Asia Forward
Asia Forward highlights forward-thinking ideas on US-Southeast Asia relations. It features straight-talk conversations with leaders, experts, and change makers about Southeast Asia's growth and its implications for U.S. audiences. The podcast is produced by VINSY Group LLC.
Episodes
From “Project Runway” to NYFW: How a Filipino Designer Built Her Career in the U.S.
“It’s a roller coaster. And actually, that is the reason why I never stopped trying.”Filipino American fashion designer Veejay Floresva spent years rebuilding her career in the U.S. before winning “Project Runway” Season 21 in 2025. With that win, she became the first Filipina and the first trans woman to win the American edition of the show.In this episode of Asia Forward, she looks back on the p
What U.S. Investors Need to Know about Indonesia's Danantara | Asia Forward | Episode 18
“Indonesia is a sexy story. We just don’t talk about it too much,” says Pandu Sjahrir, Chief Investment Officer of Danantara Indonesia, the country’s newest sovereign wealth fund, as he lays out Indonesia’s investment case for global investors.Recorded in New York City during the U.N. General Assembly, episode 18 of Asia Forward looks at what U.S. investors should understand about Danantara, Indon
How a Smithsonian Museum is Working with Southeast Asia | Asia Forward | Episode 17
Who owns art, and who gets to share it?In episode 17 of Asia Forward, host Ei Thant Sin speaks with Joanna Gohmann, Associate Curator of Provenance & Object Histories at Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art, about how museums approach questions of ownership, provenance, repatriation and shared stewardship. Gohmann explains how researchers trace the movement and ownership of objects over
What U.S. Businesses Should Know About Vietnam | Asia Forward | Episode 16
Vietnam is Southeast Asia's fastest-growing economy and, as Ted Osius, a former U.S. ambassador to Vietnam, puts it, already a "tiger" of the region.In this episode of Asia Forward, Osius joins Ledy Simarmata to discuss what is driving Vietnam's growth, why foreign companies are investing there and what U.S. businesses should understand before entering the market.The conversation looks at the lega
Can Cambodia Attract More U.S. Investment? | Asia Forward | Episode 15
Cambodia has drawn international attention over online scam centers, human trafficking and organized crime, raising concerns about the country’s reputation among investors and travelers. At the same time, its digital economy is growing, new industries are developing and the United States remains Cambodia’s largest export market.In this episode of Asia Forward, host Ei Thant Sin speaks with Christo
How American Health Care Relies on Filipino Nurses | Asia Forward | Episode 14
For decades, Filipino nurses have filled critical roles across the U.S. health care system. They've helped hospitals respond to staffing shortages, cared for patients during public health crises, while also supporting families and communities in both the United States and the Philippines.In episode 14 of this Asia Forward podcast, host Ledy Simarmata speaks with Madelyn Yu, a retired nurse wit
Why Southeast Asia’s Energy Security Matters to U.S. Business | Asia Forward | Episode 13
How vulnerable is Southeast Asia to an energy shock thousands of miles away? The conflict in the Middle East and disruption in the Strait of Hormuz have pushed up oil, LNG and jet fuel prices, with effects that reach far beyond the energy sector.ASEAN has described the region’s vulnerability through the 5Fs: fuel, food, fertilizer, finance, and foreign workers.In this episode, host Ei Thant Sin sp
Can Indonesian Films Go Global? | Asia Forward | Episode 12
Indonesian animated feature “Jumbo” became the highest-grossing animated film in Southeast Asia, drawing millions of viewers at home and bringing new attention to the country’s animation talent. Can other Indonesian films replicate Jumbo’s commercial and international success?In this episode of Asia Forward, host Ledy Simarmata sits down in Jakarta with Angga Dwimas Sasongko, film director, produ
What U.S. Businesses Should Know Before Entering Southeast Asia | Asia Forward | Episode 11
Southeast Asia offers major opportunities for U.S. businesses, but each market comes with its own risks.In this episode of Asia Forward, host Ei Thant Sin speaks with Erin Murphy, managing director for Asia at Redpoint Advisors and a former CIA analyst, about how companies should assess risks before entering or expanding in the region.The conversation looks at Vietnam’s manufacturing growth, Indon
Why Education is Strategic for the U.S. and Southeast Asia | Asia Forward | Episode 10
