PODCAST · arts
Sustainability Matters
by De Gruyter Brill
Sustainability Matters (formerly Humanities Matter)—produced by De Gruyter Brill—takes a deep dive into sustainability in scholarly communications and beyond. The podcast explores topics such as promoting diverse voices and marginalized perspectives in academia, the global accessibility of research, research ethics, combatting misinformation and more. Sustainability Matters features experts, advocates, practitioners, and De Gruyter Brill authors whose work on ethical and sustainable practices breaks boundaries, builds new bonds, and shapes a better future. Join us as we explore how we can shape a more equitable and accessible future for knowledge sharing—because sustainability truly matters, in scholarly publishing, and beyond.
Episodes
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Post-Enlightenment Society, Part 2: What Lies Ahead?
In the second half of this double episode of Sustainability Matters, we explore the rise of the Post-Enlightenment Society. What happens when opinion travels faster than knowledge? How do digital communication, education, and mass politics affect democracy? And is the erosion of Enlightenment...
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Post-Enlightenment Society, Part 1: Truth, Reason, and Human Rights
In the first half of this double episode of Sustainability Matters, we ask: what are the roles of truth, objectivity, and reason in society? How should we understand Enlightenment in relation to human rights, racism, slavery, and Eurocentrism? And what do we risk losing when universal standards…
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The Stories that Make a Nation
On this episode of Sustainability Matters, we explore how history textbooks shape collective memory in Lebanon. How are national narratives constructed? Are these textbooks as divided as the country's politics, or do they tell a more unified story? And what happens when different communities hold...
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Can We Still Trust Science?
On this episode of Sustainability Matters, we explore what having confidence in science really means. What separates healthy skepticism from deliberate doubt? How do politics, economic interests, and misinformation shape public opinion around scientific research? And what role can scientists...
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Rights, Pride & Belonging: From Gender Panic to Trans Joy
It’s pride month, and in this episode of Sustainability Matters we discuss how queer and trans youth have always fought to shape their own futures—and why their rights have become a flashpoint in contemporary culture wars. From Gay-Straight Alliances and gender-neutral bathrooms to representation...
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Virtual, Real, Resilient: Jewish Spaces in 21st Century Europe
On this episode of Sustainability Matters, we explore how Jewish Europe is being reshaped across physical and digital spaces in the 21st century. How do virtual environments change the way heritage is preserved and shared? Can digital reconstructions and online communities sustain cultural...
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Who Gets to Be Indigenous?
On this episode of Sustainability Matters, we examine how indigeneity is defined and contested in conversations around identity, science, and sovereignty. Is it something we inherit, or a political construct? How can scientific and Indigenous knowledge systems collaborate without losing their...
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Play Like a Girl: Girlhood and Identity in Video Games
On this episode of Sustainability Matters, we look at how video games are reshaping the representation of girlhood, identity, and coming-of-age through play. Why have games so often been associated with boyhood? What overlooked histories of girls’ gaming cultures challenge this narrative? And how...
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The Power of Unions: Rise, Fall, Return?
On this episode of Sustainability Matters, we ask: why do unions rise, why do they fall, and what does it take for them to rise again? How do leadership, strategy, and internal democracy shape their trajectory? And what can the turbulent history of a major New York transit union teach us about…
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Religion in a Culture of Digitality: Belief, Power, and Participation
On this episode of Sustainability Matters, we ask: How is digital technology transforming religious belief and practice today? How does digital culture reshape religious authority, education, and governance? And how do emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence complicate questions of...
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Do Solutions to Current Ecological Challenges Lie in Decolonizing the Environment?
What are the limits of the utilitarian approach to studying the environment? How do we go beyond Western philosophies in our thinking around the environment? Can Western and Non-Western approaches work together? And why is it imperative that we expand our political imagination? In this episode of...
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The Heritage of Psychiatry: Whose Voices Are Heard?
On this episode of Sustainability Matters, we ask: What does it mean to narrate the heritage of psychiatry? Why is the history of mental health research so relevant today? How can we celebrate diverse experiences of "madness" without romanticising potentially harmful behaviours? And what role do...
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Does Promoting Research Actually Pay Off?
This month on Sustainability Matters, we discuss whether external research promotion has any tangible effects. Can external media attention translate into academic citations? Does choosing the “right” journal matter? And do we risk perverse outcomes from over-incentivising citations? All this and...
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Open Access: Who Pays, Who Publishes, Who Benefits?
