Welcome to Live from the Threshold: an Art–Science Conversation, a podcast series emerging from a collaboration between Artists with Evidence and the Heinrich Böll Foundation.

In this second episode of the series, Artists with Evidence Program Director Ines Montalvao visits Kathy High at The Sanctuary for Independent Media in Troy (NY) on the eastern bank of the historic Hudson River. Recorded in the Sanctuary’s radio room, this conversation unfolds as an intimate exchange shaped by place, practice, and a long-standing commitment to art-science collaborations.

Kathy High is an interdisciplinary artist working in the space where art, biology, and technology touch—often uncomfortably, often generatively. Her practice is a sustained dialogue with living systems: the tender and uneasy ecologies between species, the felt registers of empathy and animal sentience, and the ethical and socio-political entanglements of biotechnology and surrounding industries. She collaborates as readily with scientists as with artists, approaching the laboratory as a site of inquiry and encounter.

Kathy High is Professor of Arts at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where she maintains a laboratory within the Center for Biotech and Interdisciplinary Studies. There, at the intersection of art and the life sciences, she cultivates practices that open new kinds of relation—between species, between disciplines, and between the stories we tell about what life is and what it might yet become.

She is a co-director for the urban environmental center, NATURE Lab, that Ines also had the pleasure to visit in Troy, part of the community media organization Kathy also co-founded, The Sanctuary for Independent Media. She has received awards including the Guggenheim Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, and National Endowment for Arts.

Interdisciplinary artist, educator and also co-director of NATURE Lab, Ellie Irons, also joins briefly in this episode, adding another layer to the conversation on ecological attention and community-based practice.

Positioned once again at the threshold—between disciplines, forms of knowledge, and ways of being—this episode deepens the series’ exploration of care, community, and more-than-human thinking.

Welcome to the threshold. Enjoy.

Follow Artists with Evidence (AwE) and reach out if you want to get involved!

This podcast was produced by Ben Larsen. The music for Live from the Threshold is Song for Barbara, composed and performed by N. Scott Johnson in honor of his friend, the artist Barbara Hammer.

Welcome to Live from the Threshold: an Art–Science Conversation, a new podcast series emerging from a collaboration between Artists with Evidence and the Heinrich Böll Foundation.

On October 23rd, 2025, a group of art–science practitioners gathered underground in The Gym at Judson in New York City, where the space itself seemed to vibrate with the city above it. In that resonant room, we created a live public dialogue at the intersections of art, science, and society.

Live from the Threshold invites the audience into a space of embodied encounters, where sensing becomes a method of inquiry. This podcast opens up an art-science dialogue that traverses the porous boundaries between human and non-human, body and environment, known and unknown.

In this first episode of the series, curated and moderated by Ines Montalvao (Artists with Evidence), we move from underground ecosystems to interspecies listening, and from soundscapes to embodied storytelling, as the conversation traces how artists work across thresholds—geological, sensory, and social—to reimagine care, belonging, and coexistence.

Ines was joined by three remarkable voices in art–science: Cara Hagan, whose movement-based practice treats the body as a vessel of ecological and cultural memory; Linda O’Keeffe, who listens across species and technologies, revealing the politics and poetics of care; and Nikki Lindt, who descends into the subterranean world to map the shifting ecosystems beneath our feet.

Positioned at the threshold—between disciplines, forms of knowledge, and ways of being—this conversation underscores the urgency of transgressing the known. In a time of ecological upheaval and technological acceleration, it asks how we might cultivate practices rooted in attention, slowness, and relationality—how we might learn to sense differently.

Welcome to the threshold. Enjoy.

Follow Artists with Evidence (AwE) and reach out if you want to get involved!

This podcast was produced by Ben Larsen. The music for Live from the Threshold is Song for Barbara, composed and performed by N. Scott Johnson in honor of his friend, the artist Barbara Hammer.

🌍 The Ec(h)o Effect conversation #6, that took place on Thursday, November 21 and closed the 2024 series, invited Irina Kruzhilina to discuss the topic “Children Refugee Futures: What’s the most urgent question?”.

