UWRF21 Podcast: Recent Episodes
Ubud Writers & Readers Festival
Our podcast is back, your favourite #UWRF21 sessions will be available on our website, Spotify, and Apple Podcast! Enjoy and let us know which #UWRF21 session do you want to listen to next?
In a powerful conversation from the 2025 Festival, Indonesian journalist and Editor-in-Chief of IDN Times Uni Lubis and Indonesian historian and Founder of Historia.id Bonnie Triyana speak with host and American Professor of Journalism Janet Steele about the controversy over the government’s plan to amend history books. They offer a brave, nuanced and ultimately important analysis of another flashpoint in the world’s third-largest democracy and the fear of historical amnesia.
Watch and listen to this lively panel now at ubudwritersfestival.com/media and on podcast platforms such as Spotify and Simplecast.
In this next #UWRF25 highlight conversation, American writer, journalist and private diplomat Michael Vatikiotis invites New York Times Diplomatxic Correspondent Edward Wong and Chinese Senior Fellow Zhou Bo to examine the complexities of China–United States relations and how contemporary politics influence these powers. Listen in as they untangle their geopolitical landscape and the interactions between competing world powers.
Listen in this clip as Wong describes Trump’s approach on the world stage as driven more by short-term tactics than by a coherent long-term strategy, with decision-making often shifting from day to day, a dynamic that has played out in the widening US–Israel conflict with Iran, where rapidly shifting goals and mixed messaging have marked America’s involvement in the region.
Watch and listen to this lively panel now at ubudwritersfestival.com/media and on podcast platforms such as Spotify and Simplecast.
Hear from an all-star line-up of women at the top of their fields as they explore creativity as a gift passed from mother to daughter—from the creation of life to the creation of art, community, and more.
Appearing in one of our live recorded highlight conversations of #UWRF25, Indonesian multidisciplinary artist Agnes Christina, Australian author and producer Courtney Collins, British, Delhi-based artist Olivia Fraser, and Irish Book Award–winning writer Sinéad Gleeson talk with Jenny Valentish about what drives them and how their creativity nurtures each of them in a world where women are often responsible for more roles than they are recognised for.
You can enjoy this latest highlight session, recorded live at our 2025 Festival, at ubudwritersfestival.com/media and on podcast platforms including Spotify and Simplecast.
If you are after more conversations from #UWRF25, take this latest highlight session with you on your early commute or as you unwind after a busy day.
In this illuminating conversation, Scottish historian and author Sam Dalrymple goes back in time to when, as recently as 1928, a vast swathe of Asia—India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Burma, Nepal, Bhutan, Yemen, Oman, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait—was bound together under the single imperial banner known as the Indian Empire, or simply the Raj. Join host Husnara Khanom as Dalrymple explores five partitions and Asia’s enduring legacy of war, exile, and division.
You can enjoy this latest highlight session, recorded live at our 2025 Festival, at ubudwritersfestival.com/media and on podcast platforms including Spotify and Simplecast.
Listen back to highlight events from #UWRF25, with new episodes released every week.
In this week’s episode, Australian Rewilding Facilitator and writer Gina Chick, British-born essayist and novelist Pico Iyer, and Indonesian travel writer Agustinus Wibowo join Krishna Sen in an extraordinary conversation on seeking discomfort, showing how embracing fear, trying new things, and taking risks makes discomfort a catalyst for growth rather than an obstacle to development.
You can enjoy this latest highlight session, recorded live at our 2025 Festival, at ubudwritersfestival.com/media and on podcast platforms such as Spotify and Simplecast.
Beginning the year with one of the timeliest panels from our 2025 Festival, we hope you enjoy hearing Ingrid Rojas Contreras, Shiori Itō, and Virginia Haussegger in a provoking panel moderated by Kirsten Han. Hear from these incredible three female firebrands as they discuss writing their stories as women and claiming their place in a man’s world, unapologetically.
Watch and listen to this lively women-only panel, recorded live at our 2025 Festival, at www.ubudwritersfestival.com/media and on podcast platforms such as Spotify and Simplecast.
Hear from a panel of speakers brought together at #UWRF25 as they explore how, in an increasingly digital world where identity is reduced to labels, titles, and qualifications, we can begin to internalise that identity is greater than what we see on the surface, featuring Australian speechwriter and journalist Brigid Delaney; Turkish writer, activist, and PEN International board member Ege Dündar; transnational novelist and filmmaker Thammika Songkaeo; hosted by Singaporean writer and journalist Kirsten Han.
You can enjoy this latest highlight session, recorded live at our 2025 Festival, at ubudwritersfestival.com/media and on podcast platforms such as Spotify and Simplecast.
Hear highlight conversations from #UWRF25 as we release a new episode each week.
For our second episode, listen to Australian award-winning author Gail Jones as she discusses her new book The Name of the Sister. In conversation with non-fiction writer Bri Lee, Jones delves into her latest work, following a young woman discovered in the outback with no identity who, unable to speak, sparks a media firestorm. This gripping mystery explores how history is told and identities are formed in the absence of reliable fact.
Listen to her lively conversation now at ubudwritersfestival.com/media and on podcast platforms such as Spotify and Simplecast.
We are delighted to announce the release of the first podcast episode from #UWRF25.
In our first episode, join moderator Petra Molnar as she talks with brilliant minds Omar El Akkad, Neal Hall and Shiori Itō about how they choose to confront unthinkable atrocity with their pens, the tools that allow them to write in these times of urgent need, and why it is necessary to write on the battleground.
Listen to the most urgent conversations from this year’s Festival, available at https://www.ubudwritersfestival.com/media and on podcast platforms such as Spotify and Simplecast.
In this week's #UWRF24 highlight conversation, the UK’s largest BookTuber and the Internet's Resident Librarian, Jack Edwards, along with digital creator and blogger Sintia Astarina and Bali-based book cover designer and industry expert Ndari, share their journeys into the world of book blogging, the creative process behind their work, and insights into their experiences in shaping the world of literature in the digital age.
This engaging conversation, moderated by Syarafina Vidyadhana, is now available to watch at ubudwritersfestival.com/media. You can also tap the link in our bio to listen to this session on podcast platforms like Spotify and Simplecast.
