Ubud Writers & Readers Festival Podcast

Popo Danes is a Balinese architect, who creates distinctive tropical resorts harmonious with nature and reflect Balinese aesthetics. Anneke van Waesberghe creates sustainable luxury tented villas that reflect her philosophy of sustainability. Kristine H. Harper lectures on resilient design solutions, sustainable living, reduction of consumption through design, and preservation of heritage crafts traditions. Join them with Rio Helmi in a discussion about sustainable design.

Indonesia’s Komodo dragon, the world’s largest lizard, is facing extinction. Global warming, rising sea levels and human activity have shrunk their habitat on the island of Flores, making them genetically weaker and more vulnerable. Established in 2007, the Komodo Survival Programme has developed a multifaceted approach for the conservation of this iconic lizard. They discuss how they will help it survive.

The Committed is Viet Thanh Nguyen’s much-anticipated follow-up to the Pulitzer Prize-winning, The Sympathizer. It shows the United States of America and France through the eyes of a Vietnamese refugee. He is joined by an award-winning Vietnamese author, Nguyen Phan Que Mai, to discuss the Vietnam War’s narrative, the meaning of being a refugee, and ways to deal with displacement.

In Islam, Authoritarianism, and Underdevelopment, Ahmet T. Kuru argues that Muslims were philosophically and socioeconomically more developed than Western Europeans between the 9th to twelfth centuries. So, why do Muslim-majority countries now exhibit high levels of authoritarianism and low levels of socio-economic development in comparison to world averages? Ahmet speaks to Janet Steele about how historical explanations link to contemporary politics.

Since the pre-colonial era, Ubud has been an oasis of rich artistic expression and creativity. The Covid-19 pandemic continues to bring changes to various aspects of local life. At a time when Ubud is quiet and most businesses are closed, we reflect on what has happened and how do we rise to the challenge? What will post-covid Ubud look like?

History often becomes the inspiration for multiple literary works. Interpretation of events, along with mixing facts and fiction to compose new stories, become a challenging playroom for writers. Listen to Vanni Puccioni’s incredible story of South Nias in the past. Joining him are Lala Bohan and Lara Nuberd, who will also share chronicles of colonial history in Indonesia.

Mental health issues do not get the same attention and understanding as other health issues. They are often considered as individual problems, and not a cultural and social effect. Those who struggle with mental health issues also face various negative stigmas. Hear how creators and writers attempt to voice the importance of addressing mental health issues through their writings.

“Life here is poetry blown into pieces and scattered all over the place.” Join Mohammed Moussa as he speaks about life in Gaza, his motivation for founding the Gaza Poets Society and his debut poetry collection, Flamingo. Why is poetry so important and what can be gained from creating a spoken word community?

In The Carrying, Ada Limón “does not ignore the world’s cruelties but tries not to be held hostage by them,” according to the Guardian. The collection of poems captures ambiguous moments between the rapture of youth and the grace of acceptance. Join her in conversation with Cynthia Dewi Oka as she explores what it means to live in an imperfect world.

From Toili, an area in Banggai Regency, Central Sulawesi, Eva Bande echoed the call for environmental concern and welfare of farmers as they were increasingly being eroded by the exploitative interests of palm oil companies. Listen to her story, the reason she started this path of struggle and how she is determined to survive alongside the marginalized, defending their land.

George Quinn’s Wali Berandal Tanah Jawa presents a stunning portrait of Islam in Java; a phenomenon that often gone unnoticed by journalists, scientists, and tourists. Join him as he dives deep beneath the surface of modern Indonesia, exploring the personalities and stories of the magical world of local pilgrimages, where Middle Eastern Islam grapples with the ancient powers of Javanese civilization.

What happens to wildlife when humans have retreated to certain places because of conflict or disaster? Cal Flyn’s Islands on Abandonment brings together some of the most desolate ghost towns and exclusion zones around the world and shows how, against all odds, they offer our best opportunities for environmental recovery. Listen to her take on how nature can reclaim its place.

Mulat Sarira is a Balinese philosophy that invites us to reflect on various aspects of ourselves and broader humanity, such as our relationship with the environment, society and the spiritual. It becomes a symbol of knowledge and philosophy. This panel will share more about this year’s theme, framed in reflective dialogue to interpret the changing role of literature in today’s society.