In this online session, Irina Kruzhilina shared her powerful insights on the resilience of refugee children as they navigate a new life, face cultural challenges, and shape their future roles in society. Reflecting on her recent work, SpaceBridge, Irina explored how arts and intercultural engagement can create vital spaces for expression and healing for those uprooted by war and conflict. Her work in public installations and scenography has consistently focused on both environmental issues and the human need for belonging and adaptation.

This event was held online and this is the audio version of the session, also available as video on AwE's Youtube channel.

Irina Kruzhilina is a New York-based award-winning director, scenographer, visual dramaturg, experience designer and educator working at the intersection of visual art, live performance, and civic engagement. Her creative projects have been showcased globally and focus on fostering understanding across divided communities. She recently created SpaceBridge, a project supporting Russian refugee children and families in the U.S. through an intercultural exchange workshop program and theatrical performance.

Our final guest Irina Kruzhilina joined featured speakers Ali Akbar Mehta and Colin Greer in this engaging series, Ec(h)o Effect: Conversations on War & Environment, curated and moderated by Ines Montalvao, Program Director at Artists with Evidence.

🌱 The AwE podcast presents the Ec(h)o Effect series, where we unravel the intricate interplay between war and environment, with engaging and thought-provoking conversations. Get ready to reimagine the relationship between humanity and the natural world, exploring new pathways towards environmental sustainability, peacebuilding, and resilience in the face of conflict. With a constellation of insightful guests, we will delve into critical issues such as climate change, resource scarcity, mass migration, and democratic erosion, as well as other unexpected topics that intertwine with war and environment in unforeseen ways.

We invite you on a journey of exploration through the complex intersections of war, environment, and society, as we uncover insights, spark dialogue, and imagine a path towards a more sustainable and equitable future.

Ec(h)o Effect: conversations on War and Environment is a program funded by the Nordic Culture Fund, who awarded Artists with Evidence with the Globus Opstart grant for 2024.

Follow Artists with Evidence (AwE) and reach out if you want to get involved!

🌍 The conversation “Desert Roots: Growing Hope in the Sahrawi Refugee Camps” happened on Thursday 24 October 2024. We invited Sahrawi artist Mohamed Sleiman Labat to a conversation with featured speaker Ali Akbar Mehta, in the 5th discussion of the series Ec(h)o Effect: Conversations on War & Environment, curated and moderated by Ines Montalvao, Program Director at AwE.

Mohamed Sleiman Labat gave an insightful view on how art and farming bring hope and resilience to the Sahrawi refugee camps in Algeria. Discover how his creative projects, such as desert farming and preserving oral traditions, help his community face environmental and social challenges.

Listen to this meaningful conversation on turning the harsh desert into a space of hope and regeneration!

This event was held online and this is the audio version of the session, also available as video on AwE's Youtube channel.

Mohamed Sleiman Labat is a multidisciplinary artist born and raised in the Sahrawi refugee camps in Algeria. His work spans filmmaking, writing, and community art, focusing on the Sahrawi people's history and resilience. Founder of Motif Art Studio, Labat’s practice explores environmental challenges, local food production, and the preservation of Sahrawi oral traditions. His projects, including the PHOSfate Sandoponic garden, address climate and food security issues in the desert, showcasing the role of art-science in building community resilience.

🌱 The AwE podcast presents the Ec(h)o Effect series, where we unravel the intricate interplay between war and environment, with engaging and thought-provoking conversations. Get ready to reimagine the relationship between humanity and the natural world, exploring new pathways towards environmental sustainability, peacebuilding, and resilience in the face of conflict. With a constellation of insightful guests, we will delve into critical issues such as climate change, resource scarcity, mass migration, and democratic erosion, as well as other unexpected topics that intertwine with war and environment in unforeseen ways.

We invite you on a journey of exploration through the complex intersections of war, environment, and society, as we uncover insights, spark dialogue, and imagine a path towards a more sustainable and equitable future.

Ec(h)o Effect: conversations on War and Environment is a program funded by the Nordic Culture Fund, who awarded Artists with Evidence with the Globus Opstart grant for 2024.

