IDGs Plus

In this emergent conversation with Bayo Akomolafe and host Eugenia, we explore the monstrous and how de-patologizing any monstrous aspect leads to unveiling new ways of understanding, experiencing and thus transforming public and private affairs. The conversation explores the concept of the monster and its potential for generative and transformative politics. The monster is seen as that which cannot be sensed or represented, disrupting our familiar arrangements and exposing the violence we are already in. Courage is seen as an ecological secretion, an infection that invites us to stay with the monster and embrace its disruptive potential. The conversation also touches on the importance of embracing imperfection, breaking societal arrangements, and recognizing our entanglement with the world and technology. Non-attachment is seen as emerging from attachment, and there is an acknowledgment that there is no final arrangement or perfection to be attained. --- Bayo Akomolafe is an intellectual, post-activist, philosopher, poet, writer, teacher, speaker. He’s a father and proud partner. He has lectured and visited  many universities and institutions around the world as is a renowed and accaimed speaeker recognized for his poetic, unconventional, counterintuitive, and indigenous take on global crisis, civic action and social change. He is Executive Director and Chief curator of the emergence network and recently appointed the first Scholar in Residence of the Aspen Global Leadership Network and of the Schumacher College for a New Economics.    “Bayo hopes to inspire a diffractive network of sharing – a slowing down, an ethics of entanglement, an activism of inquiry, a ‘politics of surprise’…one that does not treat the crises of our times as exterior to ‘us’ or the ‘solutions’ that conventional activism offers as discrete or separate from the problems that we seek to nullify.

In this episode, Vanesa and Isabel Rimanoczy discuss the importance of developing a sustainability mindset and facing the wake-up calls our planet is experiencing by pausing, reflecting, and practicing critical thinking. The conversation highlights observation, finding inner stillness, and the 23 skills of the Inner Development Goals (IDGs) as part of the sustainability mindset. Isabel, a legacy coach, shares her journey and insights into how leaders can shift to a more sustainable mindset, emphasizing the importance of purpose and the potential for personal and professional transformation. --- Isabel Rimanoczy is dedicated to developing 'change accelerators' to address the complex challenges facing our planet. She works with influential individuals to multiply their impact on a larger scale, promoting mindset transformations that lead to new initiatives for a sustainable future. Isabel shares her mission through inspiring keynotes, teaching, writing, faculty development, and coach training. Recognizing the pivotal role of educators and leaders in shaping a better planet, she focuses on cultivating the sustainability mindset in the next generation of leaders. As the convener of LEAP!, a global network of academics promoting sustainability, Isabel expands her outreach further. She also collaborates with corporate leaders and coaches to drive the necessary paradigm shift. Isabel is the co-founder and director of SMIndicator LLC, which offers the first tool to map and profile individual journeys toward developing a sustainability mindset. Her motto: "If you're alive today, you've a role to play."

We are honored to have Vernon Foster and Marta Kaprāle in the 10th episode of our podcast! We delve into the enduring wisdom of native peoples, exploring their traditional survival techniques and psychological insights that provide valuable lessons for today's world. We discuss the power of storytelling in preserving indigenous culture and transmitting ancestral knowledge through symbolic tales. Central to these teachings are the core values of humility, respect, and the power of words, which form the foundation of indigenous communities and offer profound insights for living a meaningful life. Vernon is a Native American, Spiritual Leader of the Red Road & Indigenous Rights Activist for over 40 years. As a motivational speaker, spiritual counselor and teacher, Vernon has shared his ancient wisdom and promoted healing and personal growth in Native and non-Native communities around the world. He is founder of innovative programs and immersions for people across the world from diverse backgrounds, ages and paths of life. He has been published in numerous media, films, press and shows around the world.  Marta Kaprāle, on the other side is a Social Impact Storytelling, filmmaker, and a part of IDG community in Stockholm. She has a diverse professional journey spanning film, advertising, business development, social innovation, and science communication, honing the ability to uncover the roots of human behavior, discern patterns, and connect the dots that reshape perspectives.

