The Great State Mural - Mongolia Portrayed

Hosts: Dolgion Aldar, Julian Dierkes, and Anand Tumurtogoo
  • 5.0 (1)
  • POLITICS
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

The Great State Mural: Mongolia Portrayed — is a biweekly podcast exploring the current state of social, political, and economic affairs in Mongolia, along with deeper insights and critical analysis of the issues shaping the country. Three Mongolists:Dolgion Aldar (sociologist), Julian Dierkes (sociologist), and Anand Tumurtogoo (journalist), sometimes with guests, discuss and talk about the issues that shape Mongolia. You can find more information about the podcast on Agulamedia.com/podcast And you help support our podcast on https://buymeacoffee.com/greatstatemural

  1. 2D AGO

    Tsagaan Sar, Mongolian Lunar New Year

    In this special episode of The Great State Mural: Mongolia Portrayed, in celebration of Tsagaan Sar, the Mongolian Lunar New Year, we have a more lighthearted episode. We talk about what Tsagaan Sar means to us, our experiences, and some tips for those who are maybe celebrating it for the first time. If you have any suggestions for our show, please get in touch with us at info[at]agulamedia.com And if you are a supporter of us at Buy Me Coffee, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Great State Mural⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can listen to extra recordings as we briefly discuss the current status of the MPP's infighting and how it came about.

    36 min

  2. FEB 4

    Mongolia’s Energy Crisis: Power Outages Leave Ulaanbaatar in the Dark

    In this episode, we discuss why Mongolia’s power grid has been under strain for nearly two decades. Despite repeated development plans and infrastructure proposals, the country has struggled to modernize its aging energy system. As a result, widespread power outages in Ulaanbaatar throughout January highlight deep institutional issues in Mongolia’s electricity network and raise urgent questions about planning, investment, and accountability. Where did Mongolia’s energy policy go wrong—and what would it take to fix the country’s electricity crisis? If you have any suggestions for our show, please get in touch with us at info[at]agulamedia.com And if you are a supporter of us at Buy Me Coffee, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Great State Mural⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can listen to extra recordings as we briefly discuss the current status of the MPP's infighting and how it came about.

    37 min

  3. JAN 21

    What are Mongolians thinking about Venezuela and Maduro's Capture

    Mongolians have rarely had any connection to Venezuela—aside from a brief moment in the 90s, when a Venezuelan soap opera unexpectedly captured all of Mongolians' attention. But with the following capture of Venezuela’s president Nicolas Maduro by U.S. forces, "MERGEN Takes" took hold in Mongolia, with commentators, pundits, columnists, and social media users issuing predictions and warnings that Mongolia could face a similar fate if it continues down a “socialist” path. But is Mongolia actually governed by socialism? Do people truly understand what the label "socialism" means? We explore these questions in this episode of The Great State Mural. If you have any suggestions for our show, please get in touch with us at info[at]agulamedia.com And if you are a supporter of us at Buy Me Coffee, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Great State Mural⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can listen to extra recordings as we briefly discuss the current status of the MPP's infighting and how it came about.

    45 min

  4. JAN 7

    Mongolia Questions Rio Again

    In this episode, we talk about recent hearings of Oyu Tolgoi mines and their licensing agreements that have sparked controversy and kicked off the parliament oversight hearing. For the longest time, Mongolia has had a lovers-to-enemies relationship with Rio Tinto, the majority shareholder in the Oyu Tolgoi copper mine. Over the years, a trail of hearings, deals, and renegotiations has led some political figures to prison, while others (very few) emerged with elevated status. Yet regardless of who gained or lost, Mongolia has never been fully at ease with its largest foreign investment — the massive underground copper-gold project in the South Gobi. Now, a new controversy has entered the picture. A third company, Entrée Resources, has laid claim to a share of the project, and its recent arbitration victory over licensing rights became the catalyst for the latest parliamentary hearings. In this episode, we ask: were these hearings a necessary, or political theatre that risks scaring off future investors? If you have any suggestions for our show, please get in touch with us at info[at]agulamedia.com And if you are a supporter of us at Buy Me Coffee, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Great State Mural⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can listen to extra recordings as we briefly discuss the current status of the MPP's infighting and how it came about.

