Why Change? A Podcast for the Creative Generation

Everyone has spent the past 2 years trying to adjust to the shifting landscapes of everyday life. As artists and educators working across the country, we have seen a tremendous push to center the lived experiences, particularly those furthest from opportunity. Yet, we have also seen an equal amount of resistance to change for a variety of reasons, ranging from fear, lack of confidence, lack of des...

In this episode of Why Change? Jeff introduces a new episode format - an event recap! Creative Generation’s Jordan Campbell shares insights gained at the 2021 ABLE Conversation: Anti-Ableism, Representation, and Accessibility in Arts Education . Hear from keynote speakers Rebecca Cokly and Gaelynn Lea, along with learnings from attendees, to experience this event, just like you were there! In this...

In this preview of Season 2, the Why Change? Co-hosts - Karla, Ashraf, Rachael, Madeleine, and Jeff connect to discuss their plans for the coming season. Jeff shares a bit about the shift in focus of Why Change? ’s second season to focus on the adult change-makers supporting the creative development of young people and how this fits into the suite of podcasts produced by Creative Generation. In th...

Join us for the final episode of Why Change? Season One as co-hosts Karla, Madeleine, Rachel, Ashraf and Jeff reflect on the powerful conversations they’ve had with artists, innovators and activists over the season. The five co-hosts lift up important reminders various guests had contributed during conversations and begin reimagining a future influenced by the personal narratives and stories share...

In this episode of Why Change? you’ll meet the inspiring entrepreneur, Tee Sandifer, and learn about how she grew her arts organization into a social change empire for youth, family and communities. Building upon knowledge of self and her community’s needs, Miss Tee’s studio has taken off in a phase of rapid growth since the pandemic hit in 2020, as she works to re-educate families and community l...

In this episode of Why Change?, co-hosts Madeline and Jeff reflect on a dynamic conversation with storyteller Fidaa Ataya who shares her art as an “amazing, crazy tool for change.” Based in Palestine, Fidaa shares about the purpose and power of telling stories based on generational and cultural knowledge and how that can be applied to contemporary times as forms of peaceful protest. Together, Made...

In this episode of Why Change host Rachel Jacobs connects with Alethea Beetson about the role and responsibility of artists and arts supporters in honoring and acknowledging indigenous people and their art as well as confronting and understanding existing structures of colonization in the world of arts. They also discuss the importance of transitioning power and leadership to youth as part of your...

During this episode of Why Change? co-hosts Karla and Jeff join you live from the 2021 Arts School Network Conference in Chicago to have a conversation about the role artists and arts schools can have as influencers and instigators in policy decisions that impact their communities. Outside of the broader conference themes around diversity, equity and inclusion, Karla and Jeff discuss actions taken...

During this episode of Why Change? co-hosts Madeleine and Jeff reflect on the place of the arts in creating systemic and policy-based change. Jeff interviews Thanh Bui, live from the World Alliance for Arts Education’s Virtual World Summit, to discuss his work breaking down the barriers of access to arts learning and building an arts education ecosystem in Vietnam. Together, Madeleine and Jeff dis...

During this episode of Why Change? co-hosts Rachael and Jeff share how they connected two years ago. Jeff interviews Dan Baron Cohen, live from the World Alliance for Arts Education’s Virtual World Summit, to discuss his work in theatre-based eco-pedagogy. Rachael and Jeff break down the interview through the lens of “creative justice.” In this episode you’ll learn: About the concept of ‘good livi...

During this episode of Why Change? co-hosts Ashraf and Jeff share their most recent adventures. Ashraf interviews David Holland and Randy Engstrom about a recent “Creative Vitality Summit” and interrogates the role of young creatives in the future of the creative economy. Jeff and Ashraf discuss the implications of this work, reclaiming the terminology, and the power in ceding power. In this episo...

During this episode of Why Change? co-host Jeff M. Poulin introduces a new type of format for the podcast featuring interviews with two practitioners working towards a common goal: Amanda Masterpaul and Mytoan Nguyen-Akbar. Both Amanda and Mytoan focus pieces of their work on arts education projects with young people experiencing unstable housing. They share two perspectives, one as a teaching art...

