Gen X Life Stories: Friendship, Travel and Living in Taiwan

Ever wondered what happens when two college friends reconnect across continents—with microphones, questionable Wi-Fi and decades of life experience to unpack? This episode has it all.

I reunite with my college friend Josh Douglas (shout-out to Meno College!), now living in Taiwan, to talk about friendship, expat life, and creative reinvention. Josh is the author of the thrilling, action-packed novel The Vampire, The Tutor and The Madman.

We dive into cultural differences between the U.S. and Asia, Gen X growing pains, and what it was like during the Bay Area tech boom. Josh shares stories from his travels, fulfilling a childhood dream of working in a zoo, and the brutal skateboarding injury that abruptly ended his skating days. He opens up about the mental crash that followed—and how a college friend helped him climb out of that crater and find new ways to chase those endorphins.

Josh also talks about why he genuinely loves his teaching career, how teaching English sharpened his grammar and storytelling skills, and how obscure historical facts fuel his passion for writing.

Part travel diary, part therapy session and part late-night dorm-room conversation, this episode is for anyone interested in friendships, living abroad, Gen X reflections, career choices and navigating life’s unexpected pivots. If you love honest conversations, global perspectives, and stories about resilience and cultural differences, this episode is for you.

Music we Mention:

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