The NOW! Bali Podcast
By NOW! Bali
The NOW! Bali Podcast shares mythology, folklore, cultural explanations and insights that shed a light on one of the world's most vibrant living cultures.
www.nowbali.co.id
The NOW! Bali PodcastJan 17, 2024
Making Bali 'Future-Proof', ft. Eco Tourism Bali | Episode 29
Bali, renowned for its breathtaking landscapes and vibrant culture, has faced escalating environmental challenges as its tourism industry continues to grow. Issues such as waste mismanagement and ecological degradation have prompted a local response led by Eco Tourism Bali.
Founded in 2021 by Suzy Hutomo, Chairperson of BodyShop Indonesia, and Rahmi Fajar Harini, a Balinese entrepreneur with a background in hospitality and public relations, the social impact business is building the path to make Bali a sustainable destination by 2030. Through their ‘Sustainable Guideline and Verification System’ and 'Regenerative Bali' programmes, they aim to improve the quality of the island's tourism industry and make it 'future-proof' in the face of environmental challenges.
Read the full article on Eco Tourism Bali on nowbali.co.id
Podcast Partner
The NOW! Bali Podcast is supported by Genesis Creative Centre, where you'll find video, photo and music studios, as well as other content creation services for any of your personal or business projects. This Episode was edited by Quincy Dekker.
How to support NOW! Bali
(1) You can help grow the Podcast by following or rating us on your preferred Podcast platform, or indeed share our episodes with a friend.
(2) We'd love for you to become a reader! Our bi-monthly magazine is available as a digital edition and can be downloaded for free from our online catalogue: payhip.com/nowbalimag.
(3) For those in Indonesia, you can order a print version of NOW! Bali.
(4) Follow us on Instagram and Facebook - or even send us a short email of encouragement or even feedback at nowbali@phoenix.co.id.
Decoding the Pawukon Calendar: Cycles & Symbolism | Episode 28
In this episode, host Eddy Speirs covers one of the most central aspects of Balinese Hindu ritual life: the Pawukon Calendar.
This episode outlines the mythological origins of Hari Saraswati, The Day of Knowledge, rooted in the legend of 'Watugunung', Bali's own 'Oedipus' tale. This is tied to the creation of the calendar as well as wariga, the knowledge of time. Following this is an explanation of how the Pawukon calendar is used, and what 'calculations' must be done to define specific auspicious days.
This episode comes from an article written by Jean Couteau, published in TIMELESS Bali Volume 3, the third iteration in our annual publication series, released in August 2023.
Free Transcript Available: Download Here
Podcast Partner
The NOW! Bali Podcast is supported by Genesis Creative Centre, where you'll find video, photo and music studios, as well as other content creation services for any of your personal or business projects. This Episode was edited by Quincy Dekker.
How to support NOW! Bali
(1) You can help grow the Podcast by following or rating us on your preferred Podcast platform, or indeed share our episodes with a friend.
(2) We'd love for you to become a reader! Our bi-monthly magazine is available as a digital edition and can be downloaded for free from our online catalogue: payhip.com/nowbalimag.
(3) For those in Indonesia, you can order a print version of NOW! Bali.
(4) Follow us on Instagram and Facebook - or even send us a short email of encouragement or even feedback at nowbali@phoenix.co.id.
The Masks of Bali, feat. Prof. Dr. I Made Bandem and Bruce Carpenter | Episode 27
In this episode, we welcome Prof. Dr. I Made Bandem and Bruce Carpenter who recently published 'Masks of Bali: Between Heaven and Hell', an epic 2-volume collection on Bali's traditional masks, a historical publication set to define this field of art for generations to come. Note: this episode is best enjoyed as a Video (YouTube version available here).
In this insightful conversation, Pak Bandem and Pak Bruce share their in-depth knowledge on Balinese masks, explaining the history of masks in Bali; the nine different genres of masks found in Bali, their different shapes, forms and functions; their place in Balinese culture and arts; what it takes to be a successful mask dancer; and Pak Bandem also honours the NOW! Bali Podcast with a live display of his masterful dancing.
Secure your own copy of 'Masks of Bali: Between Heaven and Hell' by going to their website: masksofbali.com.
