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Asia Rising

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

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes386Founded12 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsNews

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Artwork for Asia Rising

Latest Episodes

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

An escalating crisis faces the Uyghur in China. The newly enacted Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress legalises forced assimilation, erases linguistic rights, and expands state surveillance. It provides a permanent legal framework for the ongo... more

Over the past decade, China has launched a remarkable number of multilateral initiatives — from the Belt and Road to BRICS to a suite of so-called Global Initiatives covering development, security, and civilisation. Western analysts have tended to re... more

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Recent Guests

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
Abhiram Haridas
PhD candidate
IIT Kanpur
Episode: Event: When Engineers Shape Asia
Geshe Lhakdor
Director of the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, former Dalai Lama translator
Library of Tibetan Works and Archives (Dhanasala)
Episode: Interview: Preserving Tibetan Culture and Knowledge
James Leibold
Professor of Politics and Asian Studies at La Trobe University; expert on ethnicity, nationalism and minority policy in contemporary China
La Trobe University
Episode: Interview: Ethnic Unity and Assimilation in China

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

4.7 out of 5 stars from 18 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
#178
Australia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#208
India/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#211
Taiwan/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#218
Philippines/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#228
Indonesia/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Interview: US Engagement With Pacific Island Nations
Q: How might partners like Australia and New Zealand adapt to increased responsibility in the absence of robust US engagement?
The guest explains that Australia and New Zealand are stepping up, hosting dialogues and supporting trade-focused engagement, but there is still a need for renewed US leadership to sustain broader regional security and development goals.
Interview: US Engagement With Pacific Island Nations
Q: What does the US lose by not engaging more deeply through USAID and ambassadorial presence in the Pacific Islands?
According to the guest, the loss centers on people-to-people connections and direct government-to-government conversations, which diminishes Washington's influence and makes it harder to project a clear policy in the region.
Interview: US Engagement With Pacific Island Nations
Q: What is your sense of where things stood when the Trump administration returned to office, and what has changed since then?
The guest notes a high water mark in early 2025 with meetings and a Pacific Islands Policy Statement, but highlights a rollback in development programs and a withdrawal of ambassadorial appointments, which weakened long-standing diplomatic ties and reduced direct government-to-government engagement.
Interview: The Continued Repression of Uyghurs
Q: Is there any sense of accountability or hope for change?
There is a persistent hope for accountability and justice, rooted in the belief that tyranny will not last forever, though progress is slow and costly for individuals and families.
Interview: The Continued Repression of Uyghurs
Q: How have these policies affected everyday life for Uyghurs you know or yourself?
They erode language rights, restrict cultural expression, and culminate in state surveillance and detention; personal experiences include family members detained or disappeared, affecting education, travel, and family life.

Audience Metrics

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

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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. The National Security Podcast
2. Lowy Institute
3. Politics with Michelle Grattan
4. Follow The Money
5. After America

How many episodes of Asia Rising are there?

Asia Rising launched 12 years ago and published 386 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. Alan Tidwell
2. Yalkun Uluyol
3. Dr. Joel Ng
4. Anna Naupa
5. Michelle Burgis-Kasthala
6. Trissia Wijaya
7. Abhiram Haridas
8. Geshe Lhakdor

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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