Alumni Week: What if you shared your personal life in the media?
Monday 5 October | 19:30-21:00 | De Brug
- Date
- 5 October 2026
- Time
- 19:30 -21:00
- Room
- De Brug
Please note: this event is in Dutch.
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In this panel discussion, we focus on what it means to make your personal life public in the media – the opportunities, the tensions and the boundaries involved. The conversation is chaired by Liesbeth Rasker, who introduces the topic from her own work on grief and her conscious choice to live without children, and then guides the panel discussion.
Together with her, four makers and writers talk about self-disclosure, identity and public visibility: Tobi Lakmaker rose to prominence with a candid book about sexuality and identity. Lena Bril wrote about grief and therapy after the loss of her father. Tahrim Ramdjan explores in his book how different identities – Muslim, Hindustani and gay – can coexist. And Max Terpstra, in the personal documentary series Verslaafd aan Verliezen, spoke about his own gambling addiction and warned young people about the dangers of gambling.
Together, they explore questions such as: When does personal openness become liberating – and when does it make you vulnerable instead? What do you give away when you share your story, and what remains yours alone? And who ultimately has control over your story once it has entered the public sphere?
Speakers
Liesbeth Rasker is a writer, podcaster, and the proprietor of a digital pub. She studied Dutch Language and Literature at the University of Amsterdam and has worked as a freelance writer for publications including ELLE, Glamour, Viva, Cosmopolitan, Flow Magazine, and Lonely Planet Magazine. She has published two books, created the podcast Dag voor Dag about grief, and hosted several seasons of the podcasts Diplomatie Raakt for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and De Dienst for the Dutch General Intelligence and Security Service (AIVD). Her digital pub, Kroegpraat, has grown into an online phenomenon, with live events, thousands of women offering one another advice, and its own podcast. Rasker also made the documentaries Vroeg Verloren and Heb je geen kinderen?.
Tobi Lakmaker writes columns for de Volkskrant. After briefly studying Russian and Literary Studies, he completed his degree in Philosophy at the University of Amsterdam in 2018. His debut novel, De geschiedenis van mijn seksualiteit, was published in 2021. He is currently working on a new book.
Max Terpstra is a presenter and programme maker. In 2021, he completed a degree in Media and Culture at the University of Amsterdam. During his studies, he joined BNNVARA’s talent development programme, the BNNVARA Academy, in 2020. A year later, he was given his own segment, Max bijt Hond, on the daily talk show Khalid & Sophie. In the summer of 2023, he released the personal documentary series Verslaafd aan Verliezen (Addicted to Losing), in which he spoke about his gambling addiction and warned young people about the dangers of gambling. In addition to his work for BNNVARA, Terpstra can be heard weekly on the podcast Jongstof, in which he interviews makers and creatives. Alongside his television and radio work, he is active as a host, moderator, and speaker.
Lena Bril is a journalist and writer fascinated by people who are struggling. Her essays have appeared in publications including de Volkskrant and De Groene Amsterdammer. In Trouw, she offers readers advice on life’s problems every two weeks. Her nonfiction debut, In therapie (In Therapy), was published in 2025. The journalistic book explores the question: why do so many people seek help from a therapist or coach? Through her newsletter, she keeps thousands of readers updated on her search for meaning and stability.
Tahrim Ramdjan is a journalist, writer, and speaker. He graduated from PPLE and holds a law degree in constitutional and administrative law from the University of Amsterdam. He works as a reporter and opinion coordinator for Het Parool. For one month each year, he teaches journalism at the University of Amsterdam’s PPLE programme. In 2025, he was nominated for the De Tegel and De Loep awards for his journalistic work. His debut book, Wat zullen de mensen zeggen? (What Will People Say?), on identity and intersectionality, was published in March 2025.