Catch up on our latest #UWRF24 episode with award-winning authors Felix Cheong, Nam Le, and Omar Musa, alongside host Veronica Sullivan, as they explore the art of genre-shifting and how conventional forms in literature are being challenged. Revisit a rich discussion as they make sense of the creative process behind shifting genres and discuss its challenges.
The complete session is now available to watch at ubudwritersfestival.com/media. Or, tap the link in our bio to listen to the session on podcast platforms like Spotify and Simplecast.
This week, we are delighted to bring you an intimate conversation recorded live at #UWRF24. Listen in as New York Times bestselling translator and Korean-to-English writer Anton Hur discusses his debut novel, Toward Eternity, with Norman Erikson Pasaribu. Known for his award-winning translations, Anton proves his literary prowess in this tale, crafting a narrative that is both expansive in scope and deeply introspective.
The wide-ranging talk on the profound discourse of memory, language, and the essence of humanity is now available to watch at ubudwritersfestival.com/media, or tap the link in our bio to listen to this session on podcast platforms like Spotify and Simplecast.
Listen back to a stellar group of expert podcasters and journalists, including Maltese author Paul Caruana Galizia, award-winning Indonesian journalist and anthropologist Tito Ambyo, and Australian Walkley Award-winning reporter Annika Blau, as they discuss how podcasts captivate audiences and transcend traditional media barriers.
This extraordinary panel, recorded live at our 2024 Festival and moderated by freelance journalist and Lecaturer Janak Rogers, lets you dive into the world of this revolutionized medium and provides context about the rise of podcasts. The full session is now available to watch at ubudwritersfestival.com/media, or tap the link in our bio to listen to this session on podcast platforms like Spotify and Simplecast.
In the past decade, liberal democracies around the world have been attacked from within, and Myanmar is no exception. The civil war in Myanmar, which began with a coup d'état exactly four years ago, has displaced millions, killed or maimed thousands more, and left the country in poverty. Even though the resistance has reached a turning point, leading to a particularly devastating year for the Myanmar military, there is still no resolution in sight.
Return to an extraordinary panel conversation recorded live from #UWRF24, featuring dissident writer and Burmese activist Ma Thida and Ben Bland, an expert on Asian geopolitics, as they discuss the stress tests and decline of democracies in Asia with a spotlight on Myanmar, which, although it may be in the middle of a bloody civil conflict, potentially stands on the precipice of a new democratic awakening, moderated by award-winning journalist Drew Ambrose.
The creative process of character development is one of the most crucial elements of storytelling. Revisit this one-of-a-kind meeting of literary minds between prolific Indonesian author Abi Ardianda, Irish fiction writer Alan Murrin, and bestselling Malaysian novelist Ong Chin Huat, as they discuss the art of balancing traits, desires, and fears to create relatable protagonists, formidable antagonists, and other memorable characters that bring fictional worlds to life and create rich, unforgettable stories.
This one-of-a-kind conversation, moderated by the arts and culture editor of Guardian Australia, Steph Harmon, is now available to watch at ubudwritersfestival.com/media, or tap the link in our bio to listen to this session on podcast platforms like Spotify and Simplecast.
We pride ourselves on being a platform where diverse perspectives on urgent issues in Bali, the region, and around the globe can be shared with clarity, nuance, and respect.
With the latest ceasefire and hostage deal between Hamas and Israel, we invite you to revisit our panel discussion with award-winning author and human rights lawyer Sara M. Saleh, prominent author and Palestine's former Minister of Culture Atef Abu Saif, Emeritus Professor of Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies at the Australian National University Amin Saikal, and lecturer at Reichman University Dr. Ori Goldberg. Together, they seek to understand the dire impact by exploring the historical roots, critical events, and pivotal moments shaping this enduring conflict.
Recorded live from #UWRF24 and moderated by journalist Hannah Lucinda Smith, this extraordinary talk is now available on YouTube, Spotify, and Simplecast.
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Love is as complex in literature as it is in reality, capturing the essence of our deepest emotions and weaving stories of passion, heartbreak, and connection. In this discussion, recorded live at #UWRF24, authors Dee Lestari, Laura Elizabeth Woollett, and Kylie Needham explored the emotional landscapes they create, the societal influences shaping romantic narratives, and fresh perspectives on love. What makes a love story resonate over time? How do novels reflect and challenge our understanding of love, passion, and connection?
To watch the full session, visit our website at ubudwritersfestival.com/media, or click the link in our bio to listen to this session on podcast platforms Spotify and Simplecast.
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Listen to an urgent conversation from this year’s festival featuring renowned best-selling authors Amitav Ghosh, Sathnam Sanghera, and Isna Marifa as they explored the history of European colonialism and its outcomes.
Their dialogue challenged the notion that history is settled and delved into how the legacies of colonialism continue to shape our social, political, and economic landscapes.
To watch the full session, visit our website at ubudwritersfestival.com/media, or click the link in our bio to listen to this session on podcast platforms Spotify and Simplecast.
Join us to shape Indonesia's literary future!
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In this first episode, Nobel Prize–winning author and journalist Maria Ressa explores the impact of social media on journalism, the fight for press freedom, and the need for ethical storytelling in a fractured world, moderated by Janet Steele.
In an era of disinformation and heightened political tensions, Maria explains in this clip how lies spread faster than truths and how these platforms are being used on a grand scale as manipulation tools by authoritarian regimes.
To watch the full session, visit our website at ubudwritersfestival.com/media, or click the link in our bio to listen to this session on podcast platforms Spotify and Simplecast.
Join us to shape Indonesia's literary future!
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For our 2023 Festival Highlights finale, listen to unexpected stories of pride and resilience from four incredible queer poets and writers. Hear from Virginia Helzainka, Chris Tse, Norman Erikson Pasaribu, and Broede Carmody as they discuss their journeys of self-discovery, and the rich diversity of queer poetics and the queer community, in conversation with fellow Adolfo Aranjuez.
In this short highlight moment, Indonesian writer Norman Erikson Pasaribu talks about using poetry to advocate for a world where queerness is not just tolerated but warmly embraced.
To watch the full session, visit our website at ubudwritersfestival.com/media, or click the link in our bio to listen to this session on podcast platforms Spotify and Simplecast.
