Dialogika

In this episode, we discuss the recently trending news of a “miracle cure” purported by self-proclaimed microbiologist, doctor, and professor Hadi Pranoto after he appeared in a video with YouTuber Anji and made these claims of cure to COVID-19. We observe and analyze the lack of strong political leadership during this time of pandemic that has led to other kinds of figures taking over the space and sending their particularly misguided message across to audiences that are more than happy to find a quick answer to the difficult situation today.

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In this episode, we discuss the recent verdict that sentenced two police officers to light prison terms over the acid attack on Novel Baswedan, closing the case on a story that has generated a lot of news over the years.We share our thoughts and disappointment about the verdict and how, for us, it seems like the death knell to the KPK, especially after the recent law that greatly diminished the power of the independent body.

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We’re out this week, so we are repeating our lovely chat with Sakdiyah Ma’ruf—hope you enjoy our conversation!

In this episode, we have a special interview and conversation with one of Indonesia’s fiercest female Muslim hijabi stand-up comedians, Sakdiyah Ma’ruf! Her comedy touches on sensitive topics such as sexuality, Islamic fundamentalism, terrorism, and domestic violence, but she always finds a way to cut through the tension of such heavy topics without blunting her message of free speech and women’s rights. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation as much as we enjoyed having it!

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In this second of a two-part episode, we picked up where we left off with Amir Jones, an African-American Indonesian-American who’s living in Washington, D.C. and involved in electoral politics. We continue talking about structural racism in America and the Black Lives Matter protests — this time talking about the #DefundThePolice movement as well as racism in the criminal justice system. As media attention starts to die down, it is important we continue having these difficult but incredibly important conversations in order to make meaningful change happen for everyone.

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In this first of a two-part episode, we have a very special guest — Amir Jones, an African-American Indonesian-American who’s living in Washington, D.C. and involved in electoral politics. We dive right into the topics around structural racism in America with Amir, in light of the recent weeks of Black Lives Matter protests. We talk about racism in the Indonesian community, break down the elements of structural racism & microaggressions, and discuss how to be actively anti-racist, especially within the circles of families and friends whom you can have the most impact on.

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In this episode, we talk to Levana Sani, co-founder and CEO of Nalagenetics, a meditech company based in Indonesia and Singapore that focuses on genetic testing for drug responses, but has now partially shifted focus to helping set up labs for COVID-19 testing. We dive into the basics of genetic testing as well as talk to Levi about how her company has pivoted from genetic testing to COVID-19 testing, in particular qPCR (quantitative polymerase chain reaction) testing and comparing this particular method to the more widely known rapid testing method. We discuss the ethics behind testing when there are limited test kits and how we can ensure the accessibility of testing to those who really need it.

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In this episode, we have a very special guest — a long-time friend of ours, Dr. Vania, who is a second-year clinical nutrition resident currently based in Jakarta. We talk through the early days of the pandemic and how stressful it was, with the shortage in PPE at the time. Vania shares some of her personal insights and experiences about what a lot of doctors were going through as they were trying to deal with the virus — and the sense of danger and fear many felt during this time. It is during these times that we need to be fighting for our doctors and nurses and medical professionals — just like how they are fighting for us!

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we talk about… nothing in particular, other than how tired we are. We have an honest and sincere conversation about the pressures of working from home coupled with the guilt that comes from not being as productive as we always say we would be. We hope that our honest chat would encourage folks to be okay with being unproductive, to be okay with unwinding, and to do what you need to do to destress and relax in these strange and weird times.

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In this episode, we wanted to have a lighthearted but also sincere conversation about what living in the world is like at the moment. We share bits and pieces about our lives in quarantine as well as reflect on how our respective local authorities are responding to the pandemic and the impact that has across all of society and various communities — especially those who are most vulnerable and are not privileged enough to protect themselves or work from home.

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SWEDIAN IS OUT SICK AT THE MOMENT (LUCKILY, NOT BECAUSE OF COVID-19) SO IN THE MEAN TIME, AND IN LIGHT OF THE CURRENT SITUATION, WE WANT TO REPEAT OUR MENTAL HEALTH EPISODE, TO SUPPORT THOSE WHO MIGHT BE HAVING TROUBLE STAYING MENTALLY HEALTHY DURING THIS PANDEMIC.

In this episode, we’re discussing the topic of mental health — an issue that is seldom talked about and incredibly stigmatized in Indonesia. We talk a lot about self-care, how to be a good friend in supporting those with mental illness and mental health issues, and discuss how to destigmatize the topic in Indonesian society and conversation. Nether of us are mental health professionals in any way, shape, or form, but we hope our discussion will be helpful in getting people to talk more openly and emphatically about mental health.

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THIS EPISODE IS ABOUT AN ONGOING NEWS STORY — WE RECORDED THE EPISODE ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4TH.

In this episode, we’re reacting to the latest news of 2 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Indonesia. We break down the sequence of events that led to these confirmed cases. We reiterate some of the basic knowledge about COVID-19 and back it up with scientific data from the latest reports from the WHO, in order to dispel some common misconceptions and/or misinformation about COVID-19. We urge our listeners to be calm and rational and practice good safe personal hygiene, and also to be empathetic to health care professionals and those who are in greater need of protection and be responsible about yourself and your actions.

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In this episode, we tackle the topic of the Omnibus Law. We’re going to talk about some of the most controversial parts of the Omnibus Law that have been protested by labor unions, specifically the proposed revisions around labor laws (UU Cipta Kerja) — in particular, around pesangon or severance and minimum wage calculations. We break down what the current legal situations are in terms of severance payments and minimum wage calculations, what both sides of the argument want, and why these topics are so contentious and sensitive — because they are about people’s livelihoods.

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THIS EPISODE IS ABOUT AN ONGOING NEWS STORY — WE RECORDED THE EPISODE ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4TH.

In this episode, we’ll be discussing the 2019-nCoV, also known (for now) as the Novel Coronavirus, that’s been plaguing China and the rest of the world early this year.We break down what the coronavirus is and the global reaction to the outbreak, which has led to reports of anti-Chinese racism and anti-Asian prejudice across parts of the world. We speak briefly about the situation in Indonesia, where more than 200 Indonesian citizens from Wuhan were evacuated and currently placed under quarantine in Natuna Island, which led to protests by the local residents who did not want them there.

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In this episode, we talk about the dramatic flooding that plagued Jakarta and its neighboring cities on New Year’s Day 2020. We give our reactions to the news of the flooding that, as of January 6, has claimed 66 lives and continues to displace hundreds of thousands of people from their homes. We discuss responses to this natural disaster, in particular the Jakarta government’s response as led by Governor Anies Baswedan, and how when natural disasters like this strike the city, it is often the poorest of the poor who are the most vulnerable to its devastating impact.

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We’re out for the holiday period, so we’re doing a repeat of our EOY 2017 episode, featuring some of Stephanie’s earliest works as a budding documentarian! We’ll be back in a few weeks’ time!

In this episode, we’ll be featuring Stephanie’s audio pieces that she did as part of her grad school studies at the Columbia School of Journalism.