Follow Artists with Evidence (AwE) and reach out if you want to get involved!

🌍 The Ec(h)o Effect online conversation “For a Secure Future: Ending the Nuclear Threat” was held on Thursday, 26 September 2024, inviting Sara Kutchesfahani to join our featured speaker Colin Greer, for this 4th discussion of the series Ec(h)o Effect: Conversations on War & Environment, curated and moderated by Ines Montalvao from AwE.

In this session, we dived into the critical topic of nuclear disarmament and its implications for global security and environmental sustainability. We discussed the pressing need for people everywhere to have the right to a safe and secure future, free from the threat of nuclear weapons, and explored how this ties into broader efforts to protect our planet from the devastating consequences of war.

This event was held online and this is the audio version of the session, also available as video on AwE's Youtube channel.

Dr. Sara Z. Kutchesfahani, Director of Programs at Ploughshares, brings 20 years of expertise in nuclear nonproliferation and security. With a PhD in Political Science from University College London and a career spanning research, analysis, teaching, and policy work across the globe, Sara’s insights will guide us through the complexities of nuclear threats and the urgent need for action. She is also the author of two influential books on nuclear nonproliferation, and numerous scholarly and policy articles, offering a unique perspective on how we can build a safer world.

🌱 The AwE podcast presents the Ec(h)o Effect series, where we unravel the intricate interplay between war and environment, with engaging and thought-provoking conversations. Get ready to reimagine the relationship between humanity and the natural world, exploring new pathways towards environmental sustainability, peacebuilding, and resilience in the face of conflict. With a constellation of insightful guests, we will delve into critical issues such as climate change, resource scarcity, mass migration, and democratic erosion, as well as other unexpected topics that intertwine with war and environment in unforeseen ways.

We invite you on a journey of exploration through the complex intersections of war, environment, and society, as we uncover insights, spark dialogue, and imagine a path towards a more sustainable and equitable future.

Ec(h)o Effect: conversations on War and Environment is a program funded by the Nordic Culture Fund, who awarded Artists with Evidence with the Globus Opstart grant for 2024.

Follow Artists with Evidence (AwE) and reach out if you want to get involved!

🌍 The Ec(h)o Effect online conversation #3 on “Fermentation: Cultivating Change in Times of Crises” happened on Thursday, 30 May 2024, inviting our special guest Aga Pokrywka in discussion with, this time, one of our featured speakers, Colin Greer, as part of the series Ec(h)o Effect: Conversations on War & Environment, curated and moderated by Ines Montalvao from AwE.

This event was held online and this is the audio version of the session, also available as video on AwE's Youtube channel.

This session explores the role of fermentation in resilience building during conflicts and environmental crises and the political implications of food preservation techniques. We uncover how this ancient practice not only sustains communities during times of scarcity but also fosters resilience in the face of adversity and shed light on the intricate web of power dynamics that shape access to and control over essential resources.

Aga Pokrywka works with video, graphic design and collaborative practices in order to build eclectic narratives. Her work focuses on capturing diverse viewpoints and re-telling stories through interactive and non-linear strategies. Aga is the host of Ferment Radio, a podcast series on bacterial and social fermentation. Her expertise in natural sciences, technology, and decentralized organizing adds depth to our discussion, offering insights into how fermentation practices intersect with indigenous knowledge and traditions, enriching our understanding of resilience in the face of crisis.

🌱 The AwE podcast presents the Ec(h)o Effect series, where we unravel the intricate interplay between war and environment, with engaging and thought-provoking conversations. Get ready to reimagine the relationship between humanity and the natural world, exploring new pathways towards environmental sustainability, peacebuilding, and resilience in the face of conflict. With a constellation of insightful guests, we will delve into critical issues such as climate change, resource scarcity, mass migration, and democratic erosion, as well as other unexpected topics that intertwine with war and environment in unforeseen ways.

We invite you on a journey of exploration through the complex intersections of war, environment, and society, as we uncover insights, spark dialogue, and imagine a path towards a more sustainable and equitable future.

