Podlovers Asia: All about Asian Podcasting

In this episode, we're going to India to talk with Abhishek Baxi of Podcast Hub! Abhishek is a prolific writer covering tech and podcasting and is the founder of Podcasthub.in, covering the podcast ecosystem with a focus on the Indian podcasting industry. He is a digital consultant working on digital social media, mobile strategy for brands, organizations, and local businesses. He is also a technology journalist, a Senior Editor at Neowin, a Contributor at The Morning Context, and a Columnist at Hindustan Times. We talked about: Abhishek's origin story: How he became obsessed with blogging and jumping into podcasting The entirety of the Indian podcasting scene: What is happening there? Abhishek gives us a detailed overview of all the podcasting players in the Indian podcasting space From Amazon's confusing strategy in India to Spotify's acquisition of shows, and India's audio consumption culture  How do we make the jump to go from radio to podcasts? Are independent producers and content houses doing well in India? What about investment and circulation?  Enjoy! Links Podcast Hub Abhishek's Website Abhishek's Twitter Abhishek's LinkedIn Abhishek's Instagram

In this episode, we are going to China to have a conversation with someone who is gathering stories there, none other than the Host of Mosaic of China: Oscar Fuchs! Oscar is the Host and Producer of Mosaic of China, a lighthearted English language podcast showcasing an array of people who are currently making their mark in China. Previously the Co-Founder of a headhunting company, that venture brought him to many different countries in Asia: three years in Japan, six years in Singapore, three years in Hong Kong, and five years in China. Now he is based in Shanghai. In this episode we talk about: Oscar's origin story, from completing a 250-kilometer ultra-marathon in Namibia to starting Mosaic of China. The preconceptions and assumptions of China that Oscar is tackling with each episode Podcasting best practices in China and why we need two RSS feeds What's in the pipeline for Oscar as he wraps up Season 1 The meaning of Asia as a word and how it is defined by Western influences Enjoy! Links Mosaic of China Website Mosaic of China WeChat Mosaic of China Instagram Oscar Fuchs' LinkedIn

In this episode, we are going to China to have a conversation with someone who is gathering stories there, none other than the Host of Mosaic of China: Oscar Fuchs! Oscar is the Host and Producer of Mosaic of China, a lighthearted English language podcast showcasing an array of people who are currently making their mark in China. Previously the Co-Founder of a headhunting company, that venture brought him to many different countries in Asia: three years in Japan, six years in Singapore, three years in Hong Kong, and five years in China. Now he is based in Shanghai. In this episode we talk about: Oscar's origin story, from completing a 250-kilometer ultra-marathon in Namibia to starting Mosaic of China. The preconceptions and assumptions of China that Oscar is tackling with each episode Podcasting best practices in China and why we need two RSS feeds What's in the pipeline for Oscar as he wraps up Season 1 The meaning of Asia as a word and how it is defined by Western influences Enjoy! Links Mosaic of China Website Mosaic of China WeChat Mosaic of China Instagram Oscar Fuchs' LinkedIn

In this episode, we're going to take a trip to Taiwan, to have a chat with the host of the A.Connector Podcast, Mark Forman. The Brooklyn Bluesman, as he is notably called RBBluesman, Mark is part of a consultancy providing various business education and communication training, speaking services online on the internet and live in-person originally from Brooklyn, New York. He studied Chinese culture and history in university and moved to Taiwan from 1987 to continue Chinese language studies. From the podcasting perspective, he is right up there with the core group of podcasters starting up the first-ever podcasts. So we are going to do a little bit of time travel when it comes to talking about how podcasting started, now with his current show, A.Connector, satisfying his curiosity by talking to interesting people around the world. We talked about: His origin story: How Mark started podcasting, coming into contact with the medium  Mark's connection to Evo Terra, a previous guest and amazing guy (Hi Evo!) The social dynamics between Western and Asian culture, not only from a podcasting perspective, but in terms of communication.  How conservative should we be when it comes to starting a podcast in Asia, The methods of showcasing frustration and moral outrage according to two different cultures Mark's thoughts on the Asian podcasting scene and much more.  Enjoy! Links Mark's Twitter Mark's Website A.Connector Twitter A.Connector Podcast

