Wonderspace

An engine for ambitious collaboration, in service of Melbourne.In this Wonderspace Podcast we orbit over Melbourne in Australia which is the home to our guest Kaj Lofgren. Kaj is the CEO of Regen Melbourne, an alliance of more than 200 organisations that exists to drive ambitious, systemic and collaborative projects towards a regenerative future. He is also the Director of Labs at Small Giants Academy where he co-created the Mastery of Business and Empathy and Impact Safari."Melbourne needed a series of earth shots or wildly ambitious projects that could raise the ambition, so that we stop doing just what is possible and start thinking about what could be done if systems were to change around us.”Regen Melbourne → https://www.regen.melbourne/Kaj's hopeful story featured Rob Shorter at the Doughnut Economics Action Lab - another source of regenerative wisdom and insight.→ https://doughnuteconomics.orgKaj was nominated by our 116th guest Ollie Pelling who was nominated by our 36th guest Tamsin Jones.

This week on the Wonderspace Podcast we orbit over Malta where we find our guest Jonathan Mizzi.Jonathan is the founder of Mizzi studios, an award winning nature inspired architecture and design practice dedicated to mapping out a resilient and sustainable future through climate responsive design solutions."I started to dive deeper into planetary science and permaculture and how we look at architecture from a much deeper interconnected system”.In this episode Jonathan talks about a recent commission to design one of the worlds first permanent carbon pavilions set within a carbon garden at the Royal Botanical Institute of Kew which will be opening this summer.He finishes this fascinating interview with advice for anyone pursuing architecture as a career.Jonathan was nominated by curator and consultant Vanessa Norwood who you can hear in EP120.Find out more: https://www.mizzi.co/

This week on the Wonderspace Podcast we orbit with Mahak Agrawal. An urban planner, climate science and sustainability expert living in Delhi. Mahak is also the founder of the creative consultancy All Bits Count or ABC which was launched during COP29 in Baku. What began as a personal journey to make climate science more accessible has now evolved into a collective of changemakers using art, science, tech, and humour to demystify sustainability challenges and promote tangible solutions.

For our first Wonderspace orbit of 2025, we welcome clown, comedian, actor, and writer Dan Fox from Brooklyn, New York. Beyond his work as a performer, Dan is part of the team at The Light Phone, a minimalist phone company on a mission to give us back our time and attention.

For our last Wonderspace episode of 2024, we orbit with Dr. Zorana Ivcevic Pringle, a senior research scientist at Yale and author of The Creativity Choice which is released next year. How do you bring ideas out of our minds and into the world?  Is Creativity a trait we are born with or the fruit of a decision that we make again and again? Through her work, Zorana unlocks the secrets of transforming ideas into impactful action, emphasising the choices and emotions that drive creative breakthroughs.  From her roots in Eastern Europe to her experiences studying creativity, Zorana brings a unique perspective on how we can harness our potential to create meaningful change. Check out Zorana's hopeful story about Elif Gokcigdem, a visionary leader fostering empathy and cross-disciplinary collaboration through the “One” movement. Newsletter: https://creativitydecision.substack.com Personal website: https://www.zorana-ivcevic-pringle.com/ Book, available for preorder: https://tinyurl.com/thecreativitychoice ONE: Organization of Networks for Empathy https://oneempathynetwork.com/about-us #WonderspacePodcast #ZoranaIvcevicPringle #TheCreativityChoice #EmpathyInAction #SustainableFuture #HopeInspiration #WonderAndAction

“How do we become more connected to real life, to be more curious, to be more compassionate, and how do we look for the wonderful? And how do we just say ‘Wow' a bit more?” This week on the Wonderspace Podcast we're thrilled to share the inspiring journey of Jenny Natusch, founder of Escape to Make, a charity that's redefining how young people connect with themselves, their communities, and the world around them. Jenny's story is a powerful reminder of the impact of creativity, connection and purpose.From a childhood spent in the Middle East to a career that's spanned art, television, and now community transformation, Jenny's story is one of curiosity, reinvention, and a deep commitment to helping others thrive. Through Escape to Make, she's creating safe spaces where teenagers can break free from life's pressures and rediscover the joy of making, doing, and belonging.Here's what's in the episode: How her upbringing in Qatar and Abu Dhabi shaped her love for change and wonder. The twists and turns of a career led by creativity, including the founding of Escape 2 Make. Why projects that support teenagers to unplug and reconnect are more vital than ever. Jenny's fascination with sand and muddy puddles—proof that the smallest things can hold the greatest wonders. A heartfelt tribute to the late Andy Palfreyman, whose incredible story of resilience and creativity continues to inspire.