In this enlightening episode , Vanessa is joined by Aithan Shapira, an esteemed artist, MIT lecturer and founder of TILT, to explore the dynamic interplay of change, art, and collective action. They dive into the personal and communal aspects of evolving in a rapidly changing world. Aithan shares insights into how engaging with art not only reflects but actively influences one’s inner transformation in response to external changes. The conversation spans the importance of deep listening and the power of reducing separateness within organizations to foster a unified direction and purpose. They discuss how individual experiences, whether through art or personal reflection, contribute to collective wisdom and action. The episode highlights the importance of maturity and humility in bridging individual perspectives towards a cohesive collective effort, emphasizing the necessity of embracing both differences and similarities to enrich interaction and understanding. - Aithan Shapira PhD MFA is internationally acclaimed Senior Lecturer in Work and Organization Studies at ⁠MIT Sloan⁠, an established artist, and founder of ⁠TILT,⁠ a firm focused on the artful evolution of leaders and cultures as they move critical initiatives forward in ⁠ever-changing contexts⁠.As facilitator, coach, and designer of developmental programming, Aithan is committed to applying his ⁠progressive ways for training leaders⁠ to serve change agents + global entities that are sincere about developing inner capabilities and forming communities of practice needed to ⁠facilitate growth at the speed of change⁠. The social enterprise he founded, TILT, delivers 6 month trainings in the IDGs.He has applied his ⁠progressive methodology⁠ with a range of high-impact organizations in tech, health, finance, and green-energy including NASA, the UN, Greenpeace, MGB, and Ocean Plastics Leadership Network.  He also serves on McKinsey's think tank for Learning Innovation and is ongoingly developing ⁠new curricular approaches for training leadership⁠ at MIT Sloan, Harvard ilab, Stanford d.school, and the Berklee Institute for Creative Entrepreneurship.Over the past 9 years, Aithan has trained more than 12,000 leaders, 240 facilitators, given over 160 keynotes, and customized and delivered leadership curricula for more than 30 Fortune 500 organizations. Aithan developed his research on the creative process at the Royal College of Art & Design, lived in an Australian Aboriginal community for three years to study creativity in cultures of survival, and continues to be a visiting critic at arts institutions internationally. He exhibits his art in museums and galleries in New York, London, and Miami.

Pooja is a Spiritual Ecologist and Environment Educator, holding qualifications in Conservation Biology with degrees from UCL, London, and UEL, London. Her professional journey spans across Delhi, Mumbai, London, South Africa, and Pune, where she has collaborated with renowned organizations. Currently, she leads Protecterra Ecological Foundation (PEF), a non-profit endeavoring to instill ecological consciousness through awareness, education, and outreach initiatives. Her diverse skill set includes certifications in Leadership for Young Adults, Reiki, Telepathic Animal Communication, and NLP. Since 2015, she has resided at The Farm, PEF's primary project, living alongside over 40 animals 🐱🐶🐮🐸🦋🪲🐍🐔to embody her principles. As a visiting faculty member, she has been committed to teaching and fostering change, aiming to bridge the gap between people and nature. Outside her professional endeavors, she maintains a passion for sports, having represented the Maharashtra State team in rugby, basketball, and athletics. 🪶 ⁠Moreover, she is deeply immersed in spiritual practices like shamanism, bhakti, and meditation, viewing them as integral aspects of her life journey. Her overarching goal remains to foster connections between individuals and the natural world, inspiring personal and professional transformations. 🎙️💚 In this conversation, Pooja and Eugenia navigate the challenges of working within existing systems while remaining aligned with the soul's purpose. Pooja illuminates the transformative power of vulnerability, the beauty of embracing imperfection, and the importance of kindness, self- reflection and presence in our interactions. 👁️ She advocates for embracing curiosity, reconnecting with our innate nature, and gleaning wisdom from animals and the natural world. The conversation also examines the liberating potential of surrender and letting go, urging a shift from human doings to human beings. She shares her vision for Protecterra and calls for personal responsibility and kindness as catalysts for positive global change.

