The Connective
By NEWconnective / VU Campusradio
The ConnectiveApr 11, 2024
Realist Concerns with Non-Violent Ideals
[CONTENT GUIDANCE: this episode explores themes of violence, such as sexual violence, and might be triggering for some.]
Violence is everywhere around us; sometimes today's world seems to be engulfed in it. In this episode, we engage in conversation about how to relate to this violence, and about the possible response of non-violence. To do this, Marc and Thirza (fellow program maker at NEWConnective) ask Peter Victor, student of Peace, Trauma and Religion, how non-violence takes shape for him; both far away and closer to home.
NEWConnective is an organisation at the Vrije Universiteit, which develops events around life's bigger questions, identity and spirituality. Marc and Thirza are both part of the NEWConnective team. Peter Victor, in addition to his involvement in his field, also joins from his South African background.
In this podcast, we discuss the following questions:
- What are the pros and cons of non-violence?
- Should everyone be non-violent?
- Where does violent language sit in all of this?
- And how do we relate to ourselves as potentially violent beings?
Do you want to join the conversation? Then find us during our next On Campus Edition, at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.
The Connective is a production of NEWConnective and VU Campusradio. The song you hear come and go during the episode is 'Winter Tropics' by Jacob Montague; we've acquired the necessary music license at MusicBed.
Living Peace Here and Conflict There
Selma Boulmalf and Marc Lamain are program makers in the NEWConnective team. Also, Selma is an organizer around the conflict in Israel-Palestine. Lilia Sarry is a VU alumna in work and organizational psychology, who came to Amsterdam when her home Ukraine was invaded by Russia. Together they wonder:
How do you deal with the dissonance in living in a relatively safe area, whilst affected by or involved with global conflict?
What is it like to experience these tensions while walking around on campus?
And should we even compare the conflicts between Israel and Palestine; and Ukraine and Russia?
Do you want to join the conversation? Then find us during our next On Campus Edition, at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.
The Connective is a production of NEWConnective and VU Campusradio. The song you hear come and go during the episode is 'Winter Tropics' by Jacob Montague; we've acquired the necessary music license at MusicBed.
Exploring Sustainability through Spirituality
Thirza remembers many documentaries ending with a gloomy 'but the earth is changing…' when she grew up. Perhaps it was climate anxiety, before we spoke of any such thing; or, perhaps it was a different feeling: one that doesn't have a name yet. Thirza and fellow program maker Marc, join in conversation with Montserrat about spirituality and earth emotions, in relation to a changing world.
Thirza Snoek and Marc Lamain are program makers in the NEWConnective team. Montserrat Koloffon Rosas is a PhD Candidate at the Institute for Environmental Studies, and specializes in governance and the Sustainable Development Goals. Together they wonder:
- How can our emotions and spirituality support sustainable development?
- Do words like 'solastalgia', 'ecoagnosy' and 'mermerosity' hold any potential?
- How is sustainable discourse shaped by our worldview?
Do you want to join the conversation? Then find us during our next On Campus Edition, at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.
The Connective is a production of NEWConnective and VU Campusradio. The song you hear come and go during the episode is 'Winter Tropics' by Jacob Montague; we've acquired the necessary music license at MusicBed.
Embracing Darkness as a Friend
'Hello darkness, my old friend.' This well-known lyric brought Johan to a question: could darkness indeed be a friend? Without coming to a conclusive answer, programme makers Marc and Noud, join Johan in a conversation about darkness. They touch upon pain and death, and just as much on intimacy and love.
Marc Lamain and Noud Fortuin are programme makers in the NEWConnective team. Johan Roeland is an Associate Professor at the Institute for Environmental Studies, and specializes in governance and the Sustainable Development Goals. Together they wonder:
- How can our emotions and spirituality support sustainable development?
- Do words like 'solastalgia', 'ecoagnosy' and 'mermerosity' hold any potential?
- How is sustainable discourse shaped by our worldview?
Do you want to join the conversation? Then find us during our next On Campus Edition, at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.
The Connective is a production of NEWConnective and VU Campusradio. The song you hear come and go during the episode is 'Winter Tropics' by Jacob Montague; we've acquired the necessary music license at MusicBed.
