The Perantau Podcast

S2E8. What working in Australia’s film industry taught me about Indonesia with Kennardi Sebastian

The Perantau Podcast

For many Indonesian creatives, the most meaningful insights come after going abroad. Kennardi Sebastian is an Indonesian creative working in Melbourne’s film and media scene. His journey spans from growing up in Jakarta with a passion for storytelling and gaming, to building a career in Australia as a Virtual Production Operator at The University of Melbourne. In navigating the fast-paced, often unpredictable world of Australian filmmaking, Ken has also found himself reflecting more critically and personally on Indonesia—its culture, creative industries, and the concept of belonging. In this episode, Ken joins Billy Adison Aditijanto on The Perantau Podcast to talk about what the Australian film industry has taught him not just professionally, but about identity, diaspora, and the creative opportunities—and limitations—of being Indonesian abroad. They explore everything from why Ken’s early ambitions were a "gamble", to his current projects and his hopes for how Indonesia can better embrace creative subcultures, particularly in gaming and media. This episode is predominantly delivered in English. The views expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the podcast or any organisations they are affiliated with or mention. Chapters: 00:00 Intro 00:46 Ken's Journey from "Detached" to "Driven" 02:13 Discovering Virtual Production 04:32 Explaining Virtual Production 09:15 Ken's Early Years in Melbourne 12:51 Building a Community and Career 14:23 Reflections on Belonging 20:20 Growing Up in Bali the Impact of a Multicultural Upbringing 22:24 Indonesian Influence in Creative Work 23:14 Changing the Gaming Culture in Indonesia 30:51 Challenges in the Indonesian Creative Industry 37:39 Advice for Young Filmmakers and Indonesians Abroad 42:29 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

S2E7. What One Project Taught Me About Indonesia’s Education Sector with Sherlina Felicia Livianto

The Perantau Podcast

What happens when your dream job doesn’t feel quite right? In this episode, Billy Adison Aditijanto chats with Sherlina Felicia Livianto, a marketing graduate who landed her first full-time job in Melbourne – only to realise a few months in that something was missing. It turns out it was a prior university-led project focused on building university partnerships with Indonesia that she discovered a deeper interest in education and cross-border collaboration. Sherlina opens up about that turning point, what it taught her about the untapped potential of Indonesia’s higher education sector, and why she’s now preparing to resign from her role in marketing to explore a new path. We also talk about transferable skills from student leadership, growing up through career uncertainty, and what it means to find purpose after graduation. This episode is predominantly delivered in Bahasa Indonesia. The views expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the podcast or any organisations they are affiliated with or mention. Find The Perantau Podcast on: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ThePerantau.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

S2E6. Internships, First Jobs, and Life in Melbourne with Quincy Jhon

The Perantau Podcast

When studying and working abroad, it’s natural to ask: does this place still align with who I am and where I’m going? For many young professionals, navigating life after graduation means figuring out not just career moves, but whether to stay or return home. It’s a question that becomes more complex the longer you’re away. In this episode, Quincy Jhon joins Billy Adison Aditijanto on The Perantau Podcast. Since arriving in Melbourne in 2022, Quincy has completed a Finance degree at the University of Melbourne and now works full-time in accounting at a smaller firm—an experience that stands in contrast to her past internships at larger companies. We talk about her transition into the workforce, the transferable skills she gained from leading the Indonesian Student Association of Victoria (PPIA Victoria), and the personal highs and lows she’s experienced along the way. While Melbourne has played a big part in her growth, Quincy shares why she ultimately sees herself returning to Indonesia in the long run. This episode is delivered in English and Bahasa Indonesia. The views expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the podcast or any organisations they are affiliated with or mention. Find The Perantau Podcast on: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ |⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠ |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ |⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠ |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ThePerantau.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 00:39 “Detached” sama komunitas Indonesia 02:08 Quincy siapa sih 02:55 Dunia akuntansi dan gimana kalo salah nama 10:51 Transisi ke dunia kerja 14:31 PPIA berguna ga sih? 19:40 Jadi orang Indo di kantor 21:30 Apa sih yang dimaksud “increase efficiency by 0.5%” 27:01 Indo v Melbourne dan self-development 32:42 Soft-skills, magang, dan nyari pengalaman kerja

S2E5. Animating Grief and Indonesian Horror with Christie Widiarto

The Perantau Podcast

Indonesian horror often reflects deep societal fears, cultural beliefs, and the lived experiences of women. Folklore like Kuntilanak carries layers of meaning, often tied to grief, womanhood, and systemic struggles. Through animation, these stories can be reinterpreted, reclaimed, and told in new ways, blending tradition with modern creative expression. Christie Widiarto is a lecturer, filmmaker, and researcher exploring the intersection of Indonesian folklore, grief, and feminism. Born in Indonesia, she moved to Australia at age two and grew up navigating multiple cultural identities. Her PhD research began with an article on Kuntilanak but soon became personal. She saw her own grief reflected in the legend, uncovering deeper themes of violence, loss, and resilience. Christie joins Billy Adison Aditijanto on The Perantau Podcast to talk about how animation can be a tool for cultural storytelling, her transition from coding to filmmaking, and how she’s working to bridge Indonesian traditional arts with modern animation. She also shares her vision for the future by learning from Indonesian animators, reimagining folklore, and finding new ways to tell stories that matter. This episode is primarily delivered in English. The views expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the podcast or any organisations they are affiliated with or mention. Find the Perantau Podcast on: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ |⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠ |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ |⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠ |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ThePerantau.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