
Empires - An Asian Business Podcast
If you love Business Wars, you'll love this!
From 1UpMedia, Empires is an immersive storytelling that dives deep into the history of the most successful businesses in Asia.
Every Monday, you'll learn the history of its leaders, the decisions that have rippled across the industry, and the factors that allowed them to become the empire's that they are today.
From triumph and victories, to monumental failures - Empires gets you behind the scenes of some of the most successful companies in Asia.
Latest episodes

Feb 3, 2025 • 28min
Bytedance (CN) I Earthquake & Shockwave I 3/5
Tiktok's parent company Bytedance, is the world's most valuable Startup.With an ecosystem spanning short-form video, news aggregation, and artificial intelligence, ByteDance’s influence stretches far beyond its roots in China. Today, the company’s flagship app TikTok stands as a cultural phenomenon, captivating billions of users across continents and redefining how content is created, shared, and consumed. This is the story of ByteDance, driven by the relentless vision of Zhang Yiming. From its humble beginnings as an app factory producing memes and news aggregators, ByteDance would go on to challenge titans like Tencent and Facebook, navigating fierce competition, regulatory hurdles, and cultural resistance to become a global empire. Episode 1: Clickbait and AddictionZhang Yiming discovers that the secret to building fast-growing apps lies in mastering the science of clickbait and addiction. Episode 2: Today’s Headlines ByteDance hit it's first major success with Toutiao, the news app that redefined personalisation and propelled the company into the spotlight. Episode 3: Earthquake and ShockwaveByteDance shakes up China’s tech scene with Douyin (China’s version of TikTok), spearheading the short-form video revolution before Tencent joins the battle. Episode 4: Sayonara and Ni HaoByteDance perfects its strategy in Japan, then Asia, laying the groundwork for global domination. Episode 5: Gold RushByteDance storms into the U.S. by acquiring Musical.ly, rebranding it as TikTok. Leveraging its proven strategies, TikTok quickly becomes America’s top app.-Our series is proudly sponsored by AlphaSense.Access expert analyst reports, perfectly summarized by Gen-AI with precision and no hallucinations. Support our productions by booking your free trial today.-Want to showcase your brand to listeners with a combined net worth of over $1 billion and a network of 100,000+ employees and industry contacts? Drop us an email: sales@1upmediapodcast.com-We're looking to grow our team! Support our productions bybuying us a coffee.-Want to meet the team? Follow me here!-If you love the style of Empires, and want similar content, check out:📝💕 "Post, Love", Essays on Love, Life and Everything in Between. (OnSpotify/ Apple)🔪🩸 "Heinous", A Revive Look at the Most Heinous Crimes in Asia. (On Spotify/ Apple)

Jan 27, 2025 • 31min
Bytedance (CN) I Today's Headlines I 2/5
Tiktok's parent company Bytedance, is the world's most valuable Startup.With an ecosystem spanning short-form video, news aggregation, and artificial intelligence, ByteDance’s influence stretches far beyond its roots in China. Today, the company’s flagship app TikTok stands as a cultural phenomenon, captivating billions of users across continents and redefining how content is created, shared, and consumed. This is the story of ByteDance, driven by the relentless vision of Zhang Yiming. From its humble beginnings as an app factory producing memes and news aggregators, ByteDance would go on to challenge titans like Tencent and Facebook, navigating fierce competition, regulatory hurdles, and cultural resistance to become a global empire. Episode 1: Clickbait and AddictionZhang Yiming discovers that the secret to building fast-growing apps lies in mastering the science of clickbait and addiction. Episode 2: Today’s Headlines ByteDance hit it's first major success with Toutiao, the news app that redefined personalisation and propelled the company into the spotlight. Episode 3: Earthquake and ShockwaveByteDance shakes up China’s tech scene with Douyin (China’s version of TikTok), spearheading the short-form video revolution before Tencent joins the battle. Episode 4: Sayonara and Ni HaoByteDance perfects its strategy in Japan, then Asia, laying the groundwork for global domination. Episode 5: Gold RushByteDance storms into the U.S. by acquiring Musical.ly, rebranding it as TikTok. Leveraging its proven strategies, TikTok quickly becomes America’s top app.