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Artwork for Asia Specific

Asia Specific

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

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 weeklyEpisodes94Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategory
News

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Artwork for Asia Specific

Latest Episodes

There’s been a litany of warnings about AI and its potential dangers. A top safety researcher at Anthropic, one of the biggest AI companies in the US, warned the technology is advancing at a pace so fast that there’s a 10% chance it “could kill all h... more

Top Australian Hyrox athlete Joanna Wietrzyk has apologised after soiling herself during a race in Beijing, saying she would withdraw from the event and forfeit the points she earned.

The company behind the fitness phenomenon has also apologised fo... more

Australia was the first country in the world to ban social media for under-16s. Now, it's taking aim at something even bigger: the algorithms that keep everyone hooked.

Under a new "My Feed, My Way" proposal, tech companies could be forced to let u... more

Australia is home to some of the world's most distinctive wildlife — nearly 90% of its mammals exist nowhere else on Earth. But Australia is also where a mammal extinction is happening at an alarming pace.

Species are disappearing at a rate of roug... more

Key Facts

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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

Tama Leaver
Professor of Internet Studies
Curtin University
Episode: Inside Australia's plan to beat the algorithm
Tiffanie Turnbull
BBC journalist reporting on biodiversity and conservation in Australia
BBC
Episode: Why are Australia’s native animals going extinct?
Euan Ritchie
Professor in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Deakin University
Deakin University
Episode: Why are Australia’s native animals going extinct?
Astudestra Ajengrastri
Reporter based in Jakarta
BBC/Asia Specific
Episode: Can Indonesia stop SE Asia’s annual smoke haze?
Joel Aik
Environmental epidemiologist with a background in public health and environmental engineering
Duke-NUS Medical School
Episode: Can Indonesia stop SE Asia’s annual smoke haze?
Phoebe Kong
BBC Chinese Language Service producer/host
BBC World Service
Episode: Is Hong Kong cinema’s golden age over?
Jun Li
Filmmaker based in Hong Kong
Independent filmmaker
Episode: Is Hong Kong cinema’s golden age over?
Isaac Chong
Freelance journalist based in Malaysia
Independent journalist in Malaysia
Episode: The AI data centre boom in South East Asia
Bernard Leong
AI expert, educator, and strategist
Independent AI consultant/analyst
Episode: The AI data centre boom in South East Asia

Host

Mariko Oi
BBC World Service journalist and host of Asia Specific.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 75 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 States2 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
    Canada4 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 Kong6 months ago
  • Great!

    Great idea, really loving this so far!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jake90985
    United Kingdom10 months 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
    Australia10 months ago

Listeners Say

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

New podcast with strong subject matter and delivery.
Listeners praise host charm and episode quality.
Engaging format with two experts weekly; broad Asia coverage.
Host brings clear, insightful angles on Asia-Pacific issues.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#109
South Korea/News
Apple Podcasts
#121
Singapore/News
Apple Podcasts
#141
Hong Kong/News
Apple Podcasts
#166
Japan/News
Apple Podcasts
#166
Philippines/News
Apple Podcasts
#224
Indonesia/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Inside Australia's plan to beat the algorithm
Q: So Tama, if I can start with you, can you explain exactly what an algorithm is and how it works across platforms?
Algorithms are sets of rules that determine content ordering and presentation, with each platform often having multiple specialized algorithms; recommender systems surface content beyond direct connections to keep users engaged, which is a central driver of how these feeds operate.
Why are Australia’s native animals going extinct?
Q: What are the broader implications if some species recover or are downgraded from threatened status?
Downgrading listings is a positive sign, but it doesn't mean work is done; continued funding, monitoring, and public engagement are essential to sustain gains and prevent relapse into threatened status.
Why are Australia’s native animals going extinct?
Q: How big of a problem are feral cats and red foxes for Australia's native wildlife?
Feral cats and red foxes are devastating predators that occupy most of the country and kill hundreds of millions of native animals each year, significantly amplified by habitat destruction and climate-related pressures.
Why are Australia’s native animals going extinct?
Q: So can you tell our audience a bit more about the recent reporting trip you undertook on conservation efforts?
The trip focused on southwestern Australia as a last stand for many species, examining who's protecting at-risk wildlife like the Numbat and other threatened creatures, and showcasing the real-world challenges of habitat loss, feral predators, and funding gaps.
The fight to define ‘Asian pop’ at the Grammys
Q: What might be a workable compromise for recognizing Asian pop without segregating artists?
A broader, inclusive approach that expands the main categories while continuing discussions with major labels and artists to ensure representation across Asia, possibly with a dedicated, but non-isolating, platform that validates artists on the same stage as Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Asia Specific

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

A rigorous, Asia-leaning briefing that pairs a seasoned BBC World Service journalist with a steady editorial voice, delivering two expert perspectives on timely regional issues each week. Episodes consistently cover geopolitics, economics, tech, and social trends across Asia-Pacific, often weaving in first-hand reporting and comparative context from multiple countries. Notable strengths include a clear, concise format, strong guest rosters spanning media, policy, and industry, and a willingness to tackle both policy debates and cultural shifts shaping the region. This show is likely to appeal to listeners who want informed, cross-country analysis and practical takeaways for business, policy, and strategy in Asia.

Where can I find podcast stats for Asia Specific?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Asia Specific. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Asia Specific and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Asia Specific get?

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What are the audience demographics for Asia Specific?

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How many subscribers and views does Asia Specific have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Asia Specific has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Asia Specific?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Asia Specific:

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

How many episodes of Asia Specific are there?

Asia Specific launched a year ago and published 94 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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Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Asia Specific. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Asia Specific?

Recent guests on Asia Specific include:

1. Tama Leaver
2. Tiffanie Turnbull
3. Euan Ritchie
4. Astudestra Ajengrastri
5. Joel Aik
6. Phoebe Kong
7. Jun Li
8. Isaac Chong

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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