The Impact Stories

<p>As we look ahead to Katapult Future Fest 2025, scheduled for May 21-23, we find ourselves reflecting on the deep connections and pivotal moments from KFF24. The videos, photos, and podcasts captured last year aren’t just archives – they’re reminders of the real conversations and shared ideas that continue to shape our collective path forward.<br><br></p><p>We’re genuinely excited to introduce a new interview series that brings to light the voices of the investors, changemakers, founders, and thought leaders who were at the heart of KFF24. These individuals, each with their unique perspectives and relentless drive for change, played a crucial role in advancing the mission.</p><p><br></p><p>The content, produced by New Nordic Way, offers a rich collection of content, including on-site studio recordings, thoughtful reports, and in-depth podcast interviews with remarkable individuals from KFF24. The discussions span vital topics like activism, systemic impact, mental health investment, ethical AI, innovative approaches to land and sea stewardship, and the role of art in storytelling for social good. These conversations reflect the real-world expertise and personal reflections of global pioneers, offering honest insights into what the future holds.<br><br></p><p>These interviews are a reminder of the community we’ve built together and the shared sense of purpose that drives us. Listening back, we’re reminded of the hope and determination that fuel our ongoing work. We remain committed to this journey, knowing that the road ahead is filled with opportunities to make a meaningful difference.</p><p><br></p>

Laura Francois: Transforming the world through wonder and awe

What if the key to meaningful change lies in awe rather than fear? Join us for a compelling conversation with socio-environmental impact strategist Laura Francois, who challenges conventional change-making wisdom. With an impressive track record working alongside global giants like the World Bank and Greenpeace, Laura shares her insights on how awe can inspire creativity and foster a profound sense of interconnectedness. Together with Ronny Eriksson from New Nordic Way, we explore the concept...

11-19
31:42

Philippe Birker: What if we made farming sexy again?

In this episode, we sit down with Philippe Birker, co-founder of Climate Farmers, a world record holder in simultaneous fire breathing, and a member of Ashoka Changemakers and the BMW Foundation’s Responsible Leaders Network. Philippe shares his journey from organizing social impact raves to pioneering regenerative agriculture practices that restore ecosystems and reconnect us to our roots.In our conversation, Philippe shares insights from his extensive travels to over 60 regenerative farms, ...

11-14
36:12

Mara Lehmann: What if we included nature in decision-making?

In this episode of the Impact Series, Ronny Eriksson interviews Mara Lehmann, a self-proclaimed data nerd and pragmatic activist who is on a mission to bring non-human voices into the conversation. As the founder of Tumblebee, Mara envisions a future where data from ecosystems and nature play a crucial role in decision-making processes across industries. They discuss the challenges of integrating multi-source data to understand nature's needs, the role of empathy in sustainability, and h...

11-12
25:00

Dr. Craig Wing: What if we valued questions more than answers?

In this episode of Impact Stories, Ronny Eriksson interviews Dr. Craig Wing, a futurist, entrepreneur, and investor whose expertise spans over 50 countries and influential organizations like Google X and the United Nations. Dr. Wing unpacks the profound question, “What if we were all more capable of imagining the future?” He explores how imagination, empathy, and human connection can reshape our lives and influence the world in more impactful ways. From advancing AI sentiment analysis to...

11-07
31:55

Anne Beate Hovind: What if urban spaces were designed to evolve with us?

In Episode 9 of Impact Stories, Ronny Eriksson interviews Anne Beate Hovind, curator of Oslo’s renowned Future Library. With a vision stretching over a century, Anne Beate shares insights into the power of public art and its potential to shape urban landscapes, inspire trust, and foster community. She discusses the Future Library project, which invites one author per year to write a work that will remain unread until 2114. Through this long-term initiative, Anne Beate explores the import...

11-05
32:23

Ruchir Punjabi: What if profit took a backseat to purpose?

In Episode 8 of Impact Stories, Ronny Eriksson from New Nordic Way interviews Ruchir Punjabi, founder of Distributed Energy, to explore how technology and business can catalyze transformative change. Ruchir shares his journey from creative technologies to solar financing, focusing on enabling small and medium businesses in emerging markets to transition to affordable, clean energy. With candid insights on scaling impact and the essential balance between financial viability and socia...

10-31
28:00

Ida Faldbakken: What if impact gatherings were catalysts for systemic change?

In this episode, Ida Faldbakken, CEO of Katapult X and Co-Founder of Katapult Future Fest, joins Ronny Eriksson from New Nordic Way to explore the power of community-driven gatherings in fostering systemic change. From Katapult’s origins at Slush in Finland to its unique position today as a convergence point for tech entrepreneurs, impact investors, and visionary changemakers, Ida sheds light on her journey and the philosophies that guide Katapult’s impact. With an unyielding belief in k...

10-29
32:58

Thomas Bjelkeman: What if we really took a systems approach to everything we do?

In this episode of Impact Stories, host Ronny Eriksson sits down with Thomas Bjelkeman, a visionary technologist and entrepreneur dedicated to leveraging software and data to tackle global challenges.Thomas shares his journey from feeling disillusioned with the traditional software industry to co-founding the Akvo Foundation, where he developed open-source tools that mapped drinking water sources for over 100 million people across Africa and Asia. His work significantly improved water managem...

10-24
28:38

Theresa Perez: What if more artists and multidisciplinary minds were leaders?

In this episode of Impact Stories, Ronny Eriksson engages in a thoughtful conversation with Theresa Perez, the managing director of Atmos – a platform and biannual magazine leading the way in climate and culture. With over 15 years of experience, Perez shares her journey, from touring with a Grammy-winning band to leading innovative tech agencies, ultimately finding her calling at Atmos.Perez discusses the delicate balance between creativity and commerce, offering insights on how artists can ...

