Every conversation starts somewhere. Maybe with a saying you’ve heard a thousand times. Maybe with a question you’ve never quite known how to ask. Whatever brings you here, unANSWERED is a place where those small sparks turn into a real connection.

This episode explores a Cantonese proverb about truth breaking through whatever tries to hide it. We talk about bias, cloudy lenses, and why confidence doesn’t always mean clarity. Seeing more begins with admitting how much we still don’t see.

A Cantonese expression meaning “add oil” opens up a conversation on encouragement, why we crave it, and why giving it feels so strange. This episode breaks down small gestures, sincere words, and the kind of fuel that helps people keep moving.

We see this saying play out everywhere, from ancient law codes to modern revenge stories like John Wick, where grief turns into violence one justified step at a time. Let’s talk about why retaliation feels so right, but leaves us even more wronged.

Ever catch yourself peeking over the fence thinking, “Wow…their yard is way greener than mine”? Yeah, us too. Let’s talk about comparison, envy, and discuss how we can begin to flip the script.

Where did the saying “bite the bullet” come from? The phrase is used often in American culture, but what does it really mean to push through pain on our own?

Life hands all of us something sour at some point. Maybe it’s a setback you never saw coming. Maybe it’s a choice you regret. Maybe it’s a situation you didn’t ask for but still have to carry. Whatever form it takes, how we respond to the lemons in our lives can change everything.

Where did the phrase “jack of all trades” come from? We hear it all the time, usually as a gentle insult. But what does it actually say about people who love learning many things instead of just one?

Most of us can name a moment when something that felt impossible suddenly became navigable because someone helped us. What we do after receiving help matters more than we often realize.

Some of the most valuable things in life hide inside what looks ordinary. Let’s explore an old Cantonese saying that invites us to slow down, look again, and notice the pearls we keep stepping over, in people, relationships, and everyday moments.

We all build lives, relationships, and systems that look solid on the surface. But strength is about what can actually carry weight. Let’s explore why ignoring weak links never makes us stronger.

"Time heals all wounds." We've all said it after heartbreak, loss, or failure. We mean well. We’re just trying to comfort others. But we know it can’t be true. We know some pain just got worse over time. So, what does it actually take to heal our wounds?

We all want to avoid embarrassment. But at what cost? Using a Cantonese proverb about saving face, this piece explores when protecting your image starts to cost something deeper.

In the markets of southern China, a vendor might hang a sheep’s head to promise quality, then sell dog meat behind the counter. This proverb describes the ache of bait-and-switch relationships and invites us back to honesty.