Can we still have a Merry Christmas in 2020? Seems like everyone’s been bingeing Christmas movies recently in a sad attempt to make up for not being able to celebrate properly. We’ve also prepared a Christmas-themed episode, complete with global updates on vaccinations, domestic health, and shopping behaviors. Check it out!

Without a guest to maintain civility, the debate gets even more heated this episode! From chiropractic treatment to the very relevant topic of “birth order theory”, the sisters share their views. As always, women’s issues are also discussed. How do you feel about a Japanese congresswoman’s dismissal for reporting sexual assault by the mayor and a teenage Iranian instagrammer being sentenced to 10 years in prison for posting zombie filter photos?

In celebration of “Tomorrow’s Star” becoming available on VOD platforms, the sisters invite Stephen Rong to discuss entertainment news in this special episode. Netflix’s “The Crown” straddles the fine line between historical accuracy and artistic license with some backlash. Johnny Depp spends 5 million pounds to prove he isn’t a wife-beater and loses. The demolishing of a record store brings people to tears.

Before their weekly news battle, Esther and Lara chat about which languages require context and which are more straightforward. With Christmas around the corner, what crazy decorations are starting to surface? One small town unintentionally takes a phallic direction. Nearly 20,000 drug-testing cases in Boston are affected by a state chemist’s misconduct and the repercussions are still being felt seven years later. The Vatican’s spokespeople turn to Instagram for answers after the pope’s account is revealed to have liked a racy photo of a Brazilian model. A director forgets to press mute during a zoom audition and is called out by the actor.

This week’s Meiwa News Battle is a must-listen for carnivores! These days we eat much more meat than previous generations, but what do we know about its quality or origin? Esther shares disturbing news regarding Spain’s pig farms, then lightens the mood with a fun piece about Hungary’s “smartest dog” competition. Speaking of dogs, why are they the preferred test subject for scientists and breeders? And how is a small town in Hokkaido dealing with the issue of 10,000+ bear sightings?

This week in Meiwa News Battle Episode 3, we dive into how COVID has affected the price of blood (did you even know people were selling their blood as a form of income?), disputes in the world-renowned Takarazuka Music School, and Instagram’s “breast-squeezing” policies. Also a big thank you to all our listeners. Aside from our Taiwan supporters, we’re delighted to know people are also tuning in from the U.S., Australia, the Philippines, Germany, and Singapore! If you like what you hear, remember to share. Every bit of knowledge we learn about the world brings us even closer to understanding ourselves. :)

Meiwa News Battle Episode 2 is up! Drinking on the job? What do dogs and bees have in common? Are Crocs making a comeback? Esther (Meimei) has selected a new batch of international news articles to help you get to know what’s happening outside of our own bubble. Lara (Wawa) is ever-ready with the questions you want to ask but avoid cus you’re afraid of sounding stupid. Bonus points if you can answer Meimei’s pop-quiz!

趴兔✌🏻這些年，全球運動大風行 - 妹娃告訴你人類之所以需要運動，最源頭有一個重要不可逆的道理！還有，人類之所以懶得運動，也有一個道理。(聽完十分紓解罪惡感。)

Part 1: Let’s head over to the grocery store and discuss Japan’s latest shopping bag policies. Strange enough that Japan’s plastics reduction implementations are coming in so much later than Taiwan’s, but what’s this we hear about unforeseen shoplifting increases?

Part 2: As the Work-from-home-force numbers rise in 2020, let’s take a closer look at exercise and our evolutionary instincts regarding it. Why is exercise so good for us and why are we so lazy to do it? The answers (and relief) lie within science.