by AsiaWorks
Against a backdrop of booms, busts, and geopolitical shifts, Asia continues its quiet and confident rise. More than ever, new and colourful Asian voices are bursting onto the global stage, from the world of business, tech, media, music, politics, sports, art, and culture. Hosted by acclaimed broadcaster and interviewer Manisha Tank, Tank Talks Asia meets the humans helping to drive this dynamic region forward.
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
10/27/2025
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July 1, 2026
<p>In this episode of Tank Talks Asia, Manisha talks to Jasper Donat, co-founder of <a href="https://www.branded.live/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Branded</a> and creator of <a href="https://www.allthatmatters.asia/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">All That Matters</a> (and the man who knows everyone!) about the three decades he has spent at the forefront of Asia’s media, music and live events industries. </p><p>Jasper shares stories (name dropping included!) from a career spent connecting audiences, artists and ideas. He also reveals why he believes Asia is increasingly shaping global culture, rather than just consuming it.</p><p><strong><u>Featured Voices </u></strong></p><p><strong>Hosts: </strong>Manisha Tank </p><p><strong>Guest: </strong><u><a href="https://www.branded.live/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jasper Donat,</a></u> CEO and Co-Founder, Branded</p><h3><strong><u>Key takeaways</u></strong></h3><ul><li>Jasper says Asia has evolved from being a destination for global entertainment into a major exporter of culture, talent and influence.</li><li>He argues that despite advances in AI and virtual events, people still want to gather in person and share live experiences.</li><li>Jasper believes creator culture transformed fandom by creating direct and personal relationships between audiences and talent.</li><li>He says the future of entertainment lies in the growing overlap between sports, music, culture and digital communities.</li><li>Jasper states that Asian artists and creators are increasingly finding global audiences without relying on traditional Western gatekeepers.</li></ul><br/><h3><strong><u>Chapter heads</u></strong></h3><p></p><p><strong>01:15</strong></p><p><strong>Why I Never Went Home</strong></p><p>Jasper explains how a planned two-year move from London to Hong Kong led to a 30-year career in Asia.</p><p><strong>02:13</strong></p><p><strong>The Birth of Modern Asian Media</strong></p><p>He reflects on the rise of satellite television, Channel V and the early efforts to localise content for Asian audiences.</p><p><strong>03:09</strong></p><p><strong>A Marathon Was Born</strong></p><p>Jasper tells the story of how a casual brainstorming session helped create the first Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon.</p><p><strong>04:04</strong></p><p><strong>When the Spice Girls Came to Delhi</strong></p><p>He reminisces about when some of the world's biggest music acts came to Asia during the region's entertainment boom.</p><p><strong>05:03</strong></p><p><strong>Building Music Matters</strong></p><p>Jasper explains why Asia needed its own music industry platform as the sector grappled with piracy, Napster and digital disruption.</p><p><strong>08:36</strong></p><p><strong>The Day YouTubers Became Superstars</strong></p><p>Jasper recalls the launch of YouTube FanFest and the moment creators proved they could command fan loyalty on a global scale.</p><p><strong>11:50</strong></p><p><strong>The Craziest Fans in Asia</strong></p><p>He compares fan culture across the region, from the passionate crowds of the Philippines to the orderly queues of Singapore.</p><p></p><p><strong>15:11</strong></p><p><strong>Influencers vs. A-Listers</strong></p><p>Jasper weighs in on who holds more sway in Asia today and shares a memorable Nile Rodgers story.</p><p><strong>17:08</strong></p><p><strong>When Shah Rukh Khan Wasn't the Main Attraction</strong></p><p>Jasper recounts the surreal moment Bollywood's biggest star was overshadowed by Lilly Singh.</p><p><strong>19:09</strong></p><p><strong>Why Asia Is Now Exporting Culture</strong></p><p>He explains why the next chapter for Asian creators, musicians and entertainers is taking their influence to audiences around the world.</p><p><strong><u>Useful links</u></strong></p><p><u><a href="https://www.allthatmatters.asia/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.allthatmatters.asia/</a></u></p><p><u><a href="https://www.branded.live/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.branded.live/</a></u></p><p><u><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@YouTubeFanFest" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/@YouTubeFanFest</a></u></p><p><u><a href="https://www.wearyourmusic.