Shows
In a NutshellFaith and Fear of the Far Right | with Kirsten SmeetsWhy has the European far-right become increasingly popular? How do they use religion to shape their anti-immigration discourses? And what role does TikTok play in all of this?In today’s episode, Jara investigates what is behind the anti-immigration discourse of the European far right. Together with her guest, Kirsten Smeets, she will explore how opponents are created, why religion still plays a role in secular societies, and what makes the far right seem like an emergency break. Kirsten completed her PhD at Radboud University in the Department of Philosophy, Ethics, and Political Philosophy, and is...2025-06-1728 min
In a NutshellBlack Holes | with Heino FalckeWhat is behind a black hole? What do they look like? And how on Earth do you take a picture of one? In today’s episode, Jara faces one of her childhood fears, namely being sucked into the darkest mystery of the universe – the black hole. How likely is Earth to disappear behind the universe’s final curtain? What would that mean? And what actually is this dreaded black hole, to begin with? Luckily, her guest Heino Falcke has the answers. Heino is a Professor of Astroparticle Physics and Radio Astronomy at the Institute for Mathem...2025-06-0327 min
In a NutshellAI Special pt.2 | with Pim HaselagerAI seems to have come to stay, but what does the future of artificial intelligence hold? And why is it perhaps one of the most penetrating technologies since the development of language?In the second part of the AI special, we take a look at the future of AI. Together with Pim Haselager, Antonia talks about how AI might change as a technology – and how humans will likely too. Will reading lose its importance? Can (and should) you generate ideas with the help of artificial intelligence? And how is AI changing the relationship we have to ourselves?...2025-05-2124 min
In a NutshellPersuarding the World | with Bé BreijHow do you persuade an audience? What is ethos, and why is it so important? And what connects ancient philosophers like Aristotle with modern politicians like Donald Trump?Rhetoric is the answer — at least to many of the questions that arise when taking a closer look at the workings of public discourse. Invented in antiquity, rhetoric still shapes our present and future, and is therefore placed in the spotlight in this episode of In a Nutshell. Together with her guest Bé Breij, Jara explores the power of rhetoric, its somewhat negative reputation, and how one can...2025-05-0620 min
In a NutshellAI Special pt. 1 | with Pim HaselagerWhere did AI come from? How is it changing society? And why do we need a European approach to Artificial Intelligence?In today’s episode, we are tackling the most discussed topic in recent weeks: Artificial Intelligence. Whether people are remaking The Lord of the Rings entirely in the style of Studio Ghibli, power self-driving cars or ask ChatGPT to write their uni assignments, AI seems to be everywhere. But where did it come from? And how is it affecting society right now?Together with professor of Artificial Intelligence and principal investigator at the Donders Inst...2025-04-1526 min
In a NutshellA Manual for Romantic Relationships | with Johan KarremansWhat makes and breaks a good romantic relationship? Why can’t our relationships be perfect? And how can mindfulness help us make better connections? Ah, romantic relationships. They make us see the world through rose-colored glasses and let us feel thousands of butterflies in our tummies, don’t they? Yet, many people would likely agree that having a romantic relationship can be quite a challenge. So, how to do them right? In this episode of In a Nutshell, Jara explores the science behind romantic relationships. Her guest, Johan Karremans, offers intriguing insights into the world of i...2025-04-0126 min
In a NutshellMath Anxiety | with Sanne van der VenWhy are we afraid of math? Can you make peace with the school subjects you hate? And how important are feelings and attitudes towards a subject when it comes to doing well? (Spoiler alert: very.)Everyone has that one subject in school (or at university) they don’t like – and in today’s episode, Antonia is tackling precisely that: the subjects we dislike and the disciplines we are bad in. Or, at least, feel like we are. Together with guest Sanne van der Ven, Antonia explores the interplay of cognition, emotions and school performance. And, more importantly, how to...2025-03-1818 min
In a NutshellThe Digital Dilemma | with Noortje HoevensWhat will a peak behind the governments’ screens show us? What do we need to know about digital governments? And how does digitalization change public values? Digitalization is not just technical – this is the key message of this week’s episode, in which Jara learns about the world of digital governments. Together with her guest Noortje Hoevens, she discusses the political and social aspects of digitalization and investigates how digitalization causes a shift in values – from intrinsic to IT values. Noortje is a PhD candidate at Radboud University. She investigates the relationship between digitalization and public v...2025-03-0418 min
In a NutshellThe Ruins of 9/11 | with László MunteánWhat are the things we don’t remember when we remember 9/11? Why is commemorating 9/11 still a heatedly discussed topic, even more than 20 years later? And where did theruins of the Twin Towers actually go?“Where were you when the planes hit the towers?” Is probably one of the most asked questions of the 21st century. In this week’s episode, Antonia takes a closer look at the aftermath of the terrorist attack. Together with guest László Munteán, she discusses mourning the dead after the attacks, how a significant amount of the towers’ steel ended up in China – an...2025-02-1825 min
In a NutshellPowerful Prejudices | with Gijs BijlstraWhy do we have prejudices? How are they created? And how do prejudices influence how we see and interact with people around us?