-Our series is proudly sponsored by AlphaSense.Access expert analyst reports, perfectly summarized by Gen-AI with precision and no hallucinations. Support our productions bybooking your free trial today.-Want to showcase your brand to listeners with a combined net worth of over $1 billion and a network of 100,000+ employees and industry contacts? Drop us an email: sales@1upmediapodcast.com-We're looking to grow our team! Support our productions by buying us a coffee.-Want to meet the team? Follow me here!-If you love the style of Empires, and want similar content, check out:📝💕 "Post, Love", Essays on Love, Life and Everything in Between. (On Spotify/ Apple)🔪🩸 "Heinous", A Revive Look at the Most Heinous Crimes in Asia. (On Spotify/ Apple)

Jan 20, 2025 • 32min
Bytedance (CN) I Clickbait & Addiction I 1/5
Tiktok's parent company Bytedance, is the world's most valuable Startup.With an ecosystem spanning short-form video, news aggregation, and artificial intelligence, ByteDance’s influence stretches far beyond its roots in China. Today, the company’s flagship app TikTok stands as a cultural phenomenon, captivating billions of users across continents and redefining how content is created, shared, and consumed. This is the story of ByteDance, driven by the relentless vision of Zhang Yiming. From its humble beginnings as an app factory producing memes and news aggregators, ByteDance would go on to challenge titans like Tencent and Facebook, navigating fierce competition, regulatory hurdles, and cultural resistance to become a global empire. Episode 1: Clickbait and AddictionZhang Yiming discovers that the secret to building fast-growing apps lies in mastering the science of clickbait and addiction. Episode 2: Today’s Headlines ByteDance hit it's first major success with Toutiao, the news app that redefined personalisation and propelled the company into the spotlight. Episode 3: Earthquake and ShockwaveByteDance shakes up China’s tech scene with Douyin (China’s version of TikTok), spearheading the short-form video revolution before Tencent joins the battle. Episode 4: Sayonara and Ni HaoByteDance perfects its strategy in Japan, then Asia, laying the groundwork for global domination. Episode 5: Gold RushByteDance storms into the U.S. by acquiring Musical.ly, rebranding it as TikTok. Leveraging its proven strategies, TikTok quickly becomes America’s top app.-Our series is proudly sponsored by AlphaSense.Access expert analyst reports, perfectly summarized by Gen-AI with precision and no hallucinations. Support our productions bybooking your free trial today.-Want to showcase your brand to listeners with a combined net worth of over $1 billion and a network of 100,000+ employees and industry contacts? Drop us an email: sales@1upmediapodcast.com-We're looking to grow our team! Support our productions by buying us a coffee.-Want to meet the team? Follow me here!-If you love the style of Empires, and want similar content, check out:📝💕 "Post, Love", Essays on Love, Life and Everything in Between. (On Spotify/ Apple)🔪🩸 "Heinous", A Revive Look at the Most Heinous Crimes in Asia. (On Spotify/ Apple)

Oct 28, 2024 • 31min
Lippo Group (ID) I Real Estate and Healthcare I 5/5
Empires will be taking a short break, but we’ll be back in 2025 with even more exciting stories. We appreciate your support and can’t wait to share what’s next. See you in the new year!
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From a local Indonesian business, the Lippo Group has evolved into one of Southeast Asia's most influential conglomerates.
With ventures spanning across real estate, retail, healthcare, banking, and digital technology, the presence of the Indonesian powerhouse can be seen not just locally, but across the region. Today, the Lippo Group's assets stretch across various industries and countries, from Singapore to Hong Kong and beyond, reflecting its transformation into a multifaceted, globally connected empire.