In this week's Wonderspace episode, we orbit with creative Matt Golding, a filmmaker and co-founder of Rubber Republic and Antidote. Through the Antidote platform, Matt is on a mission to elevate hopeful stories of resilience and community, showing how local efforts can inspire global impact. Here's what's in the episode: How Matt's upbringing near the Thames inspired a lifelong commitment to storytelling and social change. The story behind Antidote, a platform dedicated to sharing stories of positive futures and community action. Insights into Sea, Land & City, a documentary showcasing sustainable projects in the southwest of England. An inspiring look at the community of Lawrence Weston, transforming their neighbourhood with projects in renewable energy, housing, and local business.

In this week's episode, we embark on a powerful conversation with Jon Salmon, a social impact consultant and mental health campaigner, who has dedicated his life to breaking down barriers in mental health and inspiring hope. Jon's story takes us from London's winter challenges to the sunny shores of Cape Town, where he finds moments of peace and connection with family. He opens up about the challenges of supporting mental health amidst public funding cuts and shares how movements like Heads Together and Red January bring people together to tackle stigma and create real change. Here's what's in the episode:• Why Cape Town has become Jon's place of renewal and connection. • His journey as a mental health advocate and the personal struggles that sparked his mission. • How the Red January movement transformed his perspective on the “January blues.” • Inspiring stories from organisations like Let's Talk About Loss that bring support and community to those grieving.

In this week's episode, we orbit around the natural world with Fergus Collins, the creator and host of the award-winning BBC Countryfile Magazine podcast. Fergus shares his deep connection to the Wessex Downs, a landscape steeped in ancient history and home to abundant wildlife.From his passion for slowing down to experience nature, to his stories of hope through re-wilding and conservation, Fergus reminds us that even in times of crisis, the natural world offers moments of awe and inspiration.Here's what's in the episode:• Why Wessex Downs holds a special place in Fergus' heart.• His personal journey from BBC Wildlife to creating an immersive podcast on nature's sounds.• How fishing has become his peaceful place to recharge.• The hopeful impact of wildlife photographer and presenter Hamza Ahmed Yassin.

On the Wonderspace podcast this week we orbit to a small island on the north east of Lake Victoria in the waters of Kenya. Mfangano Island is the home to 20.000 people where we find our amazing guest Vincent Ogweno. Vincent is an academic pursuing a PhD in geography focussing on addressing food security challenges and the impact of climate change and agricultural practices.Vincent is also co-founder and project director of a community based organisation called Train my generation who work with and train the community on issues such as Climate change, women's health, environmental regeneration and community micro-finance.On this episode Vincent talks about an ambitious scientific and research expedition called Save Lake Victoria which will be taking place in 2025. A 1.000km expedition to visit key restoration projects and shed light on the crisis and the regenerative investment opportunities that can play such a powerful role in the lake's revitalisation.Vincent was nominated by our 115th guest on Wonderspace Mark Haviland.Find out more:https://www.trainmygeneration.org/https://www.trainmygeneration.org/expedition-sail-lake-victoriaTo view the episode page with a summary of the interview, links to social media and projects mentioned, go to https://ourwonder.space/episodes/_140

This week on the Wonderspace podcast we ask our six questions to Esther Knight. Esther is the founder of an independent sustainable fashion house called Fanfare Label who are leading the way for circularity and positive change. They were recently featured in Elle Magazine as a British brand you should know about and are winners of various sustainable design awards. “It's often difficult being the first one doing these kind of projects but that's how you create real change. We have managed to produce our own jeans that are ethically made in Portugal, save 92% of water compared to conventional denim, have no hazardous chemicals and have an eco washing process. These jeans are made from the waste that can't be reused”. Find out more:https://fanfarelabel.com/ To view the episode page with a summary of the interview, links to social media and projects mentioned, go to https://ourwonder.space/episodes/_139

This week on Wonderspace we ask our six questions to Caroline Casey. An award-winning social entrepreneur and activist who's passion is to release the social and economic potential of the 1.3 billion people in the world with a disability. Her own story is extraordinary from finding out she was legally blind only at the age of 17 years old, to her decision at 28 to leave her job with Accenture and trek across India solo on an elephant to raise inclusivity awareness.Today as the founder of Valuable500, Caroline is leading a disability inclusion revolution by positioning disability on the global business leadership agenda. Since launching in 2019 over 500 companies have put disability inclusion on the leadership agenda and made a commitment to action but as you will hear, they have only just got started.Thanks to the brilliant Charlotte Armstrong for her role in making this interview happen.Find out more:https://www.thevaluable500.com/ https://www.instagram.com/thevaluable500/ To view the episode page with a summary of the interview, links to social media and projects mentioned, go to https://ourwonder.space/episodes/_138