In this new episode of In a Nutshell, Jara learns that stereotypes are not only bad. With her guest, Gijs Bijlstra, she embarks on a journey to understand the power of prejudices, what we can use them for, and when we need to overcome them.
Gijs is an Associate Professor and social psychologist. He works at the Behavioural Science Institute. Gijs is interested in how stereotypes and prejudice influence our perceptions and...2025-02-0423 min
In a NutshellThe Psychology of Sex | with Maerten PrinsSex should be about having fun and pornography usually gets it wrong – at least according to Maerten Prins, long-time lecturer of the popular course Psychology of Sexuality.
In today’s episode of In a Nutshell, Antonia and Maerten talk about why the Netherlands might have the best sex education in the world but still falls short for many students. But what makes for good sex – and good sex education – in the first place? How has the way we talk about sex changed over the last decades? And why should we all masturbate more?
Maerten Prins is a cul...2025-01-2122 min
In a NutshellColonialism on the Ball Field | with Jan BantHow can sports be inclusive and exclusive at the same time? What can baseball tell us about Dutch colonialism? And how can sports be a means of identification?
In the first episode of 2025, Jara investigates the intersection of baseball and politics. Together with her guest Jan Bant, she explores notions of identity, belonging, and exclusion by taking a close look at what happens on the ball field.
Jan is a PhD candidate at the Department of History, Art History and Classics. He is interested in the past and present of colonialism, the Caribbean, and Transatlantic r...2025-01-0722 min
In a NutshellThe Science behind Music Reviews | with Alex van der HulstHow prominent is the male gaze in music reviews? Why are there no guilty pleasure songs? And how authentic can artists in an industry like the music industry really be?
In this episode, Antonia delves into the world of music, more
specifically, music reviews. Together with her guest, Alex van der Hulst, she explores the shift from rockism to popism, asks whether we can separate artists from their art, and remembers iconic and extremely inauthentic pop groups (yes, it’s Milli Vanilli and Boney M.).
Alex van der Hulst is a PhD candidate at the Fa...2024-12-1723 min
In a NutshellNature's Call for Change | with Marjolein OeleDo we need to treat nature differently? How can philosophy help us do so? And what makes documentaries about cats a good starting point?
In this week’s episode, Jara explores nature. More specifically, she investigates how humans relate to nature, why we like to see ourselves as separate from it, and why we
treat nature the way we do. As always, she does so with an expert guest. For this episode, Marjolein Oele joins the podcast to offer insights and explanations on why humans and nature might not be so different after all.
Marjolein is...2024-12-0324 min
In a NutshellA Different History of Drugs | with Brigitte AdriaensenPoison, medicine or magic potion? Drugs can probably be all of that. But what makes a drug legal or illegal? Or rather: who decides on that?
“Who will ever relate the whole history of narcotics? It is almost the history of ‘culture’,” wrote Friedrich Nietzsche more than a hundred years ago – and he might be onto something. In today’s episode, Antonia and this week’s guest, Brigitte Adriaensen, talk about how drugs have been perceived throughout time and why colonialism wasn’t only built on the drug trade but continues to influence how we view substances like cocaine. 2024-11-1920 min
In a NutshellBig Tech is Watching You | with Guilel TreiberWhat makes scrolling on our phones dangerous? What does our scrolling have to do with digital surveillance? And who is surveilling whom, and for what reason?
In this episode, Jara explores the unsettling world of digital surveillance. Together with this week’s guest, Guilel Treiber, she uncovers who the surveillers of the digital world are and peeks behind the curtains of their sleek self-staging to reveal their hidden desires. Yes, this episode will probably make you feel a strong urge to throw your phone away. But luckily, Guilel has some ideas on how to resist digital surveillance wi...2024-11-0525 min
In a NutshellWhy Are We Afraid of Insects? | with Charlotte MeijerWhy do insects in the house make us jump? Have we always hated bugs that much? And what do the small animals have to do with morality – and warfare?
