection, Marvel Comics heroes Thor and Loki regale us with engaging and fantastical retellings of the classic tales of Norse mythology.

It’s a beautiful day in New York City and the Avengers have arranged a surprise birthday picnic for Peter Parker in Central Park—but the celebration is violently interrupted when a menacing rainbow suddenly crystalizes in the sky, dumping a shellshocked Thor and Loki into the middle of the party with a loud crash. The Avengers swiftly decamp to Stark Tower, where Doctor Strange freezes time to give the heroes a chance to regroup and formulate a plan. Thor and Loki warn the group that Ragnorok, the end of the world, has come, but before they can take action against it, they must understand how the world began.

Thus, the brothers begin the age-old Norse tradition of storytelling. As they verbally joust, spar, and one-up each other over who can spin the most outlandish yarn, Thor and Loki weave the sagas of their people including: The Creation of Man, How Odin Lost His Eye, The Theft of Thor's Hammer, Freyja's Beautiful Necklace, Thor and Geirrod the Giant, Sif's Golden Hair, and many more. They recount the ancient stories of the Nine Realms, the first humans Ask and Embla, and the sacred tree, Yggdrasil. In recounting each tale, the brothers aim to bring the cosmos closer to salvation.

A brilliant melding of the Marvel Comic universe with traditional Norse Mythology, illustrated throughout with full-color plates and black-and-white art, Thor & Loki is a must-read for Marvel fans and mythology lovers alike.

Thor & Loki By Delilah S. Dawson, Read By Cliff Miller

Two of America’s most revered ancient nutrition experts combine forces to give you a holistic plan for creating lasting health and well-being.
 
In this breakthrough book, New York Times bestselling authors and nutrition experts Jordan Rubin and Dr. Josh Axe offer a simple and holistic plan for building strength, health, and longevity. Based on the ancient wisdom of the Bible and confirmed by modern science, The Biblio Diet’s intuitive and easy-to-follow plan invites you to experience a breakthrough in the health of your entire family by learning to eat and live God’s way.
 
In this book, you’ll receive powerful insight on:
 
-  Intermittent fasting for any experience level
-  A daily eating plan that will fuel your body and expand your dietary horizons
-  Meats, veggies, fruits, dairy, spices, salts, and oils that are vital for a truly healthy lifestyle
-  Cancer-fighting nutrition and wellness secrets
-  The best tactics to beat depression and anxiety and improve mental health
-  Common foods in your fridge or pantry that can reduce pain and boost your immune system
-  An easy-to-follow 7-day meal plan (with shopping list)
-  12 new biblically inspired recipes

Experience health and freedom like you never have before when you learn to live the Bibliotarian way.

The Biblio Diet By Jordan Rubin & Joshua Axe, Read By Jordan Rubin

Chicago leaders denounce Pentagon plans for military deployment in city, Ukraine marks Independence Day, and latest money scams convince victims to transfer it to protect it.

This Morning with Gordon Deal August 25, 2025

Meet the Democrat who Republicans fear in red-state America. John McCormick from the Wall Street Journal takes us behind the headline.

Meet the Democrat Who Republicans Fear in Red-State America

Can you trust AI for financial advice? Peter Grieve from Money.com joined America's First News with a look.

Can you trust AI for financial advice?

In an article in the July/August edition of Foreign Affairs magazine, “Might Unmakes Right: The Catastrophic Collapse of Norms Against the Use of Force”, Oona Hathaway and Scott Shapiro look at the history of the prohibition of the use of force between states and discuss what they see as the current assault on this prohibition.

To discuss her article, in July 2025 the Phelan US Centre spoke to Professor Oona Hathaway, the Gerard C. and Bernice Latrobe Smith Professor of International Law at Yale Law School. They spoke about the shift in US foreign policy since the return of the Trump administration, the historic move from war being a legitimate diplomatic tool to being constrained by law, and the role of sanctions in enforcing international norms about the use of force.

This episode was produced by Chris Gilson and Luke Digweed.  

Further reading and resources

•	Follow Professor Oona Hathaway on X (@oonahathaway), Bluesky (‪@oonahathaway.bsky.social‬‬) and LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/oona-hathaway) 
•	“Might Unmakes Right: The Catastrophic Collapse of Norms Against the Use of Force”, Oona Hathaway and Scott Shapiro, Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2025
•	“The Dangerous Rise of “Dual-Use” Objects in War”, Oona A. Hathaway, Azmat Khan & Mara R. Revkin, The Yale Law Journal, June 2025
•	“War Unbound Gaza, Ukraine, and the Breakdown of International Law”, Foreign Affairs, Oona Hathaway, 23 April 2024
•	The Internationalists: How a Radical Plan to Outlaw War Remade the World Oona Hathaway and Scott Shapiro (Simon and Schuster, 2017)


LSE: The Ballpark | Might unmakes right with Professor Oona Hathaway

A radical new approach to education for learners of any age

How much information is forgotten almost immediately after it is taught? How many students graduate from high school unprepared for careers where lifelong learning is essential to succeed? These problems stem from an educational system that uses time spent in a classroom and the results of standardized, multiple-choice tests as proxies for actual understanding. Educators Tony Wagner and Ulrik Juul Christensen call for a radical new system of learning, where students progress individually when they demonstrate that they can use what they have learned—no matter how long it takes to get there. This is called mastery learning, and it is the future of education.

This book shows how mastery learning is already being put to use in the United States and around the world, from kindergarten to college and in the workplace. Through conversations with teachers, students, parents, policymakers, and employers, Wagner and Christensen show how mastery improves motivation and prepares students for productive work, an engaged civic life, and personal growth and well-being. They also outline the challenges of adopting mastery learning and how to overcome them. Mastery is an urgent call to action to transform education for all.

Mastery By Tony Wagner & Ulrik Juul Christensen, Read By Graham Winton

Based on Harvard’s most popular professional development program, a practical, personal guide to harnessing the power of self-understanding to become a more successful leader

What is the “best” way to lead others? The answer may surprise you.

The basis for powerful, effective leadership comes from within—from understanding the people, ideas, and events that have shaped your worldview and how these influences express themselves in your leadership style. In Manage Yourself to Lead Others, leadership expert Margaret Andrews helps you understand yourself and translate this understanding into effectively managing yourself, leading others, working with your boss, and making better decisions.

Andrews has taught thousands of executives in her professional development course at Harvard, and she shares her insights, practical tips, and questions for reflection here. This book will allow you to identify the kind of leader you want to be, the behavioral patterns that help get you there or stand in your way, and what it takes to develop new leadership capabilities. Whether you’ve just been promoted or you’ve been leading a team for decades, Manage Yourself to Lead Others is essential reading for all leaders.  

The Five Elements of Taoism_Earth

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