This is the story of the Lippo Group—driven by two generations of the Riady family—they would navigate Indonesia’s worst monetary crisis, survive a thousand-fold currency devaluation, and emerge from the Asian Financial Crisis as one of the nation’s largest conglomerates and real estate giants.
Episode 1: Bikes and Ships
Discover how Mochtar Riady’s humble beginnings and early ventures in shipping and trade laid the foundation for the Lippo Group.
Episode 2: Building Banks
Mochtar Riady enters the world of finance, taking over and reforming failing banks, setting the stage for his rise as a prominent banker in Indonesia.
Episode 3: The Benefactor
A chance meeting with business tycoon Sudono Salim leads to the transformation of Bank Central Asia into Indonesia’s second clearing bank.
Episode 4: Lippo the Group
After years in banking, the Riadys expand their reach beyond finance, transforming Lippo into a diverse conglomerate with interests in various industries across Indonesia.
Episode 5: Real Estate and Healthcare
As Lippo Group evolves, its focus sharpens on real estate and healthcare, building a legacy through massive developments and premium hospital chains that redefine Indonesia’s business landscape.
-
Want to showcase your brand to listeners with a combined net worth of over $1 billion and a network of 100,000+ employees and industry contacts? Drop us an email: sales@1upmediapodcast.com
-
We're looking to grow our team! Support our productions by buying us a coffee or subscribing to binge all series releases.
-
Want to meet the team? Follow me here!
-
If you love the style of Empires, and want similar content, check out:
🔪💥"Mass Murders", Decisions that led to countless, dead. (On Spotify/ Apple)
📝💕 "Post, Love", Essays on Love, Life and Everything in Between. (On Spotify/ Apple)
🔪🩸 "Heinous", A Revive Look at the Most Heinous Crimes in Asia. (On Spotify/ Apple)

Oct 21, 2024 • 30min
Lippo Group (ID) I Lippo The Group I 4/5
From a local Indonesian business, the Lippo Group has evolved into one of Southeast Asia's most influential conglomerates.
With ventures spanning across real estate, retail, healthcare, banking, and digital technology, the presence of the Indonesian powerhouse can be seen not just locally, but across the region. Today, the Lippo Group's assets stretch across various industries and countries, from Singapore to Hong Kong and beyond, reflecting its transformation into a multifaceted, globally connected empire.
This is the story of the Lippo Group—driven by two generations of the Riady family—they would navigate Indonesia’s worst monetary crisis, survive a thousand-fold currency devaluation, and emerge from the Asian Financial Crisis as one of the nation’s largest conglomerates and real estate giants.
Episode 1: Bikes and Ships
Discover how Mochtar Riady’s humble beginnings and early ventures in shipping and trade laid the foundation for the Lippo Group.
Episode 2: Building Banks
Mochtar Riady enters the world of finance, taking over and reforming failing banks, setting the stage for his rise as a prominent banker in Indonesia.
Episode 3: The Benefactor
A chance meeting with business tycoon Sudono Salim leads to the transformation of Bank Central Asia into Indonesia’s second clearing bank.
Episode 4: Lippo the Group
After years in banking, the Riadys expand their reach beyond finance, transforming Lippo into a diverse conglomerate with interests in various industries across Indonesia.
Episode 5: Real Estate and Healthcare
As Lippo Group evolves, its focus sharpens on real estate and healthcare, building a legacy through massive developments and premium hospital chains that redefine Indonesia’s business landscape.
-
Want to showcase your brand to listeners with a combined net worth of over $1 billion and a network of 100,000+ employees and industry contacts? Drop us an email: sales@1upmediapodcast.com
-
We're looking to grow our team! Support our productions by buying us a coffee or subscribing to binge all series releases.
-
Want to meet the team? Follow me here!
