『Liminal Space 临界之间』のカバーアート

Liminal Space 临界之间

Liminal Space 临界之间

著者： C^2 Collective
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概要

 Liminal Space dives deep into the messy beauty of living between cultures, identities, and ideologies—especially at the crossroads between China and the West. Hosted by Susan Su and Matthew Lu, two Third-Culture kids in China, we bring you "the good, bad, and the weird" with an insider’s nuance. Each episode, we feature guests navigating their own cultural in-betweenness. Tune in for fresh perspectives and honest dialogue that reveals what lies hidden in life's edges and overlaps. 临界之间 Liminal Space 探索跨文化、跨身份、跨意识形态生活中的“灰色地带”与“缝隙之美”。节目由 Susan Su 与 陆马休 Matthew Lu 主理——两位在中国和美国成长、生活、反思的“第三文化人”。我们关注中国与西方之间的张力与融合，也关注那些生活在转变之中的人：漂泊者、创作者、跨文化专业人士、正在寻找方向的年轻人。这里没有标准答案，只有诚实的对话、细腻的观察，以及那些藏在边缘与重叠处的、往往更真实的东西。 每一期，我们邀请一位正在穿越“临界空间”的嘉宾，聊身份、选择、迷惘与重构，带来新鲜视角与深度思考。 播客视频会同步更新至： https://www.youtube.com/@liminalspacepod 节目文字稿存档： https://liminalspace.transistor.fm/© 2026 C^2 Collective 社会科学
エピソード
  • Third Culture Kid to Third Space Builder: Ruby Pak on Identity, Friction, and Designing Belonging in Shanghai