This week on the Wonderspace Podcast we ask our six questions to Dr Danbee Kim. A Korean-American neuroscientist and performance artist. They use music, theatre games, robotics and graphic novels to teach neuroscience to humans of all ages. Danbee's PhD in Neuroscience developed a framework for bringing research out of the lab and into daily life. This has led to work alongside people like Sarah Corbett from the Craftivist Collective who was one of the first guests on Wonderspace. Find out more:https://www.danbeekim.org/ To view the episode page with a summary of the interview, links to social media and projects mentioned, go to https://ourwonder.space/episodes/_137

This week on Wonderspace we ask our six questions to Heather Mak who is a Toronto-based sustainability advisor and the co-founder of Diversity in Sustainability. DIS is a network dedicated to equipping current and future Black, Indigenous and People of Colour sustainability leaders with the skills, networks and resources to accelerate the transition to a sustainable and just world. Heather was nominated by a previous guest on Wonderspace Lorraine B Smith who you can hear on Ep109.“We need to embrace different ways of thinking and being and make sure what we do centres on the people most affected by our actions, going beyond mere consultation”.Find out more:https://heathermakconsulting.com/ https://www.diversityinsustainability.com/ To view the episode page with a summary of the interview, links to social media and projects mentioned, go to https://ourwonder.space/episodes/_136

This week on the Wonderspace Podcast we head to Brooklyn and ask our six questions to Caledonia Curry also known as Swoon. Callie is a contemporary artist and filmmaker who became widely known as the first woman to gain large-scale recognition in the male-dominated world of street art. Her work can be frequently seen in streets worldwide and has also been showcased in renowned art institutions.Callie is also the founder of the Heliotrope Foundation which helps communities respond and heal after natural disasters and other urgent social crisis. They believe that the creative process can and should be part of how we heal, rebuild, and move forward.“As an artist, I'm somebody who loves to look at a situation and go, ‘really, are you sure'? And then start digging into it and being like, how can this be more just or more fun or more ridiculous or more beautiful or more cooperative? I often find a way to use creativity to go into a situation like that and like turn the soil and see what's needed”.Find out more:www.swoonstudio.org https://www.heliotropefoundation.org https://www.instagram.com/swoonhq To view the episode page with a summary of the interview, links to social media and projects mentioned, go to https://ourwonder.space/episodes/_135

This week on the Wonderspace Podcast we ask our six questions to Jacqueline Lim. A strategist and certified coach focused on advancing equity and a regenerative future for all. Jacq is currently an Associate with the Finance Innovation Lab and has recently worked with clients such as Natwest Bank, Partners for a New Economy and A Blueprint for Better Business."I found myself in 2019 really immersed in so many questions about self and about my work. Questions like, 'What really is a systems change?' 'How do systems actually change?' And crucially, ‘What's mine to do in systems change?' I've gathered so many answers since that time, one of the answers being systems change is actually deeply personal. It's not just about the outward change."In her story of hopefulness Jacq promotes the work of Possible Futures who are starting their next cohort. Intro to Decolonial Sustainability course. One of the facilitators is one of our previous guests on WS Lorraine B Smith. The application deadline is 3rd June.https://www.possiblefutures.earth/decsust For more införmation on the Finance Innovation Lab: https://financeinnovationlab.org To view the episode page with a summary of the interview, links to social media and projects mentioned, go to https://ourwonder.space/episodes/_134

This week on the Wonderspace Podcast we ask our six questions to Vlad Glaveanu who is a Professor in the School of Psychology at Dublin City University. He is also the Founder and President of the Possibility Studies Network which brings together academics, researchers and practitioners dedicated to the study of human possibility. Topics include creativity, imagination, innovation and of course wonder which is the title of one of Vlad's books.“What motivates me is this fascination with the possible, with what is possible in our lives and the lives of others. WONDER was the missing link between creativity and the possible because for me it's the experience that opens your mind to the world in such a different way.”Find out more:https://www.possibilitystudies.net https://www.vladglaveanu.com To view the episode page with a summary of the interview, links to social media and projects mentioned, go to https://ourwonder.space/episodes/_133

This week on the Wonderspace Podcast, we ask our six questions to Jacky Youldon, the Founder and Director of RunningSpace, whose mission is to champion life and combat suicide, one step at a time. Jacky struggled with suicidal thoughts following a lifetime of self-harm and eventually attempted to take her own life. From this experience, RunningSpace was born, and in 2019, Jacky was awarded the BBC Unsung Sporting Hero award for her life-saving running groups."A friend said to me, 'When you run, you're the pioneer of the prevention of suicide.' I thought that was ridiculous, and I cried and asked what I should do about that. 'Just start running,' she said, 'and people will follow you.'”More info: www.runningspace.org Jacky also promotes the National Suicide Prevention Alliance which has 1,800 members. https://nspa.org.uk To view the episode page with a summary of the interview, links to social media and projects mentioned, go to https://ourwonder.space/episodes/_132

