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Straight Talk Southeast Asia

Renegade Radio
Southeast Asia
Vietnam
Climate Change
Indonesia
Malaysia
Philippines
Carbon Emissions
Renewable Energy
Transnational Crime
ASEAN
Anti-Corruption Campaign
Gaza
El Niño
Deforestation
Urban Heat Island Effect
Timor-Leste
Communist Party Of Vietnam
Thailand
Bridget Welsh
Lee Hsien Loong

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes120Founded3 years ago
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Artwork for Straight Talk Southeast Asia

Latest Episodes

This episode looks at contemporary Myanmar politics at the end of the 2025 with SEAPI political analyst/fellow Billy Ford, focusing on the Myanmar junta election, challenges for the opposition/resistance and what to look out for ahead.

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This episode looks at the economy in Southeast Asia over the past year with Lowi Institute's Roland Rajah, highlighting shocks, resilience and variation across the region.

Stay informed on our website:

straighttalkseasia.com/

This episode looks at the recent COP30 meeting in Belem Brazil and how developments at the meeting connect to Southeast Asia, as well as policy trends around climate governance in ASEAN with Sharon Seah.

Stay informed on our website:

straigh... more

This episode catches up on developments in the region after the Sabah polls hiatus and fleshes out the lessons from Malaysia’s Sabah’s 2025 state polls for understanding the region’s changing politics.

Stay informed on our website:

straightt... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Billy Ford
Political analyst and fellow at the Southeast Asia Peace Institute, long-time observer of Myanmar
Southeast Asia Peace Institute
Episode: EP118: Myanmar's Junta Polls w/ Billy Ford
Roland Rajah
Lead economist at the Lowy Institute and director of the Indo-Pacific Development Center
Lowy Institute
Episode: EP117: Economic Shocks and Southeast Asia’s Resilience with Roland Rajah
Sharon Seah
Senior Fellow and Coordinator of the Climate Change Program at the ISIS ISEAS Institute.
ISIS ISEAS Institute
Episode: EP116: Climate Governance in Southeast Asia with Sharon Seah
Michael Bak
Head of policy with AI Safety Asia
AI Safety Asia
Episode: EP114: AI Governance in Southeast Asia w/ Michael Bak
Dr. Ilango Karuppanan
Former ambassador and adjunct professor at University of Malaya, expert on ASEAN and Malaysian diplomacy.
University of Malaya
Episode: EP113: Trump Comes to Malaysia / ASEAN with Dr. Ilango Karuppannan
Dr. Moe Thuzar
Senior fellow at ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute and coordinator of the Myanmar Studies Program
ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute
Episode: EP112: Myanmar and ASEAN with Dr. Moe Thuzar
Ivo Ribiero
Scholar from Timor-Leste and fellow at the National Bureau of Asian Research
National Bureau of Asian Research
Episode: EP111: Timor Leste Enters ASEAN with Ivo Ribiero
Bey Lih Yi
Asia Pacific Director at Committee to Protect Journalists
Committee to Protect Journalists
Episode: EP110: Media Freedom in Southeast Asia with Bey Lih Yi
Jason Tower
Expert on transnational crime and security in Southeast Asia
Senior Fellow at GTAU
Episode: EP109: Trends in Transnational Crime with Jason Tower

Host

Bridget Welsh
Host and political analyst, knowledgeable about Southeast Asian politics and current affairs.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 13 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 States7 months 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 States2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Reviewers highlight the engaging format and the expertise of the guests as key strengths.
Listeners appreciate the sharp analysis and clear perspectives offered by the hosts and guests.
Many find the discussions to be informative and relevant, particularly in understanding the complexities of Southeast Asian politics.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#32
Hong Kong/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#140
Philippines/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#143
Singapore/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#154
Indonesia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#188
Hong Kong/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

EP118: Myanmar's Junta Polls w/ Billy Ford
Q: What are the most important features of this political exercise that the junta is trying to do?
The elections are seen as rigged with little chance for legitimate political parties, indicating a facade of democracy.
EP116: Climate Governance in Southeast Asia with Sharon Seah
Q: How do you see Southeast Asia's climate governance evolving?
Sharon highlighted the importance of addressing public ambiguity regarding climate transitions and ensuring social safety nets.
EP116: Climate Governance in Southeast Asia with Sharon Seah
Q: Which countries are doing well and which ones are not?
Sharon noted that Singapore is leading in climate governance, with ambitious plans and actions, while others like Myanmar are lagging.
EP116: Climate Governance in Southeast Asia with Sharon Seah
Q: How do you see this ASEAN Common Carbon Framework?
Sharon described the ASEAN Common Carbon Framework as being primarily led by the private sector and still needing formal cohesion.
EP116: Climate Governance in Southeast Asia with Sharon Seah
Q: Can you talk about COP 30?
Sharon expressed that COP has become less effective but indicates some key outcomes like the Bellum Action Mechanism.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
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Age Range
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Frequently Asked Questions About Straight Talk Southeast Asia

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

Topics covered focus primarily on political issues, economic developments, and regional governance in Southeast Asia. The discussions feature a diverse range of experts who provide in-depth analyses of current events, such as elections, international relations, transnational crime, and climate governance. Noteworthy episodes include insights on Myanmar's elections under military control, the economic resilience of Southeast Asian nations amidst global pressures, and the critical role of ASEAN in regional stability. The combination of expert guests and a focus on timely, relevant issues makes the content particularly appealing for listeners interested in understanding the complexities of Southeast Asia's political landscape and its implicati... more

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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. The Asia Chessboard
2. The Trade Guys
3. Southeast Asia Radio
4. Empire
5. Pekingology

How many episodes of Straight Talk Southeast Asia are there?

Straight Talk Southeast Asia launched 3 years ago and published 120 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Straight Talk Southeast Asia?

Recent guests on Straight Talk Southeast Asia include:

1. Billy Ford
2. Roland Rajah
3. Sharon Seah
4. Michael Bak
5. Dr. Ilango Karuppanan
6. Dr. Moe Thuzar
7. Ivo Ribiero
8. Bey Lih Yi

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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