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Artwork for Asia Specific

Asia Specific

BBC World Service
China
South Korea
Japan
United States
Singapore
Indonesia
Taiwan
North Korea
Myanmar
Yoon Suk Yeol
Thailand
Corruption
Beijing
Aung San Suu Kyi
Hong Kong
Tourism
Asia Pacific
Artificial Intelligence
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 weeklyEpisodes103Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategory
News

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Artwork for Asia Specific

Latest Episodes

Singapore has escalated its concerns about Southeast Asia’s worst haze in more than a decade, demanding answers from ten Indonesian companies it suspects are linked to fires that cause it.

The Singaporean government has sent notices that are seen a... more

Electric vehicles, online shopping, and more – China’s ability to scale up and lower costs for the masses has never been disputed. But does China truly create inventions, or does it excel at perfecting pre-existing ideas?

Critics have long accused C... more

YouTube

Singapore’s prime minister Lawrence Wong will see his salary raised by about US$1.1m, bringing his annual remuneration to US$2.85m. The change is part of a broader pay increase for Singapore’s ministers - the first rise in 15 years.

Singapore’s gov... more

YouTube

There have been fresh protests in Japan against the longstanding presence of US military forces, after a 20-year-old American military serviceman was arrested by Japanese police over a suspected murder of a woman.

US Marine Lance Corporal Devin Jac... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Kenneth Huang
Professor of Management of Technology and Innovation, National University of Singapore
National University of Singapore
Episode: Does China copy or create?
Nicholas Dickinson
University of Sheffield researcher on political salaries
University of Sheffield
Episode: Should we pay political leaders more?
Kimberly McArthur
From Better Politics Foundation, Germany
Better Politics Foundation
Episode: Should we pay political leaders more?
Kurumi Mori
Japan correspondent
BBC World Service
Episode: Inside Japan’s fury with the US
Joanne Chua
Executive Director for Asylum Access Malaysia
Asylum Access Malaysia
Episode: Why Malaysia is repatriating thousands of Burmese migrants
Thuan Sarzynski
Leads coffee sustainability efforts for a multinational commodities trading group
ECOM Agroindustrial
Episode: Why Vietnam’s coffee beans might outlast others
Randy Mulyanto
Freelance journalist based in Jakarta
Episode: Could dual citizenship stop Indonesia’s brain drain?
Elaine Ho
Professor, National University of Singapore
National University of Singapore
Episode: Could dual citizenship stop Indonesia’s brain drain?
Rebecca Henschke
BBC journalist
BBC World Service
Episode: Bonus: Catching My Teacher

Host

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

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 78 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
    Canada5 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.

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.

YouTube
#155
Singapore/Popular Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#135
Singapore/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#223
Philippines/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#11
Philippines/News
Apple Podcasts
#27
Singapore/News
Apple Podcasts
#84
Indonesia/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Should we pay political leaders more?
Q: How does public sentiment react to big salary increases in tough economic times?
Many citizens feel anxiety over jobs and retrenchments, making large increases controversial, even as some acknowledge the need to pay for the hard work and scrutiny involved in politics.
Should we pay political leaders more?
Q: Could Singapore's model work in other countries?
Experts believe Singapore is an outlier with unique institutional history; trust in politics, civic education, and local context determine whether such a model would be accepted elsewhere.
Should we pay political leaders more?
Q: Do higher salaries really translate into better governance?
Scholars note mixed evidence; some studies show increased legislative activity with pay changes, while others see no clear improvement in outcomes, highlighting that output legitimacy depends on diverse factors beyond pay.
Should we pay political leaders more?
Q: What justifies such a large pay rise for Singaporean politicians?
The rise is presented as a mechanism to attract top talent, reflect the demanding nature of the job, and deter corruption by providing a transparent, high baseline salary without side benefits.
Why Malaysia is repatriating thousands of Burmese migrants
Q: How does UNHCR view Malaysia's approach and the status of asylum seekers who hold UNHCR cards?
UNHCR has a role in refugee protection in Malaysia, and asylum seekers registered with UNHCR retain some limited protections; they cannot access full public services or work legally, but they are shielded from arrest and deportation to some extent.

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?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Asia Specific, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Asia Specific?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Asia Specific, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

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. World Business Report
3. Business Daily
4. What in the World
5. The Interview

How many episodes of Asia Specific are there?

Asia Specific launched a year ago and published 103 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.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Asia Specific?

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. Kenneth Huang
2. Nicholas Dickinson
3. Kimberly McArthur
4. Kurumi Mori
5. Joanne Chua
6. Thuan Sarzynski
7. Randy Mulyanto
8. Elaine Ho

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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