    Third Culture Kid to Third Space Builder: Ruby Pak on Identity, Friction, and Designing Belonging in Shanghai
    2026/04/15
    In this episode, we sit down with Ruby Pak—hospitality entrepreneur and third-culture operator—to trace a life shaped by constant movement across systems, cities, and expectations.Ruby’s story begins in Hong Kong and stretches across Beijing, Vancouver, the UK, and now Shanghai—a trajectory that exposes the subtle frictions of growing up between cultures. From language barriers and social exclusion in school to the quiet recalibrations required in each new environment, her upbringing becomes less about belonging to a place and more about learning how to adapt without losing a sense of self.That tension carries into her early career, where she enters the world of luxury marketing only to confront the realities of office hierarchy, toxicity, and misalignment. What follows is not a clean pivot, but a gradual unraveling—one that leads her toward entrepreneurship in Shanghai’s hospitality and fitness scene. Through building Hasa House, Ruby begins to rethink what a “space” can be: not just a business, but an ecosystem for wellness, community, and self-reinvention.Along the way, we explore how cultural identity evolves across geographies, why career paths rarely move in straight lines, and how moments of discomfort—social, professional, or internal—can become catalysts for clarity. At its core, this conversation asks: What does it mean to build a life that feels coherent when your experiences are anything but?Key ThemesMulticultural upbringing across Hong Kong, Beijing, Canada, the UK, and ShanghaiIdentity formation under conditions of constant transitionLanguage, exclusion, and social integration in different school systemsCareer disillusionment and confronting workplace toxicityEntrepreneurship as a response to misalignmentBuilding hybrid spaces that blend hospitality, fitness, and wellnessResilience, self-awareness, and redefining success on personal termsKey TakeawaysGrowing up across multiple cultures can sharpen adaptability, but often complicates a stable sense of identity.Experiences of exclusion—especially through language—leave lasting imprints on confidence and belonging.Early career environments can reveal misalignment more clearly than they provide direction.Leaving a toxic workplace is often less about escape and more about reclaiming agency.Entrepreneurship is frequently born from frustration with existing systems rather than pure ambition.Physical and social spaces can be intentionally designed to support both individual and collective well-being.Clarity around one’s values tends to emerge gradually, often through periods of discomfort and transition.Chapters00:00 Exploring Liminal Spaces in Identity and Culture00:49 Meet Ruby Pak: From Tradition to Reinvention02:39 Growing Up Between Cities: Hong Kong and Beijing05:26 Cultural Shock and Early Adaptation09:06 Language, Exclusion, and School Life12:50 Structure, Conformity, and Education Systems15:31 Moving to Canada: A New Cultural Lens18:17 Fitting In vs. Standing Apart22:57 Navigating the Canadian Education System26:59 College Decisions and Identity Formation31:23 Reflections on University and Early Ambitions35:57 Time in the UK and Career Direction40:23 Entering the Professional World44:49 Workplace Challenges and Personal Growth48:01 Choosing People Over Prestige55:18 Building a Restaurant from Scratch01:06:17 Introducing Hasa House01:16:14 Lessons for the Next Generation01:26:25 Coffee Across Three CitiesLinks:福和光酒家 Fook Wo Kwong RestaurantHasa House RedbookHasa House InstagramHasa House (WeChat Account): Your Oasis in the CityThis podcast is brought to you by C^2 Collective, a multicultural nonprofit community empowering young people across China and beyond to think curiously, connect across cultures, and create positive change | see https://csquared-collective.com/ | We host events, run a social innovation network, and publish the Curation^2 newsletter @ https://imablur.substack.com/Music by Megan TanArt by Cindy Zhang从第三文化小孩到第三空间的创造者：Ruby Pak谈身份、摩擦与在上海“设计归属”在这一期节目中，我们邀请到Ruby Pak——餐饮创业者，同时也是一位典型的“第三文化成长者”，一起梳理一段在不同制度、城市与期待之间不断迁移的人生轨迹。 Ruby的故事始于香港，延展至北京、温哥华、英国，最终落脚上海。这一路跨越的不只是地理空间，更是文化与身份的反复碰撞。从校园中的语言障碍与被排斥的经历，到在不同环境中不断进行的自我校准，她的成长逐渐不再围绕“属于哪里”，而是转向如何在变化中保留自我。这种张力延续到了她的职业早期。进入奢侈品营销行业后，她很快直面职场中的等级结构、隐性规则与不健康的工作环境。她的转变并非一次果断的跳跃，而更像是一种缓慢的“松动”与重构，最终将她带入上海的餐饮与社交健身领域...
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    1 時間 33 分
  • From China's Education System to Startup Side-Quests: Gab Liu on Curiosity, Culture, and Career Detours

