The EGS, Arts, Health and Society Podcast

Bridging Cultures Through the Expressive Arts with Mina MoIn the fourteenth episode of our 30th-anniversary series, we are delighted to welcome Mina Mo, a pioneering practitioner and deeply valued faculty member of the Arts, Health and Society Division at The European Graduate School (EGS).As a leading figure who has been instrumental in expanding the Expressive Arts in South Korea, Mina brings a profound cross-cultural perspective to our global community.In this illuminating episode, listeners will explore:Mina’s personal journey of discovering the phenomenological and intermodal approach at EGS, and how it resonated with her own cultural roots.The beautiful process of translating and bringing the Expressive Arts to South Korea, creating a thriving local community of practitioners.How the Arts, Health and Society Division serves as a unique meeting point where Eastern and Western philosophies can dialogue, merge, and enrich one another through art.The importance of maintaining a decentralized, global network where practitioners from all over the world can learn from each other's unique cultural contexts.A reflection on the 30th anniversary, celebrating the enduring connections and the shared language of creativity that transcends geographical borders.Join us for this expansive conversation about cultural exchange, community building, and the global reach of the Expressive Arts.

Poiesis and Keeping Institutions Alive with Steve LevineIn the thirteenth episode of our 30th-anniversary series, we are deeply honored to speak with Steve Levine, one of the co-founders of the Arts, Health and Society Division at The European Graduate School (EGS). Alongside Paolo Knill, Margo Fuchs Knill, Ellen Levine, and others, Steve was instrumental in shaping the early days of our community.In this brief but powerful interview, listeners will explore:Fond memories of the very first summer school in Saas-Fee, an exhausting but exhilarating experience that culminated in a triumphant celebration by the Roman river.Reflections on the challenge of maintaining the "charismatic quality" of a new institution over time, avoiding the tendency to calcify into mere bureaucracy.A tribute to the leadership and vision of the late Paolo Knill, the leading figure behind the foundation of EGS in Switzerland.The critical need for an "aesthetics of existence"—a theoretical framework indigenous to the arts themselves, asserting that human existence is inherently creative.Why "poiesis" is always possible: The understanding that when the world changes and presents us with complex crises, our survival depends on our capacity to develop new, creative answers.Join us for this foundational conversation about keeping the spirit of creativity alive in our institutions and in ourselves.

The Global Health and Expressive Arts Program with Chelsea Wilkinson and Shabrae JacksonIn the twelfth episode of our 30th-anniversary series, we welcome Chelsea Wilkinson and Shabrae Jackson, faculty members and co-coordinators of the Global Health and Expressive Arts program at our campus in Malta.In this inspiring conversation, listeners will explore:Chelsea’s transition from a clinical art therapy practice to conflict transformation and peacebuilding, driven by a desire to use the Expressive Arts for community work in conflict zones.Insights into Chelsea’s current research, which looks at transnational solidarity movements and the poetic transformation of space through mediums like graffiti.Shabrae’s background in social work and humanitarian community development, and how she utilized creative interventions to empower youth and women in diverse urban settings.A deep dive into the Global Health and Expressive Arts program in Malta, highlighting its trauma-informed, salutogenic approach rooted in conflict transformation.How the Arts, Health and Society Division functions as a "playground of exploration," where global practitioners bring their unique experiences to collaboratively build new meaning and test innovative methodologies.Join us for this dynamic episode as we explore the expanding boundaries of the Expressive Arts and the vital work being done at the Malta campus to respond to the urgent needs of communities worldwide.

