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Artwork for Asia Specific

Asia Specific

BBC World Service
China
South Korea
Japan
United States
Singapore
Indonesia
Taiwan
North Korea
Artificial Intelligence
Myanmar
Yoon Suk Yeol
Thailand
Corruption
Beijing
Aung San Suu Kyi
Hong Kong
Tourism
Asia Pacific
Martial Law
Democracy

Asia Pacific, unpacked by those who know it best. Bringing you essential insights and conversations on the stories shaping the region - an economic powerhouse, geo-political flashpoint and the birthplace of global cultural trends.

Hear Asian perspectives on international issues and in-depth analysis on news from a region that’s home to nearly 2.5 billion people. Whether it is the latest on trade b... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes110Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategory
News

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Artwork for Asia Specific

Latest Episodes

It's the salacious scandal sending shockwaves through the most consequential relationship in global politics, so how will an affair involving the head of the world's most important AI chip company with an alleged Chinese spy change US technology poli... more

Would you allow doctors to break your bones so you can grow a few centimetres taller? Orthopaedic surgeons say more people are considering it, despite lengthy recovery times and the risk of serious complications.

The procedure – called limb lengthen... more

YouTube

The most prominent young face of Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement, Joshua Wong, has been sentenced to ten years in jail for colluding with foreign forces.

Wong, now 30, pleaded guilty in one of the most closely-watched cases under a security law ... more

A series of cases involving exam cheating with AI glasses in South Korea has universities and schools scrambling to rein in the use of the technology.

As South Korea’s most important academic exam, the Suneung approaches, schools are testing new me... more

YouTube

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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Sarbjit Singh
Consultant orthopaedic surgeon specializing in medical and elective limb-lengthening surgery
Mount Elizabeth Medical Center
Episode: Is elective surgery the answer to height dysphoria in Asia?
Nobuyuki Takenaka
Orthopaedic surgeon and head of the Japanese Association for Limb Reconstruction and External Fixation
Japanese Association for Limb Reconstruction and External Fixation
Episode: Is elective surgery the answer to height dysphoria in Asia?
Bill Birtles
Asia Specific editor and journalist who covered Hong Kong's 2019 protests
BBC
Episode: Bonus: Hong Kong protest leader’s 10-year jail sentence
Frances Hui
Hong Kong activist and friend of Joshua Wong, now exiled in the United States
Episode: Bonus: Hong Kong protest leader’s 10-year jail sentence
Sophie Jeong
BBC News journalist based in the Singapore Bureau
BBC
Episode: Can smart glasses exam cheating be stopped?
Thomas Corbin
Deakin University professor researching university education shaped by artificial intelligence
Deakin University
Episode: Can smart glasses exam cheating be stopped?
Stephen McDonell
BBC Beijing correspondent
BBC
Episode: Why Kylian Mbappé’s comment sparked anger in China
Mark Dreyer
Sports journalist, China Sports Insider founder and author of Sporting Superpower
China Sports Insider
Episode: Why Kylian Mbappé’s comment sparked anger in China
Risa Kamio
Elected councillor in Setagaya Ward, Tokyo.
Setagaya Ward Council
Episode: Why Japan ranks so low for gender equality?

Host

Mariko Oi
BBC journalist and presenter based in Singapore

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 80 ratings
  • Hard-to-find independent reporting done right

    I really value a having a trusted news source like BBC offer this level of independent insight. Highly recommend

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    hooowwwl
    United States3 months ago
  • A Real Mixed Bag

    It’s so hard to know what you’re signing up for with this podcast. Some weeks you get great insights into geopolitics and other weeks it’s about beauty pageants. Both valid, but I’m sure there’s enough political news or cultural news coming out of Asia to fill a podcast series. So it would be nice if they picked a lane. I guess part of it might be that they’re quite new and don’t know what they want to be?

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    PraSar87
    Canada6 months ago
  • Consistently engaging

    Mariko Oi consistently identifies news angles from the Asia-Pacific region and deals with them in an engaging way in 20 minutes. Two experts on the topic at hand join her every week. It’s a simple, effective format. Highly recommended for a broad understanding of topical issues facing the Asia Pacific region.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Toffee Boiling Dwarf
    Hong Kong7 months ago
  • Great!

