How do stories become social knowledge?

Featuring Aizhe Kou, founder and host of Story FM (故事FM) and Jiaxun Fan, audio journalist known for the sound feature podcast Jumping into the Rabbit Hole (跳进兔子洞), this event explores how podcasting transforms personal narratives into forms of public knowledge. Through a moderated dialogue, the speakers will reflect on:

• narrative construction and editorial ethics

• listening publics and the social impact of everyday storytelling

• podcasting as vernacular sociology

The session aims to bridge academic sociology and creative audio production by examining podcasting as a form of knowledge production and social inquiry. Join us for a public conversation exploring the social value of non-fiction storytelling podcasts and their role in shaping contemporary public discourse.

Speaker Biography

KOU Aizhe

Kou Aizhe is the host and founder of Gushi FM (or Story FM, 故事FM), a Chinese non-fiction story-telling podcast. Gushi FM is one of the most renowned podcast in China. It focuses on ordinary peoples’ lives and their views, including difficulties and marginalized people.

Through intimate and private interviews, they dig out interviewees’ first person experience. Let listeners immerse into person’s voice and feeling.

Aizhe has previously worked for the Swedish Radio Beijing Office, Canadian Television (CTV) Beijing Office.

FAN Jiaxun

Jiaxun Fan is a podcast producer and audio journalist with nearly 10 years of experience. She has worked for NPR, APM, Caixin Media, and Sheng FM. Her work has received numerous awards, including the Peabody Award, GIJN'S Top 10 Investigative Podcasts, Apple Podcast Show of the Year, the Xiaoyuzhou Feature Award, and CPA Producer of the Year.

Jiaxun has spent years producing investigative podcasts.  She produced Mainland China's first investigative podcast (财新调查报道故事集), produced and hosted one of the first true crime narrative podcasts (记录在案), and created a sound feature (声音特稿) show (跳进兔子洞). She also founded one of the first narrative podcast workshops in China, successfully teaching two cohorts and helping her students publish their stories on (故事实验室).

Recently, Jiaxun received a fellowship opportunity at New York University, where she completed her studies in podcasting and audio reportage.  She has just joined (正面连接) to help the team explore the possibilities of podcasts and sound features.

Date: Friday, 27 January 2026, 2:00 - 4:00 PM HKT

Venue: Room. 9.29, Jockey Club Tower, HKU

Language: Mandarin

Format: Hybrid (In-person + Zoom). The Zoom link will be sent to registrants who choose to participate online.

Registration Link: https://hkuems1.hku.hk/hkuems/ec_hdetail.aspx?guest=Y&ueid=105423

This talk is part of our ongoing GRF project, Chinese Podcasting Cultures: Communities, Apps and Economies (GRF Project Number: 17613325). The event will be of particular interest to students and scholars of media, sociology, communication, and contemporary China.