Finally, we just want to say a big thank you to all of you who have listened to our episodes, supported us, and shared our podcast to your friends and family over the years. We’re excited about what 2020 and beyond holds for us, and we can’t wait to share those stories with you in the near future. Until then, have a good end to your year, and we’ll see you in 2020!

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In this episode, we discuss the recent Garuda smuggling scandal, which involved their president director Ari Askhara smuggling an expensive motorcycle and custom bikes into Indonesia through a Garuda plane, bypassing the appropriate taxes and the customs office. The level of corruption involved in making this operation happen eventually prompted the new BUMN (State-Owned Enterprise) Minister Erick Thohir to fire Ari Askhara and suspend a number of Garuda directors. We talk about the audacity and ridiculousness of this scandal, the responsibilities of a state-owned enterprise, and what this all means for Erick Thohir as he is just starting his job and asserting himself in this role.

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NOTE: DUE TO THE COMPLEXITY OF THE TOPIC, THIS EPISODE IS IN INDONESIAN.

In this second of our two-part episode with Pramudya Oktavinanda, an old friend of the podcast (and our resident legal expert), we continue our conversation into some of the legal circumstances of Jokowi and his 2nd term administration. We discuss a variety of topics that are not often covered by mainstream media, such as coalition loyalty in Indonesian politics, extremism in Indonesian elections, and the fluid and flexible nature of Indonesian democracy.

If you haven’t listened to the first part of our conversation with Pram, please check it out as well!

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NOTE: DUE TO THE COMPLEXITY OF THE TOPIC, THIS EPISODE IS IN INDONESIAN.

In this first of our two-part episode, an old friend of the podcast (and our resident legal expert) Pramudya Oktavinanda is back to discuss some of the legal challenges Jokowi and his 2nd term administration will face over the next 5 years. Given the unrest last month over the old Parliament’s decision to pursue what some have called draconian legislation — RKUHP and UU KPK, among other things — we thought it is important to discuss, from an in-depth legal perspective, some of the issues behind these legislative maneuvers that would otherwise not be covered by mainstream media.

We dig real deep into these topics in our conversation with Pram, so much so that we have to have two episodes for all the content! Tune into our next episode in two weeks’ time to catch the second part.

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In this episode, we talk to Barry Beagen, an architect and urban planner who is the Program Director at Kota Kita, an urban planning NGO based in Indonesia that works in governance, inclusivity, and climate change resilience. We discuss the complex and difficult (but necessary) topic of climate change mitigation and the real work that goes behind making resilient cities, particularly in heavily impacted parts of the world like Indonesia. We really get stuck in the weeds in this episode with Barry, but we think highlighting his and Kota Kita’s work is really crucial in raising awareness about what kind of progress is being made in Indonesia on fighting climate change.

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This episode is about an ongoing news story — we recorded the episode on Tuesday, October 1st.

In this episode, Stephanie chats with Anindya “Vivi” Restuviani, a leading feminist and social activist in Indonesia, about the recent protests that erupted over the last week in Jakarta, as thousands of students and protestors gathered to protest Parliament’s decision to pursue the legislation of draconian bills such as RKUHP. We talk about some of the details of these bills and the fears students and protestors have if these bills were passed into law.

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In this episode, we commemorate the life and legacy of our former President, B.J. Habibie, who passed away on September 11, 2019, at the age of 83 years old. Habibie showed incredible leadership and political acumen to guide the country through an incredibly tense and tumultuous time, and without him we would not have the democracy we have today. We want to take this time to really remember his life, his work, and the values and principles he believed in — values and principles surrounding democracy and diversity that we, as the future generation, need to keep working for and fighting for.

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SWEDIAN IS IN THE MIDST OF HIS MOVE BACK TO INDONESIA, SO WE’RE GOING TO REPEAT AN EPISODE ON A TOPIC THAT’S ALWAYS WORTH HAVING CONVERSATIONS ON — AND THAT’S MENTAL HEALTH!

In this episode, we’re discussing the topic of mental health — an issue that is seldom talked about and incredibly stigmatized in Indonesia. We talk a lot about self-care, how to be a good friend in supporting those with mental illness and mental health issues, and discuss how to destigmatize the topic in Indonesian society and conversation. Nether of us are mental health professionals in any way, shape, or form, but we hope our discussion will be helpful in getting people to talk more openly and emphatically about mental health.

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This episode is about an ongoing news story — we recorded the episode on Monday, August 19th.

In this episode, we discuss the recent protests that broke out in Manokwari and Jayapura over the recent arrest and detention of 43 West Papuan students in Surabaya over allegations of destroying and damaging the Indonesian flag. We want to unpack the historic tensions and conflicts that has led to this point.

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In this episode, we talk about one of the lesser-known founding fathers of Indonesia, our first ever Prime Minister, Sutan Sjahrir! Dubbed the ‘Smiling Diplomat,’ Sjahrir is one of our nation’s greatest intellectuals and patriots, and was a key figure in the independence movement. Sjahrir’s life story is a truly inspiring one, and as one of the foundational individuals behind Indonesia’s parliamentary democracy, we wanted to dedicate this episode to him and his ideas — especially in light of the increasing threats from all sides to our fragile democracy.

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WE DON’T HAVE A NEW EPISODE FOR YOU THIS WEEK, SO WE ARE REPEATING ONE OF OUR MOST POPULAR EPISODES LAST YEAR — OUR CONVERSATION WITH ROCKY INTAN ON LGBTQ IDENTITY, PRIDE, AND TRUE PROGRESS.

In this episode, Stephanie is still out, so Swedian talks to a longtime friend and supporter of Dialogika, Rocky Intan. We talk about Rocky’s experience as an out gay man living in America right now, comparing it to the experience back home in Indonesia, as well as the power & importance of Pride. Rocky shares the nuances of his coming out experience, and we discuss how we cannot take for granted that liberals and progressives are necessarily as open-minded about the LGBTQ community as we think they are, and that if we are true progressives we need to fight for a society that is equal, open, and just for all — not just for the heteronormative.

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In this episode, we chat with Wilson Leung, who is a founding member of the Progressive Lawyers’ Group (HKPLG) about the recent extradition bill protests in Hong Kong. Wilson breaks down the situation on the ground over the last few weeks and the build-up of tension between HK residents and the government ever since the 2014 Umbrella Movement. We discuss how the youth of HK are growing increasingly dissatisfied with the HK government and are fearing for their freedom and future. Finally, we talk about how the international community can help support the fight for democracy in HK by keeping abreast of the protest news and participate in any actions around the world that support the Hong Kong people.

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In this episode, we dive deep into the 2019 legislative/parliamentary election results and break down what the numbers mean. We give a quick rundown of the political parties that made it to the Parliament and explain a little about the process in which they had to make it there. We also speculate about the rumors of both Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (better known as AHY) and Sandiaga Uno, Prabowo’s running mate, potentially being interested in working in Jokowi’s government, and the possibilities of a potential cabinet reshuffle following the Idul Fitri holiday.

Our condolences to President Yudhoyono’s family over the death of our former First Lady, Ibu Ani Yudhoyono.

