In Conversation with Nathalie Nahai

Today on the podcast, I speak with Andrea Abad, founder of Terra Viva Ibiza - a project that seeks to create a sustainable and healthy agricultural production system, based on the principles of agroecology, syntropy and regenerative agriculture. Having started her career in marketing for large corporations such as Apple and Exxon Mobil, after six years in the countryside, an introspective awakening pushed Andrea to leave her profession and travel to Australia, where she lived in permaculture communities while learning how humanity can reintroduce itself to the cycles of nature. Deciding to move to Ibiza to deepen her knowledge of sustainable tourism, a sector where she had previously worked for five years, Andrea founded Terra Viva Ibiza with the objective of growing food without the use of synthetic chemicals, respecting the natural cycles and the biodiversity of the environment while providing health to the soil. A project which also provides an educational and social dimension, Terra Viva offers training and advice to farmers interested in adopting this model, as well as spaces for participation and meeting for the community. As well as regenerating a 20-hectare plot of land using the rational grazing system of chicken, rotational grazing of sheep and agroforestry principles, with the collaboration of Albert Tur Montells (Permaculture Association of the Pitiusas), they are also planting over 12,000 trees within a syntropic design. I first met Andrea in October 2021 on a regenerative agriculture crash course at La Junquera, a regenerative farm and village in Murcia, Southern Spain, and I was so excited and inspired by her story and the work she’s doing, that I had to invite her onto the podcast to share her experience with you. I hope you enjoy our conversation. Recorded on 12th July 2023.RESOURCEShttps://www.terravivaibiza.com/https://ibizalandregeneration.org/The Way Out Is In (podcast): https://plumvillage.org/podcasts/the-way-out-is-in

Today I speak with Thane Lawrie, an award-winning Chief Executive Officer, author and Buddhist practitioner. A graduate of the University of Aberdeen and University of Glasgow, Thane has had a diverse career which culminated in his leading and transforming a once struggling social enterprise, which went on to win numerous business awards both locally and nationally, including the prestigious Sunday Times Top 100 companies to work for in the UK. ​Attributing this success to nurturing a strong workplace culture that focusses on the staff at the very heart of the organisation, not only has Thane published in academic peer reviewed journals in the field of health science, and also recently authored a beautiful book, The Buddhist CEO, which chronicles a moving tale of a man trying to balance his commitment to the ancient tradition of Buddhism with his role as a modern day leader.​At a time in which finding the headspace to even consider a contemplative practice can feel beyond the reach of many of us, Thane’s compassionate, practical and down-to-earth approach towards mindfulness and presence offers a route towards salving tender hearts and soothing restless minds. Recorded on 12th July 2023.BOOKSThe Buddhist CEORESOURCEShttps://www.thanelawrie.com/The Way Out Is In - https://plumvillage.org/podcasts/the-way-out-is-inOutrage And Optimism - https://www.outrageandoptimism.org/

Today, I’m in conversation with Jared Ficklin - a designer and technologist with two decades of experience creating products and visions for major companies. An innovator by nature, he is always exploring new means for technological interaction and has a passion for unique interaction models - especially those involving interesting inputs and outputs like touch, multi-touch, voice, gesture, sensing, and projection. The founding Partner & Lead Creative Technologist at argodesign, Jared’s philosophy is oriented towards "Thinking by Making, Delivering by Demonstration", and he employs user experience simulation as a method for quickly bringing products to life. Having spent 14 years of his career at frog design contributing to the visions, strategy, intellectual property, and products of clients including HP, Microsoft, AT&T, LG, SanDisk, and Motorola, Jared’s work integrating technology into the design process at frog led him to be named one of 4 frog fellows. An evangelist and co-creator of the cable car-based mass transport vision known as The Wire, and a keen Burner, Jared was the first to bring live fire to the TED stage. He speaks internationally as a creative technologist and futurist, and it was his passion for what technology might afford us when coupled with human creativity, ingenuity and heart, that most excited me about being in conversation with Jared today. Recorded 20th June 2023. RESOURCESargodesign.comTwitter / X: @jaredrawk Instagram: @twinrawk

