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What happens to the human brain when we work with our hands, and what do we lose when we stop? How can repetitive manual activities help us navigate stress, burnout, and digital disconnect? And as artificial intelligence tools alter how we think and create, how do we protect the unique, physical experience of the human touch?
Shaping materials is often discussed as a form of cultural heritage or economic utility. But as this conversation suggests, the act of making matters deeply to our health. From the cognitive benefits of repetitive motion to the stark daily realities of running a creative business, this episode explores the profound intersection between manual craft and human wellbeing.
In this episode of Craft Matters, Adriana Campo brings together three distinct perspectives to explore how arts, crafts, and manual work impact our minds and our society.
We hear from Tom Bensari, woodworker and furniture designer who walked away from a corporate career as a lawyer and CEO; Célia Macedo, an architect turned full-time ceramicist; and Dr. Sirpa Kokko, a Professor of Craft Science at the University of Eastern Finland and co-author of the European Crafts Alliance sectorial study on crafts and wellbeing.
Together, they explore what it means to heal, learn, and thrive through our hands.
In this episode:
- Tom Bensari, woodworker and furniture designer, Poland.
- Célia Macedo, ceramicist and former architect, Portugal.
- Dr. Sirpa Kokko, Professor of Craft Science at the University of Eastern Finland, Finland
New to Craft Matters? Listen to the episodes on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iVoox, and YouTube.
Credits
Craft Matters is a podcast by the European Crafts Alliance exploring the people, policies, and practices shaping craft across Europe — from independent makers to cultural institutions and decision-makers. Through interviews, stories, and field recordings, the series reveals how craft lives, evolves, and contributes to Europe’s economic and cultural future.
Host and producer: Adriana Campo
Continuity announcer: Rachel Kelly
Story editor and dramaturg: Ana Kuntarič Brodersen
Executive producer: Laura Miguel Baumann
Produced by the European Crafts Alliance
Original music featured in the series is The Walking Song by Adam Ben Ezra, from the album Hide & Seek.
Co-Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the granting authority. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
Furthermore, any views or opinions expressed by guests do not necessarily represent those of the European Crafts Alliance.
