Tag Arts & Culture

From artistic collaborations to creative problem solving, the arts have the power to lift us up and transform our future. These stories celebrate art, creativity, and culture in all its forms.

15 min read

How an Engineer Created a Band that Broke the Charts

Is what you're doing in life what you always thought you would be doing? Could you take what you know and create something new that could never have existed without you? Here's the story of an engineer turned rock star, whose story is one we can all relate to!

16 min read

Image: Filipino tattoo artist,106-year-old Apo Whang-Od, tattooing a customer's ankle

106-Year-Old Tattoo Artist in the Philippines Makes Local Artistry a Global Sensation

Apo Whang-Od has gained legendary status over the last few years, at 106 years old, she is one of the last practitioners of the Fillipino mambabatok artistry. Her fame has revived her art, and there's more than a thing or two we could learn from her!

33 min read

Image: collaged image of 3 Gee's bend quilts made of various colors of fabric

Generations of Love Sewn into the Quilts of Gee’s Bend

In a tiny community tucked in a bend in the Alabama River, quilters are carrying on a tradition over a century old. In the past few decades, their quilts have moved from bedroom cupboards to the walls of museums across America! Here's their beautiful story.

5 min read

Image: Humpback whales waving with their tails at some swimmers.

Whales Have Viral Music, Too!

Did you know humpback whales have viral songs, too? Just like us, humpback whales love a catchy new tune. From Australia all the way to Ecuador, viral whale songs are taking over the ocean. This astonishing discovery is changing how we see whales and ourselves in the natural world.

3 min read

IMAGE: A pile of junk sitting in the outdoors, of which almost anything could be a flute!

Finding Music in the Mundane: Xavier Lozano Turns Everyday Objects into… Flutes?

Could that carrot be a flute? What about the wheel of your chair, or the hairbrush on your dresser? Xavier Lozano has been creating flutes out of everyday objects for close to 30 years, inspiring us all to think a little differently about how things appear at first glance.

11 min read

Image: Three Kukeri dancers walking through the streets of Belgium.

Monsters You Must See: The Bulgarian Kukeri Dance Away Evil

Why are people in Bulgaria dressing up in elaborate fur costumes and dancing through the streets at night in the dead of winter? Join us as we explore the wild, strange, and awesome tradition of Kukeri, and learn what it means to gather for the greater good—whether you are superstitious or not!

8 min read/watch

Image: Assorted bread being sold at a bakery

Beyond the Ruins: Baking Bread Like the Ancient Romans

Are you a bread-lover? Perhaps you were a pandemic sourdough baker—or lived with one. Maybe you are always on the search for a good crusty baguette, or to you there is nothing better than a piece of toast slathered in your favorite peanut butter. Wherever you fall, you are a part of a long lineage of loaf-lovers that dates back 14,000 thousand years.

66 min listen

Feeling Stuck? Use Street Wisdom to Navigate the World with More Curiosity with David Pearl (Episode #139)

Having a reliable routine for getting fresh perspectives and ideas can be a sanity-saver and a path to opening up new potential almost every day for you. In this episode, we learn about just such a path with David Pearl, who is leading a movement—Street Wisdom—that can be an energizing, simple way to find answers to small daily quandaries and your most challenging problems. And best of all, it’s a free, ever changing way to boost your sense of joy, wonder and well-being.

Image: A player for the Savannah Bananas doing a backflip off of a barrel in front of a cheering crowd.

The Savannah Bananas Bring Fun and Excitement to America’s Favorite Pastime

Have you heard of the Savannah Bananas? This Georgia based team has hit a real home run with their mission: to make baseball fans first, and most of all, fun! Roasting s’mores during a game, going up to bat on stilts, and a dancing umpire are just the tip of the iceberg of antics that go on at these games. And they make this, as the Bananas like to call it, the greatest show in sports!

5 min read

Image: Natalya Kishchuk, a Hutsul weaver from Ukraine weaves a traditional blanket on a loom

Ukraine Family Uses Etsy to Keep Heirloom Weaving Tradition Alive

In the Carpathian mountains of Ukraine, the Kischuk family has taken to the internet to keep the centuries old tradition of weaving lizhnyk blankets alive. From sheep to final shipping, Natalya Kischuk and her husband Yaroslov, along with their children, use traditional methods handed down for generations to craft beautiful blankets, rugs, and clothing that are now enjoyed by people around the globe.

Do As The Aussies Do, Lose the Shoes!

What’s the deal with Australians being barefoot all the time? Dip your toes into the history behind a cultural tradition that began just after WWII and remains prevalent to this day. You may just walk away feeling relaxed, with a newfound appreciation for your own feet!

Image: girl jumping rope double dutch style

How the Jump Rope Became an Elite Sport and a Symbol of Community

Double dutch may be one of the most underrated sports out there. These young athletes combine football star levels of footwork with the flexibility of gymnasts and the speed of sprinters. Better yet, they are a part of a community built to give them the support and love they need. Now this is inspiring!

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