The Connective

This episode of The Connective dives into the important topic of feminism in university spaces. Together with Cato Benschop, who is part of the Dolle Mina’s, Yonah investigates how the university can accommodate and improve the position of female students in the Vrije Universiteit and how institutions can depart from a male centric view. The central question being: what can student communities con...

Global events form the background for our lives. But what if such global crises take up more space, feeding anxiety and uncertainty in our daily life? In this episode, Marc, Selma & Thirza (program makers at NEWConnective) try to get a grip on the topic of crisis and daily life and discuss questions like: ⇨ Is there more crisis around the world? ⇨ How do we shape our response to crisis in the...

A plethora of people and things ask our attention daily, whether it's a cherished friend's text or the 67th advertisement of the day. It can leave you wondering how to divide your attention; but just as much if we receive the attention we need. In this episode, Marc, Selma & Thirza (program makers at NEWConnective) try to get a grip on the topic of attention and discuss questions like:...

It's close to inevitable to be part of a gathering once in a while. Whether gathered with family during holidays or with friends on a night out. But what is it that we do, when we gather people? In this episode, Marc and Selma (program makers at NEWConnective) try to get a grip on what makes a meaningful gathering . We enter into a conversation with Emma Gašparíková, community organizer on our cam...

The Disconnective is a special thematic season of The Connective, NEWConnective's podcast on life's sense and nonsense. The Disconnective is a podcast on the impact that the war in Gaza and the tension in the Middle East have on the academic community of the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. The aim of The Disconnective is to inform and expand our knowledge and to stay in conversation. Miranda, from V...

The Disconnective is a special thematic season of The Connective, NEWConnective's podcast on life's sense and nonsense. The Disconnective is a podcast on the impact that the war in Gaza and the tension in the Middle East have on the academic community of the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. The aim of The Disconnective is to inform and expand our knowledge and to stay in conversation. Miranda, from V...

Whether we emphasize our religious, political or national identity, or our gender and sexuality; we seem to attach a lot of value to describing ourselves and who we are. In this episode, Marc and Thirza (program makers at NEWConnective) zoom out from all these separate aspects that constitute identities. We enter into a conversation with Jay Dehnert (chair of VU Pride) about being someone, and asp...

[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 NEWCon...

Marc remembers vividly how Russia's invasion of Ukraine made him obsess over the conflict. That is, until it numbed him out; and what was a news obsession, turned into a news aversion. But what if you don't have the luxury of zoning out? Marc and fellow program maker Selma, join conversation with Lilia about being affected by or involved with global conflict. Selma Boulmalf and Marc Lamain are pro...

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 wor...

'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 Roe...

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 loneline...

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,...

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 stud...

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 specializ...

How can you make meaningful change? Is there a place in engagement for everyone? How can you get involved in activism? Marc joins in conversation with Jedidja Kloens, chair of the student union SRVU at de Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam; and Samuel Lee, founder of the Foundation Academy Amsterdam, and lecturer in theology. How did their engagement with social justice start? Listen to the first episod...

'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...

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 fil...

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 In...

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 stud...

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...