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Artwork for Asia Rising

Asia Rising

La Trobe Asia
China
United States
Australia
India
AUKUS
Taiwan
Philippines
ASEAN
Southeast Asia
South China Sea
Asia
Xi Jinping
North Korea
Russia
South Korea
Belt and Road Initiative
Donald Trump
Indonesia
Indo-Pacific
United Nations

Asia Rising, the podcast of La Trobe Asia which takes a critical look at the key issues facing Asia's states and societies.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes388Founded12 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsNews

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Artwork for Asia Rising

Latest Episodes

From digital regulation and political pressure to economic influence and self-censorship, media freedom in Asia is being shaped by a range of subtle and evolving constraints.

Rather than outright bans on reporting, many observers point to a process... more

Almost every email you send, every video you stream, and every financial transaction you make travels not through satellites, but through a vast network of cables lying on the ocean floor. Submarine cables are the invisible capillaries of the global ... more

The AUKUS agreement between Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom is set to reshape Australia's military and strategic future through the acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines. But the implications of AUKUS extend far beyond defenc... more

The United States has, over recent years, significantly deepened its engagement with Pacific Island nations — reopening embassies, renewing funding compacts, and positioning itself as a committed partner in a region of growing strategic importance. ... more

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Recent Guests

Dr. Lupita Wijaya
Research fellow at La Trobe University, Centre for Global Security
La Trobe University
Episode: Creeping Censorship in Asian Media
Dr. Phebyn Joseph
Researcher, author on gendered colourism and media production
Macquarie University (PhD), previously at Indian media context
Episode: Creeping Censorship in Asian Media
Sam Bashfield
Research fellow at the La Trobe Centre for Global Security; author of Submarine Cables
La Trobe University
Episode: Interview: Australia's Submarine Cable Security
Alan Tidwell
Director of the Center for Australian, New Zealand and Pacific Studies at Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Episode: Interview: US Engagement With Pacific Island Nations
Yalkun Uluyol
China researcher at Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch
Episode: Interview: The Continued Repression of Uyghurs
Dr. Joel Ng
Senior fellow and head of the Centre for Multilateralism Studies
S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
Episode: Interview: Pragmatic China and Multilateral Organisations
Anna Naupa
Research and Engagement Fellow at the Pacific Security College, ANU; Advisory Board Member for the Centre for Human Security and Social Change
Australian National University / La Trobe University
Episode: Event: Navigating Conflict in a Contested World
Michelle Burgis-Kasthala
Professor at La Trobe Law School; specialist in international law and Middle East and North Africa
La Trobe University
Episode: Event: Navigating Conflict in a Contested World
Trissia Wijaya
McKinsey Research Fellow, Asia Institute, University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
Episode: Event: When Engineers Shape Asia

Hosts

Ruth Gamble
Director of La Trobe Asia; hosts event discussions and webinars.
Matt Smith
Host of Asia Rising; frequent moderator and panel host.

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 94 ratings
  • Great show!

    Terrific hosts and diverse topics.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    lllllaaaaawwwwww
    Australia5 years ago
  • Great Podcast!

    As an American I hadn’t heard of La Trobe University prior to subscribing to Matt Smith’s “Emperors of Rome” podcast series. Looking for more fresh content, I decided to check out La Trobe’s other offerings and have been really pleased with the Asia Rising podcast. Asia wasn’t on my radar as a podcast listener but this podcast got me hooked. The guests on the show are superb. It’s also a real plus to learn about contemporary Asia from a non-American perspective in order to get a more neutral tak... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JTBis
    United States6 years ago
  • The guests are usually academics with special insights into the political, economical, and social issues that are shaping the East and Southeast Asian region. I like that there's an Australian perspective because they've got a unique stance as the most "Western" nation in the area. The archives are a trove with lots of interesting episodes that are often even more interesting to listen to with hindsight. It's a great current events podcast that continues to teach me new things.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Robbie
    6 years ago
  • Lots of good info

    I'm a Yank and thus suffer from an extremely inward-facing and myopic news media, so there aren't a lot of ways for me to learn about the contemporary Asian political landscape. It's been a joy listening to Asia Rising the past few years. I've learned a ton about India under modi, water rights along the Himalayas, the aftemath of the recent Thai coup, and all sorts of other interesting topics. Matt Smith and the various other hosts do well to bring out the best of their many interesting guests. ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Smell what the Brock is cookin
    United States7 years ago
  • Sponsored by China?

    Caveat emptor: this podcast presents some balanced viewpoints and others which come straight from the PRC propaganda. Many speakers simply refuse to acknowledge China’s influence operations in Australia as a danger or their influence over ASEAN members as a concern. Maybe because their livelihoods depend on not seeing it?

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Mikka R.
    United States7 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Overall, rigorous regional analysis and diverse guest slate are strengths.
Listeners appreciate non-American perspectives on Asia.
Production quality and guest credibility are highlighted positives.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#189
Australia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#222
Poland/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Creeping Censorship in Asian Media
Q: What does genuine support for independent media look like in these environments, beyond courage and morale?
Sustainable support includes funding models like subscriptions, legal defense funds, institutional backing for journalists, and community solidarity that protects reporters from legal and digital harassment.
Creeping Censorship in Asian Media
Q: Is journalism shrinking or shifting into harder-to-track forms with the rise of social media and coordinated online campaigns?
Journalism is evolving; while traditional outlets face new pressures, digital ecosystems enable broader participation and new forms of coverage, though sustaining independent reporting requires resources, accountability, and citizen engagement.
Interview: Australia's Submarine Cable Security
Q: What policy developments are needed in Australia to address submarine cable security?
Australia needs a coordinated national strategy that integrates maritime security, cyber security, and defense planning, along with building domestic repair capacity and clear policy leads across agencies.
Interview: Australia's Submarine Cable Security
Q: What are the main risks to submarine cables beyond sabotage?
The greatest risks include natural faults, anchoring and fishing activity, earthquakes, and the possibility of coordinated attacks; many cables are in choke points, which increases vulnerability to simultaneous failures.
Interview: Australia's Submarine Cable Security
Q: How significant was the statement at the Shangri-La Dialogue that the seabed is a battlefield?
It was a landmark and provocative framing that underscored the risk landscape and the need for clear policy leadership, even if there were mixed messages about whether it referred to sabotage or broader threat scenarios.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About Asia Rising

What is Asia Rising about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Asia Rising features expert-led discussions on Asia-Pacific geopolitics, security, economy, and governance, often through panel conversations and in-depth interviews with academics, policy researchers, and regional specialists. Episodes frequently explore topics like conflict prevention, maritime security, climate-security links, engineering-led development, and China-Asia dynamics, with a consistent emphasis on multilateral approaches, middle-power perspectives, and policy-relevant insights for practitioners. A noteworthy aspect is its strong academic affiliation and its effort to connect regional understanding with practical policy implications, making it useful for listeners such as policymakers, researchers, and PR/marketing teams seeki... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Asia Rising?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Asia Rising:

1. Lowy Institute
2. Australia in the World
3. Australian Politics
4. Follow The Money
5. Pekingology

How many episodes of Asia Rising are there?

Asia Rising launched 12 years ago and published 388 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Asia Rising?

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What guests have appeared on Asia Rising?

Recent guests on Asia Rising include:

1. Dr. Lupita Wijaya
2. Dr. Phebyn Joseph
3. Sam Bashfield
4. Alan Tidwell
5. Yalkun Uluyol
6. Dr. Joel Ng
7. Anna Naupa
8. Michelle Burgis-Kasthala

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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