Booming Voices in a Controlled Space In the heart of Shanghai, from a modest 26th-floor office converted into a studio near People’s Square, podcaster Cheng Yanliang records episodes of his show “Left-Right,” captivating millions with discussions ranging from wartime espionage to ancient Greek historians. This 34-year-old former journalist exemplifies the grassroots surge in China’s podcasting scene, where hobbyists and professionals alike are fueling explosive growth. Industry forecasts predict China’s podcast audience will reach 150 million this year, a dramatic leap from under 700,000 just five years ago, as reported in a recent analysis by Financial Times. This expansion is driven…