Loneliness in Light of Individualization
We all feel lonely every once in a while. In fact, the most recent Dutch health monitor shows that feeling lonely currently is the majority experience amongst young people. Philosophy student Jaron van der Veer and sociologist Bianca Suanet join Marc to discuss loneliness.
- How does loneliness relate to general feelings of unease?
- Is loneliness an individual or a collective problem?
- And is loneliness even problematic to begin with?
In this conversation Bianca shares findings in loneliness and social relations research. In particular she debunks myths about individualization contributing to feelings of loneliness; and she explains what interventions need to offer, to compete a lack of belonging. Jaron shares about how he sees loneliness impacting the people around him, and shares his considerations about loneliness being a matter to work on collectively.
Jaron van der Veer studies the Master's programme Philosophy at de Universiteit van Amsterdam. Bianca Suanet is an associate professor in sociology at the Vrije Universiteit, and specializes in social gerontology, loneliness and health. Marc is a program maker at NEWConnective.
Do you want to join the conversation? Find us at the next On Campus Edition of The Connective.
The Connective is a production of NEWConnective and VU Campusradio. The song you hear is by Jacob Montague, and is called 'Winter Tropics'; we've acquired the necessary music license at MusicBed.
Pretend Students and Pressure to Perform
Sometimes, one lie can lead to another. 'The exam went fine,' can snowball into 'I'm graduating soon,' and after a while, it can be tough to find a way out of the lies. Job van Ballegoijen de Jong has experienced it himself during his studies, and was a 'pretend student' for six years. Camée Comperen also has experience with pretending to be enrolled in courses, while, in fact, she needed some time off, and had unregistered. They tell their stories to Marleen Blootens.
Marleen talks with Job and Camée about expectations, shame and a lack of space to fuck up. How did they get into their situations? How did they cope with the isolation it involved? And how did they, eventually, get out? Job van Ballegoijen de Jong is a lawyer at a firm on the ZuidAs. Camée Comperen is a student at the Vrije Universiteit.
The Connective is a production of NEWConnective and VU Campusradio. The song you hear is by Jacob Montague, and is called 'Winter Tropics'; we've acquired the necessary music license at MusicBed.
The Intangibility of Decolonizing the Curriculum
What does it mean to decolonize a curriculum? How can both students and teachers get involved? And how does it impact the studying experience? Marc joins in conversation with Shivalika Madgulkar, student environmental sciences; and Gaila Jehoel, assistant professor in art history. How are they involved? And what does it mean to them, to work on decolonizing the curriculum?
Shivalika Madgulkar studies Global Environmental Change and Policy at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Gaila Jehoel is art historian, and specializes in the contemporary art market.
Marc Lamain is a programme maker at NEWConnective, and host of the podcast. The Connective is a production of NEWConnective and VU Campusradio. The song you hear is by Jacob Montague, and is called 'Winter Tropics'; we've acquired the necessary music license at MusicBed.
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Below you find a reading list, for those who want to dive into the topic further. These are foundational sources for this episode, specifically.
- Delgado, Lisenne and Lianne Mulder, "Eliminating racism, decolonizing education and building an inclusive society: The Role of universities in the Kingdom of the Netherlands," Race Equality Teaching 2017, Vol. 34 (II): pp. 15-20.
- Dennis, Carol Azumah, "Decolonising Education," Decolonising the University, Gurminder K. Bhambra, Dalia Gebrial and Kerem Nişancıoğlu (eds.), (London: Pluto Press, 2018): pp. 190-207.
- Jones, Steven, "Racism and Decolonisation," Universities Under Fire: Hostile Discourses and Integrity Deficits in Higher Education (London: Palgrave Macmillan Cham, 2022): pp. 168-175.
- Mbembe, Achille Joseph, "Decolonizing the university: New Directions," Arts & Humanities in Higher Education 2016, Vol 15 (I): pp. 29-45.
- Tuck, Eve and K. Wayne Yang, "Decolonization is not a metaphor," Decolonization: Indigeneity, Education & Society 2012, Vol. 1 (I): pp. 1-40.