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In this episode, we recap the recent riots in Jakarta following the official announcement of Jokowi’s victory over Prabowo in the 2019 presidential election and break down the events and our responses to them. This all happen during the week of the anniversary of the May 1998 riots, and we share our feelings about the eerie coincidence. We also discuss the government’s decision to slow down social media platforms like WhatsApp in order to prevent the spread of fake news, misinformation, and hoaxes — and our complicated feelings about that particular decision.

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Swedian’s out with a back injury (update: not broken as Stephanie said, but still pretty bad) so while we wish him a quick and full recovery, we’re replaying our episode with Olin Monteiro, in light of the recent Women’s March in April. Hope you enjoy!

In this episode, Swedian talks to Olin Monteiro, an Indonesian feminist activist who’s been working in the space for 30-odd years. We talk about how she got started in feminism and discuss extensively how the issue of sexual violence has developed over the last few decades, as well as the growing number of organizations that have emerged alongside the growing movement. We also talk about this “missing history” of women’s history in Indonesia, in particular how important women were to the progressive and liberal fights against authoritarian powers, from the Dutch colonizers to the New Order, as well as the amazing stories of women throughout Indonesian history who have always been fighting the patriarchy.

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In this episode, we talk about our feelings after the 2019 presidential and legislative elections and share our unique experiences voting for the first time abroad. We discuss the huge turnout (80%) of voters, Jokowi’s healthy lead of +10% over Prabowo at the time of recording and the increasingly certain result of Jokowi winning the popular vote & retaining the presidency, as well as the legislative election results. In light of recent events, we also discuss the tragic deaths of election workers who died due to fatigue and over-exhaustion following Election Day, which was the world’s largest single-day round of elections. Finally, we have some exciting personal news from Stephanie — tune in to find out!

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In this episode — the last one before Indonesia’s presidential and legislative elections on April 17 — we discuss the fourth round of presidential debates, which is the last one between Jokowi and Prabowo. We talk about how both candidates performed, in particular unpacking their distinctly different visions of Indonesia’s role regionally and globally. We look back at the last few months and this election cycle, reflecting on how much has changed since the 2014 presidential elections. Finally, we urge our listeners, whether you’re in Indonesia or abroad like us, to get informed — not only on the presidential election but also the legislative election — and get ready to vote!

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In this episode, Stephanie’s out with an emergency root canal so we have invited Andhyta Firselly Utami, better known as Afu, to come and chat about the vice-presidential debates. We break down the debate performances of Jokowi’s running mate Ma’ruf Amin and Prabowo’s running mate Sandiaga Uno and talk about how both candidates spoke to issues around education, health, human resources, social issues, and culture — focusing in particular on Indonesia’s human capital and the many problems surrounding its development. We also discuss what it means for young Indonesians of all background to become interested in what’s going on in the political space — and how can we leverage the conversation to be one that is inclusive, welcoming, and empathetic, by using moral psychology and really listening to each other.

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In this episode, we’re discussing the topic of mental health — an issue that is seldom talked about and incredibly stigmatized in Indonesia. We talk a lot about self-care, how to be a good friend in supporting those with mental illness and mental health issues, and discuss how to destigmatize the topic in Indonesian society and conversation. Nether of us are mental health professionals in any way, shape, or form, but we hope our discussion will be helpful in getting people to talk more openly and emphatically about mental health.

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In this episode, we discuss the second round of presidential debates between candidates Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and Prabowo Subianto, this time just on their own, without their vice presidential running mates. This round of debates talked about infrastructure, the environment, energy, and other industry & economic issues. We dug into a few of these topics and give out our assessments of both candidates’ performance, including commending Jokowi for having the calm and confidence to speak about and really showcase his administration’s successes in these issues. Let’s hope the next round of debates will be as substantive as this one… fingers crossed!

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In this episode, we catch up on the latest on this news about Ahok’s engagement and upcoming wedding with his new girlfriend, Puput Nastiti Devi, a former policewoman, bodyguard, and aide to Ahok’s ex-wife Veronica Tan (with whom he filed for divorce in April 2018). We discuss how Ahok’s narrative has taken over the coverage of this story — and the ramifications of that to the lives of both Puput and Veronica, as well as Ahok’s own post-prison future. We also talk about how both women have been marginalized in their own narratives in the public eye, and how the media has covered this news in a very patriarchal and patronizing way.

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In this first episode of 2019, we’re back — and ready with our hot takes! We discuss the first round of presidential debates between candidates Joko Widodo and Prabowo Subianto, with their respective running mates Ma’ruf Amin and Sandiaga Uno. We discuss the reactions of most viewers, including us, who thought the debate was lackluster, gimmicky, and dramatic for the wrong reasons. We chat about how Sandi was probably the big winner of the night and how Ma’ruf Amin needs to improve his debating skills before he can match the charismatic former vice-governor of Jakarta and do Jokowi justice.

We also provide a quick update on the release of Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, better known as Ahok, after nearly two years in prison because of blasphemy charges.

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In this episode, we answer some frequently asked questions about Dialogika, such as why are we so serious in our conversations and topics, why do we speak in English (and the baggage that is privilege which comes with that), and the perennial favorite, are we a couple in real life (the answer to that is a definite no). We also talk about some of our favorite podcast personally (aside from the classics such as Radiolab and This American Life). We actually had to cut out a bunch of our other favorite podcasts from this week’s episode due to time; please check them out on the show page below!

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In this episode, Swedian’s still out because of the US midterm elections, but we’re excited to share with you Stephanie’s conversation with a rising figure in youth politics in Indonesia, Michael Victor Sianipar. Michael is a former aide to Ahok during his time as governor of Jakarta, and Michael’s currently a member of PSI or the Indonesian Solidarity Party, one of the newest political parties in Indonesia with a huge youth following. This is actually the second of a two-part conversation between Stephanie and Michael; in this second episode, Stephanie talks to Michael about about women in politics, specifically female political candidates and the challenges they face. They talk about the non-negotiables that create the foundation for political values and beliefs, and we wrap up with Michael’s highlights and hopes for himself and the future of Indonesian politics.

If you haven’t listened to Part 1, you can listen to it here!

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In this episode, Swedian’s still out because of the US midterm elections, but we’re excited to share with you Stephanie’s conversation with a rising figure in youth politics in Indonesia, Michael Victor Sianipar. Michael is a former aide to Ahok during his time as governor of Jakarta, and Michael’s currently a member of PSI or the Indonesian Solidarity Party, one of the newest political parties in Indonesia with a huge youth following. This is actually the first of a two-part conversation between Stephanie and Michael; in this first episode, Stephanie talks to Michael about his experience working with Ahok, from the early days of Ahok’s governorship to his prison sentence. They also talk about Michael’s current role as a regional leader in Jakarta local politics through PSI, and Michael also talks about how he got into politics in the first place.

Stay tuned for the second episode of the conversation coming out at the end of the month!

