In this explosive Tech Burst Talks episode, host Charles sits down with Andrew Staples, a battle-tested geopolitical expert who made the leap from The Economist to founding his own advisory firm, GeoPol Asia.

Together, they dissect how corporations across Asia are caught in the crossfire of escalating US-China tensions, tariff wars, and supply chain disruptions. This isn't just academic analysis - it's corporate survival intelligence from the trenches.

Staples reveals how multinationals are paralysed by uncertainty, with investment plans on hold whilst executives scramble to navigate everything from Vietnam's tariff backlash to China's strategic overseas expansion.

The conversation exposes the volatile landscape where Singapore battles the Middle East for innovation talent, venture capital dries up across Southeast Asia, and Western MNCs find themselves demoted to third-tier priorities by nervous headquarters.

From the miscalculation risks that keep geopolitical experts awake at night to Japan's demographic time bomb spurring unprecedented innovation, this episode delivers the tactical insights C-suite leaders need to thrive when caught between superpowers.

Whether you're repositioning supply chains or managing expat teams in Asia's dynamic markets, Staples provides the intelligence needed to survive the corporate crossfire of our fractured global order.

SHOW NOTES:

00:08 Introduction and Guest Background

04:17 Geopolitical Climate and Business Impact

06:44 Navigating Uncertainty in Asia

11:02 China's Strategy and Global Influence

13:57 Challenges for Western MNCs in Asia

15:54 Middle East vs. Asia: Innovation and Investment

20:05 VC Slowdown and Future Strategies

22:09 Advice for Western Expats in Asia

23:31 Networking and Curiosity in Asia

24:52 Geopolitical Risks in Asia

26:22 Future Prospects and Global Order

29:58 Personal Reflections and Predictions

37:27 The Allure of Japan

39:49 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode of Tech Burst Talks, Bryan Ma joins Charles to unpack the shifting landscape of the global smartphone and device industry. From the US–China tariff shake-up to Apple’s manufacturing pivot toward India and Vietnam, they break down how supply chains are being reengineered in real time.

They also dig into the latest AI integrations—from smartphones to PCs—and what Computex 2025 revealed about the future of consumer tech. Expect insights on Samsung, Google, OpenAI, and what might finally follow the smartphone era.

Tariffs, AI, and tech power plays—this is the episode that connects the dots.

SHOW NOTES

00:10 Introduction and Greetings

00:23 Annual Update on Smartphones and Devices

00:41 Impact of Tariffs on the Tech Industry

04:03 Apple's Strategy to Navigate Tariffs

05:31 Samsung and Other OEMs' Responses

11:56 PC Industry and Tariff Implications

14:13 Shifts in Global Manufacturing

16:33 AI PCs: Hype or Reality?

20:28 AI on Smartphones: The Evolution

21:21 Samsung's AI Innovations

21:48 The Search for AI Use Cases

24:30 OpenAI's Big Move

25:30 Future of AI Hardware

27:13 AI's Rapid Adoption

28:o0 Challenges in AI Deployment

29:18 Foldable Phones and Future Trends

31:12 Wearables: The Next Frontier

35:40 Computex Highlights

38:21 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

🚀 Tech, Marketing, and a Football Obsession—What Could Go Wrong?

In this episode of TechBurst Talks, I sit down with my old mate Jon Buckthorp—Commercial Director of Differentiated, founder of Jon B Studios, and the kind of guy who juggles marketing, content, board advisory roles, and a questionable football allegiance (looking at you, Lincoln City).

We cut through the noise of B2B marketing, diving into:

🔥 Why creativity is the secret weapon in tech marketing

🔥 The brutal truth about building a personal brand

🔥 How to stay authentic in a world of corporate BS

Plus, we chat about Jon’s journey from Vodafone to his portfolio career, the future of B2B marketing, and—because he can’t help himself—football.

This one’s raw, insightful, and packed with no-BS lessons on career, creativity, and making an impact. Tune in, laugh a little, and maybe even learn something.

01:15 Welcome to TechBurst Talks with Jon Buckthorp

02:05 Jon's Journey in Tech and Marketing

04:00 The Birth of a Portfolio Career

05:10 Inside Differentiated: Creativity in B2B Marketing

06:36 Jon B Studios: Influencer Marketing Redefined

08:15 Challenges and Triumphs of Personal Branding

17:40 The Women's Sports Alliance: Promoting Women in Sports

19:45 Future Goals and Aspirations

21:30 B2B Tech Marketing: The Good, The Bad, and The Creative

22:50 Deliberate Marketing Strategies

23:33 B2B Marketing Success Stories

26:35 Challenges in 5G Marketing

28:20 Innovative Marketing Approaches

33:25 Personal Reflections and Career Advice

36:05 Fun and Personal Questions

41:40 Closing Remarks

Find out more:

Differentiated Web Site Linkedin

Women's Sports Alliance Web Site Linkedin

Follow Jon on LinkedIn X BlueSky

Download Differentiated’s “Art and Science Research Report” here

In this episode of Tech Burst Talks, I sit down with Ian Chong from Samsung Electronics to talk about his work on the mobile B2B team and the cutting-edge advancements Samsung is making, particularly in AI technology for smartphones.

We dive into the new Galaxy AI capabilities, including features like Circle to Search, Live Translate, and Transcript Assist. Ian shares why on-device AI is critical for ensuring both security and speed and discusses Samsung’s collaborations with major tech players.

We also explore how AI is being implemented in industries like law enforcement and finance. On a lighter note, Ian opens up about his passion for coffee and his quirky sock collection. To wrap up, we talk about the future of AI and its transformative potential across different sectors.

