Traveling and meeting people in different parts of China, he found that the more he learned about China, the more he was fascinated by its history and culture. When he found that there was no English podcast about Chinese history in 2010, he decided to launch one himself.
He works from home using very simple recording and editing facilities. Each of the half-hour episodes takes him 18 to 20 hours to research, write, record and edit. He tried to imitate other broadcasters at first before he found the formula that works best for him.
Montgomery says he enjoys the work: "It's my hobby."
But it is also about his passion to make a contribution to building friendly relations between China and the US.
"China has a great history. I try to get Americans to appreciate it more and promote the mutual understanding," says Montgomery. "There are many topics to talk about. I use my common sense to feel what will be interesting to most people."
Over the years, he has received a steady stream of appreciative e-mails, and he has met some of his fans face to face, too.
"It's fun to meet my listeners. They treat me like a star," he jokes.
His program has been effective in attracting listeners like Scott D. Seligman, who wants to know more about China but doesn't want to read it in a book.
"I downloaded a few episodes and discovered that they were perfect for those days when I drive a long distance. It turned the boring hours into enjoyable learning experiences," says Seligman, 62, an author who spent eight years in China.
He is impressed by Montgomery's engaging and enthusiastic narration.
"Lazlo brings Chinese history and culture to life. As you listen, you often get the impression that he was a witness to the events he described," says Seligman.
Many overseas Chinese are grateful to Montgomery for reacquainting them with their ancestral roots. And to his surprise, local Chinese are also welcoming the show as a great resource for learning English.
"I guess for them, it's fun to listen to a laowai (foreigner) introduce their history and share a third-party view," says Montgomery.
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