Material for the brain

Matan Levkowich
  • 5.0 (2)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE

In 'Material for the brain', Matan Levkowich invites guest, colleagues and friends to reflect on the question 'How can one develop a meaningful relationship with one's own body'. In his non formal style of hosting, Matan enables the conversations flow naturally between theoretic concepts, applicable ideas and personal stories. Subscribe to get the podcast directly to your email: https://movementlab.eu/subscribe Learn more about the Movement Lab educational programs: https://movementlab.eu/study-groups

  1. #54 - Relational Truths. Animism & The Politics of Being / Christos Galanis

    10/06/2025

    #54 - Relational Truths. Animism & The Politics of Being / Christos Galanis

    This episode was recorded on May 4th, 2025. My guest for this episode Christos Galanis - an interdisciplinary artist, cultural geographer, Animist, and ritual facilitator based in Santa Fe, New Mexico. His work intricately weaves themes of displacement, ancestry, and the sacred, drawing from a rich tapestry of personal history, ethnography, and experiential practices. Christos earned a BFA in Integrated Music Studies from Concordia University in Montreal, an MFA in Art & Ecology from the University of New Mexico and a PhD in Cultural Geography at the University of Edinburgh. Christos is the fourth generation of men in his family to emigrate from their country of birth, a lineage that profoundly influences his exploration of themes like displacement and belonging. In our conversation, we explored the meaning of animism as a lived framework rather than a nostalgic return to ancient belief. We talked about how Christos’ identity as a first-generation Greek-American informs his relationship to place, ancestry, and belonging.  We talked about the philosophical shift from relational to categorical thinking found in modernity, that prioritized measurement over meaning. We discussed how indigenous animist perspectives challenge the foundations of modern science, especially around knowledge, truth, and verification. We talked about the legacy of monotheism, the ideological drive for universality, and how Judaism stands apart as a practice-based tradition still deeply rooted in place. We talked about the entanglement of place, ritual, and identity, and how the loss of locality contributes to existential disconnection. We talked about political animism as a potential alternative to left-right paradigms, about grief as a doorway to transformation, and about the struggle to live ethically in a world built on disconnection.

    1h 19m
  2. #53 - The Paradox of Inclusivity / Matan Levkowich

    06/02/2025

    #53 - The Paradox of Inclusivity / Matan Levkowich

    In this solo episode, Matan Levkowich explores the complex terrain of inclusivity in dance and movement spaces. Reflecting on personal experiences and recent conversations at a contact improvisation festival, he distinguishes between participatory and missionary forms of inclusivity, and unpacks the paradoxes that arise when openness becomes an obligation. A thoughtful inquiry into boundaries, values, and what it truly means to create a welcoming space. Join our Open Day: https://movementlab.eu/open-day Get your ticket for our Performance Evening: https://movementlab.eu/performance-evening

    29 min
  3. #52 - The Purpose of Dance / Matan Levkowich

    04/09/2025

    #52 - The Purpose of Dance / Matan Levkowich

    In this solo episode, I explore a question that has been with me for years: Why do humans dance? Beyond self-expression or personal growth, dance may hold something much deeper—something ancient. I dive into the idea of dance as a social technology, a form of collective sacrifice, and a gateway to the transcendent. Whether you're a dancer, a seeker, or simply curious—this episode is an invitation to reimagine what dance can mean. Join our Info Evening: https://movementlab.eu/info-evening Support the podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://movementlab.eu/mftb-support⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to get the podcast to your email:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://movementlab.eu/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 15% Discount Coupon for our online courses: MATERIALFORTHEBRAIN15%⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://movementlab.eu/courses⁠⁠

