Best Asiapacific Podcasts (2024)

1
Looking back on the career of emeritus IGES Executive Director, Hideyuki Mori 38:21

22d ago38:21

38:21

On this episode of About Sustainability…, Andre, Alice and Simon celebrate the contribution of an IGES legend, Mr Hideyuki Mori. Mori-san has been a leader at IGES for most of the institute’s history, following diverse experience at other institutions including the United Nations Environment Programme and Asian Development Bank. He retired last yea…

1
About Climate Action (SDG 13): Framing Climate Change as a Security Issue and Outcomes of UNFCCC-COP28 57:55

3M ago57:55

57:55

On this episode of About Sustainability…, Alice and Erin were joined by Naoyuki OKANO and Nagisa SHIIBA, IGES experts working on Climate Adaptation. This episode, recorded in December 2023, offers a quick recap of what happened at COP28 in Dubai and then dives deep into the far-reaching impacts of climate change on human security. Hosted in Dubai, …

1
Tackling plastic pollution: Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) updates 39:11

4M ago39:11

39:11

On this episode of About Sustainability…, Erin, Alice, and Simon were joined by Matthew Hengesbaugh and Chochoe Devaporihartakula, IGES experts working on plastic pollution. While plastics have been an indispensable part of modern life, plastic pollution has entered the public consciousness in recent years. It is an issue that most of us encounter …

1
A life dedicated to the environment 59:05

9M ago59:05

59:05

It’s been a while since our last installment but today’s episode is a special interview with a long-serving member of IGES who has had a fascinating career, from which he just recently retired. Peter King has been based at IGES’s office in Bangkok, but has been mentor and advisor to many of us at IGES. In a wide-ranging discussion Alice, Shom, Simo…

1
How to strengthen cyber resilience in Asia-Pacific banks 26:59

10M ago26:59

26:59

Cyber attacks have caused unprecedented disruption and financial damage across various industry sectors. This gave rise to the pressing need for cyber resilience in Asia-Pacific financial services institutions, with a particular focus on banks. But what are the approaches necessary for leadership teams to develop the capabilities required to protec…

1
Overreach and Overreaction with Dr. Susan Shirk 38:57

10M ago38:57

38:57

The year 2023 has thus far been a turbulent one for the U.S.-China relationship. An already deeply strained relationship has been rocked further by a number of significant events. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently concluded a visit to Beijing with the stated purpose of re-establishing and reinvigorating high-level contact between the …

1
How Asia-Pacific banks can build a future-ready workforce 31:39

11M ago31:39

31:39

The banking industry is changing rapidly, and a people-centric approach can help banks stay ahead of the curve. How can a focus on human-centricity and skills-led transformation drive growth and innovation in the banking industry? What are the benefits of a culture that supports continuous learning and evolution? Can this approach ultimately help b…

1
By the Data: The Chinese American Experience 29:04

11M ago29:04

29:04

The downturn in the U.S.-China relationship and the COVID-19 pandemic has fueled sharp increases in anti-Asian rhetoric and hate crimes. Yet, data on the reality of day-to-day life in the United States for Chinese Americans have been limited. To fill this gap in knowledge, the Committee of 100 and Columbia University administered a comprehensive su…

1
How Chief Risk Officers are navigating a changing banking landscape in Asia-Pacific 25:24

12M ago25:24

25:24

From geopolitical tensions to macroeconomic uncertainty, the banking industry is facing numerous challenges in the fast-changing external environment. With the increased volatility and interconnected risks brought on by recent events and macroeconomic uncertainty, Chief Risk Officers are facing one of the most difficult jobs in the banking C-suite.…

1
SDG7: Affordable and Clean Energy 52:30

12M ago52:30

52:30

Our guest on this episode is Akihisa Kuriyama, a policy researcher in IGES’ Climate & Energy Unit. He joins us to talk about SDG7 on energy. We spoke about the relationship between energy and climate; what’s new about SDG 7 in the global discussion on energy; some of the barriers and challenges in achieving the goal; the possibilities of nuclear en…

1
How to establish trust around banks’ sustainability practices 17:46

12M ago17:46

17:46

Sustainability is now higher up on the list of every bank's strategic priorities investors. Regulators and stakeholders across society are increasingly demanding greater transparency from financial institutions to enable sustainable finance in order to create long-term value. In part two of this mini-series on sustainability, Eric Lim, Chief Sustai…

1
Intergenerational solidarity on climate with Charles Hua and Aruna Muthupillai 39:45

1y ago39:45

39:45

A recent study found that 70% of young people between the ages of 16 and 25 are extremely worried or very worried about the climate. The latest assessment that the global temperature is rising faster than previously predicted has added urgency for action and radical changes. Climate and sustainability are inherently intergenerational, as we must th…