    Great idea, really loving this so far!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jake90985
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • Great new podcast.

    Loving this new podcast. Great subject matter, well delivered and explained. And Mariko Oi is simply a joy to listen to. Keep the episodes coming!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ryan Sheales
    Australiaa year ago

Listeners Say

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

The concise format and expert guests help explain current Asia Pacific issues.
Some listeners find the subject mix broad and would prefer a more consistent focus.
Mariko Oi is described as engaging and enjoyable to listen to.
Listeners praise the trusted reporting and independent regional insight.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#234
Singapore/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#51
Singapore/News
Apple Podcasts
#64
Philippines/News
Apple Podcasts
#86
Japan/News
Apple Podcasts
#92
India/News
Apple Podcasts
#100
Indonesia/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Can smart glasses exam cheating be stopped?
Q: Have we come to a point where we have to kind of adjust and learn to embrace the technology and find a way to educate children from not using them to cheat?
Thomas Corbin says legislation alone is unlikely to resolve the problem. Smart glasses can support learning and accessibility, so education and assessment may need to account for their benefits as well as their potential harms.
Can smart glasses exam cheating be stopped?
Q: Can you tell us the details?
Sophie Jeong reports that three cheating incidents were reported at two South Korean universities. Students used smart glasses during early admissions tests, including switching to them after initial checks, and the students caught were disqualified.
Bonus: Hong Kong protest leader’s 10-year jail sentence
Q: At the time, you guys were so hopeful. Do you think that you were aware, or did you expect your movement to come under such political pressure in future?
Frances Hui says she did not initially take the national security law seriously because she believed Hong Kong's civil liberties and legal protections would prevent such a crackdown. She later saw opposition leaders and activists arrested, and says people in Hong Kong now censor themselves.
Bonus: Hong Kong protest leader’s 10-year jail sentence
Q: So Joshua Wong, who's just been sentenced to 10 years in prison, maybe you can start by explaining who he is and what exactly he was convicted of.
Bill Birtles describes Wong's rise as a teenage activist and leading protest figure, and explains that he was convicted of conspiring to collude with foreign forces to endanger national security. The case centered on calls for sanctions and other pressure on Hong Kong and China.
Is elective surgery the answer to height dysphoria in Asia?
Q: What is your view on healthy individuals who want to do this surgery simply because they wish to go from, say, 170cm to 180cm?
Takenaka is not fundamentally opposed to treatment that relieves severe distress about appearance, but stresses that limb lengthening is demanding, carries risks throughout the process and requires extensive rehabilitation and careful disclosure.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
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Age Range
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Frequently Asked Questions About Asia Specific

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

Twice-weekly conversations make sense of the political, economic, technological and cultural forces shaping Asia Pacific. Singapore-based journalist Mariko Oi leads discussions with BBC correspondents and regional specialists, bringing in academics, policymakers, industry figures and people with direct experience of the issues. Topics range from China's relationship with global business and technology to Southeast Asian diplomacy, migration and environmental pressures, alongside stories about sport, language, gender and youth culture.

The format pairs concise regional reporting with expert context and, often, contrasting perspectives. Its distinctive strength is connecting local developments to their wider international consequences, inclu... more

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How many listeners does Asia Specific get?

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How many subscribers and views does Asia Specific have?

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Which podcasts are similar to Asia Specific?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Asia Specific:

1. World Business Report
2. What in the World
3. Global News Podcast
4. Business Daily
5. The Global Story

How many episodes of Asia Specific are there?

Asia Specific launched a year ago and published 110 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 Specific?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Asia Specific?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Asia Specific from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Asia Specific?

Recent guests on Asia Specific include:

1. Sarbjit Singh
2. Nobuyuki Takenaka
3. Bill Birtles
4. Frances Hui
5. Sophie Jeong
6. Thomas Corbin
7. Stephen McDonell
8. Mark Dreyer

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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