In this episode of the Ideas Festival Emory podcast, Maya Kroth interviews Chris Appleton, founder of Art Pharmacy. discusses the growing mental health and loneliness crises and explains how social prescribing—connecting people to arts and cultural experiences as part of healthcare—can serve as a powerful, evidence-based intervention. Drawing on personal experience, emerging clinical data, and real-world success stories, Appleton makes the case for creativity as a vital public health resource, one that fosters connection, resilience, and whole-person health while addressing gaps in the U.S. healthcare system.

In this episode of the Ideas Festival Emory podcast, host Maya Kroth speaks with Anne Basting, founder of TimeSlips, about creativity, aging, and the power of storytelling to foster connection and dignity. Drawing on Bastings’ pioneering work using imaginative engagement with people living with dementia, the conversation explores how creative expression can transform care, challenge assumptions about aging, and strengthen our capacity for empathy. Produced by the Center for Public Scholarship and Engagement and rooted in Emory University’s Ideas Festival, this episode invites listeners to consider how imagination can be a practical, humane tool for building more inclusive and compassionate communities.