Go Out and Talk to Strangers

What does it take to turn a dream into a thriving reality? – again and again?

In this episode, Antonio Bortolotti - Husband, Father, Visionary Dreamer, and the creative force behind the Vacation Rental World Summit - shares his remarkable journey.

From studying law in Germany to becoming a flight attendant, and ultimately building a dream vacation rental business in Sardinia, Antonio transformed his passion into the premier event for the vacation rental industry in Europe.

The conversation dives into the key turning points where Antonio’s inner compass guided him toward life-altering decisions. Insights emerge on mastering the art of living, recognizing when it's time to leave a comfortable career behind, and choosing entrepreneurship over stability. Antonio reveals what led him to create an empire in the hospitality industry and why it all started with a wake-up call.

This is a story of bold moves, expansive visions, and the quiet wisdom that comes with trusting the journey.

Tune in for more, and maybe your wake-up call awaits?

What if our buildings could carry the stories of the past while paving the way to a CO2-neutral future?

In this episode, I sit down with Dominik Campanella, CEO and Co-Founder of Concular, a Berlin-based company dedicated to transforming the construction sector.

Circular construction is often dismissed as a niche market for rural private residences - but is that really the case? In fact, this approach is quickly becoming a requirement in the future of architecture and city planning.

Dominik shares Concular's journey in developing innovative processes, digital tools, and circular value chains to create a more sustainable future - from insurance products to the urban mining hub in Berlin.

This episode will challenge your thinking on circular construction and its real-world applications.

Join us as we explore how innovation, sustainability, and the stories embedded in our built environment can shape a more connected and responsible world.

For show notes & links visit TNM official website

What if we celebrated ‘a night in?’

Rinat combines principles from biomimicry and strategic design to create a cultural shift towards an egalitarian society. We explore the concept of "the rhythm of the egg"—an intriguing idea that challenges our conventional approach to life and success. Rinat’s perspective encourages us to slow down, appreciate the quieter moments, and find joy in simplicity.

How can we turn inward and uncover the unique gifts within ourselves, especially in the context of Western society and the relentless summertime mindset? 

In an era rife with burnout, what is truly worth chasing? 

And what if we could replace fear with curiosity? 

If I weren’t an architect, I would have become an anthropologist. My fascination with cultures from around the globe has fueled my imagination for as long as I can remember.

In this episode, I had the immense pleasure of hosting someone who has profoundly expanded my understanding of hunter-gatherer societies and their worldview, and what it means for our lives today and the current state of the world. Dr. Daniel Naveh, who lived with the Nayaka for over a year, joins us to share his insights.

Dr. Daniel Naveh is an anthropologist and an environmental studies lecturer at Tel Aviv and Bar-Ilan Universities. He spent over a year among hunter-gatherers in the forests of South India. His research focuses on the environmental perceptions, consciousness, and educational practices of hunter-gatherer societies.

Daniel shares his personal story of living with the Nayaka in India, highlighting the unique ways hunter-gatherers understand and interact with their environment and the relevance of this perspective to the current climate crisis. We also discuss how anthropological lessons from hunter-gatherers and additional scientific discoveries can help us reconnect with plants, animals, and the astonishing nature of reality.

What are the valuable lessons that modern societies can learn from the wisdom of hunter-gatherer cultures? Tune in to expand your understanding and discover how ancient wisdom can transform our modern world.

For show notes & links visit TNM official website

Growing architecture is an innovative approach that integrates living plants into architectural designs, addressing ecological issues such as climate change adaptation and promoting sustainable living environments. This concept challenges traditional design methodologies by incorporating elements like growth, decay, chance, and probability into the creation of resilient and beautiful structures.

This episode's guest is Ferdinand Ludwig, a Professor of Green Technologies in Landscape Architecture and the Director of the Research Group Baubotanik at the Technical University of Munich. He co-founded OLA – Office for Living Architecture in Stuttgart, Germany, and is the author of the book “Growing Architecture – How to Design and Build with Trees.”

In our conversation, we explore the following questions:

• What inspired the concept of Baubotanik, and what challenges arise when designing with nature?

Tune in to this episode to discover how Ferdinand Ludwig's groundbreaking work is reshaping our understanding of architecture and encouraging us to design with nature, time, and the unknown in mind.

Locations of the experiments mentioned on the episode:

Growing Architecture book

For show notes & links visit TNM official website

Have you ever heard about the living root bridges of Meghalaya?

This episode was recorded in Northeast India, in the enchanting state of Meghalaya, known as one of the wettest places on Earth. The Khasi people have developed an extraordinary method of creating living root bridges by weaving the roots of trees. These unique structures continue to grow stronger over time.

In this episode, I had the pleasure of hosting Morningstar Khongthaw, an environmental activist, founder and chairman of the Living Bridges Foundation, social entrepreneur, and tour guide. We delve into the Khasi mindset, the concept of time, the significance of roots, and much more.

Join us for a fascinating conversation about this incredible tradition and the wisdom behind it.

For show notes & links visit TNM official website

Michael Bungay Stanier and I sat down for a conversation. If you hear seagulls in the background, it’s because this episode was recorded in the beautiful coty of Tangier, Morocco.

This conversation was a combination of an interview and a coaching session. We dived into fascinating topics that Michael often explores in his coaching career, such as: when you want to do something that matters - how to begin, the true meaning of commitment, and the dance between thrilling, important, and daunting. Tune in to join the conversation.

To end this season, I would like to share with you something that touched me deeply, a dream walk that was originally exhibited as a sound installation in an art exhibition called Revealed, in Melbourne in 2017. You can find it in Tyson Yunkaporta brilliant book Sand Talk: How Indigenous Thinking Can Save the World. Tyson recently published his new book ‘Right Story, Wrong Story’, and if you haven’t had a chance to check out his work, I highly recommend it.

I invite you to sit or lie down in a comfortable position, close your eyes and simply follow my voice.

For show notes & links visit TNM official website

Ever heard of Davos, the annual World Economic Forum meeting in Switzerland? Now, what about its intriguing counterpart, unDavos?

Mark wears many hats – strategist, author, educator, and entrepreneur. His work seamlessly merges collective intelligence with cutting-edge technologies like AI, networks, complex systems, and the profound insights of behavioral science and neuroscience. But that's not all. Mark has a riveting 25-year plan to change the world for the better, and he's already in the thick of executing it.

Join us as we peel back the layers of unDavos and dive into Mark's unique approach to global change. This episode promises an inside look at the secret world of unDavos and a captivating journey into the mind of a forward-thinking strategist and change-maker.

For show notes & links visit TNM official website

In the dynamic world of coliving, the heartbeat isn't just the physical space but the vibrant communities that thrive within. Join us in an upcoming episode where we break ground on the fascinating landscape of coliving. We'll delve into the pivotal role of crafting customer-centric experiences, dispelling common misconceptions about the industry, and extracting invaluable advice for those venturing into the realm of community-based projects.

Meet Leah Ziliak, a recognized expert in the coliving industry and one of the world's leading experts over the past several years. In 2019, she took her passion for community to the next level by founding a coliving consultancy, dedicating her expertise to designing and enhancing the Community Experience. With over 15 years in the hospitality and entertainment sector, Leah, now a digital nomad, traverses the globe, collaborating with coliving brands to cultivate community within shared living spaces and craft positive customer experiences.

Join us for an insightful conversation with Leah as we navigate the complexities and opportunities within the coliving landscape. Whether you're an industry professional or someone intrigued by community-focused living, this episode is a must-listen to glean wisdom from one of the foremost experts in the field.

For show notes & links visit TNM official website