FOR REAL is a podcast on human dignity, made by Resonate Productions.

In this episode: responsibility to show I am not here - working only with lesbians - being the oldest Asian daughter - being part of art - deserving all the good things.

Recorded on the 19th of November 2025, at BAM Brooklyn, Next Wave Festival, New York City.

(01:30) Helga: “You could answer any of those questions with: 'it could be worse if you were black'. Perhaps people are tired of having this conversation. And I feel a tremendous responsibility to sit here. If I don't come and sit here, you don't know that I am not here."

(04:30) Cindy [°1983 - United States]: “A major producer, wealthy and older, said: 'Cindy, you have the makings of a truly great producer. But I want to sleep with you. So I could only ever view you as a mistress or secretary. I only work with lesbians.'"

(08:10) Lisa [°1999 - Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam]: “As an eldest daughter I had to always do the best I can and take care of my family. Or at least: not to embarrass them."

(11:30) Anonymous: "I always am afraid I am not brave and honest. I always wanted to make art, but you can't if you're not brave or honest. This was a way I could be part of art. Just one time." 

(14:55) What do you deserve?: "It has taken me a whole lifetime to say what I am going to say here in public..."

"To not prove I am one of the bro's."

For each episode of FOR REAL, we get together with a group of people in a theater, to look into what it means to matter as a person. All interviews are carried by improvised music, made by George Dumitriu (viola, guitar), Sarah Jeffery (recorders) and Andrea Voets (harp).

Made by Resonate Productions -creating musical journalism-

Music & interviews: Andrea Voets, Sarah Jeffery, George Dumitriu

Sound engineer: Hayden Hook

Funded by: AFK, FPK, BNG, Cultuurfonds, Dioraphte

This episode was co-produced by Qubit Music and supported by the Dutch Embassy in New York

Leadership support for theater at BAM provided by The Shubert Foundation, Inc. and The SHS Foundation

Leadership support for Next Wave 2025 provided by National Endowment for the Arts

Support for theater at BAM provided by The Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation and Laura Pels International Foundation for Theater

Additional support for theater at BAM provided by The Francena T. Harrison Foundation Trust and David L. Klein, Jr. Foundation

Instagram: resonate.productions || facebook.com/musicaljournalism || www.resonate-productions.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

FOR REAL is a podcast on human dignity, made by Resonate Productions.

In this episode: lifting people up at work - unawareness - denying your own abilities - being warned by other women - coronatests - doubting yourself - equality, for everyone.

Recorded on 23 Αugust 2025 at Noorderzon, Groningen, the Netherlands, with staff members of the academic hospital of Groningen: the UMCG.

(01:22) Anne [°1987 - Leeuwarden, NL]: “My bosses lifted me up and took me really serious. More serious than I took myself."

(05:10) Corinna [°1968 - Eelde, NL]: “Maybe we can all understand each other more. Ask questions."

(09:37) Serée [°1986 - Groningen, NL]: “I have four kids in the whole gender range. About the clear girl, aged four: 'she is a bit bossy'. I went tiger-mom."

(14:03) Margriet Bos [°1967 - Groningen, NL]: "The professor said something very sexually motivated. Maybe 15 years ago. I had forgotten about it. It sticks because you feel so powerless. Because it is not very clear. And he is a professor..."

(19:20) Margie [°1981 - Groningen, NL]: "I work as a molecular biologist. This friend continued and continued to explain how the coronatests work to me. I just let it go."

(23:50) Carina [°1968 - Eelde, NL]: "The little self-doubts add up and up and up. My youngest works in a café now, I learn a lot from her."

(28:28) Mariska [°1985 - Groningen, NL]: "Me being white, my husband being black, people ask me if my children are from here, if they are even mine. My oldest one at school: a kid comes up and says: "Black people are less than us." And the school saying: "yes, but this is a white school..." Keep shouting."

For each episode of FOR REAL, we get together with a group of people in a theater, to look into what it means to matter as a person. All interviews are carried by improvised music, made by George Dumitriu (viola, guitar), Sarah Jeffery (recorders) and Andrea Voets (harp).

