This week Saturday Mornings Show” host Glenn van Zutphen welcomes Nirmal Ghosh—author, independent writer, and former foreign correspondent—to discuss his latest poetry collection, The Weeds that Grow in Cemeteries. In this wide-ranging conversation, Nirmal reflects on the unique power of poetry compared to fiction, and why keeping alive the art of reading is essential not only for good writing but for cultivating empathy and imagination.

Nature and ecology are recurring themes in his work, and Nirmal shares how nature writing helps us reconnect with the earth, reminding us not to take landscapes and ecosystems for granted. From there, the discussion expands to pressing regional issues: the devastating floods across Asia that highlight the urgent need for resilience and long-term climate adaptation, and the renewed tensions between Thailand and Cambodia, driven by historical grievances and political pressures. With poverty and instability persisting across parts of ASEAN, Nirmal warns of an “arc of chronic instability” in the region, even as Vietnam stands out as an exception.