1
How Asia-Pacific banking leaders can create a net-zero future 18:45

1y ago18:45

18:45

In response to the need of moving towards sustainable banking, global banks have committed to bringing down emissions to net-zero by 2050. If we are to truly transform the global economy, we need a sea change in capital flows, and in the financial industry that guides them. Financial services organizations (FSOs) are central to this process. Many a…

1
The China-Texas Nexus 31:21

1y ago31:21

31:21

In recent years, China has moved to the center of the federal public policy agenda. Increasingly, it has become a significant topic at the state level, as well. The economic and commercial relationship between China and the state of Texas is substantial and indeed globally significant; China is among Texas’ top export destinations and sources of im…

1
Looking Ahead: Digital Banking over the next decade 30:39

1y ago30:39

30:39

Over the course of this series, we’ve spoken with industry experts and practitioners with the aim of helping banks chart a clear path forward to achieve digital transformation. We’ve discussed key challenges facing the financial services industry today in the Asia Pacific and globally from operationalizing digital change to the hotly debated topic …

1
The Korean Peninsula: What to Expect in 2023 with Seong-Hyon Lee 31:49

1y ago31:49

31:49

Last year, North Korea tested more missiles than any other year and showcased its capability to launch different types of attacks from multiple directions. Its leader Kim Jong-Un has vowed to expand its nuclear arsenal and mass produce tactical nuclear weapons targeting South Korea. In response to these provocations, the US-South Korea alliance rem…

1
How technology and sustainability drive the future of investment banks 23:52

1y ago23:52

23:52

Firms operating across the capital markets, particularly investment banks, are facing an exceptionally challenging operating environment today. The COVID-19 pandemic, rising consumer expectations, and high inflation rates are all generational challenges that are now converging in 2023, and beyond, and are likely to shape the environment for some ti…

1
China’s COVID Pivot and PRC-Taiwan Comparison with Tsung-Mei Cheng 21:25

1y ago21:25

21:25

After three years of strict pandemic controls, China suddenly reversed its zero covid policy last December, as omicron spread rapidly in the country. A top Chinese epidemiologist claimed that the current wave of the outbreak has gotten 80% of the population, which is 1.1 billion people, sick. But the true impact of this wave is still a mystery as t…

1
Updates from the ongoing political and scientific processes to reduce plastic pollution 46:39

1y ago46:39

46:39

In this episode we met with Amila from IGES who shared the latest updates on international plastics governance. Among others, he described details on the international negotiations committee that was formed last year to define a legally binding instrument to curb plastic pollution. We heard who is on that committee and what they do when they meet. …

1
Key strategies for investment banks to achieve sustained transformation 25:58

1+ y ago25:58

25:58

Firms operating across the capital markets, particularly investment banks, are facing an exceptionally challenging operating environment today. The COVID-19 pandemic, rising consumer expectations, and high inflation rates are all generational challenges that are now converging in 2023, and beyond, and are likely to shape the environment for some ti…

1
SDG6: Water, water everywhere, but how is it managed? 48:04

1+ y ago48:04

48:04

In this episode of About Sustainability… Erin and Bob talked to Binaya Raj Shivakoti, an IGES expert in the Adaptation and Water team, about SDG6, which is on “ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all” (or simply ‘Clean Water and Sanitation’). This goal’s environmental dimensions are clear, and has targets on…

1
Deep Dive: How Asian VCs are giving the recession a run for its money 21:55

1+ y ago21:55

21:55

It’s undeniable – the world is in recession. Although it took longer for the downturn to hit Asia, startups and venture capitalists have been preparing for it for months. On this episode of Deep Dive, Tech in Asia emerging tech editor Collin Furtado discusses his insights from the ongoing article series Recession Run, where he talks to the region’s…

1
SDG5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls 50:47

1+ y ago50:47

50:47

In this episode of About Sustainability..., Andre and Erin spoke with their colleague, Maiko Morishita, about SDG5, on achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls. Maiko is part of the IGES finance task force, which covers a variety of topics but she also previously worked in the NGO world where gender was a key component of her wo…

1
A Startup's Guide to Remote Talent (Trailer) 1:16

1+ y ago1:16

1:16

Once upon a time, all it took to build a workforce was a couple of ads in the classified section of the local newspaper. But with a global shift to remote working, companies have to consider a plethora of factors when hiring talent: Which markets should I hire from? How can I stand out from other hiring companies? What can I do to make sure the tal…

1
Regional or Local Circulating and Ecological Spheres (CES) - Sustainability Afoot #2 29:05

1+ y ago29:05

29:05

In this episode of About Sustainability… In episode 2 of the Sustainability Afoot series, Bob took a walk with Dr. Bijon Kumer Mitra to find out what Regional/Local CES (Regional or Local Circulating and Ecological Spheres) is. In brief, CES is an approach supported by the Government of Japan that is focused on bottom-up policy development that see…