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This week, get inspired by our in-depth conversation with 2019 Booker Prize–winning author Bernardine Evaristo, who discusses her radically honest memoir, Manifesto: On Never Giving Up, serving as an inspiring guide for how to be persistent in your craft, career, and life, with the Director of the Edinburgh International Book Festival, Jenny Niven.
To listen to more of this insightful conversation, visit our website at ubudwritersfestival.com/media, or click the link in our bio to listen to this session on podcast platforms Spotify and Simplecast.
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For our next live-recorded highlight session from our 2023 Festival, listen to urban experts in sustainable development and local Balinese figures Cok Putra, I Nyoman Satya Kumara, Putu Yindy Kurniawan, and Gungtik Rismayanti, and Dian Tri Irawaty as they discuss opportunities, challenges, local solutions and best practices, as well as lessons learned in Bali’s journey to achieve net-zero emissions goal by 2045, with Wayan Juniarta.
To watch or listen to the full session, visit our website at ubudwritersfestival.com/media, or click the link in our bio to listen to this session on podcast platforms Spotify and Simplecast.
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Revisit our 2023 Festival highlight conversation recorded live at Indus Restaurant. Listen as Professors Aaron Corn, Marcia Langton, and Todung Mulya Lubis join Katie Carr to discuss their personal approaches on how indigenous traditions and laws can drive innovation and how we can initiate a dialogue about reshaping settler colonial systems using indigenous law for a more sustainable future.
To watch this insightful talk, visit our website at ubudwritersfestival.com/media, or click the link in our bio to listen to this session on podcast platforms Spotify and Simplecast.
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On this week's 2023 highlight conversation program, watch the Festival High Tea Book Club recorded live at Ubud's most iconic hotel Amandari with host Laksmi DeNeefe Suardana and dazzling female guests Tracey Lien, Claudia Bellante, Megan Nolan, and Dias Novita Wuri, who are talking about books that have inspired them, and the joys of reading.
To watch or listen to the full session, visit our website at ubudwritersfestival.com/media, or click the link in our bio to listen to this session on podcast platforms Spotify and Simplecast.
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In an extraordinary conversation, eminent Indian author and Hindi language novelist Geetanjali Shree takes the stage to reflect on her literary journey. Winner of the International Booker Prize for her recently translated Tomb of Sand, she has written fiction novels, short stories, and essays, earning recognition and acclaim for her insightful and thought-provoking writings that reflect on the challenges and experiences of women in Indian society. She also explores themes of identity, love, and individuality, using her stories to challenge traditional societal norms and expectations.
To watch this extraordinary talk, visit our website at ubudwritersfestival.com/media, or click the link in our bio to listen to this session on podcast platforms Spotify and Simplecast.
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Dengan kebijaksanaan dan kejujuran yang mengagumkan, penulis, cendekiawan akademis, dan mantan Menteri Agama Indonesia di Kabinet Pembangunan Keempat pada 1998 silam, M. Quraish Shihab yang memimpin Pusat Studi Al-Qur'an membagikan penafsirannya yang melimpah, tentang seluk-beluk masyarakat, dan kapasitasnya untuk menjawab tantangan dalam komunitas Islam global. Nantikan penjelajahan yang mencerahkan ke dalam esensi Islam yang beraneka ragam, dipandu oleh Debra Yatim, seorang aktivis, jurnalis, kolumnis, pembuat film, dan pendiri beberapa organisasi, termasuk Yayasan Kalyanamitra, salah satu LSM perempuan tertua di Indonesia.
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For our next 2023 Festival Live-Recorded highlight conversation, listen to Geraldine Brooks, an American Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist, as she discusses her recent novel 'Horse' with Australian journalist Leigh Sales. Casting fresh light on America's past, her latest novel explores the story of a real-life racehorse named Lexington, one of the most famous thoroughbreds in American history, packed in multi-layered historical fiction. Through the lens of horse racing, Brooks weaves a rich tapestry of race, art, love, greed, betrayal, and ambition.
To watch or listen to the full session, visit our website at ubudwritersfestival.com/media, or click the link in our bio to listen to this session on podcast platforms Spotify and Simplecast.
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In a compassionate conversation, Cuban American artist Edel Rodriguez, Kurdish-Iranian journalist Behrouz Boochani, and Indonesian artist Agus Nur Amal (PM Toh) speak of their personal experience as refugees. Appearing in our short clip, Edel Rodriguez talks about hearing Donald Trump in 2015, as a candidate for president, echoing Castro’s talking points, and how he felt the need to sound the alarm.
Watch these urgent and hopeful stories of survival, transformation, and triumph at ubudwritersfestival.com/media, or click the link in our bio to listen to the session on the podcast platforms Spotify and Simplecast.
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Listen to another of the highlight conversation recorded live from the 2023 Festival featuring Intan Paramaditha, Dee Lestari, and Lala Bohang. These three Indonesian literary powerhouses spearhead the Indonesian literary era, breaking barriers, and paving new paths for future writers. With powerful prose, Dee Lestari resonates with millions; Intan Paramaditha fearlessly challenges norms, and Lala Bohang’s visionary art weaves magic with words and visuals.
To watch the full session, visit our website at ubudwritersfestival.com/media, or click the link in our bio to listen to this session on the podcast platforms Spotify and Simplecast.
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For our upcoming 2023 Festival live-recorded highlight sessions, hear the highly regarded Indian environmentalist Vandana Shiva discuss her five-decade-long fight for environmental justice in India. In conversation with Indonesian forest conservationist Farwiza Farhan, she shares her tireless efforts to save forests, shut down polluting mines, expose the dangers of pesticides, spur on the global campaign for organic farming, champion ecofeminism, and take on powerful chemical corporations.
To watch the full session, visit our website at ubudwritersfestival.com/media, or click the link in our bio to listen to this session on the podcast platforms Spotify and Simplecast.
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This week, listen to Dr. Ravinjay Kuckreja, Darma Putra, and Sugi Lanus in an extraordinary conversation as they reflect on the 2023 Festival theme. The theme draws inspiration from the profound Balinese concept of ‘Tri Semaya,’ a philosophical view of time as non-linear, circular, and collective. Darma Putra, a writer and reader of ancient texts, will explain this philosophy, while Dr. Ravinjay Kuckreja and Sugi Lanus will offer insights from Hinduism and ancient Balinese and Javanese wisdom, with Wayan Juniarta.
