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
Australia
Academic Challenges
Language Barriers
Pulpwood Plantations
AI Governance
Southeast Asia
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.

PublishesInfrequentlyEpisodes169Founded10 years ago
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NewsPoliticsSociety & Culture

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Artwork for Ear to Asia

Latest Episodes

Across Southeast Asia, vast compounds have emerged as the nerve centers of large-scale online fraud, run by transnational crime syndicates with links to ethnic Chinese networks. Their targets are ordinary people across Asia and beyond, ensnared in sc... more

Rice is more than a staple in the Philippines — it’s a measure of well-being and security. But decades of government policies built around industrial-scale production have struggled to deliver self-sufficiency in a country where rice farming is overw... more

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

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Ivan Franceschini
Dr. from the Centre for Contemporary Chinese Studies at Asia Institute
Asia Institute, University of Melbourne
Episode: Compound Capitalism: Inside Southeast Asia's Fraud Factories
Ling Li
Ph.D. candidate at Ca' Foscari University of Venice
Ca' Foscari University of Venice
Episode: Compound Capitalism: Inside Southeast Asia's Fraud Factories
Eric Gutierrez
Social geographer, University of Melbourne
School of Geography, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Melbourne
Episode: How are rice farmers faring in the Philippines?
Wolfram Dressler
Professor of Geography, University of Melbourne
School of Geography, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Melbourne
Episode: How are rice farmers faring in the Philippines?
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

Host

Sami Shah
Host of Ear to Asia

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.

High-quality analysis of Asia beyond headlines
Some episodes noted for lacking definition or nuance in identity discussions
Insightful and well-produced discussions with strong guest expertise
Nods to nuance and in-depth context praised by listeners

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How are rice farmers faring in the Philippines?
Q: In this episode, how are rice farmers faring in the Philippines?
Farmers face a combination of price volatility, policy misalignment, and high production costs, which erode profitability and stability. While there is significant smallholder involvement and agroecological potential, government programs often fail to support farmers' marketing needs and land rights, limiting their ability to invest and sustain livelihoods. Yet there is optimism in seeing how farmers adapt through diversification, local knowledge, and context-specific technologies.
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.

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?

The show consistently probes Asia-facing topics through expert analysis, blending academic insight with policy and governance perspectives. Episodes commonly explore how regional dynamics—economic development, security alignments, environmental challenges, and sociopolitical shifts—shape real-world outcomes. A notable strength is bringing Melbourne-based researchers and regional specialists into vivid, current discussions, often highlighting how policy choices impact livelihoods, governance, and global affairs. The format tends to combine rigorous context with accessible storytelling, making it useful for listeners who want a nuanced understanding of Asia beyond headlines. A standout aspect is the recurring use of university-affiliated expe... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Ear to Asia?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Ear to Asia:

1. Reformasi Dispatch
2. The Asia Chessboard
3. The China-Global South Podcast
4. Pekingology
5. ChinaTalk

How many episodes of Ear to Asia are there?

Ear to Asia launched 10 years ago and published 169 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.

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What guests have appeared on Ear to Asia?

Recent guests on Ear to Asia include:

1. Ivan Franceschini
2. Ling Li
3. Eric Gutierrez
4. Wolfram Dressler
5. Dr. Pradeep Taneja
6. Professor Tim Lindsey
7. Dr. Ian Wilson
8. Ikuko Nakane

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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