Beyond The Bubble

In this episode of Beyond the Bubble, Andras has a deep conversation with psychologist, children’s book author and ultra-marathon runner Simon. Simon’s charisma shines through as they discuss practical implications of identity, personal agency, overcoming fear, the meaning of resilience and the search for meaning. Simon shares his upbringing, moving between the U.S., France and Belgium, and what h...

In this episode of Beyond the Bubble, Andras welcomes Katharina von Schnurbein, European Commission Coordinator on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life for an educative discussion on combating these. Katharina shares her background growing up near the Iron Curtain in Bavaria, her studies in Slavonic languages, and her early work with the European Union in Prague during the Czech Republ...

In this episode of Beyond the Bubble, Andras welcomes Valentin, Communications Director at the College of Europe in Bruges. Being an alumnus of the College, Andras and Valentin discuss political communication, European federalism, and the future of democracy in a digital age. Valentin shares his unconventional career path from sports management and youth activism to leading communications at one o...

In this episode of Beyond the Bubble, Andras welcomes Prince Charles-Antoine de Ligne La Trémoïlle for a wide-ranging conversation about nobility, heritage, responsibility, business, and the state of Europe today. Prince Charles-Antoine shares the remarkable history of his family, whose roots date back a 1000 years and whose name carries stories of knights, alliances, and a lineage intertwined wit...

In this episode of Beyond the Bubble, Andras welcomes foreign policy analyst and educator Botond Feledy for a broad conversation about Europe’s political culture, leadership, identity, and the meaning of “the common good”.Long-time Brussels insider and co-worker of Jesuits, Botond shares his journey from studying law and international relations in France to launching Hungary’s first foreign policy...

In this episode, Andras welcomes Aurelien for an extraordinary first-hand account of how he and his family were evacuated from Israel on 7 Oct 2023 after the barbaric attacks of Hamas. His recount blends diplomacy, personal resilience, and how geopolitics affects personal lives. Aurelien shares how his path took him from journalism to advocacy work in Brussels, and how life as the spouse of an EU...

In this episode of Beyond the Bubble, Andras welcomes violinist Anzhela Hovhannisyan and former Google staffer, future of work specialist David Timis for a deep conversation that covers AI, music, technology, and the search for meaning in work and life. Anzhela shares how she got from Armenia to Brussels, how music became her lifelong calling, and why cultural heritage and intuition shape every pe...

In this episode of Beyond the Bubble, Andras speaks with political analyst and commentator Julien Hoez for a discussion on French politics, the challenges of European integration, and the future of media. Julien, founder of the political newsletter The French Dispatch, brings his experience as a consultant, Substack writer, and political advisor to discuss how national identity, ideology, and comm...

In this episode of Beyond the Bubble, Andras talks with coach and communications specialist Helen Dunnett about values, emotional intelligence, and how better conversations can change everything. Helen shares her personal insights, how after her divorce and career transitions she discovered coaching and realised the power of self-awareness and listening. Together, they discuss why asking the “righ...

In this episode, Andras sits down with author and speaker Rabbi Levi Smothkin for a conversation about his global best-seller book “Letters for Life: Guidance for Emotional Wellness from the Lubavitcher Rebbe”. They discuss universal truths, human nature, agency, and finding meaning through adversity. Based in New York but speaking from Brussels, Levi discusses how we distilled 33 volumes of priva...

In this episode of Beyond the Bubble, Andras speaks with Roger Cohen, founding director of career coaching company OrientaEuro in Brussels, about career change, job search tips and how AI can support or hinder coaching. Having moved from a career in engineering and management to building a coaching company in Belgium, and why being fired pushed him to take that step. He explains how an engineer’s...

In this episode of Beyond the Bubble, Andras sits down with Gui Athia, lobbyist and corporate affairs expert, TEDx speaker, and author of Get the Memo. With a career spanning leadership roles at Nike, Renault, Alcatel, and beyond, Gui shares his journey from Brazilian boardrooms to the heart of European public affairs. They explore the themes of trust, values, intuition, integrity and governance,...