10-22
34:45

Alexandre Prate: What if governments became decentralized?

Ronny Eriksson sits down with Alexandre Prate, Co-Founder, Venture Builder & DAO Operations at Hypha Energy, and a pioneer in decentralized governance and well-being intelligence. They delve into how Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs) are transforming community collaboration, impact measurement, and accelerating system change. Alexandre shares his vision for a more regenerative and equitable world, discussing how DAOs empower individuals to pursue their passions, contribute to ...

10-15
32:37

Jacqueline van den Ende: What if everyone invested in climate tech as an investment in their future?

In this episode, we sit down with Jacqueline van den Ende, co-founder of Carbon Equity and a leader in democratizing climate investment. With experience on both sides of the investment table, Jacqueline shares her insights on how capital can be a powerful driver of change in the fight against climate change. She explores the potential of climate technologies, the importance of equitable ownership, and the need for urgent action to build a sustainable future. From her experiences as an entrepr...

10-08
32:08

Henry De Sio: What if every leader would see themself as a changemaker?

In the first episode of the Impact Series by Katapult X, we sit down with Henry De Sio, a leader who has spent his career transforming bold ideas into real-world change. From shaping the Obama campaign to his current role at the United Nations Foundation, Henry shares profound insights from his Changemaker Playbook on leading with purpose and empowering everyone to become a changemaker. This episode dives deep into the challenges and triumphs of driving meaningful impact, reminding us th...

10-01
27:08

Introducing The Impact Stories

Since 2017, Katapult Future Fest has brought together bold thinkers, change-makers, and impact investors to turn visionary ideas into action. Now, in collaboration with New Nordic Way, we proudly present The Impact Series – a podcast and video interview series highlighting the remarkable individuals driving social, cultural, and systemic change. Through storytelling, we aim to keep the powerful conversations from Katapult alive, ensuring they inspire long after the event. Join us as we e...

10-01
00:45

SPECIAL: Katapult Future Fest Conversations Ep.6: Systemic Solutions for Net Zero

Are we on track to meet the scale of system change needed to get anywhere close to a 1.5-degree world? We produce 50 billion tons of Co2 each year, or 6-7 tons per capita per year - that's 100x more than the average person’s body weight! What will it take to get to Net Zero?In this episode, Jeremy Oppenheim from SystemIQ and Paul van Zyl from The Conduit discuss the three key things we need to achieve before we should even begin to talk about carbon removal, namely - electrifying th...

12-19
52:38

SPECIAL: Katapult Future Fest Conversations Ep.5: Systems Thinking

Gifted author, social critic and women’s advocate, Minna Salami shares her theory and solution for what needs to take place for successful systems change. Prepare to learn about Systems Change from the place of 3 key powers - the freeing power of the outsider, the hidden power of the insider, and the healing power of multi perspectives and how to solve the key pains from which the world suffers.Episode guest: Minna Salami - brought to us by our partner and supporter, BMW Foundation Herbe...

12-06
24:46

SPECIAL: Katapult Future Fest Conversations Ep.4: Future Opportunities for Women

Prepare to be inspired and ignited into action after listening to the stories and wisdom that our hosts Kate Byrne and Lynn Casey gleaned from this powerhouse female panel - Julia Zhou (Tidal Impact), Fatema Hamdani (KH Aerospace), and Susie Alegre (Author & International Human Rights Lawyer). We tackle the compassion curse - that women are supposed to focus on compassion - not profit, the learnings from multi generational workforces, and the opportunity that LocalX brings to us all....

11-21
30:41

SPECIAL: Katapult Future Fest Conversations Ep.3: The Edge of History: Effective Altruism meets Impact Investing

How do we do the most good possible? What’s the difference between effective altruism and impact investing? How do the two differ in assumptions, solutions, rigor and approach? These are the questions covered by Katapult Foundation's Alison Fort and Niels Brøgger as they walk us through the opportunities that both provide.Episode guests: Alison Fort of Katapult FoundationNiels Brøgger of Katapult FoundationEpisode references: Good Food Institute (GFI)KFF22 opening ft. Anders Sandbe...

11-08
18:29

SPECIAL: Katapult Future Fest Conversations Ep.2: The Future of Food: Alternative Proteins

What are the impact opportunities and investment opportunities associated with alternative proteins and food tech? The industrial animal agriculture industry contributes almost 20% of the world's carbon emissions - on par with the entire transport sector. When thinking about alternative proteins and food tech, many miss the impact it will have on other areas of life such as the climate and healthcare. Alex Mayers, of The Good Food Institute, and Hooked Foods founder, Tom Johansson, educa...

10-25
22:48

SPECIAL: Katapult Future Fest Conversations Ep.1: Good Mental Health

What would a mentally healthy world look like? What if all of us understood mental health and had access to mental health care in the way that many of us do for physical health care? 1 in 4 of us are affected by something that impacts our ability to function in our daily life. Mental well being and physical challenge are such pariahs when it comes to workplace conversations. There has been some headway in addressing physical challenges such as LEGO’s Braille bricks, that open and connect the ...

10-11
33:48

Rebels With a Purpose S1E16 Beena Ammanath

Trustworthy AI - Yes It is Possible!Beena Ammanath, Award-winning Author," Trustworthy AI," Executive Director of the Global Deloitte AI Institute and Founder of Humans For AI, shares with us a very practical approach along with best practices for leaders to consider as they operationalize AI into their companies. Any time AI becomes untrustworthy, there is a person or people who are accountable for that outcome. If an AI tool is not secure and sensitive data is leaded, humans are at fault. F...

05-10
37:25

Recommend Channels