Pretty Good Podcast: Discussion on Digital Rights

Pretty Good Podcast: Discussions on Digital Rights, is a podcast dedicated to mainstreaming digital rights in the Asia-Pacific by amplifying regional voices and linking current affairs to issues on and related to digital rights.
Pretty Good Podcast is also recorded remotely and produced primarily using free and open-source software. Read about our process in this post. Interested in hosting your own podcast? Read this post for tips on building effective podcasts remotely.Â

- EngageMedia Editorial
- 17/03/2023
Htaike Htaike Aung, lead curator of the Myanmar Internet Project and founder of Myanmar ICT for Development Organization, talks about the ongoing digital dictatorship in Myanmar and how pro-democracy activists are pushing back against the regime.

- EngageMedia
- 15/12/2022
In the final 2022 episode of Pretty Good Podcast, EngageMedia Executive Director Phet Sayo shares his take on the current issues surrounding Big Tech, how these affect the Asia-Pacific, and his vision for the future of digital rights.

- EngageMedia
- 15/11/2022
In the last of a two-part series, lecturer Dr. Samsul Maarif and Project Multatuli membership manager Devina Heriyanto discuss how intersectoral solutions online and offline can help marginalised indigenous communities reclaim their narratives.

- EngageMedia
- 10/11/2022
Dr. Samsul Maarif of Universitas Gadjah Mada and Devina Heriyanto of Project Multatuli tackle how and why mainstream narratives perpetuate discrimination against marginalised religious groups in Indonesia and what can be done to address the issue.

- EngageMedia
- 16/09/2022
Imam Ardhianto, lecturer and chair of the University of Indonesia’s Media, Culture, and Research Center for Anthropological Studies, discusses religious social media movements in Indonesia and the impact on the country's socio-political landscape.

- EngageMedia
- 31/08/2022
Harindrini Corea and Zayed Siddiki, contributors of EngageMedia’s Pandemic of Control series, elaborate on how the digital technologies used for pandemic management have infringed on human and digital rights in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

- EngageMedia Editorial
- 15/07/2022
In this episode, Asia-Pacific analyst and Access Now’s Myanmar lead Wai Phyo Myint sheds light on the current situation in Myanmar and the ongoing efforts of digital rights actors, individuals, and organisations to restore democracy in the country.

- EngageMedia Editorial
- 13/04/2022
In this episode, research consultant Dr Diani Citra and EngageMedia Digital Rights Program Officer for Indonesia Pradipa Rasidi expound on the idea of data justice as it relates to Indonesia and the Philippines.

- EngageMedia Editorial
- 25/03/2022
In this episode, author, filmmaker, and activist Noor Huda Ismail discusses online radicalisation in Southeast Asia: how social media algorithms play a role, and what can be done to help targeted individuals reintegrate back into society.

- EngageMedia Editorial
- 11/02/2022
In this episode, Dr Jun-E Tan expounds on her research with EngageMedia on AI governance in Southeast Asia, discussing the need to contextualise this technology based on the region's needs and how countries can govern AI in ways that protect people.

- EngageMedia Editorial
- 25/01/2022
In the last of Pretty Good Podcast's two-part series on freedom of religious expression in Indonesia, accomplished journalist and writer Feby Indirani shares her experience in advocating for such freedoms in the online space.

- EngageMedia Editorial
- 21/12/2021
Pretty Good Podcast caps off its second season with a special two-part series on freedom of religion and expression online in Indonesia. In Part 1, we speak to academic Leonard Epafras of the Indonesian Consortium of Religious Studies in Yogyakarta on the broader history of religion in the country and Indonesian youth’s experience of expressing their beliefs online.

- EngageMedia Editorial
- 21/06/2021
With Big Tech monopolies owning many of the online services we regularly use, is there still a space (and an audience) for platforms and content outside this mostly proprietary ecosystem? EngageMedia is up for the challenge with the launch of Cinemata, a platform for social and environmental films about the Asia-Pacific. In this podcast episode, we expound on Cinemata with our Executive Director Andrew Lowenthal.