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We don’t have a new episode this week as we’re both tied up with work, so we have a repeat of our 40th episode, Going Beyond #MeToo in 2018 — our first episode of 2018 — where we discuss the #MeToo movement and our initial reactions to it. This issue of sexual harassment and sexual assault has been in the news for most of 2017 and 2018, and recently again with Dr. Christine Blasey Ford’s testimony against Brett Kavanaugh in the midst of his Supreme Court nomination — accusing him of sexual assault — as well as Grab Indonesia’s mishandling of a sexual harassment case between a customer and a driver. We at Dialogika believe the women, we believe Dr. Ford, and we believe in continuing the fight against the patriarchal landscape which still suppresses and oppresses women everywhere today.

We’ll be back in two weeks’ time with a brand new episode, so stay tuned!

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In this week’s episode, we talk with frequent guest of the podcast Kerri Na Basaria about the exhibit Ulos, Hangoluan, & Tondi — an exhibition that features a collection of rare and old ulos, the iconic textile of the Batak people of North Sumatra. We chat with her about the significance and meaning of ulos in the lives of the Bataknese, and also discuss the socio-economic circumstances that surround the production and sale of ulos. Finally, we discuss the rich & diverse heritage and history of ulos as emblematic of the highest aspirations of Indonesian identity — one that genuinely celebrates its diverse cultures and backgrounds and recognizes the melting pot that makes up our unique shared history and society.

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We don’t have a new episode this week as Swedian is out on a personal affair, so we have a repeat of our 38th episode, Working with Waria, where Stephanie talks with Dr. Sandeep Nanwani about his experience working with the waria community in Indonesia.

We’ll be back in two weeks’ time with a brand new episode, so stay tuned!

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In this week’s episode, we take on a lighter topic (by our standards) and discuss Crazy Rich Asians! We debate opposing perspectives about the movie — one that is critical of its limited representation of Asian-American (and by extension, Asian) identity versus one that celebrates its empowering all-Asian female-led story. In our conversation, we acknowledge all these strengths and weaknesses of the movie and recognize the movie for what it is: a fun romantic comedy that is a first step (and not the final step) towards greater and more nuanced representation of non-white stories in Hollywood.

Note: we also talk about what happened with our previous episode, which we re-uploaded under a different title.

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In this episode, we share our strong feelings about Jokowi’s pick for his vice-president, Ma’ruf Amin, a 75-year-old conservative Muslim cleric who’s known to espouse extremist and intolerant views when it comes to minorities. We discuss the problematic issues behind this decision and how, in our opinion, this will severely alienate young progressive voters and potentially push them to the side of Prabowo and Sandi. Our former guests Rocky Intan, Afu Utami, and Febriana Firdaus share their thoughts and reactions to the news, while we also talk about the potential for non-voting and/or protest votes affecting next year’s presidential elections.

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Note: this podcast was recorded on Sunday, 5th August 2018, before the deadline for registering presidential and vice-presidential candidates

In this episode, Stephanie’s finally back as we talk about the looming deadline for political parties in Indonesia to register their presidential and vice-presidential candidates for next year’s election. What made the news recently is that former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, better known as SBY, has come out and endorsed Prabowo, becoming a part of his coalition and competing against Jokowi’s coalition, which is led by former president Megawati Soekarnoputri. We’ll unpack all the political drama and personal history that has spanned decades — certainly within our lifetimes — as we discuss the ramifications of SBY’s decision. We’ll also talk about electability surveys and discuss Jokowi’s pro-people populism vs. Prabowo’s Islamic-conversative populism, and encourage all Indonesians (abroad or not) to remember to register to vote!

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In this episode, Stephanie is still out, so Swedian talks to a longtime friend and supporter of Dialogika, Rocky Intan. We talk about Rocky’s experience as an out gay man living in America right now, comparing it to the experience back home in Indonesia, as well as the power & importance of Pride. Rocky shares the nuances of his coming out experience, and we discuss how we cannot take for granted that liberals and progressives are necessarily as open-minded about the LGBTQ community as we think they are, and that if we are true progressives we need to fight for a society that is equal, open, and just for all — not just for the heteronormative.

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Note: this podcast was recorded on Monday, 9th July 2018, before the semifinals between France & Belgium and England & Croatia

In this episode, Stephanie’s out as Swedian and former guest of the podcast Kerri Na Basaria talk shop about the 2018 World Cup in Russia that’s going on right now. As die-hard football fans, we discussed the four nations left — France, Belgium, England, and Croatia — and predict who will make the final. We also chatted about our personal histories and relationships to football, in particular how we have matured in our understanding of football and its relationship to the world — especially the World Cup’s complicated and often-times messy relationship to the world. We talk a lot about the politics of football, the politics of the World Cup, and how — as “responsible” football fans — it is our duty to love the beautiful game for what it is while also appreciating its impact (good, bad, and ugly) on the rest of the world.

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In this episode — our 50th!! — we chat about Stephanie’s growth as a budding baby journalist & documentarian (and, perhaps, why she’s been a bit MIA this year from the podcast). In particular, we hear the story of what-was-then-reported as the largest gang bust in New York City history, only to be later revealed by other news outlets — and Stephanie’s own investigation — to be a bust highly targetted at Black & Brown individuals and their social media activities. Stephanie is actually working on turning this story into a documentary as we speak!

By the way, as we’re approaching the start of Lebaran/Ramadan, we’re going to take a short break. We’ll be back with a new episode at the end of June. In the meantime, enjoy our 50(!) episodes; if you’ve stuck around since the 1st episode, bless you!

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In this episode, Stephanie’s back as we address the recent suicide bombings that happened in Surabaya this past weekend, which hit a number of churches and reignited fears of terrorism as it emerged that the attackers were a family led by fundamentalist extremists under the teachings of ISIS. The fact that these attacks occurred on the week of the 20th anniversary of the May 1998 riots have generated even more worries among Indonesians, especially Chinese-Indonesians, that Indonesia might be going down a path we once walked 20 years ago.

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Stephanie’s OUT FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF EPISODES — SO FOR THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, WE’LL HAVE SOME SPECIAL GUESTS ON THE SHOW TO TALK ABOUT FEMINISM, POLITICS, AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN

In this episode, Swedian talks with Stanley Widianto, a young Chinese-Indonesian freelance journalist who has written for publications such as The Guardian, South China Morning Post, Tirto, Tempo, among other publications. We chat about Stanley’s journey into becoming a journalist and the careful & reflective perspectives he has cultivated in his writing.

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Stephanie’s OUT FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF EPISODES — SO FOR THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, WE’LL HAVE SOME SPECIAL GUESTS ON THE SHOW TO TALK ABOUT FEMINISM, POLITICS, AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN

In this episode, Swedian talks to Olin Monteiro, an Indonesian feminist activist who’s been working in the space for 30-odd years. We talk about how she got started in feminism and discuss extensively how the issue of sexual violence has developed over the last few decades, as well as the growing number of organizations that have emerged alongside the growing movement. We also talk about this “missing history” of women’s history in Indonesia, in particular how important women were to the progressive and liberal fights against authoritarian powers, from the Dutch colonizers to the New Order, as well as the amazing stories of women throughout Indonesian history who have always been fighting the patriarchy.