In today’s conversation, I speak with Paul Skinner, author and founder of the Agency of the Future, an organisation that helps clients to drive purpose-led change and better mobilise stakeholders for lasting success. His first book, Collaborative Advantage: How collaboration beats competition as a strategy for success, proposes that we have reached a turning point in history from which creating Competitive Advantage may no longer be in the best interests of an organisation, or perhaps indeed, of our species. It has been acclaimed far and wide, not least by Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, Co-Founders of Ben and Jerry's ice cream, who praised the book as offering “the perfect recipe for successful businesses that improve lives”. His second book, The Purpose Upgrade, takes a deeper look at the core raison d'être of enterprise and its role in society, a theme which sits at the heart of Paul’s work, bringing positive change to businesses, governments and civil society. He has advised clients as diverse as PwC and the United Nations, Sony and Save the Children, and in 2014 Paul was awarded an honorary visiting fellowship at Edge Hill University Business School. He’s won the Consultant of the Year awards from the Chartered Institute of Marketing twice, he’s an advisory board member at the Museum of Brands and is also an Advisor at the Future Strategy Club. As well as working with institutions of international and global governance, and pioneering social change organisations, Paul also finds the time to lead MarketingKind, a membership community he founded which brings together business leaders, marketers and change-makers to tackle social and environmental problems through their businesses, volunteering and advocacy. This was one of my favourite conversations this season, not least for the richness, nuance and open-heartedness that Paul brings to the complex questions we explore. And if you’d like to see the shoe on the other foot, you can watch the fireside chat I had with Paul when he interviewed me for MarketingKind, the link for which is in the shownotes. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. Recorded 20th June 2023. RESOURCESpurposeupgrade.commarketingkind.orgtheaof.com BOOKSCollaborative Advantage: How collaboration beats competition as a strategy for successThe Purpose Upgrade

Today I am in conversation with Ioana Lungu - a poet, spoken word artist and event host, based in Barcelona. She started writing (creatively) when she was 11 years old, navigating her way through short stories, plays and the beginnings of novels, and through her literary explorations, the art form that has stood the test of time, for her, is her poetry. Ioana first stepped into the world of spoken word when she moved to Barcelona several years ago and got involved in the poetry community through events and writing workshops, which is how we first encountered one another. A passionate supporter of other people’s creativity, Ioana invited a group of us to perform at a charity fundraiser that she hosts every year on her birthday, and alongside her moving, poignant poetry, it is her ability to bring people together in community towards a common goal that moved me to ask her onto the show. Apart from her creative pursuits, Ioana is into meditation, yoga, breathwork and aquatic wildlife, and she's currently pondering on the idea of writing a book and hosting a monthly event in Barcelona, so watch this space. To learn more about Ioana and dive into her world of poetry, you can find her on Instagram at @ioanalungu_Recorded 6th June 2023. RESOURCESinstagram.com/ioanalungu_

Today I have the pleasure of speaking with Katarina Berg, chief human resources officer for Spotify, and author of the recently published book, BOLD: Strategic HR in a new era. An experienced HR leader with more than 25 years of expertise in leading and executing people strategies in various multinational companies, Katarina also heads up Spotify’s Global Workplace Services and Strategy Operations teams. Having been with the company since 2013, she led the talent transformation during the business transition from startup to a mature international company. Before Spotify, Katarina held high-profile HR roles in various multinational companies, including Preem, Swedbank, Kanal 5 and 3. As well as catering to the people needs of a diverse, nimble and ever-changing organisation, Katarina is also focused on building teams and reinventing processes to establish an environment where creative and passionate people can be their very best, have fun and develop great careers. I was curious to talk with Katarina about how we might cultivate more thriving organizations, especially within a sector renowned for its constant, restless innovation. I was also interested to explore the impacts of AI and automation on morale, human potential and adaptability, especially since people working within the tech space are some of those most likely to be impacted as AI becomes increasingly integrated into our societal, economic and political lives. Recorded 1st June 2023. RESOURCESlinkedin.com/in/katarina-berg BOOKBOLD: Strategic HR in a new era

I’m kicking off the season in perhaps an unexpected place, starting in conversation with someone whose resilience, determination and skill, enabled her to overcome extraordinary odds to lead a flourishing life in which she now dedicates her time to empowering others. Meet Amy Hopper – an executive coach, digital marketer and founder of TOA, who is also fondly known as The Digital Wolverine – a particularly curious name which we’ll be hearing about later.Having graduated at the top of her class in her Sociology BA, specialising in mental health, alienation in the workplace, and the sociology of work, Amy founded her first business at 25, the digital marketing agency AM Marketing. At 26, she was hit by a dangerous driver and suffered permanent spine damage, PTSD, anxiety, and chronic pain for the next 5 years. By age 28 her company was named one of the Google Top 30 UK Agencies, and at 29 she received the Amazon Triumph over Adversity Award. At 30, she won the UK Digital Role Model of the Year, and at 31, she underwent a spinal fusion surgery and was wheelchair bound, shortly after which she became widowed during lockdown.  At 33, she decided to sell her business, and after a grueling, touching journey back to health, she was able to travel the world solo at 33, hiking over 600km in over 8 countries and 26 cities. Upon her return, she founded her agency,TOA, and she is now working with some of the world's largest companies to remove wellbeing barriers producing high-performing teams.   I first met Amy through our mutual friend, Richard Savage, who told me that I simply had to meet this extraordinary woman, and he wasn’t wrong. You’ll tell from our laughter and energy that we were excited to be in conversation together, and while the video didn’t work out due to technical issues at my end, I hope you’ll enjoy this moving conversation in which we explore tenderness, loss, and resilience, how the simple steps can be the ones that help us to transform adversity into growth.Recorded on 1st June 2023.RESOURCESlinkedin.com/in/amyhoppertoagroup.co.uk