Ec(h)o Effect: conversations on War and Environment is a program funded by the Nordic Culture Fund, who awarded Artists with Evidence with the Globus Opstart grant for 2024.

Follow Artists with Evidence (AwE) and reach out if you want to get involved!

🌍 Our online conversation #2 on “Resilience Narratives: Facing Societal Challenges” took place on Thursday, 25 April 2024, as part of the series Ec(h)o Effect: Conversations on War & Environment, curated and moderated by Ines Montalvao from AwE. In this episode, our featured speakers, Ali Akbar Mehta and Colin Greer, were joined by esteemed guests Alnoor Ladha and Lynn Murphy.

This event was held online and this is the audio version of the session, also available as video on AwE's Youtube channel.

In this session, we delve into the pressing question of democratic decolonization under threat from the over-militarization of responses to war and the movement of peoples facing war and climate crises. Alnoor Ladha's work at the intersection of political organizing, systems thinking, structural change, and narrative journalism offers invaluable insights. Lynn Murphy, co-founder of Transition Resource Circle (TRC) along with Ladha, brings her expertise and enriches our exploration of coping strategies amidst environmental devastation and warfare, and a critical perspective on the role of philanthropy in addressing societal challenges. .

Together, we weave tales of sorrow and resilience amidst the debris of destruction, infusing them with threads of hope for the future.

🌱 The AwE podcast presents the Ec(h)o Effect series, where we unravel the intricate interplay between war and environment, with engaging and thought-provoking conversations. Get ready to reimagine the relationship between humanity and the natural world, exploring new pathways towards environmental sustainability, peacebuilding, and resilience in the face of conflict. With a constellation of insightful guests, we will delve into critical issues such as climate change, resource scarcity, mass migration, and democratic erosion, as well as other unexpected topics that intertwine with war and environment in unforeseen ways.

We invite you on a journey of exploration through the complex intersections of war, environment, and society, as we uncover insights, spark dialogue, and imagine a path towards a more sustainable and equitable future.

Ec(h)o Effect: conversations on War and Environment is a program funded by the Nordic Culture Fund, who awarded Artists with Evidence with the Globus Opstart grant for 2024.

Follow Artists with Evidence (AwE) and reach out if you want to get involved!

🌍 On 28 March 2024, we kicked off our series Ec(h)o Effect: Conversations on War & Environment with the theme "Art-Science Explorations: from Urgency to Possibility", curated and moderated by Ines Montalvao, Program Director at Artists with Evidence.

This event was held online and this is the audio version of the session, also available as video on AwE's Youtube channel.

🎙Featured Speakers: Ali Akbar Mehta (transmedia artist & curator) & Colin Greer (poet & humanist)

Embark on an exploration of the intricate relationship between war and the environment, blending the perspectives of art and science. Mehta and Greer share about their upcoming collaboration insights, discussing the risks, implications, and creative possibilities of integrating AI into art-science practice. From ethical considerations to innovative solutions, this conversation sets the stage for an enlightening journey ahead where several invited guests will join Mehta, Greer and Montalvao in a total of six conversations throughout the year, contributing with their own perspectives, knowledge and practice.

🌱 The AwE podcast presents the Ec(h)o Effect series, where we unravel the intricate interplay between war and environment, with engaging and thought-provoking conversations. Get ready to reimagine the relationship between humanity and the natural world, exploring new pathways towards environmental sustainability, peacebuilding, and resilience in the face of conflict. With a constellation of insightful guests, we will delve into critical issues such as climate change, resource scarcity, mass migration, and democratic erosion, as well as other unexpected topics that intertwine with war and environment in unforeseen ways.

We invite you on a journey of exploration through the complex intersections of war, environment, and society, as we uncover insights, spark dialogue, and imagine a path towards a more sustainable and equitable future.

Ec(h)o Effect: conversations on War and Environment is a program funded by the Nordic Culture Fund, who awarded Artists with Evidence with the Globus Opstart grant for 2024.

Follow Artists with Evidence (AwE) and reach out if you want to get involved!

Credits: Sound editing & Intro/Outro music - João Luís Lopes; Intro/Outro voiceover - Kata Vuoristo