On this episode of Sustainability Matters, we celebrate the progress of Open Access in expanding the reach of research, while also asking how it can become more inclusive. From evolving publishing models and transformative agreements to bridging Global North–South inequities, we look at how...
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Originality in the age of machine-generated text, part 2: Brainrot, peer-review, and the importance of voluntary reading
In this second half of our special double episode of Sustainability Matters, we take a look at the impact of generative AI on academic culture. Should AI tools be used for peer review, grant writing, performance assessments, and the like? What makes “imperfect” human writing still worth…
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Rethinking Global South representation in scholarly publishing
This month on Sustainability Matters, we discuss the persistent underrepresentation of Global South scholars in leading English-language journals. From editorial appointments to peer review practices, structural biases continue to shape who gets published—and whose knowledge is valued. While...
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Publishing with Pride: Using Gender-Fair Language in Research Literature
In honour of Pride Month, on this episode of Sustainability Matters, we explore the politics, practice, and perceptions of gender-fair language. Is it the same as gender-neutral language, or something more expansive? How do linguistic reforms for inclusivity play out across the evolution of a...
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Originality in the age of Gen AI, part 1: Creativity, higher education, and the moral panic
In this first half of a special double episode on Sustainability Matters, we unpack how generative AI is challenging traditional ideas of writing, learning, and originality. Are large language models truly that revolutionary, or just glorified predictive text tools? How are universities…
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Reading Between the Numbers: What Publishing Data Tells Us About Sustainability
In this episode of Sustainability Matters, we get into the numbers behind scholarly publishing. We unpack why publishing consumption patterns vary so widely across countries, how data can inform efforts around diversity, equity, and inclusion, and how it supports progress toward the UN…
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Transdisciplinarity and the Future of Knowledge: Why Sustainable Research Struggles to Survive
In this episode of Sustainability Matters, we explore what responsible research and innovation (RRI) means. How can science move beyond disciplinary siloes to embrace transdisciplinarity? What does it mean to conduct research that is truly socially responsible? And is the commitment to…
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Beyond Tokenism: What Does True Diversity in Higher Education Look Like?
On the first episode of Sustainability Matters (formerly Humanities Matter), we explore the complexities of diversity and inclusion in higher education. Do the frameworks in US universities today advance equity, or merely mask deeper systemic issues? How can academia move beyond optics to genuine...
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Adult Education: Exploring the Inequalities in the World’s Most Populated Country
This month on Humanities Matter, we discuss the variation in literacy rates among India’s social strata, the importance of considering a gendered perspective in adult education policies within the country, and how such policies can empower marginalized communities and bring about social change.…
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Fact or Fiction: Are Sea Serpents Real?
In this episode of Humanities Matter, we take a closer look at the documented sightings of the so-called Gloucester Sea Serpent over the years. Are there truly monsters lurking in the deep? Or do these stories reveal a stark truth about marine sustainability and the lasting impact of human…
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Unpacking Responsibility for Autonomous Weapons Systems Part 2: A Terminator Scenario?
In the second half of this episode on Humanities Matter, we examine when countries might deploy autonomous weapons systems, whether these weapons could better follow international human rights law than humans if properly programmed, the feasibility of a global ban, and the challenges in…
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Unpacking Responsibility for Autonomous Weapons Systems Part 1: The Legal Frameworks
In this special extended episode of Humanities Matter, we take a closer look at Autonomous Weapons Systems and the legal frameworks surrounding their use. What exactly defines an autonomous weapon? Can an individual be held legally responsible for the consequences of deploying such a weapon? And...
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Rights, Camera, Action: The Asian Yearbook of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law
In this episode of Humanities Matter, we dive into human rights and humanitarian law development in Asia, exploring current regional challenges, persisting colonial legacies, external geopolitical pressures, and the push for greater accountability against selective enforcement. All this and more...
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Protecting the Planet and its People: Environmental Human Rights Law
This month on Humanities Matter, we take a closer look at a groundbreaking environmental human rights law being developed in Latin America and the Caribbean. What is it? How is it connected to the Escazú Agreement and the American Convention on Human Rights? And how could these developments shape...