In his recent book “Chiribiquete: The Cosmic Maloka of the Jaguar Men”, Carlos Castano-Uribe shares his research of more than 30 years of the Chiribiquete National Park, a biodiversity hotspot and site of major cave paintings in the Colombian Amazon. Considered an important part of Colombian cultural heritage he states that ‘if there is a place where mystery and hope make up the same word, it is Chiribiquete: all the kingdoms in one kingdom, all the worlds in one world ”. Meet Carlos Castano-Uribe in conversation with Nicolas Montoya.

The freedom of gender expression and fluidity continues to face challenges throughout times. Art and literature is widely considered as moderate fluid spaces that create spaces for openness to the issue of gender flexibility. Two authors, Stebby Julionatan and Hendri Yulius will dissect the journey of Indonesian literature that accommodates the expressions of marginalized writers.

Elora Hardy is the creative genius behind IBUKU, an architectural company that constructs breath-taking bamboo structures. Arief Rabik is the force behind Indonesia’s Environmental Bamboo Foundation and the founder of the 1000 Bamboo Villages project. Meet these young changemakers who are paving the way to a greener world in conversation with Gill Westerway.

Described as a unique, brave piece of work that speaks to our world at this time, Laura Jean Mackay’s award-winning novel, The Animals in That Country, takes us on an extraordinary journey of speculative fiction, where victims of a flu-like pandemic develop the ability to communicate with animals. How important is our unique bond with the animal world?

In Our Final Warning, Mark Lynas explores the course we have set for Earth over the next century and beyond. He delivers a vital account of the likely consequences of global heating and the ensuing climate catastrophe. Is time is running out and what will happen if we fail to save our planet? Listen to his comprehensive researches and experiences.

As one of the most fearless defenders of Balinese culture and people, designer Niluh Djelantik is on a mission to build better tourism in the island post-pandemic. She has been actively supporting small and medium enterprises across Bali. Join her with Janet DeNeefe as she speaks about the potential sustainable reboot for the travel industry to create a better normal for Bali’s tourism.

The COVID-19 pandemic has shaken the creative behaviour of artists, including writers and readers. Digital-based writing media are increasingly emerging, as is the presence of literacy appreciation activities in cyberspace. Everything can be an opportunity as well as a challenge. Raisa Kamila, Kadek Sonia Piscayanti, and Liswindo will discuss how writers respond to this reality, especially in the creative process.

Irrealis moods are not about the present, past, or future, they are about what might and could have been but never was. In his latest work, Homo Irrealis, André Aciman explores what time means to artists who cannot grasp life in the present. Join his conversation with Michael Vatikiotis to talk about the power of imagination.

The literary ecosystem changes over tie, especially during the pandemic, where literary pages were reduced in the media. Listen to three poets across generations: Joko Pinurbo, Ni Wayan Idayati, and Gody Usnaat share their diverse creative processes. Join them as they show how poetry is able to live across generations.

In the midst of accelerating the flow of information, there are still barriers that hinder our understanding of humanity. In the patriarchal socio-cultural system, women are one of the groups affected by this intertwining of issues. Hear the stories of women writers, Kalis Mardiasih, R. Valentina Sagala, and Intan Andari, who went beyond the barriers and reflect on true inclusivity.

In his latest book, Joseph Conrad’s Eastern Voyages, Ian Burnet shares his account of Joseph Conrad’s adventure in Singapore and East Borneo River where his first books are all set. Ian speaks to Virania Munaf about Conrad’s life as a sailor, his stories on the high seas and his legacy to literature.

Set during the gold-rush era in Australia, Stone Sky Gold Mountain is a poignant novel full of unforgettable characters that deal with issues of identity, belonging, racism, and sexual violence. Join Mirandi Riwoe as she shares a heart-breaking and universal story about the exiled and displaced, about those who encounter discrimination and yearn for acceptance.

From the outspoken Margaret Mead and Ruth Benedict to Ella Deloria, the Dakota Sioux activist who preserved the traditions of Native Americans on the Great Plains, their revolutionary findings gave birth to cultural anthropology. Join Charles King, author of Gods of the Upper Air, to learn more about the radical ideas and passionate lives of these adventurous pioneers.

