Culture impacts how we live as a society, and how we have approached the pandemic. In many Asian cultures, it’s common to wear a face mask when you are sick. This became a social norm following the SARS outbreak in 2003, when wearing a face mask was seen as a civic duty. Our Host James Chau dives into how Asian cultures have played a role in stopping the regional spread of the virus.

Fatima Bhutto is a prolific poet and writer from Pakistan, whose new book “New Kings of the World” explores how eastern cultures are being shared through the globalization of K-pop, Bollywood, and Turkish soap operas. Before the pandemic, our Host James Chau met Fatima in New York, where they also discussed the role of China in this changing landscape and whether we should feel anxious or encouraged by its growing influence in a rapidly changing world.

We’ve been sheltering from the pandemic for more than half the year now. And while the world is earnestly working towards a better tomorrow, we are still reeling from the immediate impact of the original outbreak. Our Host James Chau breaks down how the world is reacting to developments in vaccine research and public health measures, and how these solutions can best be deployed to benefit all of humanity.