Podcast Partner
The NOW! Bali Podcast is supported by Genesis Creative Centre, where you'll find video, photo and music studios, as well as other content creation services for any of your personal or business projects.
How to support NOW! Bali
(1) You can help grow the Podcast by following or rating us on your preferred Podcast platform, or indeed share our episodes with a friend.
(2) We'd love for you to become a reader! Our bi-monthly magazine is available as a digital edition and can be downloaded for free from our online catalogue: payhip.com/nowbalimag.
(3) For those in Indonesia, you can order a print version of NOW! Bali.
(4) Follow us on Instagram and Facebook - or even send us a short email of encouragement or even feedback at nowbali@phoenix.co.id.
Nature, Cosmology and Transformational Healing, Feat. Tjok Gde Kerthyasa | Episode 26
This episode discusses Balinese healing traditions in the modern age, speaking to Tjok Gde Kerthyasa on how both science and spirituality are important to his work, why Balinese cosmology is important to holistic healing, and also what it will take to make Bali’s healing offerings more trusted and robust.
Tjok Gde Kerthyasa is the founder of Tirta Usada, a holistic clinic and research centre in Ubud. With his mixed background — his mother, Jero Asri Kerthyasa, is Australian; his father Tjokorda Raka Kerthyasa, is Balinese and was a spiritual healer — Tjok Gde shares unique insight into Balinese healing, one that bridges the usada traditions of Bali and the natural medicine he studied, researched and practiced in Sydney. So he brings an east-meets-west, science-meets-spirituality perspective into the topic of healing and wellness. Head to tirtausada.com to find out more about Tjok Gde’s work.
For more on this subject, download 'The Ancient Healing Traditions of the Balian Usada' - NOW! Bali January-February 2023 edition.
This is available for free through our online catalogue: payhip.com/nowbalimag
Or support us by ordering the print edition of NOW! Bali Magazine by emailing us at nowbali@phoenix.co.id.
For more great stories go to nowbali.co.id and subscribe to our Newsletter. Or follow us on Instagram and Facebook.
Bali's New Year Resolutions, ft. Alistair Speirs, NOW! Bali Founder | Episode 25
In the same way we all make targets and goals for ourselves in the new year, why shouldn’t an island do the same? Why can’t Bali strive to be and do better? NOW! Bali Founder Alistair Speirs joins this episode to share his 20 Bali New Year Resolutions, some guidelines required to maintain the island's place as a world-renowned destination that everyone can love, or indeed as a wonderful place to live for residents.
NOW! Bali Magazine is now back in print! Available as a bi-monthly publication, our magazine is available to purchase in Indonesia, or for those who are abroad, an online catalogue is available with a free PDF download.
Our January-February 2023 edition is: 'The Ancient Healing Traditions of the Balian Usada'
Online catalogue available at: payhip.com/nowbalimag
Order a copy of NOW! Bali Magazine by emailing us at nowbali@phoenix.co.id.
For more great stories got to nowbali.co.id and subscribe to our Newsletter. Or follow us on Instagram and Facebook.
Repatriating Bali's Memories (Part 2); feat Edward Herbst and Marlowe Bandem of Bali 1928 | Episode 24
Full Video Interview available on YouTube here.
Stored in distant archives of universities abroad, the earliest recordings of Balinese music and dance have remained a mystery for the greater Balinese society, alongside footage and photography of island life just a century ago.
Bali 1928, a project on a mission to repatriate this old documentation back to the island, is seeing the effects the past can have on today’s generation. Artistic communities, environmental groups, everyday Balinese awe-inspired by the sounds, images and scenes of their own history; invigorated to revive, revitalise and even reinvent.
NOW! Bali speaks to Edward Herbst (Ethnomusicologist and Project Director) and Marlowe Bandem (Project Manager) to learn about how this project started, what makes it unique to regular repatriation projects of its kind and what effects it has had on communities and individuals in Bali.
Podcast Partner
The NOW! Bali Podcast is supported by Genesis Creative Centre, where you'll find video, photo and music studios, as well as other content creation services for any of your personal or business projects.
How to support NOW! Bali
(1) You can help grow the Podcast by following or rating us on your preferred Podcast platform, or indeed share our episodes with a friend.
