Asian Insider

Synopsis: The Invisible Asia Podcast is a special edition series in which The Straits Times casts the spotlight on people and communities living in the shadows of their societies where they exist largely unseen and unheard of. Do follow all nine episodes of Invisible Asia over the next two months on The Straits Times podcast channel on Apple podcasts, Spotify or Google podcasts. The Straits Times' Philippines correspondent Raul Dancel casts the spotlight on sexual abuse and domestic violence against vulnerable children in the Philippines. He speaks with Filipino Erick Reyes, 44, on his early experience with abuse, which left him fighting his demons well into his adulthood.  Professor Zenaida Rosales, executive director of the Centre for Prevention and Treatment of Child Sexual Abuse in the Philippines, also discusses deep-seated issues related to child abuse. Our series' narrator is Tan Jia Ning.  Erick and his siblings view their violent and often-absent father with fear, loathing and anger (0:49) Five-year-old Erick is sexually abused by an older boy and left feeling hurt, guilty and confused (2:30) At age 12, he decides to enrol in a seminary to escape his "demons" (4:39)  Dropping out of the seminary (6:33) Why sexually abused boys seldom report or discuss their experiences in the Philippines, where the crime of rape applies only to women (8:00) Erick finds understanding, catharsis and healing in a group similarly trying to reconcile their gender preferences with their religious faith (11:24) Erick speaks out to prevent more voiceless young people from going through the same painful journey he did as a youth (12:26)  Read the full story by Raul Dancel: https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/i-was-afraid-id-be-rejected-if-i-told-people-of-my-abuse Produced by: Magdalene Fung, Tan Jia Ning, Ernest Luis & Adam Azlee Edited by: Adam Azlee Discover ST's Invisible Asia podcast series: Channel: https://str.sg/wuZn Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wu3s Spotify: https://str.sg/wuJH SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Invisible Asia Videos: https://str.sg/wuTU --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcasts website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX ---See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Asian Insider Ep 68: Washington's Taiwan dilemma - worries spike over China's coercive moves  18:09 mins Synopsis: Every Friday, The Straits Times' US bureau chief Nirmal Ghosh presents an Asian perspective of the week's global talking points with expert guests. While tensions are up over China's moves against Taiwan, fears of an imminent invasion are alarmist, as analyst Bonnie Glaser tells host Nirmal. Glaser is transitioning to become director of the Asia Program at the German Marshall Fund of the United States. They discuss the following points:  Economic pressure on Taiwan could harm China itself (4:11) Confidence eroding that Taiwan will reunify with ‘motherland’ (5:58) US faces great challenges in coming to defence of Taiwan (8:39) Is the risk of conflict between China and Taiwan somewhat exaggerated? (11:08) China’s move to block CSIS website was ‘wrong move’ (14:46) Produced by: Nirmal Ghosh (nirmal@sph.com.sg) & ST Video team Edited by: ST Video team and Muhammad Firmann Subscribe to Asian Insider Podcast series and rate us on your favourite audio apps: Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7 Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8 Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/Ju4h  Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Discover Asian Insider Videos: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnK3VE4BKduMSOntUoS6ALNp21jMmgfBX Read Ghosh's stories: https://str.sg/JbxG Follow Nirmal Ghosh on Twitter: https://str.sg/JD7r --- Discover more ST podcast series: Asian Insider Podcast: https://str.sg/JWa7 Green Pulse Podcast: https://str.sg/JWaf Health Check Podcast: https://str.sg/JWaN ST Sports Talk Podcast: https://str.sg/JWRE Life Weekend Picks Podcast: https://str.sg/JWa2 #PopVultures Podcast: https://str.sg/JWad Bookmark This! Podcast: https://str.sg/JWas Lunch With Sumiko Podcast: https://str.sg/J6hQ Discover BT Podcasts:  http://bt.sg/podcasts Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Invisible Asia Ep 7: 'I wanted to escape this life by hiding who I was'  14:17 min Synopsis: The Invisible Asia Podcast is a special edition series in which The Straits Times casts the spotlight on people and communities