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.wearyourmusic.com/</a></u></p><p><u><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WI23EMNKPE" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WI23EMNKPE</a></u></p><p><u><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9CY4CPgCzs" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9CY4CPgCzs</a></u></p><p><u><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wj9FxhGEloc" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wj9FxhGEloc</a></u></p><p><u><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_lPCGrbWMQ" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_lPCGrbWMQ</a></u></p><p><u>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIZzZ28u-Vs</u></p><p><u><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjjDwycSq4k" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjjDwycSq4k</a></u></p><p><u>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JO6x9Xn6CsM</u></p><p><strong><u>Don’t miss out</u></strong></p><p>We’re on a mission to bring the real Asia — its thinkers, builders, dreamers, and disruptors — to global ears. So if you know someone who would be a great guest or want to contact the team, please email:</p><p><u><a href="mailto:tanktalksasia@asiaworks.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">tanktalksasia@asiaworks.com</a></u></p><p>And don’t forget to <strong>follow, subscribe, and share</strong> so you don’t miss the next episode of Tank Talks Asia. </p><p>Tank Talks Asia is an <u><a href="https://www.asiaworks.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">AsiaWorks</a></u> production.</p>
June 15, 2026
<p>In this special episode of Tank Talks Asia, timed to coincide with World Dengue Day, Manisha Tank and Andrew Clark go behind the scenes at a mosquito factory in Singapore. They talk to Yanni Yoong from Debug, a Google-backed team that produces more than 10 million mosquitos a week to help combat dengue.</p><p>Yanni explains exactly how disease-carrying mosquito populations are being suppressed and discusses how Singapore’s approach could help protect millions of people across Asia, the region that bears the majority of the world’s dengue burden.</p><p><strong><u>Featured Voices </u></strong></p><p><strong>Hosts: </strong>Manisha Tank and Andrew Clark</p><p><strong>Guest: </strong><u><a href="https://sg.linkedin.com/in/yanni-yoong-6752b820" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Yanni Yoong</a></u>, Senior Program Manager, Debug</p><h3><strong><u>Key takeaways</u></strong></h3><p></p><ul><li>Yanni explains how Wolbachia-infected male mosquitoes can help to dramatically reduce populations of disease-carrying Aedes aegypti mosquitoes without the use of pesticides.</li><li>She says Debug’s Singapore facility now produces more than 10 million mosquitoes a week to support large-scale suppression efforts.</li><li>Yanni outlines how AI and machine learning are used to identify and sort male mosquitoes with a level of speed and accuracy that would be impossible for humans.</li><li>She believes Singapore’s unique urban environment has helped shape a mosquito-control model that could be adapted across Asia, where 70% of the global dengue burden exists.</li><li>Yanni argues that climate change and urbanisation will increase the need for innovative, scalable approaches to controlling mosquito-borne diseases.</li></ul><br/><h3><strong><u>Chapter heads</u></strong></h3><p></p><p><strong>1:20</strong></p><p><strong>Welcome to the Mosquito Factory</strong></p><p>Andrew and Manisha get exclusive access to one of Singapore’s most unusual production facilities, where millions of mosquitoes are bred every week.</p><p><strong>2:33</strong></p><p><strong>Why Google Is Making Mosquitoes</strong></p><p>Yanni explains how Debug emerged and why technology is being applied to one of the world’s biggest public health challenges.</p><p><strong>5:18</strong></p><p><strong>The Science Behind Wolbachia</strong></p><p>She outlines how a naturally occurring bacterium creates incompatible mosquito mating and helps drive down disease-carrying populations.</p><p><strong>7:24</strong></p><p><strong>From Google Maps to Mosquitoes</strong></p><p>Yanni shares her unconventional career journey and why she chose to work on dengue prevention.</p><p><strong>9:18</strong></p><p><strong>How AI Learns to Spot a Mosquito</strong></p><p>She explains how technology can distinguish male and female mosquitoes in just a fraction of a second.</p><p><strong>13:25</strong></p><p><strong>The Last Line of Quality Control</strong></p><p>Yanni details how humans work with AI to ensure only male mosquitoes are released.</p><p><strong>17:45</strong></p><p><strong>Protecting Asia from Dengue</strong></p><p>The conversation turns to the scale of the dengue challenge and why Southeast Asia sits at the centre of the fight.