The Breath of Life with Yulia Bogdanova

In this episode, Yulia talks with Nikos Nikolaou—writer, spearfisher, cyclist—about adventure not as an activity, but as a way of being. Nikos shares how engaging with wild places, physical challenge, and deep conversation brings him back to what feels real.

Chapters:

00:00 – What adventure means and why it matters

04:00 – Spearfishing explained: breath-holding, precision, and instinct

11:40 – The freshness of the real: what screens can’t replace

17:00 – Fulfillment, purpose, and feeding your family

22:30 – Weekend adventures as antidote to overload

28:00 – How conversation can also be an adventure

33:00 – Noticing tracks, following curiosity, and expanding awareness
 

🔗 Links & Resources:
→ Nikos on Substack: https://substack.com/@nikosnikolaou

Stay in touch:
→ The Breath of Life on Substack
https://yuliabogdanova.substack.com/about

→ Berlin Breath Walks
Slow walks using breath and forest presence to recalibrate your nervous system.
https://yuliabogdanova.substack.com/p/berlin-breath-walks

→ Nature Flow Lab
Outdoor, experiential sessions for teams to approach complex challenges through engaging with nature and a shift in mental state.
https://natureflowlab.com/

"Creativity feels like magic."

In this episode, Yulia and Birna explore the enchanting world of creativity, likening it to magic. Birna shares how belief, creativity, and repetition helped her recover from chronic pain after a car accident. We talk about the neuroscience behind placebo, the fear that blocks creative expression, and how nature and boredom can reignite imagination. 

We cover: 

00:00 – Belief, placebo, and the real magic of healing

06:30 – Birna’s recovery: creativity, repetition, and reprogramming pain

12:00 – Fear, identity, and why many don’t see themselves as creative

17:00 – Nature, sensory connection, and walking as a creative guide

23:30 – Accidents, unexpected gifts, and the neuroscience of change

30:00 – Limits, ceilings, and the fear of outgrowing what’s familiar

36:30 – Training creativity, daily practices, and finding your signal

🔗 Links & Resources:
→ Birna on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/birnadb/
→ Birna’s brainstorming app: https://www.bulby.com/

Stay in touch:
→ The Breath of Life (Substack)
Creating experiences of interconnectedness—with ourselves, others, and the world.
https://yuliabogdanova.substack.com/about

→ Berlin Breath Walks
Slow walks using breath and forest presence to recalibrate your nervous system.
https://yuliabogdanova.substack.com/p/berlin-breath-walks

→ Nature Flow Lab
Outdoor, experiential sessions for teams to approach complex challenges through engaging with nature and a shift in mental state.
https://natureflowlab.com/

"We are our relationships."

Yulia speaks with Monika Jiang about loneliness as a systemic issue, not a personal flaw. They explore how culture, tech, and work shape disconnection, why silence builds trust, and what the lost word “oneliness” reveals. Monika shares practices from the Oneliness Project and her Berlin community dinners.

Chapters:

00:00 Monika's Journey: Understanding Loneliness

04:50 The Misconception of Loneliness

07:15 Acknowledging Loneliness: A Shared Experience

09:04 Curiosity and Care: Approaching Loneliness

12:27 The Importance of Feeling: Slowing Down

14:50 Oneliness vs. Loneliness: A Linguistic Perspective

18:20 Interdependence in Everyday Life

22:59 The Roots of Loneliness: Technology and Environment

27:09 The Search for Connection in a Fast-Paced World

30:26 Work Culture and Its Impact on Loneliness

36:23 Navigating Technology and Loneliness

39:28 The Consequences of Loneliness in Society

46:06 Creating Community Through Shared Experiences

🔗 Links & Resources:
→ Monika on Substack: https://oneliness.substack.com/
→ The Oneliness Project: https://www.monikajiang.org/

Stay in touch:
→ The Breath of Life (Substack)
Creating experiences of interconnectedness—with ourselves, others, and the world.
https://yuliabogdanova.substack.com/about

→ Nature Flow Lab
Outdoor, experiential sessions for teams to approach complex challenges through engaging with nature and a shift in mental state.
https://natureflowlab.com/

→ Berlin Breath Walks
Slow walks using breath and forest presence to recalibrate your nervous system.
https://yuliabogdanova.substack.com/p/berlin-breath-walks

"Joy is the fuel. Without it, you burn out."

