MindFolk: Human Creativity and Mindful Innovation, in a Podcast. Host Brian Pagán talks with scientists, artists, philosophers, and designers about how to build a more compassionate world. We discuss topics like human experience (UX) design, empathy, storytelling, ethics, privacy, and creativity.
How can love help us create sustainable change? Ghada Alaa Hamdy shares how she does it, both in the humanitarian sector and at home. "We're trying really to experience coexistence in a practical way." See the shownotes & transcript on our website References Ghada's LinkedIn Profile Bahá'í faith and community Topics Communication, Love, Psychological Safety, Culture, Growth, Bahá'í, Service, Harassment, Gender, Social Justice, Change Management, Inclusion Let's Talk Twitter | Instagram | Send Brian a voice message --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mindfolkpod/message
Some of humanity's most creative works come from an 'outside' perspective. Cíntia Taylor is one of those talented outsiders who moves fluidly between worlds while examining the spaces between them. "If you're not the default, you... need support." Read the episode transcript See the shownotes on our website Cíntia Taylor cintiataylor.com | taylored.eu | LinkedIn | Instagram References Clinch (film) Amélie Onzon Youval Kuipers Your Hair is Cute (film) Débora Santiago SAE Institute Brené Brown Transactional Analysis Topics Screenwriting, Improv, Creative Process, Race, Identity, Home, Imposter Syndrome, Shame, Trauma, Vulnerability Let's Talk Twitter | Instagram | Send us a voice message --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mindfolkpod/message
At any given moment in life, we can either do (take action) or be (simply exist). And we're closest to our true purpose when we can move between those states mindfully. Let's practice this together! "One of the foundations of [do-be-do] is actually taking the time and the silence to be for a moment and to connect." Read the episode transcript See the shownotes on our website People The Upgrade Society The Upgrade Society's Website Thomas Swaak The Essentialist Website Sujith Ravindran Sujith's Website Rolf van Haren Rolf van Haren @ LinkedIn References VUCA: volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity The Hero's Journey Topics Creativity, VUCA, Leadership, Mindfulness, Activism, Non-judgement, Meaningful Value, Ego Let's Talk Twitter | Instagram | Send us a voice message --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mindfolkpod/message
It's not easy to sashay between two worlds, but it can be incredibly rewarding. Sherin Wafaai examines with us her practice for turning anger into compassion, the importance of our own boundaries, and transforming trauma into purpose. ⚠️ This one goes to a dark place not suitable for kids... "Where there is no love, put love, and then there will be love." Read the episode transcript See the shownotes on our website Sherin Wafaai Instagram | Sherin's LinkedIn Profile | Healers & Guides References Conscious Leadership with Jim Dethmer Topics Compassion, Leadership, Trauma, Healing, Love, Empathy, UX, Design, Creative Career, Shame, Grace, Boundaries Let's Talk Twitter | Instagram | Send us a voice message --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mindfolkpod/message
No organization or company survives 19 years by accident. Goran Mrvoš opens up about how being in nature helps him nurture his own, and his company's, emotional intelligence, grit, and enthusiasm for experimentation. "Being young in your soul is not a matter of age, but of mindset. " Read the episode transcript See the shownotes on our website Goran Mrvoš Instagram | Goran's LinkedIn Profile | Infosit Website | Apprais.ly Topics Remote Work, Company Culture, Nature, Employee Assessment, Creativity, Empathy, App Engagement, Emotional Intelligence, Psychological Safety, Digital Detox, Barter Deals Let's Talk Twitter | Instagram | Send us a voice message --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mindfolkpod/message
Within each of us resides at least one fundamental paradox: a contradiction that makes us who we uniquely are. Adedana Ashebir shares with us how her paradoxes fuel her journey toward self-compassion, her relationships with friends & family, and her career in venture capital, empowering overlooked entrepreneurs. "The PhD-level [of empathy] is: how to have grace for other people, when they don't have grace for you ." Read the episode transcript See the shownotes on our website Adedana Ashebir Instagram | Twitter | @Afracanah on Insta | Afracanah on Twitter | Village Capital Topics Grace, Imposter Syndrome, Love, Empathy, Theater, Faith, Collective Trauma, Race, Investment Capital, Entrepreneurship, Stress Let's Talk Twitter | Instagram | Send us a voice message --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mindfolkpod/message
The worst crisis inspires the most meaningful change. Abdalla Shaheen shares with Brian the story of his own crisis, finding love in the Sinai, getting married via Google Translate, and experiencing Bedouin superpowers first-hand. "You are here on a training mission to learn how to tame your ego." Read the episode transcript See the shownotes on our website Abdalla Shaheen E-mail Address References The Purpose of Life by Jeffrey Lang Habiba Community Farm Topics Spirituality, Religion, Transformation, Ego, Love, Natural Living, Compassion, Relationships, Sustainability Let's Talk Twitter | Instagram | Send us a voice message --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mindfolkpod/message
Interaction designers often transition into other creative roles, and Karin Ackerholm is no exception. She talks with Brian about having curiosity as a superpower, learning empathy from immigrants, and dedicating her career to making the world more sustainable for all of us. "Should we spend our funding on things that make the world better or worse?" Read the episode transcript See the shownotes on our website Karin Ackerholm LinkedIn profile | University bio References Brainpickings: Paula Scher on Combinatorial Creativity Topics Sustainability, Innovation, Sustainable Business, Refugees, Comfort in Discomfort, Curiosity, Relationship-Building, Creative Career, Stress, Self-Care, Empathy Let's Talk Twitter | Instagram | Send us a voice message --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mindfolkpod/message
We each face challenges differently, and no one has faced 2020's challenges like Joost MF Liebregts. He shares with Brian the story of how he successfully pivoted his business, and they discuss the happy intersection between sustainability and good business. "It's an erosion of status quo that makes change happen."
From romance novels to board games to The Washington Post, Chiara Vercesi's creative career is far from 'standard.' In this conversation, she takes Brian on a journey from introducing Grandma to homosexuality to having an agent in New York and co-founding Sail Ho Studio. "I prefer harsh reality over comfortable lies."
As we experiment with different formats, Brian presents our first MindSnack, a short monologue on a topic he finds interesting. This one is about privacy. Rather than a limitation, Brian sees privacy as an opportunity to build a trusting, healthy relationship with our customers or audience. He outlines the GDPR's three most important concepts and lays out an ethical framework for Privacy by Design, all in less than 10 minutes. "A healthy relationship between ourselves and our customers relies on fair value exchange."
In this wild interview, Brian speaks with Melanja Palitta: dancer, filmmaker, painter, photographer, yoga instructor, and all-around creative powerhouse. Their conversation about creativity quickly veers off into a thesis on Melanja's trifocal model of human emotion. "The law of love is able to go beyond."