- Waldring, Ismintha, Amel Labeab, Mirthe van den Hee, Maurice Crul and Marieke Slootman, Belonging@VU (Amsterdam: Vrije Universiteit, 2020).
Indigenous People and Our Relation with Nature
How can we relate to nature? And how do we find out what nature means to us? Marc joins in conversation with Jochem Vink, student Spiritual Care; and Barbara Arisi, lecturer in anthropology. How would they answer the question 'are you more of a nature, or city kind of person?' and all the questions that ensue?
Jochem Vink studies Spiritual Care at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, and specializes in Buddhist spiritual care. After growing up in the east of the Netherlands, he moved to Amsterdam, where he expected to find a place under the sun. He started missing nature though, and went on a journey, looking for the meaning of nature.
Barbara Arisi is a lecturer in anthropology at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, and specializes in indigenous peoples of the Amazon and the Low Lands. She grew up in Brazil, spent time with the Matis people who live in the Amazon, and now lives in the North of the Netherlands, in Groningen. What is her relation with nature; and how does she suggest we all figure ours out?
Marc Lamain is a programme maker at NEWConnective, and host of the podcast. The Connective is a production of NEWConnective and VU Campusradio. The song you hear is by Jacob Montague, and is called 'Winter Tropics'; we've acquired the necessary music license at MusicBed.
Limits to Compassion in Activism
Listen to the first episode of this season; the first English season of our podcast. What started out as ‘In gesprek’, our Dutch podcast on ‘de zin en onzin van het leven,’ now is ‘The Connective’ – a podcast on life's (non)sense. We're excited, with this switch in language, to include more people in the conversations we want to have with students and employees at our university. Every episode is accompanied by an on campus event; stay posted and join the conversation there.
Jedidja studies Philosophy as well as Law at our university; is student assistant in the Extreme Beliefs researchproject; and chairs SRVU. Samuel Lee is a theologian; director of the Center for Migrant Theology; and president of the Foundation Academy Amsterdam. Marc is our programme maker and host of the podcast.
We're happy to continue producing this podcast with VU Campusradio. The song you hear is by Jacob Montague, and is called 'Winter Tropics'; we've acquired the necessary music licence at Musicbed.
In gesprek over social anxiety
'Social anxiety' is, zeker na corona, een term die geregeld valt. Niet alleen staan sociale media vol met memes waarin 'social anxiety' de hoofdrol speelt, ook in gesprekken hebben we het vaker over 'ik had best even last van social anxiety'. Althans, is dat zo? Marc gaat erover in gesprek met Leonore de Wit en Liz ten Bergen. Wat zijn angsten nou eigenlijk? Zijn we niet allemaal wel eens verlegen? En wat te doen met social anxiety? ❧
Liz ten Bergen was tot voor kort student aan de VU. Hoewel ze nog nooit sociale angst heeft gehad, heeft ze wel ervaring met angstig zijn. Ze vertelt over hoe hiermee om te gaan. Leonore de Wit is universitair hoofddocent klinische psychologie, aan de VU, en betrokkene bij Caring Universities, een landelijk interventieprogramma. Ze vertelt over hoe je angst kunt herkennen, wat je kunt doen als je met angsten rondloopt. ❧
'In gesprek' is een podcast van NEWconnective en VU Campusradio en is gemaakt met de steun van de Protestantse Kerk Amsterdam. Marleen Blootens, Marc Lamain en Noud Fortuin zijn redactioneel verantwoordelijk. Marc Lamain heeft de podcast tevens geproduceerd. Ben je benieuwd naar meer? Volg NEWconnective dan op Instagram. ❧
De muzieklicentie voor deze productie is afgesloten bij Musicbed. De track die je hoort is 'Winter Tropics' van Jacob Montague.
