Stories for the future

🌍 What This Episode Is About

In this episode, we explore the Transformational Leadership for Sustainability (TLFS) program – a unique and powerful approach to leadership that begins not with strategy, but with self-awareness and values. Together with co-founder Karen O’Brien and alumna Idun Aune, we discuss how this values-based program helps people from all walks of life activate their full potential to lead change from the inside out. If you’re looking for a deeper, more integrated way to make a difference, this one’s for you.

🔑 Key Takeaways

• You matter more than you think – Lasting change starts with who you are, not just what you do


• Three spheres of transformation – Practical (actions), Political (systems), Personal (values & beliefs)


• TLFS is experiential, not just theoretical – You work on a real-life initiative while practicing in community


• Values-based leadership fuels resilience – When your work aligns with your values, energy and impact increase


• The personal is not optional – Bringing your whole self to your work creates deeper, systemic change


• Meetings can be rituals – Simple shifts in how we meet and check in with each other can create lasting culture change


• It's for everyone – TLFS is sector-agnostic and globally relevant – whether you're in business, education, design, or activism


• Collective agency matters – True transformation comes from individuals working together, grounded in shared values

📅 Next TLFS Program Starts: September 2025

• 3 in-person modules (Oslo area) + weekly peer triads


• Themes: Being the Change | Designing Change | Leading Change


• Open to international participants (English-language program)


• Hosted in a beautiful nature setting outside Oslo

📚 Links and Resources

🔗 TLFS Program Info & Registration

cCHANGE

📘 Karen O’Brien’s Book: You Matter More Than You Think

🌐 Respira – Planet-Centric Design and Strategy

https://www.respira.no

📧 Contact

– Idun Aune on LinkedIn

– Karen O’Brien on LinkedIn

✨ Want More Future-Friendly Content?

💌 Substack Newsletter

🎧 Quiet Pivot Companion Pack

🌍 All My Work

Want to be a guest on Stories for the future: Beyond the Bubble? Send Veslemoy Klavenes-Berge a message on PodMatch.

Mentioned in this episode:

Thanks to Creative Space for supporting this episode! Visit getcreativespace.com

Get full access to Stories for the Future by Veslemøy Klavenes-Berge at vklavenes.substack.com/subscribe

When I left oil and gas – or rather, when the door slammed behind me – I thought I needed a plan immediately. Instead, I discovered something far more valuable: the power of following small sparks of curiosity.

In this episode, I share why curiosity became my compass during one of the foggiest periods of my life, and how it can become yours too.

What I Cover:

• How curiosity literally rewires your brain for learning and adaptation


• Why following random interests feels unproductive but creates the path forward


• The science behind curiosity as a tool for overcoming fear and paralysis


• Simple questions I used (and still use) to identify what truly draws me in

My Key Message: When everything feels uncertain, give yourself permission to not know the whole path. Just get curious about the next step.

Resources Mentioned:

• TED Talk: "How to Find Work You Love"


• The Quiet Pivot Companion Pack with curiosity exercises and spark-discovery tools. Get it as here, or signing up as a paying subscriber to my Substack.

Want to be a guest on Stories for the future: Beyond the Bubble? Send Veslemoy Klavenes-Berge a message on PodMatch.

You can always find more information about the podcast and my work on storiesforthefuture.com

Get full access to Stories for the Future by Veslemøy Klavenes-Berge at vklavenes.substack.com/subscribe

My guest today is Laurel Colless, a sustainability writer, kids' science fantasy novelist, and founder of the Carbon Busters Club, a climate-science adventure program for children.

With over 25 years of experience working in environmental business and journalism across Asia, the US, and Europe, she combines her expertise in sustainability and technology communications with her passion for education and storytelling.

As an Al Gore Climate Reality Leader, Laurel's work spans ESG reporting, stakeholder engagement strategies, and creating new mythologies for today’s youth that reflect the climate challenges of their generation.

🔑 Takeaways

• How Laurel uses science-fantasy to turn climate anxiety into playful wonder—and real-world action.