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WE DON’T HAVE A NEW EPISODE THIS WEEK AS SWEDIAN IS BUSY TRAVELING BACK TO THE STATES, SO WE HAVE A REPEAT OF OUR 21ST EPISODE, HOOKED ON HOAXES, WHERE WE TALKED ABOUT THE PROBLEM OF FAKE NEWS — A PROBLEM WHICH, UNFORTUNATELY, HAS COME BACK TO HAUNT US WITH RECENT REVELATIONS REGARDING DATA MINING & ANALYSIS FIRM CAMBRIDGE ANALYTICA‘S MISUSE AND ABUSE OF FACEBOOK DATA, IN ORDER TO INFLUENCE ELECTIONS. IT SEEMS AS GOOD A TIME AS ANY TO REVISIT THE TOPIC OF FAKE NEWS AND HOW IT TAPS INTO OUR WORST PSYCHOLOGICAL INSTINCTS!

WE’LL BE BACK IN TWO WEEKS’ TIME WITH A BRAND NEW EPISODE, SO STAY TUNED!

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In this episode, we’ve turned two! It’s been an amazing 2 years of doing Dialogika and having incredible conversations with truly inspiring individuals about topics and issues we really care about — and who’d knew our “flimsy but earnest logic” would have kept us going for so long so far! We want to take this time to reflect and self-criticize some of our past episodes and questionable episode titles, because we do believe that we’ve both grown as individuals and intersectional feminists since we started this podcast. It’s important for us to keep ourselves accountable to the highest standard, and we want to talk openly about how we can always do better and continue to do so as long as we’re doing Dialogika!

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In this episode, Swedian chats with Kerri Na Basaria, the lead organizer of this year’s Women’s March Jakarta and one of Swedian and Stephanie’s oldest friends! Swedian and Kerri talk about the March’s incredible growth from last year as well as its ability to reach the younger generation in Indonesia, mobilizing them to go beyond online support of activism and into the streets to participate in these kinds of actions. They discuss the importance of showing up as a community to fight for women’s rights — in particular against gender-based violence, which is this year’s theme — especially in light of increasing extremism and divisive political rhetoric that’s spreading all across Indonesia and the world right now. #lawanbersama

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In this episode, we give an update on the first few months of Governor Anies’ reign over Jakarta. We talk about some of the promises he and Vice-Governor Sandiaga Uno made during their campaign, and whether or not they have fulfilled those promises (spoiler alert: not really). We’re discussing all of this not just to simply criticize Anies, but to observe and analyze his actions in the context of the 2019 presidential elections, particularly his positioning of himself as the antithesis of Jokowi (the pragmatic progressive doer) as well as his problematic relationship with extremist Islam factions and polarizing figures such as Habib Rizieq.

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In this episode, Stephanie talks with Naila Rizqi Zakiah, a public lawyer for LBH Masyarakat, a branch of the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation, about the current plans to revise the Indonesian criminal code under a draft proposal called the RKUHP. As Stephanie and Naila’s conversation show, the proposed revision is more concerned about moral policing sexual activities rather than actually address the issues that impact the most marginalized communities. This major revision to the criminal code is a huge threat to Indonesia’s fragile democracy.

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In this episode, Stephanie is out sick, so we revisit the most listened to episode of 2017, our 26th Episode, “Kartini Kendeng: Indonesia’s Own Water Protectors.” We’re playing this episode again because, for some of our newer listeners, they may not have had the chance to listen to this episode yet — and we’re really proud of it, and we definitely wanna support — and continue to support — the women of Kendeng, the farmers in Kendeng, and their fight against encroaching capitalism in their home. Echoing what we said in the episode, we’ve only got one homeland in Indonesia, and it’s one of the most beautiful places in the world, and if we don’t protect, nobody will.

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In this episode, we start off 2018 with a conversation about a topic that has been in the news for the last 3 months or so — the #MeToo movement. We will be talking about our own unique experiences and reactions to the #MeToo movement, and critically discuss both the strengths and weaknesses of #MeToo. We also look into why there hasn’t been a similar #MeToo moment in Asia, including in Indonesia. That said, we are hopeful that Indonesia (and the rest of Asia) will perhaps have something like a #MeToo movement in the future — better yet, a movement where no one would ever need to say “me too” again. That’s our hope for Indonesia in 2018, and we’re excited to continue the conversation and fight!

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Happy holidays to everyone! We’re taking our own end-of-year breaks for the past few weeks — so we won’t have a new episode for you. But we do have a bonus episode! We’ll be featuring Stephanie’s audio pieces that she did as part of her grad school studies at the Columbia School of Journalism, titled “Unsilent Night” and “A Night at Greenwood Cemetery.” Thank you for your support in 2017 and we’ll see you in 2018!

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IN THIS EPISODE, WE LOOK TO CLOSE OUT 2017 WITH SWEDIAN’S CONVERSATION WITH OUR DEAR FRIEND AND FORMER GUEST OF THE PODCAST, KATE WALTON, AND DISCUSS WHAT THE YEAR HAS BEEN LIKE FOR FEMINISM IN INDONESIA. WE ALSO CHAT WITH KATE ABOUT MENGHITUNG PEMBUNUHAN PEREMPUAN (COUNTING DEAD WOMEN) AND TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE TOXIC PATRIARCHAL CULTURE THAT CONTRIBUTES TO THIS SYSTEMIC VIOLENCE AND WHAT MALE FEMINISTS CAN & MUST DO TO CHANGE THE CONVERSATION. FINALLY, WE WRAP UP WITH SOME OF KATE’S SUGGESTIONS FOR WONDERFUL PROGRESSIVE ORGANIZATIONS TO DONATE TO AND SUPPORT.

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In this episode, we chat with Dr. Sandeep Nanwani about his work with the “waria” community — translated imperfectly as transgender women. We talk about how he focuses on providing access to healthcare for this community and others like them, and that to understand their story we must also understand their socio-economic circumstances. We also talked about Sandeep’s own journey into becoming a doctor and the recent political threats to not only the waria but the wider LGBT community in Indonesia.

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In this episode, we discuss last week’s Whatsapp controversy, where the Ministry of Communications & Information Technology (Kemenkominfo) threatened to block Whatsapp because people reported the proliferation of so-called “pornographic” GIFs on the platform. We want to take this opportunity to open up a broader conversation around the UU Pornografi & Pornoaksi (the Pornography and Pornoaction Law) that would have allowed the government to block Whatsapp and use the law for its own patriarchal means. We talk about how in Indonesia, the law in general is often times male, and this law in particular has been used to police women’s bodies and restrict their freedom.

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In this episode, we discuss the new Governor of Jakarta Anies Baswedan and his inaugural speech, in which he used the controversial word “pribumi,” which means the indigenous Indonesian population. We unpack the history of this word, specifically in context of targetting the “non-pribumi,” which since Dutch colonial rule has almost exclusively meant the Chinese-Indonesian. We talk about how other politicians have reacted (or not reacted) to this controversy and discuss the laws that were set in place by previous presidents to prevent the use of both terms. Finally, we wrap things up by reflecting on Anies’ speech and the tone of it in light of the 2019 presidential elections.

