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.