We're thrilled to welcome Nikola to this episode, as he effortlessly navigates between the realms of systemic, business, and academic approaches, while also engaging in deep spiritual and transformational initiatives. With a balanced blend of rationality and intuition, heart and brain, intellect and energetics, Nikola brings a unique perspective to our conversation. Together, we delve into the profound role of spirituality within inner development, unraveling its nuanced intricacies. We shed light on the science of individual and collective trauma, emphasizing its enduring effects and the crucial need for connection and collective healing. Moreover, we discuss the importance of infusing current social, economic, and political agendas with transformation from within, paving the way for a more enlightened and integrated society. -- Nikola is a cultural transfiguration catalyst and leading global expert in building values driven systems at scale. He brings a career of experience working on culture with hundreds of organizations and systems around the world, blending more structured organization level approaches (LSE, Economist, McKinsey) with more individual and intuitive work (Ontological coach, Facilitator of Transformation and Spiritual Healer with 30+ tools). He is the founder of Transfiguration Advisory, where he works as a lead advisor, as a platform to help accelerate the cultural evolution of organizations and systems at scale and is currently the Culture and Transformation Lead of the Inner Development Goals. Born in the Balkans, Nikola is inspired by processing collective trauma and building a values driven societies, rooted in that part of the world. He continues to contribute to this mission, for example by facilitating the 1st Collective and Transgenerational Trauma Lab in the Balkans (Thomas Hubl, Pocket Project) and co-founding ADA, a consciousness and intimacy platform, and Project Light https://projectlight.one/en. Described by those who know him as a “mosaic” for his ability to bring a wide range of divergent perspectives, “free radical” as a catalyst and “spiritual gladiator” for his drive, Nikola has visited over 100 and lived in over 20 countries. His top 3 values are learning, fun and adventure, and excellence.

Welcome to a touching episode with Åsa Jarskog, where inspiration is drawn from the stories of ordinary individuals worldwide. Åsa's personal commitment echoes through her promise to use any available platform to represent the voices of the unsung heroes she encounters. From a Western standpoint, we navigate the significance of surveys in understanding global challenges such as the Sustainable Development Goals and the looming climate crisis. Despite strides made, millions still grapple with unmet basic needs, including access to healthcare and the persistent grasp of poverty. Our conversation takes a unique turn as we explore the concept of embracing our "weirdness" and establishing a profound connection with nature to access inner wisdom. She sheds light on the vital role of listening skills, urging us to appreciate and learn from diverse cultures. The dialogue extends to mastering the art of coexisting with internal and societal polarities. In Asa's own words, this unexpected conversation unfolds with sincerity and openness, offering a deep dive into the nuances of building bridges and fostering global unity. Join us for an insightful exploration of connecting not only with the world but also with the depths of our own being. --- Åsa Jarskog is the driving force behind the Global Collaboration efforts of the Inner Development Goals Initiative. With over 30 years of professional experience, she has excelled as a consultant, trainer, and coach specializing in Sustainable Business Development, Strategy, and Leadership across 61 countries spanning Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Throughout her illustrious career, Åsa has had the privilege of collaborating with influential figures such as the Dalai Lama, Kofi Annan, Klaus Schwab, and Nelson Mandela, contributing her expertise to global initiatives aimed at creating positive change and sustainable development.

We happily welcome Fredrik Livheim to this episode, where we delve into Inner Development through the lens of acceptance and presence. We explore the concept of acceptance and the role it plays in navigating uncertainty and stress and also highlight the need for creating sound contexts and environments that support human flourishing. The conversation emphasizes the connection between inner skills and outer transformation, and the role of IDGs (Inner Development Goals) in promoting resilience and sustainability, highlighting the need to build connections with various actors, including governments, academia, and organizations. Overall, the conversation explores the hopeful outlook for inner development and the possibilities for creating a more connected and thriving society. ------- Fredrik Livheim, is a licensed psychologist, holds a PhD from Karolinska Intitutet clinical neuroscience, and is an internationally recognized peer-reviewed Acceptance, Commitment Therapy-trainer. Fredrik shares his time between being research- and content strategist at the non-profit foundation www.29k.org and doing research via Social Sustainability, Karolinska Institutet.  Fredrik is also co-author of several books and treatment protocols and a digital self-help intervention. His most recent self-help books are “The Mindfulness and Acceptance Workbook for Stress Reduction: Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to Manage Stress, Build Resilience, and Create the Life You Want.” and the Swedish book “Tid att leva”. 

