Rephonic
Artwork for Beyond the Ballot Box

Beyond the Ballot Box

BFM Media
Malaysia
ASEAN
Neoliberalism
United States
Corruption
Tariffs
Political Financing Act
China
Economics
Parti Sosialis Malaysia
Digital Economy
Development Economics
Labor Rights
Trade Policy
Economic Growth
Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation
Sustainable Development
Trade Unions
Electoral Processes
SOSMA

As they say, democracy doesn't begin and end at the ballot box. On Beyond the Ballot Box, we have in-depth conversations about political economy and human rights in Malaysia, Southeast Asia, and around the globe through a class prism.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes424Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsPoliticsHistory

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Beyond the Ballot Box

Latest Episodes

According to UNHCR, there are about 117 million asylum seekers worldwide as of 2025. In Malaysia, approximately 200,000 refugees and asylum seekers are registered with UNHCR, with estimates suggesting the actual number may be significantly higher. In... more

Since the end of World War II, the world has been underpinned by a particular global economic system: Liberalism. This has solidified further since the end of the Cold War and has remained largely unchanged for decades. However, for various reasons t... more

Many Malaysians are familiar with the story of how colonial powers used divide-and-rule policies to reshape Malayan society, creating ethnic and class structures whose effects continue to reverberate today.

But how should we understand our politica... more

An extensive new report by the criminal justice system reform NGO Hayat contends that Malaysia’s anti-drug framework has evolved into a system that often punishes low-level couriers who are deceived and manipulated rather than kingpins that run the s... more

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.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Liew Liang Hong
Researcher at IMAN Research
IMAN Research
Episode: Kami Orang Sini Juga #6: What Are the Key Priorities of Malaysian-Chinese Youth?
Shalini Munirpen
Researcher at IMAN Research
IMAN Research
Episode: Kami Orang Sini Juga #5: Why Malaysian-Indians Feel Disconnected from Local Politics?
Violet Lee
Researcher at IMAN Research
IMAN Research
Episode: Kami Orang Sini Juga #2: How Do Young Malaysian-Chinese Define Identity?
Shaleen Surendra
Researcher at IMAN Research
IMAN Research
Episode: Kami Orang Sini Juga #1: Exploring the Malaysian-Indian Identity
Kamal Aarif K
Organizing committee member of Gegar (Gerakan Gabungan Anti-Imperialist)
Gegar
Episode: GEGAR and the Making of a Multicultural Movement Against Imperialism
S. Arutchelvan
Deputy Chairperson, Parti Sosialis Malaysia
Parti Sosialis Malaysia
Episode: The Importance of Celebrating Labour Day
Roshinee Mookaiah
Political activist
Undi 18 alumni, Dilarang Ponteng Parliament Campaign
Episode: Roshinee Mookaiah on Dilarang Ponteng Parlimen Campaign, Social Media and Fairly OddParents
Baha Hilo
Palestinian educator and activist
Palestinian educator and activist in Malaysia
Episode: When Children Are Made Prisoners: A Palestinian Speaks
Charles Hector
Human rights activist and lawyer focused on labor rights and migrant workers
Independent activist/lawyer
Episode: Charles Hector Reflects on Labour Rights and Human Rights in Malaysia Through the Years

Host

Dashren Yohan
Host of Beyond the Ballot Box

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 19 ratings
  • Oversea listener

    Keep it up . Listening oversea 😎. Nobody cover it like bfm

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Kazuo Ting
    Australia4 years ago

Listeners Say

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

High-quality conversations that connect local issues to broader global debates.
Global audience appreciates the balance of rigorous analysis and accessible discussion.
Guests often include academics, activists, and policymakers from Southeast Asia.

Top Politics Podcasts

Politics Now
Politics NowABC Australia
Pod Save America
Pod Save AmericaPod Save America
If You're Listening
If You're ListeningABC Australia
PEP with Chas and Dr Dave
PEP with Chas and Dr DaveChas Licciardello
The MeidasTouch Podcast
The MeidasTouch PodcastMeidasTouch Network
TRIGGERnometry
TRIGGERnometryTRIGGERnometry
Insiders
InsidersABC Australia
Candace
CandaceCandace Owens

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Kami Orang Sini Juga #6: What Are the Key Priorities of Malaysian-Chinese Youth?
Q: How do the youths envision social harmony and open public spaces in practice?
They imagine a Malaysia where multicultural spaces exist side by side, with respect and mutual understanding as the backbone, and where public spaces like Kopitiams serve as inclusive venues for cross-ethnic mingling without coercion, enabling people to practice their identities while living harmoniously.
Kami Orang Sini Juga #6: What Are the Key Priorities of Malaysian-Chinese Youth?
Q: Why have traditional concerns like SJKC funding and UEC recognition weakened among youth?
There appears to be a generation gap in political socialization and communication; younger people engage less with these niche, traditional issues and instead focus on broader concerns like everyday economic realities and open, inclusive social spaces that can accommodate a multi-ethnic Malaysia.
Kami Orang Sini Juga #6: What Are the Key Priorities of Malaysian-Chinese Youth?
Q: Now, Liang Hong, what are the key priorities of Malaysian Chinese youth today?
Economy, education, national harmony, and infrastructure were identified as the core priorities, with many interviewees emphasizing the need for better wages and job opportunities, a higher quality of education to foster unity, and improved infrastructure to boost local development.
What if Socrates and Confucius Had a Conversation About Democracy and Justice?
Q: What role does Confucius play in the conversation about democracy?
Confucius introduces harmony, moral leadership, and the mandate of heaven as a counterpoint to Western individualism, highlighting how different civilizations address legitimacy and governance.
What if Socrates and Confucius Had a Conversation About Democracy and Justice?
Q: How do Plato, Aristotle, and Socrates frame the idea of democracy in your dialogue?
They discuss the balance between the will of the people and the need for a strong center; Aristotle advocates for guardrails and a robust middle class, while Socrates emphasizes critical questioning as essential to a healthy democracy.

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 Beyond the Ballot Box

What is Beyond the Ballot Box about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful program that centers political economy, human rights, and development through a Southeast Asian lens. Across recent episodes, topics range from inclusive representation and indigenous rights in Southeast Asia to Malaysia's human rights landscape, student debt reform, and labor movements. The show often features academics, economists, and active civil-society voices, plus regional voices from international development circles, creating a blend of rigorous analysis and on-the-ground activism. A notable strength is its willingness to unpack complex policy issues—like education financing, unemployment, and basic income—in a way that connects local realities to broader global debates.

Where can I find podcast stats for Beyond the Ballot Box?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Beyond the Ballot Box. 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 Beyond the Ballot Box and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Beyond the Ballot Box get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Beyond the Ballot Box, 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 Beyond the Ballot Box?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Beyond the Ballot Box, 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 Beyond the Ballot Box have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Beyond the Ballot Box 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 Beyond the Ballot Box?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Beyond the Ballot Box:

1. The Breakfast Grille
2. Morning Brief
3. Are We OK?
4. The Rest Is Politics
5. Today, Explained

How many episodes of Beyond the Ballot Box are there?

Beyond the Ballot Box launched 5 years ago and published 424 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 Beyond the Ballot Box?

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 Beyond the Ballot Box?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Beyond the Ballot Box 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 Beyond the Ballot Box?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Beyond the Ballot Box. 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 Beyond the Ballot Box?

Recent guests on Beyond the Ballot Box include:

1. Liew Liang Hong
2. Shalini Munirpen
3. Violet Lee
4. Shaleen Surendra
5. Kamal Aarif K
6. S. Arutchelvan
7. Roshinee Mookaiah
8. Baha Hilo

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days