The United States remains the top destination for international students globally, hosting 1.2 million students according to the IIE Open Doors report released in November 2025. For students from Southeast Asia and around the world, the experience can shape careers, build worldwide networks and create relationships that last long after graduation.In Episode 10 of Asia Forward, host Ledy Simarmata
Where Indonesian Coffee Fits in the U.S. Market | Asia Forward | Episode 9
Americans drink an estimated 463 millions cups of coffee every day. In a market shaped by major chains and daily habits, how does an Indonesian coffee shop introduce specialty coffee and new flavors to U.S. consumers?In this episode of Asia Forward, host Ei Thant Sin visits DUA DC Coffee in downtown Washington, D.C. for a conversation with founder Vivit Kavi about what it takes to bring Indonesian
Why Southeast Asian Representation in Media Matters to Americans | Asia Forward | Episode 8
What does Southeast Asian representation in American media really mean, and why should it matter to Americans?In this episode of Asia Forward, host Ledy Simarmata speaks with Vicky Nguyen, NBC anchor chief consumer investigative correspondent and author of “Boat Baby,” about her family’s journey from Vietnam to the United States, growing up Vietnamese American and building a career in journalism.V
Why Indonesian SMEs Matter for U.S. Investors | Asia Forward | Episode 7
Indonesia’s micro, small and medium enterprises, or MSMEs, serve as the backbone of the country’s economy, accounting for the vast majority of businesses and jobs. But beyond the numbers, what makes Indonesian SMEs stand out, and why do they matter for U.S. investors?In this episode of Asia Forward, host Ledy Simarmata speaks with Lishia Erza Budiman, committee chair for SME capacity building and
Why Southeast Asia's Critical Minerals Matter for U.S. Businesses | Asia Forward | Episode 6
Critical minerals are becoming central to global supply chains, clean energy and advanced manufacturing. In this episode of Asia Forward, host Ei Than Sin speaks with Dr. Gracelin Baskaran about why Southeast Asia is drawing growing interest from U.S. businesses and policymakers.Dr. Baskaran, Director of the Critical Minerals Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies,
From Food to Fashion: What Thailand’s Creative Shift Means for U.S. Investors | Asia Forward | Episode 5
Thailand has long been known as the “Kitchen of the World.” But today, it’s expanding far beyond food.In this episode of Asia Forward, we explore how Thailand is building on decades of success in gastrodiplomacy to grow its broader creative economy—from fashion and design to soft power industries.Host Ledy Simarmata sits down with Ketsuree Vijaranakorn, Executive Director of the Thai Trade Center
What Southeast Asia’s Digital Economy Growth Means for U.S. Businesses | Asia Forward | Episode 4
Southeast Asia’s digital economy is expanding at a rapid pace, creating new opportunities as well as challenges for U.S. businesses. In this episode of Asia Forward podcast, host Ei Thant Sin speaks with John Goyer, Vice President for Southeast Asia and Oceania at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, about how the region’s digital transformation is reshaping trade, investment and competition. From the ri
From Bangkok to the World | Asia Forward | Episode 3
In Episode 3 of Asia Forward, host Ledy Simarmata sits down with Tan Sawaddichai, Project Director of What Do You Want New York and curator of a Thai fashion showcase “Up to the Sky” during New York Fashion Week in February. Together, they explore how designers from Bangkok are stepping onto the global stage, and what it takes to bring Southeast Asia’s creative talent to U.S. and international aud
What Uncertainty in Myanmar Means for Southeast Asia’s Investment Outlook | Asia Forward | Episode 2
In Episode 2 of Asia Forward, host Ei Thant Sin speaks with Ambassador Susan Stevenson, former Charge d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Yangon from 2023-2026, about the realities of doing business in Myanmar amid political instability, sanctions, and ongoing conflict.Since the 2021 coup, Myanmar’s economy has been shaped by currency controls, import restrictions, U.S. sanctions on military-linked
Why Southeast Asia, Why Now? | Asia Forward | Episode 1
Southeast Asia is one of the world’s fastest-growing regions, yet it remains underrepresented in U.S. global business strategy.The first episode of Asia Forward examines why a region with hundreds of millions of consumers and a multi-trillion-dollar economy has often been overlooked by U.S. companies, and why that dynamic is beginning to change. In this episode of Asia Forward, host Ledy SImarmata