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In this episode, we chat with Afu and Wikan, the two creators of “Frame & Sentences,” a YouTube video essay series on issues and topics that affect the current generation of young Indonesians. We talk about the origins of the series, as well as Afu and Wikan’s own progressive backgrounds that influenced the way they unpack some of their topics. We also explore Afu and Wikan’s respective takes on feminism (including why they are hesitant to call themselves ‘feminist’) and have a frank and constructive conversation about the role this label has in fighting against the patriarchy.

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In this episode, we have a special interview with award-winning freelance investigative journalist and all-around badass female in the world of Indonesian journalism, Febriana Firdaus. We talk about her unique journey from TEMPO to TIME and her commitment to covering difficult and dangerous stories, particularly the ongoing human rights abuses happening in Papua right now. We discuss the history of the conflict between Papuan freedom fighters and the Indonesian military, and also talk about Febri’s latest venture, the podcast-and-newsletter Suara Papua, or “Voice of Papua,” which aims to spread awareness of local Papuan stories between Indonesians, local Papuans, and the international community.

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In this episode, we discuss the ongoing Rohingya humanitarian crisis in Myanmar. We dig into their history and the history of their persecution by hardline Buddhist extremists groups as well as the Burmese government and army. We discuss Myanmar’s de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her ignorance to the atrocities happening to the Rohingya, looking into international criticism of her and breaking down the valorization (in particular, in Western media) of Suu Kyi as the democratic hope of Myanmar. In talking about this underreported issue, we hope that more people would know about the plight of the Rohinyga and demand not only the cessation of violence but also international action & aid to support those who are already deeply affected by this crisis.

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In this episode, we have a special interview and conversation with one of Indonesia’s fiercest female Muslim hijabi stand-up comedians, Sakdiyah Ma’ruf! Her comedy touches on sensitive topics such as sexuality, Islamic fundamentalism, terrorism, and domestic violence, but she always finds a way to cut through the tension of such heavy topics without blunting her message of free speech and women’s rights. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation as much as we enjoyed having it!

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In this episode, we commemorate the upcoming 18th anniversary of the East Timor Independence Referendum of 1999. In light of the growing West Papua independence movement, as well as an alarming rise in ‘blind patriotism,’ we think it’s incredibly important to remember the atrocities that preceded East Timor’s independence and learn its lessons about nationhood, sovereignty, and self-determination. We also have Stephanie in conversation with John M. Miller, the national coordinator for ETAN, the East Timor & Indonesia Action Network, an NGO created in 1991 to help facilitate and support the East Timor independence movement.

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After a much-needed and too-long break (sorry!) we’re excited to be back with Season 2 of Dialogika! In this episode, we share some life updates following our big moves from Indonesia to the United States and the travels in-between. We also provide an in-depth overview of what’s been happening politically in Indonesia while we were out. We’ve got an exciting season ahead, with all new music as you’ll hear and new people helping us out (s/o to Sebastian Hadinata) and we can’t wait to share it with you. Here’s to Season 2 of Dialogika!

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In this episode — on the week of the 19th anniversary of the May 1998 riots — we talk with our long-time academic crush Dr. Jemma Purdey of Monash University, author of Anti-Chinese Violence in Indonesia, 1996-1999 and co-host of the Talking Indonesia podcast. She helped us unpack what really happened leading up to the May 1998 riots, which killed over 2000 people and led to the rape of 152 Chinese-Indonesian women. We discuss the ‘stable’ racism against Chinese-Indonesians and its lasting effects throughout history, especially in light of Ahok’s recent jail sentence. We hope that Indonesia’s maturing civil society and young democracy has grown enough that we can not only start to talk about the reality of what happened in May 1998, but also prevent it from happening again in the future.

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In this episode, we give our reactions to Anies Baswedan’s victory in Jakarta’s recent gubernatorial race. We take a closer look at Anies’ significant win, in which he won by a double-digit margin of 57.9% to Ahok’s 42%. We also hear the reactions of other Jakarta citizens to Anies’ victory and discuss its ramifications, given how much Anies has courted radical Islamic groups during his campaign — a tactic that proved to be instrumental to his success. We take this opportunity to dig deeper into Anies Baswedan’s profile and background. Finally, we wrap up with a pragmatic analysis of what the future holds and how we should take this loss as an impetus to fight harder & organize better in pursuit of progressive values.

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In honor of Kartini Day and with the upcoming release of the big budget biopic Kartini in mind, we take a look back at our 4th episode, “Reclamation!” A Kartini Day Special and provide some of our thoughts and reactions to that episode one year later. We unpack the issues around having Hanung Bramantyo as the director and Dian Sastrowardoyo playing the lead as Kartini. Both have made problematic statements about feminism in general, and given that this Kartini movie is the first movie about Kartini since the 1980s, we recognize the importance of discussing the movie in the greater context of Kartini’s legacy. Finally, we end with a recommendation of reading the book “Panggil Aku Kartini Saja” by Indonesian’s master writer Pramoedya Ananta Toer as — in our humble opinion — a better way to truly understand and honor Kartini as the true Indonesian feminist she was and continues to be.

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In this episode, we delve into the mysterious world of platonic friendships. This topic has been in the news lately in part because of the Mike Pence “controversy” and the “Billy Graham” rule, in which Mike Pence is not allowed to have dinner with a woman that is not his wife. Its recent unearthing reveals not only the rule’s patriarchal foundations but also how misunderstood male-female platonic relationships — whether friendships, business partners, etc. — are. As such, we dive right into the concept, exploring friendship’s historically higher value, some social science research regarding male-female friendships, and our own experiences. Finally, there is an important announcement at the end of this episode — stay tuned to find out what it is!

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In this episode, we unpack the very recent (and still ongoing) Kendeng cement protest (whose female protestors were dubbed the ‘Kartini Kendeng’ by the media) that’s happening in Jakarta at the moment. We discuss the intricate details of the protest, including how the feet-cement protest is done and what these brave farmers are fighting for. we also researched the Samin community & movement, an indonesian environmentally conscious, anti-colonialist, and anti-capitalist movement started during Dutch colonial rUle but continues to find resonance in today’s modern age. Finally, we reflect on how important it is that we, as citizens of this beautiful and diverse land called Indonesia, do not forget our responsibilities to the earth and the environment.

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In this episode, we catch up with Stephanie, who participated in and helped organize the first ever Women’s March Jakarta that happened on Saturday, March 4th, 2017. As one of the organizers, Stephanie shared the experience of helping put together this event. Swedian unpacks briefly the history of the International Women’s Day, and We discuss a couple of international events planned for IWD, including the “A Day Without A Woman” campaign in the United States. Finally, we wrap up with Stephanie’s reflections and hopes for the Women’s March Jakarta. Here’s to continuing our fight for women’s rights and equality!

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In this episode, we discuss the phenomenon of whitewashing in pop culture, in particular highlighting the many instances of whitecasting and yellowface in Hollywood movies. We unpack what those terms & topics mean, and discuss the importance of pop culture in forming how we see ourselves and others — imploring those in pop culture to tell better stories, make better characters, and show the future generation how diverse the world really is, and that their stories matter.

