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Straight Talk Southeast Asia

Renegade Radio
Southeast Asia
Indonesia
Myanmar
ASEAN
Thailand
Vietnam
China
Philippines
Malaysia
United States
Climate Change
Cambodia
Political Instability
Joko Widodo
South China Sea
Democracy
Timor-Leste
Protests
Singapore
Laos

Welcome to Straight Talk Southeast Asia. In this podcast, host, political analyst and academic, Dr. Bridget Welsh covers politics, current affairs, developments and other news in Southeast Asia, all for your listening pleasure. Episodes cover the latest developments every week, so it's best to listen to the latest episode to get to know what's happening. See you soon!This show is produced by Reneg... more

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Artwork for Straight Talk Southeast Asia

Latest Episodes

This episode looks at Türkiye’s relationship with ASEAN with Mehmet Enes Beşer, focusing on defense, economic and political ties as well as Türkiye’s interests in the region.

Stay informed on our website:

straighttalkseasia.com/

This episode looks at challenges facing Brunei with Dr. Kerstein Steiner examining the dynamics of generational change, succession, her political economy and geopolitical shifts.

Stay informed on our website:

straighttalkseasia.com/

This episode looks at Myanmar’s President Min Aung Hlaing’s attempt to normalize his government in the region, especially in ASEAN with Professor Thitinan Pongsudhirak.

Stay informed on our website:

straighttalkseasia.com/

This episode examines the social media ban policy for children under 16 and focuses in on this policy in Southeast Asia, especially Malaysia and Indonesia, with Dr. Nuurrianti Jalli.

Stay informed on our website:

straighttalkseasia.com/

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.

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Asia GeopoliticsThe Diplomat
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The Economics Show
The Economics ShowFinancial Times
Hold Your Fire!
Hold Your Fire!International Crisis Group

Recent Guests

Kerstin Steiner
Associate Professor at La Trobe University
La Trobe University
Episode: EP145: Brunei’s Challenges with Dr. Kerstin Steiner
Thitinan Pongsudhirak
Professor of International Relations at Chulalongkorn University; Director of ISIS Thailand
Institute of Security and International Studies (ISIS) Thailand; Chulalongkorn University
Episode: EP144: Myanmar’s Junta Normalisation with Professor Thitinan Pongsudhirak
Nuurrianti Jalli
Visiting fellow, ICs Yusuf Ishak Institute; scholar on social media issues
ICs Yusuf Ishak Institute, Singapore
Episode: EP143: Youth Social Media Ban Southeast Asia with Dr. Nuurrianti Jalli
Bich Tran
Fellow at RSIS in Singapore; affiliated with Verve Research
_RSIS; Verve Research
Episode: EP142: Maritime Conflict Decision Making with Dr Natalie Sambhi and Dr Bich Tran
James Guild
Economist, assistant professor at IIII University (International Islamic University in Jakarta)
IIII University (International Islamic University in Jakarta)
Episode: EP141: Indonesia Not in Crisis Yet with Economist Dr. James Guild
Ronald Holmes
Political Science Professor at DeSalle/La Salle University, Department of Political Science
La Salle University
Episode: EP140: A Look at Philippine Elite Politics with Professor Ronald Holmes
Patrick Peralta
PhD candidate at the University of Michigan researching political violence in the Philippines
University of Michigan
Episode: EP139: Toboso Killings, Philippines Political Violence with Patrick Peralta
Evan Laksamana
Shangri-La Senior Fellow at IISS
IISS
Episode: EP138: Shangri-La 2026 - Defence Diplomacy Challenges with Dr. Evan Laksamana
Kei Koga
Associate Professor, Public Policy and Global Affairs
Nanyang Technology University (Singapore)
Episode: EP137: Japan Steps Up for Southeast Asia with Associate Professor Kei Koga

Host

Bridget Welsh
Host and political analyst focusing on Southeast Asia; affiliated with Straight Talk Southeast Asia.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 15 ratings
  • The Podcast That Makes Sense of Southeast Asia