In this episode, we're going next door to Singapore to talk to a star in Asia's podcasting scene: Niki Torres!  On a mission to reach out to thriving women and deconstruct their success stories, Niki, the Host of Chief Best Friends, talks to business partners who are actually best friends to see how can they thrive in their startup or their idea while keeping a healthy relationship with each other. And I thought I reached out to her after her launch of season two, to see how she is doing. We talked about: How Chief Best Friends started: its missions, values and the impact that Niki is aiming for The other podcast ideas she's had and pitching this show in Splice Beta, the event for Asia's digital media transformation. The lack of awareness and biases that we tend to have in the VC world, the business world and the startup world. What are the different issues and barriers that women have to tackle all the time?  Handling her podcast with strict criteria for guests Nuances in Asia's podcasting ecosystem and its differences between the Western markets from cultural to language barriers. Enjoy! Links Chief Best Friends Website Business Friendships Funds Substack

Kicking off Season 3, we are talking with Rovik Robert, Co-Host of SG Explained! SG Explained explores and takes a deep dive into all things Singapore-related: from policies to racism and history of Singapore to lighter subjects like chicken rice (one of my favorite foods!). Since Rovik has been doing this for a couple of years now, I reached out to him to see his thoughts on starting this show and navigating through multiple topics of different levels of sensitivity in a multicultural context. Plus (of course), his observations on the Singaporean podcasting scene. We talked about: Rovik's podcast origin story and starting up SG Explained His workflow and choosing the right topics and making sure, to get the most out of each opportunity in trending topics like racism, especially in Singapore The art of conversation, and the three types of conversations you can have How Rovik cooperates with his cohosts well, even if they have different opinions The other podcasts he's working on, including one internal within a corporate environment Enjoy! Links SG Explained Facebook Page Rovik's Instagram Mentioned Shows99% Invisible Dave Chen show New Naratif's Podcasts

Hello there, Norman here and welcome to Podlovers Asia, season three, coming in. If you are just tuning into the show, Podlovers Asia covers the Asian podcasting scene through conversations with producers, hosts, and independence as well as leaders in the podcasting space covering anything related to Asia's podcasting ecosystem. And that as a very strange phrase to say, because what is the Asian podcasting ecosystem with every country, every market having, their own factors, their own nuances. That makes it unique.  I, your host am on a mission to map that out so that anyone that is interested in tapping into the markets here would be much more informed and will collectively grow the ecosystem altogether. With season three, coming out, expect more conversations throughout the Asian continent from Southeast Asia, East Asia, South Asia, and many more Excited to get back into this. If you have any recommendations for people that I should talk to. Tweet at me at Podlovers Asia, or send me an email norm@podloversasia.com. That is norm@podloversasia.com. And send me over someone that you think might be a great fit for the show. And we can have an amazing conversation about what makes up each and every Asian market. So without further ado, let's dive into season three, coming out soon. Take care.

Here's a not-so-quick review of Season 2! I'll be taking a month break for the time being to focus on the group, plan content for the future and much more! Full shownotes coming in later this week! (Sorry for the rush ep!) Links Podlovers Asia Group Splice Low-Res 3: Freelancing opportunities in spite of covid (Future Plans for Podlovers Asia) Splice Coverage