    From China's Education System to Startup Side-Quests: Gab Liu on Curiosity, Culture, and Career Detours
    2026/03/23
    In this episode, we sit down with Gab Liu—entrepreneur, cultural observer, and prolific side-project builder—to explore how a life lived across systems shapes the way you see opportunity.Gab grew up navigating Beijing’s highly structured education system before finding intellectual and personal freedom in the U.S. at Oberlin and Wellesley. That experience of moving between worlds—Chinese and American, institutional and experimental—eventually shaped a career path that refuses to stay in one lane: venture capital, banking, consulting, and an ever-growing portfolio of side ventures ranging from an incense brand to a matchmaking platform.Along the way, we talk about creativity under pressure in China’s education system, the hidden hierarchies inside traditional workplaces, and why curiosity and resourcefulness often matter more than a perfectly planned career path. We also dive into Gab’s creative outlets—music, fencing, and podcasting—and how side projects can become laboratories for identity, experimentation, and reinvention. At its core, this conversation asks a deceptively simple question: How do you build a life that remains open to experimentation while navigating systems that reward stability?*To get this episode uploaded on the Xiaoyuzhou platform, we had to redact two short remarks at around 39:30 and 1:03:40. If you'd like to watch/listen to the unabridged version please navigate to (Youtube) From China's Education System to Startup Side Quests: Gab Liu on Curiosity, Culture, and Career Detours or (Substack) From China's Education System to Startup Side Quests: Gab Liu on Curiosity, Culture, and Career DetoursKey ThemesGrowing up inside China’s education system and its effect on creativityCross-cultural transitions between Beijing and American liberal arts collegesEntrepreneurship through experimentation and side projectsCareer shifts across venture capital, consulting, and financeCultural hierarchies and workplace dynamics in ChinaBuilding niche businesses that translate culture across marketsCreative outlets as a counterbalance to professional lifeCuriosity, resilience, and designing a non-linear careerKey TakeawaysEarly exposure to different systems can shape how people approach risk and opportunity.Creativity often emerges at the margins of rigid institutions.Side projects can function as “labs” for identity, experimentation, and new ideas.Understanding cultural hierarchy is essential for navigating traditional work environments.Cross-cultural experiences can reveal unexpected market opportunities.Career paths rarely unfold in a straight line; adaptability often matters more than planning.Creative pursuits—music, sport, or art—can anchor personal growth during periods of transition.Chapters00:00 Exploring Liminal Spaces: Introduction to the Podcast00:43 Meet Gab Liu: A Multifaceted Entrepreneur02:13 Early Life and Education: Growing Up in Beijing08:39 Transitioning to High School: Challenges and Changes13:01 Finding Freedom: A Year of Exploration Before College15:58 College Experience: From Oberlin to Wellesley25:25 Navigating Career Paths: Returning to China Post-COVID29:31 Career Choices and Early Experiences31:46 Insights from Venture Capital34:50 The Role of Background in Success36:42 Transitioning from VC to Consulting38:45 Work Culture in Traditional Chinese Companies41:56 Starting a Side Business: Incenzo46:28 Marketing Cultural Products to Western Audiences50:47 Investing in a Matchmaking Platform54:44 Navigating Traditional Work Environments01:00:51 Navigating Workplace Dynamics01:03:43 Future Aspirations and Side Hustles01:07:03 Cultural Bridges and Business Models01:09:01 Creative Outlets and Personal Growth01:13:46 Advice for the Uncertain01:18:13 Podcast Recommendations and Closing ThoughtsGab's Incense Startup: https://incenzo.co (Get 25% off with the code "Liminal25" at checkout!)Gab's music projects: https://soundcloud.com/gab-liuChinese matchmaking platform: YuuSii 名校社交 (search on WeChat)Email for Business Inquiries: gabriellagoode@gmail.comInstagram/ WeChat: gabgoodeThis podcast is brought to you by C^2 Collective, a multicultural nonprofit community empowering young people across China and beyond to think curiously, connect across cultures, and create positive change | see https://csquared-collective.com/ | We host events, run a social innovation network, and publish the Curation^2 newsletter @ https://imablur.substack.com/Music by Megan TanArt by Cindy Zhang从中国教育体系到创业副项目：Gab Liu谈好奇心、文化与非线性职业路径 在这一期《Liminal Space》中，我们邀请到 Gab Liu——创业者、文化观察者，以及“副业实验家”，一起聊聊：当一个人的人生横跨不同制度与文化时，会如何改变他看待机会、风险与人生路径的方式。Gab 在北京长大，早年经历了中国高度结构化的教育体系。后来，他前往美国，在 Oberlin 和 Wellesley ...
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    1 時間 25 分
  • From Movement to Stillness: Ming Khor on Nomadism, Burnout, and Building a Life That Fits