(2) We'd love for you to become a reader! Our bi-monthly magazine is available as a digital edition and can be downloaded for free from our online catalogue: payhip.com/nowbalimag.
(3) For those in Indonesia, you can order a print version of NOW! Bali.
(4) Follow us on Instagram and Facebook - or even send us a short email of encouragement or even feedback at nowbali@phoenix.co.id.
Repatriating Bali's Memories (Part 1); feat Edward Herbst and Marlowe Bandem of Bali 1928 | Episode 23
Full Video Interview available on YouTube here.
Stored in distant archives of universities abroad, the earliest recordings of Balinese music and dance have remained a mystery for the greater Balinese society, alongside footage and photography of island life just a century ago.
Bali 1928, a project on a mission to repatriate this old documentation back to the island, is seeing the effects the past can have on today’s generation. Artistic communities, environmental groups, everyday Balinese awe-inspired by the sounds, images and scenes of their own history; invigorated to revive, revitalise and even reinvent.
NOW! Bali speaks to Edward Herbst (Ethnomusicologist and Project Director) and Marlowe Bandem (Project Manager) to learn about how this project started, what makes it unique to regular repatriation projects of its kind and what effects it has had on communities and individuals in Bali.
Podcast Partner
The NOW! Bali Podcast is supported by Genesis Creative Centre, where you'll find video, photo and music studios, as well as other content creation services for any of your personal or business projects.
How to support NOW! Bali
(1) You can help grow the Podcast by following or rating us on your preferred Podcast platform, or indeed share our episodes with a friend.
(2) We'd love for you to become a reader! Our bi-monthly magazine is available as a digital edition and can be downloaded for free from our online catalogue: payhip.com/nowbalimag.
(3) For those in Indonesia, you can order a print version of NOW! Bali.
(4) Follow us on Instagram and Facebook - or even send us a short email of encouragement or even feedback at nowbali@phoenix.co.id.
Explaining the Role and Importance of Water in Bali | Episode 22
The significance of water in Bali cannot be understated. In this episode we seek to illustrate the many ways in which water is part of life on the island and why it is such a central element in Balinese belief.
You'll learn why Bali's belief system was called 'Agama Tirta', religion of holy water, before it was officially called 'Balinese Hinduism'. From the cycles of reincarnation, to the cult of fertility, self purification and cleansing of the world, water is present throughout life and even after death.
To read as you listen, or to see visual references and photos, feel free to follow along the transcript and article here.
Support us by purchasing a copy of TIMELESS Bali, a limited edition magazine on Balinese culture.
For more great stories got to nowbali.co.id and subscribe to our Newsletter. Or follow us on Instagram and Facebook. You can also find a library of monthly editions here, to read online for free.
Thanks to our Podcast Supporters, Genesis Creative Centre, where you'll find video, photo and music studios, as well as other content creation services for any of your personal or business projects.
Identity and the Bali-China Relationship: The Symbolism of the Barong Landung Puppets | Episode 21
Found in most banjars across Bali, the distinct appearance of the Barong Landung characters are unmistakeable in the assortment of Balinese religious effigies. This conspicuous couple, always found together, are at face-value just symbols of an old Balinese love story. However, digging deeper, this historic husband and wife drama speaks not of love, but of identity. It is symbolic of Bali’s multi-ethnic and multi-religious history, and ultimately of the centuries-long relationship the island has had with China.
This episode was originally published in our February 2022 Digital Edition of NOW! Bali. You can find a library of monthly editions here, to read online for free.
To read as you listen, or to see visual references and photos, feel free to follow along the transcript and article here.'
Podcast Partner
The NOW! Bali Podcast is supported by Genesis Creative Centre, where you'll find video, photo and music studios, as well as other content creation services for any of your personal or business projects.
How to support NOW! Bali
(1) You can help grow the Podcast by following or rating us on your preferred Podcast platform, or indeed share our episodes with a friend.
(2) We'd love for you to become a reader! Our bi-monthly magazine is available as a digital edition and can be downloaded for free from our online catalogue: payhip.com/nowbalimag.
(3) For those in Indonesia, you can order a print version of NOW! Bali.
(4) Follow us on Instagram and Facebook - or even send us a short email of encouragement or even feedback at nowbali@phoenix.co.id.
