Maekan

From stadium concession stands to DIY mealworm farms, edible insects have been making headlines in the last couple of years. But bugs are not just another viral food trend—they could potentially be the answer to the world’s growing food security problems. Edible insects are, after all, a sustainable food source that is both as good for us as it is for the planet. Two companies—Exo and Tiny Farms—hope to leverage the humble cricket and make it the next great protein. But while many cultures around the world eat insects, Western countries are finding the concept a little harder to swallow. Could companies like cricket protein bar producer Exo and cricket flour supplier Tiny Farms be the next step --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/maekan/support

  On MAEKAN It Up #023, look at some of the industry insights into ComplexCon 2017, a direct-to-consumer tradeshow around street culture. After a great debut in 2016, a series of incidents overshadowed an otherwise fascinating real-world insight into a culture that's been defined by what happens online. We also look into the recent news behind the shuttering of DNAinfo and Gothamist after its billionaire owner rejected a plea to unionize. What does this mean for the future of media when rich, powerful individuals can withdraw support at the drop of a hat?  Bobby Hundreds' reflections on ComplexCon 2017 Jeff Carvalho's insights on what transpired at --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/maekan/support

Original stories, produced and driven entirely by MAEKAN, typically start with an editorial team on the ground capturing audio and visuals as they unfold. Our editors wear many hats on set, and when push comes to shove, they're called upon to record broadcast-quality audio and capture additional images that enrich the story. In this instalment of Tools, Cody from the editorial team walks us through three personal items he relies on out in the field: a camera bag, a notebook, and a rangefinder film camera. Narration by Cody Horne Audio by Elphick Wo Photos by Chris Lim See the whole story here.  What is MAEKAN?

This fall has been a trying time for the United States with natural disasters impacting several of its states and territories. Most recently, the Tubbs Fire—a wildfire that is contained but still burning in several counties in Northern California—has claimed the lives of over 40 people, destroyed thousands of structures and laid waste to tens of thousands of acres of land. Taliesin Gilkes-Bower is a photographer, DJ and visual artist who lives near the affected area and who bore witness to the aftermath of the disaster. Drawing from his experience capturing images for news and documentaries, he shares his account of what little is left and experiencing a force of nature that can easily erase the lives we know. Narration by Taliesin Gilkes-Bower Audio by Elphick Wo

  On MAEKAN It Up #022, we invite our first-ever guest, Mikey Scott to chop it up over the US military's adoption of video games as a high-level training tool. We also examine the relevance and meaning of iconic graphic designer Barbara Kruger's art project with the New York Mass Transit Authority (MTA).  The Video Game That Could Shape the Future of War There's a Better Way to Board Planes Hey, quick question: Why are models so bad at planking?

Listen to the story here and see the accompanying photos at MAEKAN.com for the best experience. When a Chinese person dies, it's customary to offer food, paper money and goods for use in the underworld. These goods are made of paper and can take the form of anything the living or the dead so desires, whether it be clothes, a house or even gold. But as times change and values follow, it's not uncommon to see iPhones, LV bags or even whole convenience stores burned in offering. Seeing this made several members of the team who are of Chinese descent wonder: "Is our culture so materialistic that our love for things consumes both our lives and afterlives?" As Cody and Nate find out, it's not just about the things we se --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/maekan/support

Listen to the story here and see the accompanying photos at MAEKAN.com for the best experience. As the modern world continues to race toward the future, we can find ourselves constantly groping for radical or material ways to find our identities in it. But while we might be obsessed with going forward and discovering the new, we sometimes forget to look back and to the old—to our own pasts. Cheuk-Yin To is a photographer we used to work with. One summer evening, we caught up at the office where he shared a special story with us, of how he took a side trip on a whim only to find both his roots and a few long-lost relatives. Script and Narration by Nate Kan

Listen to the story here and see the accompanying photos at MAEKAN.com for the best experience. If you listen to our MAEKAN It Up podcast series, you’ll undoubtedly have noticed some sketches to accompany the story and no, we’re not talking about Eugene’s stick figures. Charis Poon is MAEKAN’s Community Manager, but she’s also a freelance designer and illustrator. In this Tools, she shares three of her go-to drawing implements that have seen her through many projects over the past decade. Narration by Charis Poon Audio by Elphick Wo Photos by Chirs Lim What is MAEKAN?

Listen to the story here and see the accompanying photos at MAEKAN.com for the best experience. If you’re a creative that’s still in school or just on the way out, you might wonder what your next steps are. For Willie, our first apprentice, his interest in journalism and media led him through our doors over summer break. In this Building the Brand, he speaks with Eugene about not only his two months with MAEKAN, but also how creatives from different generations see things. Hosted by Eugene Kan & Willie Siau Audio by Elphick Wo Illustration by Willie Siau< --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/maekan/support

Listen to the story here and see the accompanying photos at MAEKAN.com for the best experience. We've all heard of speakeasies, low-key or even hidden bars that favor intimate atmospheres and quiet drinks. But most of them have an almost exclusive connection with Western spirits. After all, the ban on them is what spawned the first speakeasies in the prohibition era. But what about one dedicated to the sole enjoyment of sake? To find out, Eugene and Nate sit down with food and beverage veterans Elliot Faber and Lindsay Jang of Yardbird, who share their account of an unforgettable visit to Sake Bar O, the first known sake speakeasy in Tokyo. Interview by Eugene Kan &

Listen to the story here and see the accompanying photos at MAEKAN.com for the best experience. In this inaugural Community Spotlight, a recurring series that focuses on members from MAEKAN's Slack community by highlighting their experiences, we catch up with Paris-based MAEKAN Member Yannick Louis-Fernand who recently travelled halfway across the world—over 4,600 miles (approximately 7,500 kilometers)—for a two-week vacation in Cuba. Audio by Elphick Wo Photos by Yannick Louis-Fernand What is MAEKAN?