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In this episode, we discuss the upcoming Jakarta gubernatorial election happening on February 15, 2017 between three candidate pairs of Governor & Vice-Governor: Ticket #1 – Agus & Sylviana, Ticket #2 – Ahok & Djarot, and Ticket #3 – Anies & Sandiaga. We go into detail on the backgrounds of each of these individuals and focus in particular on what each candidate pair has said about what they would do with regards to women’s issues in Jakarta. We also talk about how the ways in which each campaign has talked about tackling various women’s issues are an indication of their larger perspective on leadership. We hope we can shed some light and inform both voters & non-voters on what the future leaders of Jakarta are promising for women.

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In this episode, we discuss the recent Women’s March and explore what the protest meant for feminism, in particular the topic of intersectional feminism. Our resident woke white woman Kate Walton is back to share her thoughts as we break down the impetus for the Women’s March and dissect the many criticisms lobbied towards the event. In doing so, we unpack what it means to be an intersectional feminist, which includes acknowledging difference, checking your privileges, and amplifying the voices of those who are oppressed — and this applies to all human beings alike! As an extension of this discussion, we also unpack what it means to be an ally in the intersectional sense.

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In this episode, we dive straight into the deep and dark world of fake news & hoaxes. We look into how Indonesia has taken on this issue of fake news & hoaxes quite seriously, with President Jokowi declaring a war against hoaxes and the government updating its cyber laws (UU ITE) and setting up cybersecurity divisions in the police force. We unpack what these cyber laws are and talk through the potential implications to our freedom of speech. We also dig deeper into the financial incentives of fake news & hoaxes as well as the underlying psychological appeal of fake news. We discuss the private sector alternatives to countering fake news, and Finally, we urge our listeners to think before you click. remember, if it’s too good to be true, it’s probably not!

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Happy holidays, and Merry Christmas to all of our Christian and Catholic friends who are celebrating, as well as Happy Hanukkah to all of our Jewish friends! It’s been a hell of a long year, and we’ve actually taken some time off ourselves for our own end-of-year holidays, so we don’t have a full episode for you this week — but we do have outtakes in the form of segments that didn’t make it into our full episodes! In this bonus episode we share with you some of the conversations and thoughts that didn’t make the final cut. We also take a moment to look back at 2016 and consider the importance of engaging in constructive dialogue with common sense and logic, after a year filled with divisive and discriminatory rhetoric from all across the globe.

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In this episode, Swedian is back (finally) and itching to jump right back into conversation about Indonesia — which, at the moment, is all about rising religious intolerance. We break down the recent December 2nd rally against Jakarta’s Christian Chinese-Indonesian governor Ahok, which had anywhere from 500,000 to 1,000,000 Muslims occupy the central part of Jakarta in the form of a mass Friday prayer. We discuss our differing views on President Jokowi’s decision to attend the prayer and address the crowd. We also explain who Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) leader Habib Rizieq is, and what his rising popularity in the country means for the political climate in Indonesia. We compare what’s going on in Indonesia with what’s going on in America and elsewhere, whereby a charismatic leader (Rizieq in Indonesia; Trump in America) is using — under the banner of religious piety — populism and fear tactics to mislead the population, resulting in a cultural of intolerance and discrimination.

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In this episode, we have Stephanie and her close friend (and fellow Chinese-Indonesian woman) Skolastika “Tika” Lupitawina discuss the recent rise in anti-Chinese sentiments and rhetoric due to the mass protest on November 4th against the Christian Chinese-Indonesian governor of Jakarta, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, or more commonly known as Ahok. We break down the reasons why Chinese-Indonesians are feeling anxious, including the brutal history of violence & discrimination against the Chinese in Indonesia, and debunk the myth of structural/institutional racism perpetrated by Chinese-Indonesians against native Indonesians.

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In this episode, we processing through our five stages of grief following the election of Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States of America. Swedian’s back but still in the States, so this is also our very first internationally recorded and produced episode! We discuss how Trump won via the electoral college even though Hillary has won the popular vote, as well as our personal reactions to November 8th as it unfolded. We also talk about how Trump’s victory has brought about a rise in hate crimes against minorities and Muslims in America, and how we — as supporters and believers of progressive values — must continue to fight better, work harder, and get out of our echo chambers in order to have constructive dialogue with the other side. Thank you so much to Hillary Rodham Clinton for fighting the good fight; it’s our turn to step up and continue the hard work. #werestillwithher #strongertogether

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Swedian’s out for the next couple of episodes — so for the next few weeks, we’ll have some special guests on the show to talk about feminism, politics, and everything in between!

In this episode, we have Jakarta’s resident #ladyboss Farina Situmorang, Founder and CEO of Catalyst Strategy, as well as the mind behind the widely lauded and extremely successful social media campaign for the 2014 Jokowi-JK presidential campaign. We talk about female leadership and how female executives are often asked about “the struggles of being a female leader,” without necessarily talking about the virtues and strengths of female leadership. Farina shares her insights on tantric philosophy and its concept of feminine and masculine energies. Finally, we talk with Farina about the journey of “reclaiming one’s femininity” as bossy ladies — and how, ultimately, our path to happiness is about embracing ourselves, our own life’s path, rejecting society’s notion of a formula-for-everyone, and simply caring less about what others think about you!

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Swedian’s out for the next couple of episodes — so for the next few weeks, we’ll have some special guests on the show to talk about feminism, politics, and everything in between!

WARNING: THIS EPISODE INCLUDES A BRIEF DISCUSSION ON A GRAPHIC RAPE CASE; PLEASE LISTEN AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION.

In this episode, we have Kate Walton, a self-identified queer feminist activist who’s the founder of Jakarta Feminist Discussion Group as well as the project Menghitung Pembunuhan Perempuan — Counting Dead Women — which chronicles acts of violence against women in Indonesia. We talk to her about this project and how it helped bring attention to the brutal rape and murder of Yuyun. We discuss the latest about the case and how the government’s reaction neglects to address the bigger problem of rape culture in our society. We break down “rape culture,” which is a hot topic at the moment due to Donald Trump’s comments. Finally, we end with how sexual violence is something that affects all women but is not something that’s obvious to men — and how men can actively act to end rape culture.

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In this episode, we’re entering the weird and wonderful world of #RelationshipGoals, as we share a little bit about what we think are good goals to have in any healthy and positive feminist relationship! We share some basic relationship tenets of mutual respect and growth, as well as break down the stereotypical gendered view of relationship dynamics. We discuss the start and end of relationships, touching on platonic friendships. Finally, we end with a strong endorsement for the use of the term “partner” in describing relationships!

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In this second of our two-part episode, we continue to discuss the Indonesian Constitutional Court’s (Mahkamah Konstitusi, or MK) recent decision to hear arguments for a “judicial review” of the country’s Criminal Code (Kitab Undang-Undang Hukum Pidana, or KUHP) in order to add new laws that will criminalize pre-marital sex (as adultery) and LGBT relationships. pram is back to talk about Islamic law, what counts as “Indonesian values,” and why we should value and appreciate the fact that — while we 100% disagree with them — these people are making their argument via democratic means, and that this development is important for our nation’s democracy.