</p><p><strong>19:11</strong></p><p><strong>Can This Model Work Beyond Singapore?</strong></p><p>Yanni discusses how different Wolbachia strategies could be adapted for countries with varying resources and public health needs.</p><p><strong>21:54</strong></p><p><strong>Climate Change and the Future of Disease Control</strong></p><p>The episode concludes with a discussion about urbanisation, rising temperatures, and the growing importance of innovative vector-control solutions.</p><p><strong>24:20</strong></p><p><strong>Don’t Put Away the Repellent Yet</strong></p><p>Manisha and Andrew finish by reflecting on the life-saving potential of the project, Singapore’s role in scaling innovation, and the importance of staying vigilant against mosquito-borne diseases.</p><p><strong><u>Useful links</u></strong></p><p><u><a href="https://debug.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://debug.com/</a></u></p><p><u><a href="https://www.dengue.com/worlddengueday" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.dengue.com/worlddengueday</a></u></p><p><u><a href="https://www.worldmosquitoprogram.org/en/work/wolbachia-method" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.worldmosquitoprogram.org/en/work/wolbachia-method</a></u></p><p><u><a href="https://www.nea.gov.sg/corporate-functions/resources/research/environmental_health_institute/wolbachia-aedes-mosquito-suppression-strategy/project-wolbachia-only-targets-aedes-aegypti" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.nea.gov.sg/corporate-functions/resources/research/environmental_health_institute/wolbachia-aedes-mosquito-suppression-strategy/project-wolbachia-only-targets-aedes-aegypti</a></u></p><p><u><a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dengue-and-severe-dengue" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dengue-and-severe-dengue</a></u></p><p><u><a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/vector-borne-diseases" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/vector-borne-diseases</a></u></p><p><u><a href="https://www.worldmosquitoprogram.org/en/news-stories/news/world-mosquito-program-and-debug-join-forces" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.worldmosquitoprogram.org/en/news-stories/news/world-mosquito-program-and-debug-join-forces</a></u></p><p><u>https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/google-subsidiary-expands-mosquito-facility-here-to-strengthen-anti-dengue-efforts</u></p><p><strong><u>Don’t miss out</u></strong></p><p>We’re on a mission to bring the real Asia — its thinkers, builders, dreamers, and disruptors — to global ears. So if you know someone who would be a great guest or want to contact the team, please email:</p><p><u><a href="mailto:tanktalksasia@asiaworks.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">tanktalksasia@asiaworks.com</a></u></p><p>And don’t forget to <strong>follow, subscribe, and share</strong> so you don’t miss the next episode of Tank Talks Asia.</p><p>Tank Talks Asia is an <u><a href="https://www.asiaworks.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">AsiaWorks</a></u> production.</p>
June 4, 2026
<p>In this episode of Tank Talks Asia, Shaokai Fan from the World Gold Council joins Manisha Tank to discuss the enduring global fascination with gold and its evolving role today.</p><p>They talk about why central banks are accumulating gold at record levels, why Asia is reshaping global demand and whether gold still deserves its reputation as a safe-haven asset in an increasingly complex world.</p><p><strong><u>Featured Voices </u></strong></p><p><strong>Host: </strong>Manisha Tank</p><p><strong>Guest: </strong><u><a href="https://www.gold.org/goldhub/gold-focus/author/shaokai-fan" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Shaokai Fan</a></u>, Global Head of Asia Pacific (ex China) and Global Head of Central Banks, World Gold Council</p><h3><strong><u>Key takeaways</u></strong></h3><ol><li data-list="bullet"><span class="ql-ui" contenteditable="false"></span>Shaokai explains why gold is highly valued across cultures for its symbolic, spiritual and financial significance.</li><li data-list="bullet"><span class="ql-ui" contenteditable="false"></span>He talks about how our modern money systems evolved from gold-backed systems, including early gold coins and goldsmith-issued paper receipts.</li><li data-list="bullet"><span class="ql-ui" contenteditable="false"></span>Shaokai says Asia now dominates global gold demand, with China and India together accounting for roughly half of global consumer gold consumption.</li><li data-list="bullet"><span class="ql-ui" contenteditable="false"></span>He examines how central banks have accelerated their gold purchases in recent years amid geopolitical and financial uncertainty.