Show Notes:

00:45 Welcome to Tech Burst Talks

01:00 Introducing Ian Chong and His Role at Samsung

01:35 AI Innovations in Samsung Smartphones

02:13 Galaxy AI Features in Action

04:25 Live Translate and Business Features

08:00 Samsung’s Security Measures

10:49 Rugged Devices for Various Industries

13:27 Customer Insights on AI

16:58 Samsung’s Open Ecosystem and Partnerships

21:45 Enhancing Experiences with AI

22:21 Addressing AI Skepticism

24:25 The Power of Hyper-Connected Devices

25:38 Future of AI and Gen AI

26:44 AI in Retail and B2B Applications

29:36 Transformative AI in Healthcare

31:20 Personal Addictions: Coffee and Crazy Socks

36:18 Reflections and Future Aspirations

38:29 Final Thoughts and Farewell

In this episode of TechBurst Talks, we’re cutting through the AI hype and making sense of the endless buzzwords flooding the industry. You’ve heard them before—AI, ML, DL, LLM, SLM, RAG, ChatGPT, Custom GPT, NLP—but what do they actually mean?

Joining me is Bernard Leong, host of the Analyse Asia podcast, founder of Dorje.ai, and a leading expert in AI. Together, we break down these terms in a way that’s accessible, practical, and bullshit-free—no matter your background.

What makes this episode different? Bernard and I learn in completely different ways:

🔹 Bernard, a theoretical expert, dives deep into concepts.

🔹 I, a hands-on learner, need to see how AI applies in the real world.

By blending these perspectives, we’ll bring clarity to the chaos of AI jargon—whether you’re an industry pro or just trying to keep up.

01:00 Welcome and Introduction to AI

01:26 Bernard Leon's Background and Expertise

04:30 Understanding Artificial Intelligence

05:10 Big Data vs. Artificial Intelligence

06:29 Machine Learning and Deep Learning Explained

10:23 Generative AI: The Game Changer

17:30 Real-World Applications of AI

21:56 AI in Everyday Life and Business

31:14 The Evolution of Wind Turbine Maintenance

32:50 ChatGPT Revolutionizes Data Cleaning

34:21 Ethical Considerations in AI

37:09 Federated Learning and Privacy

38:47 AI's Impact on Jobs and Productivity

44:49 Future Trends in AI

49:48 Challenges in AI Adoption

51:57 Introducing Dorje.ai

55:24 Final Thoughts and Advice on AI

In this episode of the Techburst Talks podcast, we delve deep into the current challenges and future prospects of the telecom industry.

I'm joined by industry veterans Chris Lewis from Lewis Insight and Rob Jones, CEO of Bluefire, the discussion spans a wide array of topics including:

• the financial viability of 5G - is anyone actually making $$$?
• the adaptation of telcos to new technologies like IoT - can telcos deliver complex solutions?
• and the increasing importance of customer-centric business models.

The conversation also examines the role of #AI in transforming the industry, the impact of global markets, and the structural changes needed to stay competitive.

The trio emphasizes the necessity of partnerships, the limitations of current business models, and the importance of personalized services in the evolving telecom landscape.

00:00 Introduction to Telecom Industry Challenges

00:13 Meet the Experts: Chris Lewis and Rob Jones

01:07 Chris Lewis: Insights on Telecom Dynamics

02:02 Rob Jones: Global Telecom Experience

02:49 Current Trends in the Telecom Industry

06:46 Challenges in Telecom Pricing and Competition

10:32 Strategies for Telecom Operators

13:14 The Role of Connectivity in Telecom Services

15:52 Telcos and the Competitive Landscape

28:26 The Future of IoT in Telecom

31:12 Learning from Other Industries

31:54 Economic Evolution and Partnering

33:29 Structural Changes in Telecom

35:28 Impact of AI on Telecom

37:41 Challenges and Opportunities with AI

49:24 Future of Telecom: 6G and Beyond

58:15 Collaboration and Personalization in Telecom

01:02:58 Concluding Thoughts

TechBurst Talks Season 4 Episode 2

IoT Re-Imagined: Practicality over Promises

In this episode of the Tech Burst Talks podcast, host Charles interviews Gerhard Loots, CEO of Kallipr.

Gerhard discusses his transition from running the IoT business at Telstra, Australia’s largest telecoms operator, to a startup environment, his current role at Kallipr and the company's innovative IoT solutions. He elaborates on Kallipr’s unique approaches to sensor technology, total cost of ownership, and real-world applications in industries like rail and water management.

The conversation also touches on global IoT market trends, including the rise of India as a tech superpower and the impact of satellite connectivity. Gerhard shares personal anecdotes and offers a glimpse into his future vision for Kallipr, emphasising digitising infrastructure and leveraging AI for efficient data management.

00:40 Welcome Back, Gerhard Loots!

00:48 Career Transition: From Telstra to Kallipr

02:40 Introducing Kallipr

03:51 Competing in the Global Market

04:52 Focus on Total Cost of Ownership

06:35 Real-World Use Cases and Success Stories

11:00 Fun with B2B Marketing

13:30 Future Plans for Kallipr

19:00 Industry Insights and Market Trends

32:40 Personal Stories and Fun Questions

38:00 Closing Remarks and Farewell

Follow Kallipr:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kallipr/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Kallipr

Kallipr’s entertaining B2B videos (about time someone made tech fun!)

Edge Battery Change video

https://youtube.com/shorts/oMDikM3Wi24?si=cglkUMVEoHYsU5hC

Radar Tech Demo: Scientific Beer Evaluation

https://youtu.be/PE_QsYIxy18?si=Gu7KJDBNSLmkD1rz

How we IP68 Test Our IoT Devices

https://youtu.be/xj5NWMu9D0g?si=JQn_ocLXD29YoUmH

20 Year Battery Life

https://youtu.be/Jybt_4eC91M?si=JVCK1l94MYf1GsUm