In this episode, we are having a chat with the host of Indian Noir, Nikesh Murali! Nikesh is a critically acclaimed crime and horror writer, as well as a globally acclaimed spoken word artist, the creator and voice behind India's number one storytelling podcast, Indian Noir. He is a Commonwealth short story prize winner and DWL story prize winning writer also received the honorable mentions for the Katha short story prize twice. He's also the author of a multi award-winning Amazon bestselling short story collection, the Killing Fields and novel His Night Begins is adapted to an audio version for his podcast. Nearing the end of the storyline, I reached out to Nikesh to talk to him about the origins of Indian Noir and his take on creating such an amazing show. We talked about: Nikesh's origin story, how he went from spending decades writing novels, doing spoken word to diving into the world of podcasting His writing process: Using TV and screenwriting techniques to create fast binge-worthy episodes The unique structure behind Indian Noir and its multiple shows Nikesh's take on the creative podcasting scene and how to tap into it as a budding podcaster/creative Enjoy! Timestamps 4:57 Writing in a dying publishing industry: Nikesh's origin story 8:18 Poetry and the beauty of recitation 11:15 "I've always had a very dim view of the world" Focusing on crime, and the start of His Night Begins 14:11 "What about our stories?" The void of Indian crime and horror stories 18:43 Indian Noir's audiences span the globe because stories transcend cultural contexts 20:31 Spikes in listenership from overseas (US, Middle East, Australia), and Horror in Asia 22:46 A billion people and multiple languages: The sheer potential of translating Indian Noir 24:46 Indian Noir's multi-show structure: Indian Noir X, One Shots, FearFM and Desi Crime 29:09 "I do not think of Indian Noir as a podcast" Nikesh compares running his show to HBO 29:56 "Television is the most superior, supreme form of storytelling, full-stop." 32:37 The release schedule for Indian Noir, the podcast run like a TV channel 36:44 My own fiction show, Tempered Fables, the lore and continuity behind it 40:38 The beauty of oral storytelling 41:50 Oral storytelling has always been the oldest form of storytelling 43:58 How Nikesh feels about ending His Night Begins 45:37 "I get complaints if there isn't an episode" The fierce loyalty of His Night Begins fans 46:18 The pressure of ending a show, and writing a satisfying ending 49:48 Nikesh Murali will be the sole actor of Indian Noir, and why 53:10 The challenges of being a single voice actor 55:12 Indian Noir as a duty, novel adaptations, and the satisfaction of making a podcast 58:33 Invest in your craft, invest in your skillset 1:03:59 The learner's mindset 1:05:20 What Nikesh would like to see more of in the Asian podcasting scene - critical analysis of the scene itself 1:11:13 EXTRA: More on fiction, backgrounds and accents! Links Listen to Indian Noir in your favourite app Indian Noir Website Indian Noir on Audioboom Indian Noir Twitter Nikesh's Website

This time, a quick trip to Singapore to chat with podcast producer Danny Koordi! Danny is a fulltime podcast producer and founder of Fabl Productions, creating narrative shows for clients and companies who want to convey a message in podcast format. I've known Danny since the Asia Podcast Summit last year, and this was a good time to get an update on what he's up to, building up Fabl Productions and more. We talked about: The leap of faith from auditing at KPMG to fulltime podcasting The mindsets, struggles and worries behind starting your own independent podcast business Why countries in Asia are not 'advertiser-ready' yet, plus growing trends Enjoy! Timestamp 02:57 - Meeting with Danny's first client and his origin story 5:59 - "He sent a thousand Facebook messages": hearing about Happiness Initiative inspires him 9:08 - Leaving KPMG: What was going through Danny's mind? 15:32 - Building up Fabl Productions, how Danny captures opportunity 17:51 - Danny shares tips on how to dive into podcasting as a business 20:07 - "They're not looking for one way, they're looking for the best way" what aspiring podcasters look for in Asia 21:00 - Podcasting for money in the short term and McDonalds 23:34 - Comparing success to the best podcasters, and Joe Rogan's episode one 24:51 - The intangible benefit of podcasting, according to Danny 29:00 - What is on Danny's podcast playlist? Renegade Radio! 33:50 - What Danny would like to see more of in the Asian podcasting scene? 41:26 - BONUS! We chat freeform about my story, random stuff happening podcasting-wise and other shenanigans :) Links Fabl Productions website Facebook Page Instagram Danny's social media: LinkedIn Instagram Twitter Shows Mentioned 青春抛物线 (Pillars Of Youth) The Anthropocene Reviewed Planet Money Freakonomics Like the show? Check us out on Podchaser! Join the discussion on Kyrie! Here's our main website! Buy me a coffee! :)