</li><li data-list="bullet"><span class="ql-ui" contenteditable="false"></span>Shaokai says gold remains a complex asset and he outlines how its price is influenced by factors like interest rates, liquidity needs and broader market stress.</li></ol><br/><h3><strong><u>Chapter heads</u></strong></h3><p><strong>00:20</strong></p><p><strong>The Ancient Allure of Gold</strong></p><p>Manisha begins by discussing gold’s long history, tracing it all the way from ancient civilizations through to its modern resurgence in global markets.</p><p><strong>01:58</strong></p><p><strong>From Wall Street to World History</strong></p><p>Shaokai reflects on his career path, which has led him from investment banking to the gold industry.</p><p><strong>03:42</strong></p><p><strong>Why Humans Value Gold</strong></p><p>He explores what’s behind gold’s universal appeal, including its cultural symbolism and its association with the sun.</p><p><strong>04:38</strong></p><p><strong>The Birth of Money</strong></p><p>Shaokai explains how gold coins and goldsmith receipts helped evolve into paper money and form the basis of our modern financial systems.</p><p><strong>06:07</strong></p><p><strong>Asia’s Growing Influence</strong></p><p>He talks about China’s role as a producer and consumer of gold and also discusses the rise of the Shanghai Gold Exchange.</p><p><strong>08:20</strong></p><p><strong>India’s Deep Cultural Connection</strong></p><p>Shaokai highlights India’s dual role as both a cultural and economic powerhouse in global gold demand.</p><p><strong>09:42</strong></p><p><strong>Vietnam’s Evolving Gold Market</strong></p><p>He also touches on how Vietnam has loosened up its gold policy and where there’s still such a strong cultural demand for it there.</p><p><strong>11:24</strong></p><p><strong>Is Gold Still a Safe Haven?</strong></p><p>Shaokai notes that gold doesn’t always rise during crises and that interest rates can affect its performance.</p><p><strong>13:48</strong></p><p><strong>Central Banks and the Future of Gold</strong></p><p>He discusses why central banks are increasing their gold reserves and how geopolitics plays into their decision making.</p><p><strong>17:38</strong></p><p><strong>Gold vs Bitcoin</strong></p><p>Shaokai compares gold and cryptocurrency, highlighting their differing roles as reserve assets and investment tools.</p><p><strong>19:36</strong></p><p><strong>The Future Gold Era</strong></p><p>The episode concludes with a look at how Asia is becoming the central gravity point for the global gold market.</p><p><br></p><p><strong><u>Useful links</u></strong></p><p><u><a href="https://www.gold.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.gold.org/</a></u></p><p><u><a href="https://www.royalmint.com/invest/discover/gold-news/a-brief-history-of-gold/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.royalmint.com/invest/discover/gold-news/a-brief-history-of-gold/</a></u></p><p><u><a href="https://www.federalreservehistory.org/essays/bretton-woods-created" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.federalreservehistory.org/essays/bretton-woods-created</a></u></p><p><u><a href="https://www.gold.org/goldhub/research/gold-safe-haven-versus-silver-wildcard" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.gold.org/goldhub/research/gold-safe-haven-versus-silver-wildcard</a></u></p><p><u><a href="https://en.sge.com.cn/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://en.sge.com.cn/</a></u></p><p><u><a href="https://www.imf.org/en/home" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.imf.org/en/home</a></u></p><p><strong><u>Don’t miss out</u></strong></p><p>We’re on a mission to bring the real Asia — its thinkers, builders, dreamers, and disruptors — to global ears. So if you know someone who would be a great guest or want to contact the team, please email:</p><p><u><a href="mailto:tanktalksasia@asiaworks.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">tanktalksasia@asiaworks.com</a></u></p><p>And don’t forget to <strong>follow, subscribe, and share</strong> so you don’t miss the next episode of Tank Talks Asia.</p><p>Tank Talks Asia is an <u><a href="https://www.asiaworks.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">AsiaWorks</a></u> production.</p>
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Against a backdrop of booms, busts, and geopolitical shifts, Asia continues its quiet and confident rise. More than ever, new and colourful Asian voices are bursting onto the global stage, from the world of business, tech, media, music, politics, sports, art, and culture.
Hosted by acclaimed broadcaster and interviewer Manisha Tank, Tank Talks Asia meets the humans helping to drive this dynamic region forward.
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