Why Should We Care About the Indo-Pacific?

Ray Powell & Jim Carouso

China

United States

Taiwan

Indo-Pacific

South China Sea

Philippines

ASEAN

Australia

Japan

North Korea

India

AUKUS

Donald Trump

Southeast Asia

Russia

Quad

National Security

Bowergroupasia

Vietnam

Ukraine

Chart the world's new strategic crossroads. Join co-hosts Ray Powell, a 35-year U.S. Air Force veteran and Director of the celebrated SeaLight maritime transparency project, and Jim Carouso, a senior U.S. diplomat and strategic advisor, for your essential weekly briefing on the Indo-Pacific. Drawing on decades of on-the-ground military and diplomatic experience, they deliver unparalleled insights ... more

66 ratings

Publishes	Twice weekly	Episodes	155	Founded	2 years ago
Number of Listeners		Categories	GovernmentNews CommentaryNews

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Latest Episodes

Why Should We Care if North Korea's "Little Rocket Man" is Firing Off Missiles Again? | with Ankit Panda

While U.S. attention has been consumed by wars in the Middle East and Europe, North Korea’s Kim Jong Un is expanding his nuclear arsenal, testing missiles from land and sea, and locking in a new strategic partnership with Russia. In this episode, hos... more

22 May 2026 • 51 min

YouTube

Why Should We Care About the U.S.-Philippine Alliance? with AMB MaryKay Carlson

In this episode, hosts Ray Powell and Jim Carouso sit down with retired U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson, who led America’s embassy in Manila from July 2022 to January 2026, one of the most consequential periods in the modern histor... more

20 May 2026 • 50 min

YouTube

Why Should We Care About How to Prevent a War over Taiwan? | with Dr. Eyck Freymann

What if China could take Taiwan without firing a single missile? In this episode, Dr. Eyck Freymann explains how Beijing's primary strategy isn't a cross-strait invasion - it's a gray-zone "quarantine" that could leave Taipei and Washington with no g... more

15 May 2026 • 51 min

YouTube

Why Should We Care About the Trump–Xi Summit? | with Michael Sobolik

This week President Donald Trump heads to Beijing for a high-stakes summit with Xi Jinping - the first U.S. presidential visit to China in nearly a decade. But this isn't 2017 all over again. China is stronger, America's alliances are under strain, t... more

12 May 2026 • 54 min

YouTube

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Recent Guests

MaryKay Carlson

Retired ambassador, former U.S. ambassador to the Philippines (2022–2026)

U.S. Foreign Service

Episode: Why Should We Care About the U.S.-Philippine Alliance? with AMB MaryKay Carlson

Eyck Freymann

Hoover Fellow at Stanford University; non-resident Fellow at US Naval War Colleges, China Maritime Studies Institute

Stanford University / US Naval War Colleges

Episode: Why Should We Care About How to Prevent a War over Taiwan? | with Dr. Eyck Freymann

Michael Sobolik

Senior fellow at the Hudson Institute; author of Countering China's Great Game (2024)

Hudson Institute

Episode: Why Should We Care About the Trump–Xi Summit? | with Michael Sobolik

Regine Cabato

Journalist; PCIJ contributor and former Washington Post correspondent in Manila

Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism; Washington Post

Episode: Why Should We Care if Beijing’s Propaganda is Attacking Journalists who Report Critically on China? | with Regine Cabato

Sujeev Shakya

Chair of the Nepal Economic Forum; senior advisor for Nepal and Bhutan for BowerGroupAsia

BowerGroupAsia

Episode: Why Should We Care About Nepal? | Gen Z Revolution, India-China Rivalry & the Iran War’s Impact on South Asia | with BGA's Sujeev Shakya

Sal Mercogliano

Maritime historian, Campbell University

Campbell University; What's Going On with Shipping (YouTube)

Episode: Why Should We Care About the World’s Blocked Oil Artery? | with Sal Mercogliano

Roy Trinidad

Rear Admiral, Philippine Navy, spokesman for the West Philippine Sea

Philippine Navy

Episode: Why Should We Care if China is Poisoning the Water Around a Philippine Outpost in the South China Sea? | with Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad

Ioannis Koskinas

Colonel, retired Air Force Special Operations Officer; CEO of the Hoplite Group

Hoplite Group

Episode: Why Should We Care About America’s Extraordinary Rescue Mission in Iran? | with Ioannis Koskinas and Joe Felter

Joe Felter

Colonel, retired Army Special Forces; director of Gordian Knot Center

Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation, Stanford

Episode: Why Should We Care About America’s Extraordinary Rescue Mission in Iran? | with Ioannis Koskinas and Joe Felter

Hosts

Ray Powell

Host of the show, former military officer; SeaLight maritime transparency project (Director); IEJ Media / Indo-Pacific podcast brand