During this episode of Why Change? co-hosts Karla and Jeff discuss the return to school and how policy can impact arts education in public schools. Karla interviews Jonathan VanderBrug about their work enacting an “arts indicator” in the State of Illinois to measure student access to the arts in schools. Karla and Jeff debrief the conversation thinking about the role of artists in activism, the po...

During this episode of Why Change? co-hosts Madeleine and Jeff discuss transitions in their seasons and their work. Madeleine interviews Sudebi Thakurata, a creative facilitator and transdisciplinary designer, working in India and across Southeast Asia. Madeleine and Jeff discuss how we can leverage our different areas of knowledge to use the arts as a way of understanding people, not achieving ou...

During this episode of Why Change? Co-hosts Ashraf and Jeff discuss the rollercoaster of return to school and introduce Ashraf’s interview with Quanice Floyd. Quanice is a former music teacher, arts manager, arts education advocate, and organizational leader who focuses her energy on achieving accountability, equity, and racial justice in the American cultural ecosystem. Ashraf and Jeff debrief th...

During this episode of Why Change ? co-hosts Rachael and Jeff connect about Jeff’s interview with Damian Bazadona, founder of The Situation Project in New York City. This nonprofit works to create artistic, educational, and career-aligned cultural experiences using unsold Broadway tickets and extended educational engagements with young people in the city. Rachael and Jeff discuss new views on metr...

During this episode of Why Change? co-hosts Rachael and Jeff discuss their return to teaching and the need to think outside the box. Rachel interviews Emily Akuno, a music educator and university leader who is the current President of the International Society for Music Education, to discuss working together and Africanizing the arts curriculum. Rachael and Jeff conclude the episode with reflectio...

In this episode of Why Change? Co-hosts Ashraf and Jeff discuss Ashraf’s interview with three organizational leaders who orchestrated the publishing of a book featuring young photographers. In the interview with Lucia Torres, Alicia Hansen, and Michelle Marsh, the group discusses their collaboration, the power of young people, and the impacts of storytelling. Ashraf and Jeff debrief about the long...

During this episode of Why Change? co-hosts Madeleine and Jeff discuss their work during summer and how focusing locally has benefited their global communities. Madeleine interviews Rosa Zerrudo, a Filipino artist, educator, and social activist who uses localized creative processes with diverse populations focusing on topics like climate change, justice, and more. Madeleine and Jeff conclude with...

During this episode of Why Change? co-hosts Rachael and Jeff discuss their connection to places. Rachael interviews Jacki Kauli and Verena Thomas about their perspectives on international development and their work in Paupau New Guinea. Rachael and Jeff conclude with ideas about how to be more responsive creative practitioners. In this episode you’ll learn: About the connections between internatio...

During this episode of Why Change? co-hosts Karla and Jeff discuss the connections between interpersonal and community-die connections and wellbeing. Karla interviews Inès Sanguinetti, founder and artistics director of Fundación Crear Vale la Pena in Argentina; they discuss the concept of social transformation and how creativity and culture can lead to systems change. Karla and Jeff conclude with...

During this episode of Why Change? co-hosts Ashraf and Jeff discuss the importance of public and personal investment in narrative building. Ashraf interviews Dan Hudson, the executive director of the National Film Festival for Talented Youth. They discuss how technology, pedagogy, and adults can help young people cultivate their own stories. Ashraf and Jeff debrief about the importance of shifting...

During this episode of Why Change? co-hosts Ashraf and Jeff discuss new perspectives brought about by big ideas. Ashraf interviews James Miles, an actor, teaching artist, arts administrator, and nonprofit executive who shares his professional story and history contributing to systemic change to support youth through the arts, youth culture, and beyond. The episode concludes with a discussion of vu...

In this episode of Why Change? co-hosts Rachael and Jeff discuss their relationship and how colleagues can help each other dive deep on topics, to expand their perspectives. Rachael interviews Penny Hay, a creativity scholar and organizational leader in the UK. They discuss the role of creativity in social movements and how to work on systems change to reimagine education. Rachel and Jeff debrief...

In this episode of Why Change? co-hosts Madeleine and Jeff discuss their work connecting people around the globe. Madeleine interviews Jeffrey Tan, a teaching artist and network building in Asia who works with the disabilities community. Madeleine and Jeff debrief the conversation thinking broadly about the impact of funding systems change. In this episode you’ll learn: How working together can st...