Made by Resonate Productions -creating musical journalism-

Music & interviews: Andrea Voets, Sarah Jeffery, George Dumitriu

Sound engineer: Hayden Hook

Funded by: AFK, FPK, BNG, Cultuurfonds, Dioraphte

Instagram: resonate.productions || facebook.com/musicaljournalism || www.resonate-productions.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

FOR REAL is a podcast on human dignity, made by Resonate Productions.

In this episode: going home after work - tradition - tea - responsibilities for other people's happiness.

Recorded on 23 Αugust 2025 at Noorderzon, Groningen, the Netherlands.

(01:17) Nikkie [°1968 - Amsterdam, NL]: “The science world is hard to work in, especially when you are a female, when you have kids, and you want to go home."

(07:03) Judith [°1981]: “I work in visual arts. It is tight and conservative."

(11:20) Rutger Doting [°1999]: “If you are drinking tea as a man in the Netherlands, you are a wuss."

(17:44) Suzanna [°1980 - Amsterdan, NL]: On the chain of responsibility for the happiness of parents, siblings, children and partner. "It sometimes feels like: where is the responsibility of making me happy."

For each episode of FOR REAL, we get together with a group of people in a theater, to look into what it means to matter as a person. All interviews are carried by improvised music, made by George Dumitriu (viola, guitar), Sarah Jeffery (recorders) and Andrea Voets (harp).

Made by Resonate Productions -creating musical journalism-

Music & interviews: Andrea Voets, Sarah Jeffery, George Dumitriu

Sound engineer: Hayden Hook

Funded by: AFK, FPK, BNG, Cultuurfonds, Dioraphte

Instagram: resonate.productions || facebook.com/musicaljournalism || www.resonate-productions.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

FOR REAL is a podcast on human dignity, made by Resonate Productions.

In this episode: cancelling - the balancing act - being forgotten in illness in illness - feeling powerless.

Recorded on 11 May 2025 at Theaterfestival Auawirleben at the Dampfzentrale in Bern, Switzerland. 

(02:18) Yaniv [°1977 - Israel]: “You have an argument with someone and instead of relating with what they say, you explain why they would say something like that.”

(08:22) Anna [°1997 - Zofingen, CH]: “Especially as a woman, you try to do this balancing act and then you realize: “Oh no, I’ve again thought of other people’s opinion before I thought about what I want”.

(13:04) Antonia  [°2003 - Switzerland]: “It’s a mindset I’m taking on when I feel like I’m not being heard correctly.”

(19:00) Vinny [°1995 - Zoug, CH]: “Since I’ve been chronically ill, I’ve been in bed so much. And I feel like chronically ill people get forgotten a lot, or they’re not invited into spaces, because they’re too complicated.”

(23:19) Titien [°1993 - Winterthur, CH]: “What makes me feel powerless is the state of the world right now, and that we are inheriting a patriarchy that we never wanted but that has been laid on all of us.”

For each episode of FOR REAL, we get together with a group of people in a theater, to look into what it means to matter as a person. All interviews are carried by improvised music, made by George Dumitriu (viola, guitar), Sarah Jeffery (recorders) and Andrea Voets (harp).

Made by Resonate Productions -creating musical journalism-

Music & interviews: Andrea Voets, Sarah Jeffery, George Dumitriu

Sound engineer: Hayden Hook

Funded by: AFK, FPK, BNG, Cultuurfonds, Dioraphte

Instagram: resonate.productions || facebook.com/musicaljournalism || www.resonate-productions.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

FOR REAL is a podcast on human dignity, made by Resonate Productions.

In this episode: not doing an ‘extraordinary’ job - not having opinions - underestimating discrimination - the need to be softer.

Recorded on 10 May 2025 at Theaterfestival Auawirleben at the Dampfzentrale in Bern, Switzerland. 

(01:39) Melissa [°1992 - Ankara, TU]: “You get up one morning, you find a letter in your letterbox, they tell you to get out of the country. And then you have to go to the bar, after your 10 hours working and you have to serve people their afterwork beer with a smile. Then they tell me that I’m not doing an extraordinary job.” 