Hello again! It’s a pleasure to be back with you over the airwaves, for this little catchup ahead of the new season, which will be launching on Sunday the 20th August.This new set of conversations has been a little while in the making, not least because I’ve been working on some new and exciting projects that weave together the themes that we explore here, with some of my personal interests in the arts, in gathering, and in our capacity to step into life with greater presence.The Hive actually turned Five years old this summer, and since it started, it has grown and blossomed into a project that has introduced me to so many new people, perspectives and ways of being, that it’s become one of the favourite parts of what I do. And that’s in large part, thanks to you.With all of the challenges that we’re facing individually and collectively - from ecological, climatic and economic disruption, to the huge impacts we’re only just beginning to feel from the accelerating deployment of AI - the question of how we can withstand and perhaps embrace so much uncertainty has been on my mind for quite a while. And in all of the research and writing I’ve done over the years around psychology, values, integrity - themes which I explore I my latest book, Business Unusual - I’ve been reflecting increasingly on how I can more actively walk the talk.With that in mind, alongside the projects I’ve been developing around how we can show up and flourish in a changing world (more to come soon), it felt like the right time to rename the podcast quite simply: Nathalie Nahai, In Conversation.It’s nothing grand, and it does what it say on the tin – but you’ll notice from the cover art that it has a new visual identity, one that for me at least, connects into our ongoing exploration of what it means to be human, in search of connection and meaning within the wider web of life.I’ve also decided to experiment a little with the format. Alongside this audio version of the podcast, you can also watch the video version over on my YouTube channel, where I’ll also be posting additional bonus content with my guests. I’ll include all the links in my shownotes, so you can check them out.The new season will be launching on Sunday the 20th August, and I’m excited to share more with you about my companion projects as they unfold. Until then, thank you for joining me on this adventure, and I can’t wait to share this next chapter with you.

ABOUT MY GUEST In this final episode of the season, I speak with Paddy Le Flufy. For the past 8 years, Paddy has been focussing on understanding how we can redesign our societal systems to avert the unfolding environmental catastrophe and improve our quality of life. He is now beginning to publish what he has learned, starting with a book, Building Tomorrow: Averting Environmental Crisis With a New Economic System, which was published in March 2023. Throughout the next twelve months, he will be following this book with a series of essays on various aspects of positive societal transformation, which you’ll be able to find over at his substack.Before this chapter, Paddy had a somewhat different life. He first earned a degree in mathematics at Cambridge University and qualified as an accountant at KPMG in London. Then he spent years living something of a double life. He worked as a finance specialist in London for six months at a time, but used his money to live in remote places, alongside people whose lives were drastically different from his own.He has travelled with economic migrants, been taught to fish by rural Mozambicans, and lived with Hadza hunter-gatherers. He spent two months living with an indigenous tribe in the Amazon rainforest, then won a Royal Geographical Society Award to spend an entire year being taught by traditional wisdom-keepers from another jungle culture.In 2015, Paddy paused his travels to concentrate on how we can improve our own society - and in doing so, improve the lives of the billions of people currently affected by the dominant global systems.Recorded on 4th May 2023.RESOURCES@paddyleflufylinkedin.com/in/paddy-le-flufyPaddyleflufy.substack.comLISTEN NOW iTunesSpotifyPlayer.fm

In today’s conversation, I speak with Camila Moreno, an environmental researcher, author and activist, who has worked extensively on land reform, deforestation, GMOs, agribusiness, and biodiversity issues. A leading climate-policy expert and critical voice on neoliberal climate policies and “green capitalism”, Camila’s main area of study has been the interface between reasoning on climate change and the greening of capitalism. A researcher at the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, Camila has been following the climate negotiations since 2008, and in 2016 she authored a book titled Carbon Metrics and the New Colonial (2016), exploring these themes and more. The former coordinator of the Heinrich Böll Foundation, in the Brazil office, Camila has been accompanying the United Nation’s Convention on Biological Diversity since 2006, and the Climate Convention since 2008. She is a working group member of Political Ecology of the Latin American Council of Social Sciences and the International Council of Red for a Latin America Transgenic Free (RALLT), and she served with the organizations Terra de Direitos (Land’s Rights) and Amigos da Terra (Earth’s Friends) as a researcher and activist. Recorded on 29th April 2023.