Todd Breyfogle Discusses Aspen Institute's Humanistic Roots on DB|BD Podcast

In the latest episode of the Design Observer podcast DB|BD, host Ellen McGirt speaks with Todd Breyfogle, who serves as Senior Advisor for Humanistic Studies at the Aspen Institute. Their conversation centers around the Institute's establishment in 1949 by Walter and Elizabeth Paepcke, who gathered 2,000 artists, thinkers, and business leaders in Aspen, Colorado. Breyfogle notes that the founders, including Robert Hutchins, believed that no single sector could address the challenges stemming from the post-war era and the Great Depression. Initially called the Aspen Institute for Humanistic Studies, its mission was to encourage interdisciplinary collaboration. He also discusses the campus designed by Herbert Bayer, early programs, and the seminar method that promotes dialogue across generations and perspectives, emphasizing the importance of accessible humanistic education and sharing stories about engaging with classic literature.