Rephonic
Artwork for Strait Forward
Taiwan
China
United States
Semiconductors
Democracy
Geopolitics
Technology
National Security
2045 (board Game)
TSMC
Cybersecurity
Kuomintang
Digital Resilience
Mizo Games
Asymmetric Warfare
Drones
Cognitive Warfare
Democratic Progressive Party
Japan
Semiconductor Industry

Strait Forward is a podcast series from the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP), where Channing Lee takes a deep-dive into Taiwan, the island at the forefront of technological innovation and the global fight for democracy. Hear Taiwanese experts discuss geopolitics, technology, and culture.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes41Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
GovernmentTechnology

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Artwork for Strait Forward

Latest Episodes

In this episode of Strait Forward, Channing Lee tours Foxconn's Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin campus with Robert Schlaeger, Head of U.S. Region Public & Government Affairs at Foxconn, to unpack how the Taiwanese electronics manufacturing giant built one ... more

Building advanced semiconductor foundries — and serving as the world’s trusted semiconductor supply chain capital — requires far more than purchasing multi-million-dollar lithography equipment. It also requires a fundamental alignment between a compa... more

YouTube

Political rhetoric often relies on simple villains, and few narratives are as convenient — or as fundamentally flawed — as the claim that Taiwan "stole" America's semiconductor industry. In this second episode of Strait Forward's three-part miniserie... more

YouTube

Political rhetoric often relies on simple villains, and few narratives are as convenient — or as fundamentally flawed — as the claim that Taiwan "stole" America’s semiconductor industry. In a new three-part miniseries of Strait Forward, host Channing... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Konrad Young
Former Research and Development Director at TSMC
TSMC
Episode: Why Taiwan Didn’t Steal America’s Chip Industry (Pt. 3: Industry & Culture)
Stephen Su
Senior Vice President, Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI)
ITRI
Episode: Why Taiwan Didn’t Steal America’s Chip Industry (Pt. 2: Institutional Ecosystem)
Roy Lee
Former deputy minister, Taiwan's former envoy to Europe; researcher at CIR
Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research (CIER)
Episode: Why Taiwan Didn’t Steal America’s Chip Industry (Pt. 1: Geoeconomic History)
Lai I-Chung
President of the Prospect Foundation
Prospect Foundation
Episode: Assessing PLA Military Readiness
Greg Chen
CEO of Sharetea; leader of Lianfa Food and Beverage Company brands Sharetea and Youju
Sharetea / Lianfa Food and Beverage
Episode: Sharing Boba Tea, Sharing Taiwan
Jonas Parello-Plezner
Executive Director of the Alliance of Democracies Foundation
Alliance of Democracies Foundation
Episode: The U.S.-Taiwan Semiconductor Education Alliance
Eyck Freeman
Author of Defending Taiwan, historian with focus on China and Taiwan strategy
Author, Defending Taiwan
Episode: A Strategy for Defending Taiwan
Jerry Yu
Senior Analyst at Doublethink Lab
Doublethink Lab
Episode: Defending Against PRC Doublethink & Information Manipulation
Dahyun Kim
Strategic Partnership Manager at Doublethink Lab
Doublethink Lab
Episode: Defending Against PRC Doublethink & Information Manipulation

Hosts

Channing Lee
Host focused on geopolitics, technology, and culture with a background in public policy analysis.
Libby Lange
Co-host and content contributor with focus on Taiwan policy, culture, and media narratives.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 22 ratings
  • Insightful and Timely

    Two wonderful cohosts who’ve clearly put a lot of time towards inviting top tier guests and asking insightful questions

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    NatsecGuy
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

High-quality analysis with accessible storytelling.
Covers a broad spectrum from geopolitics to culture, keeping topics engaging.
Cohosts invite top-tier guests and ask insightful questions.
Guests bring practical, real-world relevance to policy and tech.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#182
Canada/Government
Apple Podcasts
#47
Taiwan/Government
Apple Podcasts
#50
New Zealand/Government
Apple Podcasts
#71
India/Government
Apple Podcasts
#112
Hong Kong/Government
Apple Podcasts
#113
Israel/Government

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Why Taiwan Didn’t Steal America’s Chip Industry (Pt. 2: Institutional Ecosystem)
Q: What is the long-term impact of ITRI on the global semiconductor ecosystem?
ITRI helped establish a global, collaborative ecosystem where Taiwan and the US (along with other countries) contribute to design, manufacturing, and supply chains, while continuing to support future trends through partnerships with universities and industry players.
Why Taiwan Didn’t Steal America’s Chip Industry (Pt. 2: Institutional Ecosystem)
Q: What is ITRI and what do they do?
ITRI was founded in 1973 to help industry commercialize innovative technology. It operates with government support and private funding, focusing on developing and transferring technologies rather than selling directly to consumers, and it serves as a think tank and incubator for new technologies.
Sharing Boba Tea, Sharing Taiwan
Q: How do you balance Taiwanese authenticity with local tastes in new markets?
We emphasize Taiwan origin and tea quality while permitting limited local customization, such as sugar levels and drink variants, to match local preferences without changing the core brand story.
Sharing Boba Tea, Sharing Taiwan
Q: What markets are you prioritizing for expansion and why?
Focus is on South America, India, and Europe due to population size, growth potential, and strategic fit for Taiwanese tea culture, while continuing to reinforce authenticity in the US and other established markets.
Sharing Boba Tea, Sharing Taiwan
Q: How does AI fit into making boba drinks?
AI is used to control brewing, flavoring, and serving times across stores, enabling precise recipes and reducing training needs, which allows a single drink to be produced consistently in about seven to ten seconds.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Interests
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Household Income
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Frequently Asked Questions About Strait Forward

What is Strait Forward about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This program centers on Taiwan's geopolitical, technological, and cultural crossroads, often featuring policy-heavy discussions with experts, researchers, and practitioners. Episodes frequently explore deterrence theory, information manipulation, energy security, and Taiwan's role in global tech supply chains, as well as cultural topics like tea and cuisine to illustrate Taiwan's identity. A notable pattern is mixing rigorous policy analysis with accessible storytelling and live demonstrations, such as tasting tea or interactive board-game discussions, which broadens appeal beyond strictly academic audiences. The show often brings in researchers, policymakers, journalists, and industry guests who offer practical insights into resilience, de... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Strait Forward?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Strait Forward:

1. Ones and Tooze
2. The Asia Chessboard
3. The Foreign Affairs Interview
4. Fareed Zakaria GPS
5. NatSec Tech

How many episodes of Strait Forward are there?

Strait Forward launched 2 years ago and published 41 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 Strait Forward?

Recent guests on Strait Forward include:

1. Konrad Young
2. Stephen Su
3. Roy Lee
4. Lai I-Chung
5. Greg Chen
6. Jonas Parello-Plezner
7. Eyck Freeman
8. Jerry Yu

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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