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In this first of our two-part episode, we discuss the Indonesian Constitutional Court’s (Mahkamah Konstitusi, or MK) recent decision to hear arguments for a “judicial review” of the country’s Criminal Code (Kitab Undang-Undang Hukum Pidana, or KUHP) in order to add new laws that will criminalize pre-marital sex (as adultery) and LGBT relationships. We invite Pramudya Oktavinanda, a corporate lawyer in Indonesia and a friend of Dialogika, to talk about the court’s powers, its recent turn towards becoming a “positive” legislator, and why they’re even entertaining these vague claims of constitutional rights violations.

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In this episode, we pay homage to our lesser known but no less important Founding Father, Indonesia’s first vice-president, Mohammad Hatta. We dig into Hatta’s exciting life journey — from boyhood to independence. We discussed Hatta’s unique philosophy and love of true democracy, and how this perspective impacted his actions and relationships with Indonesia’s first two presidents, Soekarno and his successor Soeharto, as well as the fate of Indonesia as a nation. Finally, we closed with a conversation on what Hatta’s legacy is and how his life and writings can & should continue to inspire and instruct Indonesia’s relatively young 71-year-old democracy. happy birthday indonesia!

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In this episode, we have a lighter take on the topic of male feminists. Inspired by Barack Obama’s letter about being a male feminist, we explore the emergence of male celebrities taking up the male feminist mantle (such as Aziz Ansari, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Terry Crews, etc.), and how being a male feminist is and should be more than just being supportive of gender equality. We dig deeper into the nuances of male feminism, looking at its various responsibilities and comparing it to other alternative titles such as male allies or being pro-feminist. We provide some helpful tips and advice on how men can be better feminists and/or allies, and end with a beautifully penned essay by Matt McGorry, on how becoming a feminist ‘felt like falling in love.’

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In this episode, we discuss the International People’s Tribunal and their verdict, published last week, that judged Indonesia guilty for crimes against humanity during the 1965 massacre. We give a brief history of what actually happened in 1965 in contrast to the Suharto-era New Order propaganda version. We highlight how the genocide was a deliberate, methodical mass murder that implicated state officials, the Indonesian military, and ordinary Indonesian citizens. We address the often forgotten victims of 1965, Indonesian women, and the lasting legacy of discrimination and propaganda against Communism and the family of victims. Lastly, we examined what exactly is the IPT and the uses and limitation of this verdict — and how we hope this will be a step towards the country admitting to what actually happened in 1965.

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Happy Eid Mubarak/Selamat Idul Fitri to all of our Muslim friends and those celebrating! We’ve actually taken some time off ourselves, so we don’t have a full episode for you this week — but we do have outtakes! We also talk a little bit about how Dialogika started, its initial aspirations, the production woes of those early episodes, and a few interesting facts about our lovely social media fanbase! We also introduce the lovely podcasting doggie duo Stacie & Simone who, this time, are allowed to be on air, and announce that our podcast is now on YouTube as well! Finally, we just wanna say a massive thank you to everyone who have supported us behind the scenes and in front of the mic as well as those who’ve continued to listen to our episodes and follow us online! Many, many thanks for listening to our flimsy but earnest logic!

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In this episode, we discuss the recent controversies around Teman Ahok — in particular, whether the initial funding to start the organization was actually money from the reclamation bribery scandal. We compare Teman Ahok with, arguably, its equivalent in U.S. politics, OFA, and talk about whether Teman Ahok is similar to PACs and SuperPACs (Political Action Committees). We delve a little bit into the history of campaign funding in Indonesia and wrap the episode up with our hopes for — per usual — cleaner, more democratic politics.

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WARNING: THIS EPISODE FEATURES STRONG LANGUAGE; PLEASE LISTEN AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION.

In this episode, we talk to Dea Safira, who got banned by Facebook for posting historical photos of topless Indonesian women. We discussed why we think it went viral, as well as digging a little bit into ‘nipples history’ (and the arbitrariness of all that). We talked about the social costs of being a feminist, especially in Indonesia, and how our privileges influence those costs. We also discuss data that shows all women, regardless of privileges, face more ‘man-terruptions’ and ‘mansplaining’ than their male counterparts. We wrap up the episode with a shoutout to all the awesome feminist organizations in Indonesia! Yay feminist validation!

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WARNING: THIS EPISODE DISCUSSES RAPE; PLEASE LISTEN AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION.

In this episode, we take a closer look at Jokowi’s recent amendment to existing child protection laws, which will include chemical castration for child rapists. We talk about what chemical castration is and how effective the treatment is compared to other forms of punishment in terms of reducing recidivism. We analyze the limitations of this approach and how it does not fundamentally solve the issue of rape. In doing so, we open up a discussion on consent and how we could and should hold everyone in society accountable for the existence and prevalence of rape culture. We also talked about different types of rape prevention tactics.

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WARNING: THIS EPISODE DISCUSSES A GRAPHIC RAPE CASE; PLEASE LISTEN AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION.

In this episode, we discuss the recent tragic case of Yuyun, who was gang-raped by 14 men to death in Bengkulu, Indonesia. We dissect the sequence of events that led to her death as well as the reactions from the Indonesian public and the government that followed. We also reflect on various theories on rape and how it impacts both men and women in different but equally damaging ways—and how can we empower men in particular to prevent rape from happening in their community. #NyalaUntukYuyun

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In this episode, we discuss the 2016 U.S. presidential elections, breaking down who the candidates are, what they stand for, and—particularly important for those of us in the international community—what their stances and statements are regarding foreign policy. We also take a closer look at how the U.S. picks its presidential candidates, trying our best to explain the convoluted primary system, as well as comparing the U.S. approach to how Indonesia picks its presidential candidate (from the parliamentary elections all the way to the general election).

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In honor of Kartini Day, we devote this week’s episode to Indonesia’s most famous feminist, R.A. Kartini. We dig into her life & writing and talked about how love, family, and duty can hold back women today. We also talk about how we should reclaim Kartini Day from its frivolity in order to question how we can break down barriers for women, as our badass Indonesian woman spotlighted this week, S.K. Trimurti, did during her lifetime.

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In this episode, we discuss the Kalijodo eviction & demolition story and how Jakarta governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, or Ahok, in executing said event. We investigate his potentially problematic use of military (TNI) presence, explore the different roles & responsibilities of Indonesia’s military and police forces and the controversial history of using the military in the nation’s past, and profile Surabaya mayor Tri Rismaharini and her success in evicting & demolishing the Dolly neighborhood. All of this are done in an effort to hold our politicians accountable to our democratic beliefs and values. Yay democracy!

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In this episode, we discuss the KPI’s (Indonesian Broadcasting Commission) decision to censor ‘effeminate male behavior’ in television broadcasting and blur female body parts in the 2016 Miss Indonesia pageants. We also take a closer look into the patriarchy, toxic masculinity, and James Bond, as well as how feminism is not a Western construct and can help men and women alike today wherever they are, ending with a profile of the great Indonesian female hero Rasuna Said.

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