In this episode, we're traveling to India to have a chat with Naga Subramanya of the Passion People Podcast! Naga is a podcaster and host of the Passion People podcast, a show dedicated to sharing the stories of relatable people so that listeners can get encouraged to chase their dreams. He also co-founded O2 Pod Collective, an advocacy group of podcasters in Bangalore, India to push forward the medium of podcasting! In this episode, we talk about: The mission behind the Passion People podcast, Naga's observations and predictions on the Indian podcasting scene The definition of passion as a pursuit of expression Enjoy! Timestamps 02:55 Naga's origin story and how he got into podcasting 05:30 "We're always safeguarded in India" Unlocking his source of passion 10:26 The helm, the grain and the ripple star: Passion People's Logo 14:53 There are no failed pre-interviews, and our different interview methods 20:09 "I have no dream guest" How Naga keeps the podcast relatable 22:45 About fans who reached out about losing their passion 25:47 How does one find their own definition of passion? 31:44 India's podcasting scene: Naga paints a picture (Indies, Companies, Monetization) 41:12 How India's broadcasting companies are tapping into the podcasting space + challenges 47:17 The rise in smart speakers, and religious audio content 48:48 The rise of India's podcast apps 50:26 Naga's predictions for Indian podcasting and O2Pod Collective's plans 54:19 What would you like to see more of in the Asian podcasting scene? 56:19 Naga's podcast playlist Links Naga's Medium Naga's Twitter Passion People Podcast Twitter Audioboom Website Medium Publication O2Pod Collective YouTube Channel Community Building to Foster the Podcast Ecosystem - Saif, Faiza, Vishnu, Shankar & Naga – India Mentions Maed in India IVM Podcasts Aawaz Suno India Darknet Diaries Bhaskar Bose Musafir Stories Indian Noir O2Pod Collective Like the show? Check us out on Podchaser!

In this episode, I had a chat with the wonderful Evo Terra! Evo is the host of the Podcast Pontifications podcast, a podcast about... podcast pontifications. In this show, he talks about the things that you should be thinking about when starting your own show or talking about the podcast industry in general. With 16 years in the podcast industry and his first ever show in 2004, Evo is a powerhouse when it comes to podcasting, as host of show number 40 from the very beginning. In this chat, we talked about: His origin story, how he shared his first show with truck drivers who burned podcast CDs for long distance driving Building up Podiobooks to launch the careers of many different authors (750 books!) Thoughts on privacy and why he doesn't mind compromising some of it in order to get the better experience online. I played a game with him, a hypothetical situation where we tried to grow the Asia podcast market! Anyway. Plenty of fun, laughter and amazing insight from him. Enjoy my chat with Evo Terra of Podcast Pontifications! Timestamps 03:19 What Evo hates about today's podcast apps 06:51 Mobile-only listening and the different types of podcast listeners 09:49 How Evo started Show no. 40 on October 12th, 2004 13:46 How listeners get their podcasts in the early days of podcasting 17:56 The first 40 podcasters, and the start of the Podcast Community 19:19 19 - the number of shows that Evo has hosted over the last 16 years 21:06 Launching the careers of many authors with 750 books through Podiobooks 24:52 Being a paid podcaster for hospitals, and the mission behind Podcast Pontifications 27:07 Podcasts are an easier way to gain access to expert insights 29:57 "Retention rate of audio is vastly superior to video" and the 85% metric 31:19 Is Apple the defacto source of data for podcast listener analytics? 35:30 "Your privacy is an illusion" Evo gives a very different answer to Rob Walch of Libsyn on podcast privacy 41:35 Hypothetical game: How do we grow the Asian podcast market? Thailand's barriers, and South Korea as the leading example Reach out to Evo: Podcast Pontifications Email Twitter Instagram Links: iPodderX (NOW DEFUNCT) Juice Receiver Podiobooks Tee Morris Podcasting for Dummies Bangkok Podcast Shows mentioned: Reply All Geologic Podcast Twenty Thousand Hertz

In this episode, we'll be talking with Nathaniel Fetalvaro of Tech in Asia! Nat is the host of Startup Snapshot, a podcast by Tech in Asia, the leading publication covering the Asian tech scene. He is the interviewer, host and orchestrator behind the show, brought it together up to 3 seasons. Now launching a new segment called Deep Dive, Nat shares his experience growing a podcast for the tech audience in Asia. I've known him since the Asia Podcast Summit last year so this is more a catch up between the both of us :) We talked about: How Startup Snapshot started as an idea in Tech in Asia The different barriers in trying to capture a listenership for tech entrepreneurs (Written vs. Audio) The sensitivity of scoops that can undermine both a company and publication's reputation Managing the balance between listenership needs, desires, and creating content aligning with Tech in Asia's mission A whole variety of things we talked about here, from marketing to guesting, to starting a podcast network...? Enjoy! Timestamps 03:18 The stress behind running Startup Snapshot 04:54 Starting with cardboard boxes, and underestimating the format 07:29 Tech in Asia's Unfair Advantage 10:59 Why listenership from the website dropped significantly 14:02 Tech in Asia's shownotes strategy, and how profiling helps that 20:06 Best time to share content, and why we schedule written vs audio differently 24:13 Tech in Asia's full-stack content marketing strategy for Startup Snapshot and audience adaptation 29:35 "People would want to listen to work things over the weekend" readership vs. follower counts in the weekend 32:28 Talking about business failure, the publication-business relationship, and the smaller players 38:32 "The honesty came through in all the episodes" on PR agencies and sensitive issues 49:45 Covering Asia-specific stories: breaking the language barrier 52:49 "We want to create a Tech in Asia network for podcasts" Nat shares future plans for podcasting 1:01:53 What is on Nat's podcast playlist? 1:10:21 What Nat would like to see more of in the Asian podcasting scene? Listen to Startup Snapshot on: Tech in Asia Spotify Apple Podcasts Podchaser Mentions: Willis Wee Maria Li Gimlet Eric Oandasan Shows: The Weekly Planet Hello from the Magic Tavern The Daily Gimlet's Startup