This week on the Wonderspace Podcast we welcome Joey Cuthbert. Joey is currently Head of Engagement for Impact Dance who are an art for social change organisation empowering young people through dance training, mentoring and national and international performances. Joey is also the chair of the board at SportCheer England which is the national governing body for cheerleading in England, one of the fastest-growing sports in the UK with nearly 90.000 participants.“The thread of everything I've done in my life has really been about how I can empower young people to be impact leaders”?For more:https://impactdance.co.uk/ https://www.sportcheerengland.org/ To view the episode page with a summary of the interview, links to social media and projects mentioned, go to https://ourwonder.space/episodes/_131

This week on the Wonderspace Podcast we ask our six questions to Dr Julian Abel. Julian is a retired palliative care physician and the Director of Compassionate Communities UK whose vision is to see a world where people's natural gifts of compassion, togetherness and equity are more powerful than medicine alone. Julian hosts a podcast called Survival of the Kindest and was nominated by a previous guest on Wonderspace Jennifer Nadel from Compassion in Politics.“Good social relationships are more effective at stopping us dying than giving up smoking, drinking, diet, exercise and anything else you care to mention.”More info: https://compassionate-communitiesuk.com To view the episode page with a summary of the interview, links to social media and projects mentioned, go to https://ourwonder.space/episodes/_130

This week on the Wonderspace Podcast we orbit with Joyce Kamande in Kenya. Joyce is a social entrepreneur passionate about improving food security and livelihoods of small-scale farmers across Africa. She is a co-founder of Safi Organics, a company that converts farmers' crop waste to high-yielding organic fertilizers, breathing vitality back into African soils and transforming people's livelihoods in the process. An amazing person and business nominated by a previous guest on Wonderspace Prudence Muchinouta (EP92).Joyce's hopeful story is about the first African woman to receive the Nobel Prize, Wangari Maathai who founded the Greenbelt movement.To find out more: www.safiorganics.co.ke To view the episode page with a summary of the interview, links to social media and projects mentioned, go to https://ourwonder.space/episodes/_129

This week on the Wonderspace Podcast we orbit with musician Eliza Marshall. A flautist working with some of the biggest names in global music. She has performed with orchestras, on film soundtracks and numerous albums, and also curates new music, documentaries and artwork with her company Freedom to roam.More info: www.elizamarshall.com + https://www.freedomtoroam.earth/ To view the episode page with a summary of the interview, links to social media and projects mentioned, go to https://ourwonder.space/episodes/_128

This week on Wonderspace we orbit with Chris Duffy. In 2002, Chris started Duffy London, a design studio devoted to combining art and function. They concept and create unique innovative furniture, lighting, and interiors using fully sustainable and recycled materials and packaging. His work has been exhibited around the world and is also part of the permanent National Collection at The Louve in Paris. In this episode Chris talks about his latest bamboo water taxi venture.More info: www.duffylondon.comTo view the episode page with a summary of the interview, links to social media and projects mentioned, go to https://ourwonder.space/episodes/_127

This week on the Wonderspace Podcast we orbit with Piers Linney. Piers is an entrepreneur and investor with experience across a range of sectors including technology, media, and communications. He is co-founder of Atherton Bikes, and the co-founder of Implement AI​ which is focused on intelligent business transformation through the power of artificial intelligence. Piers is a champion of entrepreneurship and is known as a former Dragon investor on BBC's Dragons' Den. "Another thing I'm very passionate about is working on diversity inclusion so that people like me don't have such a difficult journey to get from where they are to where they'd like to be. I think ambition is evenly distributed but access to capital, mentors, guidance, and financial capital as well as social capital is not. We have to try and change that." More info: pierslinney.com. In his story of hopefulness Piers talked about Charles Black and the Space Exploration Network and you can find out more at SEN.com To view the episode page with a summary of the interview, links to social media and projects mentioned, go to https://ourwonder.space/episodes/_126

This week on the Wonderspace Podcast we are going to dive into nature-inspired innovation also known as Biomimicry. A practice that mimics the strategies found in nature to solve human design challenges.Our guest this week is the Founder and Creative Director of the Biomimicry Innovation Lab, Richard James MacCowan who works with innovators and designers to develop future possibilities inspired by nature. With a focus on the future of cities, agriculture and manufacturing, the Lab's mission is to develop regenerative innovations fit for the challenges of now and the future.More info: www.biomimicryinnovationlab.com To view the episode page with a summary of the interview, links to social media and projects mentioned, go to https://ourwonder.space/episodes/_125