Lives Between the Lines is a family story of Michael Vatikiotis’s grandparents and parents in the Levant, spanning from the mid-1800s to the end of the Second World War in 1945. Once a place of ethnic harmony and pluralistic tradition their lives eventually became caught up in the conflict between clashing faiths and contested identity. Michael Vatikiotis speaks to Kelly Falconer about his fascinating family history.

How do we endure loss and find meaning in our lives? Ruth Ozeki’s The Book of Form and Emptiness is a heart-breaking and humane tale, considered as a powerful meditation that contains the chaos of the world, while giving it meaning. Ruth speaks to Desi Anwar about her poignant novel that blends jazz with climate change and attachment to material possessions.

Greatly affected by the tragic Sewol Ferry incident of 2014, when more than 300 Koreans, mainly schoolchildren, lost their lives, Kim Hyesoon composed Autobiography of Death, a cycle of forty-nine poems – one for each day the dead must await reincarnation – to produce a deeply moving work for the children lost to this disaster. Kim speaks to Sonia Piscayanti about how we give a voice to death and trauma.

Known as the world’s village, Ubud has shifted its image throughout the years. For decades, everything local and traditional has been fused with a cosmopolitan and international perspective. So, what about Ubud today? In the midst of the intertwined transformation of times, especially during the pandemic, is it still the world’s village? How do the Ubud Palace define the region?

Since 2007, Mayank Austen Soofi has been documenting Delhi’s everyday life. During the city’s most desperate COVID-19 moments, he collected images and heartfelt stories of the people’s collective grief. Joshua Irwandi shadowed hospital workers and pandemic victims in Jakarta and is responsible for the photo that stopped a nation in its tracks. Rio Helmi* talks to them about the power of pictures when words are not enough.

The leading authority of forest medicine in Japan, Dr. Qing Li, shares stories with a world-renowned tree scientist, ecologist, educator, and conservationist, Meg Lowman ‘Canopy Meg’. The two experts will be joined by Suzy Hutomo to talk about the life-changing power of trees and the importance of forests, at a time when we are returning to nature, more than ever, for health and happiness.

In his latest book, Magdalena: River of Dreams, Davis tells of his travels on this magnificent river, the source of Colombian music, literature, poetry, and prayer and, in doing so, tells the epic story of a people who have overcome years of conflict precisely because of their enduring spirit. Tim Hannigan speaks to Wade Davis about his deep love of a land that is home to the greatest ecological and geographical diversity on the planet.

Poets Emily Sun and Felix K. Nesi are powerful emerging voices in the literary communities of Australia and Indonesia, respectively. Their poetries consider the personal and political impacts of imperialism, colonialism, and capitalism on individuals and communities across the two nations. Join them for a conversation that will delve into poetry’s unique potential to address politics.

When a global health crisis closes borders between and within countries, does literature’s potential to transport people to new places take on greater significance? David Allan-Petale, whose debut novel, Locust Summer, was drafted in Ubud and completed while travelling around Australia in a caravan, will be joined by Agustinus Wibowo to discuss travel as a source of creative inspiration and the challenges faced by writers during these COVID times.

Australia’s First Nations people are the country’s first memory holders and storytellers. However, their stories are often left unheard. Join three First Nations writers, Elfie Shiosaki, Jarrad Travers, and Cass Lynch, as they come together to discuss the power of language, storytelling, and poetry in capturing testimonies and rebuilding communities.

Jennifer Mackenzie’s collection of poetry, Navigable Ink, is based on her contact with the famous Indonesian author, Pramoedya Ananta Toer, in 1993, when his works were banned and he was under house arrest in Jakarta. This rare and heartfelt poetic exploration of Toer’s work, captures his fight for gender equality, free speech, non-discrimination, and freedom, issues that are now more crucial than ever. Meet Jennifer in conversation with Juli Sastrawan.

In her new book, We Have a Dream, Mya-Rose Craig looks at issues from wildlife conservation to clean water and plastic waste, to climate justice and climate strikes, reinforcing that the time has come to listen to a generation of young people of colour demanding urgent change for the world they will inherit. Join Mya-Rose Craig ‘Birdgirl’ as she speaks to fellow climate activist, Clover Hogan, about what needs to be done.