(07:19) Maria [°1986 - Vladivostok, RU]: “I was about 7 or 8, and I was trying to prove something to my stepfather, and he told me: ‘we cannot have a dialogue, because to have a dialogue, you have to have your opinion, but you don’t have opinions.’”

(12:53) Effy [°2003 - Bern, CH]: “I always have the same reaction: ‘why do you work against discrimination in Switzerland, we don’t have any discrimination here’. It’s just sad and actually quite dangerous.”

(19:31) Nico [°1977 - Bern, CH]: “Maybe we should educate all children the way females have been brought up: to question your knowledge, and to be a bit softer about super-imposing whatever you think.” 

For each episode of FOR REAL, we get together with a group of people in a theater, to look into what it means to matter as a person. All interviews are carried by improvised music, made by George Dumitriu (viola, guitar), Sarah Jeffery (recorders) and Andrea Voets (harp).

Made by Resonate Productions -creating musical journalism-

Music & interviews: Andrea Voets, Sarah Jeffery, George Dumitriu

Sound engineer: Hayden Hook

Funded by: AFK, FPK, BNG, Cultuurfonds, Dioraphte

Instagram: resonate.productions || facebook.com/musicaljournalism || www.resonate-productions.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

FOR REAL is a podcast on human dignity, made by Resonate Productions.

In this episode: making your own table - selfcare of a grandmother - carrying your country's responsibilities - abortion. 

Recorded on 8 May 2025 at Frascati in Amsterdam. 

(01:38) Sarah [°1996 - Utrecht]: “She looks nice and all, but what does she know.” 

(06:50) Juan Andres [°1996 - Caracas, VEN]: “I’ve been leading marketing teams since very early in my career and I was always amazed at how, being so young and so tiny, I was able to do that.”

(10:05) Raquel van Haver [°1989 - Bogota, COL]: “The moment you don’t speak up, the moment you keep silent, the moment you just look away, that’s the moment you’re actually the loudest.”

(15:15) Kristina [°1979 - Moscow, RU]: “Everything that I loved and admired so much, actually broke down and shattered.”

(19:03) Adi [°1996 - India]: about seeing his grandmother in scarce moments of selfcare, oiling her body.

(24:38) Alydia [°1974 - Oranjestad, Aruba]: “When I was 18, I had my first boyfriend and I got pregnant. I decided not to have that child because I’m a child myself. I was 18 and I had dreams, I had visions, I need to study, I need to move, I need to do things. So I had an abortion.”

(35:40) What do you deserve? “To be immune to those that can hurt you” “To have tears, to have feelings and to share them.”

For each episode of FOR REAL, we get together with a group of people in a theater, to look into what it means to matter as a person. All interviews are carried by improvised music, made by George Dumitriu (viola, guitar), Sarah Jeffery (recorders) and Andrea Voets (harp).

Made by Resonate Productions -creating musical journalism-

Music & interviews: Andrea Voets, Sarah Jeffery, George Dumitriu

Sound engineer: Hayden Hook

Funded by: AFK, FPK, BNG, Cultuurfonds, Dioraphte

Instagram: resonate.productions || facebook.com/musicaljournalism || www.resonate-productions.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

FOR REAL is a podcast on human dignity, made by Resonate Productions.

In this episode: being a good teacher - should have known better - breadwinners - perfection - education.

Recorded on 8 March 2025 at Gigant Apeldoorn, hosted by Artez University of the Arts.

(01:50) David [°1998 - Rotterdam, NL]: "In some sense, it feels like you’re always still proving yourself, also in your insecurities."

(06:10) Daniela [°1997 - Salerno, IT]: "I really have the feeling that every time I talk with someone I have to give the correct answer because if I made a mistake then I’m not good enough and I’m not in that same level. And I feel that especially with men."

(11:06) Chris [°1995 - Maastricht, NL]: "My students, they are very vulnerable. And I’m just scared to send them into a world where there are so many professionals in the field who might take advantage of them in that way. But I’m also hopeful, because the world has changed in the last few years."

