Podcasts · History · Arts

Water Margin Podcast: Outlaws of the Marsh

John Zhu

149 episodes

A Chinese classic, retold in English: This podcast is an English retelling of the classic Chinese novel Water Margin (水浒传, aka Outlaws of the Marsh). It aims to tell the story in a way that is more accessible to audiences who are not already familiar with the novel or Chinese culture and literature in general.

Episodes page 1 of 3

  1. Announcement: 10 Years of Podcasting

    · 1:38 · Episode 149

    Marking a decade since I started doing this.

  2. Announcement: ”Investiture of the Gods” Launched

    · 0:32 · Episode 148

    Hi everyone. I want to let you know that I have posted the first episodes of Investiture of the Gods on the Chinese Lore Podcast. If you are not yet subscribed to that show, go to chineselore.com. You will find links…

  3. Water Margin 135: Next

    · 38 min · Episode 147

    Wrapping up the Water Margin Podcast and revealing my next project.

  4. Water Margin 134: Epilogue

    · 45 min · Episode 146

    A number of our heroes are suddenly stricken by mysterious bouts of rheumatism, while others face something even worse.

  5. Water Margin 133: Parting

    · 27 min · Episode 144

    Song Jiang continues his journey back to the capital, but how many of his brothers are coming with him?

  6. Announcement: May 24 Live Interview

    · 0:44 · Episode 145

    I will be part of a panel of Asian podcasters on Podbean’s Storytelling Podcast Week Live show on May 24 at 3 p.m. Eastern Time. See outlawsofthemarsh.com for the registration link. See you there!

  7. Water Margin 132: Tides

    · 25 min · Episode 143

    Fang La makes a desperate last stand against the Song forces.

  8. Water Margin 131: Pincer

    · 25 min · Episode 142

    With the end of the campaign within reach, Song Jiang’s forces converge on the rebels’ palace.

  9. Water Margin 130: Dragon

    · 26 min · Episode 141

    Eager to avenge more slain comrades, Song Jiang charges headlong into trouble.

  10. Water Margin 129: Exposed

    · 25 min · Episode 140

    Song Jiang suffers setbacks on land and water, but his enemy isn't doing any better.

  11. Water Margin 128: Possessed

    · 24 min · Episode 139

    Song Jiang gets a heaven-sent opportunity, while the rebel emperor gets some help of his own.

  12. Announcement: End-of-Podcast Q&A

    · 0:53 · Episode 138

    Hey everyone. We are rapidly approaching the end of the Water Margin Podcast, with just 7 episodes to go. It’s been an incredible journey and I am grateful for all your support along the way. Once we finish the…

  13. Water Margin 127: Losses

    · 25 min · Episode 137

    Song Jiang gets another mixed bag of heartbreaks and victories.

  14. Water Margin 126: Lake

    · 24 min · Episode 136

    One of the naval chieftains undertakes a dangerous nighttime mission.

  15. Water Margin 125: Outlaws

    · 25 min · Episode 135

    A few of our heroes run into some guys who remind them of how they used to be.

  16. Water Margin 124: Grief

    · 25 min · Episode 134

    Song Jiang encounters more victories and more losses as his army pushes south.

  17. Water Margin 123: Crossing

    · 26 min · Episode 133

    A fortuitous encounter on the river sets up a cunning plan by Song Jiang.

  18. Water Margin 122: Rebels

    · 26 min · Episode 132

    To occupy his gang's minds with something other than rebellion, Song Jiang volunteers to go put down a rebellion.

  19. Water Margin 121: Geese

    · 27 min · Episode 131

    Lu Zhishen revisits his old haunts, while Song Jiang waxes poetic about the most Confucian birds.

  20. Water Margin 120: Peace

    · 27 min · Episode 130

    The Middle Kingdom overfloweth with Sinocentrism as Song Jiang and company bring to heel the barbarians who reside in the desolate desert outpost of [checks notes] Beijing.

  21. Water Margin 119: Zodiac

    · 26 min · Episode 129

    On the brink of total victory, Song Jiang runs into a string of unexpected setbacks.

  22. Water Margin 118: Formations

    · 25 min · Episode 128

    Song Jiang and the Liao commander's son engage in a battle of the nerds.

  23. Water Margin Supplemental Episode 006: Travel

    · 18 min · Episode 127

    A look at the who, what, where, why, and how of Song Dynasty travel.