living in the shadows of their societies where they exist largely unseen and unheard of. Do follow all nine episodes of Invisible Asia over the next two months on The Straits Times podcast channel on Apple podcasts, Spotify or Google podcasts. The Straits Times' Japan correspondent Walter Sim speaks with Japan's "untouchables", known as the burakumin. They are descendants of a shunned caste from a long-gone era, who are still ostracised in modern times purely because of their lineage. Our series' narrator is Tan Jia Ning. Official estimates number the burakumin at 900,000, but activists says there are as many as 3 million across the country who have moved out of the hamlets their ancestors once lived in. Risa Kumamoto - emerging from discrimination against burakumin to become a respected academic (0:30) History of Japan's burakumin (2:00) Emotionally scarred while growing up as a burakumin (3:59) Taro Murasaki: From monkey trainer to monkey theme park owner (7:46) The late Japanese politician blocked from becoming Japan's Prime Minister in 2001, chiefly because of his ancestry (9:58) How burakumin such as abattoir worker Yuki Miyazaki still live in fear of their ancestry being exposed in public (10:23) Read the full story by Walter Sim: https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/i-wanted-to-escape-this-life-by-hiding-who-i-was Produced by: Magdalene Fung, Tan Jia Ning, Toh Wen Li, Yeo Sam Jo, Ernest Luis & Adam Azlee Edited by: Adam Azlee Discover Invisible Asia Podcast playlist: https://omny.fm/shows/st-bt/playlists/invisible-asia Discover Invisible Asia Video playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnK3VE4BKduNKeEL19yhXFVHxGB8X315b Discover ST & BT podcasts: Channel: https://str.sg/JWVR Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2PwZCYU Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2Lu4rPP Google podcasts: http://str.sg/googlestbt Websites: http://str.sg/stbtpodcasts https://bt.sg/moneyhacks Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg  --- Discover more niche podcast series by ST and BT below: Follow BT Money Hacks Podcast on: http://bt.sg/btmoneyhacks Follow BT Mark To Market Podcast on: http://bt.sg/btmark2mkt Follow Health Check Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWaN Follow Green Pulse Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWaf Follow Asian Insider Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWa7 Follow Lunch With Sumiko Podcast on: https://str.sg/J6hQ Follow #PopVultures Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWad Follow Life Weekend Picks Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWa2 Follow #GameOfTwoHalves Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWRE Follow Bookmark This! Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWas Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts! #InvisibleAsiaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Synopsis: The Invisible Asia Podcast is a special edition series in which The Straits Times casts the spotlight on people and communities living in the shadows of their societies where they exist largely unseen and unheard of. Do follow all nine episodes of Invisible Asia over the next two months on The Straits Times podcast channel on Apple podcasts, Spotify or Google podcasts. The Straits Times' Japan correspondent Walter Sim speaks with Japan's "untouchables", known as the burakumin. They are descendants of a shunned caste from a long-gone era, who are still ostracised in modern times purely because of their lineage. Our series' narrator is Tan Jia Ning. Official estimates number the burakumin at 900,000, but activists says there are as many as 3 million across the country who have moved out of the hamlets their ancestors once lived in. Risa Kumamoto - emerging from discrimination against burakumin to become a respected academic (0:30) History of Japan's burakumin (2:00) Emotionally scarred while growing up as a burakumin (3:59) Taro Murasaki: From monkey trainer to monkey theme park owner (7:46) The late Japanese politician blocked from becoming Japan's Prime Minister in 2001, chiefly because of his ancestry (9:58) How burakumin such as abattoir worker Yuki Miyazaki still live in fear of their ancestry being exposed in public (10:23) Read the full story by Walter Sim: https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/i-wanted-to-escape-this-life-by-hiding-who-i-was Produced by: Magdalene Fung, Tan Jia Ning, Toh Wen Li, Yeo Sam Jo, Ernest Luis & Adam Azlee Edited by: Adam Azlee Discover