Conversation with Julia Kril

In this Conversation, I sit down with Oleksandr Bondariev, founder and CEO of Pleso Therapy, a mental health platform that connects people with certified therapists based on their specific therapy needs. Oleksandr started Pleso Therapy in the middle of the lockdown after struggling to find the right therapist himself. Over the past five years, the company has evolved from a therapy marketplace int...

In this episode, I sit down with Francesco Cappelletti, a policy advisor at the European Parliament and a professor at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, to discuss artificial intelligence, privacy and the challenges of navigating an increasingly digital world. As AI becomes part of our everyday lives, we explore how it is changing the way people work, learn and consume information. We discuss whethe...

Today, I sit down with a person I've worked with for almost ten years — Luca Bertoletti, both across various organisations and as business partners at B&K Agency. For a long time, I haven't communicated much here about the work we do at the agency. In this episode, we open up that conversation, diving deeper into the public affairs profession, explaining what it actually looks like in practice...

In this episode, I sit down with Sam Wilkin, co-founder and editor of The Sentinel, a Brussels online publication providing insights for Europe's rearmament. Sam and I unpack some of the most pressing security questions facing Europe today. We discuss what holds Europe back from reaching its defence spending targets and why unity on security remains so difficult. Together, we also dive into the mi...

Today, I sit down with Duygu Dagdemir, gemologist and founder of VONA, to talk all things diamonds and jewellery. In this episode, Duygu shares how she entered the industry, from discovering lab-grown diamonds to deciding to build a business around them. She touches upon the differences between lab-grown and mined stones, why naturality remains a controversial topic, how diamonds are created, and...

In this episode, Julia talks with Jorge Jraissati, President at Economic Inclusion Group, a non-profit organisation advising policymakers and businesses on economic and financial policy. Together, they discuss how Jorge was growing up in Venezuela as the country's economic and political situation deteriorated year after year. Jorge recalls a childhood shaped by everyday instability and injustice,...

In this episode, Julia talks with Olga Shykalo, Ukrainian entrepreneur, founder of Rayana, a brand of bed linen, and Chief Marketing Officer of Duotet, providing accounting and legal services, which she founded seven years ago. Together, they discuss Olga's journey to Poland at the age of 16 without knowledge of Polish language, her early career, and the reasons why she decided to build her busine...

In this episode, Julia talks with Heath Sloane, Director of Geopolitical Intelligence at B&K Agency. Originally from Australia, Heath shares how his academic and professional journey has taken him across continents, from studying in China to living and working in places like London and Israel, before eventually settling in Central Europe, in Austria. This international background has shaped hi...

In this episode, Julia sits down with Zhanna Galeyeva, the CEO and co-founder of Bird of Light Ukraine, a charitable organization established after the 2022 full-scale invasion that provides essential aid to communities across Ukraine. Together, they discuss Zhanna's journey from Ukraine to the US, her exploration of different fields of study in college, and her experience working in various roles...

In this episode, Julia talks with Davide Russo, an entrepreneur and the founder of Horshare, a digital platform that is reinventing the world of horse racing. Davide shares how growing up in an entrepreneurial family shaped his mindset, from helping with his father’s business to learning discipline and responsibility. He also reflects on his experience of building a business from the ground up, co...

In this episode, Julia talks to Anna Tymoshenko, the CEO of Ukrainian Students for Freedom, one of the largest student organisations in Ukraine. Anna recalls how she first joined the organisation as a student studying medicine, and how her passion for activism and liberal ideas eventually led her to take on its leadership. She shares that USF is not only about activism, but also about growth and h...

Гостею нового епізоду On Human Journey стала Лілія Місецька - іміджмейкерка та підприємиця, яка розповість, як вона починала свій перший бізнес разом із чоловіком, а згодом знайшла справу своєї душі. Разом із Юлією вони обговорять силу кольорів у брендах та логотипах і які цінності вони передають. Також вони поговорять про образи публічних осіб, який вплив вони мають на сприйняття людей, і яка роб...

In this episode, Julia delves into conversation with Christian Nasulea, Executive Director of the Institute for Economic Studies – Europe (IES–Europe) and Professor of Economics at the University of Bucharest. Christian talks about his journey from discovering a passion for economics to becoming a professor of the subject. He opens up about his approach to teaching, which focuses less on numbers a...

In this episode, Julia sits down with Ekin Olcay to talk about all things architecture and design. Ekin is originally from Turkey, but has been living in Milan for over ten years. She is an architect currently doing her PhD at the Politecnico di Milano. Ekin shares what it's like to be a Milan resident, especially during Milan Design Week, when the whole city transforms into one big creative platf...

Гостею другого випуску On Human Journey (цього разу - подкаст українською!) стала Анна Рябич - підприємиця з Боярки, міста поблизу Києва. Вона поділиться, чому після закінчення найпрестижнішого університету України вона вирішила піти власним шляхом і розпочати свій бізнес. Аня розповість, що стало поштовхом до відкриття першої кав'ярні Deer і салону краси Self Beauty House, які складнощі виникали...

Welcome to the very first episode of On Human Journey — a podcast by Julia Kril about real people, their inspiring stories, and the journeys behind their projects, businesses and creative ideas. The debut episode features Yulia Popyk, a multidisciplinary artist and Head of Brand at Petcube, whose path has taken her from politics to creative leadership. Yulia opens up about her shift from a politic...