In this episode of In a Nutshell, Antonia takes a peek at insects that make people’s skin crawl and, together with this week’s guest researcher Charlotte Meijer, answers the question of why we’re so bugged by bugs. Spoiler alert: there hasn’t always been such straightforward hatred against flies, worms, cockroaches and co.
Charlotte is a PhD candidate at the Faculty of Arts, where she re...2024-10-2221 min
In a NutshellWhy do we need better treatment for depression? | with Ellen DriessenWhy are the current treatments for depression not effective enough? How can a what-fits-who approach help solve this problem? And can the already overwhelmed mental health sector actually provide more customized treatments?
Welcome back to In a Nutshell – a podcast of Vox in which we explore everything you never knew you needed to know more about. We kick off the second season by taking a critical look at the current depression treatments. Together with Ellen Driessen, we discuss the role the match between a patient and a therapist plays, how to make the mental he...2024-10-0822 min
In a NutshellWhy Do We Need Better Treatment for Depression? | with Ellen DriessenWhy are the current treatments for depression not effective enough? How can a what-fits-who approach help solve this problem? And can the already overwhelmed mental health sector actually provide more customized treatments?
Welcome back to In a Nutshell – a podcast of Vox in which we explore everything you never knew you needed to know more about. We kick off the second season by taking a critical look at the current depression treatments. Together with Ellen Driessen, we discuss the role the match between a patient and a therapist plays, how to make the mental health sector more su...2024-10-0822 min
In a NutshellAnatomy of a Humor Scandal | with Ivo NieuwenhuisWhat makes a good political humour scandal? Why does what we find funny change over time? And what is the state of jokes today?
In the final episode of In a Nutshell’s first season, we take a look at jokes, politics, and how the combination of both can (and has) lead to historic scandals. With the help of assistant professor and comedy critic Ivo Nieuwenhuis, we detangle modern humour – and look for an answer to the question of what the jokes that make the headlines (and that make us laugh) say about us.
Ivo Nieu...2024-07-1522 min
In a NutshellKetikoti Special: Remembering Slavery | with Coen van GalenWhat is the history of Dutch slavery? Where can we see the impacts of Dutch slavery today? And how can a day like Ketikoti lead to a more inclusive society?
In the nineteenth episode of In a Nutshell, we delve into past realities and present traces of Dutch slavery. Together with this week’s guest, Coen van Galen, we will remember the histories of enslaved people, reflect on how the Dutch are dealing with their historic role in slavery today, and find traces of slavery on the train tracks between Arnhem and Nijmegen.
Coen van Ga...2024-07-0124 min
In a NutshellCyber (In-)Security | with Güneş AcarHow can a website collect your password – even before you hit the sign-up button? Does a VPN help against being tracked online? And why is tracking users actually such an issue?
In the eighteenth episode of In a Nutshell, we will take a deep dive into cyber security – and all the things that make the internet a not-so-safe space when it comes to
data protection. Together with this week’s guest, Güneş Acar, we will figure out how users can attempt to stay safe when it comes to their data online, and why this can be so diffi...2024-06-1722 min
In a NutshellPlaying Mind Games | with Suhaavi KochharWhy do we need to change our outlook on video games? How can gaming help young people to quit smoking? And what role can technology play in mental health care globally?
In the seventeenth episode of In a Nutshell, we delve into the world of mental health games. Together with this week’s guest Suhaavi Kochhar, we will debunk the stereotype of gaming, explore the benefits video games can have on our psyche, and learn more about how technology could help us bridge the global mental health gap.
Suhaavi Kochhar is a PhD candidate in th...2024-06-0323 min
In a NutshellOn Palestine, pt. 2: The Question of Genocide | with Sally ThinThis month, In a Nutshell presents something different: a two-part series focussing on the subject of Palestine. We offer the microphone to researchers who tell us about their perspectives and knowledge on the topic in its broadest sense. This week’s guest, Sally Thin, will untangle the genocide case against Israel.
How can a country be tried for genocide? What are the limits of international law? And what happens if a state is found responsible for genocide by the International Court of Justice? In this episode, Sally (Sarah) Thin will tackle the
complicated topic of international law an...2024-05-1620 min
In a NutshellOn Palestine pt.1: Navigating Settler Colonialism | with NouraThis month, In a Nutshell presents something different: a two-part series focussing on the subject of Palestine. We offer the microphone to researchers who tell us about their perspectives and knowledge on the topic in its broadest sense. Seeing that this is a big topic, we provide explanations for some key terms below.
