Flower on the rock (岩中花述)

A new favorite has joined my list: Yanzhong Huashu (岩中花述).

It's a Chinese podcast that I've recently started listening to during my commute. Every episode feels like an intimate conversation, and I'm constantly amazed by the power of thoughtful dialogue. Many of the discussions have genuinely moved me. I will record some feelings and thought when I listen to it here.

2026-07-27 Luyu in Conversation with Li Rui | I'm Just a Journalist Who Stayed Where the War Was Happening

When I was in middle school, I dreamed of becoming a war correspondent. I was deeply affected by news stories about suicide bombings, and I believed that I wanted to speak up for people whose voices were rarely heard. Although I eventually studied computer science and took a completely different career path, this episode reminded me why those stories mattered to me in the first place.

Listening to Li Rui describe the impact of the war on ordinary people in Iran was both heartbreaking and inspiring. What touched me even more was hearing about the resilience of Iranians and their deep love for everyday life, even in the midst of hardship.

I've long admired the films of the Iranian director Abbas Kiarostami, and this podcast also introduced me to another filmmaker, Jafar Panahi, whose work I'm now eager to explore.

If Iran is one day at peace again, I would love to visit. Not just to see its landscapes, but to experience the culture and the warmth of the people whose stories have already reached me through films and conversations.