    From Movement to Stillness: Ming Khor on Nomadism, Burnout, and Building a Life That Fits
    2026/01/20
    In this episode of Liminal Space, we sit down with Ming Khor (education entrepreneur, former digital nomad, and cross-cultural bridge-builder) to talk about identity, service, and what it means to live between worlds without needing to dominate them.Ming reflects on growing up in a multicultural environment in Washington, D.C., and how a formative experience volunteering as a teacher in China reshaped his understanding of privilege, service learning, and cultural humility. That journey eventually led him to build an education company centered on experiential, cross-cultural learning—designed not around “helping from above,” but around meeting others on equal footing. The conversation also traces the less romantic side of entrepreneurship: rapid growth during the pandemic, a painful contraction that followed, and the emotional reckoning that pushed Ming toward a slower, more values-aligned way of living. Along the way, we talk about risk, validation, mental health, nomadism, and the quiet power of stillness.At its core, this episode asks: How do you design a life that honors your cross-cultural identity—without burning out or losing yourself to the system?Key ThemesIdentity and privilege in liminal cultural spacesService learning vs. saviorismCross-cultural connection on equal footingEntrepreneurship, risk, and pandemic volatilityNomadism, slowing down, and value alignmentMental health, validation, and imposter syndromeUsing a cross-cultural background as an assetKey TakeawaysLiminal spaces offer perspective—but they also require humility.Service learning works best when it’s rooted in mutual respect, not superiority.Rapid growth without risk management can come at a psychological cost.Slowing down is not failure; it can be a strategic and ethical choice.Every person is a “portal” into a different way of living and thinking.Cross-cultural identity isn’t a liability—it’s a form of leverage.Being still is also a form of action.Chapters00:00 — Identity, Culture, and Liminal Spaces04:55 — Ming’s Multicultural Background08:19 — First Encounters with China11:41 — Service Learning and Cultural Humility14:45 — From Teaching to Entrepreneurship21:40 — Business School, Direction, and Doubt26:35 — Imposter Syndrome and Validation33:08 — Creating Opportunities Outside the System35:51 — Building Keru and Experiential Learning46:14 — Pandemic Growth, Collapse, and Resilience51:20 — Nomadism, Freedom, and Self-Discovery01:03:39 — Letting Go of Urban Life01:07:08 — The Need for Roots and Stability01:10:02 — Family, Relationships, and Priorities01:10:56 — Listening to the Body: Stillness vs. Action01:14:36 — Passion and Personal Fulfillment01:14:52 — Advice for Those Who Feel Lost01:19:14 — Cross-Cultural Identity as an Advantage01:21:38 — Final Reflections and Looking Forward01:28:14 — Recommendations & OutroMing's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@shaguoyuMing's Substack: https://shaguoyu.substack.comThis podcast is brought to you by C^2 Collective, a multicultural nonprofit community empowering young people across China and beyond to think curiously, connect across cultures, and create positive change. We host events, run a social innovation network, and publish the Curation^2 newsletter @ https://csquared-collective.com/Music by Megan TanArt by Cindy Zhang 从流动到安定：Ming Khor 谈游牧生活、倦怠与如何打造真正适合自己的人生 在本期 Liminal Space《临界之间》 中，我们与 Ming Khor 展开了一场深入的对话。Ming 是一位教育创业者、前数字游民，也是一位长期游走于不同文化之间的“跨文化搭桥者”。我们一起聊了身份、服务，以及如何在不同世界之间生活——而不是试图去主导或凌驾于它们之上。Ming 回顾了自己在美国华盛顿特区多元文化环境中成长的经历，也分享了一段对他影响深远的经历：在中国担任志愿教师。这次经历重新塑造了他对“特权”“服务式学习（service learning）”以及“文化谦逊”的理解。也正是从这里出发，他后来创办了一家以跨文化体验式学习为核心的教育公司——不是站在“高处去帮助别人”，而是与不同文化背景的人在平等的位置上相遇、交流与学习。对话同样没有回避创业中不那么浪漫的一面：疫情期间的快速扩张、随之而来的业务收缩，以及那段迫使他重新审视生活节奏与价值排序的心理低谷。我们谈到了风险、社会认可、心理健康、游牧式生活，也谈到“慢下来”本身所蕴含的安静力量。从更深层次来看，这一期其实在追问一个问题：如何在尊重自己跨文化身份的同时，设计一种不被系统吞噬、也不把自己耗尽的人生？核心主题（Key Themes）临界文化空间中的身份与特权服务式学习 vs. “救世主心态”...
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    1 時間 28 分
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