The Perantau Podcast

Sometimes moving cities and between cultures pushes you to meet a completely new version of yourself. For many Indonesians abroad, that can happen through the food we chase, the values we hold onto, and the moments where we realise we don’t quite fit into one box anymore. Jane Vieren is an Indonesian food content creator – among many other things – based in Melbourne. Between faith, confidence, and learning where she stands, Jane’s story reflects the messy, honest work of growing up far from home. Jane joins Billy Adison Aditijanto on The Perantau Podcast where they talk about the ethics of food content creation, the truth behind hype-driven dining videos, her funniest “wait… what?” Chindo culture mix-ups, and why marathons and pilates are the future for her. This episode is predominantly delivered in a mix of English and Bahasa Indonesia. The views expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host, the podcast or any organisations they are affiliated with or mentioned.

Loving Indonesia can feel complicated — especially when the place you call home challenges your hopes for its future. Alfin Nurul Firdaus is a youth and environmental advocate from Pasuruan, East Java, now in Melbourne studying waste management at the University of Melbourne. From founding Pasuruan Youth Forum to building Waste Reform Indonesia, Alfin’s work is rooted in community, sustainability, and a desire to give back to the place that shaped her. In this episode, Alfin joins Billy Adison Aditijanto on The Perantau Podcast to talk about her deep, sometimes “toxic-relationship” love for Indonesia; the grassroots realities of waste management she witnessed growing up near industrial rivers; and how education abroad is reshaping her approach to environmental change. Season 2 Episode 17 – The Perantau Podcast. 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 host, the podcast or any organisations they are affiliated with or mentioned.

What does it take to build a life, and a business, far from home? Meet Jordan Setiawan, an Indonesian entrepreneur in Melbourne who transformed his student journey into a thriving career in hospitality. After arriving in 2019 with limited English, Jordan faced Melbourne's strict COVID lockdowns, lost touch with his Indonesian community, and struggled to find his place. But through coffee, resilience, and a reconnection to culture, he co-founded Mr. Summit Café and recently launched the new Indonesian eatery, Kantin Kita. His story reflects the challenges and triumphs of the Indonesian diaspora: building dreams overseas while staying rooted in identity. On this episode, Jordan Setiawan joins Billy Adison Aditijanto on The Perantau Podcast to talk about reconnecting with Indonesian identity, battling burnout as a café owner, and why food is his bridge between Melbourne and Indonesia. This episode is entirely delivered in English. The views expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host, the podcast or any organisations they are affiliated with or mentioned. Chapters: Intro (00:00) Identity and disconnection (01:12) Hospitality career and starting Mr. Summit Café (03:16) Burnout and imposter syndrome (08:10) What Sets Mr. Summit Apart (13:30) Southbank's new Kantin Kita (16:53) Reconnecting with Indonesia through food (20:13) The Next Chapter: Returning to Indonesia (22:10) Quickfire Q&A (25:25) Closing Thoughts (28:22)

From Jakarta to Melbourne, the Indonesian diaspora is more than just students and migrant workers. It’s a community that reshapes how Indonesia connects with the world. Questions of belonging, identity, and rights remain central, especially as debates over dual citizenship and the future of overseas Indonesians gain momentum. Charlotte Setijadi, anthropologist and author of Harnessing the Potential of the Indonesian Diaspora (ISEAS, 2017), has spent years studying how Indonesians abroad push for recognition, build networks, and engage in nation-building from afar. Now back in Melbourne after working in Singapore, she brings both her own research and personal take to the conversation. In this episode, Charlotte joins Billy Adison Aditijanto on The Perantau Podcast to talk about the changing face of the diaspora and the crucial role it plays in bridging cultures, politics, and economies.

Many young Indonesians living abroad quickly realise that life overseas isn’t always as ideal as it seems — especially when your degree and career path no longer feel like the right fit. Adelina Novanty, or Dela, moved to Perth from Jakarta after finishing high school. Initially spurred by family, she began her degree in dental nursing. But over time, she discovered that her true interests lay in the business and creative space. Now, while continuing to work at a clinic, she’s pursuing a degree in management and exploring new opportunities — from health-sector marketing to running her own photography business. In this episode, Dela joins Billy Adison Aditijanto on The Perantau Podcast to talk about homesickness, the challenge of finding community in Perth, and the value of self-exploration. She shares her journey from working in dental care to building her own side hustle, and what it’s been like navigating work and life across cultures. Season 2 Episode 14 – The Perantau Podcast. 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 host, the podcast or any organisations they are affiliated with or mentioned.