Eugenia and Vanessa welcome Pontus Holmgren and Arielle Goodman, two key players in the IDG movement and its global expansion.  Both experienced in the fields of inner transformation, organizational development, facilitation and cohesive vision of inner and outer flourishing, we go deep in presence and honesty while talking about creating a culture of unity and generativity and the collective thirst for inner development and connection.  We deepen on spreading innovation and fostering local action through IDG Hubs, translating the IDGs beyond the ecosystem and what would catalyze the movement forward.   We also mention the importance of transmuting pain, compassion, courage, humility and realness to bring our hearts into action. An episode not to miss! ------ Pontus Holmgren has been supporting leaders, team and organisations in transformation processes internationally since the mid 1990´s. Pontus is a psychologist and an actor using experiential learning and embodied practices in everything he does. He is a founding partner of Gro (www.gro.nu), a catalyst at Klustret Ekskäret and Global Co-coordinator for IDG hubs and networks (https://www.innerdevelopmentgoals.org/community) Arielle Goodman is a Facilitator of Transformation and Global IDG Hubs Co-Coordinator; Co-founder of Unlimited Boundaries and working at the intersection of personal transformation, organizational development, and planetary justice/renewal.

In this episode, we warmly welcome Erik Fernholm, where we laugh, cry, and dive deep into a profoundly human and superhuman conversation. 🦋 It is truly mesmerizing to open our hearts, embody and accept our human nature, all while reclaiming our power, recreating narratives, and envisioning systemic change from within. 🖼️ We talk about perspectives, projection, presence, praise, secularity, and sacredness. About compost, footprints, time, suffering, and meaning. Around humanity, personal stories, the meaning of life, joy, and connection. ⭕️ And in the end, coming full circle, we recognize that a powerful humanity exists now, and its pieces are coming back together. Thank you for listening! ---- Erik is a father, founder of the 29K Foundation and board director of the IDGs. Erik is driven by the idea that a fulfilling life and work should be the norm, not the exception.He is a thought-leader who works as a keynote speaker, board advisor and leadership developer. Through a passionate and scientifically grounded approach he flips and deepens people's understanding of peak-performance, motivation and a life well lived.With a deep interest in Cognitive Neuroscience, Happiness Research and Evidence-based Changework his specialty is understanding why people do what they do and how to perform and feel better.He believes that acting from core values, utilizing personal strengths and contributing to a meaningful cause are the fundamental principles for wellbeing and success of both companies and individuals.

Come back to presence and attention with this short meditation practice, extracted from our Ep. 3 with Jamie Bristow. Sit back, relax and tune in.

We happily welcome Jamie Bristow to this episode, hosted by Dr. Gonzalo Santellan. Together, we explore Jamie's journey of embracing and disseminating mindfulness practices in politics and beyond. We discuss the significance of refocusing attention and executive control, and Jamie generously shares a concise 3-step mindfulness practice. (⏰ min 25'55). The conversation touches on comfort and distractions, the fears associated with silence, the challenges posed by our busy, consumption-driven lifestyles, and the pursuit of lasting peace. Join us as we explore elevating our baseline towards enduring compassion and the transformative potential of Inner Development Goals for a more fulfilling and thriving future. ------ Jamie is a prominent expert on the application of inner development and contemplative practices in public life. His work includes influential policy reports such as Reconnection: Meeting the Climate Crisis Inside Out, and he currently leads on public narrative and policy development for the Inner Development Goals, emphasising the inner skills and qualities needed for a sustainable transition. For eight years, from 2015 to 2023, Jamie played an instrumental role in the UK's All-Party Parliamentary Group on Mindfulness, acting as its clerk and serving as Director of the associated policy institute, The Mindfulness Initiative. During this time he worked with legislators around the world to make mindfulness and compassion training serious matters of public policy and catalysts for a healthier political process. He now retains a part-time position with The Mindfulness Initiative leading on sustainability policy. Jamie's earlier roles included being the Business Development Director at Headspace, and his rich background encompasses psychology, climate change campaigning, and advertising. 🦋 More: www.jamiebristow.com

In this first episode, we welcome Daniel Hires, part of the Global Leadership Team and Director of Marketing & Partnerships at the Inner Development Goals. We talk about the outer world reflecting our inner world, about complexity, making inner work accesible, creating a language for change and the future that is coming and that we are co-creating together.

Vanessa, Gonzalo and Eugenia start this podcast in a lively and informal manner, talking about what ignites their spirit and presenting themselves, their journey and the importance of the conversation of inner development and inner transformation for the current systemic dynamics.