-
If you love the style of Empires, and want similar content, check out:
🔪💥"Mass Murders", Decisions that led to countless, dead. (On Spotify/ Apple)
📝💕 "Post, Love", Essays on Love, Life and Everything in Between. (On Spotify/ Apple)
🔪🩸 "Heinous", A Revive Look at the Most Heinous Crimes in Asia. (On Spotify/ Apple)

Oct 14, 2024 • 32min
Lippo Group (ID) I The Benefactor I 3/5
From a local Indonesian business, the Lippo Group has evolved into one of Southeast Asia's most influential conglomerates.
With ventures spanning across real estate, retail, healthcare, banking, and digital technology, the presence of the Indonesian powerhouse can be seen not just locally, but across the region. Today, the Lippo Group's assets stretch across various industries and countries, from Singapore to Hong Kong and beyond, reflecting its transformation into a multifaceted, globally connected empire.
This is the story of the Lippo Group—driven by two generations of the Riady family—they would navigate Indonesia’s worst monetary crisis, survive a thousand-fold currency devaluation, and emerge from the Asian Financial Crisis as one of the nation’s largest conglomerates and real estate giants.
Episode 1: Bikes and Ships
Discover how Mochtar Riady’s humble beginnings and early ventures in shipping and trade laid the foundation for the Lippo Group.
Episode 2: Building Banks
Mochtar Riady enters the world of finance, taking over and reforming failing banks, setting the stage for his rise as a prominent banker in Indonesia.
Episode 3: The Benefactor
A chance meeting with business tycoon Sudono Salim leads to the transformation of Bank Central Asia into Indonesia’s second clearing bank.
Episode 4: Lippo the Group
After years in banking, the Riadys expand their reach beyond finance, transforming Lippo into a diverse conglomerate with interests in various industries across Indonesia.
Episode 5: Real Estate and Healthcare
As Lippo Group evolves, its focus sharpens on real estate and healthcare, building a legacy through massive developments and premium hospital chains that redefine Indonesia’s business landscape.
-
Want to showcase your brand to listeners with a combined net worth of over $1 billion and a network of 100,000+ employees and industry contacts? Drop us an email: sales@1upmediapodcast.com
-
We're looking to grow our team! Support our productions by buying us a coffee or subscribing to binge all series releases.
-
Want to meet the team? Follow me here!
-
If you love the style of Empires, and want similar content, check out:
🔪💥"Mass Murders", Decisions that led to countless, dead. (On Spotify/ Apple)
📝💕 "Post, Love", Essays on Love, Life and Everything in Between. (On Spotify/ Apple)
🔪🩸 "Heinous", A Revive Look at the Most Heinous Crimes in Asia. (On Spotify/ Apple)

Oct 7, 2024 • 30min
Lippo Group (ID) | Building Banks | 2/5
From a local Indonesian business, the Lippo Group has evolved into one of Southeast Asia's most influential conglomerates.
With ventures spanning across real estate, retail, healthcare, banking, and digital technology, the presence of the Indonesian powerhouse can be seen not just locally, but across the region. Today, the Lippo Group's assets stretch across various industries and countries, from Singapore to Hong Kong and beyond, reflecting its transformation into a multifaceted, globally connected empire.
This is the story of the Lippo Group—driven by two generations of the Riady family—they would navigate Indonesia’s worst monetary crisis, survive a thousand-fold currency devaluation, and emerge from the Asian Financial Crisis as one of the nation’s largest conglomerates and real estate giants.
Episode 1: Bikes and Ships
Discover how Mochtar Riady’s humble beginnings and early ventures in shipping and trade laid the foundation for the Lippo Group.
Episode 2: Building Banks
Mochtar Riady enters the world of finance, taking over and reforming failing banks, setting the stage for his rise as a prominent banker in Indonesia.
Episode 3: The Benefactor
A chance meeting with business tycoon Sudono Salim leads to the transformation of Bank Central Asia into Indonesia’s second clearing bank.
Episode 4: Lippo the GroupAfter years in banking, the Riadys expand their reach beyond finance, transforming Lippo into a diverse conglomerate with interests in various industries across Indonesia.