ST's Invisible Asia podcast series: Channel: https://str.sg/wuZn Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wu3s Spotify: https://str.sg/wuJH SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Invisible Asia Videos: https://str.sg/wuTU --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcasts website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX ---See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Invisible Asia Ep 6: 'I’ve lived here for decades but I still can’t call myself a Hong Konger' 15:08 min Synopsis: The Invisible Asia Podcast is a special edition series in which The Straits Times casts the spotlight on people and communities living in the shadows of their societies where they exist largely unseen and unheard of. Do follow all nine episodes of Invisible Asia over the next two months on The Straits Times podcast channel on Apple podcasts, Spotify or Google podcasts. The Straits Times' Hong Kong correspondent Claire Huang speaks to India-born Steven and Chinese mainlander Amy Zhang about the discrimination they face daily in Hong Kong, despite having lived there for decades. Our series' narrator is Tan Jia Ning. The discrimination they face in public tends to be more subtle. Find out how.  Micro-aggressions faced by Steven due to the colour of his skin (1:04) How Steven copes with discrimination (3:46) Amy remembers when mainlanders like her were treated better (7:09) How Hong Kong's education policies may have contributed to the situation (9:33) Chinese mainlanders still have a long way to go to gain wider acceptance (12:22) Read the full story by Claire Huang: https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/i-still-cant-call-myself-a-hong-konger Produced by: Magdalene Fung, Tan Jia Ning, Penelope Lee, Ernest Luis & Adam Azlee Edited by: Adam Azlee Discover Invisible Asia Podcast playlist: https://omny.fm/shows/st-bt/playlists/invisible-asia Discover Invisible Asia Video playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnK3VE4BKduNKeEL19yhXFVHxGB8X315b Discover ST & BT podcasts: Channel: https://str.sg/JWVR Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2PwZCYU Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2Lu4rPP Google podcasts: http://str.sg/googlestbt Websites: http://str.sg/stbtpodcasts https://bt.sg/moneyhacks Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg  --- Discover more niche podcast series by ST and BT below: Follow BT Money Hacks Podcast on: http://bt.sg/btmoneyhacks Follow BT Mark To Market Podcast on: http://bt.sg/btmark2mkt Follow Health Check Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWaN Follow Green Pulse Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWaf Follow Asian Insider Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWa7 Follow Lunch With Sumiko Podcast on: https://str.sg/J6hQ Follow #PopVultures Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWad Follow Life Weekend Picks Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWa2 Follow #GameOfTwoHalves Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWRE Follow Bookmark This! Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWas Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts! #InvisibleAsiaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Synopsis: The Invisible Asia Podcast is a special edition series in which The Straits Times casts the spotlight on people and communities living in the shadows of their societies where they exist largely unseen and unheard of. Do follow all nine episodes of Invisible Asia over the next two months on The Straits Times podcast channel on Apple podcasts, Spotify or Google podcasts. The Straits Times' Hong Kong correspondent Claire Huang speaks to India-born Steven and Chinese mainlander Amy Zhang about the discrimination they face daily in Hong Kong, despite having lived there for decades. Our series' narrator is Tan Jia Ning. The discrimination they face in public tends to be more subtle. Find out how.  