1
Deep Dive: Hodlnaut’s mismanagement and lies 23:51

1+ y ago23:51

23:51

At the start of 2022, crypto firm Hodlnaut had the approval of the Monetary Authority of Singapore and close to US$1 billion in assets under management. Today, the Singapore-based company has halted its operations, faces lawsuits over allegations of dishonesty, and is being probed by the city-state’s police force. On this episode of Deep Dive, Tech…

1
Renewing Commitments to Nature: Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework 30:32

1+ y ago30:32

30:32

In this episode of About Sustainability… Erin and Simon caught up with Andre just before his trip to Montreal, Canada for the second part of the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP15). A few things have changed since the release of our CBD episode back in March. CBD COP15 will now be conv…

1
Taiwan and the U.S.-China Relationship with Dr. Robert Wang 40:47

1+ y ago40:47

40:47

The recent Bali summit between U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping underscored two things about the U.S.-China relationship as we near the end of the year 2022: first, that many of the differences between the United States and China are, in the end, irreconcilable; and second, that notwithstanding that, both sides have a state…

1
Circular Economy (Sustainability Afoot #1) 32:43

1+ y ago32:43

32:43

In this episode of About Sustainability… Bob kicked off a new experimental format, tentatively called “Sustainability Afoot”. The concept is simple: go for a walk near the headquarters of the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) in Hayama, Japan, and discuss some basic questions about a topic, concept, or methodology that IGES works…

1
SDG4 (part 2): Education and sustainable development - are we teaching the right things? 35:59

1+ y ago35:59

35:59

This is the second part of our episode on SDG4 and education for sustainable development. In this part we focused on whether the right skills are taught in schools to equip people with skills and priorities necessary to bring about a more sustainable world rather than one characterized by competition and scarcity. Robert shared more information and…

1
Vibe Check: Mental Health in the Startup World (Trailer) 1:36

1+ y ago1:36

1:36

Vibe Check: Mental Health in the Startup World is a Tech in Asia podcast where writer and editor Winston Zhang speaks to startup leaders and mental health professionals to see what he can learn from them when it comes to managing his mental well-being. Listen to Vibe Check: Mental Health in the Startup World on your podcast platform of choice to ca…

1
SDG4 (part 1): Why is education so important for sustainable development? 40:08

1+ y ago40:08

40:08

In this episode we talked with our good friend Robert Didham. He is Centre Director and Associate Professor at the Centre for Collaborative Learning for Sustainable Development Faculty of Education, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences. We talked to Robert about education for sustainable development and its place in Agenda 2030 as SDG 4. He…

1
Deep Dive: PayMongo’s precarious predicament 26:00

1+ y ago26:00

26:00

Once a rising fintech company that drew in investors such as Y Combinator and Stripe, Philippines-based PayMongo now finds itself in a precarious position. Allegations of questionable spending and employee harassment from senior leaders cropped up a few months ago, leading Francis Plaza, the startup’s CEO, to go on voluntary leave. What happened at…

1
Combatting Sex and Human Trafficking: A Growing Issue in the U.S.-China Relationship 40:55

1+ y ago40:55

40:55

The issue of human rights has long been one of the thorniest issues in the U.S.-China relationship. Both countries publish annual reports lambasting the perceived human rights violations of the other country, and U.S. condemnation of Chinese policies in Xinjiang affecting the Uyghur population routinely dominate media headlines as well as the atten…

1
How the payments landscape is evolving in Asia-Pacific 25:46

1+ y ago25:46

25:46

We are all witnessing the evolution of the payments industry. The fast-changing and dynamic payments landscape has enabled banks to focus extensively on agility and scalability as customer expectations continue to transform. Moreover, banks are drawing inspiration from digital players in adopting their digital payments model and considering innovat…

1
Road ahead for Digi Banks 20:17

1+ y ago20:17

20:17

Digitalization is no longer an option but an experience for consumers today. As a result, the future of digibanks is bright, and we may expect new innovations in banking services in the near future. ASEAN region, including Malaysia, is poised to be the next battleground for digital banks, with existing players stepping up their expansion plans, in …

1
SDG3: Good Health and Well-Being 1:05:27

1+ y ago1:05:27

1:05:27

In this episode of About Sustainability..., Erin, Andre, and Bob invited Eric Zusman back to talk about SDG3 on Health. Eric works on co-benefits between air pollution mitigation and climate action, which has significant implications for public health. Meanwhile, Erin provided some context and perspectives based on her public health background. We …