This week’s guest, Noura, will look at Palestine through a settler colonial lens: What is settler colonialism? How does it work? And how does it affect Palestinians today? Noura will navigate us through these questions and share her academic, as well as her personal insi...2024-05-0624 min
In a NutshellThe Politics of Sport | with Paul ReefDoes it matter whether Russian athletes compete at the Olympics? Why do transgender athletes ruffle so many feathers when it comes to sports competitions – even in disciplines like darts? And why do countries keep hosting mega-sporting events, even if they lead to massive financial losses?
Sport is at the centre of many political debates. But why? In this week’s episode of In a Nutshell, Antonia talks to PhD candidate Paul Reef about mega-sporting events and the politics behind them. Including discussions about the upcoming Paris Olympics and why some of its security measures migh...2024-04-1520 min
In a NutshellA Different Death | with Iline CeelenWhy do we need to talk about death? How can we relearn
to think of dying differently? And why do music and tattoos help in processing the death of a loved one?
In the thirteenth episode of In a Nutshell, we stare death in the face. Together with this week’s guest, Iline Ceelen, we will explore our perception of death, talk about last parties and walks, and, in the meantime, gain some engaging bits of wisdom about life.
Iline Ceelen is a PhD candidate in Comparative Religious Studies at the Faculty of Philosophy, Theology an...2024-04-0225 min
In a NutshellA Different Death | with Iline CeelenWhy do we need to talk about death? How can we relearn to think of dying differently? And why do music and tattoos help in processing the death of a loved one?
In the thirteenth episode of In a Nutshell, we stare death in the face. Together with this week’s guest, Iline Ceelen, we will explore our perception of death, talk about last parties and walks, and, in the meantime, gain some engaging bits of wisdom about life.
Iline Ceelen is a PhD candidate in Comparative Religious Studies at the Faculty of Philosophy, Theology an...2024-04-0125 min
In a NutshellThe Intelligence of Animals | with Bas van Woerkum-RookerHow can a spider ‘think’ with its eyes? What can we learn about thinking from baking bread? And how have the weird environments humans built around them changed the way we think?
The twelfth episode of In a Nutshell is all about animal intelligence – and how understanding animal intelligence can teach us something about human intelligence too. Together with this week’s guest Bas van Woerkum-Rooker Antonia takes a dive into alternative forms of thinking – some of which don’t even require a brain.
Bas van Woerkum-Rooker is a Ph.D. candidate at the Faculty of Philosoph...2024-03-1825 min
In a NutshellPostcards from Space | with Søren LarsenWhat does space look like? Why do we need to explore the universe? And what do microwaves have to do with
that?
The eleventh episode of In a Nutshell is a small expedition to space. Together with this week’s guest Søren Larsen, we will look at pictures from space, talk about telescopes, and learn why exploring space is not only important but also useful for life on Earth.
Søren Larsen is an associate professor at the Department of Astrophysics and a member of the Euclid consortium. He is interested in understanding star format...2024-03-0422 min
In a NutshellTime as a Spiral | with Laura De VosTime seems to be a pretty straightforward affair – or is it? What if history would not move ahead, but function as a spiral, like Indigenous understandings of time suggest? And how does this influence the way we can relate to nature?
The tenth episode of In a Nutshell is dedicated to Indigenous perspectives on nature and time. This week’s guest, Laura, will explain how this can inform Indigenous activism – and why always looking seven generations into the future might also be a good policy for Western environmental policy.
Laura De Vos is an assistant profes...2024-02-1922 min
In a NutshellAre We What We Eat? | with Esther AartsWhy are candy bars so tempting? What makes the
microbes in our gut so important? And are we really what we eat?
The ninth episode of In A Nutshell is all about
the link between our brains and food choices. This week’s guest, Esther, will tell us how our brains, immune systems, and guts are connected.
Esther Aarts is a Principal Investigator at the Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour of the Food and Cognition group and a Professor of Nutritional Neuroscience. She examines how our brain impacts our eating behavior and how th...2024-02-0525 min
In a NutshellFantastic Fanfictions and How to Study Them | with Julia NeugartenHave you ever watched a movie or read a book and thought: ‘I’d like to read more of this’? Then you are in luck because there probably is – in the form of fanfiction. And PhD student Julia Neugarten studies them.
The eighth episode of In a Nutshell is entirely dedicated to this fascinating piece of online subculture and literary genre. And from its origins in the 1960s to the more than 14 million works published on the fanfiction open-source repository Archive of Our Own today – Julia knows all about it.
So, what makes people write and publis...2024-01-2219 min
In a NutshellThe Trauma of Long Covid | with Vivienne Matthies-BoonWhat makes Long Covid traumatic? Which role do politics and society play in this? And why should we follow the Germans?