Cultural Humility and Social Change with Carrie MacLeodIn the eleventh episode of our 30th-anniversary series, we hear from Carrie MacLeod, an expressive arts practitioner who has been connected to the European Graduate School (EGS) community for two decades. Originally arriving as a student, she later co-created the Arts and Social Change program alongside Ellen Levine and currently teaches in the Master’s program for Conflict Transformation and Peacebuilding within the Arts, Health and Society Division.In this deeply thought-provoking episode, listeners will explore:How the EGS environment encourages questions to evolve into "living inquiries" that invite diverse voices and perspectives.The vital importance of bringing a social justice lens to the expressive arts, allowing other disciplines—like law, immigration, and humanitarian work—to inform our creative practice.How art-based methods can access the "unspeakable and the unformed," giving form to the silent and sidelined voices in marginalized communities.A fascinating reflection on "ecotones"—spaces where two biological communities meet and create new, vital life—as a metaphor for the multicultural, cross-disciplinary community at EGS.Why the practice of expressive arts is, at its core, a practice of "cultural humility," demanding that we listen carefully to what is arising rather than imposing preconceived agendas.Join us for this powerful conversation about using the expressive arts to navigate conflict, ecological crisis, and the complexities of our deeply fractured world.

The Hope of the Expressive Arts: A Conversation with Ellen LevineIn the tenth episode of our 30th-anniversary series, we sit down with Ellen Levine, who has been a core member of the European Graduate School (EGS) community since its very beginning in 1996. Alongside Paolo Knill, Margo Fuchs, and her husband Steve Levine, Ellen helped pioneer the expressive arts movement in Europe.In this deeply inspiring episode, listeners will explore:The early days of the Arts, Health and Society Division, beginning down in the valley at a residential school for children with disabilities in Kinderdorf Leuk.Beautiful memories of the first cohorts moving to Saas-Fee, using the local schoolhouse, parading through the town every morning, and creating art in the heart of the community.Her extensive work establishing a thriving expressive arts training program in Toronto, Canada, which is now entering its 35th year.The profound sense of hope that the expressive arts offer in today's world, providing a life-affirming space for people to process conflict and difficulty.A powerful reflection on why this growing field is so vital, using art, play, and imagination to find new ways to approach the complex challenges of modern life.Join us for this historical and deeply hopeful conversation about the roots of our practice and the ongoing power of the expressive arts.

Embodied Learning and Community Building with Dr. Judith Greer EssexIn the ninth episode of our 30th-anniversary series, we hear from Professor Dr. Judith Greer Essex. A dedicated member of the EGS community, her connection to the institution began nearly three decades ago when she first arrived to complete her doctoral studies. She has since taught across both the Master's and Doctoral programs within the Arts, Health and Society Division.In this illuminating episode, listeners will explore:Dr. Essex’s passion for community building through the aesthetic experience, specifically utilizing dance and music to bring people together.The profound joy and healthy impact of guiding individuals with no background in the performative arts to collaboratively create meaningful work.How the division’s genuinely art-based approach makes its principles applicable across a wide array of fields—from education and psychology to community building and conflict transformation.The unique "experiential teaching" method at EGS, where learning happens by doing.The importance of "owning the information corporeally"—allowing students to embody what they learn rather than just memorizing a textbook.Join us for a fascinating discussion on the power of dance, community connection, and what it truly means to learn through the body.

The Crisis of Imagination and the Power of Art with Fulya KurterIn the eighth episode of our 30th-anniversary series, we hear a profound reflection from Fulya Kurter, an expressive arts facilitator, psychodramatist, and the founder of the Expressive Arts Institute in Istanbul, Turkey. In this deeply moving episode, listeners will explore:Fulya’s personal experience of arriving in the mountains of Saas-Fee in 2018, finding a profoundly human space that helped break old patterns and invited true transformation to emerge.A beautiful, expansive definition of art: witnessing one another, holding complexities, connecting with nature, and staying close to what is human.A reflection on our currently fractured world—marked by war, displacement, and deep divisions—and what Stephen K. Levine described as a global "crisis of imagination".How the expressive arts reawaken our capacity to imagine differently, providing a language that can hold both grief and beauty at the same time, allowing us to act differently.A touching tribute to the international students who find their voices at EGS and carry this vital creative work into schools, clinics, and communities worldwide.Honoring the legacy of founding Dean Paolo Knill, with a heartfelt call to "keep making, listening, and becoming together".Join us for this urgent and poetic reminder of why the expressive arts are more necessary than ever in today's world.