Episode 5: Real Estate and HealthcareAs Lippo Group evolves, its focus sharpens on real estate and healthcare, building a legacy through massive developments and premium hospital chains that redefine Indonesia’s business landscape.
-
Want to showcase your brand to listeners with a combined net worth of over $1 billion and a network of 100,000+ employees and industry contacts? Drop us an email: sales@1upmediapodcast.com
-
We're looking to grow our team! Support our productions by buying us a coffee or subscribing to binge all series releases.
-
Want to meet the team? Follow me here!
-
If you love the style of Empires, and want similar content, check out:
🔪💥"Mass Murders", Decisions that led to countless, dead. (On Spotify/ Apple)
📝💕 "Post, Love", Essays on Love, Life and Everything in Between. (On Spotify/ Apple)
🔪🩸 "Heinous", A Revive Look at the Most Heinous Crimes in Asia. (On Spotify/ Apple)

Sep 30, 2024 • 22min
Lippo Group (ID) | Bikes and Ships | 1/5
From a local Indonesian business, the Lippo Group has evolved into one of Southeast Asia's most influential conglomerates.
With ventures spanning across real estate, retail, healthcare, banking, and digital technology, the presence of the Indonesian powerhouse can be seen not just locally, but across the region. Today, the Lippo Group's assets stretch across various industries and countries, from Singapore to Hong Kong and beyond, reflecting its transformation into a multifaceted, globally connected empire.
This is the story of the Lippo Group—driven by two generations of the Riady family—they would navigate Indonesia’s worst monetary crisis, survive a thousand-fold currency devaluation, and emerge from the Asian Financial Crisis as one of the nation’s largest conglomerates and real estate giants.
Episode 1: Bikes and Ships
Discover how Mochtar Riady’s humble beginnings and early ventures in shipping and trade laid the foundation for the Lippo Group.
Episode 2: Building Banks
Mochtar Riady enters the world of finance, taking over and reforming failing banks, setting the stage for his rise as a prominent banker in Indonesia.
Episode 3: The Benefactor
A chance meeting with business tycoon Sudono Salim leads to the transformation of Bank Central Asia into Indonesia’s second clearing bank.
Episode 4: Lippo the GroupAfter years in banking, the Riadys expand their reach beyond finance, transforming Lippo into a diverse conglomerate with interests in various industries across Indonesia.
Episode 5: Real Estate and HealthcareAs Lippo Group evolves, its focus sharpens on real estate and healthcare, building a legacy through massive developments and premium hospital chains that redefine Indonesia’s business landscape.
-
Want to showcase your brand to listeners with a combined net worth of over $1 billion and a network of 100,000+ employees and industry contacts? Drop us an email: sales@1upmediapodcast.com
-
We're looking to grow our team! Support our productions by buying us a coffee or subscribing to binge all series releases.
-
Want to meet the team? Follow me here!
-
If you love the style of Empires, and want similar content, check out:
🔪💥"Mass Murders", Decisions that led to countless, dead. (On Spotify/ Apple)
📝💕 "Post, Love", Essays on Love, Life and Everything in Between. (On Spotify/ Apple)
🔪🩸 "Heinous", A Revive Look at the Most Heinous Crimes in Asia. (On Spotify/ Apple)

Sep 16, 2024 • 30min
Uniqlo (JP) | Beyond Styles | 5/5
Once dubbed Asia's GAP, Uniqlo has skyrocketed it's parent company (Fast Retailing) into the ranks of the world's top three clothing giants.
With over 3,500 stores worldwide, this Japanese powerhouse has officially crossed a major milestone: for the first time, its international sales outpace domestic revenue, cementing its status as a truly global brand. Today, Uniqlo’s earnings are split evenly across Japan, Greater China, and the rest of the world.
Uniqlo now makes up a staggering 85% of Fast Retailing’s total sales, with the remaining 15% shared among its 'middle fashion' brand GU and other ventures.
This is the incredible journey of Tadashi Yanai, the visionary who transformed a humble Japanese suit shop into a global fashion powerhouse. Through relentless innovation, Uniqlo has transcended cultural boundaries to clothe the entire Asian continent—and beyond.
