The Social Regeneration Podcast

[⚠️ This Episode is in GERMAN language 🇩🇪 ➡️ For the ENGLISH subtitles, please go to our YouTube video . 👁️‍🗨️ And let us know if this works for you, or not 🙏] **** How to build back your resilience buffer through boredom & nature In this special first-ever German-language episode, I speak with Luisa Wolf, a resilience trainer, speaker, and certified trainer for mental health, about the impac...

Reconnecting human hearts inside broken systems & new perspectives on manhood In this episode, I reconnect with Artem Beckmann, a culture consultant, men’s coach and community builder. We once crossed paths in the corporate world and have now come together again to question how we can create spaces of belonging and trust. Artem opens up about his early drive to connect people, rooted in childh...

About the work that I do - currently Do you ever take the time to reflect, celebrate, and iterate in your projects? It is the 4-month anniversary of this Podcast! 🎊 And I would love to hear your feedback and resonance! Tell us about your favourite Episode so far and which perspectives we should explore next. 👉 Here is a 5-minute survey . Also, welcome to all new listeners! 💕 In this Episode, I...

How cross-sector connectors like Marc act as story-amplifiers for quiet pioneers In this episode, I speak with Marc Violo, founder of MycoStories and a true connector across sectors. From high-tech startups in Asia to fungal research in the Amazon, Marc’s journey has been anything but linear—and all the more inspiring. He shares how fungi became his unlikely but powerful focus, not just as a biolo...

About the “Not-Enough Trap" and common struggles impactpreneurs face in different phases Listen in on this conversation between my dear colleague Nihal and I where together we explore what it really means to build a meaningful and impactful business from scratch. We’ve worked together before on a programme for young eco-entrepreneurs, and I know firsthand how deeply he cares about impact and how e...

An ex-game animator shares his healing journey from survival-mode to soulful service through self-leadership In this week's Episode, Robin Tamura shares his personal journey how he went from being a game design animator stuck in survival mode to a self-leadership coach using Internal Family Systems (IFS) and mindfulness practices to help others find healing through presence. We talked about burnou...

Why the Human Rights sector needs to rethink itself from the Ground up In this Episode, Rebecka Ambjörnsson - @karuna.family - , Managing Director of the social cooperative Karuna in Berlin, gives us insights into why traditional human rights organisations often reproduce the very inequalities they aim to fix. Drawing from her own disillusionment with top-down aid structures, Rebecka shared how Ka...

About mines, memes, mindsets, and multilateralism In this electrifying and deeply reflective conversation, we dive into the complex interplay between sustainability, geopolitics, and narratives. I speak with Maximiliano, whose unconventional path - from growing up in a mining region in Chile to shaping UN development programs - offers a rare perspective on global transformation. We discuss why sus...

How a former industrial engineer found freedom in sustainability work In this episode, I speak with my friend and colleague Kurt Klusch about his radical transformation from industrial engineer to sustainability consultant. We both share a passion for systems thinking and the FSSD framework, which we actively use in our work with organisations. Kurt opens up about the pivotal moments that led him...

Why escaping to a Sabbatical will not heal your Burnout In this episode, I sit down with my friend and fellow regenerator Judit Saez. We dive into the challenges of redefining work and success beyond the capitalist grind. Judit shares her own story of burnout and how it became a turning point for her personal transformation. We talk about the importance of community, the trap of perfectionism - ev...

Conflict, leadership, and why Inner Work is crucial for Outer Impact In this episode, I sit down with a pioneer in regenerative leadership and business. We talk about transforming organisations internally by supporting leaders on their personal journeys. Our conversation touches on conflict, leadership, and why inner work is crucial for outer impact. We highlight how regenerative practices not onl...

How to be a constructive Rebel, tell Stories & drive Change from within organisation SUMMARY In this episode, I speak with Alex Barker about the art of driving change from within organisations. We reflect on our shared experience as "kind challengers" and what it means to challenge power structures with empathy. Alex shares insights from her work in both the public and private sectors, highlig...

