Southeast Asia Radio
CSIS | Center for Strategic and International Studies
CSIS’ Greg Poling, Japhet Quitzon, and Lauren Mai, joined by Elina Noor, Senior Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, highlight the most important news from Southeast Asia and dive into candid conversations with leading voices on the region and U.S. foreign policy. We’ll cover everything you want to know about Southeast Asia. Geopolitics in the region? Recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic? Democracy and human rights? Nothing is off limits! So join us for “Southeast Asia Radio” every other Thursday, wherever you get your podcasts.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Sep 4, 2025 • 28min
Malaysia's Foreign and Domestic Policy Landscape with Shahril Hamdan
Greg and Elina are joined by Shahril Hamdan to discuss the most recent developments in Malaysian domestic politics, as well as Malaysia's foreign policy during its ASEAN chair year.
Aug 21, 2025 • 30min
Regional Development Financing with Scott Morris
Greg is joined by Scott Morris, Asian Development Bank Vice President for East and Southeast Asia, and the Pacific, to discuss the evolving nature of development finance within the region. Japhet and Lauren cover the latest from the region, from collisions in the South China Sea to Singapore National Day.
Aug 7, 2025 • 36min
Trade Developments in Southeast Asia with Barbara Weisel
Greg and Elina are joined by Barbara Weisel to discuss developments in trade within the region. Japhet and Lauren cover the latest from the region, from updates on Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment to Laos' engagement with Russia.
Jul 31, 2025 • 14min
Friendship, Freedom and Fractures: Re-Tuning into the Pacific
Monica and John discuss independence movements in New Caledonia and Bougainville, deep sea mining in the Pacific, and regional news and developments.
Jul 24, 2025 • 32min
Foreign Policy and Domestic Politics in Indonesia with Mehu Sitepu
Greg and Elina are joined by Mehu Sitepu to discuss developments in Indonesian foreign policy and domestic politics. Japhet and Lauren cover the latest from the region, including the Cambodian conscription law, a new SpaceX project in Vietnam, and critical minerals in Myanmar.
Jul 10, 2025 • 33min
Political Instability in Thailand with Fuadi Pitsuwan
Greg and Elina are joined by Fuadi Pitsuwan to discuss the unfolding domestic situation in Thailand in the aftermath of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s leaked phone call with Hun Sen. Japhet and Lauren cover the latest from the region, from the suspected Chinese national, Alice Guo, infiltrating the Philippines to the latest craze, Labubus.
Jul 3, 2025 • 26min
Echonomics - Asia Emerges from Financial Crisis
In this special episode, listen to the second episode of CSIS’s newest podcast, Echonomic that investigates how past economic events in Asia continue to impact U.S. policy today.
The story of the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis continues in this episode. Hear the “Echonomics”’ guests discuss how the U.S., International Monetary Fund, and global organizations learned from the crisis and why it was, and still is, important to get to know Asia and its economies.
Check out other episodes here.
Jun 26, 2025 • 33min
Timor Leste’s ASEAN Process with Parker Novak
Greg and Elina are joined by Parker Novak to discuss Timor Leste's ASEAN accession process. Japhet and Rocio cover the latest from the region, from the Indonesian president’s talks with Putin to military agreements between Philippines and Japan.
Jun 18, 2025 • 23min
Echonomics - Asia Engulfed in Financial Crisis
In this special episode, listen to the first episode of CSIS’s newest podcast, Echonomics that investigates how past economic events in Asia continue to impact U.S. policy today.
In 1997, Thailand’s currency collapsed, setting off a currency contagion that spread across Asia and threatened to take down several economies with it. Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Siwage Dharma Negara, Caroline Atkinson, and Paul Blustein discuss the origins of the crisis and the impact it had on markets across the region.
Check out Echonomics here.
Jun 12, 2025 • 40min
Summit Outcomes with Prashanth Parameswaran
Greg and Elina are joined by Prashanth Parameswaran to discuss the ASEAN Summit, the ASEAN-GCC-China Joint Summit, and the Shangri-la Dialogue. Japhet and Lauren cover the latest from the region, from the Thai-Cambodia border skirmish to rising AI investments in ASEAN countries.