This week on the Wonderspace Podcast we orbit with adventurer, expedition leader and speaker Oli France.He is a specialist in leading groups through the world's wildest places such as Iraq, Somalia, Congo and Siberia. In this Wonderspace orbit Oli talks about his latest multi year project The ultimate seven, a world first quest to journey from the lowest point in each continent to the highest entirely by human power"I will be travelling entirely by human power on foot, by bike, rowing and on skis and will be travelling around 13,000 miles through 20 countries. I'm just back from the first leg in Africa which was a five week journey that included 1600 miles of cycling through extreme 45 degrees heat and some hostility but I made it to the end."More info: www.wildedge.co To view the episode page with a summary of the interview, links to social media and projects mentioned, go to https://ourwonder.space/episodes/_124

This week on the Wonderspace Podcast we orbit with Edwina Kulego in New York who is the Vice President of International and Business Development at Informa Markets Fashion. Edwina is also on the board of the Vegan Fashion Week based out of Los Angeles and was nominated by the founder of Style House Files and Lagos Fashion Week, Omoyemi Akerele who you can hear in EP 60."I got the opportunity to travel to Portugal to meet with the brand and to see how the shoes were actually made because I could not believe that sneakers were made from Apple skins. It just shows you how creative human beings are and how much we are willing to find new creative solutions to make the world a better place”More info: www.edwinakulego.com and www.veganfashionweek.org To view the episode page with a summary of the interview, links to social media and projects mentioned, go to https://ourwonder.space/episodes/_123

This week on the Wonderspace Podcast we orbit with two entrepreneurs Joey Li and Thuta Khin. After meeting at business school Joey and Thuta founded Leiho with a mission to help improve the quality of life for people experiencing homelessness through the Leiho eco-consious store. Joey and Thuta were nominated by Joshua Coombes who was featured in Episode 79 on Wonderspace"We formulated a business model around socks that give back to local vulnerable communities, we do whatever it takes to make a difference”.For more info: www.leiho.co.uk To view the episode page with a summary of the interview, links to social media and projects mentioned, go to https://ourwonder.space/episodes/_122

This week on the Wonderspace Podcast we orbit with Anthea Stephenson who transitioned from a career in the corporate world and Michelin-starred kitchens and is now pioneering regenerative agricultural solutions, reshaping the narrative on food security, tech and climate resilience."We're developing tools and technologies for cross-sector collaboration and co-investment in regenerative and restorative activities. We're working to put farmers, the stewards at the heart of the solution with progressive contracting that fosters equality and replenishment.”For more info: www.buildingwillow.com To view the episode page with a summary of the interview, links to social media and projects mentioned, go to https://ourwonder.space/episodes/_121

This week on the Wonderspace Podcast we orbit with Vanessa Norwood. Vanessa is a curator and cultural strategist for the built environment. Her work focuses on the central role materials play in building a more sustainable and equitable world.“The built environment is responsible for almost 40% of the Earth's carbon emissions. So it's a really interesting and important time to be part of this journey”Vanessa was nominated by architect and author Marwa Al-Sabouni who engaged with our six questions from her home in Homs in Syria which you can hear in ep78More info: www.vanessanorwood.com Her story of hopefulness is the work of Homegrown Plus who are dedicated to improving diversity within architecture and the creative industries. A special shout out to Neil Pinder!To view the episode page with a summary of the interview, links to social media and projects mentioned, go to https://ourwonder.space/episodes/_120

This week on the Wonderspace Podcast we orbit with Julia Lynch who is the Founder and CEO of Global Girl Project. Global Girl Project works in 13 countries mobilising the most marginalised girls throughout the global south to become agents of social change through community development and social action initiatives. Julia was nominated by Brita Fernandez Shmidt who is a transformational coach and an ambassador for Women for Women International. Her Wonderspace episode is number #67 More information: https://www.globalgirlproject.org/ To view the episode page with a summary of the interview, links to social media and projects mentioned, go to https://ourwonder.space/episodes/_119

For the first Wonderspace of our fourth year, we orbit with Carwyn Hill who is the co-founder of Hope Health Action, an NGO building long-term partnerships with local communities and health systems in countries such as Haiti, Sudan and Uganda. Carwyn also sits on the board of End Poverty 2030 and was awarded an MBE this year for services to international healthcare.Carwyn was nominated by Ben Solanky from Empathy Action who you can hear on EP 58More information: www.hopehealthaction.org To view the episode page with a summary of the interview, links to social media and projects mentioned, go to https://ourwonder.space/episodes/_118

For our last Wonderspace Podcast before a summer break we orbit with Dr Renee Lertzman who is based in San Francsico. Renee is an internationally recognized researcher, educator, thought leader and adviser, who uses psychological insights to unlock action on global climate and environmental crises.She works with organisations around the world and has a real passion for the upstream work of supporting conveners and facilitators.Find out more: www.reneelertzman.com Renee's TED Talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/renee_lertzman_how_to_turn_climate_anxiety_into_action To view the episode page with a summary of the interview, links to social media and projects mentioned, go to https://ourwonder.space/episodes/_117