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Growing Communities: Exploring Regenerative Agrourbanism and Sustainable Food Systems
In this episode of Humanities Matter, we look at the role of regenerative agrourbanism in creating sustainable urban living spaces. How can urban agriculture boost local economies and enhance community well-being? Is it possible to strike a balance between urban aesthetics and food supply? And…
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Shaping A Sustainable Future: The Role of Adult Education
In this episode of Humanities Matter, we explore various aspects of adult education, including the influence of Paulo Freire's critical pedagogy, impact of environmental education on social change, and challenges and opportunities when it comes to decolonizing education. We also discuss…
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Difference, Diversity, and Intersectionality in Adult Education and Beyond: A Pride Month Special Episode
It’s pride month! In this episode, we discuss the importance of an intersectional approach to research, the role of adult educators in fostering inclusive learning environments, the power of pop culture in addressing gender and sexuality issues, the homogenisation of the heterogenous trans...
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Breaking Boundaries: Navigating Critical Pedagogy in Today's Educational Landscape
In this episode of Humanities Matter, we explore how partnerships among schools, communities, and higher education institutions can help disrupt inequitable social processes. We highlight the unique perspectives that Black educators bring to academic settings, talk about the power of a…
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Protecting Human Rights: The Role of NGOs in Today’s Landscape
As global crises have time and time again demonstrated, NGOs play an invaluable role in the protection and promotion of human rights. But what exactly does this role entail? How do NGOs fulfil their responsibilities while adapting to technological, commercial, and legal landscape shifts? And...
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Open Access: The Publisher's Perspective
In another special episode on Open Access, Brill’s Head of Open Research Stephanie Veldman speaks with Dr. Anthony Watkinson, author of "Open Access: A publisher's view" by Brill. Having worked in publishing for nearly five decades, Dr. Watkinson has been seen the Open Access movement unfold…
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Open Access: What Would it Take to Make Knowledge-Sharing Equitable?
It’s open access week. So, this episode, we break down the concept of open access to research. Is it a basic human right? What’s its role in shaping global development? And how are technologies—both new and old—influencing a movement for it. We speak with Professor John Willinsky, author of...
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Humanity’s Harmonies: How Music Enriches Word, Dance, and Drama to Tell Our Collective Stories
This month on Humanities Matter, we talk about Music! We wonder why apocalyptic soundtracks have captivated people since Medieval times, we re-discover the beauty and cultural significance of court music, and we explore the ways in which music brings stories to life in Western radio drama. All…
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A Changing World Order in the 21st Century
This month on Humanities Matter, we talk about the need for space laws to include laws governing cybersecurity, data privacy, and war; role of capitalism in the West’s Covid-19 fatalities; and the precarity of certain types of labour in the Global South. All this and more with the Volume Editors…
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Digital Humanities: How the Future Will See its Past
This month, we talk about the ancient world going digital, pedagogy through virtual reality, how open access is changing scholarly publishing, and whether digital tools could make non-Western scholarship more mainstream. Also, is AI the greatest disruption yet to the humanities? All this and more...
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Episode 48: Re-Evaluating Our Laws: Discussing Brill’s Book Series Global Health, Human Rights and Social Justice with Series Editor Alicia Ely Yamin
Global Health, Human Rights and Social Justice—Brill’s upcoming book series—provides multi-disciplinary perspectives on legal strategies across different fields and movements. The series addresses the gaps in writing about specific domains of law and hopes to foster transformative thinking in...
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Mahlzeit: Folge 6: Umkämpftes Essen - Produktion, Handel und Konsum von Lebensmitteln in globalen Kontexten, mit Cornelia Reiher und Sarah Ruth Sippel / Mahlzeit: Episode 6: Contested Food—Production, trade and consumption of food in global contexts, with
Wie wurde die bescheidene Tomate zum Symbol der kulinarischen Globalisierung? Die komplexen Interessen und Machtstrukturen, die das Welternährungssystem prägen, sind ein deutlicher Hinweis auf den politischen Charakter von Lebensmitteln. Anhand zahlreicher Fallbeispiele aus Europa, Asien und…
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Mahlzeit: Folge 5: Fleisch – Die Geschichte einer Industrialisierung, mit Prof. Dr. Christian Kassung / Mahlzeit: Episode 5: Meat—The history of an industrialization, with Prof. Dr. Christian Kassung
Der Wert der globalen Fleischindustrie beträgt aktuell ungefähr eine Billiarde Dollar. Fleisch ist überall leicht erhältlich und diese permanente Verfügbarkeit als Konsumartikel ist ein einzigartiges Merkmal des modernen Zeitalters. In seinem Buch: Fleisch: Die Geschichte einer Industrialisierung...
