The NOW! Bali Podcast
Episodes
Protecting the Indigenous Bali Heritage Dog, feat. Janice Girardi | Bali Breakfast Talks Episode 4
23 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Janice Girardi is the Founder of Bali Animal Welfare Association (BAWA). She sits down with host Eddy Speirs to talk about the fascinating history of ...
Surfing's Impact on Bali, feat. Tipi Jabrik | Bali Breakfast Talks Episode 3
26 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In Episode 03 of Bali Breakfast Talks, we continue our seaside conversations from the deck of Breakfast Club Seminyak, inviting you to sit and sip wit...
The Future of Farmers in Bali, feat. Kania Maniasa | Bali Breakfast Talks Episode 2
10 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Kania Maniasa is the Executive Director of Green School Foundation, a non-profit organisation created to bring sustainability-focused education to chi...
Evolutions in Balinese Dance, Feat. Jasmine Okubo | Bali Breakfast Talks Episode 1
30 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jasmine Okubo is a fabulous dancer, producer, choreographer and the founder of Yayasan Kitapoleng, a multidisciplinary art platform based in Bali. Tho...
What Exactly is Nyepi, Bali's Day of Silence? | Episode 32
26 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Many have heard of Nyepi, Bali’s Day of Silence, and understand that for 24 hours the entire island undergoes a strict period of no work, no activit...
Understanding Balinese Ceremonies ft. Tjokorda Raka Kerthyasa (Ubud Royal Family) | Episode 31
03 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Tjokorda Raka Kerthyasa is an esteemed member of the Ubud Royal Family and holds the position of Bendesa Adat of Ubud (Head of Customary Village Organ...
Perpetuating Balinese Rituals: Duty, Debt and Superstition | Episode 30
31 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, host Eddy Speirs shares a bite-sized perspective piece on factors that help to perpetuate Balinese rituals through time. Balinese Hin...
Making Bali 'Future-Proof', ft. Eco Tourism Bali | Episode 29
17 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Bali, renowned for its breathtaking landscapes and vibrant culture, has faced escalating environmental challenges as its tourism industry continues to...
Decoding the Pawukon Calendar: Cycles & Symbolism | Episode 28
12 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, host Eddy Speirs covers one of the most central aspects of Balinese Hindu ritual life: the Pawukon Calendar. This episode outlines th...
The Masks of Bali, feat. Prof. Dr. I Made Bandem and Bruce Carpenter | Episode 27
16 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we welcome Prof. Dr. I Made Bandem and Bruce Carpenter who recently published 'Masks of Bali: Between Heaven and Hell', an ep...
Nature, Cosmology and Transformational Healing, Feat. Tjok Gde Kerthyasa | Episode 26
27 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This episode discusses Balinese healing traditions in the modern age, speaking to Tjok Gde Kerthyasa on how both science and spirituality are importan...
Bali's New Year Resolutions, ft. Alistair Speirs, NOW! Bali Founder | Episode 25
04 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Repatriating Bali's Memories (Part 2); feat Edward Herbst and Marlowe Bandem of Bali 1928 | Episode 24
02 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Full Video Interview available on YouTube here. Stored in distant archives of universities abroad, the earliest recordings of Balinese music and dance...
Repatriating Bali's Memories (Part 1); feat Edward Herbst and Marlowe Bandem of Bali 1928 | Episode 23
08 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Full Video Interview available on YouTube here. Stored in distant archives of universities abroad, the earliest recordings of Balinese music and dance...
Explaining the Role and Importance of Water in Bali | Episode 22
02 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 isl...
The Bali-China Relationship: Symbolism of the Barong Landung Puppets | Episode 21
17 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Found in most banjars across Bali, the distinct appearance of the Barong Landung characters are unmistakeable in the assortment of Balinese religious ...
Coming to Terms with Change in Bali (and of Bali) | Episode 20
23 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 moder...
Music, Environment and Activism in Bali; feat. Ewa Wojkowska & Robi Navicula | Episode 19
08 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, host Eddy Speirs is joined by two special guests, Ewa Wojkowska & Robi Navicula. Together they discuss a range of topics, includi...
Explaining Bali's Subak System (And Why Rice Fields are Cultural Landscapes) | Episode 18
13 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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...
On the Quest for Holy Water | Episode 17
26 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 - ...
Understanding Bali : An Introduction to the Island of the Gods | Episode 16
23 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 Hindui...
Puppet Masters and the Power of Myth | Episode 15
17 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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...
The Story of Galungan, Bali's Most Important Ceremony | Episode 14
15 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 P...
How the Old Balinese Experience Time | Episode 13
13 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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. I...
Exploring Art in Bali, feat. Richard Horstman | Episode 12
13 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 h...
A New Vision for Indonesian Tourism | Episode 11
06 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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...
4 Rules for Life, Bali Style | Episode 10
20 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 lif...
Embracing and Celebrating Differences in Bali (and Indonesia) | Episode 9
09 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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...
What Will Travelling to Bali be like After Covid-19? | Episode 8
30 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 th...
Promoting Bali Tourism, Is There a Right Way? | Episode 7
18 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Tourism, Business Ethics and Covid-19 | Episode 6
11 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 o...
Legends of Bali's Great Temples | Temple Tales | Episode 5
04 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 thing...
Bali After Covid-19: What Next? | Episode 4
23 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
"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 Al...
Kaja-Kelod, Bali's True North | Episode 3
20 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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, w...
Keeping the Balance in Bali | Episode 2
13 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Jero Gede Mecaling, The Spreader of Death and Disease | Episode 1
11 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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',...