To watch the full session, visit our website at ubudwritersfest.com/media, or click the link in our bio to listen to the first session on the podcast platforms Spotify and Simplecast.
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Join us for our second highlighted conversation recorded live from our 20th Anniversary, where our speakers provide an analysis of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. Hear from Middle East experts Michael Vatikiotis and Antony Loewenstein as they shed light on a relentless and deadly conflict that has persisted for decades. In conversation with investigative journalist Kirsti Melville, they discuss how the surge of ultra-nationalism in Israel risks undermining prospects for a two-state solution, with clashes between Israelis and Palestinians escalating in violence.
To watch the full session, visit our website at ubudwritersfest.com/media, or click the link in our bio to listen to the first session on the podcast platforms Spotify and Simplecast.
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The time has come, and we'll be bringing you conversations recorded live from our 20th Anniversary.
Start your highlight program journey with Festival Founder and Director Janet DeNeefe and some old Festival friends - Toni Pollard, Kadek Purnami, and Festival Manager Dwi Ermayanthi - as they recall the humble beginnings, surprises, and future of the annual event we've all come to love. Available on all major podcasting platforms.
To watch the full session, visit our website at ubudwritersfest.com, or click the link in our bio to listen to the first session on the podcast platforms Spotify and Simplecast.
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To celebrate the birthday of female Indonesian heroine, Raden Adjeng Kartini (1879-1904), who fought for gender equality and the right to education for all, our #UWRF22 Highlight Session will bring you a panel discussion on Women in Fiction.
Women throughout history, and even now, face discrimination in the literary world. In the late 18th and 19th centuries, writing as a profession was primarily considered unsuitable for women. Many women wrote under male pseudonyms, such as George Eliot, whose real name was Mary Ann Evans. Today, the number of women publishing fiction in the Western world has increased. This poses many questions, such as: do women still have to deal with social barriers in writing careers? What about women of colour pursuing writing careers? Do they face unique challenges because of their race?
Listen to journalist Annika Blau, Indonesian author Ramayda Akmal, novelist Diana Reid, and author Kirstin Chen discuss these issues and questions.
It is no secret that politicians wield disinformation as a political tool, to drive people apart and control them. For example, the Rohingya genocide in Myanmar was partly incited by Facebook posts. There were even conspiracy theorists who denied that the COVID-19 pandemic existed, which led to people disregarding masks, among other things. Online disinformation seems to influence peoples' public and private views on a range of issues, from politics, public health, the environment, and religion. Join Indonesian-Australian journalist, Tito Ambyo, The Conversation Indonesia Publisher and CEO, Prodita Sabarini, Lowy Institute Researcher, Lydia Khalil, and Human Rights Watch Indonesia Researcher. Andreas Harsono, tackle this issue comprehensively in conversation.
Enjoy another one of our #UWRF22 highlight episode sessions with one of the finest Southeast Asian correspondents and private diplomats of our time, Michael Vatikiotis. In a conversation moderated by Janet Steele, Vatikiotis will talk about his new book, Lives Between the Lines: A Journey In Search of the Lost Levant.
It's a fascinating memoir, detailing the author’s Greek and Italian forebears who lived in Egypt and Palestine, respectively, that spans from the mid-1800s to the end of the Second World War in 1945—which has many echoes and lessons for today. The Middle East is understood today as a place of endless conflict. But back then, it was a bastion of tolerance and pluralism. This book highlights how European colonial projects shattered that peaceful coexistence once and for all.
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Nikmatilah suguhan highlight episode #UWRF22 terbaru kami bersama salah satu koresponden Asia Tenggara dan juru runding terbaik pada saat ini, Michael Vatikiotis. Dalam percakapan yang dipandu oleh Janet Steele, Vatikiotis akan berbicara mengenai buku terbarunya, Lives Between the Lines: A Journey in Search of the Lost Levant. Sebuah memoir yang menarik, mengisahkan kakek-nenek dan orangtua si penulis, keturunan Yunani dan Italia, yang tinggal di Mesir dan Palestina, sejak pertengahan abad ke-19 hingga akhir Perang Dunia Kedua di 1945 – kisah yang masih membawa resonansi dan pelajaran untuk masa kini.
Saat ini, wilayah Timur Tengah dipersepsikan sebagai wilayah konflik tak berkesudahan. Namun pada saat itu, wilayah ini pernah menjadi benteng toleransi dan pluralisme. Buku ini menekankan tentang peranan proyek kolonial Eropa dalam menghancurkan perdamaian tersebut.
Listen to the full episode of #UWRF22 on Spotify, Apple Podcast, or watch them on YouTube: https://bit.ly/UWRF22HighlightsPlaylist
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Today, Indonesia celebrates its National Film Day. On March 30, 1950, legendary Indonesian filmmaker Usmar Ismail directed the country’s first full-length feature film produced by a national company. To mark this special occasion, this week’s #UWRF22 Highlight Session will bring you our Main Program discussion called “From Book to Screen”.
Adapting a book into screen can be a delicate process. Authors might take too much control in the process, and fans might be disappointed by the screen adaptation’s end result. Listen to US-based Singaporean novelist, Kirstin Chen, as well as Indonesian writer, Ahmad Fuadi, and film director, Kamila Andini, as they discuss this issue with interviewer Julia Winterflood. Both Chen and Fuadi have had their books adapted into a TV series and a film respectively, whilst Andini has directed a screen adaptation of a novel.
In this week’s #UWRF22 Highlight Sessions episode, indulge yourself in an emotional journey alongside three international female poets who share their stories about their creative lives with a celebrated Balinese poet. In the conversation is the female Balinese poet, Kadek Sonia Piscayanti, with Venilla Rajaguru from India, Afra Atiq from the United Arab Emirates, and Bejan Matur from Turkey. They explore the power of emotions, as well as how they’ve transmuted their personal life’s pains and pleasures into creativity.
You can listen to this #UWRF2022 session on Spotify, or watch it on YouTube 👉 http://bit.ly/UWRF22FestivalHighlights.