The seventh episode of In A Nutshell is all about Long Covid. This week’s guest Vivienne Matthies-Boon will tell us about her personal struggle with the sickness and about how her experience has been heavily affected by political structures.
Vivienne Matthies-Boon is a professor of Philosophical Ethics and Political Philosophy at the Faculty of Philosophy, Theology and Religious Studies. Her primary interests are phenomenological experiences of injustice and in her work, she deals with...2024-01-0823 min
In a NutshellThe Science of Being Single | with Ea UtoftFrom 25-year-old single women being historically referred to as ‘spinsters’ to Bridget Jones singlehood jokes of the early 2000s – singles don’t always have it easy. And, until recently, they were also neglected when it came to being academically studied
as a distinct group of people.
The sixth episode of In a Nutshell is entirely dedicated to this rising global demographic of singles. For this, we have invited the ‘accidental’ singlehood researcher Ea Utoft into the studio. Together, we talk about the drawbacks and the benefits of modern singlehood – and everything in between.
Ea Utoft is an assistan...2023-12-1822 min
In a NutshellWhy We Risk It | with Kim FairleyHow risky is playing the lottery? Why would anyone go free solo climbing? And most importantly, do we need to risk it to get the biscuit?
The fifth episode of In a Nutshell is all about risking it. From gambling to putting one’s life on the line – this episode will take you onto the uncertain paths of life. And this week’s guest Kim Fairley will be the navigator on this exploration of risk.
Kim Fairley is an assistant professor of Economics with specific expertise in behavioural economics at the Nijmegen School of Management. Unlike...2023-12-0422 min
In a NutshellSniffing the Soil | with Rosa BooneIn the fourth episode of In a Nutshell, host Antonia Leise
invites the Ph.D. candidate in Plant Ecology and Physiology Rosa Boone into the studio.
In this episode, we go below ground and have a close look at the
soil our food depends upon – or, more precisely, how an electronic nose can help sniff out whether grassland soil is healthy or not. Why is healthy soil important? How can smell help in determining soil health? And what do Pickwick tea bags have to do with all of this? Rosa Boone knows the answers – even though determining what...2023-11-2023 min
In a NutshellRiddles of Randomness | with Klaas LandsmanIn the third episode of In a Nutshell, host Jara Majerus
invites professor of Mathematical Physics and lover of randomness Klaas Landsman into the studio.
In this episode, we dive into the riddles of randomness. What is randomness? Which role does it play in the universe, and what does Einstein have to do with it? Klaas Landsman knows all the answers and explains why he is utterly excited about everything random.
Klaas Landsman is a Professor of Mathematical Physics and the winner of the Spinoza Prize 2022. He has investigated randomness and chance thoroughly and does no...2023-11-0823 min
In a NutshellEmotional asphalt | with Anneleen ArnoutIn the second episode of In a Nutshell, host Antonia Leise invites assistant professor and historian of emotion Anneleen Arnout into the studio. This episode is all about the material that we walk through the world on – and mostly tend to forget about. Guest Anneleen Arnout introduces the surprisingly emotional history of asphalt paving. Including an exploration into horse accidents of the 19th century, asphalt's prior history as a make-up component – and why people used to boil eggs on streets.
Anneleen Arnout is an assistant professor of Cultural History at Radboud University. Fascinated by the history of emotion...2023-10-2319 min
In a NutshellMeaningful monsters | with Arjan SterkenIn the first episode of In a Nutshell, host Jara Majerus invites the PhD scholar and folktale enthusiast Arjan Sterken into the studio.
This episode is all about monsters. What are monsters? Where do they come from, and what are they trying to tell us? Arjan Sterken knows all the answers and lets us in on the mythical meaning of uncanny creatures.
Arjan Sterken is a teacher and PhD scholar in Comparative Religious Studies at the Faculty of Philosophy, Theology and Religious Studies. He is utterly fascinated by folktales and myths and loves to pass this...2023-10-0921 min
In a NutshellTrailer - In a NutshellWelcome to the podcast In a Nutshell that is brought to you by Vox - or more precisely, by Jara Majerus and Antonia Leise. Every two weeks, we will explore the most interesting topics that a hundred years of Radboud University have brought forward. Do you want to learn more about stories you might have never heard of? Make sure to subscribe and check out the first episode on the 9th of October!
Hosts: Antonia Leise & Jara Majerus
Edit: Jara Majerus
Cover: Antonia Leise
2023-10-0200 min