Listen to the story here and see the accompanying photos at MAEKAN.com for the best experience. As the latest collaborative effort between MAEKAN Sound Engineer Elphick Wo and Producer Tee, Sounds of Tokyo transports you to the vibrant metropolis by reinventing its addictive energy and character through a soundtrack composed solely of audio captured in the field. Sit back, plug in headphones and experience this MAEKAN Originals short. Recorded by Elphick G. Wo (Delf) Composed by Elphick G. Wo (Delf) & Terence Lam (TEE) Mixed by Elphick G. Wo (Delf) & Terence Lam (TEE) Mastered by --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/maekan/support

Listen to the story here and see the accompanying photos at MAEKAN.com for the best experience. The workflow for a creative has changed drastically over the past few decades. The digital age ushered in a reformation of how we communicate. But alongside that came distraction in our lives due to the open and frictionless lines of communication. The rapid fire pings can force us into a state of cognitive disorientation that pushes us to jump between chat and browser windows. They're all a cry for attention with varying degrees of (un)importance. Narration by Charis Poon & Eugene Kan Audio by

  Listen to the story here and see the accompanying photos at MAEKAN.com for the best experience. Since our talk last year on his Trillicon Valley initiative, Jason Mayden is writing the next chapter of his narrative centered on building the next generation of resilient and capable youth. His new brand Super Heroic makes kids sneakers for now, but it’s not a sneaker company. Instead, it’s a brand focused on the concept of "play" and its essential role in helping shape the lives of kids. On his 112th trip through China for factory visits, we came along for the ride as we caught up with Jason as he talked about the next generation of sneaker wearers. Narration by

  Listen to the story here and see the accompanying photos at MAEKAN.com for the best experience. It was gone within a split second. All of Alex's photo gear in a hard rolling case disappeared into the streets of Seoul, most likely to never be seen (it hasn't turned up since). You're often planning relentlessly to get the bigger details right. But sometimes all it takes is for an innocuous and unexpected oversight to derail everything. After losing the gear, Eugene and Alex still had to do their interview with Korean popstar and newly-signed Roc Nation rapper, Jay Park. While that went well, there was still the lingering afterthought of how to not only account for the gear bu --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/maekan/support

On MAEKAN It Up #021 Charis co-hosts with special guest Nathan Kan. Nathan is an editor at MAEKAN and together with Charis they make it an episode all about dystopia. Charis talks about the Social Credit System in China that will soon assign ratings to all Chinese citizens. Nathan brings up the increased use of AI and hypothesizes about when robots might takeover creative jobs. Big data meets Big Brother as China moves to rate its citizens Black Mirror Season 3 Episode 1 "Nosedive" 

Listen to the story here and see the accompanying photos at MAEKAN.com for the best experience. When you think of dumplings full of ground pork and cabbage, you might picture them being served at a shop in Hong Kong or maybe somewhere on the West Coast. But Denmark? After years weathering the storm that is the creative agency world, friends and now business partners Tim and Tem took their extensive experience and brought their favorite after-hours dish and created GAO, the first ever dumpling bar in Copenhagen. In the process, they’ve shown how you can bring a comparatively unknown piece of culture to another place—while keeping it authentic. Narration by Eugene Kan &

Listen to the story here and see the accompanying photos at MAEKAN.com for the best experience. When creatives look at commerce, there’s typically a justified sense of tension between the artistic and the business side. But how does someone from the commercial world see the creative relationship? We sat down for an hour with John C Jay, President of Global Creative at Fast Retailing, UNIQLO’s parent company. As a unique bridge between commerce, culture, and creativity, he enlightened us on the mutually beneficial connection between the three as well as shared some words about his own creative initiative launching in Portland. Narration by Eugene Kan & Nate Ka --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/maekan/support

  Listen to the story here and see the accompanying photos at MAEKAN.com for the best experience. At the age of 25, Mike Cherman has been through more business highs and lows than most entrepreneurs twice his age. After exiting his own label, ICNY, two years ago following an ugly falling out with his former investor, Mike packed his bags and moved to LA. A native New Yorker, Los Angeles provided the clarity he would need to plot his next moves. He took time off, bought a Volkswagen and figured out that in fact he actually didn't give as many fucks about fashion as he thought. Narration by Alex Maeland Audio by Elphick --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/maekan/support

Listen to the story here and see the accompanying photos at MAEKAN.com for the best experience. Growing up in New York, Lauren Gallo has always been hungry for opportunities, both to earn and more importantly, to learn. From wearing several hats at British members club Soho House to her role at Nike handling global social media, Lauren has never waited for chances to present themselves. In this story, Eugene and Charis talk about what makes her tick and the mindset that helps her to seamlessly transition through 8 cities in 10 years, and make an impact at every opportunity. Script & Narration by Eugene Kan & Charis Poon Audio --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/maekan/support