Speculative fiction immerses us in a vision of the world that could become true from a plethora of latent possibilities. Speculative fiction uses storytelling as a tool to educate and influence people's perspectives by creating a world that expands on contemporary society. Renowned authors Laura Jean McKay, Norman Erikson Pasaribu and Sequoia Nagamatsu will speak to the power of speculative fiction to pose the question: what if?
Tune in to the latest episode of #UWRF22Highlights here:
YouTube: bit.ly/YouTubeSpeculativeFiction
Spotify: bit.ly/SpotifySpeculativeFiction
Apple Podcasts: bit.ly/ApplePodcastsSpeculativeFiction
Web: bit.ly/UWRF22FestivalHighlights
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Fiksi spekulatif mencelupkan diri kita sebagai pembaca ke dalam dunia yang tampak nyata dan berdasarkan kemungkinan-kemungkinan yang terpendam. Fiksi spekulatif menggunakan kemampuan bercerita sebagai alat untuk mengedukasi dan mempengaruhi perspektif manusia dengan membangun dunia yang berkembang dengan masyarakat yang kontemporer. Penulis ternama Laura Jean McKay, bersama Norman Erikson Pasaribu dan Sequoia Nagamatsu memperbincangkan kekuatan dari fiksi spekulatif yang memunculkan sebuah pertanyaan tunggal: bagaimana jika?
Dengarkan dan tonton episode terbaru dari #UWRF22Highlights di:
YouTube: bit.ly/YouTubeSpeculativeFiction
Spotify: bit.ly/SpotifySpeculativeFiction
Apple Podcasts: bit.ly/ApplePodcastsSpeculativeFiction
Web: bit.ly/UWRF22FestivalHighlights
This week’s #UWRF22Highlights episode seeks to mark International Women’s Day by featuring a discussion on Women Representation in Cinema and Popular Culture. You can listen to Indonesia’s two prominent female film directors, Nia Dinata and Kamila Andini, as well as female Indonesian visual artist, curator, and craftswoman, Ika Vantiani, as they talk about their creative evolution and challenges they face regarding sexism and censorship in the local film and popular culture scene. Renowned Indonesian music journalist, Meita Kasim, moderates the discussion in this episode.
You can listen to this #UWRF2022 session on Spotify, or watch it on YouTube 👉 http://bit.ly/UWRF22FestivalHighlights.
In the week’s #UWRF22 highlight episode, the Indonesian artist, Saras Dewi, and the Director of Museum MACAN, Aaron Seeto, come together to discuss the journey in tracing the development of contemporary art in Indonesia. Join the Social Affairs Editor, Jewel Topsfield, who is asking questions on how contemporary Indonesian art identifies in the midst of a cosmopolitan and cross-border art climate.
You can listen to this #UWRF2022 session also on Spotify, or watch it on YouTube 👉 http://bit.ly/UWRF22FestivalHighlights.
In this #UWRF22Highlights episode, join Miles Merrill in an important and critical conversation with the Australian Poetry Slam Champion, Huda Fadlelmawla, as well as West Timor-based writer, Felix K. Nesi, and the broadcaster/comedian, Sami Shah. The participants give their unique perspectives on race, racism, and racial justice.
You can listen to this #UWRF2022 session on Spotify, or watch it on YouTube 👉 http://bit.ly/UWRF22FestivalHighlights.
The 21st of February is International #MotherLanguageDay! To celebrate the power of mother languages, we are presenting another #UWRF22 highlight session. This time, featuring Irish Novelist, Audrey Magee, who’s ‘The Colony’ novel got shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 2022. As well as the celebrated Indonesian Writer, Saut Poltak Tambunan, and Indonesian Writer and Translator, and selected Festival Emerging Writer, Putu Juli Sastrawan.
You can listen to this #UWRF2022 session also on Spotify, or watch it on YouTube 👉 http://bit.ly/UWRF22FestivalHighlights.
Join music editor Lauren Ziegler for a special in-conversation with Meita Kasim, Sally Breen, and Gede Robi. It’ll be a powerful and accessible exploration about music, and its key role in social activism and human rights movements. In this special episode, the three guests share how music has influenced their lives, their passions, and fuelled their creative pursuits.
You can listen to this #UWRF2022 session on Spotify, or watch it on YouTube 👉 http://bit.ly/UWRF22FestivalHighlights.
The third highlight episode features Australian author and columnist, Brigid Delaney, as well as American former foreign correspondent and travel writer, Eric Weiner. In this special meeting of minds, the duo discusses with Gill Westaway their latest works. They also share their perspectives in their eternal search for spirituality, cultural enlightenment, and bliss. You can listen to this episode on Spotify or watch it on YouTube.
You can listen to this #UWRF2022 session on Spotify, or watch it on YouTube 👉 http://bit.ly/UWRF22FestivalHighlights.
Listen to an engaging conversation with Huda Fadlelmawla, Bandana Tewari, and Fariha Roisin who share their unique perspectives with Eva Fernandes, on the wellness industry—which has become a multi-billion-dollar business that claims to improve our health, happiness, and longevity!
You can listen to this #UWRF2022 session on Spotify, or watch it on YouTube 👉 http://bit.ly/UWRF22FestivalHighlights.
In this session, Kylie Moore-Gilbert, a scholar of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies, who shares her incredible story of survival after being accused of espionage and sentenced to an Iranian jail for 804 days.
You can listen to this #UWRF2022 session on Spotify, or watch it on YouTube 👉 http://bit.ly/UWRF22FestivalHighlights.
Passionate about sustainable development, urban spaces and the well-being of his community, Ridwan Kamil is one of Indonesia’s most visionary Governors. With a background in architecture, he believes that cities are for the people to enjoy. Ridwan Kamil talks to Janet DeNeefe about his community projects, his COVID-19 initiatives and lessons he has learned during this pandemic.
Cyntha Hariadi’s Kokokan Mencari Arumbawangi and Ziggy Zezsyazeoviennazabrizkie’s Di Tanah Lada both focus on the behaviour and thoughts of children. However, they actually touch on a wider issues, including the chaotic relationship between humans and the exploitation of our natural resources. Together with essayist and archivist, Setyaningsih, listen to their reflections and dreams about representing the children’s world in literature.