- EngageMedia Editorial
- 14/05/2021
EngageMedia and Reset Australia Executive Director Chris Cooper have a nuanced discussion on how Australia's News Media Bargaining Code affects different sectors of society – and what precedents it will set in the Asia-Pacific region, where governments are increasingly passing more authoritarian laws that regulate content on online platforms.

- EngageMedia Editorial
- 26/04/2021
EngageMedia sits down with Mong Palatino, Southeast Asia and Oceania editor of the community media website Global Voices, to talk about the threats to freedom of expression on the internet. Most importantly, we ask Mong: Is the internet still a safe space for us to freely express ourselves?

- EngageMedia Editorial
- 17/03/2023
Htaike Htaike Aung, lead curator of the Myanmar Internet Project and founder of Myanmar ICT for Development Organization, talks about the ongoing digital dictatorship in Myanmar and how pro-democracy activists are pushing back against the regime.

- EngageMedia
- 15/12/2022
In the final 2022 episode of Pretty Good Podcast, EngageMedia Executive Director Phet Sayo shares his take on the current issues surrounding Big Tech, how these affect the Asia-Pacific, and his vision for the future of digital rights.

- EngageMedia
- 15/11/2022
In the last of a two-part series, lecturer Dr. Samsul Maarif and Project Multatuli membership manager Devina Heriyanto discuss how intersectoral solutions online and offline can help marginalised indigenous communities reclaim their narratives.

- EngageMedia
- 10/11/2022
Dr. Samsul Maarif of Universitas Gadjah Mada and Devina Heriyanto of Project Multatuli tackle how and why mainstream narratives perpetuate discrimination against marginalised religious groups in Indonesia and what can be done to address the issue.

- EngageMedia
- 16/09/2022
Imam Ardhianto, lecturer and chair of the University of Indonesia’s Media, Culture, and Research Center for Anthropological Studies, discusses religious social media movements in Indonesia and the impact on the country's socio-political landscape.

- EngageMedia
- 31/08/2022
Harindrini Corea and Zayed Siddiki, contributors of EngageMedia’s Pandemic of Control series, elaborate on how the digital technologies used for pandemic management have infringed on human and digital rights in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

- EngageMedia Editorial
- 15/07/2022
In this episode, Asia-Pacific analyst and Access Now’s Myanmar lead Wai Phyo Myint sheds light on the current situation in Myanmar and the ongoing efforts of digital rights actors, individuals, and organisations to restore democracy in the country.

- EngageMedia Editorial
- 13/04/2022
In this episode, research consultant Dr Diani Citra and EngageMedia Digital Rights Program Officer for Indonesia Pradipa Rasidi expound on the idea of data justice as it relates to Indonesia and the Philippines.

- EngageMedia Editorial
- 25/03/2022
In this episode, author, filmmaker, and activist Noor Huda Ismail discusses online radicalisation in Southeast Asia: how social media algorithms play a role, and what can be done to help targeted individuals reintegrate back into society.

- EngageMedia Editorial
- 11/02/2022
In this episode, Dr Jun-E Tan expounds on her research with EngageMedia on AI governance in Southeast Asia, discussing the need to contextualise this technology based on the region's needs and how countries can govern AI in ways that protect people.

- EngageMedia Editorial
- 25/01/2022
In the last of Pretty Good Podcast's two-part series on freedom of religious expression in Indonesia, accomplished journalist and writer Feby Indirani shares her experience in advocating for such freedoms in the online space.

- EngageMedia Editorial
- 21/12/2021
Pretty Good Podcast caps off its second season with a special two-part series on freedom of religion and expression online in Indonesia. In Part 1, we speak to academic Leonard Epafras of the Indonesian Consortium of Religious Studies in Yogyakarta on the broader history of religion in the country and Indonesian youth’s experience of expressing their beliefs online.