In this episode, we're going to have a talk with Dave Visaya of Podcast Engineers! Dave is a specialist in podcast editing, providing editing services for renowned clients around the world. Not only that, he has his own show called The Big Picture, diving into the success stories of entrepreneurs all across The Philippines. We talked about: Dave's Superhero origin story How he got into podcast editing and building Podcast Engineers Lessons that he learned going from a frustrated musician to teaching others how to build their own businesses Enjoy! About Dave Twitter LinkedIn The Big Picture Bigger Pockets Podcast Engineers Main site LinkedIn Shows Mentioned Leaders of Learning Asia Podcast Summit Niko Bolzico RX Izotope Audio-Technica AT2020USB+ Cardioid Condenser USB Microphone (Affiliate link) Radiolab The Ed Mylett Show School of Greatness The Brendon Show Undeniably Curious

This is an episode hijack! With the advent of my new interview show, AntiFool, I'm on a mission to deconstruct wisdom from the few to share with the many. This one is about podcasting, hence why we're here! We talked about Malaysia's podcasting space, and how to build it from two different perspectives: as a solopreneur and as a business. An interesting chat with my good friend, Kelvin Tay of Renegade Radio. For the full info to this episode, you can check out the following link: https://thatsthenorm.com/kelvin-tay/ For more info on the show itself, you can check out: https://thatsthenorm.com/antifool/ Enjoy!

Hey there, this is just a quick bonus episode to let you know: I'm launching the Podlovers Asia Group soon! It's going to be in Beta and I'll have groups, topics, and much more for the podcasting community. Sign up for the beta here: https://podloversasia.com/groupbeta/ Cheers!

In this episode, we're sitting down to have a chat with a successful podcaster based in Thailand! Greg Jorgensen is host of the Bangkok Podcast, and is on a journey to cover everything about the lovely city of Bangkok. Since 2011(!!), he covers a TON, from history to culture, specific locations and developments in the city over time, and more. All in 250+ episodes! With ~200 patrons in his Patreon, he has a whole list of loyal listeners supporting him which is amazing to hear. We talked about: Greg's journey to Bangkok and what compelled him to start the podcast How he built a community of 200 paying members on his Patreon His personal insights on the Thai podcasting scene Enjoy! Timestamps 03:14 How Greg arrived to Bangkok 04:48 The intricacies of Bangkok as an interesting city 09:57 Why a podcast? + The Origins of Bangkok Podcast 13:20 How has the podcast evolved over time with different cohosts? 16:40 How do you source for content about the city of Bangkok? 23:32 How Greg grew his Patreon to 200 members 26:07 Experimenting with premium content, failed segments and current events 29:18 What is Thailand's national flower? 30:55 Greg's insights on Thai podcasting scene 36:18 The costs of living in Thailand as a foreigner 39:30 Bangkok Podcast listenership, being friends with listeners and meetups 44:19 Building a connection with the host 46:41 Greg's podcast playlist, and dream episode to make 52:34 'T.I.T': This is Thailand 53:47 Love, Loathe, or Live With: The Asian podcasting scene Main Links Greg's Website Greg's Twitter Bangkok Podcast Podcast Website Twitter Facebook Page Patreon Shows mentioned Planet Money Revolutions Podcast 99% Invisible Conan O'Brien Needs A Friend Emperors of Rome Futility Closet Joe Rogan Experience Last Podcast on the Left Twenty Thousand Hertz WTF with Marc Maron Hardcore History Doug loves movies

