Beyond The Bubble

In this episode of Beyond the Bubble, Andras welcomes philosopher, writer, and former Ghent University academic Maarten Boudry for a deep conversation about science, critical thinking, climate policy, ideology, and the Israel-Gaza debate. Maarten begins with his work on the line between science and pseudoscience, explaining why good reasoning is not limited to universities, but applies to everyday...

In this episode of Beyond the Bubble, Andras welcomes Jorge Zain, an Argentinian music therapist, entrepreneur, and sound bath facilitator based in Brussels, for a conversation about sound, vibration, healing, and human connection. Jorge shares how he moved to Belgium during the pandemic while his company Vibracustica was growing in Argentina, and explains how he built a school and business around...

In this episode of Beyond the Bubble Andras speaks with Shai Kaplan about her life-changing medical crisis she faced at 14: three brain tumors led to an emergency surgery, major vision loss, and years of pain, fear, and uncertainty. Shai reflects on what it meant to live through repeated operations, accept the possibility of dying young, and spend years moving around the world while trying to cope...

In this episode of Beyond the Bubble, Andras speaks with journalist and author David Keating about his book The Owned Continent and the argument at its core: that Europe remains deeply dependent on the United States not only militarily, but also culturally, economically and psychologically. Dave discusses his path from the United States to Brussels, how his early belief in the European project was...

In this episode of Beyond the Bubble, Andras welcomes Nikodem, director of communications of Ave Europa, for a conversation about European federalism, identity, and the political and economic pressures shaping Europe today. Nikodem explains why building a conservative pan-European political force that can move beyond national fragmentation and push toward a more unified and resilient Europe is nee...

In this episode of Beyond the Bubble, Andras speaks with Belgian Air Force Colonel Yvo Dierick, who is transitioning out of active duty after nearly 39 years of service. Yvo reflects on a career dedicated to protecting air bases, military infrastructure, and personnel in Belgium and abroad, and explains the layered system behind modern security, from personnel vetting and physical protection to cy...

Born in Antwerp in September 1939 to Polish Jewish parents, Regina was only two and a half when she was placed in hiding with a non-Jewish couple, Anna and Charles, who risked their lives to protect her while her parents moved between multiple hiding places. She shares how she was reunited with her parents after three and a half years, struggling to reconnect after growing up in two different worl...

In this episode of Beyond the Bubble, Andras speaks with Enno Wiebe, Director General of the European Rail Supply Industry, about how Europe’s railway system really works behind the scenes. Trained as a civil engineer in Dresden and shaped by early professional experience at Deutsche Bahn, the UIC in Paris, and Brussels, Enno shares how a lifelong fascination with trains turned into a career spann...

In this episode of Beyond the Bubble, Andras speaks with Darya Safai, a Belgian Member of Parliament born in Iran, for a direct and educational conversation about freedom, identity, and the future of Iran. Darya recounts her early activism as a dentistry student in Tehran, the 1999 student protests, her arrest and time in prison, and the decision to flee the country after becoming a target of the...

In this episode of Beyond the Bubble, Andras sits down with Belgian activist and trade lawyer Yohan Benizri, founder of the 451 Institute for a wide-ranging conversation about freedom of speech, academic diversity, democratic resilience, institutional neutrality, and how societies handle disagreement without sliding into conflict. Yohan explains the mission of the 451 Institute and its focus on vi...

In this episode of Beyond the Bubble, Andras speaks with Garth, an Iyengar yoga teacher from Los Angeles, about having been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) and how it has reshaped his life through yoga. Garth recounts being diagnosed with MS in the mid-1990s while pursuing an acting career in Hollywood, the fear and uncertainty that followed, and the medical journey that led to an unexpecte...

In this episode of Beyond the Bubble, Andras sits down with Jeremy Jennings, a Brit in Brussels who spent decades at one of the largest global accounting companies before moving into full-time mental health volunteer work. Jeremy reflects on his career from Arthur Andersen to EY where he worked closely with EU institutions on regulation, risk, and liability. He offers an insider view on how large...

In this episode of Beyond the Bubble, Andras speaks with Daniel Friedlander, a Canadian-turned-European political and communications professional. Daniel’s life was shaped by a childhood spent across Europe as the son of diplomats and a career spanning politics, media, and EU advocacy. Daniel reflects on how early exposure to international politics, including a meeting with Helmuth Kohl and Shimon...

In this episode of Beyond the Bubble, Andras welcomes Alejandro back to explore deep spiritual topics: yoga, meditation, retreats, ayahuasca, psychedelics, and the search for clarity that followed a long period of anxiety and personal issues. Alejandro explains how he got to Vipassana (silent) retreats in India, Nepal, and Thailand. These practices helped him observe his emotions, avoid falling in...

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...