How true impact requires shifting resources, responsibilities and power structures - not just technology   SUMMARY In this episode, I sit down with my dear friend Linus Beer, whose commitment to environmental and social justice has deeply inspired me since our shared volunteer year in Ecuador. We reflect on our early learning journeys, from waste collection with rural communities to eye-opening en...

Co-creating inclusive Communities through Stories, Startups, and "Social Capital"   Today I welcome Sen Zahn, Co-Director of SINGA Germany, who shares about the transformative power of changing narratives about identity and belonging. We reflect on our shared roots in social innovation and how our paths, like satellites, keep intersecting.   Sen’s leadership deeply moved me at a recent SINGA event...

Why social innovation begins with rethinking loss and letting go In this deep and humbling episode of the Social Regeneration Podcast, I welcome innovation expert and grief counselor Fenja Jensen. Together, we explore the powerful intersection between creating "the New" and letting go of "the Old". Every change process inevitably involves some form of loss. From corporate restructures to personal...

Transformational empowerment through community organizing Knock, Talk, Organise: Inside the Work of a Tenants’ Movement In this episode, we speak with Tanja Rakočević, a tenants’ organiser and climate justice activist based in Berlin. Tanja shares her inspiring journey from activist to full-time community organiser, shedding light on what it means to create change from the ground up. She talks abo...

Liandra Vianna's Journey towards Sustainable Rural Development & Tourism   In this episode, I speak with one of my former Mentees, Liandra Vianna, about her unique, non-linear career journey - from architecture, operations, and UX design to rural development and sustainable tourism.   Born in Rio de Janeiro and now living in Lisbon, Liandra opens up about how city life sparked her passion to a...

Exploring alternative economies and the role of money in a regenerative world In this episode, we explore the transformative potential of finance with guests Sophie and Stephen, two experts in sustainable finance and regenerative economies. They share their personal journeys - from studying sustainability to leading global initiatives in impact investing and financial education. We dive into the b...

Incubating inner and outer transformation through slowing down, presence, and connection My dear friend and colleague Lauren Uba is one the first guests in this podcast show as she is currently exploring deeply how to weave social fabric.   Lauren is a community builder, urbanist, facilitator, and socio-ecological systems transformation activist. Her goal is to make inner and outer transformation...

Navigating the delicate balance between radical innovation and stability In this episode, we sit down with Ashley Scarborough, a designer-turned-system-thinker, to explore her journey from interior architecture to the world of regenerative practices and systems change. Ashley shares how she transitioned from the corporate design world into tackling wicked problems - complex global challenges that...

Why system change is more than just a buzzword and how we can actively shape it   In this episode, we deeply dive into paradigm shifts and systems thinking. What does it mean to challenge an existing system and bring about fundamental change? We explore how old paradigms evolve, why some persist, and how new ways of thinking emerge. Using practical examples such as the Two-Loop Theory, we provide...

Personal insights into challenges, opportunities, and developments in the sustainability working field In this episode of the Social Regeneration Podcast, host Pia Hillebrecht shares her personal and professional journey in sustainability. She reflects on her university years, the challenges of working in the field, and how the sustainability sector has evolved over the past decade.   Pia discusse...

A story about unlearning, awakening, and quitting In this episode, I introduce myself as your host and share my journey of becoming a sustainability professional - and some of the reasons why this Podcast exists. Before I start inviting guests, I want to create an intimate and brave space by "going first"—sharing my journey, my WHY, and how an eye-opening experience in Ecuador set me on the path t...

What does social regeneration mean, and why is it important? In this episode, your host Pia Hillebrecht explores the evolution of sustainability thinking and the need for restorative and regenerative approaches in social systems. While environmental and economic regeneration are gaining traction, social regeneration is still underexplored. Pia shares insights from her background in sustainability...

Exploring the power of deep conversations, inviting diverse perspectives, and real stories to inspire action in times of uncertainty Welcome to the very first episode of this podcast! 🤗🎉 After two years of contemplating whether the world really needs another podcast, I’ve decided: YES! There is still a lack of public examples of “normal people” doing extraordinary work in sustainability, social...