1
How platforms and ecosystems relate to the future of banking 26:45

1+ y ago26:45

26:45

Everyone knows that staying afloat in today’s fast-moving, transformative business environment means using technology to enable increased agility. It’s not enough to adapt to what’s happening now – the key is to be prepared to adapt to what comes next and beyond. In this episode of the NextWave Banking in Asia-Pacific podcast, host Andrew Gilder an…

1
SDG2: Zero Hunger 1:13:42

1+ y ago1:13:42

1:13:42

In the second episode of our series on SDGs, Simon, Andre and Erin invited Prabhakar SVRK, who knows a lot about climate adaptation, food and agriculture. Focusing on SDG2 on Zero Hunger, we talked about the challenges to achieve a world free from hunger while trying to reduce fossil fuel use to limit climate change, given the significant fossil fu…

1
Diversity and Community Building in Technology with YJ Lin 24:55

1+ y ago24:55

24:55

Every so often on our podcast series we slightly depart from issues within the strict U.S.-China geopolitical context to examine subjects that are indirectly affected. This is just such an episode, where we will speak about the necessity of diversity and community inclusion in both technological advancements, but also in strengthening our nation ag…

1
Should you build, buy or both when it comes to Digital? 23:20

1+ y ago23:20

23:20

Today, one of the most hotly debated areas in the banking industry is whether to build or buy banking technology solutions and softwares. There are perks to both. Building allows you to be in complete control of your final product while buying provides a cost-effective, often quick solution that is usually reliable and robust. This episode explores…

1
Operationalizing digital change 22:16

1+ y ago22:16

22:16

With a pandemic digital transformation is more important than ever. In fact, digital is the only growing channel in banking. In this episode we talk about operationalizing digital change and the big transformation challenges that the banks are facing. We also discuss the role of SaaS platforms in ensuring business agility and speed, the advantages …

1
SDG1: No Poverty 1:02:19

2y ago1:02:19

1:02:19

What’s in an SDG? In an effort to more deeply understand the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), over the next few months, the About Sustainability… podcast will zoom in on each of them in turn. We will invite experts to join us and parse out more about an individual goal, where we are in terms of achieving it, and the challenges it presents. We …

1
The Future of U.S.-China Nuclear Relations with Eric Gomez 44:00

2y ago44:00

44:00

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has not only elevated the risk of a nuclear conflict but also led to some rethinking about the role of nuclear weapons in international affairs. Even before the war, weapon development in North Korea and the breakdown of negotiations with Iran already set back progress in arms control. Meanwhile, China is rapidly expand…

1
Deep Dive: How Animoca Brands became a blockchain gaming juggernaut 23:19

2y ago23:19

23:19

Animoca Brands is a name that is practically synonymous with the blockchain scene, with news of its acquisitions, fundraising, and expansions regularly hitting the news. But the Web3 empire’s thrilling crypto success was sparked in a manner that is less grand than its current stature. Though it’s now valued at US$5 billion, it was actually delisted…

1
Can the World Achieve the SDGs? Part 2 of 2 40:08

2y ago40:08

40:08

This is part 2 of the broad discussion that André, Bob, Erin, and Simon went into, which began with the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and why it seems so challenging for the world to achieve the goals. Part 2 of the discussion started with Erin’s question on whether the issue with the capitalist system is that negative environmental external…

1
Can the World Achieve the SDGs? Part 1 of 2 46:30

2y ago46:30

46:30

This time, Andre, Bob, Erin, and Simon went into a broader discussion around the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and why it seems so challenging for the world to achieve the goals despite them constituting the ‘good’ of development. The discussion touched upon many items, including how the SDGs are different than the Millennium Development Goa…

1
Key trends accelerating Asia-Pacific banking growth in 2022 23:27

2y ago23:27

23:27

Asia-Pacific banks have largely moved cautiously and in lockstep these past years, resulting in increasingly commoditized offerings. To emerge from the shadow of COVID-19 and achieve distinctiveness among their peers to pull ahead of the pack, they need to take more decisive actions to eke out fresh approaches for accelerated growth. Only then, can…

1
Asia Pacific Regional CSO Engagement Mechanism (APRCEM) 43:37

2y ago43:37

43:37

Andre and Erin had a chance to talk to a fascinating person named Wardarina about civic engagement, especially focusing on the Asia-Pacific Regional CSO Engagement Mechanism (APRCEM). Simon joined the discussion to provide additional insights, as he too has a lot of experience engaging in this space. Wardarina (or Rina, as she is often known) is cu…

1
Deep Dive: Does the rise of digibanks threaten Indonesia’s online lending industry? 16:04

2y ago16:04

16:04

As digital banking rises to prominence in Indonesia, tech companies from various sectors have been dipping their toes in the game, partnering with and sometimes even acquiring digibanks. Leveraging their greater and easier access to capital, online and peer-to-peer lenders have also joined the fray. However, some question whether this move toward t…

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