For students in Australia, Bahasa Indonesia is often seen as the throwaway subject — too easy, too close, or just not important. But for Silvy Wantania, Indonesian teacher at Melbourne High School and President of the Victorian Indonesian Language Teachers’ Association (VILTA), language isn’t just about passing doing well in class. It’s a way to build relationships — with others, and with ourselves. After more than two decades of teaching in Australia, Silvy works with two main demographics: Australian-born students of Indonesian descent, and non-Indonesians who choose to learn Bahasa Indonesia as a foreign language. As the challenges differ, so does the approach. But the point stays the same: to make the language feel alive and relevant. In this episode, Silvy Wantania joins Billy Adison Aditijanto on The Perantau Podcast to share her experience keeping Bahasa Indonesia engaging for the next generation. We discuss why student interest is stagnating, how pop culture like Dilan 1990 and Ada Apa Dengan Cinta? unexpectedly draw in non-Indonesian students, and the crucial role diaspora parents play in keeping the language from fading away. This episode invites us to reflect: if Indonesia still matters, why is the language being left behind?

What happens when you’re trying to make a new home abroad—but your emotions still speak in the language of home? In this heartfelt episode, we sit down with Angela Utomo, an Indonesian psychologist and lecturer at Victoria University in Melbourne, who shares her unique perspective on navigating mental health, identity, and belonging as a migrant. Drawing from over 15 years of experience in Australia, Angela reflects on what it means to stay rooted in your cultural identity while building a new life elsewhere. We explore the emotional weight of language in therapy, the hidden stigma still surrounding mental health in Indonesian communities, and the unspoken pressures that often come with studying or working overseas. Angela also opens up about how faith, community, and small everyday actions can ground us through the uncertainties of life abroad. Whether you’re an international student, a first-time migrant, or someone supporting others through change, this episode reminds us that it's okay to ask for help—and that healing can begin in the words closest to our hearts.

Bisakah kita tetap berkontribusi untuk Indonesia, meski hidup jauh dari tanah air? Denny Indrayana adalah akademisi, advokat, dan mantan Wakil Menteri Hukum dan HAM yang kini mengajar di Melbourne Law School dan Universitas Gadjah Mada. Meski berkiprah di luar negeri, ia terus menyuarakan pentingnya reformasi hukum, pemberantasan korupsi, dan keadilan sosial di Indonesia. Sebagai diaspora yang hidup di persimpangan dua negara, Denny berbagi cerita tentang rasa cinta tanah air, tantangan menjaga idealisme dari perantauan, dan bagaimana diaspora bisa ikut membangun masa depan Indonesia. Dalam episode ini, Denny bergabung bersama Billy di The Perantau Podcast untuk membahas identitas, nasionalisme dari kejauhan, serta refleksi tentang bagaimana menjadi bagian dari perubahan tanpa harus selalu berada di tanah air. Pandangan yang disampaikan dalam episode ini adalah pendapat pribadi dan tidak tentu mencerminkan posisi siniar ini maupun organisasi yang terkait atau disebutkan.

What does it mean to grow up between two cultures – when neither fully claims you – but both shape who you are? Kris Redden is a cookbook writer, musician, and community organiser born in Jakarta to an Indonesian mother and Australian father. After moving to regional Australia in his teens, Kris has spent years navigating questions of belonging, identity, and cultural memory – reflections that now find form in a cookbook he’s co-writing with his partner and friends. His work spans storytelling, food, and community-building, all grounded in a mixed heritage that’s as rich as it is complex. In this episode, Kris joins Billy Adison Aditijanto on The Perantau Podcast to talk about finding connection through food, the long histories between Indonesia and Indigenous Australia, and how a near-death experience pushed him to embrace life more fully. Together, they reflect on music, memory, community survival, and why diasporic stories matter now more than ever.This episode is delivered in a mix of English and Bahasa Indonesia.The views expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host, the podcast or any organisations they are affiliated with or mentioned.

What happens when success no longer feels like enough? Born and raised in Bandung, Gracia Sharlene is a financial services consultant and business analyst based in Melbourne. After graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce and a Master of Information Systems from the University of Melbourne, she built a career working across major firms in tech and finance. But after years of chasing deadlines and career milestones, she found herself burnt out — emotionally drained, professionally disconnected, and unsure of what came next. Now on sabbatical, Sharlene is taking a step back to figure out what she truly wants, and where she truly belongs. In this episode, Sharlene joins Billy Adison Aditijanto on The Perantau Podcast to talk about the love-hate relationship many migrants have with life abroad, the emotional toll of visa pressures and hustle culture, and the power of pausing to find clarity. It’s a conversation about burnout, ambition, identity, and what it means to start again — on your own terms. 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 host, the podcast or any organisations they are affiliated with or mentioned.