Coming to Terms with Change in Bali (and of Bali) | Episode 20
In this episode of the podcast we’ll be exploring changes in Bali - and of Bali - discussing the effects of the island’s transformation into modern livelihoods and land-use. To read the transcript of the episode, feel free to visit our website article here.
This episode comes from a feature article in our recently published, 'Preservation in Times of Progress', our January 2022 Digital Edition of NOW! Bali Magazine which you can read here.
In this episode, as well as this edition, we bring to the forefront the challenge of balancing the new with the old, questioning whether Bali can still ‘progress’ in inverted commas, whilst still preserving important elements of its past.
Support us by purchasing a copy of TIMELESS Bali, a limited edition magazine on Balinese culture.
For more great stories got to nowbali.co.id and subscribe to our Newsletter. Or follow us on Instagram and Facebook.
Thanks to our Podcast Supporters, Genesis Creative Centre.
Music, Environment and Activism in Bali; feat. Ewa Wojkowska & Robi Navicula | Episode 19
In this episode, host Eddy Speirs is joined by two special guests, Ewa Wojkowska & Robi Navicula. Together they discuss a range of topics, including plastic pollution, Bali’s environmental crisis, beliefs surrounding nature, the future of Bali’s agricultural communities and also the island’s vibrant music scene.
Ewa Wojkowska is the Co-Founder of Kopernik, a research and development lab based in Indonesia that focuses on poverty alleviation and finding solutions to social and environmental challenges. Their work has helped many people living in the last mile.
I Gede Robi Supriyanto, or Gede Robi, is the vocalist and guitarist for one of Indonesia’s most popular rock bands, Navicula, hailing from Bali. The band are known for the social and environmental activism.
Kopernik and Navicula have worked together on many projects, the most well-known being the documentary film Pulau Plastik (‘Plastik Island’), released in April 2021. The film brings to light the pervasiveness of plastic pollution in Indonesia.
Recently they also launched a podcast, A Soundtrack of Resistance, hosted by Ewa, which delves into a variety of social, political and environmental issues in Indonesia, using the songs of Navicula to open up discussion and key topics in Indonesian history. The podcast is available on all platforms and was recently ranked top-5 on Apple Podcasts, Indonesia.
This full interview is also available on YouTube as a video.
Podcast Partner
The NOW! Bali Podcast is supported by Genesis Creative Centre, where you'll find video, photo and music studios, as well as other content creation services for any of your personal or business projects.
How to support NOW! Bali
(1) You can help grow the Podcast by following or rating us on your preferred Podcast platform, or indeed share our episodes with a friend.
(2) We'd love for you to become a reader! Our bi-monthly magazine is available as a digital edition and can be downloaded for free from our online catalogue: payhip.com/nowbalimag.
(3) For those in Indonesia, you can order a print version of NOW! Bali.
(4) Follow us on Instagram and Facebook - or even send us a short email of encouragement or even feedback at nowbali@phoenix.co.id.
Explaining Bali's Subak System (And Why Rice Fields are Cultural Landscapes) | Episode 18
Jatiluwih, the 600 hectares of rice fields in Tabanan, is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is listed as a cultural landscape... but what does that even mean? It refers to the subak water-sharing system and how the rice fields are the manifestation of the Balinese Tri Hita Karana Philosophy, the three elements of well being, God Nature and People, that must be in balance and in harmony with one-another.
So how exactly does the subak, a water-sharing or irrigation system, represent the relationship between God, Nature and People? That’s what we’re hoping to explain today.
Support us by purchasing a copy of TIMELESS Bali, a limited edition magazine on Balinese culture.
For more great stories got to nowbali.co.id and subscribe to our Newsletter.
or follow us on Instagram and Facebook.
On the Quest for Holy Water | Episode 17
Agama Tirta, the Religion of Water. This is what Balinese religion was often referred to before it’s official title of Hindu Dharma, as water was - and continues to be - an essential element in the rituals and even belief of the Balinese. Today’s episode is taken from one of Jean Couteau’s articles in the NOW! Bali archives, titled Balinese Pilgrims on the Quest for Holy Water. Read the full transcript here.