Muna Masyari, Ramayda Akmal, and Tias Yuliana present the dark reality of women in traditional customs and modern utopias. Their novels show the multiple layers of female characters as well as their efforts to address the local socio-cultural situation. Listen to these three Indonesian female writers to learn more about how to represent women in literary works.
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.
Muhammad Ade Putra is a young poet who is actively reflecting on locality in his poems, and Eki Saputra describes environmental issues and marginalized people through his short stories. Together with well-known Indonesian authors, Warih Wisatsana and Darmawati Majid, they will discuss how literature can record social, cultural, and ecological issues in works full of empathy.
Spice has a large influence on Indonesian history. Starting from the Banda and Maluku regions, trade routes in the past have crossed various regions and pushed transit cities into cultural points. Behind the narrative of colonial expansion, there are stories of cultural crosses. Listen to the conversation between Hilmar Farid and Janet DeNeefe about the role of spice in today’s society.
Join us as Ubud Writers & Readers Festival 2021 begins with a warm welcome from our Founder and Director, Janet DeNeefe, and two inspiring keynote speeches. This year, the Festival invites you to explore self-reflection, cultural introspection, and human rights: examining who we are, what unites and divides us, and what drives our actions.
As an island that relies heavily on tourism, the COVID-19 crisis has led to Bali’s most challenging period in recent memory. Our panelists have spent decades in Indonesia’s tourism industry and contributed greatly to its development. They’ll reflect on how the global halt in travel has impacted on the island’s future, and how lessons from the past can be used to tackle the current climate.
Featuring Stanley Joseph Allison, Janice Mantjika, Warwick Purser, and Edward Speirs.
Pelatih somatik dan instruktur bela diri, Made Janur Yasa, menemukan cara yang praktis dan efektif untuk mendorong warga mengelola sampahnya. Bagaimana? Dengan menukarnya dengan beras sumbangan. Seperti inilah terobosan pengelolaan sampah – di tingkat desa. Dengarkan Made Janur Yasa mengenai inisiatif menarik yang juga membantu kebutuhan masyarakat Bali selama pandemi.
Menampilkan I Made Janur Yasa dan Vanesa Martida.
In Sea People, Christina Thompson explores the fascinating story of Polynesia’s ancient voyagers, as well as the sailors, linguists, archaeologists, folklorists, biologists, and geographers who have puzzled over this history for three hundred years. Listen in to experience a masterful mix of history, geography, anthropology, and the science of navigation.
Featuring Christina Thompson and Simon Winchester.
Man of Contradictions, the first English-language biography of Jokowi, argues that the president embodies the fundamental contradictions of modern Indonesia. He is caught between democracy and authoritarianism, openness and protectionism, Islam and pluralism. Join Ben Bland to find out why he believes Jokowi’s incredible story shows what is possible in Indonesia – and shows the limits.
Featuring Ben Bland and Febriana Firdaus.
Tyson Yunkaporta looks at global systems from an Indigenous perspective. His new book Sand Talk provides a template for living. It’s about how lines, symbols, and shapes can help us make sense of the world. It’s about how we learn, and how we remember. Join him to learn about Indigenous thinking, and how it can save the world.
Featuring Tyson Yunkaporta and Rosemarie Milsom.
Edwidge Danticat’s latest book of short stories, Everything Inside, is set in Port-au-Prince, Miami, and beyond. It reflects on community, family, and love, and how people come to terms with death, of both their loved ones and their own. Edwidge will discuss her work, her life, Haiti, America, and immigrant stories.
Featuring Edwidge Danticat and Cynthia Dewi Oka.
Independent investigative journalist, Febriana Firdaus, is a regular contributor to The Guardian, covering topics from COVID-19 to the Black Lives Matter movement in West Papua. Her works have appeared in Time Magazine, Al Jazeera, Financial Times, among others. She writes about social injustice, Indigenous communities, and stories of women across Indonesia. Join her for an incisive conversation about Indonesia’s fraught media landscape.
Featuring Febriana Firdaus and Janet Steele.
“My stories come from a very unconscious place. I don’t premeditate them, I don’t know what’s going to happen in them.” There’s no one like Etgar Keret. His stories take place at the crossroads of the fantastical, searing, and hilarious. His characters grapple with parenthood and family, war and games, marijuana and cake, memory and love. Join Etgar Keret in an interview that promises to be anything but ordinary.
Featuring Etgar Keret and Eve Tedja.
Join James Oseland to hear about his travels in search of the world’s best restaurants, street food stalls, and home cooks. James is the author and editor of World Food, a book series launching this November with World Food: Mexico City. He was a judge on all five seasons of Bravo’s Top Chef Masters and the editor-in-chief of Saveur. His cookbook Cradle of Flavor, about Indonesian food, won a James Beard award.
The Guardian called Intan Paramaditha’s debut novel The Wandering an “ingenious choose-your-own-adventure challenge, [which is] at least five books in one.” Originally published in Indonesian as Gentayangan and translated into English by Stephen J. Epstein, The Wandering has received multiple awards. Join Intan for a raw and insightful conversation about travel, identity, and why we are “haunted by the road not taken.”
Faster! Better! More! Productivity and personal achievement are dominant cultural values in 2018, but do we have to buy in? Our panel asks you to put down your phone, put away your planner, and stop to consider the sweetness of going slow.
Featuring Christine Bader, Jill Stark, Kamin Mohammadi, Tishani Doshi, and Kirstie Melville.
Iconic literary figure Sutardji once turned Indonesia’s time-worn poetry traditions upside down after proclaiming the liberation of words from their shackles of socially-enforced meanings. In an age of Twitwars and viral memes, Sutardji discussed the significance of poetry and question whether words can still enjoy their freedom.
Featuring Sutardji Calzoum Bachri and Debra Yatim.
Exile, statelessness, displacement… these experiences have created stories of immense loss, but also of great resilience and insight into human grace and dignity. Join writers from Turkey, Tibet and China to consider the nature and impact of exile.
Featuring Diana Greentree, Çiler İlhan, Tenzin Choegyal and Anastasia Lin.
Indonesia, 1998. With the fall of Suharto’s 32-year autocratic regime following years of political turmoil and violence, the ‘Reformation Era’ was ushered in. Heaped upon it were promises of freedom, prosperity, and a corruption-free society. Three thinkers weigh in on what has - and hasn’t - changed since.
