2024 Festival Highlights | Fighting for Democracy in Myanmar

2024 Festival Highlights | Fighting for Democracy in Myanmar

Author: Ubud Writers & Readers Festival February 1, 2025 Duration: 57:20

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.


There’s a particular energy that fills the air during the Ubud Writers & Readers Festival Podcast, a feeling of being part of a vital, global conversation. Produced by the Ubud Writers & Readers Festival team, this series captures the essence of the annual gathering, preserving its most compelling dialogues for anyone who couldn’t be there in person or who wants to revisit a moment of insight. Each episode is drawn from the festival’s 2025 highlights program, featuring a rich mix of local and international voices from the worlds of literature, art, and social thought. What you’ll hear are not just interviews, but genuine, meandering conversations where ideas collide-discussions that grapple with history, dissect our current realities, and thoughtfully consider how the stories we tell influence what comes next. This podcast serves as an invitation to linger in those spaces where writing meets activism, where personal narrative intersects with culture, and where reflection sparks new understanding. It’s for anyone curious about the power of words and the people who wield them to shape our collective future. Tune in for a dose of intellectual vitality and the kind of authentic exchange that makes the Ubud festival a landmark event.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Ubud Writers & Readers Festival Podcast
Podcast Episodes
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#UWRF22 Festival Highlights | Music That Defines Us [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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#UWRF22 Festival Highlights | The Two Sides of the Wellness Industry [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:51
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UWRF21 Podcast | Cities of the People [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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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…
UWRF21 Podcast | The Mind of the Children [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:08
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…
UWRF21 Podcast | Indonesian Women Storytellers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:00
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 th…