At the age of twenty, after a traumatic sexual assault trial, Kathryn Heyman ran away from her life and became a deckhand on a fishing trawler in the Timor Sea. The power of words became her salvation. Called a memoir of ‘righteous anger and poetic transformation’, Fury, is a reflection on the wider stories of class and growing up female with all its risks and rewards, of courage and determination, fighting back and finding joy. Join Kathryn Heyman in conversation with Nicole Abadee.

Vincent Bevins’ bold and comprehensive debut work, The Jakarta Method, highlights his incisive reporting for The Washington Post and uses declassified documents and eyewitness testimony to reveal a shocking legacy that spans the globe.

In Semut, Christine Helliwell shares the story of an Australian secret military operation launched into the remote jungled heart of the Japanese-occupied island of Borneo, in the final months of World War II. Join her in conversation with Stephen Smith, as she shares the lives and traditions of the Dayaks in this unique account of two very different cultures.

Australian politician and academic Anne Aly, award-winning children’s author Meg McKinlay, and documentary filmmaker Victoria Midwinter Pitt are all three exceptional women of widely different backgrounds. They have come together to bring their personal stories and experiences of heartbreak, empathy, and despair. If you are wondering about the power of your emotions, this is a conversation not to be missed.

In Phosphorescence, Julia Baird immerses herself in nature to explore friendships, family, loss, and illness, to seek the inner light that brightens our lives in the darkest times. In The Art of Solitude, Desi Anwar writes about navigating a peaceful path to add meaning to our lives. Join them in conversation with Gillian O’Shaughnessy to share their illuminating journey of self-reflection.

Celebrated Indonesian author Ayu Utami, a pioneer of women’s erotica in Indonesia, along with Fogarty Award-winner Rebecca Higgie, will share stage and screen with Professor Krishna Sen to explore the use of mythical characters and magic realism in Australian and Indonesian literature. How can these literary tools help us reveal and investigate personal and national histories?

Struggling to maintain grace and good humour amidst daily potholes and pitfalls? Author and essayist Brigid Lowry maybe just the warm, wise, and witty companion you need. To start the day with a positive vibe, she will be joined by musician Michael Done to explore how wisdom, gratitude, and loving-kindness to ourselves and others can help us thrive.

In The Nutmeg’s Curse, Amitav Ghosh shares how Western colonialism and exploitation in the Banda Islands, Maluku, is the origin of climate change’s current dynamics. Hilmar Farid, the Director-General of Indonesia’s Ministry of Education and Culture, joins Amitav to discuss colonial history and spices, acknowledging the role that spices, like nutmeg, have played in the country’s national development.

What is the future of travel writing in the 21st century? In his book, The Travel Writing Tribe, Tim Hannigan asked this question as he sets out on humorous mini-adventures to meet the world’s most acclaimed travel writers. In the era of social media and COVID-19, can travel writing survive? And is it simply a craft of white privileged men?

Multatuli’s book Max Havelaar is a powerful indictment of colonialism in the Dutch East Indies. Inspired by his fight for equality, Project Multatuli is a public journalism organization that expose injustices and the voices of the suffering. The founders of Project Multatuli, Evi Mariani and Todung Mulya Lubis speak to Debra Yatim about the values of humanism and ethical journalism.

The Lasalaga Project is Louis Buana’s research of the ancient legend of Lasalaga, the fierce ruler of Mamuju, West Sulawesi. Of Balinese-Sulawesi heritage, Lasalaga’s story highlights the harmonious relationship between two different ethnicities and cultures. In an attempt to reach a wide audience, the reinterpretation of this legend combines traditional Kamasan art with new media, as well as, the publication of a children’s storybook. Louie Buana and Kathryn Wellen talk about this fascinating initiative.

How do we interpret the development of literary works in Indonesia lately? Indonesian established and emerging writers, Rio Johan, Inggit Putria Marga, and Wayan Sumahardika, elaborate on the issues in Indonesian literature and the current standard that is free and rapid. They will join Ramayda Akmal in discussing the development on speech, themes, and standards of writing in Indonesia.