This week on Wonderspace we orbit with Oliver Pelling in Melbourne. Ollie is the Editor in chief at Adventure.com and is the Founder and Director of Good and Proper who provide comms and content to purpose driven organisations helping them move their audiences towards action for people and planet. Ollie was nominated by Tamsin Jones (EP36)"I'd already worked with purpose driven organisations, but that really became the line in the sand for me to decide that I only only wanted to work with companies that are looking to fix the problems we're facing. Whether that's climate, communities, mental health, overconsumption I wanted 100% of my time to be spent working with those kinds of organisations”.More info: goodandproper.coTo view the episode page with a summary of the interview, links to social media and projects mentioned, go to https://ourwonder.space/episodes/_116

This week on Wonderspace we orbit with Mark Haviland who after many years in the corporate world, founded Conscious Careers, inspiring young people to start a career with the world in mind. Mark is also the Vice-chair of the Marine Conservation Society and advisor to Train my generation in Kenya.“I went into schools and realised that the awareness of what's going on in the world today was pretty minimal and what awareness there was, was pretty fearful. The relevance of the classroom to the outside lived experience was barely there and so kids are coming into the world today without a real understanding of the landscape. There is so much room for optimism and yet it's not apparent.”More info: https://www.consciouscareers.co.uk To view the episode page with a summary of the interview, links to social media and projects mentioned, go to https://ourwonder.space/episodes/_115

This week's Wonderspace comes from a conference in Madrid where last week over 220 people came together around the issue of statelessness organised by the European Network on Statelessness in collaboration with Fundación Cepaim.Statelessness is an issue that impacts over half a million people in Europe and many millions globally which you can hear more about in our 100th Wonderspace episode with the amazing Christiana Bukalo from Statefree.Someone described this issue of statelessness as the 'phenomenon of invisibility' and so being at this conference was for us at Wonderspace about keeping the issue visible by signposting to people, organisations and networks who are leading the way in this complex issue. We did this in Madrid by capturing short stories of hopefulness from 24 amazing people and organisations working in the stateless arena.To find out more go to the website of the European Network on Statelessness where you will also find a link to member organisations from across Europe. Their web link is www.Statelessness.eu. To view the episode page with a summary of the interview, links to social media and projects mentioned, go to https://ourwonder.space/episodes/_114

This week on Wonderspace we orbit with Kemo Camara. For the past 20 years, Kemo has lived, studied, and worked in cities across Africa, North America and Europe. He has founded startups, built non-profits and played various leadership roles in community organisations.In 2019 he founded Omek whose mission is to amplify the talent, voices and energy of biculturals of African descent through programs and access to a diverse talent pool. This has led to partnerships with some of the world's leading brands such as Patagonia, Adidas and Google."You have a gift, you have a superpower and that's your bicultural identity. You have this African side of you but you also belong to this Western culture. Your ability to integrate these two cultures within your identity and leveraging your social capital, your human capital, your financial capital, your political capital, your philanthropy in connection with other like-minded people, there's nothing you won't be able to do.” (Kemo Q2)#Africa #bicultural #creatives #communitywww.myomek.com To view the episode page with a summary of the interview, links to social media and projects mentioned, go to https://ourwonder.space/episodes/_113

If you were forced to live on the streets what would you do with your belongings and important documents?This week on Wonderspace we orbit with Rachel Woolf who is the founder and Director of an award-winning charity Street Storage which provides free accessible and safe storage for hundreds of people experiencing homelessness."I said to Islington Council, where I lived at the time, 'If you give me a building, I think I can fill it in about three weeks', I filled it in three days and so I knew there was a real need.”www.streetstorage.org To view the episode page with a summary of the interview, links to social media and projects mentioned, go to https://ourwonder.space/episodes/_112

This is one of the most remarkable stories you will ever hear!This week on the Wonderspace Podcast we orbit with Mostafa Salameh who was born in Kuwait to Palestinian refugee parents and went on to become the first Palestinian-Jordanian to climb Mount Everest. He is one of only 20 people to ever climb the Seven Summits and conquer the South Pole and the North Pole - known as the ‘Explorers Grand Slam. Today Mostafa is a professional mountain climber, speaker and author who has raised over 6 million dollars for various non-profits.To find out more about the work and story of Mostafa go to www.mostafasalameh.com #Adventure #Mountains #Wonder #Jordan #Everest #BeliefTo view the episode page with a summary of the interview, links to social media and projects mentioned, go to https://ourwonder.space/episodes/_111