In this episode of Beyond the Bubble, Andras reconnects with longtime friend and diplomat turned academic, Zoltan Feher for a extensive conversation on Hungarian identity, global politics, and the shifting world order. From student activism in post-communist Hungary to working in diplomacy in Washington and Ankara, Zoltan reflects on the dreams of EU and NATO integration, the rise of China, and th...

In this episode, András is joined by two global experts in the communication world—Bonnie Caver, founder of Reputation Lighthouse and board member of the Global Alliance for PR, and Adrian Cropley, founder of the Centre for Strategic Communication Excellence. They meet in Brussels to discuss the real-world implications of artificial intelligence in communication, ethics, organizational culture, an...

In this episode of Beyond the Bubble, Andras sits down with Marie Terese, a former international opera singer turned voice and communication expert. Marie Terese brings over 20 years of experience from European opera houses and concert halls to help professionals find their authentic voice in business settings. From her early struggles with stuttering as a child to performing in eight languages ac...

In this episode of Beyond the Bubble, Andras sits down with Laura Shields—media trainer, former broadcast journalist, and founder of Red Thread—to explore the stories we tell ourselves, and how those stories evolve when shaped by trauma, neurodivergence, and lived experience. Laura opens up about her journey from a high-pressure media career to building a business in Brussels, navigating depressio...

In this episode of Beyond the Bubble, Andras sits down with fashion psychologist and branding expert Marleen Beevers for a close look into the clothing, self-image, and “Satisfashion”.They explore how fashion acts as both armor and self-expression, how we form impressions in seconds, and how clothing choices can reflect (or distort) our values and identities. They discuss how outward appearance wi...

In this episode of Beyond the Bubble, Andras sits down with Luc Gillis, a former lifetime EU official living a full life with visual impairment. His career at the European Commission spanned over 40 years, from switchboard operator to senior roles in HR and EU staff selection. Luc shares his perspective on how the EU institutions have professionalised over time, particularly in the field of human...

In this episode of Beyond the Bubble, Andras welcomes communications consultant Jacques Foul for a rich conversation about identity, discipline, Artificial Intelligence, and the inner work of growth. From his early life attending a military boarding school and coming from a multicultural upbringing, Jacques had experiences studying in South Africa, France, and the U.S. He shares how structure, tra...

In this powerful and deeply personal episode of Beyond the Bubble , András speaks with Elizabeth Krahulecz , a Brussels-based EU regulatory strategist, about the day her life changed forever — and how she transformed tragedy into strength. Elisabeth was seriously injured in the 2016 Brussels Airport terrorist attack . She shares the harrowing details of that day, her physical and psychological rec...

In this episode, András speaks with Tom Meyers, osteopath, author, and body-centred stress expert. Tom shares his personal and professional journey—from burnout to developing The Reaset Approach—and explores what it means to stay resilient in body, mind, and spirit. We look into how stress, identity, and future readiness intersect, and how practices in both science and self-awareness can help us m...

In this episode, Andras speaks with Alejandro Ribo Labastida — professor of European Studies, negotiation trainer, and explorer of culture, power, and self-awareness. Alejandro discusses institutional complexities of the EU, personal layers of identity, trust, and assumptions on how we negotiate and live together — as citizens, diplomats, neighbors, and humans. From Catalan identity and Spanish cu...

Andras Baneth speaks with Dominique Scarlett about identity, motherhood, the highs and lows of influencer life, and the path from exposure to healing. They discuss Dominique’s multicultural roots, life in Lebanon versus Europe, how she navigated the maritime industry, and her rise as a singer and social media figure. Dominique shares her insights on parenting across languages and cultures, the pre...

Andras Baneth speaks with Nehama Uzan about Jewish identity, interfaith dialogue, and the importance of living a values-based life. They explore the challenges of building inclusive community spaces in times of fear, the moral and spiritual lessons of Judaism, and the power of human connection across boundaries. They discuss her multicultural background, the founding and evolution of the European...

Andras Baneth speaks with Sam Wilkin about the experience of living in the Middle East, how it shaped his sense of European identity, and the challenges of navigating multiculturalism in today’s Europe. They discuss the differences between national and cultural identities, what it means to be European, the tension between individual and collective values, family structures, language as culture, ca...