To get a better understanding of Agama Tirta, we strongly suggest that you listen to Episode 22 which outlines at a macro scale why belief was called 'the religion of water' in Bali. It showcases all ways in which Bali is important to the Balinese.
If you like this episode, or our podcast in general we would be so grateful if you shared with a friend or if could rate us on whatever platform you are listening on.
Support us by purchasing a copy of TIMELESS Bali, a limited edition magazine on Balinese culture.
For more great stories got to nowbali.co.id and subscribe to our Newsletter. Or follow us on Instagram and Facebook. You can also find a library of monthly editions here, to read online for free.
Thanks to our Podcast Supporters, Genesis Creative Centre, where you'll find video, photo and music studios, as well as other content creation services for any of your personal or business projects.
Understanding Bali : An Introduction to the Island of the Gods | Episode 16
Why is Bali the way it is? How is there a solitary Hindu island in the largest muslim country in the world (by population)? Why is its brand of Hinduism different from what is found in India? Why is it called the Island of the Gods?
To understand everything we see in Bali today, it's necessary to take a deep dive into Bali's history, to see the origins of its culture and its belief systems. This episode is a kind of condensed history of Bali, explaining what made Bali the way it is today. It will help to contextualise everything you see around you on the island.
Podcast Partner
The NOW! Bali Podcast is supported by Genesis Creative Centre, where you'll find video, photo and music studios, as well as other content creation services for any of your personal or business projects.
How to support NOW! Bali
(1) You can help grow the Podcast by following or rating us on your preferred Podcast platform, or indeed share our episodes with a friend.
(2) We'd love for you to become a reader! Our bi-monthly magazine is available as a digital edition and can be downloaded for free from our online catalogue: payhip.com/nowbalimag.
(3) For those in Indonesia, you can order a print version of NOW! Bali.
(4) Follow us on Instagram and Facebook - or even send us a short email of encouragement or even feedback at nowbali@phoenix.co.id.
Puppet Masters and the Power of Myth | Episode 15
Myths, folklore and stories in general are powerful forces. They are vessels in which morals and life lessons can be shared to societies, thus guiding them in the 'right' way of being. Myths are an important part of Balinese culture, mainly through the medium of the shadow puppet performance or 'wayang kulit'. It is the puppet master, the dalang, who is therefore responsible for sharing the many Balinese myths and legends, thus spreading the morals society needs to remember.
Read the full transcript here: https://nowbali.co.id/puppet-masters-and-the-power-of-myth-episode-15/
The Story of Galungan, Bali's Most Important Ceremony | Episode 14
Galungan is one of the most important ceremonies on the Balinese calendar. The exact dates of this auspicious day are calculated through the 210-day Pawukon calendar, where the Galungan period will last 10 days.
What makes this ceremony so special? What is its history and origins? Host Eddy Speirs shares the legend behind Galungan and why the Balinese Hindu celebrate this festive season.
Read the full transcript at https://nowbali.co.id/story-of-galungan/
How the Old Balinese Experience Time | Episode 13
The way the olden day Balinese perceive time, and remember old events, is not done in a measured and quantitative way - like we do in today's world. In this story by Jean Couteau, 'A Question of Time', he illustrates the interesting way in which time is experienced by Bali's older generations.
Does it somehow relate to the way we are all perceiving time during these 'pandemic' days?
Exploring Art in Bali, feat. Richard Horstman | Episode 12
Art has a long history on the island, and really was one of the early lures for tourism to the island back in the 1920s, since then the art industry has grown and grown and Balinese artists today find themselves on the global art stage.
To help us navigate the interesting art landscape in Bali, we’ve invited one of NOW! Bali’s contributors, Richard Horstman, to share his thoughts. In this episode he shares a brief history of Balinese art, explains where art is today on the island and also his vision on how to grow this special art ecosystem for the future.
A New Vision for Indonesian Tourism | Episode 11
This week, our Publisher Alistair Speirs takes over the airwaves and shares his thoughts and analysis of tourism, and the new vision that Bali, and in fact all of Indonesia, should embrace in order to re-open the industry in the most effective and efficient way possible going forward.
