Archives: Podcasts

In-Conversation // Ian Rankin: A Life of Crime

He’s the wit and wickedness behind the beloved Inspector Rebus and Detective Malcolm Fox, read in 22 languages around the world. Celebrating 30 years of Rebus, Ian Rankin brought a …

In Conversation // Marina Mahathir: Telling it Straight

A tireless advocate for the rights of women and minorities in her home of Malaysia, Marina Mahathir is admired (and occasionally admonished) for telling it straight. She joins Michael Vatikiotis, …

In-Conversation // Nh. Dini: A Living Literary Legend

A living legend of Indonesian literature, Nh. Dini will reveal the flame that sustained her prolific writing career spanning more than five decades. Listen in as she narrates her colorful …

In-Conversation // Madeleine Thien: Do Not Say We Have Nothing

Spanning decades and diasporas, Madeleine Thien’s stories “remind us what fiction can do” (New Statesman). She takes the UWRF stage to discuss the Booker-shortlisted Do Not Say We Have Nothing, …

Evolving Indonesia // Paradise Revisited

From busloads of tourists and bustling beaches, to Balinese Hinduism and a global voice, Bali is a place that knows how to adapt. Join this high-spirited session for a look …

Evolving Indonesia // Mystical Bali

For nearly 1,000 years, Balinese Hinduism – a unique blend of animism, ancestral worship, and Indian philosophies – has given the island splendid rituals and inter-faith harmony. What makes Balinese …

Evolving Indonesia // Island Lore

Rich with local lore, legendary beasts and mythical monsters, listen in as writers from the far corners of the Indonesian archipelago explore the culture of their regions and its impact …

Evolving Indonesia // Mother Tongue

Overwhelmed by English and dominated by Bahasa, many say the Balinese language has reached the brink of extinction. Listen in as these speakers argue the case for Balinese, and why …

Tat Tvam Asi // Mother Nature

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 …

Evolving Indonesia // Reading the Archipelago

Last year, we explored the 17,000 islands of imagination. Set sail again beyond Jakarta and Bali with these translators and curators to hear how the Festival’s Emerging Writers Program has …

Tat Tvam Asi // The Past is Present

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 …

Evolving Indonesia // Camera Obscura

Youth culture. Politics. Feminism. These ambitious directors and auteurs use their medium to explore controversial themes and tackle taboo topics. Explore the vital world of Indonesian cinema. Featuring: Slamet Rahardjo, …

Tat Tvam Asi // Side by Side

When natural disasters strike, we’re all in it together. Hear from two artists whose work with the HANDs! project is uniting young people from across Asia and equipping the next …

In Conversation // Magda Szubanski: Reckoning

“If you had met my father you would never, not for an instant, have thought he was an assassin.” One of Australia’s best-loved performers takes the UWRF stage with Michael …

In Conversation // Suki Kim: Undercover in North Korea

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. …

In Conversation // Eka Kurniawan: Beyond Beauty is a Wound

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 …

In Conversation // Hanya Yanagihara: A Little Life

Searing, insightful, unflinching: Hanya Yanagihara’s novel A Little Life has made an indelible impression on readers the world over. She joins Kirsti Melville for a conversation on friendship, art, and …

Evolving Indonesia // Dalam Bahasa Indonesia

Get to know the language of Indonesia in all its richness and complexity. What are the things it is only possible to say in Indonesian? A group of writers and …

Tat Tvam Asi // Being the Change

From brave dreams to bold action and big results, these four activists working in diverse fields – youth advocacy, human trafficking, climate change, deforestation – come together to chart the …

Evolving Indonesia // Screen Addicts

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 …