• The origin story behind her eco-adventure series: boarding school for climate-defenders with sea‑demon villains!


• Why kids—and grown-ups—need imaginative narratives to make sense of climate change.


• How her global journey through journalism, sustainability, and folklore informed her fiction and climate teaching.



• LaurelColless.com – Find all her books, background story, and sign-up for her newsletter

For more ways to dive deeper into tomorrow’s stories, check out vklavenes.substack.com and storiesforthefuture.com for essays, tools, and behind‑the‑scenes.

Want to be a guest on Stories for the future: Beyond the Bubble? Send Veslemoy Klavenes-Berge a message on PodMatch.

You can always find more information about the podcast and my work on storiesforthefuture.com

Mentioned in this episode:

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Thanks to Creative Space for supporting this episode! Visit getcreativespace.com

Get full access to Stories for the Future by Veslemøy Klavenes-Berge at vklavenes.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome back to The Quiet Pivot, my mini series for those in-between chapters—the ones where the old outfit doesn’t fit, but the new one isn’t quite tailored yet. In this episode, I’m taking you behind the scenes of my own pivotal transition: from a well-paid, intellectually stimulating geophysics career in oil and gas to my current role as a bridge builder for meaningful, sustainable futures.

Episode Highlights:

• The Sandpaper Feeling: I introduce my signature term for that subtle, persistent friction between who you want to be and how your work feels. This isn’t burnout or boredom, but a quiet signal that something’s out of sync.


• Society’s Labels & Black-or-White Thinking: From colleagues who couldn’t understand walking away to outsiders judging my industry, I explore the challenge of moving forward when everyone wants to put you in a box. Is your past a liability, or can it be a launching pad for positive change?


• Reframing the Pivot: Rather than running from my past, I chose to move toward what aligns with my strengths, curiosity, and values. I explain why chasing what energizes you is so much more sustainable than fleeing what drains you.

Resources & Links:

• Read more about the science of fun and access my pivot tools at vklavenes.substack.com


• Explore additional resources at storiesforthefuture.com/pivot

Want to be a guest on Stories for the future: Beyond the Bubble? Send Veslemoy Klavenes-Berge a message on PodMatch.

You can always find more information about the podcast and my work on storiesforthefuture.com

Links referenced in this episode:

• vklavnest.substack.com


• storiesforthefuture.com/pivot

Get full access to Stories for the Future by Veslemøy Klavenes-Berge at vklavenes.substack.com/subscribe

What if the chaos of our times isn’t just something to survive, but a doorway into your own growth? In this week's episode, I talk with Tom Meyers, osteopath, futurist, musician (!), and author of Futurize Yourself and The Future's Effect.

Tom shares how his personal journey - from suicidal burnout to finding a future-focused mission - led him to develop a unique method for helping people reset their nervous systems, reconnect with their inner compass, and thrive through transition. We explore:

• Why your personal “DNA for the future” matters more than any job title


• How stress shows up in the body (and what to do about it)


• The future mindset that helps you adapt without burning out


• Practical tips for calming your nervous system—plus how partners can support each other in the process

Whether you're mid-pivot, feeling overwhelmed, or just craving a more grounded way to face the future, this one's for you.

🔗 Connect with Tom Meyers:

🌍 Website: www.futurizeyourself.com

🌐 Therapy site: https://meyerstom.weebly.com/

🎵 Music project (Fitfull): Search “Fitfull” on your favorite music platform

📱LinkedIn: Tom Meyers

🧰 Want support for your own pivot?

Alongside my new podcast mini-series (released every Monday), I’ve created the Quiet Pivot Companion Pack - a gentle, practical tool to help you reflect, realign, and take the next steps in your own career or identity shift.

💌 Get it as a bonus when you become a paying subscriber at vklavenes.substack.com, or buy it directly here.

🌿 More from me:

Website: www.storiesforthefuture.com

Substack: vklavenes.substack.com

Let me know what resonated, or share your own story. I always love hearing from you.