(15:44) Trinke [°1992 - Maastricht, NL]: "Especially in that region of the country, where women were just supposed to be there for the family, my mother was the one with the better education and she was the bread winner of our household. […] I actually like a lot that she didn’t make too much of a fuss about these things. It gives me the energy and the security to do things my way."

(18:40) Marianna [°1997 - Olivella, ES]: "We need to sell ourselves in the perfect way. Every time we speak, every time we play we need to make sure that that’s the right thing. And what makes me really angry is that I also do that with other women."

(24:22) What do you deserve? "To trust that I can do it" "The patience to give me more time to digest and thing about everything."

For each episode of FOR REAL, we get together with a group of people in a theater, to look into what it means to matter as a person. All interviews are carried by improvised music, made by George Dumitriu (viola, guitar), Sarah Jeffery (recorders) and Andrea Voets (harp).

Made by Resonate Productions -creating musical journalism-

Music & interviews: Andrea Voets, Sarah Jeffery, George Dumitriu

Sound engineer: Hayden Hook

Funded by: AFK, FPK, BNG, Cultuurfonds, Dioraphte

Instagram: resonate.productions || facebook.com/musicaljournalism || www.resonate-productions.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

FOR REAL is a podcast on human dignity, made by Resonate Productions.

In this episode: being reduced to stereotypes - feeling left-out with men - being underestimated - the responsibility of filling a quota - micromachismo. 

Recorded on 10  March 2025 at TU Delft, the Netherlands, hosted by DEWIS.

(01:40) Seju [°2000 - Mahoba, IN]: "I am afraid people see me as someone who is not from Europe. 'This is where you come from so this is perhaps how you think, what you do and what you like.' That is scary. I would want people to see me behind their own vices. Not as a female engineer, who can only be interested in female problems." "So much is overlooked because of your gender." "What exactly?" "Those are thoughts I do not want to think about."

(08:00) Parisa [°1995, IR]: "I am not taken seriously and left out at meetings here at TUDelft. Which doesn't make sense to me: it is a scientific discussion. In one-to-one discussions I always feel heard, but in groups with men not, I feel left out. I constantly feel I need to make my voice heard, and I shouldn't. If I force it, it becomes a pity-attention, and that also does not work. I don't understand why this happens. How can we solve this?"

(13:23) Carolina [°1999, PT]: "'Are you sure you can do that?' That hits you with embarrassment, to take up your own space. It is some shame, especially when you are young. It was said to me that my presence was essential because I had to bring some peace into a room of male energy. Almost mothering me. They were old enough to be my father. But they are not sexist, right? Because they have mothers and daughters they do respect, they are just trying to protect me..."

(19:29) Tracy Davis [°1985, Capetown, SA]: "Not only being a female but also a female of colour, especially from South Africa with a painful history, based on race. You are filling the quota and it is also a big responsibility. Trying to be the example. It's also something to be grateful for: you are able to try, to step out. To be able to empower the others."

(25:41) Victory [°1994, Nigeria] and Natalie Mesa [°1991, Peru]: about micromachismo, "being called Natisita in my first job as an engineer in the mining sector. The others were 'doctor' even though they were not." And: "Hey mom, you are strong, you are brave and I love you. My mom has 7 girls and 1 boy and went to university after having all of us. She just pulled through and kept up showing up every day."

(32:40) What do you deserve? "To be free to just be." "To have space to act when we need it, but also rest when we need it." "The relief to not need to be a superwoman." "The benefit of the doubt." "To be myself, even if I change the way I am at some point." "Support."

For each episode of FOR REAL, we get together with a group of people in a theater, to look into what it means to matter as a person. All interviews are carried by improvised music, made by George Dumitriu (viola, guitar), Sarah Jeffery (recorders) and Andrea Voets (harp).

Made by Resonate Productions -creating musical journalism-

Music & interviews: Andrea Voets, Sarah Jeffery, George Dumitriu

Sound engineer: Hayden Hook

Funded by: AFK, FPK, BNG, Cultuurfonds, Dioraphte

Instagram: resonate.productions || facebook.com/musicaljournalism || www.resonate-productions.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

FOR REAL is a podcast on human dignity, made by Resonate Productions.