    42 min

  5. 12/24/2025

    Is it too late to fix Mongolia's corruption?

    In this episode, we talk about corruption in Mongolia — a topic every Mongolian thinks about every day and night. Mongolians often feel that all politicians are corrupt, the system itself is corrupt, and that corruption is part of culture and everyday life. But how bad is corruption in Mongolia, really? Has it reached an endemic stage, or is there still a path back? To unpack these questions, we’re joined by Tegshbayar Darambazar, a lawyer and specialist in compliance and anti–money laundering, who has conducted extensive research on corruption in Mongolia. If you have any suggestions for our show, please get in touch with us at info[at]agulamedia.com And if you are a supporter of us at Buy Me Coffee, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Great State Mural⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can listen to extra recordings as we briefly discuss the current status of the MPP's infighting and how it came about.

    52 min

  6. 12/10/2025

    Team Mongolia Overcame the Odds in Netflix's "Physical Asia": implications of their success

    Mongolians have been obsessed with Netflix's hit show Physical: Asia. The Mongolian team not only received support from Mongolians but also from all over the world because of how well they performed. Their achievement represented the story of underdogs and also served as a true reflection of the potential that Mongolians possess. We discuss the achievements of the Mongolian team, dive into the cultural aspects of trusting one another and self-belief, and how Team Mongolia’s performance on Physical: Asia broke the negative stereotypes Mongolians hold about each other. If you have any suggestions for our show, please get in touch with us at info[at]agulamedia.com And if you are a supporter of us at Buy Me Coffee, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Great State Mural⁠⁠⁠. You can listen to extra recordings as we briefly discuss the current status of the MPP's infighting and how it came about.

    43 min

  7. 11/26/2025

    Will the new leader of Mongolian People's Party bring unity to the Party?

    In this episode, we discuss the new appointment of Uchral Nyam-Osor as the party chair of the Mongolian People's Party. Why was he chosen? why wasn't Zandanshatar chosen as the new party leader? Moving forward, what implication does his appointment have for the grand scheme of Mongolian politics. If you have any suggestions for our show, please get in touch with us at info[at]agulamedia.com And if you are a supporter of us at Buy Me Coffee, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Great State Mural⁠⁠. You can listen to extra recordings as we briefly discuss the current status of the MPP's infighting and how it came about.

    47 min

  8. 11/12/2025

    Air pollution! Yes, We Are Discussing Air Pollution

    Winter has come, and air pollution has started to plague Mongolia again. For more than two decades, residents of Ulaanbaatar have endured and protested against the city’s air pollution. Despite repeated government promises of cleaner air, little has changed. Each winter feels like Groundhog Day — citizens demand action, policymakers pledge solutions, and yet, year after year, Mongolia’s air quality crisis remains unresolved. In this episode, we speak with Enkhuun Byambadorj, co-founder and director of operations at Breathe Mongolia — an advocacy coalition dedicated to improving the air quality in Mongolia. Enkhuun shares insights on what needs to change, why progress has been slow, and what steps could finally lead to cleaner air for Mongolia’s future. If you have any suggestions for our show, please get in touch with us at info[at]agulamedia.com And if you are a supporter of us at Buy Me Coffee, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Great State Mural⁠. You can listen to extra recordings as we briefly discuss the current status of the MPP's infighting and how it came about.

    52 min
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About

The Great State Mural: Mongolia Portrayed — is a biweekly podcast exploring the current state of social, political, and economic affairs in Mongolia, along with deeper insights and critical analysis of the issues shaping the country. Three Mongolists:Dolgion Aldar (sociologist), Julian Dierkes (sociologist), and Anand Tumurtogoo (journalist), sometimes with guests, discuss and talk about the issues that shape Mongolia. You can find more information about the podcast on Agulamedia.com/podcast And you help support our podcast on https://buymeacoffee.com/greatstatemural

Information

  • Creator
    Hosts: Dolgion Aldar, Julian Dierkes, and Anand Tumurtogoo
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    21
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Hosts: Dolgion Aldar, Julian Dierkes, and Anand Tumurtogoo
  • Show Website
    The Great State Mural - Mongolia Portrayed