Want to be a guest on Stories for the future: Beyond the Bubble? Send Veslemoy Klavenes-Berge a message on PodMatch.

You can always find more information about the podcast and my work on storiesforthefuture.com

Get full access to Stories for the Future by Veslemøy Klavenes-Berge at vklavenes.substack.com/subscribe

This episode is about something that hit harder than I expected when I lost my job in oil and gas: Not the income. Not the office.

But the identity.

Who was I if I wasn't “Veslemøy, the geophysicist”?

What was I supposed to say at parties, in my bio, or when someone casually asked, “So, what do you do?”

In this solo episode, I talk about how I’d unknowingly tied my self-worth to my job title — and what happened when that label disappeared.

You’ll hear how I started peeling back the layers, reconnecting with parts of myself I’d shelved for years, and learning how to sketch a new identity from the inside out.

🧰 This episode is part of The Quiet Pivot Companion Pack

A simple Notion-based toolkit designed to support you if you’re navigating a career pivot — especially if it wasn’t entirely by choice.

In today’s episode, I reference a couple of the tools:

The Identity Sketch Pad and the mind hack I like to call Put Your Professional Identity on the Shelf

📦 Want the Companion Pack?

You can get it two ways:

🔑 Paying Substack subscribers get full access: vklavenes.substack.com

Or if you prefer a one-off download instead; go to storiesforthefuture.com/pivot

I really hope you will find this valuable - wheter going all in with the Pivot Pack, or just by listening to the podcast episodes.

Want to be a guest on Stories for the future: Beyond the Bubble? Send Veslemoy Klavenes-Berge a message on PodMatch.

You can always find more information about the podcast and my work on storiesforthefuture.com

Get full access to Stories for the Future by Veslemøy Klavenes-Berge at vklavenes.substack.com/subscribe

If you've ever felt torn between making a difference and making a living, this episode is here to help you reframe that tension - and start building something more sustainable. Both for the planet. And for yourself.

My guest today is Judith Hartlmaier, co-founder of Positive Impactpreneur — a business built on a powerful mission: to support the supporters.

Judith works with solo practitioners, consultancies, and support organizations in the impact sector — helping them blend revenue with regenerative, systems-oriented work. In other words, she helps the helpers design businesses that actually work — for their clients, the world, and their own sanity.

We talk about

• Why pricing your work fairly is part of the impact


• What blended value creation actually means (and why you need it)


• How to create ripple effects in complex systems


• The real reason many well-intentioned changemakers burn out - and what to do instead


• How to show up in a chaotic world and still build something that lasts

Whether you’re an impact-driven solopreneur, a facilitator in transition, or a curious systems-thinker, this episode is packed with insights, clarity, and hope for the regenerative economy we know is possible.

About Judith Hartlmaier:

Judith is a regenerative strategist, systems thinker, and founder of Positive Impactpreneur — a consultancy and accelerator helping service-based changemakers build financially sustainable, systemically impactful businesses. Through programs like the Catalytic Change Accelerator and the Impact–Revenue Alignment Program, she supports solo practitioners and support organizations in designing outcome-driven learning journeys that blend deep impact with solid revenue. With a background spanning consulting, education, the arts, and entrepreneurship, Judith is all about connecting the dots, reframing challenges, and helping leaders thrive in a future-focused, regenerative economy..

As part of celebrating 5 years of Positive Impactpreneur, they are sharing their insights on solving the Impact-Revenue Paradox, the challenge of balancing meaningful work with financial sustainability. The free 5-part masterclass is particularly designed for impact-driven service professionals.

It includes:

✔ Proven frameworks for embedding Impact–Revenue Alignment into your business

✔ A 90-day roadmap to land high-impact, well-paid bespoke projects

✔ Downloadable guides, self-assessments & checklists to apply the insights right away

✔ A few slots for booking a free Impact-Revenue Alignment Audit

🔗 Connect with Judith:

• 🌐 Website:

Get full access to Stories for the Future by Veslemøy Klavenes-Berge at vklavenes.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to a new mini series on Stories for the Future!

I call it The Quiet Pivot.