Episode 1: Discover how Tadashi Yanai transformed Ogori Shoji, an old men's tailor shop, into the very first Uniqlo store—The Unique Clothing Warehouse.
Episode 2: Follow Yanai as he partners with key allies to evolve Uniqlo into the modern SPA model it is today.
Episode 3: After Uniqlo's IPO, they attracted top talent, turning a humble Tokyo warehouse into Japan’s latest fashion icon.
Episode 4: Buoyed by domestic success, Uniqlo ventures abroad—only to face unexpected challenges. As troubles mount at home, a new leader steps in to save the day.
Episode 5: With Tadashi Yanai back at the helm, he assembles a team of visionaries who answer one critical question: "What drives us to sell?" The result? A global expansion and the birth of a new brand, GU.
-
Want to showcase your brand to listeners with a combined net worth of over $1 billion and a network of 100,000+ employees and industry contacts? Drop us an email: sales@1upmediapodcast.com
-
We're looking to grow our team! Support our productions by buying us a coffee or subscribing to binge all series releases.
-
Want to meet the team? Follow me here!
-
If you love the style of Empires, and want similar content, check out:
🔪💥"Mass Murders", Decisions that led to countless, dead. (On Spotify/ Apple)
📝💕 "Post, Love", Essays on Love, Life and Everything in Between. (On Spotify/ Apple)
🔪🩸 "Heinous", A Revive Look at the Most Heinous Crimes in Asia. (On Spotify/ Apple)

Sep 9, 2024 • 24min
Uniqlo (JP) | Tennozan | 4/5
Once dubbed Asia's GAP, Uniqlo has skyrocketed it's parent company (Fast Retailing) into the ranks of the world's top three clothing giants.
With over 3,500 stores worldwide, this Japanese powerhouse has officially crossed a major milestone: for the first time, its international sales outpace domestic revenue, cementing its status as a truly global brand. Today, Uniqlo’s earnings are split evenly across Japan, Greater China, and the rest of the world.
Uniqlo now makes up a staggering 85% of Fast Retailing’s total sales, with the remaining 15% shared among its 'middle fashion' brand GU and other ventures.
This is the incredible journey of Tadashi Yanai, the visionary who transformed a humble Japanese suit shop into a global fashion powerhouse. Through relentless innovation, Uniqlo has transcended cultural boundaries to clothe the entire Asian continent—and beyond.
Episode 1: Discover how Tadashi Yanai transformed Ogori Shoji, an old men's tailor shop, into the very first Uniqlo store—The Unique Clothing Warehouse.
Episode 2: Follow Yanai as he partners with key allies to evolve Uniqlo into the modern SPA model it is today.
Episode 3: After Uniqlo's IPO, they attracted top talent, turning a humble Tokyo warehouse into Japan’s latest fashion icon.
Episode 4: Buoyed by domestic success, Uniqlo ventures abroad—only to face unexpected challenges. As troubles mount at home, a new leader steps in to save the day.
Episode 5: With Tadashi Yanai back at the helm, he assembles a team of visionaries who answer one critical question: "What drives us to sell?" The result? A global expansion and the birth of a new brand, GU.
-
Want to showcase your brand to listeners with a combined net worth of over $1 billion and a network of 100,000+ employees and industry contacts? Drop us an email: sales@1upmediapodcast.com
-
We're looking to grow our team! Support our productions by buying us a coffee or subscribing to binge all series releases.
-
Want to meet the team? Follow me here!
-
If you love the style of Empires, and want similar content, check out:
🔪💥"Mass Murders", Decisions that led to countless, dead. (On Spotify/ Apple)
📝💕 "Post, Love", Essays on Love, Life and Everything in Between. (On Spotify/ Apple)
🔪🩸 "Heinous", A Revive Look at the Most Heinous Crimes in Asia. (On Spotify/ Apple)
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