This week the Wonderspace Podcast comes from Amsterdam where last week, 1,200 business leaders came together from around the world for the B for Good Leaders Summit. A summit that exists to accelerate the transition towards a regenerative economy which will create social, environmental and economic net positive value.In this 25 min Wonderspace episode, over 40 delegates share their story of hopefulness (not their own) about a person, business or non-profit doing amazing things for the world. I want to thank the B for Good Leaders team, especially to Leen Zevenbergen, Marcello Palazzi and Francine Lemos.More info: www.bforgoodleaders.org Here are links to some of the stories of hopefulness:https://www.wildling.shoes/ https://www.cookfood.net/ https://shop.petitpli.com/ https://www.regenerativeleadership.co/ https://eu.patagonia.com/ https://davinesgroup.com/ https://www.pharmaccess.org/ https://artha.ventures/ https://impacthub.net/ https://www.instock.nl/ https://www.science-by-trianon.com/ https://eom.org/team-bruno-roche https://www.rrreefs.com/ https://apolitical.co/home/ https://www.wy4cj.org/ https://www.oneyoungworld.com/ https://greenpop.org/ https://www.fairphone.com/ https://paperontherocks.com/ https://indie-consulting.com/ https://www.youthtopia.world/ https://kiteinsights.com/ https://trueprice.org/ https://www.greyston.org/brownies-with-purpose/ To view the episode page with a summary of the interview, links to social media and projects mentioned, go to https://ourwonder.space/episodes/_110

This week on Wonderspace we orbit with B. Lorraine Smith who is an independent researcher, writer and guide on the path to industrial healing. Her vision is an economy that works in service of life where all industrial activities make people and ecosystems healthier. Lorraine builds on decades of experience in corporate sustainability across numerous industries and regions and was nominated by our 61st guest on Wonderspace Cora Olson from Copenhagen who described Lorraine as a 'massive inspiration'. "I serve a corporate mischief role, a court jester to the industrial complex, and I invite others to come along and see reality as it is right now and imagine it as it could be working in service of life”. Lorraine was nominated by our 61st guest on Wonderspace Cora Olsen from Better Energy in Copenhagen who described Lorraine as a 'massive inspiration'. In response to our question 5, Lorraine passionately promotes the work of POSSIBLE FUTURES. An endeavour that aims to make visible the Global South's stories and narratives of a history of colonisation and oppression, and formulate regenerative narratives relevant in the Global South's complex, diverse contexts and cultures. Find out more: https://www.blorrainesmith.com To view the episode page with a summary of the interview, links to social media and projects mentioned, go to https://ourwonder.space/episodes/_109

This week on Wonderspace we orbit with Emma Pears. Emma is an innovation Strategist and Leadership Coach with her business Solomon Hunt. She is also a Musical Director, Songwriter and the author of the book 'What Does it Matter?' which was released in the States a few weeks back and is released this week in the UK."I had this message that I wanted to get out there because I was having the same conversation again and again with people who are feeling overwhelmed and stressed, who honestly were making themselves unhappy trying to be happy. And so I've written a book, exploring different elements of life, how we might be able to be content, find contentment and reduce our stress levels."Find out more:https://emmapears.com To view the episode page with a summary of the interview, links to social media and projects mentioned, go to https://ourwonder.space/episodes/_108

This week on the Wonderspace Podcast we orbit with Isobelle Ford who is the community manager for The Entrepreneurial Refugee Network also known as TERN. A social enterprise that enables UK refugees to thrive through the power of their own ideas through providing business support. Isobelle is also the co-creator of the Anqa collective which is Europe's first marketplace selling products and services from refugee-led businesses."I also run a microfinance fund which is called skylight ventures and we offer interest-free Sharia-compliant lending so that entrepreneurs who are struggling to come up with early-stage funding for their businesses can have very small loans”.More information: https://wearetern.org https://www.anqacollective.org https://www.skylightfund.org To view the episode page with a summary of the interview, links to social media and projects mentioned, go to https://ourwonder.space/episodes/_107

This week on the Wonderspace Podcast we orbit with songwriter, musician and producer George Holliday. After converting an old library bus into a recording studio, George toured around Europe and ended up recording a 16 track collaborative album from 60 different locations. Today Made on the Road is a creative hub on wheels producing EPIC music for TV, film and advertising.The wonder from Ask Nature together with the wonder George shares in his response to questions four and five will well and truly blow the fuses! Did you know for instance that Earth resonates at 7.83 hertz!You can find out more at madeontheroad.co.uk To view the episode page with a summary of the interview, links to social media and projects mentioned, go to https://ourwonder.space/episodes/_106