In this episode, we are going to be talking with Sheena Yap Chan of the Tao of Self Confidence Podcast! The Tao of Self Confidence Podcast is a show to boost the self confidence of Asian women. Spanning over 750 episodes (!!), Sheena has been on this amazing quest to share their voices, sharing their stories, vulnerabilities and lessons, to empower her listeners. I am personally a fan of Sheena, she has done so much for the Asian podcasting community. The first time I saw her name was when she wrote an ultimate list of Asian podcast! It was one of the influences in me starting this show. We talk about: How she built over 750 compact, powerful episodes The factors that affect self-confidence in Asian women Her personal story in what compelled her to start podcasting Our thoughts on Asian identity Enjoy the episode! Timestamps 03:02 Lacking support systems for Asian women: Sheena's story in starting her show 06:09 Sheena's Tao: Building self-confidence 07:39 "As women, we are harsh to ourselves" Why Sheena thinks this happens 10:23 Short, powerful episodes: Sheena shares her reasons and interview process 16:32 "There's people out there who don't see your worth, but don't make it you": Creating something for yourself as an Asian woman 18:39 The labels Asian women get from society and pushing past that narrative 20:56 How can we support women who go through these struggles? Sheena shares her thoughts 24:40 The biggest lesson Sheena learned about herself: Self-love 26:42 What made her realise how short life is 31:00 What Sheena would like to see more of in the Asian podcasting scene The Tao of Self Confidence Links Website Podcast Link Facebook Page Twitter Instagram LinkedIn YouTube Ultimate List of Asian Hosted Podcasts Sheena's Social Media Facebook Page Twitter LinkedIn Like the show? Check us out on Podchaser! Join the discussion on Kyrie! Here's our main website! Buy me a coffee! :)

Warning: this episode is rated E for explicit! In this episode, we take a quick trip to the Philippines to have a deep and funny chat with Ron Baetiong of Podcast Network Asia! Ron is a seasoned entrepreneur with over 10 years building all kinds of things. Coming from a tech background, he's built a nightlife app called Partyphile that has closed down due to unfortunate circumstances, and from there he started Chatbot.ph, a chatbot solutions company. In the midst of all of this, he wanted to take his lessons (going through the different stages of success and failures) by creating Hustleshare, a podcast interviewing known leaders and their hustles. To give back to the podcasting scene, he created Podcast Network Asia, an Asia-wide network! We talked about: Ron's origin story as a serial entrepreneur Starting an Asia-wide podcast network and its implications Trends in the Philippines podcasting scene Building the omnichannel analytics for podcasts: Podmetrics.co Enjoy! Like the show? Check us out on Podchaser! Join the discussion on Kyrie! Here's our main website! Buy me a coffee! :) Ron's Links Email LinkedIn Hustleshare Podmetrics Lessons from Startup Purgatory: 13 things I learned from my failed Startup Bounce back: 10 things I did to get out of startup purgatory From Startup Purgatory To Startup Glory: 11 Things We Did To Get Acquired Podcast Network Asia Website Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Instagram Other Links Kumu Social App EntreLeadership Podcast

In this episode, I had a lovely chat with Saigoneer's Editor-in-Chief, Mike Tatarski! Saigoneer is a publication covering the city of Saigon, and Vietnam in general. They cover quite a number of topics ranging from culture, society, food and drinks, to serious issues too! Their podcast is a roundtable of the Saigoneer team talking about the latest happenings in Vietnam. Pretty fascinating! We talked about: Transitioning into Vietnamese culture The Saigoneer's mission to cover everything in Saigon How the team curates its content An overview of the Vietnamese podcasting scene Do we have plenty of English-language podcasts? How about Vietnamese-language podcasts? We find out more here. Enjoy! Reach out to Mike: LinkedIn Twitter Email Mentioned links/shows Thi Bui Viet Thanh Nguyen New Naratif Bangkok Podcast The Renovation Generation Seven Million Bikes Political Gabfest The Pressbox The Big Picture The Watch Like the show? Check us out on Podchaser! Join the discussion on Kyrie! Here's our main website! Buy me a coffee! :)