In gesprek over toekomst
De toekomst brengt eigenlijk voor iedereen onzekerheid met zich mee. In de afgelopen decennia lijkt deze onzekerheid ook nog te zijn toegenomen: klimaatcrisis, pandemie, oorlog... Hoe kan filosoof René van Woudenberg dan beweren dat de toekomst géén vreemde is? We spreken hem en studenten Zara en Sewa over toekomst en (on)zekerheid. ❧
Zara Le Clerq studeert psychologie aan de UvA en Sewa Hasan filosofie aan de VU. René van Woudenberg is hoogleraar filosofie aan de VU, en schreef kortgeleden het boekje 'De toekomst is geen vreemde'. ❧
'In gesprek' is een podcast van NEWconnective en VU Campusradio en is gemaakt met de steun van de Protestantse Kerk Amsterdam. Marleen Blootens is redactioneel verantwoordelijk en Marc Lamain heeft de podcast geproduceerd. Ben je benieuwd naar meer? Volg NEWconnective dan op Instagram. ❧
De muzieklicentie voor deze productie is afgesloten bij Musicbed. De track die je hoort is Winter Tropics van Jacob Montague.
In gesprek over queer en kerk
Queer en gelovig zijn. Het lijkt een moeizame verhouding. Marleen gaat erover in gesprek met Noud Fortuin en Mariecke van den Berg. Hoe zien zij de relatie tussen genderidentiteit en religie? ❧
Noud Fortuin studeert theologie, wil predikant worden en is trans. Hij voelde zich gesteund door zijn kerk, maar hij weet dat hij hier een uitzondering in is. Mariecke van den Berg is universitair docent Interreligious Studies en bijzonder hoogleraar feminisme en christendom. ❧
'In gesprek' is een podcast van NEWconnective en VU Campusradio en is gemaakt met de steun van de Protestantse Kerk Amsterdam. Marleen Blootens is redactioneel verantwoordelijk en Marc Lamain heeft de podcast geproduceerd. Ben je benieuwd naar meer? Volg NEWconnective dan op Instagram. ❧
De muzieklicentie voor deze productie is afgesloten bij Musicbed. De track die je hoort is Winter Tropics van Jacob Montague.
In gesprek over rouw
Rouwen, als er iemand dood is. We vinden het vaak best ongemakkelijk om daar met elkaar over te praten. In deze aflevering doen we het toch gewoon: een normaal gesprek over rouw. We spreken Christa, Tatjana en Floor. ❧
Christa Anbeek is hoogleraar aan de VU en verloor als student haar beide ouders, en broer. Tatjana Almuli is schrijver en verloor als scholier haar moeder. Floor van de Leur is student en verloor vorig jaar haar zus. Hoe ervaren zij het rouwen om een geliefde als je jong bent, en hoe werkt de rouw door in je leven? En wat kan de omgeving betekenen voor iemand die rouwt? ❧
'In gesprek' is een podcast van NEWconnective en VU Campusradio en is gemaakt met de steun van de Protestantse Kerk Amsterdam. Marleen Blootens is redactioneel verantwoordelijk en Marc Lamain heeft de podcast geproduceerd. Ben je benieuwd naar meer? Volg NEWconnective dan op Instagram. ❧
De muzieklicentie voor deze productie is afgesloten bij Musicbed. De track die je hoort is Winter Tropics van Jacob Montague.
Rouw, toekomst, queer & geloof
In dit eerste seizoen van In gesprek gaan we in gesprek over vier thema's. Allereerst spreken we Christa Anbeek, Tatjana Almuli en Floor van de Leur over rouw. Alle drie verloren zij een dierbare toen ze scholier of student waren. In de tweede aflevering gaan we in gesprek met Noud Fortuin, Erik Olsman en Mariecke van de Berg over 'queer & God' – religie en LHBT; ze lijken vaak lastig samen te gaan.
We gaan ook in gesprek over toekomst en de onzekerheid en stress die toekomst teweeg kunnen brengen. Dat doen we onder meer met René van Woudenberg, die stelt dat de toekomst geen vreemde hoeft te zijn. En in de laatste aflevering spreken we Rik Peels en Nora Asrami over extreem geloof, van complotdenken tot religieus fundamentalisme.
Luister nu de eerste aflevering in je feed, en abonneer je om op de hoogte te blijven. Benieuwd naar meer? Volg NEWconnective op Instagram.