Finding Loose Change and Life Lessons While Teaching in China

Otter is back in the podcast studio for this episode as she airs out her worries about what academic milestones her young baby girl should be hitting, so we called in a special guest to help ease her mind. Spenny joins us to share stories from his time as a kindergarten teacher in Chengdu, China—where he spent six months teaching English to little ones and sorting through life as a “wài xīng rén” (foreigner/alien).

In this episode, Spenny hangs up his journey from graduating at CSU to living in Sichuan, the home of the giant panda. From getting a tattoo in a Chinese temple to experiencing the incredible food that keeps drawing him back, Spenny folds together funny moments and cultural surprises (like rarely seeing other foreigners). He shares how teaching English gave his students a unique advantage, reflects on the challenges of pressing through a new culture, and even teaches us a bit of Mandarin along the way. He even tells us about his modeling career while living out there. 

We’re also joined by Shorty, Spenny's “little bother,” who adds some fun banter to the mix—keeping things fresh and wrinkle-free. Plus, we dive into Spenny’s time as a golf professional, his partnerships with Adidas, and why he ultimately decided to tumble into a new career path (Disclaimer: Since recording, Spenny has shifted careers and now enjoys golf purely as a hobby.)

Tune in for a mix of relieving parenting worries, cultural exploration, and heartwarming tales of making a difference—cleanly pressed into an episode you won’t want to miss. Plus, you’ll get a little Mandarin lesson that will leave you feeling fluffed and folded!