    Straight Talk Southeast Asia cuts through the noise with sharp analysis, clear perspectives, and truly well-informed guests. Bridget and Zachary break down complex policies and regional decisions in a way that makes sense—and shows why they matter, not just to the 700 million people in Southeast Asia, but to billions more around the world who feel their ripple effects.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    GardenDistrictVC
    United Statesa year ago
  • Great podcast

    This podcast is great for those interested in the complicated political world of Southeast Asia. My wife is from Thailand and the pod has been a great way to keep up with what’s been going on with the election.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JBL1990
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Framing helps non-experts understand why regional events matter globally.
Solid insights from diverse guests on regional issues.
Great for keeping up with Southeast Asian political shifts and elections.
Sharp, well-informed discussions that cut through the noise.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#38
South Korea/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#209
Taiwan/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#226
South Korea/News
Apple Podcasts
#242
Poland/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

EP144: Myanmar’s Junta Normalisation with Professor Thitinan Pongsudhirak
Q: What role does ASEAN play in the current Myanmar situation?
ASEAN is navigating a difficult balance between pushing for a peaceful resolution and recognizing that the regime holds power on the ground, with the Five-Point Consensus serving as a guiding but unfulfilled framework.
EP139: Toboso Killings, Philippines Political Violence with Patrick Peralta
Q: Has Toboso impacted Philippine politics, or is its influence likely to fade amid other crises?
The guest expresses a pessimistic view, noting that Toboso received intense media attention but faded from public memory within weeks as Manila politics and other crises captured attention, implying limited long-term political impact unless sustained accountability efforts occur.
EP139: Toboso Killings, Philippines Political Violence with Patrick Peralta
Q: What are the key features of these killings that we should learn from?
The Toboso killings involved a 12-hour clash described as a legitimate armed encounter by the army, but civil society investigations found civilians among the dead, alleged evidence tampering, and questions about who actually fought, suggesting deeper issues about accountability and the conduct of counterinsurgency.
EP141: Indonesia Not in Crisis Yet with Economist Dr. James Guild
Q: What are your thoughts on the central bank's independence under Prabowo, and could this erode investor confidence?
He discusses the historical tension between growth-oriented policy and central bank independence, cautioning that overt political interference could undermine credibility and investor sentiment but allowing for some intervention if managed with credible policy pathways.
EP141: Indonesia Not in Crisis Yet with Economist Dr. James Guild
Q: Can you talk about some of the adjustments that you see the Indonesian Prabowo government making recently?
Dr. Guild describes moves such as cutting spending, raising interest rates, and intervening in bond markets as steps the government has taken, noting both the intent to stabilize and the risk of credibility loss if changes are abrupt or inconsistent.

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 Straight Talk Southeast Asia

What is Straight Talk Southeast Asia about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful, policy-forward show covering Southeast Asia with sharp analysis and a steady stream of expert guests. Episodes frequently explore politics, security, economics, and regional diplomacy, tying local developments to broader global dynamics. The format blends rigorous host commentary with in-depth interviews from researchers, regional analysts, and practitioners, often highlighting governance, policy trade-offs, and resilience in the face of volatility. A standout aspect is the consistent focus on practical implications for policymakers and businesses, making it useful for listeners who want to understand both the why and the how of Southeast Asian affairs.

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Which podcasts are similar to Straight Talk Southeast Asia?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Straight Talk Southeast Asia:

1. Southeast Asia Radio
2. Asia Geopolitics
3. The Asia Chessboard
4. The Economics Show
5. Hold Your Fire!

How many episodes of Straight Talk Southeast Asia are there?

Straight Talk Southeast Asia launched 3 years ago and published 148 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 Straight Talk Southeast 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 Straight Talk Southeast Asia?

Recent guests on Straight Talk Southeast Asia include:

1. Kerstin Steiner
2. Thitinan Pongsudhirak
3. Nuurrianti Jalli
4. Bich Tran
5. James Guild
6. Ronald Holmes
7. Patrick Peralta
8. Evan Laksamana

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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