Jim Carouso

Co-host, Senior Diplomat; former U.S. diplomat; strategic advisor; affiliated with BowerGroupAsia

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 66 ratings

Thanks
Happy to find your podcast. After a while it is exactly what I was looking for. Loved it. Sound quality needs improvement. Sections are not numbered. Requires some technical attention.
Apple Podcasts
5
Ghadeernabi
Spain2 years ago
Amazing expertise
I love that each episode gets straight to the heart of an issue. Amazing depth of expertise between the hosts and guests.
Apple Podcasts
5
Emile123
United States2 years ago
Whether you are a foreign policy wonk or know nothing about the subject, this podcast will help you get smarter on the Indo-Pacific.
Audible
5
Angelina and David
United States2 years ago
The hosts are fantastic and help explain key issues in the Indo-Pacific and why people should care.
Whether you are a foreign policy wonk or know nothing about the subject, this podcast will help you get smarter on the Indo-Pacific.
Audible
5
Angelina and David
United States2 years ago
This is the Indo-Pacific podcast I’ve been looking forever for
Must listen - Ray & Jim are living legends
Apple Podcasts
5
Malachy J
United States2 years ago

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Listeners Say

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

Guests and hosts mix deep experience with clear, actionable insights.

Listeners praise the breadth of topics across geopolitics, economics, and security.

Experts deliver depth with practical context for policy and business decisions.

Some reviews note room for improvement in production quality and segment structuring.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts	#205	France/News/News Commentary
Apple Podcasts	#84	Philippines/News/News Commentary
Apple Podcasts	#123	India/News/News Commentary
Apple Podcasts	#163	New Zealand/News/News Commentary
Apple Podcasts	#172	China/News/News Commentary
Apple Podcasts	#193	Singapore/News/News Commentary

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Why Should We Care About the Trump–Xi Summit? | with Michael Sobolik

Q: How should Trump approach Taiwan in the summit context, given the leverage over Xi and the domestic imperatives?

The guest suggests Trump likely has significant leverage on Taiwan but cautions that any concessions should be weighed against U.S. national security interests and the importance of maintaining credible deterrence and allied support; the expectation is for careful signaling rather than large, irreversible concessions.

Why Should We Care About the Trump–Xi Summit? | with Michael Sobolik

Q: What's different about this trip than the last one, and why should our audience care?

Sobolik notes that while the underlying aim of pursuing a trade deal remains, the context has shifted due to intensified supply-chain awareness, China's growing power, and ongoing Middle East concerns that limit the leverage available to the U.S. He also points to the potential but uncertain deliverables like a Board of Trade and the difficulty of achieving major concessions.

Why Should We Care About Nepal? | Gen Z Revolution, India-China Rivalry & the Iran War’s Impact on South Asia | with BGA's Sujeev Shakya

Q: What would you tell Nepal's new prime minister for the first 100 days?

Maintain focus and strengthen internal and external communication to manage noise on social platforms; ensure clear messaging about reforms, open channels with business and media, and monitor governance performance to achieve a natural convergence of outcomes.

Why Should We Care About Nepal? | Gen Z Revolution, India-China Rivalry & the Iran War’s Impact on South Asia | with BGA's Sujeev Shakya

Q: So what is he planning to do? What is his platform besides ending corruption?

The platform centers on public service delivery: faster issuance of passports, citizenship, driving licenses, and creating an environment where meritocracy replaces nepotism; also to push transparent procurement and reduce petty corruption through digitalized processes and home delivery of services.

Why Should We Care if Beijing’s Propaganda is Attacking Journalists who Report Critically on China? | with Regine Cabato

Q: How does Regine differentiate between China state information and China-aligned influence?

She explains that the article carefully distinguishes state-backed narratives from broader China-aligned influence, focusing on the narratives and red flags rather than accusing specific actors of being state agents.

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This program consistently centers on Indo-Pacific geopolitics, with deep dives into U.S.–China competition, alliance politics, and regional flashpoints such as the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait. Episodes frequently feature senior diplomats, military officers, policy researchers, and journalists who illuminate strategic dynamics, economic statecraft, and security cooperation across ASEAN, AUKUS, and the broader Quad. A standout element is the blend of practitioner insight and high-level analysis from guests with real-world experience, making complex regional issues more approachable for policy professionals, business leaders, and scholars alike.

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1. The Asia Chessboard
2. War on the Rocks
3. ChinaPower
4. Pekingology
5. NatSec Matters

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 2 years ago and published 155 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 this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. MaryKay Carlson
2. Eyck Freymann
3. Michael Sobolik
4. Regine Cabato
5. Sujeev Shakya
6. Sal Mercogliano
7. Roy Trinidad
8. Ioannis Koskinas

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