Making Sense Together in a Time of Poly-Crisis with James ChaytorIn the seventh episode of our 30th-anniversary series, we welcome James Chaytor, a faculty member at the Arts, Health and Society Division at The European Graduate School (EGS). James, who originally trained at TAE Peru and completed his graduation in Saas-Fee, returns to the faculty to teach the "Philosophical Discourse" course.In this thoughtful and philosophical conversation, listeners will explore:The challenge of navigating a global "poly-crisis," where polarization makes it increasingly difficult for human beings to make sense of the world together.A compelling comparison between the collective intelligence of ants and the human struggle to reach a shared understanding despite our social nature.Insights from his recent course, observing how students transformed initial tension and difficulty with philosophical texts into moments of eloquence and collective wisdom.His hope for the Arts, Health and Society Division as a creator of spaces where we can communicate meaningfully to find solutions to complex problems.A reflection on the 30th anniversary, viewing the division not just as an institution, but as "fertile ground" where seeds from all over the world can germinate and grow, revisiting the cultural promises of the past.Join us for a deep dive into philosophy, community, and the power of dialogue in the Swiss Alps.

"Friendship Forever": The Global Community with Dr. Lai, Ka Kit (KK)In the sixth episode of our 30th-anniversary series, we are joined by Dr. Lai, Ka Kit—affectionately known as KK—a faculty member teaching philosophy in the PhD program at the Arts, Health and Society Division at The European Graduate School (EGS).Traveling all the way from Hong Kong, KK reflects on his journey from being a student many years ago to becoming an integral part of the teaching faculty.In this touching episode, listeners will explore:The inspiring story of establishing the very first EGS-affiliated local provider in Asia, bringing Expressive Arts Therapy to Hong Kong over a decade ago when the field was still unknown there.A memorable meeting with the late Paolo Knill, matching in orange sweaters, which sparked the courage to start this new institution without any guarantees of success.Reflecting on Paolo’s reminder that the division's approach is not a "cult" but a mainstream movement aimed at helping people release their creative freedom and exercise their aesthetics.A humorous and deeply personal memory of Paolo signing a book (Minstrel of the Soul) with the words "Friendship forever," illustrating the welcoming, deeply connected global community of the Arts, Health and Society Division.Join us for this beautiful reflection on how the philosophy of the division bridges continents and creates lifelong bonds across more than 20 countries.

Poiesis, Research, and Nature: A Conversation with Jacques StitelmannIn the fifth episode of our 30th-anniversary series, we sit down with Jacques Stitelmann, a psychologist, visual artist, poet, and long-standing faculty member at the Arts, Health and Society Division at The European Graduate School (EGS).Having completed his PhD at EGS over 25 years ago, Jacques shares his deep connection to the institution's phenomenological approach and its open-minded community.In this engaging episode, listeners will explore:Jacques’s early introduction to EGS, drawn by the groundbreaking work of Paolo Knill and Stephen K. Levine on "poiesis" and the poetic experience.Fond memories of collaborating with Paolo Knill to carve and evolve the "modality concept" in expressive arts, highlighting Paolo's encouraging openness to extending and changing theories.A vision for the future of the field: the need to develop our specificities while maintaining strong, nourishing links with the broader university, political, and cultural environments.The critical importance of research: Expanding arts-based research alongside classical qualitative methods in the human sciences to stay deeply connected to the global system of health and teaching.A beautiful closing reflection on the landscape of Saas-Fee, emphasizing how contact with nature—the mountains, glaciers, wind, and sun—is an integral part of the expressive arts and our inner world.Join us for this profound dialogue on the importance of staying connected—both to rigorous academic research and to the natural world that surrounds us.