- EngageMedia Editorial
- 21/06/2021
With Big Tech monopolies owning many of the online services we regularly use, is there still a space (and an audience) for platforms and content outside this mostly proprietary ecosystem? EngageMedia is up for the challenge with the launch of Cinemata, a platform for social and environmental films about the Asia-Pacific. In this podcast episode, we expound on Cinemata with our Executive Director Andrew Lowenthal.

- EngageMedia Editorial
- 14/05/2021
EngageMedia and Reset Australia Executive Director Chris Cooper have a nuanced discussion on how Australia's News Media Bargaining Code affects different sectors of society – and what precedents it will set in the Asia-Pacific region, where governments are increasingly passing more authoritarian laws that regulate content on online platforms.

- EngageMedia Editorial
- 26/04/2021
EngageMedia sits down with Mong Palatino, Southeast Asia and Oceania editor of the community media website Global Voices, to talk about the threats to freedom of expression on the internet. Most importantly, we ask Mong: Is the internet still a safe space for us to freely express ourselves?

- EngageMedia Editorial
- 20/03/2021
What concrete actions can the international community do to support Myanmar's fight for democracy? EngageMedia talks to prominent pro-democracy activist Thinzar Shunlei Yi on how exactly the military is using technology against protesters, and what kinds of support Myanmar civil society needs to continue their fight for democracy.

- EngageMedia Editorial
- 11/03/2021
The COVID-19 pandemic spurred on existing debates and developments on users’ privacy, government surveillance, and data monetisation. But what do all these mean for the Asia-Pacific? EngageMedia chats with Mishi Choudhary, founder of SFLC.in, on how recent events are affecting the region, and how we can boost our voices and influence the tech space.

- EngageMedia Editorial
- 12/02/2021
There have been many reports on what is happening in Myanmar following the military coup, but more than ever we need to listen to stories from the ground, as told by the people of Myanmar. On this episode of Pretty Good Podcast, EngageMedia interviews filmmaker Stephen Minus (also known as Thet Oo Maung) on his experience documenting the protests that have swept the country, and the wider implications of the military's human and digital rights violations against the Myanmar people.

- Sara Pacia
- 24/11/2020
Following the recently concluded elections in Myanmar, EngageMedia sits down with Maung Zarni, Burmese scholar and co-founder of Forces of Renewal Southeast Asia (FORSEA), to discuss how the poll results tie into the bigger digital rights challenges facing the country today.

- Sara Pacia
- 06/11/2020
Bishakha Datta, Executive Director of Point of View, elaborates on how the challenges marginalised groups face on the internet are parallel to the obstacles encountered offline, as well as how allies in solidarity can protect and amplify these stories in the digital space.

- Sara Pacia
- 16/10/2020
On this episode of Pretty Good Podcast, Amnesty International Thailand Director Piyanut Kotsan enumerates the human and digital rights issues and violations occurring during the recent youth-led protests in Thailand.

- Sara Pacia
- 17/09/2020
Shita Laksmi, Executive Director of the Tifa Foundation, chats with EngageMedia about internet intermediary liability, particularly in regards to disinformation on the COVID-19 pandemic and the role of the state in regulating content.

- Sara Pacia
- 13/08/2020
On this episode of Pretty Good Podcast, we chat with Simon Harmon and Sam de Silva from the Loki Foundation, makers of private messaging app Session, on the benefits of and challenges to using secure tools for communications.

- Sara Pacia
- 15/07/2020
On the third episode of Pretty Good Podcast, ARTICLE19 digital programme officer Vidushi Mardia dissects the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the region's response to COVID-19 and what the new applications of this technology mean for digital rights after the pandemic.

- Sara Pacia
- 25/06/2020
The second episode of Pretty Good Podcast delves deeper into the Philippine court cyber libel ruling against journalists Maria Ressa and Reynaldo Santos Jr. of Rappler, a Philippine news organisation known to be critical of incumbent President Rodrigo Duterte. We ask John Nery, a columnist for the Philippine Daily Inquirer and co-founder of the Consortium on Democracy and Disinformation: What does this case mean for press freedom, and what are the wider implications of this ruling for freedom of expression online?