The EGS, Arts, Health and Society Podcast

EGS Arts, Health and Society Division

Welcome to the official podcast of the Arts, Health & Society Division at The European Graduate School (EGS). Recorded annually during our summer sessions in Saas-Fee, Switzerland, this series captures the transformative dialogues that define our community. We bring together renowned professors, alumni, and students to explore Expressive Arts, Therapy, Education, and Social Change. These are the conversations between seminars—sparks that have led to groundbreaking theories, books, and projects. Join us in the Alps as we discuss the power of the arts to shape our world.

  1. May 26

    Episode 17: The Ecology of Care and the Practice of Belonging with Heather Dawson

    The Ecology of Care and the Practice of Belonging with Heather Dawson In this episode of our 30th-anniversary series, we sit down with Heather Dawson, an integral member of the European Graduate School (EGS) community. Heather has spent over two decades contributing to the heart of the Arts, Health and Society Division in Saas-Fee. In this moving episode, listeners will explore: Heather’s observation that the Expressive Arts are not merely a subject to be learned, but an ongoing "practice" that requires continuous tending. The concept of the division as an "ecology of care," where the focus is not just on the self, but on the relationships, the environment, and the spaces "in-between." How the intermodal nature of the Expressive Arts allows us to step outside of rigid structures and embrace "not-knowing," creating fertile ground for transformation. The critical importance of play, risk-taking, and remaining curious in a world that often demands immediate, definitive answers. A tribute to the enduring spirit of the EGS community and the legacy of connection that continues to inspire the division. Join us for this reflection on the nature of our work, the necessity of community, and the profound beauty of tending to the spaces between us.

    15 min

  2. May 26

    Episode 16: Health Building is Peacebuilding with Melinda Ashley Meyer DeMott

    Health Building is Peacebuilding: A Conversation with Melinda Ashley Meyer In the sixteenth episode of our 30th-anniversary series, we have the honor of hearing from Melinda Ashley Meyer, who has been present in The European Graduate School community since its beginnings in 1996. In this deeply historical and moving conversation, listeners will explore: The early days of the division at the Kinderdorf Leuk residential school, before moving the learning environment up to the mountains of Saas-Fee. The powerful concept that "health building is peacebuilding," and the urgency to shift from a culture of individual "self-care" to a practice of "we-care". An unforgettable memory from the summer of 2001, where Palestinian and Israeli students shared a classroom during a time of immense global tension, and Paolo Knill’s lesson on not polluting the world with more destruction. The birth of the Malta program, bringing trauma-informed methodologies to humanitarian workers inside a historic military fort. How the intermodal approach—including theater, dance, and visual arts—allows groups to communicate and find hope, reconnecting with our shared humanity when words fail. Join us for this essential testimony on human resilience, community work, and the vital role the Expressive Arts play in bringing light to the darkness.

    17 min

  3. Apr 6

    From Saas-Fee to South Korea: A Global Community with Mina Mo

    Bridging Cultures Through the Expressive Arts with Mina Mo In 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.

    6 min

  4. Mar 24

    Episode 13: Poiesis and Keeping Institutions Alive with Steve Levine

    Poiesis and Keeping Institutions Alive with Steve Levine In 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.

    6 min

  5. Mar 16

    Episode 12: The Global Health and Expressive Arts Program with Chelsea Wilkinson and Shabrae Jackson

    The Global Health and Expressive Arts Program with Chelsea Wilkinson and Shabrae Jackson In 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.

    8 min

  6. Mar 10

    Episode 11: Cultural Humility and Social Change with Carrie MacLeod

    Cultural Humility and Social Change with Carrie MacLeod In 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.

    7 min

  7. Mar 4

    Episode 10: The Hope of the Expressive Arts with Ellen Levine

    The Hope of the Expressive Arts: A Conversation with Ellen Levine In 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.

    7 min

  8. Feb 26

    Episode 9: Embodied Learning and Community Building with Dr. Judith Greer Essex

    Embodied Learning and Community Building with Dr. Judith Greer Essex In 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.

    3 min
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About

Welcome to the official podcast of the Arts, Health & Society Division at The European Graduate School (EGS). Recorded annually during our summer sessions in Saas-Fee, Switzerland, this series captures the transformative dialogues that define our community. We bring together renowned professors, alumni, and students to explore Expressive Arts, Therapy, Education, and Social Change. These are the conversations between seminars—sparks that have led to groundbreaking theories, books, and projects. Join us in the Alps as we discuss the power of the arts to shape our world.

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