This week on Wonderspace we orbit with Shabazz Graham. Shabazz has worked in the UK film and TV industry as a writer, director and editor. Shabazz is also the co-founder of a new tech platform called Qcast. a social network built on questions. Their mission is to open up new conversations, enabling users to share insights by asking catalytic questions of each other that spark fresh ideas and solutions.You can find out more at qcast.io In his story of hopefulness, Shabazz spoke about culturalstyleweek.com and https://www.culturalfashion.art To view the episode page with a summary of the interview, links to social media and projects mentioned, go to https://ourwonder.space/episodes/_105

This week on Wonderspace we orbit with Josh Liu. A tech entrepreneur who honestly shares about the challenges and personal cost of pursuing a silicon valley start up. Today Josh is the co-founder of a tech company called MOSA which is a cycle parking, data, and services platform that is about to go into mass production with Giant who are the largest bike maker in the world. This is in response to the fact that in the UK a bike is stolen every 90 secs. "

This week on Wonderspace we orbit with Simon Lamb who is a freelance writer, photographer and coach. He has also been given 20 acres of the family farm as a testbed in the pursuit of nutrient rich soil which he talks about in his story of hopefulness. "I walked 1000 kilometres across Spain and it really was a journey back to myself because living with my life on my back and walking west, I felt as free, as lite and connected as I've ever felt”. - Simon (Q1) Find out more: www.simonjlamb.com To view the episode page with a summary of the interview, links to social media and projects mentioned, go to https://ourwonder.space/episodes/_103

On this week's episode of Wonderspace, we orbit with Jyoti Fernandes, a smallholder farmer on a regenerative holding in the UK and the head of policy at the Landworkers Alliance, a union of farmers, growers, foresters, and land-based workers with a mission to create a better food and land-use system for everyone. Jyoti was nominated by a farmer and the host of the farmerama podcast, Abby Rose, who was our 44th guest on Wonderspace. "I wanted to create a social movement of people who want to return to the earth and actually heal and restore it. I learned that if there are things that need to be changed, you must come together with people who feel and experience the same thing and hold hope together to effect change. This is the most hopeful thing I've ever experienced – trying to reconnect with the land, its rhythms, and other people to recreate community.” Jyoti Q2 Find out more: https://landworkersalliance.org.uk To view the episode page with a summary of the interview, links to social media and projects mentioned, go to https://ourwonder.space/episodes/_102

On the Wonderspace Podcast this week we orbit with Jennifer Nadel. A qualified barrister, author, activist, award-winning television journalist and the founder of Compassion in Politics which has inspired active engagement from over 100 MPs and other parliaments and groups around the world who want to prioritise compassion. "I felt that if we could put compassion back in the political space, if we could have it once again, seen as a legitimate political driver, if we could amplify those who are calling for compassionate outcomes, then that in turn, would fertilise the soil in which so many other social justice campaigns could grow” (Quote from Jennifer in Q2) Find out more: www.compassioninpolitics.com To view the episode page with a summary of the interview, links to social media and projects mentioned, go to https://ourwonder.space/episodes/_101

Today we reach the milestone of 100 Wonderspace Podcast episodes. Over the past two and a half years we have welcomed guests from over 50 cities around the world who have all shared their wonders and stories of hopefulness. We have decided to use our 100th episode to amplify the issue of STATELESSNESS which impacts over five hundred thousand people in Europe and over fifteen million worldwide. To bring the issue alive, we asked our six Wonderspace questions to an extraordinary and inspiring woman called Chistiana Bukalo from Germany who founded Statefree and is herself stateless. We also feature Chris Nash who is the Director of The European Network on Statelessness. We would love you to consider listening to this special 20 min episode and sharing it out as a way of bringing attention to an issue that is rarely talked about. To find out more go to https://www.statelessness.eu and https://statefree.world Thanks to all our amazing Wonderspace guests and to the team at Ask Nature and the Biomimicry Institute who have provided weekly moments of wonder. Finally thanks to Dan Potter and Sam Cole who have edited, designed and produced every episode. You can listen to all 100 episodes at https://ourwonder.space Here's to many more orbits! Love, Steve Cole (host) James Perry and the Panahpur Trustees (Wonderspace is an expression of Panahpur) To view the episode page with a summary of the interview, links to social media and projects mentioned, go to https://ourwonder.space/episodes/_100

The world-changing power of Fonts and Design. This week on the Wonderspace Podcast we orbit with Chrissy Levett who is the Founder & Creative Director of Creative Conscience, a global platform that encourages, trains and rewards creative thinking for social justice and sustainability. Chrissy believes that design & creative thinking should be used to solve global challenges and as a form of positive activism. Her story of hopefulness about www.extraboldfoundry.com is unique and so worth a listen. For more info: www.creative-conscience.org.uk To view the episode page with a summary of the interview, links to social media and projects mentioned, go to https://ourwonder.space/episodes/_99