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Mahlzeit: Episode 4: Applied Food Sciences, with Bart Wernaart and Bernd van der Meulen
Food science is a vast field that encompasses subjects ranging from microbiology to marketing. Considering the present global scenario, with factors such as climate change, war, and recession affecting supply chains worldwide, understanding the different aspects of food science and its connection...
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Mahlzeit: Folge 3: Wie wir essen, mit Martin Hablesreiter und Sonja Stummerer / Mahlzeit: Episode 3: How We Eat, with Martin Hablesreiter and Sonja Stummerer
Esskultur und Essgewohnheiten sind ein prägnanter Teil von Kultur und entwickeln sich permanent weiter. Die Art, wie wir essen, ist nicht biologisch vorgegeben, sondern Ergebnis unserer sozialen und kulturellen Prägung. Warum haben sich bestimmte Gewohnheiten und Verhaltensweisen beim Essen im...
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Mahlzeit: Episode 2: Crossroads of Cuisine: The Eurasian Heartland, the Silk Roads and Food, with Dr. Eugene Anderson
Central Asia—the Eurasian heartland—is home to multiple culturally rich countries such as China, Iran, Mongolia, and Turkey. Naturally, with the advent of trade and globalization, multiple cultural exchanges occurred among these countries along the Silk Route, of which food was an essential…
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Mahlzeit: Episode 1: Changing Climate: Implications for Justice and Food Security, with Ivo Wallimann-Helmer
Food security is threatened the world over, with the number of chronically undernourished people increasing from 775 million in 2014 to 821 million in 2017. This situation is likely to worsen by the effects of climate change, which is exacerbating problems in agricultural food supply…
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Episode 47: Rebooting the European Journal of Jewish Studies, with Marcin Wodziński and Katja Smid
The European Journal of Jewish Studies (EJJS) is a prominent voice in global Jewish studies, having delivered entirely new directions for research in the field. Recently, a new editorial team took charge of this prestigious journal. With the changing of the guard, the EJJS is all set for a major...
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Episode 46: Writing/Reading the Bible in Postcolonial Perspective, with Dr. Steed Vernyl Davidson
The intricacies of imperialism and colonialism within the context of the Bible are nuanced and varied. Understanding the legacy of European Imperialism requires careful reflection of the Bible’s affinity with the empire and concentration of power. In this episode of Humanities Matter, Dr. Steed...
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Episode 45: In Fashion: Culture, Commerce, Craft, and Identity, with Dr. Laura Petican and Dr. Jacque Lynn Foltyn
There has been no greater surge in global fashion trends and expressions of personal style than in the contemporary era of social media fashion influencers. But what constitutes “being in fashion” amongst this multiplicity of interpretations? In this episode of Humanities Matter, Dr. Laura…
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“War and Peace” Episode 5: NATO Rules of Engagement: On ROE, Self-Defence, and the Use of Force during Armed Conflict, with Dr. Camilla Guldahl Cooper
The NATO rules of engagement (ROE) are highly important political and strategic laws that determine the circumstances surrounding the use of armed conflict. However, these laws are often ambiguous and confusing. It requires a great deal of situational awareness to assess a hostile act or intent,...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Sustainability Matters (formerly Humanities Matter)—produced by De Gruyter Brill—takes a deep dive into sustainability in scholarly communications and beyond. The podcast explores topics such as promoting diverse voices and marginalized perspectives in academia, the global accessibility of research, research ethics, combatting misinformation and more. Sustainability Matters features experts, advocates, practitioners, and De Gruyter Brill authors whose work on ethical and sustainable practices breaks boundaries, builds new bonds, and shapes a better future. Join us as we explore how we can shape a more equitable and accessible future for knowledge sharing—because sustainability truly matters, in scholarly publishing, and beyond.
HOSTED BY
De Gruyter Brill
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Sustainability Matters have?
Sustainability Matters currently has 125 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Sustainability Matters about?
Sustainability Matters (formerly Humanities Matter)—produced by De Gruyter Brill—takes a deep dive into sustainability in scholarly communications and beyond. The podcast explores topics such as promoting diverse voices and marginalized perspectives in academia, the global accessibility of...
How often does Sustainability Matters release new episodes?
Sustainability Matters publishes regularly with 125 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
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You can listen to Sustainability Matters on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Sustainability Matters?
Sustainability Matters is created and hosted by De Gruyter Brill.
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