Micro-aggressions faced by Steven due to the colour of his skin (1:04) How Steven copes with discrimination (3:46) Amy remembers when mainlanders like her were treated better (7:09) How Hong Kong's education policies may have contributed to the situation (9:33) Chinese mainlanders still have a long way to go to gain wider acceptance (12:22) Read the full story by Claire Huang: https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/i-still-cant-call-myself-a-hong-konger Produced by: Magdalene Fung, Tan Jia Ning, Penelope Lee, Ernest Luis & Adam Azlee Edited by: Adam Azlee Discover ST's Invisible Asia podcast series: Channel: https://str.sg/wuZn Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wu3s Spotify: https://str.sg/wuJH SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Invisible Asia Videos: https://str.sg/wuTU --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcasts website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX ---See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Asian Insider Ep 67: Asians in US speak out against racism 14:00 mins Synopsis: Every Friday, The Straits Times' US bureau chief Nirmal Ghosh presents an Asian perspective of the week's global talking points with expert guests. More Asians are pushing back against stereotypes, prejudice and racism in the US. Film-maker Eunice Lau and college professor Jerrine Tan see the issues through a Singaporean lens. Produced by: Nirmal Ghosh (nirmal@sph.com.sg) & ST Video team Edited by: ST Video team and Aleemah Basirah Subscribe to Asian Insider Podcast series and rate us on your favourite audio apps: Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7 Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8 Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/Ju4h  Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Discover The Straits Times Videos: https://str.sg/JPrc Read Ghosh's stories: https://str.sg/JbxG Follow Nirmal Ghosh on Twitter: https://str.sg/JD7r --- Discover more ST podcast series: Asian Insider Podcast: https://str.sg/JWa7 Green Pulse Podcast: https://str.sg/JWaf Health Check Podcast: https://str.sg/JWaN ST Sports Talk Podcast: https://str.sg/JWRE Life Weekend Picks Podcast: https://str.sg/JWa2 #PopVultures Podcast: https://str.sg/JWad Bookmark This! Podcast: https://str.sg/JWas Lunch With Sumiko Podcast: https://str.sg/J6hQ Discover BT Podcasts:  http://bt.sg/podcasts Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Invisible Asia Ep 5: ‘What’s worse than the job is the humiliation we face’ 11:56 min Synopsis: The Invisible Asia Podcast is a special edition series in which The Straits Times casts the spotlight on people and communities living in the shadows of their societies where they exist largely unseen and unheard of. Do follow all nine episodes of Invisible Asia over the next two months on The Straits Times podcast channel on Apple podcasts, Spotify or Google podcasts. The Straits Times' India correspondent Rohini Mohan shines the spotlight on India's sewer cleaners. As many as a million Dalits - the lowest of the low in India's caste-ridden society - still ply the dangerous trade despite it having been outlawed for years. And they are powerless to escape it. In a country plagued with millions of choked toilets and drains, these indispensable workers go about their jobs daily without professional equipment, risking death from toxic fumes or drowning in liquid human waste, all to eke a living. Our series' narrator is Tan Jia Ning:  Pedanna speaks of clearing out human waste in the streets, homes and offices, and of the abuse he faces daily for being a sewer cleaner (0:55) The Indian government’s efforts to outlaw the dehumanising practice of manual scavenging has served only to force these workers underground (3:24) Few police complaints are ever filed when a sewer cleaner dies at work, and the workers are often powerless to fight for compensation (5:54) Senior sewer cleaner Munisamy shares how he copes with the daily disgust and humiliation he faces on the job (9:03) Munisamy's 17-year-old granddaughter Chandana is among a new generation of Dalits who refuse to be silenced (9:50) Read the full story by Rohini Mohan: https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/whats-worse-than-the-job-is-the-humiliation-we-face Produced by: Magdalene Fung, Tan Jia Ning, Sazali Abdul Aziz, Rohit Brijnath, Penelope Lee, Ernest Luis & Adam Azlee Edited by: Adam Azlee Discover Invisible Asia Podcast playlist: https://omny.fm/shows/st-bt/playlists/invisible-asia Discover Invisible Asia Video playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnK3VE4BKduNKeEL19yhXFVHxGB8X315b Discover ST & BT podcasts: Channel: https://str.sg/JWVR Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2PwZCYU Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2Lu4rPP Google podcasts: http://str.sg/googlestbt Websites: http://str.sg/stbtpodcasts https://bt.sg/moneyhacks Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg  --- Discover more niche podcast series by ST and BT below: Follow BT Money Hacks Podcast on: http://bt.sg/btmoneyhacks Follow BT Mark To Market Podcast on: http://bt.sg/btmark2mkt Follow Health Check Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWaN Follow Green Pulse Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWaf Follow Asian Insider Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWa7 Follow Lunch With Sumiko Podcast on: https://str.sg/J6hQ Follow #PopVultures Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWad Follow Life Weekend Picks Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWa2 Follow #GameOfTwoHalves Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWRE Follow Bookmark This! Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWas Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts! #InvisibleAsiaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Synopsis: The Invisible Asia Podcast is a special edition series in which The Straits Times casts the spotlight on people and communities living in the shadows of their societies where they exist largely unseen and unheard of. Do follow all nine episodes of Invisible Asia over the next two months on The Straits Times podcast channel on Apple podcasts, Spotify or Google podcasts. The Straits Times' India correspondent Rohini Mohan shines the spotlight on India's sewer cleaners. As many as a million Dalits - the lowest of the low in India's caste-ridden society - still ply the dangerous trade despite it having been outlawed for years. And they are powerless to escape it. In a country plagued with millions of choked toilets and drains, these indispensable workers go about their jobs daily without professional equipment, risking death from toxic fumes or drowning in liquid human waste, all to eke a living. Our series' narrator is Tan Jia Ning:  Pedanna speaks of clearing out human waste in the streets, homes and offices, and of the abuse he faces daily for being a sewer cleaner (0:55) The Indian government’s efforts to outlaw the dehumanising practice of manual scavenging has served only to force these workers underground (3:24) Few police complaints are ever filed when a sewer cleaner dies at work, and the workers are often powerless to fight for compensation (5:54) Senior sewer cleaner Munisamy shares how he copes with the daily disgust and humiliation he faces on the job (9:03) Munisamy's 17-year-old granddaughter Chandana is among a new generation of Dalits who refuse to be silenced (9:50) Read the full story by Rohini Mohan: https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/whats-worse-than-the-job-is-the-humiliation-we-face Produced by: Magdalene Fung, Tan Jia Ning, Sazali Abdul Aziz, Rohit Brijnath, Penelope Lee, Ernest Luis & Adam Azlee Edited by: Adam Azlee Discover ST's Invisible Asia podcast series: Channel: https://str.sg/wuZn Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wu3s Spotify: https://str.sg/wuJH SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Invisible Asia Videos: https://str.sg/wuTU --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcasts website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX ---See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Asian Insider Ep 66: Asean's Myanmar dilemma 15:38 mins Synopsis: Every Friday, The Straits Times' US bureau chief Nirmal Ghosh presents an Asian perspective of the week's global talking points with expert guests. Mr Kasit Piromya, former Thai Minister of Foreign Affairs, says Asean and Thailand in particular, have the obligation to restore democracy to the people of Myanmar. Produced by: Nirmal Ghosh (nirmal@sph.com.sg) & ST Video team Edited by: ST Video team and Aleemah Basirah Subscribe to Asian Insider Podcast series and rate us on your favourite audio apps: Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7 Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8 Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/Ju4h  Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Discover The Straits Times Videos: https://str.sg/JPrc Read Ghosh's stories: https://str.sg/JbxG Follow Nirmal Ghosh on Twitter: https://str.sg/JD7r --- Discover more ST podcast series: Asian Insider Podcast: https://str.sg/JWa7 Green Pulse Podcast: https://str.sg/JWaf Health Check Podcast: https://str.sg/JWaN ST Sports Talk Podcast: https://str.sg/JWRE Life Weekend Picks Podcast: https://str.sg/JWa2 #PopVultures Podcast: https://str.sg/JWad Bookmark This! Podcast: https://str.sg/JWas Lunch With Sumiko Podcast: https://str.sg/J6hQ Discover BT Podcasts:  http://bt.sg/podcasts Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.