Generous Listener

Listen Closely: Yi Jian on Stories That Inspire Change

What if every meal you ate was more than just food—it was a conversation with yourself, others, and the planet? In this episode of Generous Listener, filmmaker and food activist Jian Yi takes us on a journey from his childhood love of storytelling to reshaping global food systems. Discover how stories can inspire change, how food connects us to culture and sustainability, and why mindful listening is key to navigating today’s challenges. Along the way, Yi shares his time living in a Buddhist monastery, his insights into creating impact through curiosity and humility, and the surprising power of a simple meal. 🎙️ If you’ve ever wondered how the act of listening can transform lives and systems, this episode will leave you inspired. Explore Ji Yian’s work at Good Food Fund [https://www.goodfoodchina.net/en] and China Vegan Society [https://www.chinavegans.org/]. Interested in food systems and climate impact? Check out Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer or The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan. Find out more about Generous Listening: https://generouslistening.org/

Listen to the Land: Cooking Sections on Food and Activism

How can food reshape the way we see the world? In this episode of Generous Listener, Merve Çağlar sits down with⁠Cooking Sections⁠ [https://www.cooking-sections.com/], the visionary artist duo behind groundbreaking works like the "⁠Climavore⁠ [https://www.climavore.org/]" project. Daniel Fernández Pascual and Alon Schwabe share how they use art to challenge industrialized food systems, highlight the importance of local ecologies, and inspire long-term behavioral change. From collaborating with fishermen in Scotland to working with buffalo herders in Istanbul, Cooking Sections reveals how listening to landscapes, communities, and non-human voices informs their creative process. Through powerful installations and innovative collaborations, they redefine what it means to eat responsibly in a climate-challenged world. 🎙️ Tune in to discover how food, art, and activism intersect—and how we can all become "Climavores" by adapting to our local ecosystems and embracing sustainable practices. Explore their initiative ⁠Climavore⁠ [https://climavore.org/] on sustainable food systems. To read their published books:⁠The Empire Remains Shop ⁠ [https://cup.columbia.edu/book/the-empire-remains-shop/9781941332375](2018), ⁠Salmon: A Red Herring ⁠ [https://www.isolarii.com/](2020), and ⁠Offsetted ⁠ [https://www.hatjecantz.com/products/59253-cooking-sections](2022) Find out more about Generous Listening: https://generouslistening.org/

Listen Generously: Chus Martínez on Art and Nature

What if art could help us rediscover how to listen—to ourselves, to others, and to nature?  In this episode of Generous Listener, visionary curator and art historian Chus Martínez [https://chusmartinez.ch/] shares her reflections on generosity, community, and the transformative power of art. Host Merve Çağlar dives into Chus’s unique approach to exhibition-making, which challenges hierarchies, fosters dialogue, and inspires collaboration across disciplines. Together, they explore how art spaces can combat loneliness, redefine relationships with nature, and become true hubs for connection and imagination. 🎙️ Join us for an inspiring conversation about the role of generosity in creativity and the importance of slowing down to listen and feel deeply. Discover Chus Martínez’s work as Head of the Institute Art Gender Nature at the FHNW Academy of Arts and Design [https://www.fhnw.ch/en/about-fhnw/schools/academy-of-art-and-design/institute-art-gender-nature] in Basel. Learn more about the Morningside Academy for Design [https://design.mit.edu/]. Find out more about Generous Listening: https://generouslistening.org/

Listen Forward: Fatoş Üstek on the Future of Art Institutions

In this episode of Generous Listener, curator, writer, and art professional Fatoş Üstek [http://www.fatosustek.com/] takes us into the heart of the evolving art world. Drawing from her book The Art Institution of Tomorrow [https://www.lundhumphries.com/products/the-art-institution-of-tomorrow], Fatoş explores the crises facing cultural spaces—from financial constraints to the pressures of populism—and challenges us to rethink the role of art institutions. Join host Merve Çağlar as they discuss how generous listening can transform organizations into participatory, regenerative spaces. From embracing cultural humility to creating fair practices for artists and audiences, Fatoş reveals how art institutions can become true centers of creativity, inclusion, and societal impact. 🎙️ Tune in for an inspiring conversation about reimagining the future of art in a world in flux. Find out more about Generous Listening: https://generouslistening.org/

Listen Through the Lens: Rena Effendi on Photography and Resilience

What does it mean to listen with your whole being? In this episode of Generous Listener, acclaimed photographer and visual storyteller Rena Effendi [http://www.refendi.com/] shares how she captures the unseen stories of humanity—from war zones to moments of quiet resilience. Join host Merve Çağlar as they explore how empathy and openness allow Rena to build trust across cultural and emotional divides. From photographing life in post-Soviet landscapes to her deeply personal quest to find a butterfly named after her late father, Rena reveals the profound connections between listening, storytelling, and healing. 🎙️ Discover how photography becomes meditation, how universal stories emerge from specific moments, and how listening generously can bridge divides both personal and global. * Read more on Rena’s documentary feature film, Looking for Satyrus [https://www.worldpressphoto.org/collection/photo-contest/2024/Rena-Effendi/1]. Find out more about Generous Listening: https://generouslistening.org/