In this conversation, Nico Spreng shares his journey from corporate sustainability into regeneration, and the insights he’s gained along the way.

We talk about burnout, disillusionment, and why the will to change the world so often leads to exhaustion instead of impact. But also: how to come back to joy, meaning, and community.

We cover:

00:00 Introduction to Sustainability and Regeneration

04:17 Understanding ESG and Corporate Sustainability

08:27 The Shift from Sustainability to Regeneration

12:51 The Importance of Interconnectedness

17:08 Challenges in the Sustainability Field

21:05 Finding Joy and Community in Sustainability

25:34 Nico's Upcoming Adventure in Tanzania

🔗 Links & Resources: → Nico on Substack: https://nicospreng.substack.com/ → Nico on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nico-spreng/

Stay in touch: → The Breath of Life (Substack) Creating experiences of interconnectedness—with ourselves, others, and the world. https://yuliabogdanova.substack.com/about

→ Berlin Breath Walks Slow walks using breath and forest presence to recalibrate your nervous system. https://yuliabogdanova.substack.com/p/berlin-breath-walks

→ Nature Flow Lab Outdoor, experiential sessions for teams to approach complex challenges through engaging with nature and a shift in mental state. https://natureflowlab.com/

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Olivia Sayward shares how mushrooms offer more than medicine—they invite us into connection, wonder, and healing. From Amanita muscaria to forest foraging, we explore how fungi help us transform, reconnect, and remember our place in the web of life.

We cover:

01:24 Olivia's Journey

04:30 The Fascination with Mushrooms

08:48 Medicinal Benefits of Mushrooms

12:53 Mushrooms as Connectors in Nature

17:23 Connecting with Mushrooms

21:36 Practical Ways to Engage with Mushrooms

26:06 Conclusion and Future Endeavors

🔗 Links & Resources: → Olivia on Substack: https://oliviasayward.substack.com/ → White Rabbit Journeys: https://whiterabbitjourneys.com

Stay in touch: → The Breath of Life (Substack) Creating experiences of interconnectedness—with ourselves, others, and the world. https://yuliabogdanova.substack.com/about

→ Berlin Breath Walks Slow walks using breath and forest presence to recalibrate your nervous system. https://yuliabogdanova.substack.com/p/berlin-breath-walks

→ Nature Flow Lab Outdoor, experiential sessions for teams to approach complex challenges through engaging with nature and a shift in mental state. https://natureflowlab.com/00:00 Introduction to Magnificent Mushrooms

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In this conversation, Marius Müller shares how shifting our mindset around water changes how we grow food, design cities, and reconnect with life. From cooling soil to rethinking control, in this episode, we explore how to invite water back into our ecosystems—and ourselves.

We cover: • Why “adding water” isn’t the solution • Creating conditions where water wants to stay • How agroforestry supports long-term regeneration • A simple practice to connect with water (at 23:00 min)

🔗 Links & Resources:

→ Marius on Substack: https://substack.com/@mariusregreendeserts→ Agroforestry.Community channel on Telegram: https://t.me/+mx-E9jE5Lm43OTAy

→ Regreening the desert video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDgDWbQtlKI&t=343s

Stay in touch:

→ The Breath of Life (Substack)Creating experiences of interconnectedness—with ourselves, others, and the world.https://yuliabogdanova.substack.com/about

→ Berlin Breath Walks Slow walks using breath and forest presence to recalibrate your nervous system.https://yuliabogdanova.substack.com/p/berlin-breath-walks

→ Nature Flow LabOutdoor, experiential sessions for teams to approach complex challenges through engaging with nature and a shift in mental state.https://natureflowlab.com/

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