Ever find yourself in that weird limbo where your job just doesn’t vibe with who you are anymore? That’s what I like to call the "Quiet Pivot," and yes, I’ve been there.

After saying goodbye to the oil and gas industry in 2016, I experienced that unsettling space where the old me didn’t fit, but the new me was still trying to find a new direction.

In this miniseries, I’m diving into those transitions, sharing stories, and offering tools to help navigate this tricky terrain. So whether you’re facing a career shake-up, feeling like a square peg in a round hole, or just wondering what’s next, you’re definitely not alone—and you don’t have to have it all figured out just yet! Let's explore this journey together, shall we?

Want to be a guest on Stories for the future: Beyond the Bubble? Send Veslemoy Klavenes-Berge a message on PodMatch.

You can always find more information about the podcast and my work on storiesforthefuture.com

Takeaways:

• The Quiet Pivot is all about navigating that confusing space between past identities and future possibilities when work stops making sense.


• You're not alone in feeling like your career has become a puzzle with missing pieces; many are navigating similar waters, so let's figure it out together!


• It's totally okay not to have everything figured out right away; remember, life isn't a race, it's more like a casual stroll through a fun park!


• Change often feels scary, but it can lead to amazing opportunities and connections that you never knew existed; embrace the unexpected and stay curious!


• This podcast aims to provide practical strategies and emotional support for anyone in a career transition, helping you rediscover who you are beyond your job title.


• Join me on this journey of exploration where we'll tackle the challenges of change with humor, curiosity, and a ton of uplifting stories!

Come join me on Substack and be ready when I publish The Quiet Pivot Companion Pack:

• vklavenes.substack.com

Get full access to Stories for the Future by Veslemøy Klavenes-Berge at vklavenes.substack.com/subscribe

Holly Smith is shaking things up in the world of impact investing, and trust me, you don’t want to miss this one!

At just 25, she’s already made quite the splash, transitioning from a psychology background to making a dent in the world of sustainable finance. Now based in Singapore, Holly’s not just talking the talk; she’s part of running a venture studio that’s all about driving positive change, alongside hosting monthly impact investing coffee mornings for changemakers.

If you’ve ever thought finance was just for the experts, consider this your wake-up call! We’re diving into how money can be a powerful tool for good, and Holly’s here to show us that finance is not the enemy; it’s all about who uses this as a tool and how.

And that's not all. I promise, you'll be both inspired and impressed. Enjoy!

Connect with Holly on LinkedIn.

Want to be a guest on Stories for the future: Beyond the Bubble? Send Veslemoy Klavenes-Berge a message on PodMatch.

You can always find more information about the podcast and my work on storiesforthefuture.com

For more writing, all podcast updates and behind-the-scenes stuff, go to vklavenes.substack.com

Get full access to Stories for the Future by Veslemøy Klavenes-Berge at vklavenes.substack.com/subscribe

Burnout can hit hard, especially when you're doing what you think is your dream job.

In this conversation with Danielle Droitsch, we dive deep into her journey through decades of climate and conservation work, and how she found herself hitting that famous wall.

She opens up about the importance of rediscovering your purpose and aligning your career with your strengths to truly find fulfillment. We also explore the emotional toll of navigating today’s chaotic political landscape and how resilience, health, and action are key to staying afloat.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re stuck in a rut or questioning your path, this episode is packed with insights and strategies that might just light your way forward.

Want to be a guest on Stories for the future: Beyond the Bubble? Send Veslemoy Klavenes-Berge a message on PodMatch.

You can always find more information about the podcast and my work on storiesforthefuture.com

Links referenced in this episode:

• time4wellbeing.com


• Reach out to Danielle on LinkedIn

For more on career change, impact work, Future Fluency and everything related to how we move towards a better future, head over to Stories for the Future on Substack!

Mentioned in this episode:

Thanks to Creative Space for supporting this episode! Visit getcreativespace.com

Get full access to Stories for the Future by Veslemøy Klavenes-Berge at vklavenes.substack.com/subscribe