4 Rules for Life, Bali Style | Episode 10
With many self-help books sharing their own "rules for life", this episode shares the wisdom of Balinese and Hindu belief on what makes a complete life. We share the Purasa Artha, the 4 Goals of Life in Hindu philosophy and unpack this with the duties, rites and actions to achieve this here in Bali. Other than providing a deeper understanding of the Balinese way of life, this episode may even give you a new perspective on your life.
Embracing and Celebrating Differences in Bali (and Indonesia) | Episode 9
This episode's topic is born out of the social unrest surrounding Black Lives Matter (or BLM), and has inspired us to discuss and explore the ideas of embracing and celebrating differences.
Whilst BLM is centred around systemic racism in the US, many countries have their own form of ethnic, cultural or religious oppression. In Indonesia, this has long been centred around religion.
In this episode, we focus on the pillars of tolerance that has helped Indonesia and Bali remain relatively unified despite vast differences in ethnicity and religion. We show parallels between the US and Indonesia, explore the country's founding principles and dive into the many ways Bali showcases religious tolerance which other places can learn from.
What Will Travelling to Bali be like After Covid-19? | Episode 8
Being stuck at home for so long, the dreams of travelling are keeping many people sane. Something to look forward to. No doubt Bali will be high on the list for many — but what will a visit to Bali look be like, post-Covid crisis? We explore the possibilities in this week’s episode.
Promoting Bali Tourism, Is There a Right Way? | Episode 7
More tourists is always good, right? Not always. What if they don’t care about the local culture, or have no curiosity for the history? Then numbers don’t mean anything. So, how can we promote Bali to attract people who DO care?
Tourism, Business Ethics and Covid-19 | Episode 6
In this opinion piece, NOW! Publisher Alistair Speirs shares his thoughts on business ethics and tourism in the time of Covid-19 in Bali. He touches on why, in these difficult times, it is the absolute responsibility of business owners and leaders to help those most vulnerable.
Legends of Bali's Great Temples | Temple Tales | Episode 5
Did you know, being centuries old, Bali's great temples have a whole host of wonderful myths and legends surrounding their founding? As with all things in Bali, there is plenty of magic and mysticism involved. This week we share the stories of Tanah Lot Temple (Pura Tanah Lot) and Uluwatu Temple (Pura Luhur Uluwatu), and the role the travelling priest, Dang Hyang Nirartha, had to play.
Bali After Covid-19: What Next? | Episode 4
"The crisis will end. They all do. And usually precipitate another because our ability to recover is pretty much equal to our ability to plan, says Alistair Speirs who has seen his weary way through many crises in Indonesia: from riots to earthquakes, from financial collapses to tsunamis. And if we are truly honest and compare our recovery time and our recovery programs to our neighbours in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, we will see we are very much slower than they are. Why is this and what can be done this time to make recovery quicker and easier – and more permanent!"
NOW! Publisher Alistair Speirs, OBE, reads out his widely received article on how Bali and Indonesia should prepare for after Covid-19.
Full article here: https://nowbali.co.id/after-covid-19-what-next/
Indonesian article here: https://nowbali.co.id/setelah-covid-19-di-bali-apa-yang-harus-kita-lakukan/
Kaja-Kelod, Bali's True North | Episode 3
In Bali, north has a different meaning. North, or Kaja, is towards the mountain, Mount Agung to be exact. It is the direction towards the spiritual, where the Balinese orient themselves towards. This orientation is found throughout Balinese structures and is all about orienting oneself with the universe.
Keeping the Balance in Bali | Episode 2
In this episode of The NOW! Bali Podcast, we share the unique way in which the Balinese Hindu perceive disaster as well as deal with disaster. This is a nice segue into the discussion of 'balance': how mankind is at the centre of balance between 'good' and 'evil'; and the purpose of ceremonies and offerings in keeping that balance.
Jero Gede Mecaling, The Spreader of Death and Disease | Episode 1
In this debut episode of The NOW! Bali Podcast, we share the story of Jero Gede Mecaling, an old animist myth surrounding the 'Honourable Fanged One', written by Jean Couteau. Jero Gede Mecaling is said to be the bringer of death and disease; a timely myth to discuss for the COVID-19 situation taking place during the recording.
NOW! Bali is a multimedia company based on the Island of the Gods, sharing the best of Travel, Culture and Leisure in Bali. (www.nowbali.co.id)