Rephonic
Artwork for Ear to Asia
Indonesia
Deforestation
Chinese International Students
Palm Oil
Biodiversity
Prabowo Subianto
Climate Change
Mining
Food Security
China
United States
India
Russia
Language Barriers
Australia
Academic Challenges
Pulpwood Plantations
AI Governance
Social Media
Higher Education

On Ear to Asia, we talk with Asia experts to unpack the issues behind news headlines in a region that is rapidly changing the world. Ear to Asia is produced by Asia Institute, the Asia research specialists at the University of Melbourne, Australia. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes167Founded9 years ago
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Artwork for Ear to Asia

Latest Episodes

While shared anxieties over China have brought India and the United States closer, President Donald Trump’s second-term tariffs and tougher immigration rules have injected fresh strain into the relationship. The pressure on New Delhi to curb Russian ... more

A year into his presidency, Prabowo Subianto stands at a pivotal moment in Indonesia’s political journey. Elected on promises of both continuity and change, his government has faced unrest in the streets, the dismissal of a long-serving finance minis... more

For many East Asians living in Western societies, the first challenge they face is their own name — mispronounced in classrooms, simplified in workplaces, or changed altogether to fit in. Behind these small acts lie deeper questions of identity, belo... more

Indonesia’s 17,000-plus islands boast the world’s third-largest tropical rainforest, home to endangered species and Indigenous communities, and a vital shield against climate change. Yet in 2024, the country lost 261,000 hectares of forest—its worst ... more

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Recent Guests

Dr. Pradeep Taneja
Asia Political Scientist from the School of Social and Political Sciences
University of Melbourne
Episode: Can India maintain strategic autonomy in the Trump 2.0 era?
Professor Tim Lindsey
Malcolm Smith Professor of Asian Law and Director of the Centre for Indonesian Law, Islam and Society
Melbourne Law School
Episode: Indonesia under Prabowo—promises, protests, and power
Dr. Ian Wilson
Political Sociologist of Indonesia and Senior Lecturer
Murdoch University
Episode: Indonesia under Prabowo—promises, protests, and power
Ikuko Nakane
Language researcher in Japanese studies and Associate Dean of Diversity and Inclusion at the University of Melbourne's Faculty of Arts
University of Melbourne
Episode: Navigating East Asian names in a Western world
Lewis Mayo
Asia historian and lecturer at Asia Institute
Asia Institute, University of Melbourne
Episode: Navigating East Asian names in a Western world
Farwiza Farhan
Multi-award-winning forest conservationist and leader of Forest, Nature and Environment Aceh, an Indonesia conservation NGO.
Forest, Nature and Environment Aceh
Episode: Profit, Politics, and the Future of Indonesia's Rainforests
Dr. Charlotte Setijadi
Seasoned Indonesia watcher from Asia Institute.
Asia Institute
Episode: Profit, Politics, and the Future of Indonesia's Rainforests
Jeannie Paterson
Professor of law focusing on consumer and data protection laws surrounding emerging technologies.
University of Melbourne
Episode: How governments in Asia juggle the pros and cons of AI
Haiqing Yu
Professor involved in researching the impact of digital media in Asia-Pacific.
RMIT University
Episode: How governments in Asia juggle the pros and cons of AI

Host

Sami Shah
Host of the show, engaging experts in discussions relating to Asian affairs and current events.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 87 ratings
  • A very good program to learn English and know the Asia

    It is really high quality show made by UoM. The sound of the program is clear and free from noise.The speakers they invite know Asian affairs very well.The topic it adopts is prevailing and attached to the reality. It is extraordinary among other free podcast programs.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    哈哈偶呵呵
    Australia3 years ago
  • Values judgements displacing analysis

    In the last year, extreme values judgements made by hosts and guests on the show have been displacing the political analysis that first characterized this show.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Aquateenwhateveryeah
    United States5 years ago
  • Much more nuance expected

    Generally this program airs a much needed insider perspective and expertise on Asia and being Asian relevant to Australian listeners. But the Migrants from China episode was frustrating and would have been much better if a working definition or explanation of “Chineseness” for the purpose of the podcast was included. The interviewer kept trying to “focus” the discussion on”mainland Chinese” while the panel were saying its not straightforward- as are most issues with identity. What do you call s... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Wendy5Dock
    Australia5 years ago
  • Fascinating

    Fascinating survey of the issues in Asia that matter to the world. Great guest, well interviewed and produced. Always insightful and educational!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    slingamp
    Australia6 years ago
  • Excellent podcast! Warmly recommended

    Great work

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jogu-rt
    United Kingdom6 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Offers an insider perspective on complex issues, although some perceive shifts away from rigorous political analysis to value judgments.
Engaging content for those interested in the region's dynamics, often delivering educational insights on lesser-known topics.
Expect nuanced perspectives, although there's a call for deeper explorations around identity themes.
Insightful and high-quality discussions about Asian affairs.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Navigating East Asian names in a Western world
Q: How does this grammatical requirement shape social interactions in ways that might surprise speakers of other languages?
Honorifics and address terms in Japanese send social messages about positioning in relationships, impacting social interactions significantly.
Navigating East Asian names in a Western world
Q: What is the process like for millions of people who'd never had family names before when the Japanese government required all citizens to adopt surnames?
The introduction of surnames was challenging and seen as a means for the government to keep records and exert control over the population.
Navigating East Asian names in a Western world
Q: How did this cultural transmission work and what did it mean for local naming traditions?
Chinese characters spread across East Asia, influencing naming traditions in Japan, Korea and Vietnam, where local literacy systems developed based on classical Chinese.
Profit, Politics, and the Future of Indonesia's Rainforests
Q: How does Jakarta go about improving food security for its growing population?
Jakarta is accelerating projects like food estates, which are ambitious but controversial, causing strain on the budget and raising concerns about the environmental impact.
Profit, Politics, and the Future of Indonesia's Rainforests
Q: What in your view are the primary reasons for this alarming surge in deforestation, especially when previous years showed a decline?
The primary reasons include the expansion of pulpwood plantations and government-backed food estate projects. These projects are aimed at increasing food security but result in large-scale deforestation.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Ear to Asia

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

Expect insightful discussions with experts that unpack the complexities of social and political issues in Asia, ranging from governance and cultural dynamics to environmental concerns. A recurring theme is the examination of contemporary challenges faced by various Asian nations, including Indonesia's political landscape and Chinese international students' experiences. This show is characterized by a commitment to presenting nuanced perspectives that avoid oversimplifications, making it a valuable resource for listeners seeking to understand the multifaceted nature of Asian affairs.

Where can I find podcast stats for Ear to Asia?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Ear to Asia. 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 Ear to Asia and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Ear to Asia get?

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What are the audience demographics for Ear to Asia?

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How many subscribers and views does Ear to Asia have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Ear to Asia 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 Ear to Asia?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Ear to Asia:

1. Sinica Podcast
2. Drum Tower from The Economist
3. The President’s Inbox
4. The Rest Is Politics
5. Pekingology

How many episodes of Ear to Asia are there?

Ear to Asia launched 9 years ago and published 167 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 Ear to Asia?

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 Ear to Asia?

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

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What guests have appeared on Ear to Asia?

Recent guests on Ear to Asia include:

1. Dr. Pradeep Taneja
2. Professor Tim Lindsey
3. Dr. Ian Wilson
4. Ikuko Nakane
5. Lewis Mayo
6. Farwiza Farhan
7. Dr. Charlotte Setijadi
8. Jeannie Paterson

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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