Daisy Fancourt

Daisy Fancourt, a Professor at UCL and director at the WHO on Arts and Health, discusses how arts engagement can enhance physical and mental health. She highlights exciting evidence linking creativity to improved brain function and reduced stress. Tom Service, a BBC presenter and music expert, explores music’s evolving cultural significance, celebrating its communal power and impact on society. Rosamund Bartlett, a translator of Chekhov, shares insights on his early works, revealing the connection between literature and health in challenging times. This conversation untangles the profound influence of the arts.

Daisy Fancourt, a professor at University College London and author of "Art Cure," explores the surprising health benefits of engaging with the arts. She reveals how art can boost brain function, improve emotional regulation, and even enhance respiratory health. Fancourt discusses arts' role in building cognitive resilience and possibly altering gene expression to promote a younger biological age. With practical tips for incorporating art into daily life, she highlights its potential to improve well-being at any age.

Susan Mag Salmon, director at Johns Hopkins’ Arts and Mind Lab, links art and brain science. Ivy Ross, Google hardware design lead, brings an artist’s view to design and experience. Daisy Fancourt, UCL psychobiologist, presents large-scale research on arts and health. They discuss how music, dance, writing, and immersive art reshape brains, boost physical and mental health, and can be used as practical daily interventions.

Daisy Fancourt, a Professor of Psychobiology and Epidemiology at University College London, explores the transformative power of the arts in her latest work. She reveals how arts engagement can activate brain pathways, reduce stress, and even enhance longevity. Fancourt discusses the psychological advantages of dance over traditional exercise and the importance of addressing barriers that limit access to arts programs. Through compelling evidence and personal narratives, she makes a strong case for integrating arts into public health and education.

Daisy Fancourt, a Professor of Psychobiology & Epidemiology at University College London, explores how arts can significantly enhance health and well-being. She discusses the broad definition of arts engagement, from culinary to horticultural, and its biological impacts like dopamine release and stress reduction. Fancourt reveals surprising benefits of dance over traditional exercise and highlights music's calming effects during surgeries. She also addresses barriers to arts access, emphasizing the need for policy changes to promote arts as a tool for public health.

Lexi Bynum, known as Lexi the Hobbyist, dives into the surge of Gen Z's real-world hobbies, sparked by pandemic isolation. She shares how her craft club fosters community and self-exploration through hands-on activities like junk journaling and pottery. Daisy Fancourt brings a scientific lens, explaining how hobbies enhance mental health by boosting dopamine and reducing stress. They discuss hobbies as a reaction to digital overload, with insights on building confidence and resilience. Discover the joy of creativity and its profound impact!

In this lively discussion, Lexi Bynum, a hobby influencer and content creator, shares how the pandemic spurred her to explore various hobbies like polymer clay and sewing. She emphasizes the joy and community found in craft clubs, while addressing the balance between content creation and genuine hobby enjoyment. Joining her is Daisy Fancourt, a professor who reveals the impressive health benefits of hobbies, from boosting dopamine to reducing the risk of dementia. Together, they tackle societal perceptions of hobbies, especially in a productivity-driven culture.

Daisy Fancourt, psychobiologist at UCL and author of The Art Cure, studies how arts shape brain, body and population health. She explores music’s rhythmical power, storytelling’s role in empathy, biological mechanisms from dopamine to gene expression, and why participatory and live arts often beat passive consumption. Practical tips for squeezing art into daily life and tackling access barriers are also discussed.

In this engaging discussion, Daisy Fancourt, a Professor at University College London and author of "Art Cure," explores the profound health benefits of the arts. She shares insights on how arts engagement can enhance emotional well-being and reduce stress through biological mechanisms like dopamine activation. Fancourt delves into the extra benefits of dance over exercise and discusses the positive impact of music on pre-surgery stress. She also highlights barriers to arts access and proposes solutions to increase public engagement, framing art as vital for both individual health and social change.

Daisy Fancourt, a renowned professor at University College London, explores the health benefits of arts engagement in her book, Art Cure. She discusses how various art forms impact brain function and bodily health, emphasizing that dance can often surpass traditional exercise for overall wellness. Fancourt highlights the role of arts in reducing stress, particularly in hospital settings, and presents research linking arts participation to increased longevity. She also addresses barriers to access and proposes solutions to enhance arts funding and engagement.