Featuring Putu Fajar Arcana, Saras Dewi, Haidar Bagir, I Wayan Juniarta.
Forget blackboards and musty textbooks, strap in for a super-charged history lesson where we consider how (and why) literature can keep us from repeating the mistakes of history.
Featuring Juan Pablo Villalobos, E. Rokajat Asura, Arnold Zable, Jill Dawson, Jeni Caffin.
It’s often remarked that Balinese women are among the hardest working in the world. A patriarchal society and a seemingly endless cycle of temple rituals and communal obligations have imposed both heavy burdens and expectations on Balinese women. Join these leading Balinese authors and a literary researcher as they discuss the roles Balinese women writers play in empowering their sisters.
Featuring Ketut Yuliarsa, I Nyoman Darma Putra, Cokorda Sawitri and Oka Rusmini.
In 2011, investigative journalist Suki Kim went undercover in North Korea. Posing as a missionary and a teacher, she taught English to the 19-year-old sons of North Korea’s ruling class. Hear her share her remarkable story with Michael Vatikiotis.
Featuring Suki Kim and Michael Vatikiotis.
“Sink it” became a national catchphrase after Indonesia’s maverick (now former) Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries fulfilled her threat to sink any foreign boats found illegally fishing in Indonesian waters. In 2017 she ordered the sinking of around 87 illegal boats. Ibu Susi reflected on her fight to protect the country’s millions of fishers and vast marine resources.
Featuring Susi Pudjiastuti and Rebecca Henschke.
Should we extend our compassion to all beings? Join extraodinary activists and authors for a conversation on compassion for the natural world, the next moves in sustainability, and how to bring conservation to both common man and common ground.
Featuring Tom Owen Edmunds, Panut Hadisiswoyo, Bayu Wirayudha, Emmanuela Shinta.
Did that Minion just say terima kasih? French-Indonesian animated film director and voice actor Pierre Coffin is the man behind the little yellow characters from the Despicable Me franchise, emblazoned on everything from children’s clothing to public minibuses across the country. Join Pierre for behind-the-scenes stories from a fascinating career in film.
Featuring Pierre Coffin and Rizqi R Mosmarth.
No religion has received as many headlines or as much misunderstanding in recent years as Islam. Our panelists study the faith in its many manifestations, from everyday lives in Indonesia and Malaysia to the extreme edge of violent terrorism. Come beyond the front page for a thoughtful take on this prismatic theology.
Featuring Sidney Jones, Dina Zaman, Haidar Bagir, and Janet Steele.
Hear from one of the most promising Indonesian authors of this decade: Eka Kurniawan has earned international recognition with his critically-acclaimed works – most notably Beauty is a Wound and Man Tiger – translated into numerous languages. In this session, Eka speaks to Desi Anwar about his latest writing, discuss the challenges of being a recognizably big name, and give his thoughts on the next literary surprises Indonesia has in store for global audiences.
Featuring Eka Kurniawan and Desi Anwar.
With Wild Swans, Jung Chang illuminated the lives of three generations of women in China. Former rocket factory worker Lijia Zhang’s Lotus, inspired by her grandmother’s experiences, tells the story of a young sex worker striving for a better life in modern Shenzen. They come together to discuss the lives of women in their shared homeland, and the power of stories passed down.
Featuring Jung Chang and Rosemary Sayer.
Facebook, Twitter and Pokemon Go! – Indonesia is addicted to the screen. Listen in as these best-selling authors and an indie publisher talk the trials and tribulations of bringing literature to public attention in the screen-obsessed world.
Featuring Dewi Lestari, Triyanto Triwikromo, Elizabeth Pisani and Michael Vatikiotis.
Award-winning author and journalist Reni Eddo-Lodge’s Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race sparked a new and frank conversation about systemic racism. From eradicated black history to the inextricable link between class and race, she took the UWRF stage to consider the current moment in anti-racist activism.
Featuring Reni Eddo-Lodge in conversation with Feby Indirani.
Each year UWRF puts a call out to emerging writers across the archipelago: send us your stories. In 2019, we received 1,253 submissions, the highest number since the Emerging Writers program’s inception in 2008. The works of five talented wordsmiths were selected for publication in our annual Bilingual Anthology. Hear about their journeys to UWRF, and hopes for their creative futures.
Featuring Ketut Yuliarsa, Lita Lestianti, Nurillah Achmad, Ilhamdi Putra, Heru Sang Amurwabumi, and Chandra Bientang.
Around 9 million Indonesians live and work overseas, along with countless descendants of Indonesian migrants. Our panel of orang Indonesia living in diaspora recounted their personal experiences of what it means to be Indonesian elsewhere.
Featuring Ketut Yuliarsa, Cynthia Dewi Oka, Michelle Tanmizi, Innosanto Nagara, and Laksmi Pamuntjak.
Indonesian comic superheroes have long been in the stranglehold of foreign character translations. But the Marvel Cinematic Universe is creating demand for local superheroes, along with Gundala, a recent film based on the character created by Hasmi in 1969. Join our panel of graphic gurus and serial storytellers as they sketched reasons why now is the time for homegrown heroes to shine.
Featuring Marlowe Bandem, I Putu Supartika, Rizqi R. Mosmarth, and Rizka Raisa Ramli.
The dust has far from settled on #MeToo, “a movement that represents probably the greatest and most conspicuous collaboration of women since the suffragettes”, according to Sam George-Allen. With the viral hashtag in regular rotation in more than 85 nations and aftershocks still rippling around the world, feminists from Indonesia, Australia, Pakistan, and Turkey convened to discuss life after #MeToo.
Featuring Joan Arakkal, Eliza Vitri Handayani, Nazli Karabiyikoglu, Sam George-Allen and Sanam Maher.
Poppy tears, opium, heroin, fentanyl: poppy latex is a commodity without rival. Acclaimed cultural historian Lucy Inglis took us on an epic journey from ancient Mesopotamia to modern America and Afghanistan with tales of addiction, trade, crime, sex, war, literature, medicine and, above all, money, as she charted the evolution of the milk of paradise.
