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The Little Red Podcast

Graeme Smith and Louisa Lim
China
Taiwan
Xi Jinping
Cultural Revolution
Disinformation
Cognitive Warfare
Mental Health
Dragons
William Lai Ching-De
Chinese Communist Party
Psi Boom
Psychotherapy
Artificial Intelligence
Chinese Mythology
Human Trafficking
Scam Syndicates
May Day
DPP
Covid-19
Youth Depression In China

The Little Red Podcast: interviews and chat celebrating China beyond the Beijing beltway. Hosted by Graeme Smith, China studies academic at the Australian National University's Department of Pacific Affairs and Louisa Lim, former China correspondent for the BBC and NPR, now with the Centre for Advancing Journalism at Melbourne University. We are the 2018 winners of podcast of the year in the News ... more

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes100Founded10 years ago
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Latest Episodes

In our new series—China Rules—we look at how China is a global exporter, not just of goods, but also of standards, ideas, technologies and mechanisms of control. We’re starting with politics, and whether China is exporting its brand of “smart authori... more

As an Easter treat, we're bringing you a cracking tale of espionage from one of our favourite China podcasts: Face Off. We'll be back shortly with a new season called China Rules.

Espionage

Two young CIA agents were flown to northern China in 195... more

Britain is the latest country to be plunged into yet another espionage scandal after an MP’s husband was arrested on suspicion of spying for China. Beijing’s long been known for its ‘thousand grains of sand’ strategy relying on amateur intelligence c... more

YouTube

In 2013, to mark International Consumers Day, China’s state-run TV network labelled Apple a ‘bad company’. More than a decade later, despite claiming to rely on multinationals from 50 different countries, Apple still has nearly 100% of its supply cha... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Jennifer Lind
Associate Professor of Government at Dartmouth College and author of Autocracy 2.0
Dartmouth College
Episode: China Rules: Autocracy for sale
Bethany Allen
Head of the China Investigation and Analysis Team at Australian Strategic and Policy Institute and author of Beijing Rules
Australian Strategic Policy Institute
Episode: China Rules: Autocracy for sale
Nigel Inkster
Former Director of Operations and Intelligence for MI6
MI6
Episode: Little Red Podcast x Face Off
Rana Mitta
China historian joining to unpack Nigel's comments
Face Off
Episode: Little Red Podcast x Face Off
Lyndon Lee
Former journalist, VOA Chinese; human rights activist
London-based
Episode: State Capture or Mind Capture? China's Spy Strategy on 3 Continents
Dennis Molinaro
National security expert; author of Under Assault, Interference and Espionage in China's Secret War Against Canada
Independent/security analyst
Episode: State Capture or Mind Capture? China's Spy Strategy on 3 Continents
Sam Guthrie
Former Australian diplomat; author of The Peak (fiction but grounded in fact)
Former diplomat, author
Episode: State Capture or Mind Capture? China's Spy Strategy on 3 Continents
Patrick McGee
Financial Times journalist and author of 'Apple in China, The Capture of the World's Greatest Company'
Financial Times
Episode: Bad Apple? How the World’s Greatest Company Changed Chinese Tech
Edward Vickers
Professor at Kyushu University and co-author of Education and Society in Post-Mao China.
Kyushu University
Episode: Education Nation: China’s Exam Fetish

Hosts

Graeme Smith
China studies academic and co-host, based at Australian National University; frequent interlocutor on politics, economics, and society in China.
Louisa Lim
Co-host, former China correspondent for BBC and NPR; currently with Centre for Advancing Journalism, Melbourne University; focuses on journalism, media, and China's global image.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 322 ratings
  • Matt in San Jose, California

    The most professional China watching podcast available. No fluff, just the important stuff.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    老板你干什么?
    United Statesa year ago
  • Wow 🤩🤩🤩

    Everyone everywhere should listen to this podcast ….

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Polyglot1962
    Australia3 years ago
  • Excellent podcast for anyone more than casually interested in China, its politics, and the future relation between Chinese and Western powers. (Sidenote for the unaware, the podcasts name is a pun on chairman Mao's quotations, colloquially known as the "Little Red Book".)

    Features lengthy interviews with experts of Chinese politics and culture, most of which actually understand Mandarin language. Only turn-off for those not versed in the language might be the superfluous use of Mandarin terminol... more

    Podchaser
    5
    Podhound
    4 years ago
  • Quite possibly the best academically informed podcast on China currently in existence. Outstanding analysis, great production, and stand-out hosts. For those who criticize the show for being either too analytical or too journalistic, I hear you. But I personally find that the hosts find a perfect balance between these two extremes that gives birth to something uniquely rewarding through the podcast medium. My only gripe is that they don't release twice as many episodes :)

    Podcast Addict
    5
    eon
    4 years ago
  • Layman Appreciation

    An important contribution to perspective of Cuna in the World.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    bill nrma
    Australia4 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Professional, well-researched, and insightful discussions with strong guest lineups.
Balanced analysis that is accessible to non-experts while remaining rigorous.
Some listeners perceive a Western perspective; overall credibility and depth are praised.
Audio quality and occasional strong viewpoints have drawn mixed comments from a minority of listeners.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Little Red Podcast x Face Off
Q: So what is China up to when it comes to espionage?
The session suggests China is pursuing comprehensive, long-term intelligence and influence operations, leveraging a federated system across provinces and a culture of secrecy to outmaneuver Western rivals, while expanding outreach through diaspora networks and strategic partnerships in the Middle East.
The Garbage Time of History: Is China Still Marxist?
Q: What signs are you seeing already of that happening?
Xu expresses concern about a potential shift towards a fascist-type totalitarianism in response to exogenous shocks, including the need for public support for likely future conflicts.
The Garbage Time of History: Is China Still Marxist?
Q: Alison, you've argued that from an institutional perspective, Marxism no longer exists in China. Could you maybe expand on that?
Alison elaborates that traditional Marxism has been heavily adapted to fit the practical governance of the Communist Party since as early as 1949, focusing more on Leninism and Maoism.
Sisters doing it for themselves? Marriage Refusal and Little Milk Puppies
Q: What has changed in how older generations view younger generations not wanting to have children?
The older generation tolerates childlessness because they seek financial support and care from their children, leading to a more accepting attitude toward their choices.
Sisters doing it for themselves? Marriage Refusal and Little Milk Puppies
Q: Why did you come to the conclusion that women want pets more than they want husbands?
Research indicated that young generations view pets as providing companionship without the responsibilities of raising children, reflecting a deeper desire for personal freedom.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Little Red Podcast

What is The Little Red Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show curates analytic conversations about China that go beyond foreign policy headlines, often featuring researchers, journalists, and practitioners who unpack history, society, technology, education, religion, and culture. Episodes frequently center on how macro trends—like education systems, economic reforms, digital governance, and social change—play out in everyday life across China and in its relations with the world. A recurring strength is bringing informed, specialist perspectives to complex topics, from the Gaokao and education inequality to AI ambitions and cultural diplomacy, while maintaining accessible discussions for listeners who want depth without jargon. A notable point is its track record of high-profile guests and cro... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Little Red Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Little Red Podcast:

1. Pekingology
2. Sinica Podcast
3. ChinaPower
4. ChinaTalk
5. Lowy Institute

How many episodes of The Little Red Podcast are there?

The Little Red Podcast launched 10 years ago and published 100 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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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 The Little Red Podcast?

Recent guests on The Little Red Podcast include:

1. Jennifer Lind
2. Bethany Allen
3. Nigel Inkster
4. Rana Mitta
5. Lyndon Lee
6. Dennis Molinaro
7. Sam Guthrie
8. Patrick McGee

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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