In this episode: female leadership - the dangers of the patriarchal system - conversations with men - sexist a priori - calling people out on their behavior.  

Recorded on 23 November 2024, Explore the North, Leeuwarden. 

(01:26) Minke [°1952 - Wolvega, Friesland, NL]: reflects on female leadership. "A leader who humiliates, is not a leader."

(05:13) Janneke [°2001, Wierden, NL]: "I am a musician, and technicians feel the urge to explain me where the ON-button is on an amp. Explaining me I am not holding my guitar correctly."

(09:26) Eva [°1989, Leeuwarden,NL]: "The patriarchal system is heavy and unsafe for everyone."

(12:55) Sytzke [°2003, a village next to Leeuwarden,NL]: "I feel the responsibility to be bubbly. Especially in conversation with men, I feel I need to make them feel seen. Women resonate with that. Afterwards, I feel really drained." And the secret of showing interest.

(18:55) Johannes [°2001, Oostende, BE] and Tessa [°1998, Woerden, NL]: about being on tour with a female technician, and everyone always addressing Johannes. "What can I do apart from using tricks?" Tessa: "Is it OK to call people out on their behavior? I wish people would dare to say: 'this is not OK.'"

(24:55) What do you deserve? "To feel safe, without being kept on my toes."

For each episode of FOR REAL, we get together with a group of people in a theater, to look into what it means to matter as a person. All interviews are carried by improvised music, made by George Dumitriu (viola, guitar), Sarah Jeffery (recorders) and Andrea Voets (harp).

Made by Resonate Productions -creating musical journalism-

Music & interviews: Andrea Voets, Sarah Jeffery, George Dumitriu

Sound engineer: Hayden Hook

Funded by: AFK, FPK, BNG, Cultuurfonds, Dioraphte

Instagram: resonate.productions || facebook.com/musicaljournalism || www.resonate-productions.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

FOR REAL is a podcast on human dignity, made by Resonate Productions.

In this episode: art school toxicity - the responsibilities of raising children - hiding behind a smile - giving birth - deserving pleasure. 

Recorded on 30 October 2024, Schuur, Haarlem.

(01:48) Emmy [°1988 - USA] asks musician Sarah about the red threads in all the interviews of FOR REAL so far.

(4:07) Anonymous: "I went to art school and I was in the year with a rapist. Everybody excused that guy. Teachers only going to the bar with the men, sniffing coke together. People say to you: "Oh, but you can really see it was made by a women". And then you think it must be me, my art is not good enough. I am running an art space now, trying to do the exact opposite of what I was taught in art school."

(08:05) Lilly [NL] "What responsibilities lie on your shoulders? Is that in the first place I am a mom. I have two beautiful daughters (...) what I try to do in raising them is to make them strong and resilient. Show them that they really have to be themselves."

(14:08) Anonymous: "I had a fight at work where I was treated very unjustly. I told it to my therapist. And she said: 'are you aware you are telling me this with a huge smile?' It's something a lot of women do. It's probably because it is safer to be friendly all the time than to be angry".

(17:05) Sil: "I felt very much how much the world at the moment needs women. There is so much we can do and a man can not." E.g. on the privilege of giving birth to children. "We are lucky to be a woman. I feel that every day."

(20:59) Robin: "I deserve pleasure. And this is difficult for me, because when I was born, the doctor did not see a willie so he said "it's a girl". I'm 33 now and a couple of years ago I came to realise that that small sentence trapped me. I think, people are worried for my happiness. That's an experience that you feel at ease with yourself. Joy beyond the labels. I think that's what we all deserve."

For each episode of FOR REAL, we get together with a group of people in a theater, to look into what it means to matter as a person. All interviews are carried by improvised music, made by George Dumitriu (viola, guitar), Sarah Jeffery (recorders) and Andrea Voets (harp).

Made by Resonate Productions -creating musical journalism-

Music & interviews: Andrea Voets, Sarah Jeffery, George Dumitriu

Sound engineer: Hayden Hook

Funded by: AFK, FPK, BNG, Cultuurfonds, Dioraphte

Instagram: resonate.productions || facebook.com/musicaljournalism || www.resonate-productions.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.