  24. Water Margin 117: Canyon

    · 27 min · Episode 126

    Lu Junyi finds himself stuck between a rock and more rocks.

  25. Water Margin 116: Defection

    · 26 min · Episode 125

    An envoy from the Liao tries to convince Song Jiang and his men to join the Great Resignation.

  26. Water Margin 115: Conquest

    · 26 min · Episode 124

    Despite a few hiccups, our heroes stay on the offensive against the Liao.

  27. Water Margin 114: Merit

    · 26 min · Episode 123

    After their untimely run-in with an embezzling government representative, Song Jiang and company are under pressure to deliver some quick results in their opening battle against the Liao.

  28. Water Margin 113: Sale

    · 26 min · Episode 122

    The bandits begin their new life as law-abiding subjects by selling off their loot.

  29. Water Margin 112: Amnesty

    · 27 min · Episode 121

    The imperial court hopes the third time is the charm when it comes to making nice with the bandits.

  30. Water Margin 111: Audience

    · 27 min · Episode 120

    Yan Qing offers a little eye candy to the emperor's mistress in exchange for her help.

  31. Water Margin 110: VIP

    · 25 min · Episode 119

    The bandits roll out the red carpet, and you won't believe who's coming to dinner.

  32. Water Margin 109: Deceit

    · 27 min · Episode 118

    Prospects of peace ride on the all-important question: Is that a comma or a period?

  33. Water Margin 108: Burned

    · 25 min · Episode 117

    YOU SUNK MY BATTLESHIP! (And torched my fleet and killed my generals and burned my camp and …)

  34. Water Margin 107: Coverup

    · 26 min · Episode 116

    You just lost 60,000 men on your campaign? What are you going to tell the emperor? Wait ... not telling him is actually an option?

  35. Water Margin 106: War

    · 26 min · Episode 115

    The hawks at court get their way, as a huge imperial force descends on Liangshan.

  36. Water Margin Supplemental Episode 005: Monastery

    · 23 min · Episode 114

    A dive into the minutiae of monastic life.

  37. Water Margin 105: Wine

    · 25 min · Episode 113

    We secretly replaced our heroes’ imperial wine with swamp water. Let’s see if they … oh crap they totally noticed!

  38. Water Margin 104: Wrestling

    · 25 min · Episode 112

    After delivering justice on heaven's behalf in his usual manner at the fair, Li Kui dabbles in a more comical delivery of justice at a nearby county.

  39. Water Margin 103: Heads

    · 24 min · Episode 111

    Li Kui and Song Jiang wagered heads, and heads they shall have.

  40. Water Margin 102: Ghosts

    · 24 min · Episode 110

    On his way home after spreading holiday cheers in the capital, Li Kui decides to do some good deeds for civilians.

  41. Water Margin 101: Capital

    · 26 min · Episode 109

    Song Jiang goes to the capital to partake in the holiday festivities, and a little extracurricular activity.

  42. Water Margin 100: Prayer

    · 27 min · Episode 108

    Our heroes pray to heaven for a sign, and heaven answers in the most literal way possible.

  43. Water Margin 099: Stoned

    · 25 min · Episode 107

    Liangshan sets its sights on another town that was just minding its own business, but a local general gives the bandits a literal bloody nose.

  44. Water Margin 098: Spears

    · 26 min · Episode 106

    From attacking innocent towns to abducting women whose family you just slaughtered, it’s another honor-filled adventure for the heroes of Liangshan.

  45. Announcement: Interview on Asian Fantasy Fiction Podcast

    · 0:59 · Episode 105

    Check out my recent conversation with Jeremy Bai, a translator and writer focusing on Chinese fantasy genres.

  46. Water Margin 097: Truce

    · 25 min · Episode 104

    The bandits and their despised foes parley for peace.

  47. Water Margin 096: Nemesis

    · 26 min · Episode 103

    Our heroes get back to settling some old scores and unfinished business.

  48. Water Margin 095: Aftermath

    · 25 min · Episode 102

    The imperial court prepares a retaliatory strike against Liangshan, while Li Kui goes rogue.

  49. Water Margin 094: Festival

    · 25 min · Episode 101

    The bandits try one more time to spring Lu Junyi from jail, aided by some galaxy-brain holiday planning from the authorities.

  50. Water Margin 093: Healer

    · 26 min · Episode 100

    To have friends come from afar, is it not a joy? If your friend is here to recruit you to Liangshan, then no.

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