    37 min
  4. #51 - Reclaiming Connection / Sean Green

    03/14/2025

    #51 - Reclaiming Connection / Sean Green

    My guest for this episode is Sean Green - a couples and relationship coach, trainer of communication and meditation, a father of 3 children, and musician based in Vienna. Sean has spent thousands of hours meditating, practising and learning from many traditions and schools on the Inner Path for over 20 years. His professional engagements are characterised by his calmness, clarity and loving presence. He support his clients in experiencing authentic aliveness, connection and inner peace. In our conversation, we explored the nature of communication—not just as a tool for exchanging information, but as the foundation of human connection. We talked about how communication extends beyond words, manifesting in movement, presence, and the unspoken rhythms of relationships. We discussed the tension between individual autonomy and the need for deep connection, and how modern society, with its hyper-individualism and digital mediation, has reshaped the ways we relate to one another. We talked about the impact of systems—economic, cultural, and technological—on our ability to form meaningful relationships and maintain boundaries and reflected on the paradox of contemporary life—how we are more connected than ever on a global scale yet increasingly isolated in our day-to-day interactions. We talked about the growing tendency to outsource human needs—emotional, relational, and physical—to paid services rather than communal support. And through it all, we returned to the question: what does it mean to be truly present in relationship—with ourselves, with others, and with the structures that shape our lives? Connect with Sean: https://seangreen.at/ https://www.facebook.com/ehrlichsean Support the podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://movementlab.eu/mftb-support⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to get the podcast to your email:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://movementlab.eu/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 15% Discount Coupon for our online courses: MATERIALFORTHEBRAIN15%⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://movementlab.eu/courses⁠⁠

    1h 24m
  5. #50 - The Body Knows. Creativity in Times of Grief / Smadar Goshen

    02/17/2025

    #50 - The Body Knows. Creativity in Times of Grief / Smadar Goshen

    My guest for the 50th episode is Smadar Goshen, a choreographer, dancer, a certified Gaga teacher and a Gyrotonic & Gyrokinesis trainer and teacher’s trainer. Smadar completed her B.A in dance and M.A in choreography at the Jerusalem Academy for Music and Dance. Since 2011 her pieces are performed on various platforms worldwide. In the yearbook of magazine tanz 2023, She was honoured as one of the 10 promising choreographers & dance pioneers in Germany. Since 2024 she is supported by the state capital Stuttgart and the Landesverband Freie Tanz-und Theaterschaffende Baden-Wuerttemberg. In our conversation, we explored the tension between personal identity and artistic expression, the role of the body in processing memory and trauma, and the impact of grief on creativity. We talked about the ways in which the body carries memory and trauma and about how Smadar’s artistic practice engages with personal and historical narratives. We talked about the role of dance as a channel for transformation and about the difference between performing to be seen and performing as a medium for something larger. We talked about the instinct to resist being absorbed into a collective identity and about how that tension informs Smadar’s work. We talked about Jewish identity, the legacy of the Holocaust, and about how Smadar’s encounter with a memorial site deeply shifted her perspective. We talked about the war in Israel, about its impact on identity, and about the complex emotions of belonging to a national narrative. We talked about how the body knows things before the mind does and about the importance of listening to the body in times of transformation and much more.Connect with Smadar:Website - https://smadargoshen.com/Facebook -⁠ https://www.facebook.com/smadar.goshen/⁠Instagram - ⁠https://www.instagram.com/smadar_goshen/⁠Vimeo - ⁠https://vimeo.com/user14631161⁠Support the podcast:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://movementlab.eu/mftb-support⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to get the podcast to your email:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://movementlab.eu/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠15% Discount Coupon for our online courses: MATERIALFORTHEBRAIN15%⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://movementlab.eu/courses⁠⁠

    1h 29m
  6. #49 - Rage and Courage / Daphna Horenczyk

    02/15/2025

    #49 - Rage and Courage / Daphna Horenczyk

    My guest for this episode is Daphne Horenczyk - a choreographer, dancer, teacher and mentor. Daphna’s artist work is center around the exploration of the gap between experience and representation. Her work has been funded by the city of Vienna and coproduced by different dance houses in the city.  I invited her to the podcast once more to explore her current creation ‘Rage’, in which Daphna examines how identity politics have shaped the art culture in ways that prevent artistic freedom and cultivates self censorship and fear.  The conversation took us to different territories. We talked about Daphna’s personal experiences in the Vienna scene and the culture and implication of language policing in the arts.  We explored the concept of bridging experience and representation in dance, how to move beyond being reduced to identity categories.  We talked about the tension between professional integrity and systemic pressures, We explored the challenge of curation and the selection process that artists confront and more. Connect to Daphna: https://www.daphnahorenczyk.com/ https://www.instagram.com/daphnahoren/ Get tickets for 'Rage': https://ticketgretchen.com/events/wien/wien/wuk/daphna-horenczyk-rage-15338/ Support the podcast:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://movementlab.eu/mftb-support⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to get the podcast to your email:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://movementlab.eu/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 15% Discount Coupon for our online courses: MATERIALFORTHEBRAIN15%⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://movementlab.eu/courses⁠⁠