Midwives of Each Other's Lives: Reflections from Founding Dean Margo Fuchs KnillIn the fourth episode of our 30th-anniversary series, we are deeply honored to speak with Margo Fuchs Knill, the Founding Dean of the Arts, Health and Society Division at The European Graduate School (EGS). As a pioneer who has been part of this project since its inception, Margo offers a profound perspective on the division's past, present, and the emerging future.In this moving episode, listeners will explore:A heartfelt tribute to the late founding director, Paolo Knill, and his vital warning against "calcification"—the danger of allowing academic teachings and structures to become rigid routines.The evolution of the Arts, Health and Society Division from its early days of excitement and risk-taking to its current phase of establishment, specialization, and refinement.The necessity of meeting a rapidly changing world with presence, alertness, and an "attitude of preview".How maintaining a childlike attitude of curiosity and openness provides a vital sense of continuity through times of change.A powerful call for a resource-oriented approach rooted in friendship, kindness, and communal networking.The beautiful concept of acting as "midwives of each other's lives," reminding us that while we cannot face the future alone, together we can recreate the hope that love survives.Join us for this powerful reflection that captures the enduring spirit, core values, and unique identity of the Arts, Health and Society Division at EGS.

From Peru to Saas-Fee: Building an Expressive Arts Institute with Judith AlalúIn this third episode of our 30th-anniversary series, we explore the global impact of the EGS philosophy and its approach to transformational learning with faculty member Judith Alalú.Judith, who teaches courses such as 'An Inquiry into the Process of Change' and 'Expressive Arts Oriented Visual Arts and Intermodal' for the Master's program, shares her deep personal and professional journey.In this episode, listeners will explore:Judith's view of EGS as a space where the individual opens to the collective, finding vitality through the encounter of thought, body, art, and nature.The hope that EGS remains a space open to uncertainty and chaos, allowing new creation to continually emerge.Her personal journey arriving at EGS 23 years ago from Peru as a student, eventually completing her PhD and joining the faculty.The founding of TAE Peru, an institute affiliated with EGS, demonstrating how the learning experienced in the Swiss mountains is translated into different global contexts.A shared belief in the profound transformations that take place at EGS and the importance of taking that learning back into the world.Join us to hear how the philosophy of the AHS at EGS extends far beyond the Alps.

From Leuk to Saas-Fee: Memories of the Early EGSIn the second episode of our 30th-anniversary series, José Miguel Calderón sits down with Andreas Meier, a faculty member teaching theater, movement, and digital art at the EGS summer session. Andreas shares his unique perspective, having first joined the EGS community as a student in the mid-1990s.Listeners will explore:How new students are introduced to the EGS methodology through playful, foundational approaches.The evolution of the student body, with today’s cohorts arriving highly prepared and eager to discuss the practical applications of expressive arts.Fond memories of the school's very first year in the Mediterranean-flavored environment of Leuk, and the profound shift of moving to the car-free, high-altitude setting of Saas-Fee.The integration of the surrounding Alps into the curriculum, highlighting the importance of nature-based expressive arts and community building.The legendary 2009 spring symposium centered around the theme of Aphrodite, remembered as a powerful celebration of community art.A deeply personal tribute to the late EGS founder, Paolo Knill, celebrating his immense physical vitality, dedication to the school, and his famous bicycle races up the mountain.Join us for a heartfelt journey through the history, the landscape, and the vibrant community spirit that has shaped the European Graduate School.

A Catalyst for Change: Celebrating 30 Years of The European Graduate SchoolIn this inaugural episode of the Arts, Health & Society podcast, we open our 30th-anniversary series by exploring the very foundations of the EGS experience.The episode features an introductory dialogue with José Miguel Calderón, Program Director of PhD Studies, and Barbara Hielscher, Director of the Master's Program. Together, they reflect on what makes EGS a truly transformational space for students arriving from all over the world.Listeners will hear insights into:How the institution fosters a unique environment of exchange with nature, multiple cultures, and human imagination.The ways in which the EGS space allows practitioners to take risks, rethink assumptions, and reconnect with their professional paths in clinical work, education, and social change.The phenomenological approach that serves as a foundational consent across the faculty, where the lived experience acts as a direct catalyst for surfacing challenges and resources.A shared vision for the future: protecting this unique container for upcoming generations and expanding research towards practical applications.Join us as we look back on three decades of growth and look forward to the continued evolution of the expressive arts.