Featuring Lucy Inglis and Kate Evans.
Andreas Harsono has covered Indonesia for Human Rights Watch since 2008. His new book Race, Islam and Power: Ethnic and Religious Violence in Post-Suharto Indonesia is the result of his 15-year project to document how race and religion have become increasingly prevalent in the nation’s politics. Join him in conversation with long-term Indonesian media expert, Janet Steele.
Featuring Janet Steele and Andreas Harsono.
“We’re fractured nations because we’re not reading or translating each other,” said Malaysian author Bernice Chauly during the UWRF17 panel on the 50th anniversary of ASEAN. Join our group of experts as they compared their experiences of cultural diplomacy, and invited us to consider how the arts can break down barriers and connect people across languages, cultures and politics.
Featuring Yusi Avianto Pareanom, Gary Quinlan, Michael Vatikiotis, Janet Steele, and Ashwini Devare.
The domestic, the interior and the personal have traditionally been relegated to the realm of women’s writing, which in recent years has been dismissed as too small to attract significant readership, critical acclaim and writing awards. Our panelists looked beyond the censure and spoke out in praise of the domestic.
Featuring Astrid Edwards, Fanny J. Poyk, Megan K. Stack, Fiona Wright, and Archana Pidathala.
“In this day and age recipes are abundant… I love that I can learn a little bit more, whether it’s political, philosophical, historical, or personal.” For Yotam Ottolenghi, food is always a gateway to bigger conversations. This is a rare chance to hear from one of Britain’s most-loved food writers, in conversation with longtime food journalist and explorer, Joanna Savill.
Featuring Joanna Savill and Yotam Ottolenghi
Speculative fiction has lurked in the shadows of the literary scene for years while realism hogged the limelight. Now, as the natural and political spheres crumble around us, speculative fiction’s dystopian worlds don’t seem so different from our own. In this timely conversation, our panelists ask whether we’re now at the point where all contemporary fiction is in fact speculative fiction.
Featuring Astrid Edwards, Michelle Tanmizi, Krissy Kneen, Pitchaya Sudbanthad, and Claire G. Coleman.
Born into a Shia Muslim family that migrated to the US after fleeing the Iranian Revolution, Reza Aslan converted to Christianity as a teen and then returned to Islam. He is now a religious scholar, bestselling author, broadcaster and commentator. He shares his insights into aspects of global faiths both human and divine.
Featuring Reza Aslan and Terence Ward.
The way we consume stories is rapidly changing, and the popularity of graphic novels, memoirs and other types of visual storytelling for adult audiences proves images can capture enthralling narratives. Join these skilled sketchers from around the world as they discuss the joys and challenges of transforming words into poignant pictures.
Featuring Samuel Indratma, Dr Darryl Whetter, Citra Marina, Mira Jacob and Peter van Dongen.
From gentle mockery to caustic sarcasm, there’s a victim at the butt of most good laughs. Must comedy be cruel to work, and does that mean comedians have a free pass when it comes to how they treat others? We’ve convened a round table of comedic writers and performers to dissect whether good comedy and good karma are mutually exclusive.
Featuring Maeve Marsden, Lindsay Wong, Rhik Samadder, and James Roque.
Memoirs are no longer seen as the self-indulgent domain of those at the end of long and accomplished lives: millennials around the world are writing fresh and compelling stories, tackling everything from the legal system to life in the shadow of Tiananmen Square to mental health. Our panelists compare their experiences of putting their lives on the page.
Featuring Karoline Kan, Krissy Kneen, Lindsay Wong, and Bri Lee.
It’s been 26 years since Irvine Welsh gave the world Trainspotting, the book deemed by Rebel Inc. “the best book ever written by man or woman” that went on to define a generation. Since then he’s written 11 more books, plus plays and adaptations. Give Born Slippy. NUXX a spin, then listen in as he reflects on a life spent with razor-sharp words.
Featuring Irvine Welsh and Sam Cooney.
Crafting the perfect sentence in one’s mother tongue is hard enough, without the complications that working in a second language brings. But that hasn’t stopped this panel. Not content to create in just one language, they share accounts of their personal experiences of the joys and frustrations of becoming multilingual wordsmiths.
Featuring Yirga Gelaw Woldeyes, Jamie Marina Lau, Rodaan Al Galidi, and Tara June Winch.
Award-winning hip-hop artist Akala’s bestselling Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire is a searing polemic on race and class in the British Empire. With a life and outlook shaped by these elements, Akala takes us from the personal to the universal as he confronts the issues at the heart of the legacy of Britain’s racialized empire.
Featuring Kirsti Melville and Akala.
Indonesia has 150 million internet users and 800,000 hoax-distributing websites, according to the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology. In a system swimming with fake news, what is the relationship between rising social media use and increasing religious conservatism? How is social media being manipulated for political gain? Join our panel as they unravel these weapons of mass distortion.
Featuring Erin Cook, Stanley Widianto, Famega Syavira Putri, Nirwan Dewanto, and Andreas Harsono.
In a 2019 Entertainment Weekly interview, Amy Tan reflected on the 30 years since her groundbreaking novel The Joy Luck Club was published, commenting on the remarkable difference in Asian representation in literature and film. This panel weighs in on what has changed regarding the reach of and desire for Asia Pacific literatures, and asks what the future might hold.
Featuring Kadek Sonia Piscayanti, Sally Breen, Richard Oh, and Melanie Mununggurr-Williams.
After a childhood in care, 17-year-old Norman Greenwood saw his birth certificate for the first time: his name was Lemn Sissay, he was British-Ethiopian, and his mother had never stopped trying to get him back. Celebrated writer, poet and performer Lemn shares a deeply personal account of neglect and determination, misfortune and hope, cruelty and triumph.
Featuring Lemn Sissay and Kate Evans.
With a vast domestic market and burgeoning production power, Indonesia’s film industry has huge potential. In recent times, Indonesian films and industry professionals have enjoyed rising international prominence. Could Indonesian cinema be a form of soft power to expand the nation’s impact in regional and global cultural scenes? What does the future hold for homegrown films? Join our cinephiles to find out.
Featuring Leila S. Chudori, Garin Nugroho, Richard Oh, Seno Gumira Ajidarma, and Rayya Makarim.