    1h 27m
  7. #48 - Beyond Representation / Nita Little

    01/15/2025

    #48 - Beyond Representation / Nita Little

    My guest for this episode is Nita Little - a dance researcher, theorist/artist, and one of the founding developers of Contact Improvisation (CI). Nita holds a PhD in Performance Studies with a focus on the articulation of presence and creative actions of attention. Her life work is inclusive of mindbody training, performing, choreographing, researching and writing about the ethics, politics and entanglement of somatic relations. I invited Nita to discuss the practice of choreography. During the conversation we ended up talking about many things: We talked about her current projects, including performances and teaching practices, we talked about The concept of emergence in choreography and its transformative potential, how to move beyond representation in dance, exploring choreography as an act of "doing" rather than "showing”. We talked about The interplay between identity and dance, and the limitations of cultural constructs in artistic creation. We talked about Trance states and altered states of attention as tools for enhancing creativity in dance. We talked about Dance as a relational practice that fosters interconnectedness and dissolves boundaries between performers and audiences and the importance of dancers claiming their authority as creators and researchers and more. Connect to Nita: https://www.nitalittle.com/ Support the podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://movementlab.eu/mftb-support⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to get the podcast to your email:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://movementlab.eu/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 15% Discount Coupon for our online courses: MATERIALFORTHEBRAIN15%⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://movementlab.eu/courses⁠⁠

    1h 30m
  8. #47 - The Tao of Movement / Zuna Vesan Kozánková

    12/23/2024

    #47 - The Tao of Movement / Zuna Vesan Kozánková

    My guest for this episode is Zuna Vesan Kozánková, a dancer, choreographer and writer. Zune is a leading authority on traditional Chinese medicine in Slovakia and the Czech Republic.  Over the last 30 years, she has developed a unique approach to working with the human body, combining anatomical understanding with the energy systems flowing within it. Through her studies of Chinese medicine and Qigong, she seamlessly connects her extensive dance knowledge with the universal principles of Taoism. She is the author of several books, including her latest, The Tao of Movement: Chinese Medicine Principles for Movers. I invited Zuna to the show to discuss her latest book, which encapsulates her life’s work on the applications of traditional Chinese medicine  in dance and other movement-related professions. In our conversation, we explored the Taoist perspective on health, the physical, energetic, and conscious bodies, the role of energy in movement, strategies for health prevention, the influence of nutrition and seasonal changes on wellbeing, reconnecting with nature’s cycles, changing mental habits, and more. Connect to Zuna: https://artyci.com/en/zuna/ Get 20% discount to buy her book: The Tao of Movement - https://uk.singingdragon.com/products/the-tao-of-movement Coupon - MLTTOM20 (valid until 28.2.25) Support the podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://movementlab.eu/mftb-support⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to get the podcast to your email:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://movementlab.eu/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 15% Discount Coupon for our online courses: MATERIALFORTHEBRAIN15%⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://movementlab.eu/courses⁠

    1h 35m
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

In 'Material for the brain', Matan Levkowich invites guest, colleagues and friends to reflect on the question 'How can one develop a meaningful relationship with one's own body'. In his non formal style of hosting, Matan enables the conversations flow naturally between theoretic concepts, applicable ideas and personal stories. Subscribe to get the podcast directly to your email: https://movementlab.eu/subscribe Learn more about the Movement Lab educational programs: https://movementlab.eu/study-groups

Information

  • Creator
    Matan Levkowich
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2025
  • Episodes
    54
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Matan Levkowich
  • Show Website
    Material for the brain